Eye gaze detection controlled indicia scanning system and method

• US 10,268,858 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2018
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Todeschini, Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Seung H
• Application Number:
  US15/992,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20180276438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1413 1D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1439 including a method step for retrieval of the optical code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1443 locating of the code in an image
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/235 based on user input or interaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/224 of printed characters having additional code marks or containing code marks
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/18 Eye characteristics, e.g. of the iris
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 Sensors therefor

Abstract

By tracking a user'"'"'s eyes, an indicia scanning system can make educated guesses as to what the user is interested in. This insight could be useful in dynamically configuring a camera system, configuring an indicia decoding process or even as a method to select data that the user is interested in.

Claims

1. A portable computer for reading indicia comprising:

a processor coupled to;

a first imaging system for capturing an image within a field of view of the first imaging system and displaying the image on a visual display; and

a second imaging system for detecting a gaze of a user;

wherein the processor is configured to;

determine a gaze coordinate location that the user is viewing on the visual display having the image;

monitor a gaze zone coordinate to determine whether the user'"'"'s gaze is stationary on a point on the visual display for a predetermined time period n;

re-calculate the gaze zone coordinate if at least one indicia is not found while decoding a region of interest within the image; and

use the gaze coordinate to configure an auto-focus process and/or an auto exposure process of the first imaging system.

2. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to decode at least one indicia located in the image.

3. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein n is in the range of 500 to 2000 milliseconds.

4. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the gaze zone coordinate is represented by a configurable representation on the visual display.

5. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to create a gaze selection zone for each indicia in the image, each gaze selection zone having a gaze zone color graphic located in a corner on the visual display.

6. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to display a viewfinder box on the visual display around an indicium closest to the gaze zone coordinate.

7. The portable computer of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to flash a boundary around the viewfinder box after a predetermined period in which the gaze zone coordinate is stationary.

8. The portable computer of claim 1, comprising the visual display, wherein:

the visual display is a touch screen; and

the processor is configured to start decoding the region of interest upon detecting a touch of the user on the touch screen or a voice input from the user.

9. A portable computer for reading indicia comprising:

a processor coupled to;

a first imaging system for capturing an image within a field of view of the first imaging system and displaying the image on a visual display; and

a second imaging system for detecting a gaze of a user;

wherein the processor is configured to;

determine a gaze coordinate location that the user is viewing on the visual display having the image;

monitor a gaze zone coordinate to determine whether the user'"'"'s gaze is stationary on a point on the visual display for a predetermined time period n; and

re-calculate the gaze zone coordinate if at least one indicia is not found while decoding a region of interest within the image;

wherein the gaze zone coordinate is represented by a configurable representation on the visual display.

10. The portable computer of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to decode at least one indicia located in the image.

11. The portable computer of claim 9, wherein n is in the range of 500 to 2000 milliseconds.

12. The portable computer of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to create a gaze selection zone for each indicia in the image, each gaze selection zone having a gaze zone color graphic located in a corner on the visual display.

13. The portable computer of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to display a viewfinder box on the visual display around an indicium closest to the gaze zone coordinate.

14. The portable computer of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to flash a boundary around the viewfinder box after a predetermined period in which the gaze zone coordinate is stationary.

15. The portable computer of claim 9, comprising the visual display, wherein:

the visual display is a touch screen; and

the processor is configured to start decoding the region of interest upon detecting a touch of the user on the touch screen or a voice input from the user.

16. A portable computer for reading indicia comprising:

a processor coupled to;

a first imaging system for capturing an image within a field of view of the first imaging system and displaying the image on a visual display; and

a second imaging system for detecting a gaze of a user;

wherein the processor is configured to;

determine a gaze coordinate location that the user is viewing on the visual display having the image;

monitor a gaze zone coordinate to determine whether the user'"'"'s gaze is stationary on a point on the visual display for a predetermined time period n;

re-calculate the gaze zone coordinate if at least one indicia is not found while decoding a region of interest within the image; and

display a viewfinder box on the visual display around an indicium closest to the gaze zone coordinate.

17. The portable computer of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to decode at least one indicia located in the image.

18. The portable computer of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to create a gaze selection zone for each indicia in the image, each gaze selection zone having a gaze zone color graphic located in a corner on the visual display.

19. The portable computer of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to flash a boundary around the viewfinder box after a predetermined period in which the gaze zone coordinate is stationary.

20. The portable computer of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to start decoding the region of interest upon detecting a touch of the user on the visual display or a voice input from the user.