Robot eye and robot with same

Abstract

The utility model is applicable to the field of intelligent robots, and provides a robot eye which comprises a convex transparent lens, an adjustable optical layer and a display layer, and the adjustable optical layer comprises a first transparent substrate, a liquid crystal material layer and a second transparent substrate. The first transparent substrate is provided with an expression contour pattern dividing the first transparent substrate into an expression contour outer area and an expression contour inner area, the expression contour outer area and the expression contour inner area are each provided with an ITO coating layer, and the second transparent substrate is provided with an ITO coating layer. When the display layer is in a display state, first voltage is applied to the expression outline outer area, the expression outline inner area and the ITO coating layer of the second transparent substrate, so that the content of the display layer is visible; and in a screen turn-off state, applying a second voltage to the area in the expression contour and the ITO coating layer of the second transparent substrate, so that the area in the expression contour is visible. The robot eye provided by the utility model can effectively solve the problem that the robot eye is hollow after the display layer is extinguished in the prior art.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model belongs to the field of intelligent robots, especially relates to a robot eye and a robot with the eye. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the progress of artificial intelligence technology, various desktop or mobile robots are developing rapidly. One of them is a cartoon character robot that can have a variety of expressions, for example, it can express emotions by displaying different eye shapes on the screen, and can increase the interactive experience between the robot and the user. Most of these robots, as shown in the figure, are mainly composed of a display screen 2a and a convex lens 1a, and the display screen 1a is used to display different eye shapes; the convex lens 1a is placed in front of the display screen, generally in the shape of a convex surface, to more realistically simulate the eyes. However, there is a problem with the eye structure of this type of robot: when the display screen 2a is turned off, the entire eye will be relatively dark in the presence of external ambient light, giving a hollow feeling. Figure 1 SUMMARY The utility model aims at at least solving one of preceding technical problems, provides a kind of robot eye and the robot with the eye of this eye, effectively solve the problem of hollow of robot eye in prior art after display layer is extinguished.

[0003] The technical scheme of the utility model is: a kind of robot eye, including convex transparent lens, adjustable optical layer and display layer, the adjustable optical layer is located between the convex transparent lens and the display layer, the adjustable optical layer includes the first transparent substrate, liquid crystal material layer and second transparent substrate that are sequentially stacked, the surface of the first transparent substrate is provided with expression contour pattern, the expression contour pattern divides the first transparent substrate into expression contour outer area and expression contour inner area, the expression contour outer area and the expression contour inner area are provided with ITO coating layer, the surface of the second transparent substrate is provided with ITO coating layer, the display layer has display state and screen-off state, the display state: first voltage is simultaneously applied to the ITO coating layer of expression contour outer area and the ITO coating layer of expression contour inner area and the ITO coating layer of second transparent substrate, to change the molecular arrangement of liquid crystal material layer, so that the content of the display layer is visible;The screen-off state: second voltage is simultaneously applied to the ITO coating layer of expression contour inner area and the ITO coating layer of second transparent substrate to apply second voltage, to change the molecular arrangement of liquid crystal material layer and the part corresponding to expression contour inner area, so that expression contour inner area is visible in the presence of external ambient light.

[0004] The technical scheme of the utility model is: a kind of robot eye, including convex transparent lens, adjustable optical layer and display layer, the adjustable optical layer is located between the convex transparent lens and the display layer, the adjustable optical layer includes the first transparent substrate, liquid crystal material layer and second transparent substrate that are sequentially stacked, the surface of the first transparent substrate is provided with expression contour pattern, the expression contour pattern divides the first transparent substrate into expression contour outer area and expression contour inner area, the expression contour outer area and the expression contour inner area are provided with ITO coating layer, the surface of the second transparent substrate is provided with ITO coating layer, the display layer has display state and screen-off state, the display state: first voltage is simultaneously applied to the ITO coating layer of expression contour outer area and the ITO coating layer of expression contour inner area and the ITO coating layer of second transparent substrate, to change the molecular arrangement of liquid crystal material layer, so that the content of the display layer is visible;The screen-off state: second voltage is simultaneously applied to the ITO coating layer of expression contour inner area and the ITO coating layer of second transparent substrate to apply second voltage, to change the molecular arrangement of liquid crystal material layer and the part corresponding to expression contour inner area, so that expression contour inner area is visible in the presence of external ambient light.

