Patents Assigned to TOBII AB
  • Publication number: 20230186682
    Abstract: An eye tracking device for tracking an eye is described. The eye tracking device comprises: a first diffractive optical element, DOE, arranged in front of the eye, an image module, wherein the image module is configured to capture an image of the eye via the first DOE. The first DOE is adapted to direct a first portion of incident light reflected from the eye, towards the image module. The eye tracking device is characterized in that the first DOE is configured to provide a lens effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: TOBII AB
    Inventor: Daniel Tornéus
  • Patent number: 11675428
    Abstract: A system and a method for determining a gaze direction of a user viewing a scene is provided. The system comprises a camera for obtaining an image of at least one of the user's eyes, a depth information detection device for obtaining depth data related to the image, and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to define a surface at a predetermined position relative to the user's eye based on the depth data, obtain a normalized image by projecting the image onto the surface and determine a normalized gaze direction based on the normalized image. The processing unit is further configured to determine a gaze direction based on the normalized gaze direction and the depth data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Tobii AB
    Inventors: Oscar Danielsson, Daniel Johansson Torneus
  • Patent number: 11669162
    Abstract: A method for detecting an eye event of a user using an eye tracking system, the method comprising capturing a first image of a first eye of a user, capturing an image of a second eye of the user a first period after capturing the first image of the first eye and a second period before capturing a next image of the first eye, capturing a second image of the first eye the second period after capturing the image of the second eye, determining that an eye event has occurred based on a difference between the first and second images of the first eye, and performing at least one action if it is determined that that an eye event has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Tobii AB
    Inventor: Andreas Klingström
  • Patent number: 11665333
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a wearable apparatus is provided which may include a holographic film disposed on the wearable apparatus, an eye tracking device including an image sensor and an illuminator, and one or more processors. The processors may be configured to activate the illuminator to illuminate the holographic film and capture, with the image sensor, an image of at least a portion of the holographic film while the holographic film is illuminated. The processors may also be configured to determine a characteristic of the holographic film based on the image and determine, based on the characteristic, a location or an orientation of the image sensor relative to the holographic film. The processors may further be configured to change, based on the location or the orientation of the image sensor relative to the holographic film, at least one calibration parameter of the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Tobii AB
    Inventors: Daniel Tornéus, Torbjörn Sundberg, Magnus Arvidsson
  • Patent number: 11662595
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for switching user input modality of a displaying device displaying an interactable region. The displaying device is in communication with a first input modality and a second input modality. The first input modality is an eye tracker configured to determine gaze data of a user and the second input modality is an input modality other than an eye tracker configured to determine a pointing ray. The first input modality is selected as the input modality of the displaying device. The method comprises determining whether the pointing ray of the second input modality is intersecting with the interactable region. The method further comprises, based on the determining switching the input modality of the displaying device to the second input modality when the pointing ray of the second input modality is intersecting with the interactable region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Tobii AB
    Inventors: Niklas Blomqvist, Robin Thunström, Dennis Rådell, Ralf Biedert
  • Publication number: 20230154030
    Abstract: The invention is related to a method of estimating an orientation of an object in an image, comprising the steps of: calculating, for the object in the image, a probability distribution of rotation; and estimating the orientation of the object from the calculated probability distribution; wherein the step of calculating the probability distribution and/or the step of estimating the orientation of the object are executed by a neural network; wherein the probability distribution is a matrix Fisher probability density function; and wherein the step of calculating the probability distribution includes approximating a normalizing function for the matrix Fisher probability density function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: Tobii AB
    Inventors: David Molin, Gerald Bianchi
  • Patent number: 11619990
    Abstract: There is provided a method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for classifying glints using an eye tracking system of a head-mounted device, by obtaining the position of any glint present in a current image of the first eye; obtaining a dataset indicative of the respective position of at least one glint detected in one or more previously captured images of the first eye; and, for each glint present in current image, determining if the position of the glint corresponds to the position of a glint in the dataset and, if the positions correspond, classify the glint as a static glint. The static glints may be excluded from further processing in the eye tracking system. If there has been a movement of an eye of the user of the head-mounted device, embodiments may further comprise updating the dataset based on the current image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: TOBII AB
    Inventors: Mikael Rosell, Simon Johansson, Johannes Kron, Macarena Garcia Romero
  • Patent number: 11622103
