Calibration free, motion tolerant eye-gaze direction detector with contextually aware computer interaction and communication methods

Abstract

Eye tracking systems and methods include such exemplary features as a display device, at least one image capture device and a processing device. The display device displays a user interface including one or more interface elements to a user. The at least one image capture device detects a user's gaze location relative to the display device. The processing device electronically analyzes the location of user elements within the user interface relative to the user's gaze location and dynamically determine whether to initiate the display of a zoom window. The dynamic determination of whether to initiate display of the zoom window may further include analysis of the number, size and density of user elements within the user interface relative to the user's gaze location, the application type associated with the user interface or at the user's gaze location, and/or the structure of eye movements relative to the user interface.

1 .- 90 . (canceled) 
     
     
         91 . A method of optimizing the image capture mode for an eye tracking device, comprising:
 obtaining at least one bright-eye image and at least one dark-eye image of one or more eyes of a user;   gathering one or more data parameters associated with the at least one bright-eye image and the at least one dark-eye image to determine an image score associated with the at least one bright-eye image and an image score associated with the at least one dark-eye image;   designating a best mode of image capture based on the determined image score associated with the at least one bright-eye image and the at least one dark-eye image; and   configuring the eye tracking device to obtain future images in the designated best mode of image capture.   
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein gathering one or more data parameters associated with the at least one bright-eye image and the at least one dark-eye image comprises obtaining a pupil noise score for each image. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein gathering one or more data parameters associated with the at least one bright-eye image and the at least one dark-eye image comprises calculating the average image intensity for each image. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein gathering one or more data parameters associated with the at least one bright-eye image and the at least one dark-eye image comprises obtaining an image glare score for each image. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 91 , further comprising inverting either the at least one bright-eye image or the at least one dark-eye image before said step of gathering one or more data parameters. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein obtaining at least one bright-eye image comprises integrating an image capture device while one or more eyes of a user are illuminated by a light source that is substantially coaxially aligned with the image capture device; and wherein obtaining at least one dark-eye image comprises integrating an image capture device while one or more eyes of a user are illuminated by a light source that is not substantially aligned with the image capture device. 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 91 , further comprising a step of periodically repeating said obtaining, gathering and designating steps to determine whether to continue using the designated best mode of image capture or shift to a different mode. 
     
     
         98 . An eye tracking device, comprising:
 at least first and second image capture devices configured to obtain sets of images of a user's eyes;   at least one light source configured to selectively illuminate the eyes of a user of the eye tracking device;   a processing device configured to coordinate the timing of illumination provided by the at least one light source and images captured by the at least first and second image capture devices such that at least one bright-eye image is obtained and at least one dark-eye image is obtained; and   wherein said processing device is further configured to analyze the at least one bright-eye image and the at least one dark-eye image to determine respective image scores associated with the at least one bright-eye image and the at least one dark-eye image and to designate a best mode of image capture for future images based on the determined respective image scores.   
     
     
         99 . The eye tracking device of  claim 98 , wherein the respective image scores determined for the at least one bright-eye image and the at least one dark-eye image are calculated based on a determination of one or more of an image intensity parameter, pupil noise parameter and image glare parameter. 
     
     
         100 . The eye tracking device of  claim 98 , wherein said processing device is further configured to invert either the at least one bright-eye image or the at least one dark-eye image before determining the respective image scores. 
     
     
         101 . The eye tracking device of  claim 98 , wherein said processing device is further configured to periodically obtain at least one bright-eye image and at least one dark-eye image such that respective image scores can be determined and a best mode of image capture can be designated on a periodic basis. 
     
     
         102 . The eye tracking device of  claim 98 , wherein said at least one light source comprises one or more LEDs that are coaxially aligned with said first image capture device and that are not coaxially aligned with said second image capture device, and wherein said first image capture device is configured to obtain bright-eye images while said second image capture device is configured to obtain dark-eye images. 
     
     
         103 . The eye tracking device of  claim 98 , further comprising at least one additional light source such that the eye tracking device contains at least first and second light sources generally corresponding to and respectively substantially coaxially aligned with the at least first and second image capture devices. 
     
     
         104 . The eye tracking device of  claim 103 , wherein said first image capture device and the corresponding substantially coaxially aligned first light source are configured to operate at the same time to obtain a first bright-eye image, and wherein said second image capture device and the corresponding substantially aligned second light source are configured to operate at the same time to obtain a second bright-eye image. 
     
     
         105 . The eye tracking device of  claim 103 , wherein said first image capture device and said second light source are configured to operate at the same time to obtain a first dark-eye image and wherein said second image capture device and said first light source are configured to operate at the same time to obtain a second dark-eye image.