Robotic outer ear signaling device

Abstract

This application relates to the field of robot antenna technology, specifically to a robot outer ear signal device. The device includes: two biomimetic head structures, each having an outer ear portion mimicking the shape of a human ear, including anatomical structures such as the helix, antihelix, cymba conchae, cavum conchae, tragus, and earlobe; at least one communication unit embedded in or attached to the outer ear portion, or formed from a portion of the outer ear portion, capable of transmitting and receiving wireless communication signals; at least a portion of the biomimetic head structure is constructed as a reflective surface, which can influence the wavefront of the electromagnetic waves radiated by the communication unit; the outer ear portion of the biomimetic head structure is externally covered with a flexible material layer. This device maintains a highly biomimetic appearance for the robot's outer ear, improves the directivity and stability of the robot's signal transmission and reception, ensures efficient signal interaction in complex environments, and enhances the robot's environmental adaptability and task execution efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of this application relate to the field of robot antenna technology, specifically to a robot external ear signal device. Background Technology

[0002] The statements herein are provided merely as background information in connection with this application and do not necessarily constitute prior art.

[0003] Signal transmission and reception are central to a robot's autonomous decision-making, environmental interaction, and collaborative operations. As robotics technology penetrates various fields such as industry, medicine, and autonomous driving, its reliance on communication is becoming increasingly significant. Signal quality directly affects a robot's response speed, safety, and task completion rate; low-latency, high-reliability communication is crucial for its intelligence. However, traditional antenna technology has limitations: external antennas, while offering better performance, compromise the biomimetic appearance and are easily damaged; internal antennas, while maintaining biomimetic integrity, suffer performance degradation due to electromagnetic shielding. Therefore, traditional technologies struggle to meet modern demands, making the development of novel antennas that integrate with the robot's biomimetic structure, are interference-resistant, and adaptable to multiple scenarios essential. Utility Model Content

[0004] A brief overview of this application is provided below to offer a basic understanding of certain aspects thereof. It should be understood that this overview is not an exhaustive summary of the application. It is not intended to identify key or essential parts of the application, nor is it intended to limit its scope. Its purpose is merely to present certain concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that follows.

[0005] Embodiments of this application provide a robotic external ear signal device, comprising: two head bionic structures, each having an external ear portion mimicking the shape of a human ear, the external ear portion including anatomical structures such as the helix, antihelix, cymba conchae, cavum conchae, tragus, and earlobe; at least one communication unit, embedded in or attached to the external ear portion, or constituted by a portion of the external ear portion, the communication unit capable of transmitting and receiving wireless communication signals; at least a portion of the head bionic structure being constructed as a reflective surface, the reflective surface being able to influence the wavefront of the electromagnetic wave radiated by the communication unit; the external ear portion of the head bionic structure being covered with a flexible material layer having a dielectric constant of 2-4, a loss tangent of less than 0.01, and a bionic texture.

[0006] The device provided in this application, through the design of a biomimetic head structure mimicking the anatomical structure of the human ear, maintains a highly biomimetic appearance for the robot's outer ear. The human ear shape reduces the perceived mechanical nature of the robot. The outer ear is covered with a flexible material layer that is dielectrically stable, has low loss, and possesses a biomimetic texture. This layer protects the internal structure without affecting signal transmission and reception, further increasing biomimeticity, enhancing the user-friendliness of human-computer interaction, and improving user acceptance in service, medical, and other scenarios. Simultaneously, the natural position of the outer ear on either side of the head provides an advantage, keeping it away from electromagnetic interference from the robot's body components and shell. The openness of the ear structure also reduces signal propagation obstruction. A communication unit capable of transmitting and receiving signals is located in the outer ear, and in conjunction with a reflective surface, it guides the direction of electromagnetic wave radiation, creating convenient conditions for signal transmission and reception, and improving the directionality and stability of signal transmission and reception. The two biomimetic head structures enable multi-angle signal coverage, effectively expanding the communication range and ensuring efficient signal interaction even in complex environments, thus improving the robot's environmental adaptability and task execution efficiency.

[0007] These and other advantages of this application will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0008] To further illustrate the above and other advantages and features of this application, the specific embodiments of this application will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings, together with the following detailed description, are included in and form a part of this specification. Elements having the same function and structure are indicated by the same reference numerals. It should be understood that these drawings only depict typical examples of this application and should not be considered as limiting the scope of this application.

