New infrared LED assisted eye tracking technology to advance new developments in human-computer interaction

     Osram Opto Semiconductors has announced the latest infrared leds (IRED) in the Synios family - SFH 4770 and SFH 4771. The small and efficient IRED, combined with modern camera sensors and powerful computer chips, enables sophisticated eye-tracking systems to be used in today's everyday consumer electronics, opening up a rich new experience of human-computer intuitive interaction.

     Keyboards and mice have long been common tools for operating computers. With the rise of mobile devices, touch screen and speech recognition technology have gradually become a popular way of human-computer interaction. After responding to a tap of a screen or a voice command as the next step in human-computer interaction, technology is now enabling more and more devices to predict a user's intentions by tracking their gaze.

     Eye tracking systems record the user's eye focus and eye movements. The system uses infrared light to illuminate the human eye, camera sensors to record human reactions, and software to determine pupil position and gaze direction. Humans perceive their surroundings mainly through vision, and where they look largely reflects what people are thinking at the moment, so devices can also tell what they are paying attention to and how they are reacting by tracking their eyes.

     In recent years, with the miniaturization of core components, developers can finally integrate eye tracking technology into more consumer products. The IRED, which is extremely compact and powerful, is a prime example of this. The newly released SFH 4770 and SFH 4771 from OSram Opto Semiconductors measure only 2.75mm x 2.00mm x 0.6mm. Both products operate at 850 nm and can be used in devices that are used close to the user. At the same time, because this technology can be fully operated in low-power scenarios, it also has excellent performance in energy saving.

     The SFH 4770 and SFH 4771 are thin, compact, and optics-free, greatly increasing design flexibility. At an operating current of 1 A, SFH 4771 has a radiant flux of 700 mW and a radiant intensity of 230 mW/sr. At an operating current of 1.5 A, SFH 4770 has a radiant flux of 870 mW and a radiant intensity of 350 mW/sr.

    Eye tracking has been used in specialized systems for decades. For example, in medical assistive devices, paralyzed patients can control wheelchairs and communication tools by moving their eyes. In addition, the use of eye tracking on smartphones and tablets is also well known. However, it is the application scenarios such as games, VR and AR that best demonstrate the advantages of eye tracking technology, and the common denominator is that the system's response speed and sensory interaction can greatly improve the user experience.

     More than 100 games now include eye tracking. Top companies have teamed up to bring the benefits of eye tracking to more gamers and esports viewers. The technology makes human-computer interaction faster and more intuitive. If well designed, these systems can also enable virtual reality and respond to users' natural and even subconscious reactions to create immersive virtual experiences. With the release of two new products for eye tracking solutions, OSram Opto Semiconductors further expands its portfolio of high-power IRED products to meet the needs of more applications.