Artificial eye with an internal electromagnetic drive

Number: 9776097
Published: 2017-10-03
Filed: 2015-06-04
Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors: Smoot; Lanny S., Chevako; Peter Anastasios, Romaire; Eli Joseph
CPC: A61F2/141; A63H3/40
Verdict: High Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

An artificial eye for an animatronic figure or robot with a transparent outer shell over a spherical inner void housing an internal electromagnetic drive mechanism.

Abstract

An artificial eye for use with an animatronic figure or a robot. The artificial eye includes an outer shell formed with a wall defining a spherical inner void space. The outer shell includes a transparent outer or forward portion or half joined with a rear portion or half. The artificial eye includes an inner eye or sphere including a hollow, semi-spherical shell, and the inner eye is positioned in the inner void space of the outer shell. The artificial eye includes an electromagnetic drive positioned within the hollow, semi-spherical shell of the inner eye.

Background

This animatronic eye makes use of external coils in its electromagnetic drive, and these coils extended outward, which made them undesirably visible in some applications such as for characters where a large portion of the eye is uncovered (e.g., for an animatronic lizard). The inventors recognized that there remained a need for improved designs for animatronic or robotic eye assemblies that simulate the appearance and movements of the human eye or an animal's eye.

Claims

1. An artificial eye, comprising: an outer shell comprising a wall defining a substantially spherical inner void space...; an inner eyeball comprising a hollow, semi-spherical shell...; and an electromagnetic drive positioned within the hollow, semi-spherical shell of the inner eyeball, wherein the electromagnetic drive supports the inner eyeball a distance from inner surfaces of the outer shell and includes a pivot joint operable to pivot the inner eyeball... comprises a sphere-shaped gimbal hub... 9. An animatronic eye for use in an animatronic figure, comprising: a spherical, hollow outer shell...; a volume of liquid within the outer shell; a hollow inner sphere positioned in the liquid...; and a drive assembly comprising a set of magnetic elements wholly positioned within the inner sphere and a set of electromagnetic drive coils also wholly positioned within the inner sphere... 15. An apparatus for use as an artificial eye, comprising: an outer shell comprising a transparent forward portion joined with a rear portion; an inner shell with a semi-spherical shape defining an inner void space; and an electromagnetic drive comprising a hub wholly positioned within the inner void space...