Lens-embedded eye tracking using holographic optical elements (HOEs)

For AR/VR/MR applications, eye tracking is a powerful tool for a highly immersive and intuitive user experience. The Tobii Lens Technology offers a fast and gentle lens-casting process that allows the embedding of sensitive elements, such as electronics, inside prescription lenses. This technology enabled the production of Tobii Pro Glasses 3, containing lens-embedded LED illuminators and small cameras that directly image the eye. However, for the future of AR, the bar on industrial design and performance is set even higher. We are developing a next-generation lens-cast eye tracking system using NIR-sensitized volume holographic optical elements (NIR vHOEs). Our goal is to enable sleek, high-performance eye tracking with multiple views of the eye without interfering with other AR technologies, like displays. Embedding HOEs directly inside the lens is attractive, as it yields a fully protected, thin, aesthetic, and lightweight solution meeting the requirements for user comfort and eye tracking performance.