A real-time integrated eye tracker with in-pixel image processing in 0.18-μm CMOS technology

초록

This paper presents a high-speed eye tracker system (ETS) that leverages an in-pixel image processing array along with a fully parallel architecture to achieve real-time performance. The proposed ETS performs pixel-level image processing in digital domain using morphological operations-erosion and dilation-to determine the pupil and corneal glint centers essential for gaze tracking. Designed for seamless integration with conventional and custom CMOS image sensors (CISs), the system eliminates the need for external peripherals and storage circuits, significantly reducing power consumption and processing time compared to prior works. The 176 x 120 pixel array prototype of the proposed design was implemented in 0.18-mu m CMOS technology. Post-layout simulations show a maximum tracking error of +/- 1 pixel and a processing time of 500 ns at 25 MHz. The system operates at 12.61 mu W with a 1.8 V supply, demonstrating its suitability for real-time applications in human-computer interaction (HCI) and medical diagnostics.

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