3D Lighted Display Device for Character Toy Eye Expressions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies for creating expressive eyes in toys are either costly, complex, or limited in their ability to depict natural emotive states, failing to provide a cost-effective and versatile solution for mid-to-lower priced character toys.
Innovation Solution
A lighted display device using molded resin base members with varying cavity depths and thin walls to house LEDs, combined with a microprocessor for programmable illumination patterns, allowing for multiple emotive expressions and realistic eye animations, including Blink 1 and Blink 2 effects, synchronized with sound.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If LCD technology is used to create expressive eyes, then a wide range of believable expressions can be achieved, but the device becomes completely flat, looks similar from one application to another, and the price increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2D LCD displays to 3D eye structures by positioning LEDs at different depths behind a translucent screen. The screen displays eye images with varying opacity values that correspond to different depths, creating a three-dimensional effect where eyes appear to protrude or recess, adding dimensional variety while maintaining expression versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different opacity values to different regions of the eye image on the screen, corresponding to different depths. This creates local variations in visual properties where certain eye regions appear closer or farther away, adding realism and differentiation without requiring entirely different display technologies for each expression
2Reliability
If sophisticated electronic solutions like Irmler's construct are used, then realistic eye movement can be achieved, but the device cannot portray eye shape-changing conditions and becomes complicated and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a translucent screen with printed or displayed eye images that copy the appearance of real eyes. By varying the opacity of different regions of this copied eye image and positioning it at different apparent depths, the system simulates both eye movement and eye shape changes without requiring complex mechanical or electronic actuators, thereby reducing cost and complexity while maintaining realism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical eye movement mechanisms with an optical illusion system using a translucent screen and selective illumination. The screen displays eye images that appear to move and change shape through optical effects rather than physical movement, eliminating the need for costly mechanical components
3Device complexity
If simple on-off illumination is used, then the device is simple and low-cost, but it only achieves basic blink illusion without distinct emotive states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms static on-off illumination into dynamic expression control by varying the opacity of different regions of the eye image on the translucent screen. This creates multiple intermediate states between fully open and fully closed eyes, enabling a wide range of emotive expressions while maintaining simple LED illumination hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses opacity as a controllable parameter to create different eye expressions. By adjusting the opacity values of different regions of the eye image on the translucent screen, the system can portray various emotive states ranging from wide-eyed surprise to narrowed suspicion, expanding expression versatility without increasing hardware complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a cost-effective, efficient, and versatile means to create a wide range of emotive expressions in character toy eyes, enhancing the illusion of life-like animation while being suitable for various character eye shapes and sizes, thus addressing the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
Two base members are used to animate two eyes, one base member per eye. The cavity and thin walls are opaque, so light from each chamber emits only from the cavity top at that chamber and not through the walls.
Implementation Method 2
The screen is printed with an image of the pupil and iris of an eye. By alternating the illumination of the LEDs, the pupil and iris appear to move around the lens.
Data Source
AI summary
An illuminated display device with a base member representing an eye and having a primary cavity therein, usually existing as a pair of devices to represent two eyes. Thin walls within the primary cavity divide it into multiple chambers, wherein each chamber has a unique shape and volume that represents a view of a unique emotive response in an eye. Illumination devices are placed in each unique thin-walled chamber shape to emit light in a pattern from the chamber volume through a top opening of the cavity. Lighting all illumination devices equally imitates an open eye, while illuminating the volume of one or more unique chamber shapes at OFF or lesser brightness than the volume in other chambers creates a negative space, giving the illusion that the eye has changed shape to equal the shape in the brightly lit chambers only. The device can thus imitate the changing shapes in an eye shown when expressing emotion and the device is capable of exhibiting eight or more distinct emotive responses. A speaker can emit sounds in synchronization with a pattern of illumination to enhance the emotive effect. The unique chamber shapes and volumes in the primary cavity can be covered by translucent material that may be printed with a graphic representation of an eye.