Apple invents a visual Headset that will allow a user to select a text input field simply by using a Gaze Sensor + Event Camera
Today the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that relates to user interfaces for interacting with an electronic device, and more specifically to interacting with an electronic device using an eye gaze.
Apple's patent describes techniques for interacting with an electronic device using an eye gaze. According to some embodiments, a user uses their eyes to select a text input field displayed on the electronic device.
The techniques provide a more natural and efficient interface by, in some exemplary embodiments, allowing a user to identify where text is to be entered using primarily eye gazes.
The techniques are advantageous for virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality devices and applications.
The techniques can also be applied to conventional user interfaces on devices such as desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
Apple's patent FIG. 2 below depicts a top view of a user (#200) whose gaze is focused on an object (#210). The user's gaze is defined by the visual axes of each of the user's eyes (as depicted by rays 201A and 201B). The direction of the visual axes define the user's gaze direction, and the distance at which the axes converge defines the gaze depth.
The gaze direction can also be referred to as the gaze vector or line-of-sight. In FIG. 2, the gaze direction is in the direction of the object and the gaze depth is the distance D, relative to the user. The gaze direction and/or gaze depth are characteristics used to determine a gaze location.
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In some embodiments, the center of the user's cornea, the center of the user's pupil, and/or the center of rotation of the user's eyeball are determined to determine the position of the visual axis of the user's eye. Accordingly, the center of the user's cornea, the center of the user's pupil, and/or the center of rotation of the user's eyeball can be used to determine the user's gaze direction and/or gaze depth.
In some embodiments, gaze depth is determined based on a point of convergence of the visual axes of the user's eyes (or a location of minimum distance between the visual axes of the user's eyes) or some other measurement of the focus of a user's eye(s). Optionally, the gaze depth is used to estimate the distance at which the user's eyes are focused.
Apple's patent FIG. 4 below illustrates a Head Mounted Display device (HMD) with a built-in Gaze Sensor. A user will be able to look at a form (for example) in VR world or real-world environment and be able to direct their text input to specific areas of the form as detected by the gaze sensor detecting the user's focus. The technology is so precise that a minor gaze from the "First Name" input slot to the next box "Last Name" could be detected accurately so that the user can fill in the box without the use of a mouse.
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Apple notes that the gaze sensor (#410) is directed toward a user and, during operation, captures characteristics of the user's eye gaze, such as image data of the eyes of the user.
In some embodiments, the gaze sensor includes an event camera that detects event data from a user (e.g., the user's eyes) based on changes in detected light intensity over time and uses the event data to determine gaze direction and/or gaze depth.
Optionally, the HMD uses both image data and event data to determine gaze direction and/or gaze depth. Optionally, the HMD uses ray casting and/or cone casting to determine the gaze direction and/or gaze depth. In some embodiments, multiple gaze sensors are used.
Apple's patent application number 20210240331 was published today by the U.S. Patent Office. The patent was originally filed in Q4 2020 with some work done in 2018.
Two of the inventors include Aaron Thompson (Senior Experience Designer) and Pol Pla (UX and UI Prototyper, Human Interface Design Principal. A third inventor listed as Earl M. Olson couldn't be found on LinkedIn under Apple.
Note to those covering our report: Please limit the use of our graphics to a single image (Thanks).
Considering that this is a patent application, the timing of such a product to market is unknown at this time.
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