Patents by Inventor Peter Blixt
Peter Blixt has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20160353025Abstract: An imaging device adapted to provide eye-tracking data by imaging at least one eye of a viewer, wherein: the imaging device is switchable between at least an active mode and a ready mode; the imaging device is configured, in the active mode, to use active eye illumination, which enables tracking of a corneal reflection, and to provide eye tracking data which include eye position and eye orientation; and the imaging device is configured, in the ready mode, to reduce an illumination intensity from a value the illumination intensity has in the active mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2016Publication date: December 1, 2016Applicant: TOBII ABInventors: Henrik Eskilsson, Mårten Skogö, John Elvesjö, Peter Blixt
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Patent number: 9495589Abstract: A gaze-point detection system includes at least one infrared (IR) signal source to be placed in a test scene as a reference point, a pair of eye glasses to be worn by a person, and a data processing and storage unit for calculating a gaze point of the person wearing the pair of eye glasses. The pair of eye glasses includes an image sensor, an eye-tracking unit and a camera. The image sensor detects IR signals from the at least one IR signal source and generates an IR signal source tracking signal. The eye-tracking unit determines adapted to determine the gaze direction of the person and generates an eye-tracking signal, and the camera acquires a test scene picture. The data processing and storage unit communicates with the pair of eye glasses and calculates the gaze point relative to the test scene picture.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2009Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: TOBII ABInventors: Johan Strombom, Marten Skogo, Per Nystedt, Simon Gustafsson, John Mikael Holtz Elvesjö, Peter Blixt
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Publication number: 20160314349Abstract: An imaging device adapted to provide eye-tracking data by imaging at least one eye of a viewer, wherein: the imaging device is switchable between at least an active mode and a ready mode; the imaging device is configured to use active eye illumination in the active mode, which enables tracking of a corneal reflection; and the imaging device is configured, in the ready mode, to reduce an illumination intensity from a value the illumination intensity has in the active mode, and to provide eye-tracking data which include eye position but not eye orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2016Publication date: October 27, 2016Applicant: Tobii ABInventors: Henrik Eskilsson, Mårten Skogö, John Elvesjö, Peter Blixt
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Patent number: 9442566Abstract: An imaging device adapted to provide eye-tracking data by imaging at least one eye of a viewer, wherein: the imaging device is switchable between at least an active mode and a ready mode; the imaging device is configured to use active eye illumination in the active mode, which enables tracking of a corneal reflection; and the imaging device is configured, in the ready mode, to reduce an illumination intensity from a value the illumination intensity has in the active mode, and to provide eye-tracking data which include eye position but not eye orientation.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2015Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: TOBII ABInventors: Henrik Eskilsson, Mårten Skogö, John Elvesjö, Peter Blixt
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Publication number: 20160139268Abstract: A visual display includes hidden reference illuminators adapted to emit invisible light for generating corneo-scleral reflections on an eye watching a screen surface of the display. The tracking of such reflections and the pupil center provides input to gaze tracking. A method for equipping and an LCD with a reference illuminator are also provided. Also provides are a system and method for determining a gaze point of an eye watching a visual display that includes reference illuminators. The determination of the gaze point may be based on an ellipsoidal cornea model.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2016Publication date: May 19, 2016Inventors: PETER BLIXT, ANDERS KINGBACK, Bengt REHNSTROM, JOHN ELVESJÖ, Mattias Kuldkepp
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Patent number: 9244170Abstract: A visual display includes hidden reference illuminators adapted to emit invisible light for generating corneo-scleral reflections on an eye watching a screen surface of the display. The tracking of such reflections and the pupil center provides input to gaze tracking. A method for equipping and an LCD with a reference illuminator are also provided. Also provides are a system and method for determining a gaze point of an eye watching a visual display that includes reference illuminators. The determination of the gaze point may be based on an ellipsoidal cornea model.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2013Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: Tobii Technology ABInventors: Peter Blixt, Anders Hoglund, Bengt Rehnstrom, John Elvesjö, Mattias Kuldkepp
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Patent number: 9194952Abstract: A visual display includes hidden reference illuminators adapted to emit invisible light for generating corneo-scleral reflections on an eye watching a screen surface of the display. The tracking of such reflections and the pupil center provides input to gaze tracking. A method for equipping and an LCD with a reference illuminator are also provided. Also provides are a system and method for determining a gaze point of an eye watching a visual display that includes reference illuminators. The determination of the gaze point may be based on an ellipsoidal cornea model.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2014Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: TOBII ABInventors: Peter Blixt, Bengt Rehnström, Anders Kingbäck, John Mikael Elvesjö, Mattias Kuldkepp