[0005] Optionally, the first transparent substrate is located between the liquid crystal material layer and the display layer, or the second transparent substrate is located between the liquid crystal material layer and the display layer.

[0006] Optionally, the expression contour pattern further comprises at least one external opening for connecting the expression contour inner area with the edge of the first transparent substrate.

[0007] Optionally, the liquid crystal material layer is a bistable liquid crystal material.

[0008] Optionally, the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate are rigid transparent materials, or the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate are flexible transparent materials.

[0009] Optionally, the expression contour pattern is a closed-eye contour pattern.

[0010] Optionally, the display layer is one of an LCD display screen, an OLED display screen, a MicroLED display screen, a PDP display screen, an EPD display screen, a QLED display screen, a FED display screen, and a VFD display screen.

[0011] The utility model also provides a kind of robot, including head, drive assembly and above-mentioned robot eye, the robot eye is installed in the head, the drive assembly is used to the first voltage that the adjustable optical layer is applied when the display layer of the robot eye is in display state, the drive assembly is also used to the second voltage that the adjustable optical layer is applied when the display layer of the robot eye is in screen-off state.

[0012] Optionally, the drive assembly is electrically connected to the ITO coating layer of the expression contour outer area through a first drive line, the drive assembly is electrically connected to the ITO coating layer of the expression contour inner area through a second drive line, and the drive assembly is electrically connected to the ITO coating layer of the second transparent substrate through a third drive line. The drive assembly applies a first voltage to the ITO coating layer of the expression contour outer area, the expression contour inner area and the second transparent substrate to change the molecular arrangement of the liquid crystal material layer so that the content of the display layer is visible. The drive assembly applies a second voltage to the ITO coating layer of the expression contour inner area and the second transparent substrate to change the molecular arrangement of the part of the liquid crystal material layer corresponding to the expression contour inner area so that the expression contour inner area is visible in the presence of external ambient light.

[0013] Optionally, the expression contour pattern of the robot eye further comprises at least one external opening for connecting the expression contour inner area with the edge of the first transparent substrate, and the second drive line is electrically connected to the expression contour inner area through the external opening.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the robot eye and the robot with the eye provided by the utility model have the advantages that: the expression contour pattern is designed on the first transparent substrate, the first transparent substrate is divided into an expression contour outer area and an expression contour inner area by the expression contour pattern, the expression contour outer area and the expression contour inner area are both provided with an ITO coating layer, the area corresponding to the expression contour pattern does not have the ITO coating layer, the expression contour outer area and the expression contour inner area cannot conductively communicate, and the surface of the second transparent substrate is provided with an ITO coating layer.When the display layer is in a display state, the driving assembly applies a first voltage to the ITO coating layers of the expression contour outer area and the expression contour inner area and the ITO coating layer of the second transparent substrate to change the molecular arrangement of the liquid crystal material layer, change the light transmittance of the display layer, and make the content of the display layer visible; when the display layer is in an off-screen state, the driving assembly applies a second voltage to the ITO coating layer of the expression contour inner area and the ITO coating layer of the second transparent substrate to change the molecular arrangement of the part of the liquid crystal material layer corresponding to the expression contour inner area, so that the expression contour inner area is visible in the case that the external environment light exists, that is, the expression contour inner area is displayed in the robot eye after the display layer is in the off-screen state, and the problem that the robot eye is empty after the display layer is extinguished in the prior art is effectively solved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the utility model, the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced as follows. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the utility model, and other drawings can also be obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor on the basis of these drawings.

[0016] Figure 1 It is a sectional view of the robot eye in the prior art.

