Proximity sensing for input detection
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- receiving light data from at least one light sensor, wherein the light data indicates at least one characteristic of light reflected from an eye area;
detecting a blink event based on the light data, wherein detecting the blink event comprises detecting, in a given portion of the light data, a first light-intensity level and a subsequent second light-intensity level, wherein the first light-intensity level is associated with an eye-open state, and wherein the second light-intensity level is associated with an eye-closed state;
determining a particular gaze direction based on the given portion of the light data, wherein determining the particular gaze direction comprises;
(i) determining a difference between the first and second light-intensity levels, and (ii) determining that the difference between the first and second light-intensity levels corresponds to the particular gaze direction; and
causing at least one computing action to be performed based on the particular gaze direction.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a technique that can help to detect a blink of an eye and a direction along which the eye is oriented before, after, or during the blink. To this end, light data can be received from at least one light sensor. The light data indicates at least one characteristic of light reflected from an eye area. A blink event can be detected based on the light data. A gaze direction can be determined based on the blink event. At least one computing action can be performed based on the gaze direction.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving light data from at least one light sensor, wherein the light data indicates at least one characteristic of light reflected from an eye area; detecting a blink event based on the light data, wherein detecting the blink event comprises detecting, in a given portion of the light data, a first light-intensity level and a subsequent second light-intensity level, wherein the first light-intensity level is associated with an eye-open state, and wherein the second light-intensity level is associated with an eye-closed state; determining a particular gaze direction based on the given portion of the light data, wherein determining the particular gaze direction comprises;
(i) determining a difference between the first and second light-intensity levels, and (ii) determining that the difference between the first and second light-intensity levels corresponds to the particular gaze direction; andcausing at least one computing action to be performed based on the particular gaze direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system comprising:
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at least one light sensor; a computer-readable medium; program instructions stored to the computer-readable medium and executable by at least one processor to perform functions comprising; (i) receiving light data from the at least one light sensor, wherein the light data indicates at least one characteristic of light reflected from an eye area; (ii) detecting a blink event based on the light data, wherein detecting the blink event comprises detecting, in a given portion of the light data, a first light-intensity level and a subsequent second light-intensity level, wherein the first light-intensity level is associated with an eye-open state, and wherein the second light-intensity level is associated with an eye-closed state; (iii) determining a particular gaze direction based on the given portion of the light data, wherein determining the particular gaze direction comprises;
(a) determining a difference between the first and second light-intensity levels, and (b) determining that the difference between the first and second light-intensity levels corresponds to the particular gaze direction; and(iv) causing at least one computing action to be performed based on the particular gaze direction. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by at least one processor, cause a computing device to perform functions comprising:
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receiving light data from at least one light sensor, wherein the light data indicates at least one characteristic of light reflected from an eye area; detecting a blink event based on the light data, wherein detecting the blink event comprises detecting, in a given portion of the light data, a first light-intensity level and a subsequent second light-intensity level, wherein the first light-intensity level is associated with an eye-open state, and wherein the second light-intensity level is associated with an eye-closed state; determining a particular gaze direction based on the given portion of the light data, wherein determining the gaze direction comprises;
(i) determining a difference between the first and second light-intensity levels, and (ii) determining that the difference between the first and second light-intensity levels corresponds to the particular gaze direction; andcausing at least one computing action to be performed based on the particular gaze direction. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification