Capacitive Eye Tracking: a First Fully-Embedded Demonstrator

Infrared-based eye tracking technologies suffer when strong interfering illumination is present, in particular due to sunlight when operated outdoor. Here, an alternative technology based on contactless, high-sensitivity capacitive sensing is presented, showing the design and preliminary characterization of a novel wearable eye tracking device. It is based on transparent electrodes, deposited on standard lenses, and miniaturized electronics, fitting inside the slim form factor of classic glasses. The optimization started with numerical simulations and iterative tests on prototypes of increasing integration with lenses and frames. The preliminary, though promising, results achieved with the final system show the identification of 5 regions in the visual field at a rate of 100Hz and with a power consumption of 5mW of overhead due to the capacitive sensor.