SYSTEM READY SWITCH FOR EYE TRACKING HUMAN MACHINE INTERACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20120169582A1
• Filed: 01/05/2011
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Tschirhart, Michael Dean
• Application Number:
  US12/984,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20120169582A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/149 Instrument input by detecting viewing direction not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and method for activating a visual control interface, and in particular, for activating a visual control interface using an eye tracking system in a vehicle. A switch is used to activate and deactivate a control section of an eye tracking system in a human-machine interaction control system. The system allows a driver (or operator) of a vehicle to signal the system with selection of the switch to activate or deactivate the control section, thereby providing functional support to the driver when desired, but remaining inconspicuous otherwise.

Claims

1. A visual control interface in a vehicle, comprising:

an eye tracking system for tracking eye movement of an operator of the vehicle; and

an input for activating and deactivating at least one section of the eye tracking system.

2. The visual control interface of claim 1, wherein the eye tracking system comprises a monitoring section and a control section.

3. The visual control interface of claim 1, further comprising:

a database storing data corresponding to eye movement tracked by the eye tracking system;

a network interface configured to actively connect to a network and the database; and

a processor for processing the data tracked by the eye tracking system and stored in the database.

4. The visual control interface of claim 2, wherein

the monitoring section monitors the operator'"'"'s eye to acquire information associated with eye movement;

and

the control section, when activated, allows the operator of the vehicle to select an item on the visual control interface based on the acquired eye movement, and when in the deactivated state, prevents the operator of the vehicle from selecting an item on the visual control interface.

5. The visual control interface of claim 4, wherein selection of the input activates/deactivates the control section, and the monitoring section continuously monitors the eye of the operator in the activated and deactivated state of the control section.

6. The visual control interface of claim 4, wherein the control section is activated/deactivated automatically as determined by a preset rule.

7. The visual control interface of claim 4, wherein

items appearing on the visual control interface correspond to at least one of a device and function of the vehicle, and

the visual control interface is at least one of a heads up display, navigation display, television display, dash board display, instrument panel display, mirror display and monitor.

8. The visual control interface of claim 2, wherein the input includes or has a corresponding indicator to indicate one of the activated or deactivated states.

9. The visual control interface of claim 2, wherein the input is at least one of a switch, button and voice control.

10. The visual control interface of claim 3, wherein the network is at least one of an internet, intranet, WAN, LAN, telecommunications network and world wide web.

11. A method for visual control of an interface in a vehicle, comprising:

tracking eye movement, with an eye tracking system, of an operator of the vehicle; and

activating/deactivating at least one section of the eye tracking system using an input.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the eye tracking system includes a monitoring section and a control section.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

storing, in a database, data corresponding to eye movement tracked by the eye tracking system;

actively connecting to a network and the database using a network interface; and

processing the data tracked by the eye tracking system and stored in the database.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein

the monitoring section monitors the operator'"'"'s eye to acquire information associated with eye movement;

and

the control section, when activated, allows the operator of the vehicle to select an item on the visual control interface based on the acquired eye movement, and when in the deactivated state, prevents the operator of the vehicle from selecting an item on the visual control interface.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein selection of the input activates/deactivates the control section, and the monitoring section continuously monitors the eye of the operator in the activated and deactivated state of the control section.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the control section is activated/deactivated automatically as determined by a preset rule.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein

items appearing on the visual control interface correspond to at least one of a device and function of the vehicle, and

the visual control interface is at least one of a heads up display, navigation display, television display, dash board display, instrument panel display, mirror display and monitor.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the input includes or has a corresponding indicator to indicate one of the activated or deactivated states.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the input is at least one of a switch, button and voice control.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the network is at least one of an internet, intranet, WAN, LAN, telecommunications network and world wide web.