[0009] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a robot external ear signal device according to an embodiment of this application.

[0010] It should be noted that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but are shown only in a schematic manner without affecting the reader's understanding.

[0011] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0012] 10. Bionic head structure; 20. Communication unit; 30. Reflective surface; 40. Flexible material layer. Detailed Implementation

[0013] Exemplary embodiments of this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. For clarity and brevity, not all features of actual implementations are described in the specification. However, it should be understood that many implementation-specific decisions must be made in the development of any such actual embodiment to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as complying with constraints related to the system and business, and these constraints may vary depending on the implementation. Furthermore, it should be understood that while development work can be very complex and time-consuming, such development work is merely a routine task for those skilled in the art who benefit from the content of this application.

[0014] It should also be noted that, in order to avoid obscuring this application with unnecessary details, only the equipment structure and / or processing steps closely related to the solution according to this application are shown in the accompanying drawings, while other details that are not closely related to this application are omitted.

[0015] It should be noted that, unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in this application shall have the ordinary meaning as understood by a person with ordinary skills in the field to which this application pertains.

[0016] In the description of the embodiments of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0017] In current robot development, the focus is primarily on mechanical execution functions, with communication modules often added as external devices. This lack of integration with the robot's structure hinders its biomimetic appearance. As biomimetic robots become increasingly miniaturized, their internal space becomes more compact. The size and layout of traditional antennas easily conflict with mechanical structures and sensor modules, making optimal installation difficult within limited space. Furthermore, the directivity of traditional fixed antennas is easily affected by changes in the robot's posture during movement, leading to signal attenuation and potential communication interruptions in complex environments. Simultaneously, traditional robot antennas are mostly single-band or directional, incompatible with the multi-band coordination requirements of 5G communication. They also struggle to achieve spatial diversity gain using MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) technology, failing to adequately meet the needs of cross-scenario robot operations—for example, indoor scenarios requiring omnidirectional coverage and outdoor long-distance operations requiring high-gain directional transmission. Traditional solutions struggle to handle these diverse communication scenarios.

[0018] To address the aforementioned technical problems, embodiments of this application provide a robotic external ear signal device. Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a robotic outer ear signal device according to an embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 1As shown, the device includes: two head-like bionic structures 10, each having an outer ear portion that mimics the shape of a human ear, the outer ear portion including anatomical structures such as the helix, antihelix, cymba conchae, cavum conchae, tragus, and earlobe; at least one communication unit 20, which is embedded in or attached to the outer ear portion, or is formed by a portion of the outer ear portion, and the communication unit 20 can transmit and receive wireless communication signals; at least a portion of the head-like bionic structure 10 is constructed as a reflective surface 30, which can affect the wavefront of the electromagnetic waves radiated by the communication unit 20; the outer ear portion of the head-like bionic structure 10 is covered with a flexible material layer 40 with a dielectric constant of 2-4, a loss tangent of less than 0.01, and a bionic texture.

[0019] The device provided in this application, by designing a bionic head structure 10 that mimics the anatomical structure of the human ear, maintains a highly bionic appearance for the robot's outer ear. The human ear shape reduces the perceived mechanical nature of the robot. The outer ear is covered with a flexible material layer 40 that is dielectrically stable, has low loss, and possesses a bionic texture. This layer protects the internal structure without affecting signal transmission and reception, further increasing bionicity, enhancing the user-friendliness of human-computer interaction, and improving user acceptance in service, medical, and other scenarios. Simultaneously, the natural position of the outer ear on both sides of the head provides an advantage, keeping it away from electromagnetic interference from the robot's body components and shell. The openness of the ear structure also reduces signal propagation obstruction. A communication unit 20 capable of transmitting and receiving signals is provided in the outer ear, along with a reflective surface 30, which guides the direction of electromagnetic wave radiation, creating convenient conditions for signal transmission and reception and improving the directionality and stability of signal transmission and reception. The two bionic head structures 10 enable multi-angle signal coverage, effectively expanding the communication range and ensuring efficient signal interaction even in complex environments, thus improving the robot's environmental adaptability and task execution efficiency.

[0020] In some embodiments, the operating frequency band of the communication unit may include one or more frequency bands that can realize 5G, 4G, and wireless Bluetooth communication, such as the 2.4GHz, 3.5GHz, and 5.8GHz ISM bands.