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Publication number: 20150145769Abstract: An imaging device adapted to provide eye-tracking data by imaging at least one eye of a viewer, wherein: the imaging device is switchable between at least an active mode and a ready mode; the imaging device is configured to use active eye illumination in the active mode, which enables tracking of a corneal reflection; and the imaging device is configured, in the ready mode, to reduce an illumination intensity from a value the illumination intensity has in the active mode, and to provide eye-tracking data which include eye position but not eye orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2015Publication date: May 28, 2015Applicant: TOBII TECHNOLOGY ABInventors: Henrik ESKILSSON, Mårten Skogö, John Elvesjö, Peter Blixt
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Publication number: 20150136990Abstract: A visual display includes hidden reference illuminators adapted to emit invisible light for generating corneo-scleral reflections on an eye watching a screen surface of the display. The tracking of such reflections and the pupil center provides input to gaze tracking. A method for equipping and an LCD with a reference illuminator are also provided. Also provides are a system and method for determining a gaze point of an eye watching a visual display that includes reference illuminators. The determination of the gaze point may be based on an ellipsoidal cornea model.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2014Publication date: May 21, 2015Inventors: Peter Blixt, Bengtä Rehnström, Anders Kingbäck, John Mikael Elvesjö, Mattias Kuldkepp
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Publication number: 20150092163Abstract: An eye tracker comprising at least one illuminator for illuminating an eye, at least two cameras for imaging the eye and a controller is disclosed. The configuration of the reference illuminator(s) and cameras is such that, at least one camera is coaxial with a reference illuminator and at least one camera is non-coaxial with a reference illuminator. On the one hand, the controller is adapted to select one of the cameras to be active with the aim of maximising an image quality metric and avoiding obscuring objects. On the other hand, the eye tracker is operable in a dual-camera mode to improve accuracy. The invention further provides a method and computer-program product for selecting a combination of an active reference illuminator from a plurality of reference illuminators and an active camera from a plurality of cameras.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2014Publication date: April 2, 2015Inventors: Peter Blixt, Gunnar Troili, Anders Kingbäck, John Mikael Elvesjö, Mårten Skogö
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Patent number: 8976110Abstract: A personal computer system includes a visual display, an imaging device adapted to provide eye-tracking data by imaging the face of a viewer of the visual display, and an input device for accepting eye-tracking control data and other input data. The imaging device is switchable between at least an active mode, a ready mode and an idle mode, and the switching time from the idle mode to the active mode is longer than the switching time from the ready mode to the active mode. The eye-tracking data provided in the ready mode may include eye position but not eye orientation. The system may include a dedicated input device for forcing the imaging device into active mode by directly triggering an interrupt; alternatively, the dedicated input device forces it permanently into idle mode.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2011Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Tobii Technology ABInventors: Henrik Eskilsson, Mårten Skogö, John Elvesjö, Peter Blixt
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Publication number: 20150042477Abstract: A monitoring system and method for monitoring and/or predicting drowsiness of a driver of a vehicle or a machinery operator are provided. A set of infrared, IR, or near infrared, NIR, light sources, is arranged such that an amount of the light emitted from the light source incidents on an eye of the driver or operator. The light that impinges on the eye of the driver or operator forms a virtual image of the signal sources on the eye including the sclera and/or cornea. An image sensor obtains consecutive images capturing the reflected light, wherein each image will contain glints from at least a subset or all of the light sources. A drowsiness index can be determined based on the extracted information of the glints of the sequence of images, wherein the drowsiness index indicates a degree of drowsiness of the driver or operator.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2014Publication date: February 12, 2015Inventors: Miroslav Kobetski, Johnny Holmberg, Peter Blixt, John Mikael Elvesjö
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Patent number: 8944600Abstract: An eye tracker includes at least one illuminator for illuminating an eye, at least two cameras for imaging the eye and a controller. The configuration of the reference illuminator and cameras is such that, at least one camera is coaxial with a reference illuminator and at least one camera is non-coaxial with a reference illuminator. The controller selects one of the cameras to be active to increase an image quality metric and avoid obscuring objects. The eye tracker is operable in a dual-camera mode to improve accuracy.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2012Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Tobii Technology ABInventors: Peter Blixt, Gunnar Troili, Anders Kingback, John Mikael Elvesjö, Mårten Skogö
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Patent number: 8902070Abstract: A monitoring system and method for monitoring and/or predicting drowsiness of a driver of a vehicle or a machinery operator are provided. A set of infrared, IR, or near infrared, NIR, light sources, is arranged such that an amount of the light emitted from the light source incidents on an eye of the driver or operator. The light that impinges on the eye of the driver or operator forms a virtual image of the signal sources on the eye including the sclera and/or cornea. An image sensor obtains consecutive images capturing the reflected light, wherein each image will contain glints from at least a subset or all of the light sources. A drowsiness index can be determined based on the extracted information of the glints of the sequence of images, wherein the drowsiness index indicates a degree of drowsiness of the driver or operator.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2012Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Tobii Technology ABInventors: Miroslav Kobetski, Peter Blixt, Johnny Holmberg, John Mikael Elvesjo
