Eye tracking via dense point cloud scanning using a light beam source and a reflective and/or diffractive surface

1 . An eye tracking system for an augmented reality (AR)/virtual reality (VR) display device, the eye tracking system, comprising:

a light beam emission and sensor element located in a first location of the display device to emit a light beam, the light beam emission and sensor element including a lens that broadens a scope of space over which the light beam is emitted, the lens including at least a lens element that is offset with respect to at least a corresponding light beam source element included as part of the light beam emission and sensor element; and

a redirection element located in a second location of the display device to redirect the light beam to illuminate one of line-of-sight and a field-of-view (FOV) of the display device.

2 . The eye tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the light beam emission and sensor element includes one or more of a light beam source, a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS), and a photodetector (PD).

3 . The eye tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the first location is a temple arm of the display device.

4 . The eye tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the second location is a display lens of the display device.

5 . The eye tracking system of claim 4 , wherein the redirection element includes a diffractive surface.

6 . The eye tracking system of claim 4 , wherein the redirection element includes a reflective surface.

7 . The eye tracking system of claim 1 , wherein to acquire data associated with at least one of intensity, depth, and velocity for eye tracking.

8 . The eye tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the redirection element is further to collimate the light beam.

9 . The eye tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the redirection element includes a thin, transparent substrate having a pattern of rectangular grooves arranged to diffract display light.

10 . The eye tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the redirection element includes an reflective film, wherein the reflective film includes one or more multi-layer dielectric films tuned to reflect a particular wavelength band and a particular polarization.

11 . The eye tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the redirection element includes an anti-reflection coating for visible light.

12 . The eye tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the redirection element includes a holographic optical element (HOE) film.

13 . A method for implementing eye tracking via a dense point cloud scanning, the method comprising:

positioning a light beam emission and sensor element at a first location of a display device;

positioning a redirection element at a second location of the display device to redirect light to illuminate one of line-of-sight and a field-of-view (FOV) of the display device;

emitting, via a first light beam emission and sensor element, a first light beam towards a user's eye;

broadening, using a lens included as part of the first light beam emission and sensor element, a scope of space over which the first light beam is emitted, the lens including at least a lens element that is offset with respect to at least a corresponding light beam source element that is included as part of the first light beam emission and sensor element;

emitting, via a second light beam emission and sensor element, a second light beam towards a redirection element; and

redirecting the second light beam towards the user's eye.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the redirection element includes a diffractive surface.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the redirection element includes a reflective surface.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the redirection element includes a thin, transparent substrate having a pattern of rectangular grooves arranged to diffract display light.

17 . A non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store program code instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps comprising:

emit, via a first light beam emission and sensor element, a first light beam towards a user's eye;

broaden, using a lens included as part of the first light beam emission and sensor element, a scope of space over which the first light beam is emitted, the lens including at least a lens element that is offset with respect to at least a corresponding light beam source element that is included as part of the first light beam emission and sensor element;

emit, via a second light beam emission and sensor element, a second light beam towards a redirection element; and

redirect the second light beam towards the user's eye.

18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to collimate, via the redirection element, at least one of the first light beam and the second light beam.