Eye imaging in head worn computing

• US 9,965,681 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2014
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mentor Acquisition One, LLC (Magic Leap, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Osterhout Design Group
• Inventors: Border, John N., Haddick, John, Bietry, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhou, Hong
• Application Number:
  US14/533,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20150169953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6821 Eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0181 Adaptation to the pilot/driver
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0189 Sight systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for imaging, recognizing, and tracking of a user'"'"'s eye that is wearing a HWC. Aspects further relate to the processing of images reflected from the user'"'"'s eye and controlling displayed content in accordance therewith. Aspects further relate to determining health conditions of the user based on eye imaging technologies.

Claims

1. An eye-imaging system, comprising:

a camera system positioned in a head-worn computer and positioned to capture eye-image light that originates as reflections from an internal portion of an eye of a user, wherein the camera system comprises an antireflection coated optic to reduce reflections from a surface of the eye of the user to increase the sensitivity of the camera system to the reflections from the internal portion of the eye of the user,

wherein the head-worn computer comprises a see-through computer display through which the user is able to see a surrounding environment and upon which the user is able to see digitally presented content;

an infrared (IR) light-source positioned in the head-worn computer for projecting IR light into a common optical axis with the digitally presented content in-line with the eye of the user such that it irradiates the internal portion of the eye of the user with a known amount of IR light to produce the reflections from the internal portion of the eye of the user; and

a processor adapted to analyze a light absorption statistic based on a comparison of the known amount of IR light and the reflections from the internal portion of the eye of the user.

2. The eye-imaging system of claim 1, wherein the IR light source is positioned to direct light into the common optical axis that directs the light into a pupil of the eye of the user to irradiate a back portion of the internal portion of the eye such that the reflections are directed back out of the eye.

3. The eye-imaging system of claim 1, wherein the absorption statistic is used to assess a health condition of the user.

4. The eye-imaging system of claim 3, wherein the health condition is a blood alcohol indication.

5. The eye-imaging system of claim 3, wherein the health condition is a blood glucose indication.

6. The eye-imaging system of claim 3, wherein the health condition is a controlled substance concentration indication.

7. The eye-imaging system of claim 1, wherein the see-through computer display is a reflective display.

8. The eye-imaging system of claim 7, wherein the reflective display is a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS).

9. The eye-imaging system of claim 8, wherein substantially all display illumination is incident to reflective angles between 45 degrees and 135 degrees relative to a front surface of the reflective display.

10. The eye-imaging system of claim 7, wherein the reflective display is a digital light projector (DLP).

11. The eye-imaging system of claim 1, wherein the IR light is generated at a position adjacent to the see-through computer display.

12. The eye-imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a dark-light trap positioned to capture off-pixel light.

13. The eye-imaging system of claim 1, wherein the see-through computer display is an emissive display.

14. The eye-imaging system of claim 1, wherein the light absorption statistic is analyzed at regular intervals.

15. The eye-imaging system of claim 1, wherein the light absorption statistic is analyzed after an identified event.

16. The eye-imaging system of claim 1, wherein the light absorption statistic is analyzed when prompted by an external communication.