Patents by Inventor Fabian WANNER

Fabian WANNER 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).

  • Patent number: 11009945
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an eye tracking device (10) for multi¬user eye tracking, wherein images (24) of a predefined capturing area (14) of the eye tracking device (10) are captured by means of an imaging device (12) of the eye tracking device (10) and the captured images (24) are processed by means of a processing unit (16) of the eye tracking device (10). If a first user (26a) and a second user (26b) are present in the predefined capturing area (14) of the eye tracking device (10), a first information relating to the first user (26a) and a second information relating to the second user (26b) are determined on the basis of the captured images (24) by processing the images (24). Furthermore the images (24) are captured successively in a predeterminable time sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Fabian Wanner, Matthias Nieser, Kun Liu, Walter Nistico
  • Patent number: 11003245
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for automatically identifying at least one user of an eye tracking device (10) by means of the eye tracking device (10), wherein user identification data of the at least one user are captured by a capturing device (14) of the eye tracking device (10). Under the first condition that at least one profile (P1, P2, P3) with associated identification data (I1, I2, I3) of at least one specific user is stored in a storage medium (20), the stored identification data (I1, I2, I3) of the at least one profile (P1, P2, P3) are compared with the captured user identification data, and under the second condition that the captured user identification data match the stored identification data (I1, I2, I3) according to a predefined criterion, the at least one user is identified as the at least one specific user, for whom the at least one profile (P1, P2, P3) was stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Kun Liu, Fabian Wanner, Walter Nistico, Matthias Nieser
  • Publication number: 20200064916
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for automatically identifying at least one user of an eye tracking device (10) by means of the eye tracking device (10), wherein user identification data of the at least one user are captured by a capturing device (14) of the eye tracking device (10). Under the first condition that at least one profile (P1, P2, P3) with associated identification data (I1, I2, I3) of at least one specific user is stored in a storage medium (20), the stored identification data (I1, I2, I3) of the at least one profile (P1, P2, P3) are compared with the captured user identification data, and under the second condition that the captured user identification data match the stored identification data (I1, I2, I3) according to a predefined criterion, the at least one user is identified as the at least one specific user, for whom the at least one profile (P1, P2, P3) was stored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Kun Liu, Fabian Wanner, Walter Nistico, Matthias Nieser
  • Patent number: 10528127
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an eye tracking device (10) comprising as components an imaging device (20), an illumination unit (30) and a processing unit (40) and further at least two adjustment parameters (PA), for adjusting the components (20; 30; 40). The eye tracking device (10) comprises a control unit (42) for controlling the adjustment parameters (PA). According to the method an image (60) of an eye is captured, a condition (44) with respect to a quality related to eye tracking or a power consumption of the components (20; 30; 40) is set, a predefined correlation (42a) correlating the adjustment parameters (PA) to the quality and the power consumption is provided and the control unit (42) controls the adjustment parameters (PA) according to the predefined correlation (42a), so that the element, with respect to which the condition (44) was set, fulfils the condition (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Claudio Caraffi, Matthias Nieser, Fabian Wanner, Walter Nistico
  • Patent number: 10521012
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for automatically identifying at least one user of an eye tracking device (10) by means of the eye tracking device (10), wherein user identification data of the at least one user are captured by a capturing device (14) of the eye tracking device (10). Under the first condition that at least one profile (P1, P2, P3) with associated identification data (I1, I2, I3) of at least one specific user is stored in a storage medium (20), the stored identification data (I1, I2, I3) of the at least one profile (P1, P2, P3) are compared with the captured user identification data, and under the second condition that the captured user identification data match the stored identification data (I1, I2, I3) according to a predefined criterion, the at least one user is identified as the at least one specific user, for whom the at least one profile (P1, P2, P3) was stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Kun Liu, Fabian Wanner, Walter Nistico, Matthias Nieser
  • Publication number: 20190377410
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an eye tracking device (10) for multi¬user eye tracking, wherein images (24) of a predefined capturing area (14) of the eye tracking device (10) are captured by means of an imaging device (12) of the eye tracking device (10) and the captured images (24) are processed by means of a processing unit (16) of the eye tracking device (10). If a first user (26a) and a second user (26b) are present in the predefined capturing area (14) of the eye tracking device (10), a first information relating to the first user (26a) and a second information relating to the second user (26b) are determined on the basis of the captured images (24) by processing the images (24). Furthermore the images (24) are captured successively in a predeterminable time sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Fabian Wanner, Matthias Nieser, Kun Liu, Walter Nistico
  • Patent number: 10416764
