Adaptive camera and illuminator eyetracker

Abstract

A method includes obtaining an image of an eye in a bright-pupil imaging mode in which a retinal retro-reflection complements the image of the eye in the bright-pupil mode, and obtaining an image of the eye in a dark-pupil imaging mode in which a corneo-scleral retro-reflection complements the image of the eye in the dark-pupil mode. One of the bright-pupil imaging mode and the dark-pupil imaging mode is selected based on quality of obtained images.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for determining a gaze direction of at least one eye of a user, wherein the system comprises:
 a plurality of image sensors;   a plurality of illuminators; and   a processor configured to:
 determine whether to operate the system in a first mode or a second mode; 
 select, based on whether the system is operated in the first mode or the second mode, a particular image sensor from the plurality of image sensors; 
 select, based on whether the system is operated in the first mode or the second mode, and the particular image sensor selected, a particular illuminator from the plurality of illuminators; 
 activate the particular image sensor and the particular illuminator; and 
 determine a gaze direction of at least one eye of a user based at least in part on an image captured by the particular image sensor of light from the particular illuminator reflecting from the at least one eye of the user.