US5861940A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Eye detection system for providing eye gaze tracking
Assignee: Sharp Corp
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Filing: 1997-07-30
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Granted: 1999-01-19
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Expires: 2017-07-30
Abstract
Abstract An eye detection system comprises a source, such as an infrared laser diodes for emitting a divergent beam of infrared radiation. A spatial light modulator is controlled so as to act as a deflector for scanning the beam. A detector detects radiation which is retro-reflected by the eye back along the path of the scanning beam. The deflection angle of the SLM and, for a position sensitive detector, the location of the center of illumination on the detector can be used to determine the angle to the center of the pupil of the eye. By subsequently detecting the angle to the glints corresponding to other sources and, the gaze position of the eye on a screen can be determined.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Geraint Robinson
- 👤 Craig Tombling
- 👤 Nicholas Mayhew
- 👤 Robert George Watling Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:27
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B3/00; A61B3/10; A61B3/113; G; G06; G06V; G06V40/00; G06V40/10; G06V40/18; G06V40/19
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
An eye detection system comprising: a light source for emitting an incident beam of optical radiation, a controllable deflector disposed in the path of the incident beam and operative in combination with the light source for producing a divergent scanning beam, and a detector for detecting radiation reflected by an eye back along the path of the scanning beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
An eye detection system comprising: a light source for emitting an incident beam of optical radiation, a controllable deflector disposed in the path of the incident beam and operative in combination with the light source for producing a divergent scanning beam, and a detector for detecting radiation reflected by an eye back along the path of the scanning beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the deflector comprises a controllable diffractive element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the deflector comprises a spatial optical modulator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the deflector further comprises a modulator controller for writing in the modulator an array of A×B substantially identical patterns, each of which comprises an array of C×D picture elements, where A, B, C and D are integers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the modulator controller is arranged to select each of the identical patterns from (C×D) different patterns for deflecting the scanning beam in (C×D) different directions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of the different patterns is arranged to produce divergence in the scanning beam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the source is arranged to illuminate an array of C×D picture elements of the modulator with the incident beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detector is arranged to receive radiation deflected back towards the source by the deflector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein a beam splitter for directing radiation from the source to the deflector and for directing radiation from the deflector to the detector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the detector comprises a detecting device disposed at the focus of a focusing optical system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the detecting device comprises a position sensitive detector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the focusing optical system comprises a converging lens.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the source is arranged to produce a divergent incident beam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the source comprises a laser and the laser cooperates with a collimator and an aperture to produce the divergent incident beam.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the source comprises a laser.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the laser comprises a laser diode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a scanning controller for causing the deflector to scan the scanning beam until the detector detects reflection from an eye.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the scanning controller is arranged, after detection of reflection from the eye, substantially to center a center of reflection from the eye in the scanning beam or with respect to the detector.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, comprising at least one further source of optical radiation disposed remotely from the deflector.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the at least one further source is arranged to emit a divergent beam.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the at least one further source comprises a laser and the laser cooperates with a collimator and an aperture to produce the divergent beam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the at least one further source comprises a laser.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the at least one laser comprises a laser diode.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as claimed in claim 19, comprising a source controller for illuminating the source and the at least one further source in sequence.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the source controller is arranged to illuminate each of the source and the at least one further source following detection by the detector of reflection from the eye of optical radiation from a previously illuminated one of the source and the at least one further source.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
66 words
A system as claimed in claim 19, comprising a data processor for cooperating with the detector and the deflector to determine, from the angle between a predetermined direction and the direction from the deflector to the point of reflection at the eye of each of the source and the at least one further source, the eye gaze point on a surface in front of the eye.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-01-18 | 2002-07-20 | 2003-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-01-18 | 2006-07-20 | 2007-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-01-18 | 2010-07-20 | 2011-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |