Two-Axis Rotatable Mechanical Eyeball Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical eyeballs with two axes of rotation face challenges in compact design and accuracy due to the complexity of push rod systems, which require significant space and introduce errors in orienting the optical axis, making them impractical for animatronic systems.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical eyeball design that rotates about two orthogonal axes with a fixed center point, utilizing a gear carriage, yoke, and differential gear train to decouple the rotations, allowing precise and independent movement of the outer housing, and incorporating encoder bars for accurate tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If push rod systems are used to rotate the mechanical eyeball in multiple directions, then the eyeball can achieve multi-axis rotation capability, but the device consumes significant space and becomes impractical for compact applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple rotation functions into a single integrated spherical mechanism. The first and second arms are both coupled to rotate about the same fixed center point on the spherical eyeball, allowing multi-axis rotation without requiring separate push rod systems for each axis. This merging of rotation functions around a common center dramatically reduces the space required compared to traditional push rod configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical structure implements a nested arrangement where the first arm and second arm operate within the same spatial envelope, both rotating about the fixed center point. The arms are positioned and configured to nest their motion paths, allowing the eyeball to achieve complex multi-axis orientation while maintaining a compact form factor that would not be possible with conventional push rod systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If push rod systems are used to control eyeball orientation, then rotation in desired directions can be achieved, but the system introduces significant error due to arm angle changes and interdependence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the rotation control into two independent arm systems, each responsible for a specific rotation axis. The first arm controls rotation about the first axis, while the second arm controls rotation about the second axis. This segmentation decouples the control mechanisms, eliminating the interdependence and error compounding that occur in push rod systems where arm angle changes affect each other's performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using push rods that push or pull on the eyeball surface causing variable arm angles, the patent inverts the approach by having arms rotate about a fixed center point on the spherical eyeball. This inversion maintains a constant radius and fixed pivot point, eliminating the geometric errors that arise from changing arm angles in conventional push rod systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional push rod systems are used, then eyeball rotation can be achieved, but the complexity of the system makes it impractical for animatronic applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the complexity of multi-axis control into a unified spherical mechanism with a fixed center point. By having both arms rotate about the same fixed center on the eyeball surface, the system achieves sophisticated multi-axis orientation capability with a more elegant and less complex mechanical architecture than traditional push rod systems, which would require separate actuation mechanisms for each axis.
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanical eyeball includes an outer housing shaped as an ocular surface configured to rotate about a first rotational axis and a second rotational axis that intersect at a fixed center point. The outer is housing is coupled to a mechanical assembly, and the mechanical assembly is contained within a volume associated with the mechanical eyeball. The mechanical assembly can include a stationary gear train and rotatable components that rotate relative to the gear train. The rotatable components are configured to cause rotation of the outer housing about one or more rotational axes. The volume may be substantially the same volume of a human eye. The mechanical assembly is coupled to one or more drivers configured to actuate rotation of the outer housing.