IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,339,457
Granted Patent B2
US 12,339,457 · App. 18/394,713 · Granted Jun 24, 2025

Line-of-sight detection device and head mounted display device

Inventor: Saki Nakamichi (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G02B27/0172G02B27/0093G02B2027/0138G02B2027/0178
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,339,457
App. No.
18/394,713
Granted
Jun 24, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A line-of-sight detection device according to the present invention includes: an eyepiece lens; an image sensor disposed on an edge of the eyepiece lens and configured to capture an image of an eye facing the eyepiece lens; a plurality of first light sources disposed along the edge of the eyepiece lens; a plurality of second light sources disposed along the edge of the eyepiece lens, wherein on a plane that intersects vertically with an optical axis of the eyepiece lens, a distance from a position of each of the plurality of second light sources projected on the plane to the optical axis is longer than a distance from a position of each of the plurality of first light sources projected on the plane to the optical axis.

Claims (37)

1. A line-of-sight detection device comprising:

an eyepiece lens;

an image sensor disposed on an edge of the eyepiece lens and configured to capture an image of an eye facing the eyepiece lens;

a plurality of first light sources disposed along the edge of the eyepiece lens and disposed such that light is emitted to outside through the eyepiece lens;

a plurality of second light sources disposed along the edge of the eyepiece lens and disposed such that light is emitted to outside without passing through the eyepiece lens, wherein

on a plane that intersects vertically with an optical axis of the eyepiece lens, a distance from a position of each of the plurality of second light sources projected on the plane to the optical axis is longer than a distance from a position of each of the plurality of first light sources projected on the plane to the optical axis.

2. The line-of-sight detection device according to claim 1 , wherein

in a case where a center of a cornea of the eye intersects with the optical axis of the eyepiece lens, an angle formed by a light entering the eye from each of the plurality of second light sources, and the optical axis is larger than an angle formed by a light entering the eye from each of the plurality of first light sources, and the optical axis.

3. The line-of-sight detection device according to claim 1 , wherein

a number of second light sources disposed on a lower side of a horizontal line passing through a center of each eyepiece lens provided for user's eyes is more than a number of second light sources disposed on an upper side of the horizontal line.

4. The line-of-sight detection device according to claim 1 , wherein

the distance from the position of each of the plurality of second light sources projected on the plane to the optical axis is at least 1.2 times of the distance from the position of each of the plurality of first light sources projected on the plane to the optical axis.

5. The line-of-sight detection device according to claim 1 , wherein

the distance from the position of each of the plurality of second light sources projected on the plane to the optical axis is at least 1.5 times of the distance from the position of each of the plurality of first light sources projected on the plane to the optical axis.

6. The line-of-sight detection device according to claim 1 , wherein

the plurality of first light sources are disposed on an inner side of the plurality of second light sources with respect to the optical axis of the eyepiece lens.

7. The line-of-sight detection device according to claim 1 , wherein

each of the plurality of second light sources is a light source which emits infrared light, and is concealed using a material of which transmittance of the infrared light is higher than that of visible light.

8. The line-of-sight detection device according to claim 1 , further comprising an optical system including the eyepiece lens, wherein

light reflected from the eye enters the image sensor through the optical system,

each of the plurality of first light sources is disposed such that light is emitted to the eye through the optical system,

each of the plurality of second light sources is disposed such that light is emitted to the eye without passing through the optical system,

brightness of each of the plurality of first light sources is higher than brightness of each of the plurality of second light sources,

each of the plurality of second light sources is a light source which emits infrared light, and

in a case of focusing on at least one of the plurality of first light sources and the plurality of second light sources, a number of light sources per degree is the maximum in a range on opposite side of the image sensor with respect to the optical axis, out of a 360° range around the optical axis of the eyepiece lens.

9. The line-of-sight detection device according to claim 8 , wherein

brightness of each of the plurality of first light sources is higher than brightness of each of the plurality of second light sources.

10. The line-of-sight detection device according to claim 8 , wherein

a portion facing the image sensor is flat on a surface of the optical system,

a portion not facing the image sensor is a conical surface on the surface of the optical system.

11. The line-of-sight detection device according to claim 8 , wherein

the image sensor, the plurality of first light sources, and the plurality of second light sources are disposed on outer side of an image viewed by a user.

12. A head mounted display device comprising:

the line-of-sight detection device according to claim 1 ; and

a display configured to display an image that is visible through the eyepiece lens.

13. The line-of-sight detection device according to claim 1 , wherein

the image sensor, the plurality of first light sources, and the plurality of second light sources are disposed on outer side of an image viewed by a user.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2024
From: NAKAMICHI, SAKI
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 066927/0747 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2022-208035 · Dec 26, 2022 · national
JP 2023-180846 · Oct 20, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240210696A1 · Jun 27, 2024
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