Patents Assigned to Tobii Technology AB
  • Publication number: 20140168271
    Abstract: A graphics presentation apparatus including a display unit, an eye-tracking module, and a data output module. The eye-tracking module registers image data representing at least one eye of a user of the apparatus. Furthermore, the eye-tracking module determines, based on the registered image data, an orientation of the at least one eye relative to the display unit. Finally, in response thereto, the eye-tracking module generates a control signal controlling the data output module to produce visual content with such orientation on the display unit that a misalignment between the orientation of said at least one part and the orientation of the at least one eye of the user is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Tobii Technology AB
    Inventors: Aron Yu, Marten Skogo, Robert Gavelin, Per Nystedt
  • Publication number: 20140146156
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: TOBII TECHNOLOGY AB
    Inventors: Johan Strombom, Marten Skogo, Per Nystedt, Simon Gustafsson, John Mikael Holtz Elvesjo, Peter Blixt
  • Publication number: 20140062868
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Tobii Technology AB
    Inventors: PETER BLIXT, Anders Hoglund, Bengt Rehnstrom, John Elvesjö, Mattias Kuldkepp
  • Publication number: 20140043227
    Abstract: A gaze tracking system, leaving a low power mode in response to an activation signal, captures an initial burst of eye pictures in short time by restricting the image area of a sensor, with the purpose of enabling an increased frame rate. Subsequent eye pictures are captured at normal frame rate. The first gaze point value is computed memorylessly based on the initial burst of eye pictures and no additional imagery, while subsequent values may be computed recursively by taking into account previous gaze point values or information from previous eye pictures. The restriction of the image area may be guided by a preliminary overview picture captured using the same or a different sensor. From the gaze point values, the system may derive a control signal to be supplied to a computer device with a visual display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Tobii Technology AB
    Inventors: Mårten SKOGÖ, Anders OLSSON, John Mikael ELVESJÖ, Aron YU
  • Publication number: 20140009390
    Abstract: A computer apparatus is associated with a graphical display presenting at least one GUI-component adapted to be manipulated based on user-generated commands An event engine is adapted to receive an eye-tracking data signal that describes a user's point of regard on the display. Based on the signal, the event engine produces a set of non-cursor controlling event output signals, which influence the at least one GUI-component. Each non-cursor controlling event output signal describes a particular aspect of the user's ocular activity in respect of the display. Initially, the event engine receives a control signal request from each of the at least one GUI-component. The control signal request defines a sub-set of the set of non-cursor controlling event output signals which is required by the particular GUI-component. The event engine delivers non-cursor controlling event output signals to the at least one GUI-component in accordance with each respective control signal request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Tobii Technology AB
    Inventors: Christoffer BJÖRKLUND, Henrik ESKILSSON, Magnus JACOBSON, Mårten SKOGÖ
  • Patent number: 8610768
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Tobii Technology AB
    Inventors: Johnny Holmberg, Peter Blixt, John Elvesjö
  • Publication number: 20130321270
    Abstract: A computer apparatus is associated with a graphical display presenting at least one GUI-component adapted to be manipulated based on user-generated commands. An event engine is adapted to receive an eye-tracking data signal that describes a user's point of regard on the display. Based on the signal, the event engine produces a set of non-cursor controlling event output signals, which influence the at least one GUI-component. Each non-cursor controlling event output signal describes a particular aspect of the user's ocular activity in respect of the display. Initially, the event engine receives a control signal request from each of the at least one GUI-component. The control signal request defines a sub-set of the set of non-cursor controlling event output signals which is required by the particular GUI-component. The event engine delivers non-cursor controlling event output signals to the at least one GUI-component in accordance with each respective control signal request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: TOBII TECHNOLOGY AB
    Inventors: Christoffer BJÖRKLUND, Henrik ESKILSSON, Magnus JACOBSON, Mårten SKOGÖ
  • Publication number: 20130326431
    Abstract: A computer apparatus is associated with a graphical display presenting at least one GUI-component adapted to be manipulated based on user-generated commands. An event engine is adapted to receive an eye-tracking data signal that describes a user's point of regard on the display. Based on the signal, the event engine produces a set of non-cursor controlling event output signals, which influence the at least one GUI-component. Each non-cursor controlling event output signal describes a particular aspect of the user's ocular activity in respect of the display. Initially, the event engine receives a control signal request from each of the at least one GUI-component. The control signal request defines a sub-set of the set of non-cursor controlling event output signals which is required by the particular GUI-component. The event engine delivers non-cursor controlling event output signals to the at least one GUI-component in accordance with each respective control signal request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: TOBII TECHNOLOGY AB
    Inventors: Christoffer BJÖRKLUND, Henrik ESKILSSON, Magnus JACOBSON, Mårten SKOGÖ
  • Publication number: 20130318457