    Abstract: An augmented reality, virtual reality, or other wearable apparatus comprises an eye tracking device comprising an image sensor, a lens, and one or more processors. In some embodiments, the lens comprises a marker, and the one or more processors are configured to receive an image from the image sensor, wherein the image shows the marker, determine a distance from the image sensor to the marker based on the image, and change a calibration parameter of an eye tracking algorithm based on the distance. In some embodiments, the one or more processors are configured to receive image data from the image sensor, wherein the image data corresponds to an image as observed through the lens, determine a level or pattern of pincushion distortion in the image based on the image data, and change a calibration parameter of an eye tracking algorithm based on the level or the pattern of pincushion distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: TOBII AB
    Inventors: Jonas Andersson, Anders Clausen, Richard Hainzl, Anders Kingbäck, Simon Olin, Mark Ryan, Daniel Tornéus, Björn Nutti, Torbjörn Sundberg, Catarina Tidbeck, Ralf Biedert, Niklas Blomqvist, Dennis Rådell, Robin Thunström
  • Patent number: 11614798
    Abstract: A system for determining a gaze point of a user, the system comprising at least one sensor configured to determine at least one signal representative of a variation in a volume of the interior of a user's ear, and a processor configured to determine a direction of eye movement of the user based on the determined signal, and determine a gaze point of the user based on the direction of eye movement. Further, the disclosure relates to a corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: TOBII AB
    Inventor: Andrew Muehlhausen
  • Patent number: 11604510
    Abstract: A computer system can be controlled with non-contact inputs through zonal control. In an embodiment, a non-contact input that is an eye-tracking device is used to track the gaze of a user. A computer's display, and beyond, can be separated into a number of discrete zones according to a configuration. Each zone is associated with a computer function. The zones and/or their functions can, but need not, be indicated to the user. The user can perform the various functions by moving gaze towards the zone associated with that function and providing an activation signal of intent. The activation signal of intent can be a contact-required or non-contact action, such as a button press or dwelling gaze, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: TOBII AB
    Inventors: David Figgins Henderek, Anders Olsson, Magnus Carl Olof Sävmarker, Staffan Wingren
  • Patent number: 11594075
    Abstract: An eye tracking device for tracking an eye is described. The eye tracking device comprises: a first diffractive optical element, DOE, arranged in front of the eye, an image module, wherein the image module is configured to capture an image of the eye via the first DOE. The first DOE is adapted to direct a first portion of incident light reflected from the eye, towards the image module. The eye tracking device is characterized in that the first DOE is configured to provide a lens effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: TOBII AB
    Inventor: Daniel Tornéus
  • Patent number: 11593962
    Abstract: An eye tracking system configured to: receive a plurality of right-eye-images of a right eye of a user; receive a plurality of left-eye-images of a left eye of a user, each left-eye-image corresponding to a right-eye-image in the plurality of right-eye-images; detect a pupil and determine an associated pupil-signal, for each of the plurality of right-eye-images and each of the plurality of left-eye-images; calculate a right-eye-pupil-variation of the pupil-signals for the plurality of right-eye-images and a left-eye-pupil-variation of the pupil-signals for the plurality of left-eye-images; and determine a right-eye-weighting and a left-eye-weighting based on the right-eye-pupil-variation and the left-eye-pupil-variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: TOBII AB
    Inventors: Mikael Rosell, Simon Johansson, Pravin Kumar Rana, Yimu Wang, Gilfredo Remon Salazar
  • Patent number: 11592898
    Abstract: Techniques for changing the presentation of information on a user interface based on presence are described. In an example, a computer system determines, based on an image sensor associated with the system, a first presence of a first user relative to a computing device. The computer system also determines an identifier of the first user. The identifier is associated with operating the computing device. The operating comprises a presentation of the user interface by the computing device. The computer system also determines, based on the image sensor, a second presence of a second person relative to the computing device. The computer system causes an update to the user interface based on the second presence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Tobii AB
    Inventors: Daniel Ricknäs, Erland George-Svahn, Rebecka Lannsjö, Regimantas Vegele, Andrew Ratcliff, Guido Hermans, Mattias Hanqvist, Simon Hugosson, Dmitrios Koufos, Morgan Viktorsson, Jonas Alexanderson, Siavash Moghaddam, Jimmy Carlsten, Martin Chrzan
  • Patent number: 11586281
    Abstract: A head mountable arrangement assists a subject to acquire spatial information about a surrounding environment by receiving gaze data from an eyetracker and spatial data from a distance sensor respectively. The gaze data describe an estimated point of regard of the subject, and the spatial data describe a distance between a reference point and an object in the surrounding environment. A feedback signal is provided, which indicates a distance from the subject to said object in the surrounding environment. The feedback signal is generated based on the estimated point of regard and the spatial data, and may reflect the distance to a surface element of an object that intersects a straight line between an eye-base line of the subject and the estimated point of regard, which surface element is located closer to the eye-base line than any other surface element of the objects in the surrounding environment along said straight line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOBII AB
    Inventors: Andrew Ratcliff, Daniel Tornéus, Eli Lundberg, Henrik Andersson
