Abstract: An eye tracking system comprises a structured light emitter, a camera assembly, and a controller. The structured light emitter illuminates a portion of an eye of a user with a dense structured light pattern. The dense structured light pattern produces a distorted illumination pattern on the portion of the eye. The camera assembly captures one or more images of the distorted illumination pattern that is associated with the portion of the eye. The controller estimates a position of the eye based on the captured one or more images and a model of the eye. The eye tracking system may be part of a head-mounted display.

Abstract: A virtual reality headset displays a three-dimensional (3D) virtual scene and includes a varifocal element to dynamically adjust a focal length of an optics block included in the virtual reality headset based on a location in the virtual scene where the user is looking. The headset tracks a user's eyes to approximate gaze lines and determines a plane of focus for a frame of the virtual scene as the intersection of the gaze lines. The varifocal element adjusts the focal length of the optics block so the optics block is focused at the plane of focus, which keeps the user's eyes in a zone of comfort as vergence and accommodation change. Based on the plane of focus, the virtual reality headset may provide depth cues, such as depth of field blur, to planes in the virtual scene deeper in the user's field of view than the plane of focus.

Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) comprises an eye tracking system configured to enable eye-tracking using light. The eye tracking system implements time-multiplexing by configuring a source assembly comprising a plurality of light sources to project at least a first light pattern towards the user's eye over a first time period, and a second light pattern towards the user's eye over a second time period in accordance with a set of emission instructions. A camera assembly is configured to capture images of the user's eye during the first and second time periods in accordance with a set of imaging instructions, the captured images containing one or more glints corresponding to reflections of the first or second light patterns on the cornea of the user's eye. The location of the glints may be used to determine a shape or orientation of the eye.

Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) comprises an eye tracking system configured to perform a calibration process using an eye tracking system of the HMD that includes determining a pupillary axis and/or determining an angular offset between the pupillary axis and the eye's true line of sight. The eye tracking system obtains an eye model captures images of the user's pupil while the user is looking at a target or other content displayed on the HMD. In some embodiments, the calibration process is based on a single image of the user's eye and is performed only once. For example, the process can be performed the first time the user uses the HMD, which stores the calibration data for the user in a memory for future use.

Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) comprises an eye tracking system configured to enable eye-tracking using light. The eye tracking system comprises two or more illumination sources positioned relative to one another and an optical detector in order to capture. The optical detector is configured to capture images of the cornea based on one or more reflections. The eye tracking unit is configured to generate a model of the user's eye. The generated eye model is used to determine eye tracking information such as gaze direction as the user glances at different objects in the HMD.

Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) comprises an eye tracking system configured to enable eye-tracking using polarization. The eye tracking system includes an illumination source and an eye tracking unit comprising a polarization sensitive optical detector. The one or more illumination sources are configured to illuminate an eye and generate reflections directed towards the optical detector. The eye tracking unit is configured to determine a 3D shape of the eye based on the polarization of the reflections. The determined 3D shape of the eye is used to update a stored model of the eye in response to the one or more model parameter values extracted from the determined depth map of the corneal surface. The eye tracking system determines eye tracking information based on the updated model in order to improve eye tracking performance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for tracking a user's eye using structured light. The structured light system is calibrated by training a model of surface of the user's eye. A structured light emitter projects a structured light pattern (e.g., infrared structured light) onto a portion of the surface of the eye. From the viewpoint of a camera, the illumination pattern appears distorted. Based on the distortion of the illumination pattern in the captured image, the eye tracking system can determine the shape of the portion of the user's eye that the structured light is incident upon. By comparing the determined shape of the portion of the user's eye to the model, the orientation of the eye may be determined. The eye tracking system or elements thereof may be part of a head-mounted display, e.g., as part of a virtual reality system.

Abstract: A virtual reality headset displays a three-dimensional (3D) virtual scene and includes a varifocal element to dynamically adjust a focal length of an optics block included in the virtual reality headset based on a location in the virtual scene where the user is looking. The headset tracks a user's eyes to approximate gaze lines and determines a plane of focus for a frame of the virtual scene as the intersection of the gaze lines. The varifocal element adjusts the focal length of the optics block so the optics block is focused at the plane of focus, which keeps the user's eyes in a zone of comfort as vergence and accommodation change. Based on the plane of focus, the virtual reality headset may provide depth cues, such as depth of field blur, to planes in the virtual scene deeper in the user's field of view than the plane of focus.

