IP Library Granted Patent US 11,778,149
Granted Patent B2
US 11,778,149 · App. 17/396,976 · Granted Oct 3, 2023

Headware with computer and optical element for use therewith and systems utilizing same

Inventors: Erick Miller (Los Angeles, CA); Jonathan Rodriguez (Los Angeles, CA)
Assignee: Snap Inc.
H04N9/3173G02B27/0176G06F3/013G06T7/60G06T7/73G06T19/006G06V10/803G06V40/19G06V40/193H04N9/3185H04N23/51H04N23/55G02B2027/0178
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,778,149
App. No.
17/396,976
Granted
Oct 3, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus for mounting on a head including a frame, A face-wearable near-ocular optics and a micro-display for displaying data in front of the eyes is provided. A computing device is coupled to the micro-display. At least one sensor is coupled to the computing device for receiving biometric human information.

Claims (56)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a support structure for mounting on the head of a user;

a display matrix;

a plurality of optical lenses retained by the support structure, and disposed between the display matrix and an eye of the user, the plurality of optical lenses including a hemispherical element that covers at least a portion of the display matrix;

a microcomputer carried by the support structure;

a sensor device for receiving biometric data;

a camera mounted on the support structure; and

a transceiver coupled with the microcomputer, wherein the microcomputer executes instructions that comprise:

capturing a set of images by the camera mounted on the support structure;

generating an image stream based on the set of images;

extracting metadata from the image stream;

generating a request that includes the metadata to a networked computer;

receiving, from the networked computer, a presentation of the image stream that includes an object rendered at a position within the image stream based on at least the metadata and the biometric data;

causing the display matrix to display the presentation of the image stream that includes the object rendered at the position within the image stream upon the hemispherical element;

detecting biometric feedback; and

presenting the object within the presentation of the image stream based on the biometric feedback.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

an inwardly-facing camera mounted on the support structure, the inwardly-facing camera producing eye tracking video of an eye that is processed by the microcomputer, wherein the microcomputer processes the eye tracking video to track pupil position, and wherein the generating the presentation of the image stream is based on the metadata and the eye tracking video.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the microcomputer processes the eye tracking video to detect eye corners using oriented gradient features and averages the positions of the eye corners to obtain an x,y location for the eye.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the microcomputer processes the eye tracking video to calculate a two-dimensional displacement between the center of the eye and the center of the pupil.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the microcomputer processes the eye tracking video to calculate a two-dimensional displacement between the center of the eye and the center of the pupil, and wherein the microcomputer converts the two-dimensional displacement to a three-dimensional gaze vector for the eye.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the pupil position is used to alter the position of the object rendered within the image stream.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microcomputer performs a calibration operation by projecting a sequence of objects on a display mounted on the support structure and collecting viewed object acknowledgements from a user.

8. A method comprising:

capturing a set of images by a camera mounted on a support structure of a head-mounted apparatus, the head-mounted apparatus comprising a display matrix, and a plurality of optical lenses retained by the support structure and disposed between the display matrix and an eye of a user;

generating an image stream based on the set of images;

extracting metadata from the image stream;

accessing biometric data generated by a sensor device;

generating a request that includes the metadata and the biometric data to a networked computer;

receiving, from the networked computer, a presentation of the image stream that includes an object rendered at a position within the image stream based on at least the metadata and the biometric data;

causing the display matrix to display the presentation of the image stream that includes the object rendered at the position within the image stream upon the hemispherical element;

detecting biometric feedback; and

presenting the object within the presentation of the image stream based on the biometric feedback.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

producing eye tracking video of the eye of the user via an inwardly-facing camera mounted on the support structure, wherein the eye tracking video is processed to track pupil position, and wherein the generating the presentation of the image stream is based on the metadata and the eye tracking video.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein a microcomputer processes the eye tracking video to detect eye comers using oriented gradient features and averages the positions of the eye comers to obtain an x,y location for the eye.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a microcomputer processes the eye tracking video to calculate a two-dimensional displacement between the center of the eye and the center of the pupil.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a microcomputer processes the eye tracking video to calculate a two-dimensional displacement between the center of the eye and the center of the pupil, and wherein the microcomputer converts the two-dimensional displacement to a three-dimensional gaze vector for the eye.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the pupil position is used to alter the position of the object rendered within the image stream.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein a microcomputer performs a calibration operation by projecting a sequence of objects on a display mounted on the support structure and collecting viewed object acknowledgements from a user.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing therein instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause an apparatus for mounting on the head of a user to perform operations comprising:

capturing a set of images by a camera mounted on a support structure of a head-mounted apparatus, the head-mounted apparatus comprising a display matrix, and a plurality of optical lenses retained by the support structure and disposed between the display matrix and an eye of a user;

generating an image stream based on the set of images;

extracting metadata from the image stream;

accessing biometric data generated by a sensor device;

generating a request that includes the metadata and the biometric data to a networked computer;

receiving, from the networked computer, a presentation of the image stream that includes an object rendered at a position within the image stream based on at least the metadata and the biometric data;

causing the display matrix to display the presentation of the image stream that includes the object rendered at the position within the image stream upon the hemispherical element;

detecting biometric feedback; and

presenting the object within the presentation of the image stream based on the biometric feedback.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , further comprising:

producing eye tracking video of the eye of the user via an inwardly-facing camera mounted on the support structure, wherein the eye tracking video is processed to track pupil position, and wherein the generating the presentation of the image stream is based on the metadata and the eye tracking video.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein a microcomputer processes the eye tracking video to detect eye comers using oriented gradient features and averages the positions of the eye comers to obtain an x,y location for the eye.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein a microcomputer processes the eye tracking video to calculate a two-dimensional displacement between the center of the eye and the center of the pupil.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein a microcomputer processes the eye tracking video to calculate a two-dimensional displacement between the center of the eye and the center of the pupil, and wherein the microcomputer converts the two-dimensional displacement to a three-dimensional gaze vector for the eye.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the pupil position is used to alter the position of the object rendered within the image stream.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2022
From: MILLER, ERICK; RODRIGUEZ, JONATHAN
To: SNAPCHAT, INC.
Reel/Frame 058841/0880 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2022
From: SNAPCHAT, INC.
To: SNAP INC.
Reel/Frame 058841/0959 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 16667489 · Oct 29, 2019
Continuation 14853851 · Sep 14, 2015
Continuation 14328663 · Jul 10, 2014
Continuation 14086909 · Nov 21, 2013
Continuation 13815492 · Mar 5, 2013
Continuation In Part 13470242 · May 11, 2012
Provisional Application 61485120 · May 11, 2011
Related Publication 20220137703A1 · May 5, 2022
Cited By (2)
US 12,401,772 US 12,405,469