20240085703.Electronic Devices With Gaze Trackers simplified abstract (apple inc.)

Electronic Devices With Gaze Trackers

Organization Name

apple inc.

Inventor(s)

Chih Jen Chen of San Jose CA (US)

Brian S Lau of Sacramento CA (US)

Cameron A Harder of San Francisco CA (US)

David A Kalinowski of Davis CA (US)

Electronic Devices With Gaze Trackers - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240085703 titled 'Electronic Devices With Gaze Trackers

Simplified Explanation

A head-mounted device described in the patent application includes a housing with openings for lenses, displays for outputting images, waveguides overlapping the lenses to direct images to eye boxes aligned with the lenses, and infrared light sources to supply infrared light to the waveguides. Each waveguide has multiple localized output couplers that direct infrared light towards an eye surface in the associated eye box to produce an eye glint, which can be captured by a gaze tracker infrared camera to determine a user's point of gaze.

• The head-mounted device includes a housing with openings for lenses.
• Displays within the device output images that are directed to the eye boxes aligned with the lenses via waveguides.
• Infrared light sources, such as infrared light-emitting diodes or lasers, supply infrared light to the waveguides.
• Each waveguide has multiple localized output couplers that direct infrared light towards an eye surface in the associated eye box to produce an eye glint.
• A gaze tracker infrared camera captures images of the eye glints to determine a user's point of gaze.

Potential Applications

This technology could be used in virtual reality headsets, augmented reality glasses, and other wearable display devices to track a user's gaze and improve user interaction with digital content.

Problems Solved

This technology solves the problem of accurately tracking a user's point of gaze in a head-mounted display device, allowing for more precise and intuitive user interactions with digital content.

Benefits

The benefits of this technology include improved user experience in virtual and augmented reality applications, enhanced user interface design possibilities, and potential advancements in eye-tracking technology for various industries.

Potential Commercial Applications

Potential commercial applications of this technology include gaming and entertainment, medical and healthcare simulations, industrial training and maintenance, and assistive technologies for individuals with disabilities.

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art for this technology could be existing eye-tracking systems used in virtual reality headsets and other display devices. These systems may use similar techniques to track a user's gaze and improve user interactions with digital content.

How does this technology handle different lighting conditions that may affect the accuracy of eye tracking?

The patent application does not provide information on how the head-mounted device adjusts for varying lighting conditions that could impact the accuracy of eye tracking.

What are the potential privacy concerns associated with using eye-tracking technology in wearable devices?

The patent application does not address potential privacy concerns related to capturing and analyzing a user's point of gaze using eye-tracking technology in head-mounted devices.

Original Abstract Submitted

a head-mounted device may include a housing having openings that receive lenses. displays may output images. waveguides that overlap the lenses may receive the images from the displays and may direct the images to eye boxes that are aligned with the lenses. infrared light sources such as infrared light-emitting diodes or lasers may be used to supply infrared light to the waveguides. each waveguide may have multiple localized output couplers that overlap the lenses. the localized output couplers of each lens each direct a beam of the infrared light out of the waveguide towards an eye surface in the eye box associated with that lens to produce an eye glint. a gaze tracker infrared camera may captured images of the eye glints to determine a user's point of gaze.