[0017] Figure 2 It is a sectional view of the robot eye provided by the embodiment of the utility model;

[0018] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic view of the expression contour pattern in the robot eye provided by the embodiment of the utility model;

[0019] 1-convex transparent lens, 2-adjustable optical layer, 3-display layer, 21-first transparent substrate, 22-liquid crystal material layer, 23-second transparent substrate, 211-expression contour pattern, 212-expression contour outer area, 213-expression contour inner area, 214-external opening, 1a-convex lens, 2a-display screen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] In order to make the purpose, technical scheme and advantages of the utility model clearer and more apparent, the utility model will be further described in detail below in combination with the drawings and examples.

[0021] It should be noted that the terms "arranged", "connected" should be understood broadly, for example, can be directly arranged, installed, connected, or indirectly arranged, connected through other components.

[0022] Indirectly arranged, connected through the centering component, the centering structure.

[0023] In addition, the directions or positional relationships indicated by "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer" and the like in the embodiments of the utility model are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the drawings or the conventional placement state or use state, and are only for the convenience of describing the utility model and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the indicated structure, feature, device or element must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the utility model. In the description of the utility model, unless otherwise specified, the meaning of "a plurality of" is two or more.

[0024] The various specific technical features and embodiments described in the specific embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner without contradiction, for example, different specific technical features / embodiments can form different embodiments by combination, in order to avoid unnecessary repetition, various possible combination manners of the various specific technical features / embodiments in the utility model will not be described again.

[0025] The utility model embodiment provides a kind of robot eyes, as shown in Figure 2 And Figure 3 As shown, it includes convex transparent lens 1, adjustable optical layer 2 and display layer 3, convex transparent lens 1 is as the appearance part of robot eyes to imitate the shape of eyeball, so that the effect of robot eyes is more realistic, display layer 3 can generate display content to observer, to realize man-machine interactive experience.

[0026] As shown in Figure 2 Adjustable optical layer 2 can be located between convex transparent lens and display layer 3, adjustable optical layer 2 can include first transparent substrate 21, liquid crystal material layer 22 and second transparent substrate 23 arranged in sequence, liquid crystal material layer 22 is a kind of material that can change the orientation change of liquid crystal molecule by applying different voltage. As shown in Figure 3As shown, the surface of the first transparent substrate 21 is provided with an expression contour pattern 211, which divides the first transparent substrate 21 into an expression contour outer area 212 and an expression contour inner area 213, both of which are provided with an ITO coating layer (not shown in the figure), while the area corresponding to the expression contour pattern 211 is free of the ITO coating layer, and the expression contour outer area 212 and the expression contour inner area 213 cannot conductively communicate with each other. The surface of the second transparent substrate 23 is provided with an ITO coating layer (not shown in the figure), which is formed on the entire surface of the second transparent substrate 2323. The expression contour pattern 211 is located on the side of the first transparent substrate 21 close to the liquid crystal material layer 22, and the ITO coating layer of the second transparent substrate 2323 is located on the side of the second transparent substrate 23 close to the liquid crystal material layer 22. The ITO coating layers of the first transparent substrate 21 and the second transparent substrate 23 serve as electrodes of the liquid crystal material layer 22. The driving assembly of the robot can apply a voltage to the liquid crystal material layer 22 through the ITO coating layers to change the light transmittance of the liquid crystal material layer 22. It can be understood that the part of the first transparent substrate 21 surrounded by the expression contour pattern 211 is the expression contour inner area 213, and the other part is the expression contour outer area 212.

