Input system

• US 9,111,473 B1
• Filed: 08/24/2012
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Ho, Harvey, Miao, Xiaoyu, Pletcher, Nathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Sasinowski, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US13/594,291
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 345/157, 351/160.R, 351/159.03, 348/143
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/043 Contact lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0261 in the context of movement of objects on the screen or movement of the observer relative to the screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T

Abstract

Apparatus, systems and methods that facilitate eye tracking using a contact lens are provided. In some aspects, the contact lens includes: a substrate; an antenna, disposed on or within the substrate, that harvests radio frequency energy; an integrated circuit, disposed on or within the substrate, that receives power from the antenna; and electrical components, disposed on or within the substrate, that determine motion of an eye over which the contact lens is placed, and perform tracking of the eye based, at least, on the motion. For example, the motion of the eye can be determined based on telemetry components fabricated on or within a substrate of the contact lens. In some aspects, the contact lens can include light emitters that radiate light in a direction of the gaze of the wearer of the contact lens. A heads-up device can perform eye tracking based on the direction of the light beams.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a heads-up device; and

a contact lens, the contact lens comprising;

a substrate; and

a circuit, disposed on or within the substrate, and comprising;

a telemetry component configured to determine motion of an eye over which the contact lens is positioned and perform eye tracking based on the motion of the eye; and

a communication component comprising an antenna, wherein the communication component is configured to transmit information related to the eye tracking to the heads-up device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the telemetry component comprise at least one of an accelerometer or a gyroscope.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the heads-up device further comprises a power source component, and wherein the circuit of the contact lens is configured to receive power from the power source component of the heads-up device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the power source component comprises a radio frequency (RF) power source, and wherein the circuit comprises an antenna configured to receive RF power from the RF power source.

5. A system, comprising:

a contact lens configured to be worn by a wearer, the contact lens comprising;

a substrate;

one or more light sources, disposed on or within the substrate, configured to emit one or more light beams from the contact lens, wherein the one or more light beams are projected in a direction corresponding to a direction of a gaze of an eye over which the contact lens is positioned, and tracking of the eye is performed based, at least on the direction of the gaze of the eye; and

a power source disposed on or within the substrate, operably coupled to the one or more light sources; and

a heads-up device configured to be worn by the wearer of the contact lens, wherein the heads-up device includes a light detector configured to determine where on an external object the one or more light beams fall.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the one or more light sources have one or more wavelengths or light levels.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the one or more light sources comprise at least one of a light-emitting diode or an infrared light source.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the light detector is configured to detect infrared wavelengths, and wherein the one or more light sources comprise at least one infrared light source.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the power source comprises at least one of an antenna configured to capture radio frequency energy generated by the heads-up device or solar power from a solar power device.