Patents by Inventor Laurence Durnell

Laurence Durnell 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: 9271648
    Abstract: An eye tracking apparatus for monitoring a user's eye, for use in conjunction with secondary optical apparatus such as binoculars or night vision goggles. An optical assembly is adapted directly to image the eye from within the user's field of vision, and relay the image to a sensing element, which can be located outside the field of vision. Additionally the scene is imaged, also optionally from within the user's field of vision, which allows for scene imaging through the secondary optical apparatus. The optical assembly typically extends across the eyepiece of for example binoculars, and can be provided in a small form factor so as to interfere minimally with the view through the eyepiece. Both eye image and scene image can be relayed through the optical assembly, resulting in further space efficiencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: QINETIQ LIMITED
    Inventors: Laurence Durnell, Donald Nigel Jarrett
  • Patent number: 8908917
    Abstract: An eye tracking apparatus and method of eye monitoring, comprising a target display adapted to project a moveable image of a target into a user's field of vision, an illumination source adapted to project a reference point onto a user's eye, a sensor adapted to monitor a user's eye, and a processor adapted to determine the position of a feature of a user's eye relative to the reference point, wherein the apparatus is arranged such that said determined position provides a direct indication of eye direction relative to the target direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Qinetiq Limited
    Inventors: Laurence Durnell, Donald Nigel Jarrett
  • Patent number: 8550628
    Abstract: An eye tracking apparatus for monitoring the movement of a user's eye, the apparatus including: a display for displaying an image; an eye imaging sensor for monitoring the user's eye and for providing an output indicative of the user's point of regard in the user's field of vision; an optical combiner arranged, in use, in optical communication with the display, the eye imaging sensor and the user's eye; said optical combiner arranged to receive the displayed image from the display, to project said image into the user's field of vision, to receive electromagnetic radiation reflected from the user's eye and to pass said reflected radiation to the eye imaging sensor; wherein the optical combiner is adapted to substantially correct for aberrations in the reflected radiation introduced therein by the optical combiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Qinetiq Limited
    Inventors: Laurence Durnell, Donald Nigel Jarrett
  • Publication number: 20130010097
    Abstract: An eye tracking apparatus for monitoring a user's eye, for use in conjunction with secondary optical apparatus such as binoculars or night vision goggles. An optical assembly is adapted directly to image the eye from within the user's field of vision, and relay the image to a sensing element, which can be located outside the field of vision. Additionally the scene is imaged, also optionally from within the user's field of vision, which allows for scene imaging through the secondary optical apparatus. The optical assembly typically extends across the eyepiece of for example binoculars, and can be provided in a small form factor so as to interfere minimally with the view through the eyepiece. Both eye image and scene image can be relayed through the optical assembly, resulting in further space efficiencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: QINETIQ LIMITED
    Inventors: Laurence Durnell, Donald Nigel Jarrett
  • Publication number: 20120230547
    Abstract: An eye tracking apparatus and method of eye monitoring, comprising a target display adapted to project a moveable image of a target into a user's field of vision, an illumination source adapted to project a reference point onto a user's eye, a sensor adapted to monitor a user's eye, and a processor adapted to determine the position of a feature of a user's eye relative to the reference point, wherein the apparatus is arranged such that said determined position provides a direct indication of eye direction relative to the target direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: QINETIQ LIMITED
    Inventors: Laurence Durnell, Donald Nigel Jarrett
  • Publication number: 20120057129
    Abstract: An eye tracking apparatus for monitoring the movement of a user's eye, the apparatus including: a display for displaying an image; an eye imaging sensor for monitoring the user's eye and for providing an output indicative of the user's point of regard in the user's field of vision; an optical combiner arranged, in use, in optical communication with the display, the eye imaging sensor and the user's eye: said optical combiner arranged to receive the displayed image from the display, to project said image into the user's field of vision, to receive electromagnetic radiation reflected from the user's eye and to pass said reflected radiation to the eye imaging sensor; wherein the optical combiner is adapted to substantially correct for aberrations in the reflected radiation introduced therein by the optical combiner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: QINETIQ LIMITED
    Inventors: Laurence Durnell, Donald Nigel Jarrett
  • Patent number: 7391887
    Abstract: An eye tracking system includes an eye camera and a scene camera for supplying video data to interlace electronics indicative of an image of the user's eye and an image of the scene observed by the user. A frame grabber is provided for digitizing the video data and for separating the eye and scene data into two processing channels, and a spot location module determines the location of a reference spot formed on the user's eye. The module includes an adaptive threshold and spot identification sub-modules for indicating parts of the eye camera image which have higher brightness, and for selecting a valid reference spot. A pupil location module determines the user's line of gaze, and a display for indicating the user's point of regard from the user's line of gaze determined by the pupil and spot location modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Qinetiq Limited
    Inventor: Laurence Durnell