Animatronic eye with an electromagnetic drive and fluid suspension and with video capability
First Claim
1. An eye apparatus, comprising:
- an outer shell comprising a wall defining a substantially spherical inner void space and having a substantially spherical outer surface, wherein the outer shell includes a front portion and a rear portion both transmitting light with a first index of refraction;
a volume of suspension liquid contained within the inner void space of the outer shell, the suspension liquid transmitting light with a second index of refraction substantially matching the first index of refraction;
an inner sphere comprising a solid body with a third index of refraction substantially matching the first and second indices of refraction, wherein the inner sphere is positioned in the inner void space of the outer shell in the suspension liquid; and
a camera positioned adjacent the rear portion of the outer shell, whereby an image capturing device of the camera receives light passing through the outer shell, the suspension liquid and the inner sphere,wherein the rear portion of the outer shell comprises an opaque hemisphere including an opening and a spherical camera lens extending over the opening, sealably attached to the opaque hemisphere, and positioned between the camera and the inner void space.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An animatronic eye with fluid suspension, electromagnetic drive, and video capability. The eye assembly includes a spherical, hollow outer shell that contains a suspension liquid. An inner sphere is positioned in the outer shell in the suspension liquid to be centrally floated at a distance away from the shell wall. The inner sphere includes painted portions providing a sclera and iris and includes an unpainted rear portion and front portion or pupil. The shell, liquid, and inner sphere are have matching indices of refraction such that interfaces between the components are not readily observed. A camera is provided adjacent a rear portion of the outer shell to receive light passing through the shell, liquid, and inner sphere. A drive assembly is provided including permanent magnets on the inner sphere that are driven by electromagnetic coils on the outer shell to provide frictionless yaw and pitch movements simulating eye movements.
18 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An eye apparatus, comprising:
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an outer shell comprising a wall defining a substantially spherical inner void space and having a substantially spherical outer surface, wherein the outer shell includes a front portion and a rear portion both transmitting light with a first index of refraction; a volume of suspension liquid contained within the inner void space of the outer shell, the suspension liquid transmitting light with a second index of refraction substantially matching the first index of refraction; an inner sphere comprising a solid body with a third index of refraction substantially matching the first and second indices of refraction, wherein the inner sphere is positioned in the inner void space of the outer shell in the suspension liquid; and a camera positioned adjacent the rear portion of the outer shell, whereby an image capturing device of the camera receives light passing through the outer shell, the suspension liquid and the inner sphere, wherein the rear portion of the outer shell comprises an opaque hemisphere including an opening and a spherical camera lens extending over the opening, sealably attached to the opaque hemisphere, and positioned between the camera and the inner void space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An eye apparatus, comprising:
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an outer shell comprising a wall defining a substantially spherical inner void space and having a substantially spherical outer surface, wherein the outer shell includes a front portion and a rear portion both transmitting light with a first index of refraction; a volume of suspension liquid contained within the inner void space of the outer shell, the suspension liquid transmitting light with a second index of refraction substantially matching the first index of refraction; an inner sphere comprising a solid body with a third index of refraction substantially matching the first and second indices of refraction, wherein the inner sphere is positioned in the inner void space of the outer shell in the suspension liquid; a camera positioned adjacent the rear portion of the outer shell, whereby an image capturing device of the camera receives light passing through the outer shell, the suspension liquid and the inner sphere; and an electromagnetic drive assembly including a set of magnetic elements spaced apart on a great circle of the solid body of the inner sphere and a set of electromagnetic drive mechanisms positioned proximate to the outer surface of the outer shell, wherein the electromagnetic drive mechanisms are selectively operable to apply drive magnetic fields to the magnetic elements to provide yaw and pitch movements to the solid body, wherein each of the electromagnetic drive mechanisms comprise a restoring permanent magnet positioned proximate to a great circle of the outer shell, and wherein the restoring permanent magnets apply a restoring magnetic force on the magnetic elements on the solid body to return and maintain the solid body in a predefined center position in the inner void space spaced apart from the outer shell wall. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An eye apparatus, comprising:
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an outer shell comprising a wall defining a substantially spherical inner void space and having a substantially spherical outer surface, wherein the outer shell includes a front portion and a rear portion both transmitting light with a first index of refraction; a volume of suspension liquid contained within the inner void space of the outer shell, the suspension liquid transmitting light with a second index of refraction substantially matching the first index of refraction; an inner sphere comprising a solid body with a third index of refraction substantially matching the first and second indices of refraction, wherein the inner sphere is positioned in the inner void space of the outer shell in the suspension liquid; a camera positioned adjacent the rear portion of the outer shell, whereby an image capturing device of the camera receives light passing through the outer shell, the suspension liquid and the inner sphere; and an electromagnetic drive assembly including a set of magnetic elements spaced apart on a great circle of the solid body of the inner sphere and a set of electromagnetic drive mechanisms positioned proximate to the outer surface of the outer shell, wherein the electromagnetic drive mechanisms are selectively operable to apply drive magnetic fields to the magnetic elements to provide yaw and pitch movements to the solid body, wherein the set of magnetic elements comprise four permanent magnets spaced 90 degrees apart on the great circle of the solid body, and wherein each of the electromagnetic drive mechanisms comprise a pair of electromagnetic coils positioned adjacent to each other and on opposite sides of a great circle of the outer shell, whereby pairs of the electromagnetic coils in the electromagnetic drive mechanisms located on opposite sides of the outer shell are positioned to have center points proximate to antipodal points of the outer shell such that the opposite pairs are antipodal coil pairs and wherein the antipodal pairs are operated concurrently to apply symmetric driving forces on the magnetic elements of the inner sphere to maintain the solid body spaced apart from the outer shell wall. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification