A new image processing method for evaluating the pupillary responses in a HMD-type eye-tracking device

In this paper, a new image processing method for evaluating the pupillary responses is described. This system is based on an eye-tracking system, using eye tracking and pattern recognition techniques with appropriate hardware and software. This pupillary response evaluation system includes a head-mounted display and a pinhole CCD camera. When the subject uses the head-mounted display to browse the screen of a computer, the CCD camera catches images of the subject's eye and transmits it to the computer. The program in the computer calculates the location and size of the pupil in the images. The pupil area calculation weighting function, visual fatigue detection, concentration detection, and eye/HMD slide compensation are included in the system. This allows the system to detect the pupil under different conditions. This system will know if anyone is using the system, then it evaluates the operating conditions of the subject, if the adjustment is correct, and guides the operator in using the system. The experimental results verified that this image system provides an economical and effective method for evaluating pupillary responses.