[0021] In some embodiments, the communication unit may be an antenna that can be adapted to the ear shape, such as a loop antenna, slot antenna, patch antenna, inverted-F antenna (IFA), monopole antenna, or bent wire antenna.

[0022] In some embodiments, electromagnetic simulation software such as CST Studio Suite, COMSOL Multiphysics, and ANSYS HFSS can be used to collaboratively optimize the shape, size, position, spatial orientation, and geometric parameters of the communication unit on the outer ear portion, as well as the reflective surface.

[0023] In some embodiments, the bionic head structure is integrally molded from rigid plastic or resin material, and the dimensions of each anatomical structure of its outer ear portion are in a ratio of 1:1 to 1:1.5 to the anatomical dimensions of the human ear.

[0024] In the embodiments provided in this application, by using a one-piece molded head bionic structure made of rigid plastic or resin material, the head bionic structure can have both sufficient structural strength and morphological stability, which facilitates the processing of reflective surfaces, enhances the signal control effect of the device, can withstand slight collisions and vibrations during robot operation, and extends the service life of the device. The one-piece molding process also avoids the risk of gaps and loosening caused by the assembly of multiple parts, ensuring the accurate restoration of the anatomical structure of the outer ear. At the same time, the human body ratio of 1:1 to 1:1.5 not only enhances the realism of the bionic appearance, but also provides space for the embedding and installation of the communication unit.

[0025] In some embodiments, the communication unit includes a radio frequency module and an antenna vibrator electrically connected to the radio frequency module. The communication unit can be embedded in a reserved mounting slot inside the outer ear portion, can be attached to the outer surface of the outer ear portion by a snap-fit ​​structure, or can be directly formed by a part of the outer ear portion made of conductive material.

[0026] In the embodiments provided in this application, a communication unit including a radio frequency module and an antenna vibrator electrically connected to the radio frequency module is provided to ensure the basic performance of signal transmission and reception. The diverse installation positions can be used to optimize the signal radiation direction, flexibly adapt to the structural characteristics of different anatomical parts of the outer ear, and, in conjunction with the natural spatial layout of the outer ear, further enhance the adaptability of the communication unit to complex environments and ensure the stability of signal transmission.

[0027] In some embodiments, the reflective surface is naturally formed by the anatomical structure of the concha cavity of the head biomimetic structure, and its surface is coated with a metal reflective layer, which can change the propagation path of the electromagnetic waves radiated by the communication unit, thereby adjusting the final radiation pattern of the electromagnetic waves.

[0028] In the embodiments provided in this application, by setting the reflective surface on the anatomical structure of the concha of the head bionic structure and coating its surface with a metal reflective layer, the inherent space of the bionic structure can be fully utilized without the need for additional independent reflective components. This effectively avoids the layout conflict between traditional antennas and the internal mechanical and sensing modules of the robot body, and is more suitable for the miniaturization requirements of the robot. On the other hand, it can completely preserve the anatomical shape of the concha, without destroying the appearance integrity of the head bionic structure, and improve the bionic fidelity of the robot. In addition, it can also achieve the purpose of controlling the propagation path and radiation pattern of electromagnetic waves, reducing signal attenuation and multipath interference, and further enhancing the stability of robot movement and communication in complex environments.

[0029] In some embodiments, the spatial orientation deflection angle of the reflective surface is the angle between the reflective surface normal and the direction directly in front of the robot, and the reflective surface is configured to enhance the far-field gain in the direction directly in front of the robot.

[0030] In some embodiments, the spatial orientation deflection angle and radius of curvature of the reflector can be determined by electromagnetic simulation with the optimization objective of maximizing the far-field gain in the direction directly in front of the robot.

[0031] In some embodiments, the optimized range of the radius of curvature R of the reflecting surface conforms to formula (1).

[0032] (1).

[0033] Where c is the speed of light, f is the antenna's operating center frequency, and m is a proportionality coefficient, with a value ranging from 0.8 to 1.2, used to adjust the curvature of the reflector to adapt to different frequency bands.

[0034] In some embodiments, the number of communication units is at least three, and the three communication units are respectively disposed on different anatomical sites of the outer ear, wherein the communication units are respectively disposed at the helix, tragus, and earlobe, and the antenna vibrator of each communication unit faces different directions.

