IP Library Granted Patent US 11,579,690
Granted Patent B2
US 11,579,690 · App. 17/315,429 · Granted Feb 14, 2023

Gaze tracking apparatus and systems

Inventors: Maria Chiara Monti (London, GB); Fabio Cappello (London, GB)
Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
G06F3/013
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,579,690
App. No.
17/315,429
Granted
Feb 14, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system configured to perform an eye tracking process using a head-mountable eye-tracking arrangement, the system comprising an eye tracking unit, located on the head-mountable arrangement, operable to detect motion of one or both of the user's eyes, a relative motion identification unit operable to identify motion of the head-mountable arrangement relative to the user's head, and a correction unit operable to determine a correction to the eye tracking process in dependence upon the identified motion of the user's head relative to the head-mountable arrangement.

Claims (25)

1. A system configured to perform an eye tracking process using a head-mountable eye-tracking arrangement, the system comprising:

an eye tracking unit, located on the head-mountable arrangement, operable to detect motion of one or both of the user's eyes;

a relative motion identification unit operable to identify motion of the head-mountable arrangement relative to the user's head; and

a correction unit operable to determine a correction to the eye tracking process in dependence upon the identified motion of the user's head relative to the head-mountable arrangement,

wherein the relative motion identification unit is operable to input one or more measurements into a model used to predict or estimate relative motion between the head-mountable arrangement and the user's head, and to use the predicted or estimated relative motion as the identified motion.

2. The system of claim 1 , the system comprising one or more sensors operable to detect one or both of motion of the user's head and motion of the head-mountable arrangement.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the sensors include one or more of a shear sensor, one or more cameras for tracking predetermined features, capacitive sensors, and/or a vibration sensor.

4. The system of claim 1 , comprising a head motion detection unit operable to detect motion of the user's head.

5. The system of claim 1 , comprising a head-mountable arrangement motion detection unit operable to detect motion of the head-mountable arrangement.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the correction unit is operable to modify the results of a detection of the user's eye position in dependence upon the determined correction.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the correction unit is operable to apply a correction to each of the user's eyes individually.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the correction unit is operable to generate a modified input to an application in dependence upon the determined correction.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the relative motion identification unit is operable to identify two or more values for the relative motion each corresponding to different respective methods of determining the relative motion.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the relative motion identification unit is operable to identify an expected relative motion in dependence upon content to be displayed to a user via a display device.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the head-mountable arrangement is a head-mountable display unit.

12. A method for performing an eye tracking process using a head-mountable eye-tracking arrangement, the method comprising:

detecting motion of one or both of the user's eyes;

identifying motion of the head-mountable arrangement relative to the user's head; and

determining a correction to the eye tracking process in dependence upon the identified motion of the user's head relative to the head-mountable arrangement,

wherein the identifying motion includes inputting one or more measurements into a model used to predict or estimate relative motion between the head-mountable arrangement and the user's head, and using the predicted or estimated relative motion as the identified motion.

13. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium which stores computer software which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method for performing an eye tracking process using a head-mountable eye-tracking arrangement, the method comprising:

detecting motion of one or both of the user's eyes;

identifying motion of the head-mountable arrangement relative to the user's head; and

determining a correction to the eye tracking process in dependence upon the identified motion of the user's head relative to the head-mountable arrangement,

wherein the identifying motion includes inputting one or more measurements into a model used to predict or estimate relative motion between the head-mountable arrangement and the user's head, and using the predicted or estimated relative motion as the identified motion.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2022
From: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT EUROPE LIMITED
To: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 059761/0698 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2022
From: CAPPELLO, FABIO
To: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT EUROPE LIMITED
Reel/Frame 059820/0812 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 7, 2021
From: CAPPELLO, FABIO
To: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 057402/0020 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 10, 2021
From: MONTI, MARIA CHIARA
To: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 056183/0520 →
Priority Claims (1)
GB 2007048 · May 13, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210357026A1 · Nov 18, 2021