Pupil detection and tracking using multiple light sources

We present a fast, robust, and low cost pupil detection technique that uses two near-infrared time multiplexed light sources synchronized with the cam era frame rate. The two light sources generate bright and dark pupil images , which are used for pupil segmentation. To reduce artifacts caused mostly by head motion, a larger temporal support is used. This method can be appli ed to detect and track several pupils (or several people). Experimental res ults from a real-time implementation of the system show that this technique is very robust, and able to detect pupils using wide field of view low cos t cameras under different illumination conditions, even for people with gla sses, from considerable long distances. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.