IP Library Granted Patent US 10,031,578
Granted Patent B2
US 10,031,578 · App. 15/256,654 · Granted Jul 24, 2018

Gaze detection in a 3D mapping environment

Inventors: Eyal Bychkov (Hod Hasharon, IL); Oren Brezner (Rishon Lezion, IL); Micha Galor (Tel Aviv, IL); Ofir Or (Ramat Gan, IL); Jonathan Pokrass (Bat Yam, IL); Amir Hoffnung (Tel Aviv, IL); Tamir Berliner (Beit Hashmonay, IL)
Assignee: APPLE INC.
G06F3/013G06F3/017G06F2203/0381
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,031,578
App. No.
15/256,654
Granted
Jul 24, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method includes receiving a sequence of three-dimensional (3D) maps of at least a part of a body of a user of a computerized system and extracting, from the 3D map, 3D coordinates of a head of the user. Based on the 3D coordinates of the head, a direction of a gaze performed by the user and an interactive item presented in the direction of the gaze on a display coupled to the computerized system are identified. An indication is extracted from the 3D maps an indication that the user is moving a limb of the body in a specific direction, and the identified interactive item is repositioned on the display responsively to the indication.

Claims (23)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a sensing device configured to receive a sequence of three dimensional (3D) maps of at least a part of a body of a user, including a head of the user, and to receive a two dimensional (2D) image of the user, the 2D image including an eye of the user; and

a computer coupled to the sensing device and configured to extract, from the 3D maps, 3D coordinates of the head of the user and to identify, based on the 3D coordinates of the head and the image of the eye, a direction of a gaze performed by the user, to identify an interactive item presented in the direction of the gaze on a display coupled to the computer, to extract from the 3D maps an indication that the user is moving a limb of the body in a specific direction, and to move the identified interactive item on the display responsively to the indication.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the computer is configured to change a state of the interactive item.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the computer is configured to change the state of the interactive item is changed responsively to the gaze.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the computer is configured to change the state of the interactive item responsively to a vocal command received from the user.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the computer is configured to change the state by directing input received from the user to the interactive item.

6. A method, comprising:

receiving a sequence of three-dimensional (3D) maps of at least a part of a body of a user of a computerized system;

extracting, from the 3D maps, 3D coordinates of a head of the user;

receiving a two dimensional (2D) image of the user, the image including an eye of the user;

identifying, based on the 3D coordinates of the head and the image of the eye, a direction of a gaze performed by the user;

identifying an interactive item presented in the direction of the gaze on a display coupled to the computerized system;

extracting from the 3D maps an indication that the user is moving a limb of the body in a specific direction; and

moving the identified interactive item on the display responsively to the indication.

7. The method according to claim 6 , and comprising changing a state of the interactive item.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the state of the interactive item is changed responsively to the gaze.

9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the state of the interactive item is changed responsively to a vocal command received from the user.

10. The method according to claim 7 , wherein changing the state comprises directing input received from the user to the interactive item.

11. The method according to claim 7 , and comprising identifying a target point on the display in the direction of the gaze, and calculating a calibration coefficient based on the proximity of the target point to the interactive item.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein extracting the indication comprises detecting a swiping motion of a hand, and wherein repositioning the identified interactive item comprises moving the identified interactive item on the display in the direction of the swiping motion.

13. The method according to claim 6 , wherein extracting the indication comprises detecting a pointing motion of a finger, and wherein repositioning the identified interactive item comprises moving the identified interactive item on the display in the direction pointed to by the finger.

14. A computer software product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium, in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to receive a sequence of three-dimensional (3D) maps of at least a part of a body of a user of the computer, including a head of the user, and to receive a two dimensional (2D) image of the user, the 2D image including an eye of the user, to extract, from the 3D maps, 3D coordinates of the head of the user, to identify, based on the 3D coordinates of the head and the image of the eye, a direction of a gaze performed by the user, to identify an interactive item presented in the direction of the gaze on a display coupled to the computer, to extract from the 3D maps an indication that the user is moving a limb of the body in a specific direction, and to move the identified interactive item on the display responsively to the indication.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 5, 2016
From: PRIMESENSE LTD.
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 039627/0519 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 5, 2016
From: BYCHKOV, EYAL; BREZNER, OREN; GALOR, MICHA; OR, OFIR; POKRASS, JONATHAN; HOFFNUNG, AMIR; BERLINER, TAMIR
To: PRIMESENSE LTD.
Reel/Frame 039627/0536 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 13960822 · Aug 7, 2013
Continuation PCTIB2012050577 · Feb 9, 2012
Provisional Application 61440877 · Feb 9, 2011
Provisional Application 61526692 · Aug 24, 2011
Provisional Application 61538867 · Sep 25, 2011
Related Publication 20160370860A1 · Dec 22, 2016