Eye reflections using IR light sources on a transparent substrate
Various implementations disclosed herein include electronic devices, systems, and methods that detect reflections of light produced by a plurality of light sources reflected from an eye. An example electronic device may include a frame, an image sensor, a transparent substrate coupled to the frame, a waveguide coupled to the transparent substrate, and a processor coupled to the plurality of IR light sources. The transparent substrate may include a plurality of infrared (IR) light sources that may be configured in a spatial arrangement within the transparent substrate or on a surface of the transparent substrate. The waveguide may be configured to display a projected image. The processor may be configured to receive sensor data from the image sensor. The sensor data may correspond to a plurality of reflections of light produced by the plurality of IR light sources and reflected from an eye.
1 . An electronic device comprising:
a frame associated with eyeglasses;
an image sensor;
a transparent substrate coupled to the frame, the transparent substrate comprising a plurality of infrared (IR) light sources, wherein the plurality of IR light sources are configured to direct light toward an eye and are configured in a spatial arrangement within the transparent substrate or on a surface of the transparent substrate;
a waveguide coupled to the transparent substrate, wherein the waveguide is configured to display a projected image; and
a processor coupled to the plurality of IR light sources, the processor configured to:
receive sensor data from the image sensor, the sensor data corresponding to a plurality of reflections of light produced by the plurality of IR light sources and reflected from the eye.
2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is coupled to the plurality of IR light sources via transparent conductors.
3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the transparent substrate is configured to display content.
4 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the transparent substrate comprises a bias layer, and the plurality of IR light sources are configured in a spatial arrangement on a surface of the bias layer.
5 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the transparent substrate comprises the waveguide.
6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein each light source is equidistant from an adjacent light source.
7 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein each light source is spaced from each adjacent light source based on a minimum distant constraint.
8 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of IR light sources are embedded within the transparent substrate.
9 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of IR light sources are connected to a power source via transparent conductors.
10 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of IR light sources are less than 200 micrometers in diameter.
11 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of IR light sources are less than 100 micrometers in diameter.
12 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of IR light sources are individually addressable.
13 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of IR light sources are micro light emitting diodes (LEDs).
14 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of IR light sources are micro-infrared (IR) LEDs.
15 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of IR light sources are miniature light emitting diodes (mini-LEDs).
16 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of IR light sources are divided into subgroups, each subgroup comprising two or more light sources of the plurality of light sources.
17 . The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the subgroups of the plurality of IR light sources are dispersed throughout the transparent substrate.
18 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the spatial arrangement comprises a geometric shape.
19 . The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the geometric shape comprises:
a parabola,
an ellipse,
a hyperbola, or
a cycloid.
20 . The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the geometric shape is based on a transcendental curve or an algebraic curve.
21 . The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of IR light sources are not perceptible to a human eye having average visual acuity when viewed from a distance of 1-5 cm.
22 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a head-mounted device (HMD).
23 . A method comprising:
at an electronic device having a processor:
producing light from a plurality of light sources that are configured in a spatial arrangement within a transparent substrate or on a surface of the transparent substrate, wherein the plurality of light sources are configured to direct light toward an eye, wherein the transparent substrate is coupled to a frame associated with eyeglasses, and wherein a waveguide is coupled to the transparent substrate and is configured to display a projected image;
receiving sensor data from an image sensor, the sensor data corresponding to a plurality of reflections of the light reflected from the eye; and
assessing a characteristic of the eye based on the sensor data.
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein assessing the characteristic from the eye comprises determining an orientation of the eye based on identifying a pattern of the plurality of reflections of the light reflected from the eye.
25 . An electronic device comprising:
a transparent substrate coupled to a frame associated with eyeglasses;
a waveguide coupled to the transparent substrate and configured to display a projected image;
a plurality of light sources configured in a spatial arrangement within the transparent substrate or on a surface of the transparent substrate;
an image sensor;
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and
one or more processors coupled to the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprises program instructions that, when executed on the one or more processors, cause the device to perform operations comprising:
producing light from the plurality of light sources on the transparent substrate, wherein the light from the plurality of light sources is configured to direct light toward an eye;
receiving sensor data from the image sensor, the sensor data corresponding to a plurality of reflections of the light reflected from the eye; and
assessing an eye characteristic based on the sensor data.
26 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of IR light sources are positioned near the eye when the eyeglasses are worn on a head of a user.