Patents by Inventor Peter Blixt
Peter Blixt 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).
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Publication number: 20130106681Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2011Publication date: May 2, 2013Applicant: TOBII TECHNOLOGY ABInventors: Henrik ESKILSSON, Mårten SKOGÖ, John ELVESJÖ, Peter BLIXT
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Patent number: 8342687Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 29, 2010Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Tobii Technology ABInventors: Peter Blixt, Miroslav Kobetski, Anders Hoglund
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Publication number: 20120327101Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2012Publication date: December 27, 2012Applicant: TOBII TECHNOLOGY ABInventors: Peter Blixt, Anders Hoglund, John Elvesjö
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Patent number: 8339446Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 1, 2010Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Tobii Technology ABInventors: Peter Blixt, Anders Hoglund, Gunnar Troili, John Elvesjö, Mårten Skogö
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Patent number: 8314707Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 30, 2010Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignee: Tobii Technology ABInventors: Miroslav Kobetski, Peter Blixt, Johnny Holmberg, John Mikael Holtz Elvesjo
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Patent number: 8220926Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 31, 2010Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Tobii Technology ABInventors: Peter Blixt, Anders Hoglund, Bengt Rehnstrom, John Elvesjö
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Publication number: 20110279666Abstract: A gaze-point detection system includes at least one infrared (IR) signal source to be placed in a test scene as a reference point, a pair of eye glasses to be worn by a person, and a data processing and storage unit for calculating a gaze point of the person wearing the pair of eye glasses. The pair of eye glasses includes an image sensor, an eye-tracking unit and a camera. The image sensor detects IR signals from the at least one IR signal source and generates an IR signal source tracking signal. The eye-tracking unit determines adapted to determine the gaze direction of the person and generates an eye-tracking signal, and the camera acquires a test scene picture. The data processing and storage unit communicates with the pair of eye glasses and calculates the gaze point relative to the test scene picture.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2009Publication date: November 17, 2011Inventors: Johan Strömbom, Simon Gustafsson, Marten Skogo, John Mikael Holtz Elvesjö, Per Nystedt, Peter Blixt
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Publication number: 20110085139Abstract: 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 utilising 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: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2010Publication date: April 14, 2011Applicant: TOBII TECHNOLOGY ABInventors: Peter BLIXT, Miroslav KOBETSKI, Anders HÖGLUND
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Publication number: 20110069277Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: Tobii Technology ABInventors: Peter BLIXT, Anders Hoglund, Bengt Rehnstrom, John Elvesjö
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Publication number: 20110013007Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2010Publication date: January 20, 2011Applicant: Tobii Technology AbInventors: JOHNNY HOLMBERG, Peter Blixt, John Elvesjö
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Publication number: 20100328444Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2010Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicant: Tobii Technology ABInventors: PETER BLIXT, Anders Hoglund, Gunnar Troili, John Elvesjö, Mårten Skogö
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Publication number: 20100245093Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2010Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: Tobii Technology ABInventors: Miroslav Kobetski, Peter Blixt, Johnny Holmberg, John Mikael Holtz Elvesjo
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Publication number: 20060018355Abstract: A laser diode array has a semiconductor layered structure that includes at least one active layer. A heat sink is coupled to semiconductor layered structure. A plurality of laser emitters are formed in the active layer. A majority of the plurality of laser emitters have a spacing between adjacent laser emitters that provides for a more uniform heat distribution.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2004Publication date: January 26, 2006Applicant: ComLasc.NT-ABInventors: Alfred Feitisch, Carsten Lindstroem, Peter Blixt
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Patent number: 6812152Abstract: A method to obtain contamination free surfaces of a material chosen from the group comprising GaAs, GaAlAs, InGaAs, InGaAsP and InGaAs at crystal mirror facets for GaAs based laser cavities. The crystal mirrors facets are cleaved out exposed to an ambient atmosphere containing a material from the group comprising air, dry air, or dry nitrogen ambients. Any oxides and other foreign contaminants obtained during the ambient atmosphere exposure of the mirror facets are removed by dry etching in vacuum. Thereafter, a native nitride layer is grown on the mirror facets by treating them with nitrogen.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2001Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Assignee: Comlase ABInventors: L. Karsten V. Lindström, N. Peter Blixt, Svante H. Söderholm, Anand Srinivasan, Carl-Fredrik Carlström
