Imaging Method

Abstract

A wearable computing device or a head-mounted display (HMD) may be configured to track the gaze axis of an eye of the wearer. In particular, the device may be configured to observe movement of a wearer's pupil and, based on the movement, determine inputs to a user interface. For example, using eye gaze detection, the HMD may change a tracking rate of a displayed virtual image based on where the user is looking. Gazing at the center of the HMD field of view may, for instance, allow for fine movements of the virtual display. Gazing near an edge of the HMD field of view may provide coarser movements.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 determining a gaze axis within a field of view of a head-mounted display (HMD), wherein the HMD is configured to display virtual images within the field of view;   determining a reference axis related to the HMD;   adjusting a tracking rate based on the gaze axis and the reference axis; and   controlling the HMD to move the virtual images within the field of view based on the tracking rate.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein determining the gaze axis comprises:
 obtaining at least one image of at least one eye of a wearer of the HMD; and   determining the gaze axis from the at least one image.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one image further comprises at least one image of at least one eye pupil of a wearer of the HMD. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the reference axis related to the HMD corresponds to a central axis of the field of view. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the reference axis related to the HMD comprises an axis that extends from the viewing location to a target object. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the reference axis related to the HMD corresponds to an orientation of the HMD. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein adjusting the tracking rate further comprises:
 determining an angle difference between the gaze axis and the reference axis; and   adjusting the tracking rate based on the angle difference.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein adjusting the tracking rate further comprises adjusting the tracking rate proportionally based on the angle difference. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein controlling the HMD to move the virtual images within the field of view comprises controlling the HMD to pan the virtual images within the field of view. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the virtual images comprise one-dimensional virtual objects. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the virtual images comprise two-dimensional virtual objects. 
     
     
         22 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to perform functions, comprising:
 determining a gaze axis within a field of view of a head-mounted display (HMD), wherein the HMD is configured to display virtual images within the field of view;   determining a reference axis related to the HMD;   adjusting a tracking rate based on the gaze axis and the reference axis; and   controlling the HMD to move the virtual images within the field of view based on the tracking rate.   
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein determining a reference axis comprises receiving information about a target object. 
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein determining a reference axis comprises receiving global positioning system (GPS) data. 
     
     
         25 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein determining a reference axis comprises receiving accelerometer data. 
     
     
         26 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein determining a reference axis comprises receiving gyroscope data. 
     
     
         27 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein adjusting the tracking rate comprises adjusting the tracking rate proportionally based on an angle difference between the gaze axis and the reference axis. 
     
     
         28 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein controlling the HMD to move the virtual images within the field of view comprises controlling the HMD to pan the virtual images within the field of view. 
     
     
         29 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein the virtual images comprise one-dimensional virtual objects. 
     
     
         30 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein the virtual images comprise two-dimensional virtual objects.