The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 02, 2024
Filed:
Jan. 31, 2020
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Keenan Molner, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Qiong Huang, Cupterino, CA (US);
Branko Petljanski, San Jose, CA (US);
Edward A. Valko, San Jose, CA (US);
Tom Sengelaub, San Francisco, CA (US);
Martin Haller, Mountain View, CA (US);
Andrei Nikiforov, Berlin, DE;
Hua Gao, Cupertino, CA (US);
Emanuele Mandelli, Mountain View, CA (US);
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for using polarized light (e.g., infrared (IR) light) to improve eye-related functions such as iris recognition. An eye camera system includes one or more IR cameras that capture images of the user's eyes that are processed to perform iris recognition, gaze tracking, or other functions. At least one polarizing element may be located in the path of the light which is used to capture images of the user's eye. The user's eye may be illuminated by IR light emitted by one or more LEDs. At least one of the LEDs may be an LED with a polarizing filter. Instead or in addition, at least one polarizer may be located at the eye camera sensor, in the eye camera optics, or as or in an additional optical element located on the light path between the eye camera and the user's eye.