[0027] Display layer 3 has a display state and an off state. In the display state, the driving component simultaneously applies a first voltage to the ITO coating layer of the area outside the expression contour 212, the ITO coating layer of the area inside the expression contour 213, and the ITO coating layer of the second transparent substrate 23, thereby changing the molecular arrangement of the liquid crystal material layer 22 and making the content of display layer 3 visible. By applying the first voltage to the ITO coating layer of the area outside the expression contour 212, the ITO coating layer of the area inside the expression contour 213, and the ITO coating layer of the second transparent substrate 23, the liquid crystal molecules of liquid crystal material layer 22 change to an oriented alignment state, changing the light transmittance of liquid crystal material layer 22, making the adjustable optical layer 2 transparent, and allowing the observer to view the content displayed on display layer 3 through the adjustable optical layer 2. In the off-screen state, the driving component simultaneously applies a second voltage to the ITO coating layer of the expression contour region 213 and the ITO coating layer of the second transparent substrate 23 to change the molecular arrangement of the liquid crystal material layer 22 and the corresponding part of the expression contour region 213, making the expression contour region 213 visible in the presence of ambient light. By applying the second voltage to the ITO coating layer of the expression contour region 213 and the ITO coating layer of the second transparent substrate 23, the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal material layer 22 and the corresponding part of the expression contour region 213 are changed to a disordered arrangement. At this time, the corresponding part of the liquid crystal material layer 22 and the expression contour region 213 can scatter ambient light, thus presenting a fogged appearance. In the eyes of the observer, the expression contour region 213 becomes clearly visible. That is, after the display layer 3 is in the off-screen state, the expression contour region 213 is displayed in the robot's eyes, effectively solving the problem of the robot's eyes appearing empty after the display layer 3 is turned off in the prior art.

[0028] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, the first transparent substrate 21 can be located between the liquid crystal material layer 22 and the display layer 3, that is, along the direction from the convex transparent lens 1 to the display layer 3, the sequence is convex transparent lens 1, second transparent substrate 23, liquid crystal material layer 22, first transparent substrate 21 and display layer 3.

[0029] In some embodiments, the second transparent substrate 23 may be located between the liquid crystal material layer 22 and the display layer 3, that is, along the direction from the convex transparent lens 1 to the display layer 3, the components are, in sequence, the convex transparent lens 1, the first transparent substrate 21, the liquid crystal material layer 22, the second transparent substrate 23, and the display layer 3.

[0030] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3As shown, the expression contour pattern 211 further comprises at least one external opening 214 for connecting the expression contour inner area 213 with the edge of the first transparent substrate 21, so that the expression contour inner area 213 is not surrounded by the expression contour outer area 212. The external opening 214 can be used as a connection for the driving lines, so as to facilitate the electrical connection between the expression contour inner area 213 and the driving lines, and also make the structure of the adjustable optical layer 2 more compact.

[0031] In some embodiments, the liquid crystal material layer 22 can be a bistable liquid crystal material. When a voltage is applied to the bistable liquid crystal material, the arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules changes. For example, when a first voltage is applied to the bistable liquid crystal material, the liquid crystal molecules change to an aligned arrangement, and the adjustable optical layer 2 is transparent, allowing light to pass through. After the first voltage is removed, the liquid crystal molecules remain in the aligned arrangement. For example, when a second voltage is applied to the bistable liquid crystal material, the liquid crystal molecules change to a disordered arrangement, which scatters the incident light. In the presence of ambient light, the bistable liquid crystal material is in a fog state. After the second voltage is removed, the liquid crystal molecules remain in the disordered arrangement. That is, after the bistable liquid crystal material remains in the aligned arrangement or the disordered arrangement, the first voltage or the second voltage can be removed, so that no additional energy is consumed.

[0032] Specifically, in the embodiment, when the liquid crystal material layer 22 is a bistable liquid crystal material, the entire working mode of the robot eye is as follows: when the display layer 3 is in a display state, a first voltage is applied to the ITO coating layers of the expression contour outer area 212 and the expression contour inner area 213 and the ITO coating layers of the second transparent substrate 23, and the liquid crystal molecules of the bistable liquid crystal material change to an aligned arrangement. At this time, the entire adjustable optical layer 2 is transparent, and the observer can clearly see the content on the display layer 3. When the display layer 3 is in an off-screen state, a second voltage is applied to the ITO coating layers of the expression contour inner area 213 and the second transparent substrate 23, and the liquid crystal molecules of the bistable liquid crystal material corresponding to the expression contour inner area 213 change to a disordered arrangement, which scatters the incident light. In the presence of ambient light, the expression contour inner area 213 is in a fog state.

