Device for animating facial expression

Abstract

The invention discloses a device for animating facial expression. The device includes at least one resilient member and at least one actuator. The resilient member is regarded as a facial feature on a face, and the resilient member has a first end and a second end. The first end of the resilient member is rotatably and/or movably attached onto the face. The actuator is used for actuating the first end of the resilient member to rotate, so that the facial feature is capable of exhibiting various facial expressions on the face, wherein the facial feature can be eyebrow, upper eyelid, lower eyelid, upper lip or lower lip.

1 . A device for animating facial expression, comprising:
 a first resilient member for driving a first facial feature on a face, the first resilient member having a first end, the first end being rotatably and/or movably attached onto the face; and   a first actuator for actuating the first end of the first resilient member to rotate and/or move, so that the first facial feature on the face is driven to deform by the first resilient member.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a first resilient enclosure for covering the first resilient member to exhibit the first facial feature. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first resilient member is a spring. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first facial feature is one selected from a group consisting of: eyebrow, upper eyelid, lower eyelid, upper lip, and lower lip. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein there is a resilient skin on the face, and the first resilient member is connected to a position of the resilient skin corresponding to the first facial feature. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first resilient member has a second end rotatably and/or movably attached onto the face and the device further comprises a second actuator for actuating the second end of the first resilient member to rotate and/or move. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the first actuator further comprises a first linkage set, and the second actuator further comprises a second linkage set, the first linkage set comprises a first long rod and a first short rod, the second linkage set comprises a second long rod and a second short rod, the first long rod is pivotally connected to the second long rod, the first long rod is pivotally connected to the first short rod, and the second long rod is pivotally connected to the second short rod. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second short rods are respectively connected to a turntable, when the turntable rotates, the first and second short rods respectively drives the first and second long rods to open or close, so as to adjust a length of the first resilient member. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second resilient member, regarded as a second facial feature on the face, having a third end, the third end being rotatably and/or movably attached onto the face; and   a third actuator for actuating the third end of the second resilient member to rotate and/or move.   
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising a second resilient enclosure for covering the second resilient member to exhibit the second facial feature. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the second resilient member is a spring. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the first facial feature is an upper eyelid, and the second facial feature is a lower eyelid. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the first facial feature is an upper lip, and the second facial feature is a lower lip. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the third actuator and the first actuator are integrated into one actuator. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein there is a resilient skin on the face, and the first and second resilient members are respectively connected to positions of the resilient skin corresponding to the first and second facial features, such that the resilient skin is actuated by the first and third actuators, together with the first and second resilient members. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the first resilient member has a second end rotatably and/or movably attached onto the face and the device further comprises a second actuator for actuating the second end of the first resilient member to rotate and/or move. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the second resilient member has a fourth end rotatably and/or movably attached onto the face and the device further comprises a fourth actuator for actuating the fourth end of the second resilient member to rotate and/or move. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the fourth actuator and the second actuator are integrated into one actuator. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the first actuator further comprises a first linkage set, and the second actuator further comprises a second linkage set, the first linkage set comprises a first long rod and a first short rod, the second linkage set comprises a second long rod and a second short rod, the first long rod is pivotally connected to the second long rod, the first long rod is pivotally connected to the first short rod, and the second long rod is pivotally connected to the second short rod. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second short rods are respectively connected to a turntable, when the turntable rotates, the first and second short rods respectively drives the first and second long rods to open or close, so as to adjust lengths of the first and second resilient members.