Dual Purkinje imaging with ellipsoidal lensing structure

1. A method of operating an augmented reality headset comprising:

illuminating an eye with infrared illumination light propagating substantially normal to a pupil plane of the eye by scanning a beam-steering element to a scan position that is selected based on eye tracking data, wherein illuminating the eye includes illuminating a near-eye ellipsoidal lensing structure configured to have a first foci at a center of rotation of the eye, wherein illuminating the near-eye ellipsoidal lensing structure includes directing, from a second foci of the near-eye ellipsoidal lensing structure, the infrared illumination light to the near-eye ellipsoidal lensing structure, wherein the near-eye ellipsoidal lensing structure is included in an optical combiner configured to pass scene light and configured to reflect the infrared illumination light;

capturing a tracking image of Purkinje reflections of the infrared illumination light with a camera, wherein the Purkinje reflections of the infrared illumination light are directed to the camera by the near-eye ellipsoidal lensing structure;

determining a distance between a first of the Purkinje reflections and a fourth of the Purkinje reflections within the tracking image; and

determining an update to an eye position of the eye in response to the tracking image and at least partially based on the distance.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the camera is disposed in an image capture plane that is conjugate to the pupil plane of the eye.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the Purkinje reflections of the infrared illumination light are focused to the camera by a lens.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the beam-steering element directs the infrared illumination light to the near-eye ellipsoidal lensing structure.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

receiving eye-tracking data that includes the eye position of the eye, wherein the scan position is selected in response to the eye-tracking data.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

adjusting a virtual image presented to a user of the augmented reality headset in response to the determined eye position, wherein visible image light of the virtual image propagates through the near-eye ellipsoidal lensing structure to the eye.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the infrared illumination light illuminating the near-eye ellipsoidal lensing structure is collimated or near-collimated.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the infrared illumination light propagates through a beam splitter prior to encountering the near-eye ellipsoidal lensing structure, and wherein the Purkinje reflections are directed to the camera by the beam splitter.

9. A method of operating an augmented reality headset comprising:

receiving eye-tracking data that includes a position of an eye;

selecting a scan position in response to the eye-tracking data;

illuminating the eye with infrared illumination light propagating substantially normal to a pupil plane of the eye by scanning a beam-steering element to the selected scan position, wherein illuminating the eye includes illuminating a near-eye ellipsoidal lensing structure, and wherein the beam-steering element directs the infrared illumination light to the near-eye ellipsoidal lensing structure, wherein the near-eye ellipsoidal lensing structure is included in an optical combiner configured to pass scene light and configured to reflect the infrared illumination light;

capturing a tracking image of Purkinje reflections of the infrared illumination light with a camera, wherein the Purkinje reflections of the infrared illumination light are directed to the camera by the near-eye ellipsoidal lensing structure;

determining a distance between a first of the Purkinje reflections and a fourth of the Purkinje reflections within the tracking image; and

determining an update to the position of the eye in response to the tracking image and at least partially based on the distance.

10. A method of operating an augmented reality headset comprising:

illuminating an eye with infrared illumination light propagating substantially normal to a pupil plane of the eye by scanning a beam-steering element to a scan position that is selected based on eye tracking data, wherein illuminating the eye includes illuminating a near-eye ellipsoidal lensing structure, wherein the near-eye ellipsoidal lensing structure is included in an optical combiner configured to pass scene light and configured to reflect the infrared illumination light;

capturing a tracking image of Purkinje reflections of the infrared illumination light with a camera, wherein the Purkinje reflections of the infrared illumination light are directed to the camera by the near-eye ellipsoidal lensing structure;

determining a distance between a first of the Purkinje reflections and a fourth of the Purkinje reflections within the tracking image;

determining an update to an eye position of the eye in response to the tracking image and at least partially based on the distance; and

adjusting a virtual image presented to a user of the augmented reality headset in response to the determined eye position, wherein visible image light of the virtual image propagates through the near-eye ellipsoidal lensing structure to the eye.