[0033] In some embodiments, the liquid crystal material layer 22 can also be a monostable liquid crystal material. Like the bistable liquid crystal material, when the liquid crystal material layer 22 is in an aligned arrangement or a disordered arrangement, the first voltage or the second voltage needs to be maintained.

[0034] In some embodiments, the first transparent substrate 21 and the second transparent substrate 23 can be rigid transparent materials, such as glass. The shapes of the first transparent substrate 21 and the second transparent substrate 23 can be circular or elliptical.

[0035] In some embodiments, the first transparent substrate 21 and the second transparent substrate 23 can be flexible transparent materials, for example, PET (polyethylene terephthalate). Wherein, the shape of the first transparent substrate 21 and the second transparent substrate 23 can be circular or elliptical.

[0036] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, the expression contour pattern 211 can be a closed-eye contour pattern, and when the display layer 3 is turned off, the robot eye presents a closed-eye expression to the observer, so as to solve the problem of the hollow robot eye in the prior art when the display layer 3 is turned off. Figure 3

[0037] Optionally, the expression contour pattern 211 can also be adjusted to an open-eye contour pattern, a smiling-eye contour pattern, or a squinting-eye contour pattern according to actual needs.

[0038] In some embodiments, the display layer 3 can be one of an LCD display screen (liquid crystal display screen), an OLED display screen (organic light-emitting diode display screen), a MicroLED display screen, a PDP display screen (plasma display screen), an EPD display screen (electronic paper display screen), a QLED display screen (quantum dot display screen), a FED display screen (field emission display screen), and a VFD display screen (vacuum fluorescent display screen).

[0039] Based on the above robot eye, the utility model also provides a robot, which comprises a head (not shown in the figure), a driving assembly (not shown in the figure), and the above robot eye, the robot eye is installed on the head, the driving assembly is used for applying the first voltage to the adjustable optical layer 2 when the display layer 3 of the robot eye is in a display state, and the driving assembly is also used for applying the second voltage to the adjustable optical layer 2 when the display layer 3 of the robot eye is in an off-screen state. After the application of the above eye to the robot, when the display layer 3 is off-screen, the robot eye can reflect and present a preset pattern under the irradiation of external ambient light, effectively solving the problem of the hollow eye after the display layer 23 is turned off, and meanwhile, when the display layer 3 is turned on, the display function of the display layer 3 is not affected.

[0040] In some embodiments, the head has an external shape simulating the shape of a human or animal head, and the robot further comprises a main body, the head being installed on the main body, and the main body having an external shape simulating the shape of a human or animal.

[0041] ​In some embodiments, the driving component can be electrically connected with the expression contour outer area 212 through a first driving line (not shown in the figure), the driving component can be electrically connected with the expression contour inner area 213 through a second driving line (not shown in the figure), and the driving component can be electrically connected with the ITO coating layer of the second transparent substrate 23 through a third driving line (not shown in the figure). The driving component applies a first voltage to the expression contour outer area 212, the expression contour inner area 213 and the ITO coating layer of the second transparent substrate 23 to change the molecular arrangement of the liquid crystal material layer 22, so that the content of the display layer 3 is visible. The driving component applies a second voltage to the expression contour inner area 213 and the ITO coating layer of the second transparent substrate 23 to change the molecular arrangement of the liquid crystal material layer 22 corresponding to the expression contour inner area 213, so that the expression contour inner area 213 is visible in the presence of ambient light. For the changes after the first voltage and the second voltage are applied to the adjustable optical layer 2, refer to the description above, which will not be repeated here.

