Method and apparatus for gaze detection

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining gaze direction information, includes a light source for forming illuminating light to an eye region of a user, and optical element(s) configured to guide the illuminating light from the light source to the eye region. The illuminating light is dynamically adjustable to generate a dynamic light beam on the eye region, and a sensor is configured to capture reflected light on the eye region and generate reflection eye data. The apparatus can maintain user profile information, adjust spectral power distribution of the light source based on the user profile information, receive the reflection eye data, and generate the gaze direction information based on the reflection eye data.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one sensor configured to capture reflected light from at least one eye of a user upon illuminating the eye with illuminating light produced by at least one light source, wherein the apparatus is configured, during use, to capture image information of selected feature(s) of the at least one eye, and configured to:
 obtain from the captured image information at least one image quality contingent on the illuminating light, the image quality being one or more of contrast, brightness, dynamic range, and luminance level; and 
 adjust the illuminating light to enhance said at least one image quality. 
   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , where the image information of selected feature(s) pertains to an optical property or properties of said selected feature(s) of the at least one eye. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , comprising a spectrally adjustable light source to produce the illuminating light. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , where the adjustment of the illuminating light is based on a difference in said at least one image quality across a plurality of spectral bands resulting in adjusted spectral power distribution of the illuminating light. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , where the adjustment of the illuminating light is based on maximizing at least one image quality between two or more selected features of the at least one eye. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , where the adjustment of the illuminating light is based on minimizing at least one image quality between two or more selected features of the eye. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , where the adjustment of the illuminating light is based on distance of the at least one eye from the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , configured to measure reflectance concerning said selected feature(s). 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , configured to use reflected light from an eye region, or region of interest, of one or more regions of said at least one eye of a user. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , configured to adjust the illuminating light by adjusting power of said at least one light source. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , configured to adjust the illuminating light by PWM, pulse width modulation. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , configured to adjust the illuminating light by current/voltage/modulation. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , where said at least one sensor comprises a camera or a photosensitive sensor. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , configured to adjust and/or continuously update settings of the apparatus based on a calibration procedure or sensor calibration.