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an eye tracking device (10) for multi-user eye tracking, wherein images (24) of a predefined capturing area (14) of the eye tracking device (10) are captured by means of an imaging device (12) of the eye tracking device (10) and the captured images (24) are processed by means of a processing unit (16) of the eye tracking device (10). If a first user (26a) and a second user (26b) are present in the predefined capturing area (14) of the eye tracking device (10), a first information relating to the first user (26a) and a second information relating to the second user (26b) are determined on the basis of the captured images (24) by processing the images (24). Furthermore the images (24) are captured successively in a predeterminable time sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Fabian Wanner, Matthias Nieser, Kun Liu, Walter Nistico
  • Publication number: 20180052515
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an eye tracking device (10) for multi-user eye tracking, wherein images (24) of a predefined capturing area (14) of the eye tracking device (10) are captured by means of an imaging device (12) of the eye tracking device (10) and the captured images (24) are processed by means of a processing unit (16) of the eye tracking device (10). If a first user (26a) and a second user (26b) are present in the predefined capturing area (14) of the eye tracking device (10), a first information relating to the first user (26a) and a second information relating to the second user (26b) are determined on the basis of the captured images (24) by processing the images (24). Furthermore the images (24) are captured successively in a predeterminable time sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Fabian Wanner, Matthias Nieser, Kun Liu, Walter Nistico
  • Publication number: 20180052514
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for automatically identifying at least one user of an eye tracking device (10) by means of the eye tracking device (10), wherein user identification data of the at least one user are captured by a capturing device (14) of the eye tracking device (10). Under the first condition that at least one profile (P1, P2, P3) with associated identification data (I1, I2, I3) of at least one specific user is stored in a storage medium (20), the stored identification data (I1, I2, I3) of the at least one profile (P1, P2, P3) are compared with the captured user identification data, and under the second condition that the captured user identification data match the stored identification data (I1, I2, I3) according to a predefined criterion, the at least one user is identified as the at least one specific user, for whom the at least one profile (P1, P2, P3) was stored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Kun Liu, Fabian Wanner, Walter Nistico, Matthias Nieser
  • Patent number: 9498125
    Abstract: The invention relates to an eye tracking device and a method for operating an eye tracking device (30) comprising an imaging device (32), a plurality of light sources (34), a processing unit and a control unit. The imaging device (32) captures a first image (36a) while at least one of the light sources (34) emits light. If at least one first reflection (14; 16; 16a-16f) is detected, a position in the first image (36a) of the at least one first reflection (14; 16; 16a-16f) is determined, the first reflection (14; 16; 16a-16f) is categorized on the basis of the position in the first image (36a) and if the first image (36a) does not fulfill a predefined quality criterion, the plurality of light sources (34) is controlled in dependence of the categorization by changing the light intensity of at least one light source (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: SENSOMOTORIC INSTRUMENTS GESELLSCHAFT FUR INNOVATIVE SENSORIK MBH
    Inventors: Claudio Caraffi, Matthias Nieser, Fabian Wanner, Walter Nistico
  • Publication number: 20160274659
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an eye tracking device (10) comprising as components an imaging device (20), an illumination unit (30) and a processing unit (40) and further at least two adjustment parameters (P A), for adjusting the components (20; 30; 40). The eye tracking device (10) comprises a control unit (42) for controlling the adjustment parameters (P A). According to the method an image (60) of an eye is captured, a condition (44) with respect to a quality related to eye tracking or a power consumption of the components (20; 30; 40) is set, a predefined correlation (42a) correlating the adjustment parameters (PA) to the quality and the power consumption is provided and the control unit (42) controls the adjustment parameters (P A) according to the predefined correlation (42a), so that the element, with respect to which the condition (44) was set, fulfils the condition (44).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: SENSOMOTORIC INSTRUMENTS GESELLSCHAFT FUR INNOVATI VE SENSORIK MBH
    Inventors: Claudio CARAFFI, Matthias NIESER, Fabian WANNER, Walter NISTICO
  • Publication number: 20160270655
    Abstract: The invention relates to an eye tracking device and a method for operating an eye tracking device (30) comprising an imaging device (32), a plurality of light sources (34), a processing unit and a control unit. The imaging device (32) captures a first image (36a) while at least one of the light sources (34) emits light. If at least one first reflection (14; 16; 16a-16f) is detected, a position in the first image (36a) of the at least one first reflection (14; 16; 16a-16f) is determined, the first reflection (14; 16; 16a-16f) is categorized on the basis of the position in the first image (36a) and if the first image (36a) does not fulfil a predefined quality criterion, the plurality of light sources (34) is controlled in dependence of the categorization by changing the light intensity of at least one light source (34).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: SENSOMOTORIC INSTRUMENTS GESELLSCHAFT FUR INNOVATI VE SENSORIK MBH
    Inventors: Claudio CARAFFI, Matthias NIESER, Fabian WANNER, Walter NISTICO