[0042] In some embodiments, the expression contour pattern 211 of the robot eye further comprises at least one external opening 214 for connecting the expression contour inner area 213 with the edge of the first transparent substrate 21, so that the expression contour inner area 213 is not surrounded by the expression contour outer area 212, and the second driving line is electrically connected with the expression contour inner area 213 through the external opening 214. Thus, the expression contour inner area 213 is electrically connected with the driving line, and the structure of the adjustable optical layer 2 is more compact.

[0043] The above only describes the preferred embodiments of the present application, and is not intended to limit the present application. Any modification, equivalent replacement or improvement within the spirit and principle of the present application shall be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A robotic eye comprising a convex transparent lens, an adjustable optical layer, and a display layer, the adjustable optical layer being located between the convex transparent lens and the display layer, characterized in that, The adjustable optical layer comprises a first transparent substrate, a liquid crystal material layer and a second transparent substrate arranged in sequence, a surface of the first transparent substrate is provided with an expression contour pattern, the expression contour pattern divides the first transparent substrate into an expression contour outer area and an expression contour inner area, the expression contour outer area and the expression contour inner area are both provided with an ITO coating layer, a surface of the second transparent substrate is provided with an ITO coating layer, the display layer has a display state and an off-screen state, in the display state, a first voltage is applied to the ITO coating layer of the expression contour outer area, the ITO coating layer of the expression contour inner area and the ITO coating layer of the second transparent substrate, so as to change the molecular arrangement of the liquid crystal material layer, so that the content of the display layer is visible, in the off-screen state, a second voltage is applied to the ITO coating layer of the expression contour inner area and the ITO coating layer of the second transparent substrate, so as to change the molecular arrangement of the part of the liquid crystal material layer corresponding to the expression contour inner area, so that the expression contour inner area is visible in the presence of external ambient light.

2. The robotic eye of claim 1, wherein, The first transparent substrate is located between the liquid crystal material layer and the display layer, or the second transparent substrate is located between the liquid crystal material layer and the display layer.

3. The robotic eye of claim 1, wherein, The expression contour pattern further comprises at least one external opening for connecting the expression contour inner area and the edge of the first transparent substrate.

4. The robotic eye of claim 1, wherein, The liquid crystal material layer is a bistable liquid crystal material.

5. The robotic eye of claim 1, wherein, The first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate are rigid transparent materials, or The first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate are flexible transparent materials.

6. The robotic eye of claim 1, wherein, The expression contour pattern is a closed-eye contour pattern.

7. The robotic eye of claim 1, wherein, The display layer is one of an LCD display screen, an OLED display screen, a MicroLED display screen, a PDP display screen, an EPD display screen, a QLED display screen, a FED display screen and a VFD display screen.

8. A robot, characterized in that A robot comprising a head, a driving assembly and a robot eye as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, the robot eye being mounted to the head, the driving assembly being configured to apply the first voltage to the adjustable optical layer when the display layer of the robot eye is in the display state, the driving assembly being further configured to apply the second voltage to the adjustable optical layer when the display layer of the robot eye is in the off-screen state.

9. The robot of claim 8, wherein, The driving component is electrically connected with the ITO coating layer of the area outside the expression contour through a first driving line, electrically connected with the ITO coating layer of the area inside the expression contour through a second driving line, and electrically connected with the ITO coating layer of the second transparent substrate through a third driving line. The driving component applies a first voltage to the ITO coating layers of the area outside the expression contour, the area inside the expression contour and the second transparent substrate to change the molecular arrangement of the liquid crystal material layer so that the content of the display layer is visible. The driving component applies a second voltage to the ITO coating layers of the area inside the expression contour and the second transparent substrate to change the molecular arrangement of the liquid crystal material layer corresponding to the area inside the expression contour so that the area inside the expression contour is visible in the presence of ambient light.

10. The robot of claim 9, wherein, The expression contour pattern of the robot eye further comprises at least one external opening for connecting the area inside the expression contour with the edge of the first transparent substrate, and the second driving line is electrically connected with the area inside the expression contour through the external opening.

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