  • Patent number: 11580765
    Abstract: A method including providing a sensor device including one or several sensors. The sensor device is arranged to perform at least one high-power type measurement and at least one low-power type measurement and includes at least one image sensor arranged to depict a person by a measurement of said high-power type. Each of the low-power type measurements over time requires less electric power for operation as compared to each of the high-power type measurements. The method includes detecting a potential presence of the person using at least one of said low-power type measurements. The method includes producing, using one of the high-power type measurements, an image depicting a person and detecting a presence of the person based on im-age analysis of the image. The method includes detecting, using at least one of the low-power type measurements, a maintained presence of the person. The method includes failing to detect a maintained presence of the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: TOBII AB
    Inventors: Dimitrios Koufos, Erland George-Svahn, Magnus Ivarsson
  • Patent number: 11579687
    Abstract: A method for determining a current gaze direction of a user in relation to a three-dimensional (“3D”) scene, the 3D scene sampled by a rendering function to produce a two-dimensional (“2D”) projection image of the 3D scene, the sampling performed based on a virtual camera in turn being associated with a camera position and camera direction in the 3D scene. The method includes determining, by a gaze direction detection means, a first gaze direction of the user related to the 3D scene at a first gaze time point. The method includes determining a time-dependent virtual camera 3D transformation representing a change of a virtual camera position and/or virtual camera direction between the first gaze time point and a second sampling. The method includes determining the current gaze direction as a modified gaze direction calculated based on the first gaze direction and an inverse of the time-dependent virtual camera 3D transformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Tobii AB
    Inventor: Fredrik Lindh
  • Patent number: 11573631
    Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods and systems for assisting a user when interacting with a graphical user interface by combining gaze based input with gesture based user commands. The present invention provide systems, devices and method that enable a user of a computer system without a traditional touch-screen to interact with graphical user interfaces in a touch-screen like manner using a combination of gaze based input and gesture based user commands. Furthermore, the present invention offers a solution for touch-screen like interaction using gaze input and gesture based input as a complement or an alternative to touch-screen interactions with a computer device having a touch-screen, such as for instance in situations where interaction with the regular touch-screen is cumbersome or ergonomically challenging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Tobii AB
    Inventors: Markus Cederlund, Robert Gavelin, Anders Vennström, Anders Kaplan, Anders Olsson, Mårten Skogö
  • Patent number: 11570370
    Abstract: There is provided a method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for controlling an eye tracking system (200) to obtain a first image (500) captured under active illumination by at least one infrared, IR, illuminator (112, 113) associated with the eye tracking system (200) and at a current exposure setting, using the image sensor device (110); and, if at least one eye (100, 120) is depicted in the first image (500): define at least one region of interest, ROI, (501, 502, 503, 504) from the first image (500) comprising a group of pixels in the first image (500) representing at least a part of the depicted at least one eye (100, 120); determine a respective intensity value for each of the at least one ROI (501, 502, 503, 504); determine a second exposure setting by adjusting at least one exposure parameter of the image sensor device (110) based on the determined intensity value, or values, for the at least one ROI (501, 502, 503, 504); and set the current exposure setting to the second ex
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Tobii AB
    Inventors: Magnus Ivarsson, Niklas Ollesson, Viktor Åberg, Anna Redz
  • Patent number: 11568560
    Abstract: There is provided mechanisms for calibration of an eye tracking system. An eye tracking system comprises a pupil centre corneal reflection (PCCR) based eye tracker and a non-PCCR based eye tracker. A method comprises obtaining at least one first eye position of a subject by applying the PCCR based eye tracker on an image set depicting the subject. The method comprises calibrating a head model of the non-PCCR based eye tracker, as applied on the image set, for the subject using the obtained at least one first eye position from the PCCR based eye tracker as ground truth. The head model comprises facial features that include at least one second eye position. The calibrating involves positioning the head model in order for its at least one second eye position to be consistent with the at least one first eye position given by the PCCR based eye tracker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Tobii AB
    Inventors: Per Fogelström, Anna Redz, Anders Dahl, Niklas Ollesson
  • Patent number: 11556006
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting a shadow in an image of an eye region of a user wearing a Head Mounted Device, HMD. The method comprises obtaining, from a camera of the HMD, an image of the eye region of the user wearing a HMD and determining an area of interest in the image, the area of interest comprising a plurality of subareas. The method further comprises determining a first brightness level for a first subarea of the plurality of subareas and determining a second brightness level for a second subarea of the plurality of subareas. The method further comprises comparing the first brightness level with the second brightness level, and, based on the comparing, selectively generating a signal indicating a shadow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Tobii AB
    Inventors: Yimu Wang, Ylva Björk, Joakim Zachrisson, Pravin Kumar Rana