System and method for monitoring eye movement
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring movement of a person'"'"'s eye, comprising:
- a device configured to be worn on a person'"'"'s head;
an array ofone or more emitters on the device for directing light towards an eye of the person when the device is worn, the array of emitters configured for projecting a reference frame towards the eye ;
anda camera oriented towards the eye for monitoring movement of the eye relative to the reference frame mounted on the device; and
one or more sensors on the device for detecting light from the array of one or more emitters that is reflected off of the eye or its eyelid, the one or more sensors producing an output signal indicating when the eye is open or closed.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for monitoring movement of a person'"'"'s eye, e.g., to monitor drowsiness. The system includes a frame that is worn on a person'"'"'s head, an array of emitters on the frame for directing light towards the person'"'"'s eye, and an array of sensors on the frame for detecting light from the array of emitters. The sensors detect light that is reflected off of respective portions of the eye or its eyelid, thereby producing output signals indicating when the respective portions of the eye is covered by the eyelid. The emitters project a reference frame towards the eye, and a camera on the frame monitors movement of the eye relative to the reference frame. This movement may be correlated with the signals from the array of sensors and/or with signals from other sensors on the frame to monitor the person'"'"'s level of drowsiness.
112 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring movement of a person'"'"'s eye, comprising:
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a device configured to be worn on a person'"'"'s head;
an array ofone or more emitters on the device for directing light towards an eye of the person when the device is worn, the array of emitters configured for projecting a reference frame towards the eye ;
anda camera oriented towards the eye for monitoring movement of the eye relative to the reference frame mounted on the device; and
one or more sensors on the device for detecting light from the array of one or more emitters that is reflected off of the eye or its eyelid, the one or more sensors producing an output signal indicating when the eye is open or closed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 29, 30)
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20. A system for monitoring movement of a person'"'"'s eye, comprising:
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a frame configured to be worn on a person'"'"'s head;
an array of emitters on the frame for directing light towards an eye of the person when the device is worn, the array emitters configured to project a reference frame towards the eye;
an array of sensors on the frame in a predetermined relationship with the array of emitters for detecting light from the array of emitters that is reflected off of respective portions of the eye or its eyelid, each sensor producing an output signal indicating when the respective portion of the eye is covered or not covered by the eyelid;
anda camera on the frame for monitoring movement of the eye relative to the reference frame, the camera configured for producing a video signal of a region of the eye and the reference frame; and
a transmitter coupled to the sensor for wireless transmission of the output signal and the video signal to a remote location . - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method for monitoring movement of a person'"'"'s eye using a detection device including an array of emitters that are directed towards an eye of the person when the detection device is worn, and a camera oriented towards the eye, the method comprising:
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emitting light from the array of emitters towards the eye to project a reference frame onto the eye;
monitoring movement of the eye relative to the reference frame with the camera; and
generating a graphical output of the movement monitored by the camera relative to the reference frame;
wherein the detection device further comprises one or more sensors, and wherein the method further comprises detecting light from the array of emitters reflected off of the eye with the one or more sensors, the one or more sensors producing a light intensity signal indicating when the eye is open or closed. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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31. A system for monitoring movement of a person'"'"'s eye, comprising:
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a device configured to be worn on a person'"'"'s head;
one or more emitters on the device for directing light towards an eye of the person when the device is worn;
an imaging sensor on the device comprising a lens directed towards the eye of the person when the device is worn, the sensor configured for converting images of the eye into output signals;
a processor coupled to the sensor for monitoring one or more eye movement parameters of the eye based upon the output signals; and
one or more physiological sensors on the device for monitoring one or more physiological parameters. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A system for monitoring movement of a person'"'"'s eye, comprising:
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a device configured to be worn on a person'"'"'s head;
one or more emitters on the device for directing light towards an eye of the person when the device is worn;
a two-dimensional array of sensors on the device directed towards the eye of the person when the device is worn, the sensors configured for converting images of the eye into output signals;
a processor coupled to the sensors for monitoring one or more eye movement parameters of the eye based upon the output signals; and
one or more sensors on the device for detecting one or more physiological characteristics of the person, the processor further configured for correlating the one or more physiological characteristics with the output signals to generate a composite fatigue index of the person wearing the device. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. A system for monitoring movement of a person'"'"'s eye, comprising:
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a device configured to be worn on a person'"'"'s head;
one or more emitters on the device for directing light towards an eye of the person when the device is worn;
one or more sensors on the device for detecting light from the one or more emitters that is reflected off of the eye or its eyelid, the sensors configured for converting images of the eye into output signals;
one or more position sensors for determining a spatial orientation of the device when the device is worn; and
a processor coupled to the one or more sensors for monitoring one or more eye movement parameters of the eye based upon the output signals and coupled to the one or more position sensors, the processor correlating at least the spatial orientation determined using the one or more position sensors with the output signals to generate a composite fatigue index of the person wearing the device. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. A method for monitoring movement of a person'"'"'s eye using a detection device including one or more emitters and an array of sensors that are directed towards an eye of the person when the detection device is worn, the method comprising:
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emitting light from one or more emitters towards the eye;
detecting light from the one or more emitters reflected off of the eye with the array of sensors, the array of sensors producing light intensity signals indicating when the eye is open or closed; and
monitoring one or more eye movement parameters of the eye based upon the light intensity signals, wherein the one or more eye movement parameters are monitored to monitor a psychological condition of the person. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. A method for monitoring movement of a person'"'"'s eye using a detection device including one or more emitters and an array of sensors that are directed towards an eye of the person when the detection device is worn, the method comprising:
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emitting light from one or more emitters towards the eye;
detecting light from the one or more emitters reflected off of the eye with the array of sensors, the array of sensors producing light intensity signals indicating when the eye is open or closed; and
monitoring one or more eye movement parameters of the eye based upon the light intensity signals, wherein the one or more eye movement parameters are monitored to monitor a medical condition of the person. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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42. A method for monitoring movement of a person'"'"'s eye using a detection device including one or more emitters and an array of sensors that are directed towards an eye of the person when the detection device is worn, the method comprising:
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emitting light from one or more emitters towards the eye;
detecting light from the one or more emitters reflected off of the eye with the array of sensors, the array of sensors producing light intensity signals indicating when the eye is open or closed; and
monitoring one or more eye movement parameters of the eye based upon the light intensity signals, wherein the one or more eye movement parameters are monitored to monitor biofeedback from the person.
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43. A method for monitoring movement of a person'"'"'s eye using a detection device including one or more emitters and an array of sensors that are directed towards an eye of the person when the detection device is worn, the method comprising:
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emitting light from one or more emitters towards the eye;
detecting light from the one or more emitters reflected off of the eye with the array of sensors, the array of sensors producing light intensity signals indicating when the eye is open or closed; and
transmitting data signals to communicate with a remote location, the data signals comprising the light intensity signals and identification information transmitted with the light intensity signals to distinguish the detection device from a number of detection devices. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
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46. A method for monitoring movement of a person'"'"'s eye using a detection device including one or more emitters and an array of sensors that are directed towards an eye of the person when the detection device is worn, the method comprising:
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emitting light from one or more emitters towards the eye;
detecting light from the one or more emitters reflected off of the eye with the array of sensors, the array of sensors producing light intensity signals indicating when the eye is open or closed; and
transmitting the light intensity signals to communicate with a remote location;
monitoring the person from the remote location using the light intensity signals; and
activating a warning indicator when a predetermined condition is detected using the light intensity signals.
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Specification