Abstract: An eye tracking system, images the surface (e.g., sclera) of each eye of a user to capture an optical flow field resulting from a texture of the imaged surface. The eye tracking system includes illumination source (e.g., laser) and a detector (e.g., camera). The source illuminates a portion of the eye that is imaged the camera. As the eye moves, different areas of the eye are imaged, allowing generation of a map of a portion of the eye. An image of a portion of the eye is includes a diffraction pattern (i.e., the optical flow) corresponding to the portion of the eye. Through a calibration process, the optical flow is mapped to a location where the eye is looking.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for tracking a user's eye using structured light. The structured light system is calibrated by training a model of surface of the user's eye. A structured light emitter projects a structured light pattern (e.g., infrared structured light) onto a portion of the surface of the eye. From the viewpoint of a camera, the illumination pattern appears distorted. Based on the distortion of the illumination pattern in the captured image, the eye tracking system can determine the shape of the portion of the user's eye that the structured light is incident upon. By comparing the determined shape of the portion of the user's eye to the model, the orientation of the eye may be determined. The eye tracking system or elements thereof may be part of a head-mounted display, e.g., as part of a virtual reality system.

Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) comprises an eye tracking system configured to enable eye-tracking using light. The eye tracking system comprises two or more illumination sources positioned relative to one another and an optical detector in order to capture. The optical detector is configured to capture images of the cornea based on one or more reflections. The eye tracking unit is configured to generate a model of the user's eye. The generated eye model is used to determine eye tracking information such as gaze direction as the user glances at different objects in the HMD.

Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) comprises an eye tracking system configured to perform a calibration process using an eye tracking system of the HMD that includes determining a pupillary axis and/or determining an angular offset between the pupillary axis and the eye's true line of sight. The eye tracking system obtains an eye model captures images of the user's pupil while the user is looking at a target or other content displayed on the HMD. In some embodiments, the calibration process is based on a single image of the user's eye and is performed only once. For example, the process can be performed the first time the user uses the HMD, which stores the calibration data for the user in a memory for future use.

Abstract: A wearable eye tracking system includes a pair of looping coils in a Helmholtz configuration and an additional looping coil. In one configuration, areas enclosed by the pair of looping coils in the Helmholtz configuration are in parallel with each other, while an area enclosed by the additional looping coil is offset from (i.e., not parallel with) the areas enclosed by the pair of looping coils. In this configuration, the pair of looping coils generates uniform magnetic fields between the two areas of the pair of looping coils in a first direction orthogonal to the areas of the pair of looping coils, and the additional looping coil generates additional non-uniform (or divergent) magnetic fields in a second direction transversal to the first direction.

Abstract: A virtual reality headset displays a three-dimensional (3D) virtual scene and includes a varifocal element to dynamically adjust a focal length of an optics block included in the virtual reality headset based on a location in the virtual scene where the user is looking. The headset tracks a user's eyes to approximate gaze lines and determines a plane of focus for a frame of the virtual scene as the intersection of the gaze lines. The varifocal element adjusts the focal length of the optics block so the optics block is focused at the plane of focus, which keeps the user's eyes in a zone of comfort as vergence and accommodation change. Based on the plane of focus, the virtual reality headset may provide depth cues, such as depth of field blur, to planes in the virtual scene deeper in the user's field of view than the plane of focus.

Abstract: A virtual reality headset displays a three-dimensional (3D) virtual scene and includes a varifocal element to dynamically adjust a focal length of an optics block included in the virtual reality headset based on a location in the virtual scene where the user is looking. The headset tracks a user's eyes to approximate gaze lines and determines a plane of focus for a frame of the virtual scene as the intersection of the gaze lines. The varifocal element adjusts the focal length of the optics block so the optics block is focused at the plane of focus, which keeps the user's eyes in a zone of comfort as vergence and accommodation change. Based on the plane of focus, the virtual reality headset may provide depth cues, such as depth of field blur, to planes in the virtual scene deeper in the user's field of view than the plane of focus.

Abstract: An eye tracking system, images the surface (e.g., sclera) of each eye of a user to capture an optical flow field resulting from a texture of the imaged surface. The eye tracking system includes illumination source (e.g., laser) and a detector (e.g., camera). The source illuminates a portion of the eye that is imaged the camera. As the eye moves, different areas of the eye are imaged, allowing generation of a map of a portion of the eye. An image of a portion of the eye is includes a diffraction pattern (i.e., the optical flow) corresponding to the portion of the eye. Through a calibration process, the optical flow is mapped to a location where the eye is looking.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for tracking a user's eye using structured light. The structured light system is calibrated by training a model of surface of the user's eye. A structured light emitter projects a structured light pattern (e.g., infrared structured light) onto a portion of the surface of the eye. From the viewpoint of a camera, the illumination pattern appears distorted. Based on the distortion of the illumination pattern in the captured image, the eye tracking system can determine the shape of the portion of the user's eye that the structured light is incident upon. By comparing the determined shape of the portion of the user's eye to the model, the orientation of the eye may be determined. The eye tracking system or elements thereof may be part of a head-mounted display, e.g., as part of a virtual reality system.