    Abstract: A computer apparatus is associated with a graphical display presenting at least one GUI-component adapted to be manipulated based on user-generated commands. An event engine is adapted to receive an eye-tracking data signal that describes a user's point of regard on the display. Based on the signal, the event engine produces a set of non-cursor controlling event output signals, which influence the at least one GUI-component. Each non-cursor controlling event output signal describes a particular aspect of the user's ocular activity in respect of the display. Initially, the event engine receives a control signal request from each of the at least one GUI-component. The control signal request defines a sub-set of the set of non-cursor controlling event output signals which is required by the particular GUI-component. The event engine delivers non-cursor controlling event output signals to the at least one GUI-component in accordance with each respective control signal request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: TOBII TECHNOLOGY AB
    Inventors: Christoffer Björklund, Henrik Eskilsson, Magnus Jacobson, Mårten Skogö
  • Patent number: 8562136
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Tobii Technology AB
    Inventors: Peter Blixt, Anders Hoglund, Bengt Rehnstrom, John Elvesjö
  • Publication number: 20130169560
    Abstract: A method and system for assisting a user when interacting with a graphical user interface combines gaze based input with gesture based user commands. A user of a computer system without a traditional touch-screen can interact with graphical user interfaces in a touch-screen like manner using a combination of gaze based input and gesture based user commands. A solution for touch-screen like interaction uses gaze input and gesture based input as a complement or an alternative to touch-screen interactions with a computer device having a touch-screen. Combined gaze and gesture based interaction with graphical user interfaces can be used to achieve a touchscreen like environment in computer systems without a traditional touchscreen or in computer systems having a touchscreen arranged ergonomically unfavourable for the user or a touchscreen arranged such that it is more comfortable for the user to use gesture and gaze for the interaction than the touchscreen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: TOBII TECHNOLOGY AB
    Inventor: TOBII TECHNOLOGY AB
  • Publication number: 20130107214
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: Tobii Technology AB
    Inventor: Tobii Technology AB
  • Publication number: 20130106681
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: TOBII TECHNOLOGY AB
    Inventors: Henrik ESKILSSON, Mårten SKOGÖ, John ELVESJÖ, Peter BLIXT
  • Publication number: 20130076885
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Tobii Technology AB
    Inventor: Tobii Technology AB
  • Patent number: 8342687
    Abstract: Provided is a method of determining a gaze point of an eye watching a visual display controllable by a display signal. The method comprises generating a display signal using a graphics card in order for the visual display to produce a screen pattern; receiving a signal encoding an image of the eye including a corneo-scleral reflection of the screen pattern; and determining, based on in part the geometry of said reflection, a gaze point of the eye, wherein said determining a gaze point includes utilizing the graphics card as a parallel processor. The image of the eye may be received directly at the graphics card. The graphics card may extract image features in the eye images. Reference illuminators may be used, and the screen pattern may be interlaced with a distinctive reference pattern. Further provided are a gaze-tracking system and a personal computer system adapted to determine a gaze point of a viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Tobii Technology AB
    Inventors: Peter Blixt, Miroslav Kobetski, Anders Hoglund
  • Publication number: 20120327101
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: TOBII TECHNOLOGY AB
    Inventors: Peter Blixt, Anders Hoglund, John Elvesjö
  • Patent number: 8339446
    Abstract: 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(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. The controller is adapted to select one of the cameras to be active to maximize an image quality metric and avoid obscuring objects. The eye tracker is operable in a dual-camera mode to improve accuracy. A method and computer-program product for selecting a combination of an active reference illuminator from a number of reference illuminators, and an active camera from a plurality of cameras are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Tobii Technology AB
    Inventors: Peter Blixt, Anders Hoglund, Gunnar Troili, John Elvesjö, Mårten Skogö
  • Patent number: 8314707
    Abstract: A monitoring system monitors and/or predicts drowsiness of a driver of a vehicle or a machine operator. A set of infrared or near infrared light sources is arranged such that an amount of the light emitted from the light source strikes 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. Each image contains glints from at least a subset or from all of the light sources. A drowsiness index can be determined based on the extracted information of the glints of the sequence of images. The drowsiness index indicates a degree of drowsiness of the driver or operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Tobii Technology AB
    Inventors: Miroslav Kobetski, Peter Blixt, Johnny Holmberg, John Mikael Holtz Elvesjo
  • Patent number: 8220926
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Tobii Technology AB
    Inventors: Peter Blixt, Anders Hoglund, Bengt Rehnstrom, John Elvesjö
  • Patent number: 8185845
    Abstract: A computer based eye-tracking solution is disclosed. A computer apparatus is associated with one or more graphical displays (GUI components) that may be manipulated based on user-generated commands. An event engine is adapted to receive an eye-tracking data signal that describes a user's point of regard on the display. Based on the signal, the event engine is adapted to produce a set of non-cursor controlling event output signals, which influence the GUI-components. Each non-cursor controlling event output signal describes a particular aspect of the user's ocular activity in respect of the display. Initially, the proposed event engine receives a control signal request from each of the GUI-components. The control signal request defines a sub-set of the set of non-cursor controlling event output signals which is required by the particular GUI-component. The event engine delivers non-cursor controlling event output signals to the GUI-components in accordance with each respective control signal request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Tobii Technology AB
    Inventors: Christoffer Bjorklund, Henrik Eskilsson, Magnus Jacobson, Marten Skogo