Apparatus being controlled by movement of the eye
First Claim
1. In combination:
- a surface to be observed, including a display area and a plurality of trigger areas adjacent thereto which represent different control functions desired to be performed;
means continuously giving an output representing the location of the point of intersection of an observer'"'"'s line of sight with said surface;
means deriving, from said output, signals indicative that the observer has fixated for a predetermined time period on any of said trigger areas;
and means for performing one of the control functions in accordance with said signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Line of sight detecting apparatus such as an oculometer produces signals indicative of the direction along which an operator is looking. A display with predetermined positions thereon is positioned for viewing by the operator. A computer receives the signals from the line of sight detecting apparatus and utilizing a timing function determines when the operator'"'"'s line of sight is directed toward one of the predetermined positions on the display for a predetermined length of time. Depending upon which of the predetermined positions is viewed by the operator for the predetermined time period, the computer produces a signal which is used to produce various images, such as indicator readings, or to produce various control functions for the operator.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. In combination:
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a surface to be observed, including a display area and a plurality of trigger areas adjacent thereto which represent different control functions desired to be performed; means continuously giving an output representing the location of the point of intersection of an observer'"'"'s line of sight with said surface; means deriving, from said output, signals indicative that the observer has fixated for a predetermined time period on any of said trigger areas; and means for performing one of the control functions in accordance with said signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Apparatus for producing images on a viewing screen in accordance with the eye movements of an operator, comprising in combination:
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a plurality of trigger areas on the viewing screen; first means for producing a plurality of images on the viewing screen; second means for determining the direction in which the eye of the operator is looking and producing a first signal indicative thereof; third means connected to said second means to receive the first signal, said third means operable to analyze the first signal to detect which of the trigger areas the operator is looking at and determine the length of time the operator continues to look at such trigger area, said third means operable to produce a second signal only when the operator has looked at a trigger area for a predetermined time period, the second signal having a characteristic which depends on which of the trigger areas the operator is looking at; and means connecting said third means to said first means so that the second signal causes said first means to produce a selected one of the plurality of images on the viewing screen in accordance with the characteristic of the second signal.
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Specification