Robot capable of expressing moods

• US 20030004611A1
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation (ThreeSixty Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation (ThreeSixty Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lau, Shek Fai, Christianson, Tristan M., McKinney, Edward C. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,594,551 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/258
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/008 based on physical entities controlled by simulated intelligence so as to replicate intelligent life forms, e.g. based on robots replicating pets or humans in their appearance or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 294/907 Sensor controlled device

Abstract

A robot which incorporates a body, arms with a hand grip, legs, several sensors, light elements, an audio system, and a video system. The sensors allows the robot to interact with objects in the room, and prevents the robot from traveling off an edge or bumping into obstacles. The light elements allow the robot to express moods. The audio system allows the robot to detect and transmit sounds. The video system allows a user to remotely view the area in front of the robot. Additionally, the robot may operate in a plurality of modes, including modes that allow the robot to operate autonomously. The robot may operate autonomously in an automatic mode, a security mode, a greet mode, and a monitor mode. Further, the robot can be manipulated remotely.

Claims

1. A robot capable of expressing moods, the robot including:

a plurality of light elements;

a first subset of said light elements directed in a forward direction, said first subset of light elements capable of emitting light of at least a first color;

a second subset of said light elements directed in a rearward direction, said second subset of light elements capable of emitting light of at least a second color, the second color different than the first color; and

a reflective surface generally facing said second subset of light elements;

wherein light emitted by said second subset of light elements is directed in the forward direction by said reflective surface;

wherein various combinations of said plurality of light elements are activated to express moods.

2. The robot according to claim 1, wherein when light is emitted simultaneously by at least one of said first subset of light elements and at least one of said second subset of light elements, the emitted light is combined to produce at least a third color, the third color different than the first and second colors.

3. The robot according to claim 2, wherein:

said first subset of light elements includes a blue light; and

said second subset of light elements includes an amber light and a red light.

4. The robot according to claim 3, wherein one of said combinations of said plurality of lights is selected based on a mode of the robot.

5. The robot according to claim 4, wherein one of said combinations is selected depending on whether the robot is in a nightlight mode, a monitor mode, a security mode, a remote mode, a roam mode or a greet mode.

6. The robot according to claim 4, wherein when the robot is in a nightlight mode, said amber light and said red light are activated to emit light.

7. The robot according to claim 6, wherein when the robot is in a monitor mode, said amber light is activated to emit light.

8. The robot according to claim 7, wherein when the robot is in a security mode, said blue light is activated to emit light if the robot is not talking, and said blue light and said red light are both activated to emit light if the robot is talking.

9. The robot according to claim 8, wherein when the robot is in one of a remote mode, an automatic mode and a greet mode, one of said combinations of said plurality of lights is activated depending on whether the robot is talking and/or tired.

10. The robot according to claim 2, wherein:

said first subset of lights includes a blue light;

said second subset of light includes two amber lights and two red lights; and

one of said combinations of said plurality of lights is selected based on a mode of the robot, the robot including at least two of the following modes;

a nightlight mode;

a monitor mode;

a security mode;

a remote mode;

a roam mode; and

a greet mode.

23. The robot according to claim 21, wherein:

a first subset of said light elements is directed in a forward direction, said first subset of light elements capable of emitting light of at least a first color; and

a second subset of said light elements is directed in a rearward direction, said second subset of light elements capable of emitting light of at least a second color, the second color different than the first color;

the robot further comprising a reflective surface generally facing said second subset of light elements;

wherein light emitted by said second subset of light elements is directed in the forward direction by said reflective surface.

11. A robot capable of expressing moods and demonstrating emotions, the robot comprising:

a mouth including a plurality of rows of light elements; and

a pair of eyes, each said eye including;

a plurality of further light elements;

a first subset of said further light elements directed in a forward direction, said first subset of said further light elements capable of producing at least a first color;

a reflective surface at a rear of said eye; and

a second subset of said further light elements directed in a rearward direction and generally toward said reflective surface, said second subset of said further light elements capable of producing at least a second color, the second color different than the first color;

wherein the robot can demonstrate emotions by activating various combinations of said light elements in said plurality of rows of light elements of said mouth;

wherein the robot can express moods by activating various combinations of said plurality of further lights elements in said pair of eyes.

12. The robot according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of rows of light elements of said mouth comprise a plurality of rows of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

13. The robot according to claim 12, wherein said LEDs continuously change in pattern when the robot is talking.

14. The robot according to claim 13, wherein the emotions that can be demonstrated, by activating various combinations of said LEDs in said plurality of rows of LEDs, include at least two of the following:

a smile;

a frown;

puzzled;

surprised;

concentration; and

thinking.

16. The robot according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of rows of light elements of said mouth comprises a plurality of rows of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

17. The robot according to claim 16, wherein said LEDs continuously change in pattern when the robot is talking.

18. The robot according to claim 17, wherein the emotions that can be demonstrated, by activating various combinations of the LEDs in the plurality of rows of LEDs, include at least two of the following:

a smile;

a frown;

puzzled;

surprise;

concentration; and

thinking.

19. The robot according to claim 15, wherein said further light elements of each said eye include a blue light, an amber light and a red light.

20. The robot according to claim 19, further comprising:

a reflective surface within a rear portion of each said eye;

wherein said blue light is directed away from the reflective surface;

wherein said amber light and said red light are directed toward said reflective surface such that light emitted from said amber light and/or said red light is directed in a same direction as light emitted from said blue light; and

wherein when light is emitted simultaneously by any combination of said blue, red and amber lights, the emitted light is combined to produce at least one further color.

15. A robot capable of expressing moods and demonstrating emotions, the robot comprising:

a mouth including a plurality of rows of light elements; and

a pair of eyes, each said eye including a respective plurality of further light elements;

wherein the robot can demonstrate emotions by activating various combinations of said light elements in said plurality of rows of light elements of said mouth;

wherein the robot can express moods by activating various combinations of said plurality of further lights elements in said pair of eyes.

21. A robot capable of expressing moods, the robot including:

a plurality of light elements capable of emitting at least two different colors;

wherein various combinations of said plurality of light elements are activated to express moods;

wherein the moods can be controlled via the Internet.

22. The robot according to claim 21, wherein one of said combinations of said plurality of lights is selected based on a mode of the robot, the mode being selected via the Internet.