{
  "patent_number": "US 20230004223",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How Eye Trackers Detect Eyelid Movements and Blinks",
  "original_title": "Eye tracking system",
  "summary": "This patent describes a method for eye tracking systems to precisely detect eyelid movements and blinks by comparing a current eye image to a reference image, then analyzing the differences in rows of pixels.",
  "what_it_does": "This eye tracking system works by taking two pictures of a user's eye: a 'reference image' and a 'current image' (Claim 1). It then finds the differences between these two images, creating a 'differential image' where only what has changed is visible. This differential image is like a grid of pixels, each showing how much it changed (Claim 1). The system then adds up or combines the change values in each horizontal row of pixels to get 'row values' (Claim 1, Claim 6). Finally, it uses these row values to figure out 'eyelid data,' such as the exact position of an eyelid edge (Claim 7) or whether the eye is blinking (Claim 9). For example, if you blink, the system would see a big change in certain rows of the differential image, indicating a blink.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover eye tracking systems that detect eyelid movement without first creating a differential image by comparing a current image to a reference image.",
    "Does not cover systems that determine eyelid data solely from analyzing individual pixels or columns, rather than combining differential intensity values in corresponding rows (Claim 1).",
    "Does not cover eye tracking methods that rely only on infrared reflections or pupil dilation without image differencing for eyelid detection.",
    "Does not cover systems that track the entire eye's movement without specifically processing images to extract eyelid location or blink data.",
    "Does not cover methods for determining eyelid data that do not involve a two-dimensional pixel array with differential intensity values."
  ],
  "filed": "2022-06-30",
  "granted": null,
  "expires": "2042-06-30",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Tobii AB",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/tobii-ab",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Joakim Zachrisson",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/joakim-zachrisson"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mikael Rosell",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/mikael-rosell"
    },
    {
      "name": "Simon Johansson",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/simon-johansson"
    },
    {
      "name": "Daniel WRANG",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/daniel-wrang"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 1,
  "tags": [
    "consumer_electronics",
    "software",
    "telecommunications",
    "automotive",
    "gaming",
    "ai_ml"
  ],
  "abstract": "An eye tracking system comprising a controller configured to receive a reference image of an eye of a user and a current image of the eye of the user. The controller is also configured to determine a difference between the reference image and the current image to define a differential image. The differential image has a two dimensional pixel array of pixel locations that are arranged in a plurality of rows and columns. Each pixel location has a differential intensity value. The controller is further configured to calculate a plurality of row values by combining the differential intensity values in corresponding rows of the differential image and to determine eyelid data based on the plurality of row values.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20230004223/eye-tracking-system",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20230004223/eye-tracking-system/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US20230004223",
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}