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Publication number: 20140313129Abstract: A personal computer system comprises a visual display, an imaging device adapted to provide eye-tracking data by imaging at least one eye of a viewer of the visual display, and identifying means for recognizing the viewer with reference to one of a plurality of predefined personal profiles. The personal computer system further comprises an eye-tracking processor for processing the eye-tracking data. According to the invention, the eye-tracking processor is selectively operable in one of a plurality of personalized active sub-modes associated with said personal profiles. The sub-modes may differ with regard to eye-tracking related or power-management related settings. Further, the identifying means may sense an identified viewer's actual viewing condition (e.g., use of viewing aids or wearing of garments), wherein the imaging device is further operable in a sub profile mode associated with the determined actual viewing condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2012Publication date: October 23, 2014Inventors: John Mikael Elvesjö, Anders Kingbäck, Gunnar Troili, Mårten Skogö, Henrik Eskilsson, Peter Blixt
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Publication number: 20140293226Abstract: A subject (180) is illuminated whose movements of at least one eye are to be registered by an eye-tracker for producing resulting data (DEYE). To this aim, a coherent light source in light producing means (140) produces at least one well-defined light beam (L1, L2). A diffractive optical element is arranged between the coherent light source and an output from the light producing means (140). The diffractive optical element is configured to direct a light beam (L1) towards at least a first designated area (A1) estimated to cover the at least one eye of the subject (180). Image registering means (150) registers light from the at least one light beam (L1, L2) having been reflected against the subject (180). The resulting data (DEYE) are produced in response to these light reflections, which resulting data (DEYE) represent movements of the at least one eye of the subject (180).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2012Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: TOBII TECHNOLOGY ABInventors: Richard Hainzl, Mattias Kuldkepp, Peter Blixt, Mårten Skogö
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Publication number: 20140146156Abstract: A method of presenting gaze-point data of a subject detected by an eye-tracking unit includes presenting a test scene picture acquired by a camera unit, and displaying shapes on the test scene picture. The shapes represent momentary gaze points of the subject.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2014Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: TOBII TECHNOLOGY ABInventors: Johan Strombom, Marten Skogo, Per Nystedt, Simon Gustafsson, John Mikael Holtz Elvesjo, Peter Blixt
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Publication number: 20140062868Abstract: A visual display includes hidden reference illuminators adapted to emit invisible light for generating corneo-scleral reflections on an eye watching a screen surface of the display. The tracking of such reflections and the pupil center provides input to gaze tracking. A method for equipping and an LCD with a reference illuminator are also provided. Also provides are a system and method for determining a gaze point of an eye watching a visual display that includes reference illuminators. The determination of the gaze point may be based on an ellipsoidal cornea model.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2013Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: Tobii Technology ABInventors: PETER BLIXT, Anders Hoglund, Bengt Rehnstrom, John Elvesjö, Mattias Kuldkepp
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Patent number: 8610768Abstract: The invention generally relates to systems and methods for eye detection for use in, for example, installations and systems for tracking eyes and gaze angle/directions. The system includes a plurality of eye detection units connected to an image sensor. The eye detection units are adapted to receive regions of picture elements of a digital image frame substantially in parallel and wherein the eye detection units are adapted to operate substantially in parallel, each eye detection unit being adapted to receive a specified region of the picture elements of at least one digital image frame and including an eye feature extraction module adapted to perform a eye feature extraction process on the received picture elements to identify predetermined eye features.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2010Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Tobii Technology ABInventors: Johnny Holmberg, Peter Blixt, John Elvesjö
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Patent number: 8562136Abstract: A visual display characterized by hidden reference illuminators is adapted to emit invisible light for generating corneo-scleral reflections on an eye watching a screen surface of the display. The tracking of such reflections and the pupil center provides input for gaze tracking. A method for equipping and an LCD with a reference illuminator are also provided. A system and method for determining a gaze point of an eye watching a visual display comprising reference illuminators are further provided. The determination of the gaze point may be based on an ellipsoidal cornea model.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2012Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Tobii Technology ABInventors: Peter Blixt, Anders Hoglund, Bengt Rehnstrom, John Elvesjö