[0035] In the embodiments provided in this application, by setting at least three communication units in different anatomical locations such as the helix, tragus, and earlobe of the outer ear, and oriented the antenna elements of each unit in different directions, the natural dispersion space of the biomimetic structure of the outer ear can be fully utilized to ensure port isolation between antennas. On the other hand, the multi-directionally oriented elements can form multi-angle signal radiation coverage, greatly expanding the electromagnetic wave coverage range, making up for the directional limitations of traditional single antennas, and better meeting the needs of indoor omnidirectional communication. At the same time, the distributed layout of multiple communication units can also provide a spatial diversity basis for the application of MIMO technology, reduce the impact of signal attenuation or blockage of a single unit, improve the communication stability and anti-interference ability during robot movement and in complex environments, and adapt to cross-scenario operation requirements.

[0036] In some embodiments, electromagnetic simulation software such as CST Studio Suite, COMSOL Multiphysics, and ANSYS HFSS can be used during the design phase to collaboratively optimize the shape, size, position, and spatial orientation and geometric parameters of the communication unit on the outer ear, thereby improving the radiation performance and port performance of the communication unit, including but not limited to improving gain and directionality. Figure 1 It improves consistency, resists multipath interference, reduces VSWR, and enhances port isolation.

[0037] In some embodiments, the flexible material layer is made of medical-grade silicone or thermoplastic elastomer, and the flexible material layer completely covers the outer surface of the outer ear portion and is adapted to the shape contour of the outer ear portion.

[0038] In the embodiments provided in this application, by using medical-grade silicone or thermoplastic elastomer as a flexible material layer, and making it completely cover the outer surface of the outer ear and adapt to the shape contour, the natural biomimetic shape of the outer ear can be completely restored, improving the robot's visual affinity. In addition, the material layer can also protect the core components such as the communication unit and reflective structure inside the outer ear, isolate external dust, oil and other interference, and extend the service life of internal components. At the same time, medical-grade silicone and thermoplastic elastomer do not shield electromagnetic waves, ensuring that the electromagnetic waves radiated by the communication unit inside the outer ear can pass through the material layer normally and propagate without hindering the reception of external signals, avoiding signal attenuation and communication interruption due to material shielding, and ensuring the stability of the robot's communication function.

[0039] Regarding the embodiments of this application, it should also be noted that, without conflict, the embodiments of this application and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other to obtain new embodiments.

[0040] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. The scope of protection of this application shall be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A robotic external ear signal device, characterized in that, The device includes: Two head bionic structures, each having an outer ear portion that mimics the shape of a human ear, the outer ear portion including the helix, antihelix, cymba conchae, cavum conchae, tragus and earlobe anatomical structures; At least one communication unit, which is embedded in or attached to the outer ear portion, or is constituted by a portion of the structure of the outer ear portion, and the communication unit is capable of transmitting and receiving wireless communication signals; At least a portion of the head bionic structure is configured as a reflective surface, which can affect the wavefront of the electromagnetic waves radiated by the communication unit. The outer ear portion of the biomimetic head structure is covered with a flexible material layer with a dielectric constant of 2-4, a loss tangent of less than 0.01, and a biomimetic texture.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bionic head structure is integrally molded from rigid plastic or resin material, and the dimensions of each anatomical structure of the outer ear part are in a ratio of 1:1 to 1:1.5 to the anatomical dimensions of the human ear.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The communication unit includes a radio frequency module and an antenna vibrator electrically connected to the radio frequency module. The communication unit is embedded in a reserved mounting slot inside the outer ear portion and attached to the outer surface of the outer ear portion by a snap-fit ​​structure. It is directly formed by a part of the outer ear portion made of conductive material.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The reflective surface is naturally formed by the anatomical structure of the concha cavity of the biomimetic head structure. Its surface is coated with a metal reflective layer, which can change the propagation path of the electromagnetic waves radiated by the communication unit, thereby adjusting the final radiation pattern of the electromagnetic waves.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that, The number of communication units is at least three, and the three communication units are respectively disposed on different anatomical locations of the outer ear, wherein the communication units are respectively disposed at the helix, tragus, and earlobe, and the antenna vibrator of each communication unit faces different directions.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible material layer is made of medical-grade silicone or thermoplastic elastomer. The flexible material layer completely covers the outer surface of the outer ear portion and is adapted to the shape and contour of the outer ear portion.

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