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 of 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; and
a camera oriented towards the eye for monitoring movement of the eye relative to the reference frame; and
one or more sensors on the device for detecting light from the array of 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.
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Citations
52 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 of 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; and a camera oriented towards the eye for monitoring movement of the eye relative to the reference frame; and one or more sensors on the device for detecting light from the array of 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)
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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 frame 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; a 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 away from the person when the detection device is worn, the method comprising:
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emitting light from the array of one or more emitters towards the eye to project a reference frame onto the eye; monitoring movement of the eye relative to the reference frame the person'"'"'s surroundings 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 one or more 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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29. 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 such that the device does not interfere substantially with the person'"'"'s vision along an axis extending directly ahead of a first eye of the person; one or more emitters on the device for directing light towards the first eye when the device is worn; an array of sensors on the device directed towards the first eye when the device is worn, the sensors configured for converting images of the first eye into output signals; and a processor coupled to the sensors for interpreting the output signals to control one or more devices, wherein the one or more emitters and the sensors are provided on the device at locations offset from the axis to generally minimize interference with the person'"'"'s vision and such that the array of sensors are oriented directly towards the region surrounding the first eye. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. 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 a first eye of the person when the detection device is worn, the method comprising:
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placing the detection device on a person'"'"'s head such that the detection device does not interfere substantially with the person'"'"'s vision along an axis extending directly ahead of the first eye and the array of sensors are offset from the axis and oriented directly towards a region surrounding the first eye; emitting light from one or more emitters towards the first eye; detecting light from the one or more emitters reflected off of the first eye with the array of sensors, the array of sensors producing light intensity signals indicating when the first eye is open or closed; and interpreting the light intensity signals to control one or more devices. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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42. A system for controlling a computing device, comprising:
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a frame configured to be worn on a person'"'"'s head such that the frame does not interfere substantially with the person'"'"'s vision along an axis extending directly ahead of a first eye of the person; a sensor on the frame comprising a lens offset from the axis and oriented directly towards the region surrounding the first eye when the frame is worn, the sensor generating output signals representing video images of the first eye; and a processor coupled to the sensor for processing the output signals to monitor movement of the first eye relative to a reference frame, the processor communicating with an electronic device remote from the frame and interpreting the output signals to control the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A system for controlling a computing device, comprising:
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a frame configured to be worn on a person'"'"'s head such that the device does not interfere substantially with the person'"'"'s vision; a sensor on the frame comprising a lens directed towards the eye of the person when the frame is worn, the sensor generating output signals representing video images of the eye; and a processor coupled to the sensor for processing the output signals to monitor movement of the eye relative to a reference frame, the processor communicating with an electronic device remote from the frame and interpreting the output signals to control the electronic device, wherein the processor is configured for monitoring the output signals to detect video images indicating that the person wearing the device has blinked in a predetermined sequence, the processor configured for executing the command on the electronic device based upon the predetermined sequence.
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49. A system for monitoring movement of a person'"'"'s eye, comprising:
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an eyeglass frame comprising a nose bridge configured to be placed on the person'"'"'s nose, and a pair of ear supports configured to be placed over the person'"'"'s ears such that the frame, when worn on the person'"'"'s head, does not interfere substantially with the person'"'"'s vision along an axis extending directly ahead of a first eye of the person; one or more emitters on the frame for directing light towards the first eye when the frame is worn, the one or more emitters provided on the frame at one or more locations that generally minimize interference with the person'"'"'s vision along the axis; a sensor on or adjacent the nose bridge such that the sensor is offset from the axis to generally minimize interference with the person'"'"'s vision along the axis and oriented directly towards the region surrounding the first eye, the sensor configured for converting images of the first eye into output signals; and a processor coupled to the sensor for interpreting the output signals to control one or more devices. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52)
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Specification