Method and apparatus for eye tracking

• US 6,778,150 B1
• Filed: 03/18/2002
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Simulated Percepts, LLC
• Original Assignee: Francis J. Maguire
• Inventors: Maguire, Francis J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, XIAO MIN
• Application Number:
  US10/102,395
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7, 345/8, 345/9, 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/169, 345/1.1, 345/1.2, 345/2.1, 345/2.2, 345/2.3, 345/698, 348/42, 348/15, 348/20, 348/47, 348/49, 348/51, 359/630
• US Class Current: 345/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/289 Switching between monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/373 for tracking forward-backward translational head movements, i.e. longitudinal movements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/376 for tracking left-right translational head movements, i.e. lateral movements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/38 for tracking vertical translational head movements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/383 for tracking with gaze detection, i.e. detecting the lines of sight of the viewer's eyes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

The attitude of a human eye with respect to a head coordinate system is monitored for the purpose of determining the visual axis and for providing a control signal for control purposes such as controlling an image. The position, attitude or both of the head with respect to a reference frame may also be monitored for translating and/or transforming the monitored visual axis into other reference frames. Transformations and translations of the visual axis into additional reference frames is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising the steps of:

receiving an eye direction signal having a magnitude indicative of the direction of the visual axis of a human eye in an object space and, in response to said eye direction signal,

encoding an electrical image signal with nonuniform resolution, and

transmitting said encoded image signal from said object space via an antenna for reception by another antenna in an image space for display in said image space with said nonuniform resolution.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of receiving the image signal and, in response thereto, providing a nonuniform resolution image at various apparent distances corresponding to said direction of said visual axis of said human eye such that a viewer'"'"'s eye may accommodate to focus on the image at the various apparent distances.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

responding to reflected light in said object space for providing an optical image,

impinging the optical image upon a surface sensitive thereto, and

responding to the impinging optical image by converting the optical image to said electrical image signal.

4. Device, comprising:

a camera that converts an optical image of objects in an object space to an electrical image signal encoded with nonuniform resolution in response to an eye monitor signal indicative of a monitored human eye in said object space; and

a transmitter for transmitting said electrical image signal from said object space via an antenna for reception by another antenna in an image space for display in said image space.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising:

a display for receiving the transmitted image signal and, in response thereto, providing a nonuniform image at various apparent distances such that a viewer'"'"'s eye may accommodate to focus on the image at the various apparent distances.