Importance

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Abstract

A system and method for finding and tracking the location of a subject's eyes. This system and method employs an imaging apparatus which produces digital image frames including the face and eyes of a subject. An eye position finding and tracking apparatus is also included to average the intensity representing pixel values within respective M.sub.x by M.sub.y pixel blocks of a digitized image frame to create elements of output matrices. Then, elements of the output matrices are compared to various threshold values. These threshold values are chosen so as to identify which matrix elements correspond to a M.sub.x by M.sub.y pixel block potentially representing an image of the subject's pupil and at least the portion of the subject's iris (i.e. a potential eye location). Once the flagged matrix elements have been determined, any M.sub.x by M.sub.y pixel block corresponding to a flagged matrix element can be designated as an actual subject eye location. However, it is preferred that further steps be taken to confirm the actual eye location, as well as to track the changing position of the subject's eye. Accordingly, the preferred system and method include a provision for tracking the location of a center of each M.sub.x by M.sub.y pixel block representing a potential eye location in each subsequent image frame produced from the imaging apparatus. Further, a provision is included to detect a blink at the location. Such a blink confirms the potential eye location is an actual eye location.

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First Claim