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Patent number: 6803605Abstract: The invention relates to a method using dry etching to obtain contamination free surfaces on of a material chosen from the group comprising GaAs, GaAlAs, InGaAsP, and InGaAs to obtain nitride layers on arbitrary structures on GaAs based lasers, and a GaAs based laser manufactured in accordance with the method. The laser surface is provided with a mask masking away parts of its surface to be prevented from dry etching. The laser is then placed in vacuum. Dry etching is then performed using a substance chosen from the group containing: chemically reactive gases, inert gases, a mixture between chemically reactive gases and inert gases. A native nitride layer is created using plasma containing nitrogen. A protective layer and/or a mirror coating is added.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2002Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Comlase ABInventors: L. Karsten V. Lindstrom, N. Peter Blixt, Svante H. Soderholm, Lauerant Krummenacher, Christofer Silvenius, Anand Srinivasan, Carl-Fredrik Carlstrom
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Patent number: 6734111Abstract: The invention relates to a method using dry etching to obtain contamination free surfaces on of a material chosen from the group comprising GaAs, GaAlAs, InGaAsP, and InGaAs to obtain nitride layers on arbitrary structures on GaAs based lasers, and a GaAs based laser manufactured in accordance with the method. The laser surface is provided with a mask masking away parts of its surface to be prevented from dry etching. The laser is then placed in vacuum. Dry etching is then performed using a substance chosen from the group containing: chemically reactive gases, inert gases, a mixture between chemically reactive gases and inert gases. A native nitride layer is created using plasma containing nitrogen. A protective layer and/or a mirror coating is added.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2001Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignee: Comlase ABInventors: L. Karsten V. Lindström, N. Peter Blixt, Svante H. Söderholm, Lauerent Krummenacher, Christofer Silvenius, Anand Srinivasan, Carl-Fredrik Carlström
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Publication number: 20030047739Abstract: The invention relates to a method using dry etching to obtain contamination free surfaces on of a material chosen from the group comprising GaAs, GaAlAs, InGaAsP, and InGaAs to obtain nitride layers on arbitrary structures on GaAs based lasers, and a GaAs based laser manufactured in accordance with the method. The laser surface is provided with a mask masking away parts of its surface to be prevented from dry etching. The laser is then placed in vacuum. Dry etching is then performed using a substance chosen from the group containing: chemically reactive gases, inert gases, a mixture between chemically reactive gases and inert gases. A native nitride layer is created using plasma containing nitrogen. A protective layer and/or a mirror coating is added.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2002Publication date: March 13, 2003Inventors: L. Karsten V. Lindstrom, N. Peter Blixt, Svante H. Soderholm, Lauerent Krummenacher, Christofer Silvenius, Anand Srinivasan, Carl-Fredrik Carlstrom
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Publication number: 20030029836Abstract: A method to obtain contamination free surfaces of a material chosen from the group comprising GaAs, GaAlAs, InGaAs, InGaAsP and InGaAs at crystal mirror facets for GaAs based laser cavities. The crystal mirrors facets are cleaved out exposed to an ambient atmosphere containing a material from the group comprising air, dry air, or dry nitrogen ambients. Any oxides and other foreign contaminants obtained during the ambient atmosphere exposure of the mirror facets are removed by dry etching in vacuum. Thereafter, a native nitride layer is grown on the mirror facets by treating them with nitrogen.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2001Publication date: February 13, 2003Inventors: L. Karsten V. Lindstrom, N. Peter Blixt, Svante H. Soderholm, Anand Srinivasan, Carl-Fredrik Carlstrom
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Publication number: 20030032297Abstract: The invention relates to a method using dry etching to obtain contamination free surfaces on of a material chosen from the group comprising GaAs, GaAlAs, InGaAsP, and InGaAs to obtain nitride layers on arbitrary structures on GaAs based lasers, and a GaAs based laser manufactured in accordance with the method. The laser surface is provided with a mask masking away parts of its surface to be prevented from dry etching. The laser is then placed in vacuum. Dry etching is then performed using a substance chosen from the group containing: chemically reactive gases, inert gases, a mixture between chemically reactive gases and inert gases. A native nitride layer is created using plasma containing nitrogen. A protective layer and/or a mirror coating is added.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2001Publication date: February 13, 2003Inventors: L. Karsten V. Lindstrom, N. Peter Blixt, Svante H. Soderholm, Lauerent Krummenacher, Christofer Silvenius, Anand Srinivasan, Carl-Fredrik Carlstrom
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Patent number: 6414787Abstract: An optical fiber amplifier of the erbium type is intended to amplify light signals within a wavelength band, e.g. in the range of 1540-1555 mm. The active optical fiber receives light signals to be amplified and pump light of a first pump wavelength from a pump source. A gain flattening filter is connected in the active optical fiber length. A noise filter is also connected in the active optical fiber, not more closer to the output end of the active fiber the gain flattening filter. The noise filter blocks light waves having wavelengths around the ASE gain peak and the gain filter attenuates wavelengths within the useful signal band in order to produce a flat gain curve. The introduction of the noise filter increases the total amplification of the amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1999Date of Patent: July 2, 2002Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM EricssonInventors: Dirk Lutz, Peter Blixt