Viewpointsystem Runs 140 Hz Eye Tracking on a Glasses MCU

Viewpointsystem announced in a press release a Digital Iris Module that processes eye tracking data at 140 Hz on a microcontroller inside smart glasses. The module uses an Ensemble MCU from Alif Semiconductor, removing the need to send eye camera images to a main processor or connected device.

The compact unit combines two inward facing cameras with the MCU. It handles image preprocessing, gaze calculation accelerated by the chip's neural processing unit and detection of blinks, fixations and saccades, then outputs gaze data. It can also collect and combine data from an ambient light sensor, magnetometer and accelerometer.

Viewpointsystem says full edge processing enables up to 15 times longer battery runtime. The company says the module could support rates up to 400 Hz for some customer requirements, while eye images remain on the chip.