Low profile helmet mounted display (HMD) eye tracker
US11372476B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 17, 2018 |
| Grant date | Jun 28, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 13, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N23/56
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A low-profile eye-tracking system for an off-visor helmet-mounted display (HMD) includes annular illuminators clipped to, and aligned with, the terminal component (e.g., the emitter or combiner) of the HMD optical chain. The illuminators include visible-light or IR light sources mounted around the circumference of the illuminator for bouncing light off the visor's inner surface and into the pilot's left or right eye (the HMD may include separate eye-tracking systems for each eye). Image sensors are positioned to sequentially capture images of the illuminated eyes reflected off the visor surface. HMD onboard electronics analyze the captured image sequence to determine the azimuth and elevation of the pilot's eye relative to the centerline of the HMD optics.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.