Patents by Inventor John Mikael ELVESJÖ

John Mikael ELVESJÖ 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: 11042205
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Tobii AB
    Inventors: John Mikael Elvesjö, Anders Kingbäck, Gunnar Troili, Mårten Skogö, Henrik Eskilsson, Peter Blixt
  • Publication number: 20210011548
    Abstract: A gaze tracking system, leaving a low power mode in response to an activation signal, initial burst of eye pictures in short time by restricting the image area of a sensor, purpose of enabling an increased frame rate. Subsequent eye pictures are captured at le rate. The first gaze point value is computed memorylessly based on the initial burst res and no additional imagery, while subsequent values may be computed recursively to 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 different sensor. From the gaze point values, the system may derive a control signal to a computer device with a visual display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: Tobii AB
    Inventors: Mårten Skogö, Anders Olsson, John Mikael Elvesjö, Aron Yu
  • Publication number: 20200154996
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining an image of an eye in a bright-pupil imaging mode in which a retinal retro-reflection complements the image of the eye in the bright-pupil mode, and obtaining an image of the eye in a dark-pupil imaging mode in which a corneo-scleral retro-reflection complements the image of the eye in the dark-pupil mode. One of the bright-pupil imaging mode and the dark-pupil imaging mode is selected based on quality of obtained images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: Tobii AB
    Inventors: Peter Blixt, Gunnar Troili, Anders Kingbäck, John Mikael Elvesjö, Mårten Skogö
  • Patent number: 10591990
    Abstract: A gaze tracking system, leaving a low power mode in response to an activation signal, initial burst of eye pictures in short time by restricting the image area of a sensor, purpose of enabling an increased frame rate. Subsequent eye pictures are captured at le rate. The first gaze point value is computed memorylessly based on the initial burst res and no additional imagery, while subsequent values may be computed recursively to 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 different sensor. From the gaze point values, the system may derive a control signal to a computer device with a visual display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Tobii AB
    Inventors: Mårten Skogö, Anders Olsson, John Mikael Elvesjö, Aron Yu
  • Publication number: 20190265786
    Abstract: A gaze tracking system, leaving a low power mode in response to an activation signal, initial burst of eye pictures in short time by restricting the image area of a sensor, purpose of enabling an increased frame rate. Subsequent eye pictures are captured at le rate. The first gaze point value is computed memorylessly based on the initial burst res and no additional imagery, while subsequent values may be computed recursively to 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 different sensor. From the gaze point values, the system may derive a control signal to a computer device with a visual display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: Tobii AB
    Inventors: Mårten Skogö, Anders Olsson, John Mikael Elvesjö, Aron Yu
  • Patent number: 10372203
    Abstract: A personal computer system provides a gaze-controlled graphical user interface having a bidirectional and a unidirectional interaction mode. In the bidirectional interaction mode, a display shows one or more graphical controls in motion, each being associated with an input operation to an operating system. A gaze tracking system provides gaze point data of a viewer, and a matching module attempts to match a relative gaze movement against a relative movement of one of the graphical controls. The system includes a selector which is preferably controllable by a modality other than gaze. The system initiates a transition from the unidirectional interaction mode to the bidirectional interaction mode in response to an input received at the selector. The display then shows graphical controls in motion in a neighborhood of the current gaze point, as determined based on current gaze data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Tobii AB
    Inventors: Mårten Skogö, John Mikael Elvesjö, Anders Olsson
  • Patent number: 10314484
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining an image of an eye in a bright-pupil imaging mode in which a retinal retro-reflection complements the image of the eye in the bright-pupil mode, and obtaining an image of the eye in a dark-pupil imaging mode in which a corneo-scleral retro-reflection complements the image of the eye in the dark-pupil mode. One of the bright-pupil imaging mode and the dark-pupil imaging mode is selected based on quality of obtained images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Tobii AB
    Inventors: Peter Blixt, Gunnar Troili, Anders Kingbäck, John Mikael Elvesjö, Mårten Skogö
  • Patent number: 10307054
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining an image of an eye in a bright-pupil imaging mode in which a retinal retro-reflection complements the image of the eye in the bright-pupil mode, and obtaining an image of the eye in a dark-pupil imaging mode in which a cornea-scleral retro-reflection complements the image of the eye in the dark-pupil mode. One of the bright-pupil imaging mode and the dark-pupil imaging mode is selected based on quality of obtained images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Tobii AB
    Inventors: Peter Blixt, Gunnar Troili, Anders Kingbäck, John Mikael Elvesjö, Märten Skogö
  • Patent number: 10198070
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Tobii AB
    Inventors: Mårten Skogö, Anders Olsson, John Mikael Elvesjö, Aron Yu
  • Publication number: 20180239412
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: Tobii AB
    Inventors: John Mikael Elvesjö, Anders Kingbäck, Gunnar Troili, Mårten Skogö, Henrik Eskilsson, Peter Blixt
  • Publication number: 20180206771
    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: March 21, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Applicant: Tobii AB
    Inventors: Miroslav Kobetski, Johnny Holmberg, Peter Blixt, John Mikael Elvesjö
  • Publication number: 20180129281
    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: September 18, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: Tobii AB
    Inventors: Mårten Skogö, Anders Olsson, John Mikael Elvesjö, Aron Yu
  • Patent number: 9955903
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Tobii AB
    Inventors: Miroslav Kobetski, Johnny Holmberg, Peter Blixt, John Mikael Elvesjö
  • Patent number: 9791912
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Tobii AB
    Inventors: John Mikael Elvesjö, Anders Kingbäck, Gunnar Troili, Mårten Skogö, Henrik Eskilsson, Peter Blixt
  • Patent number: 9766699
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: TOBII AB
    Inventors: Mårten Skogö, Anders Olsson, John Mikael Elvesjö, Aron Yu
  • Publication number: 20170249509
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining an image of an eye in a bright-pupil imaging mode in which a retinal retro-reflection complements the image of the eye in the bright-pupil mode, and obtaining an image of the eye in a dark-pupil imaging mode in which a corneo-scleral retro-reflection complements the image of the eye in the dark-pupil mode. One of the bright-pupil imaging mode and the dark-pupil imaging mode is selected based on quality of obtained images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: TOBII AB
    Inventors: Peter Blixt, Gunnar Troili, Anders Kingbäck, John Mikael Elvesjö, Mårten Skogö
  • Publication number: 20170224211
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Peter Blixt, Gunnar Troili, Anders Kingbäck, John Mikael Elvesjö, Mårten Skogö
  • Patent number: 9649029
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining an image of an eye in a bright-pupil imaging mode in which a retinal retro-reflection complements the image of the eye in the bright-pupil mode, and obtaining an image of the eye in a dark-pupil imaging mode in which a cornea-scleral retro-reflection complements the image of the eye in the dark-pupil mode. One of the bright-pupil imaging mode and the dark-pupil imaging mode is selected based on quality of obtained images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Tobii AB
    Inventors: Peter Blixt, Gunnar Troili, Anders Kingbäck, John Mikael Elvesjö, Mårten Skogö
  • Patent number: 9194952
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: TOBII AB
    Inventors: Peter Blixt, Bengt Rehnström, Anders Kingbäck, John Mikael Elvesjö, Mattias Kuldkepp
  • Publication number: 20150136990
    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: December 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Peter Blixt, Bengtä Rehnström, Anders Kingbäck, John Mikael Elvesjö, Mattias Kuldkepp