System for capturing electrooculography signals
Inventors
Lunner, Thomas • Skoglund, Martin • Valdes, Alejandro Lopez • BHUIYAN, Tanveer
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11992324-B2
Publication Date
2024-05-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
An electrooculography (EOG) signal capture system comprises a) a sensor array adapted for being located at one of a left or right ears of a user and/or for fully or partially being implanted in the head at left or right ears of a user, the sensor array comprising a number Ns of electric potential sensors, respectively, for sensing respective electric potentials from the user's head, where Ns is larger than or equal to two, b) electronic circuitry coupled to the sensor array and configured to provide at least two different beamformed signals (SBF1, SBF2), each being representative of a weighted combination of said electric potentials, or of signals derived therefrom, and wherein a difference between said at least two different beamformed signals (ΔPBF=SBF1−SBF2)—at least in a specific electrooculography mode of operation—represents an electrooculography signal (ΔPEOG) from one or both eyes of said user. A single-sensor EOG-system is further proposed. The invention may e.g. be used in hearing aids or other electronic wearables.
Core Innovation
The invention is directed to a portable electrooculography (EOG) signal capture system in which a sensor array is adapted for being located at one of a left or right ear of a user. The sensor array comprises a number Ns of electric potential sensors (Ns≥2) that sense respective electric potentials from the user's head.
Electronic circuitry coupled to the sensor array provides at least two different combined signals (SBF1, SBF2), each representing a weighted combination of the electric potentials or of signals derived therefrom. The difference between the combined signals (ΔPBF=SBF1−SBF2) represents an electrooculography signal (ΔPEOG) from one or both eyes, and the electrooculography signal represents a current eye gaze used to estimate a current eye gaze angle Δθ.
The combined signals are determined by applying beamformer weights representative of first and second beam patterns (BP1, BP2), where the beam patterns do not attenuate signals from respective first and second target directions of an eye ball of the user. Functionality of the portable EOG signal capture system is controlled via the current eye gaze angle Δθ, and the system can further include receiving a reference potential from a reference sensor and using respective differential buffers to provide voltage difference signals from the electric potentials and the reference potential.
A non-transitory computer readable medium stores instructions to implement a user interface for a hearing device adapted for being located at or in an ear of a user, where eye gaze control selects functions of the hearing device, including Beamforming mode of operation, Volume, and an Active wireless receiver. Beamforming is controlled by horizontal eye gaze and Volume is controlled by vertical eye gaze.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are clm-00001, clm-00020, and clm-00021, covering three inventive features: ear-located EOG sensing with beamformed combined signals, use of a reference potential and differential buffers, and a hearing-device user interface controlled by eye gaze.
Ear-located sensor array with beamformed combined signals difference as EOG
A portable electrooculography (EOG) signal capture system comprising a sensor array adapted for being located at one of a left or right ear of a user with Ns electric potential sensors (Ns≥2) sensing respective electric potentials from the user's head; electronic circuitry configured to provide at least two different combined signals (SBF1, SBF2) as weighted combinations of the electric potentials or of signals derived therefrom, wherein a difference between the combined signals (ΔPBF=SBF1−SBF2) represents an electrooculography signal (ΔPEOG) used to estimate a current eye gaze angle Δθ; and beamformer weights representative of first and second beam patterns (BP1, BP2) that do not attenuate signals from respective first and second target directions of an eye ball of the user.
Reference potential and differential buffers for voltage difference signals
A portable electrooculography (EOG) signal capture system comprising a sensor array adapted for being located at one of a left or right ear of a user with Ns electric potential sensors (Ns≥2) sensing respective electric potentials from the user's head; electronic circuitry configured to provide at least two different combined signals (SBF1, SBF2), wherein a difference between the combined signals (ΔPBF=SBF1−SBF2) represents an electrooculography signal (ΔPEOG) used to estimate a current eye gaze angle Δθ; a reference potential from a reference sensor; and respective differential buffers to provide respective voltage difference signals from the electric potentials and the reference potential.
Gaze-controlled hearing device user interface mapping via non-transitory medium
A non-transitory computer readable medium storing an application configured to implement a user interface for a hearing device adapted for being located at or in an ear of a user, the hearing device comprising a portable electrooculography signal capture system; the user interface allows a user to select functions of the hearing device for eye gaze control, including selecting a Beamforming mode of operation, controlling Volume, and selecting an Active wireless receiver, with Beamforming controlled by horizontal eye gaze and Volume controlled by vertical eye gaze.
The inventive features are ear-located EOG sensing using at least two beamformed combined signals whose difference represents an EOG signal for estimating gaze angle, optional reference potential and differential buffers, and a hearing-device user interface mapped to eye gaze control.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
Interested in licensing this patent?