EYE IMAGING IN HEAD WORN COMPUTING

• US 20150169953A1
• Filed: 11/05/2014
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mentor Acquisition One, LLC (Magic Leap, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Osterhout Design Group
• Inventors: Border, John N., Bietry, Joseph, Haddick, John
• Granted Patent: US 9,965,681 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6821 Eye
• 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 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0181 Adaptation to the pilot/driver
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0189 Sight systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/20 for generating image signals from infrared radiation only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for imaging, recognizing, and tracking of a user'"'"'s eye that is wearing a HWC. Aspects further relate to the processing of images reflected from the user'"'"'s eye and controlling displayed content in accordance therewith. Aspects further relate to determining health conditions of the user based on eye imaging technologies.

Claims

1. An eye-imaging system, comprising:

a. A camera system positioned in a head-worn computer, wherein the camera system is further positioned to capture eye-image light that originates as reflections from an internal portion of an eye of a user;

b. A light-source positioned in the head-worn computer such that it irradiates the internal portion of the eye of the user with a known amount of light to produce the reflections from the internal portion of the eye of the user; and

c. A processor adapted to analyze a light absorption statistic based on a comparison of the known amount of light and the reflections from the internal portion of the eye of the user.

2. The eye-imaging system of claim 1, wherein the light-source is an IR light source.

3. The eye-imaging system of claim 1, wherein the light source is positioned to direct light into an optical path that directs the light into a pupil of the eye of the user to irradiate a back portion of the internal portion of the eye such that the reflections are directed back out of the eye.

4. The eye-imaging system of claim 1, wherein the absorption statistic is used to assess a health condition of the user.

5. The eye-imaging system of claim 1, wherein the health condition is a blood alcohol indication.

6. The eye-imaging system of claim 1, wherein the health condition is a blood glucose indication.

7. The eye-imaging system of claim 1, wherein the health condition is a controlled substance concentration indication.

8. The eye-imaging system of claim 1, wherein the head-worn computer includes a display adapted to generate image light, wherein the image light is projected into an optical path in-line with the eye of the user.

9. The eye-imaging system of claim 8, wherein the display is a reflective display.

10. The eye-imaging system of claim 9, wherein the reflective display is an LCoS.

11. The eye-imaging system of claim 10, wherein substantially all display illumination is incident the reflective between 45 degrees and 135 degrees relative to a front surface of the reflective display.

12. The eye-imaging system of claim 8, wherein the reflective display is a DLP.

13. The eye-imaging system of claim 12, wherein the illumination light is generated at a position adjacent to the reflective display.

14. The eye-imaging system of claim 12, further comprising a dark-light trap positioned to capture off-pixel light.

15. The eye-imaging system of claim 1, wherein the display is an emissive display.