Abstract: An eye/gaze tracker with first and second light sources each configured to illuminate an eye of a subject and controlled to selectively emit light towards the eye in such a manner that within an operation sequence the eye is illuminated by the first light source during at least one first interval and by the second light source during at least one second interval. An image sensor has a plurality of photodiodes each of which is associated with first and second charge storages configured to store electric charges based on an amount of light reaching the photodiode. At least one switch of the image sensor is controlled such that the electric charges are stored in the first charge storage as a result of the illumination during the at least one first interval and in the second charge storage as a result of the illumination during the at least one second interval.

Abstract: At least one image registering unit records at least one series of images representing a subject. A control unit controls an operation sequence for the at least one image registering unit in such a manner that a subsequent data processing unit receives a repeating sequence of image frames there from, wherein each period contains at least one image frame of a first resolution and at least one image frame of a second resolution being different from the first resolution. Based on the registered image frames, the data processing unit produces eye/gaze tracking data with respect to the subject.

Abstract: According to the invention, a method for changing information on a display in a vehicle based on a gaze direction of a driver is disclosed. The method may include displaying information on the display in the vehicle. The method may also include receiving gaze data indicative of the gaze direction of a user. The method may further include changing the display based at least in part on the gaze data.

Abstract: According to the invention, a method for modifying operation of at least one system of a vehicle based at least in part on a gaze direction of a driver is disclosed. The method may include receiving gaze data indicative of the gaze direction of a driver of a vehicle. The method may also include modifying operation of at least one system of the vehicle based at least in part on the gaze data.

Abstract: There is provided methods, systems and computer program products for identifying an interaction element from one or more interaction elements present in a user interface, comprising: receiving gaze information from an eye tracking system; determining the likelihood that an interaction element is the subject of the gaze information from the eye tracking system; and identifying an interaction element from the one or more interaction elements based on said likelihood determination.

Abstract: An imaging device adapted to provide eye-tracking data by imaging at least one eye of a viewer, wherein: the imaging device is switchable between at least an active mode and a ready mode; the imaging device is configured to use active eye illumination in the active mode, which enables tracking of a corneal reflection; and the imaging device is configured, in the ready mode, to reduce an illumination intensity from a value the illumination intensity has in the active mode, and to provide eye-tracking data which include eye position but not eye orientation.

Abstract: A control module for generating gesture based commands during user interaction with an information presentation area is provided. The control module is configured to acquire user input from a touchpad and gaze data signals from a gaze tracking module; and determine at least one user generated gesture based control command based on a user removing contact of a finger of the user with the touchpad; determine a gaze point area on the information presentation area including the user's gaze point based on at least the gaze data signals; and execute at least one user action manipulating a view presented on the graphical information presentation area based on the determined gaze point area and at least one user generated gesture based control command, wherein the user action is executed at said determined gaze point area.

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.

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.

Abstract: According to the invention, a system for converting sound to electrical signals is disclosed. The system may include a gaze tracking device and a microphone. The gaze tracking device may determine a gaze direction of a user. The microphone may be more sensitive in a selected direction than at least one other direction and alter the selected direction based at least in part on the gaze direction determined by the gaze tracking device.

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.

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 neighbourhood of the current gaze point, as determined based on current gaze data.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus has a light sensitive area and a control unit. The light sensitive area registers image data in response to an incoming amount of light, and is operable in an active mode wherein image data can be read out there from as well as in a standby mode wherein image data cannot be read out. The control unit produces a control signal setting the light sensitive area to operate in the active mode and the standby mode respectively in a cyclic manner during an operation period, which preferably encompasses multiple data frame read-outs of image data from the light sensitive area.

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.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to computer implemented systems and methods for utilizing detection of eye movements in connection with interactive graphical user interfaces and, in particular, for utilizing eye tracking data to facilitate and improve information search and presentation in connection with interactive graphical user interfaces. A gaze search index is determined based on information that has been presented on an information presentation area and gaze data signals. The gaze search index comprises links between gaze search parameters and presented information that satisfies gaze filter criteria for respective gaze search parameter. A user can initiate query searches for information on the computer device or on information hosts connectable to the computer device via networks by using combinations of gaze search parameters of the gaze search index and non gaze search parameters of a non gaze search index.

Abstract: A subject (180) is illuminated whose movements of at least one eye are to be registered by an eye-tracker for producing resulting data (DEYE). To this aim, a coherent light source in light producing means (140) produces at least one well-defined light beam (L1, L2). A diffractive optical element is arranged between the coherent light source and an output from the light producing means (140). The diffractive optical element is configured to direct a light beam (L1) towards at least a first designated area (A1) estimated to cover the at least one eye of the subject (180). Image registering means (150) registers light from the at least one light beam (L1, L2) having been reflected against the subject (180). The resulting data (DEYE) are produced in response to these light reflections, which resulting data (DEYE) represent movements of the at least one eye of the subject (180).

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for automatic scrolling of content displayed on a display device in response to gaze detection. Content may be displayed in a window rendered on a display screen. Gaze detection components may be used to detect that a user is gazing at the displayed content and to determine a gaze point relative to the display screen. At least one applicable scroll zone relative to the display screen and a scroll action associated with each applicable scroll zone may be determined. In response to determining that the gaze point is within a first applicable scroll zone, an associated first scroll action may be initiated. The first scroll action causes the content to scroll within the window until at least one of: expiration of a defined period, determining that a portion of the content scrolls past a defined position within the window, determining that the gaze point is outside of the first scroll zone, and detecting an indicator that the user begins reading the content.

Abstract: An eye/gaze tracker with first and second light sources each configured to illuminate an eye of a subject and controlled to selectively emit light towards the eye in such a manner that within an operation sequence the eye is illuminated by the first light source during at least one first interval and by the second light source during at least one second interval. An image sensor has a plurality of photodiodes each of which is associated with first and second charge storages configured to store electric charges based on an amount of light reaching the photodiode. At least one switch of the image sensor is controlled such that the electric charges are stored in the first charge storage as a result of the illumination during the at least one first interval and in the second charge storage as a result of the illumination during the at least one second interval.

Abstract: A computer system can be controlled with non-contact inputs, such as eye-tracking devices. A computer can enlarge a portion of a display adjacent a first gaze target in response to detecting a first action (e.g., pressing a touchpad). The computer can then allow a user to position a second gaze target in the enlarged portion (e.g., by looking at the desired location) and perform a second action in order to perform a computer function at that location. The enlarging can allow a user to identify a desired location for a computer function (e.g., selecting an icon) with greater precision.

Abstract: Waking a computing device from a stand-by mode may include determining a wake zone relative to a display device and, when the computing device is in stand-by mode, detecting a gaze point relative to the display device. In response to determining that the gaze point is within the wake zone, a wake command is generated and passed to a program module, such as the operating system, to cause the program module to wake the computing device from the stand-by mode. When the computing device is not in stand-by mode, another gaze point may be detected and, in response to determining that the other gaze point is within the vicinity of a selectable stand-by icon, the stand-by command is generated and passed to the program module to cause the program module to place the computing device into the stand-by mode.