MOTION SIMULATION CHAIR |
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申请号 | EP08847193.3 | 申请日 | 2008-11-05 | 公开(公告)号 | EP2215618B1 | 公开(公告)日 | 2012-08-22 |
申请人 | Montecito Research; | 发明人 | DENNIS, Warren, E.; | ||||
摘要 | A motion simulation chair incorporates a base (86) providing elevated attachment points for a number of support cables (66). A seat support (60) is carried within the base and engages a seat (62) for an occupant at a top end. The seat support has companion attachment points for the support cables at a bottom end. A control system incorporates a forward vertical control element (70) constrained for three axis motion about a control point. A horizontal control element (72) displaced upward from the control point and extending rearward from the forward vertical control element, engages the seat support. A control stick (68) operated by the user imparts motion to the forward vertical control element about the control point. Moving the horizontal control element alters the suspension angles of the cables providing a corresponding tilt of the seat support and seat for realistic simulation of motion resulting from inputs to a computer game by the control stick. | ||||||
权利要求 | |||||||
说明书全文 | This invention relates generally to the field of motion simulators and more particularly to a chair and mechanical support system providing motion capability in response to physical control inputs by a user associated with inputs to a videogame or other simulation with associated motion. Computer video games provide numerous simulations which involve aircraft, spacecraft or other moving vehicles. The realistic video presentations provide an exciting game playing environment for the user. The ability to have actual motion of a chair in which the user sits significantly enhances the virtual reality provided by the game. Motion base simulators for aircraft pilot training and other similar devices have been available for some time; however, such devices are very complicated and expensive. Arcade games and amusement park games which employ video have been developed which include some movement of the user's seat. A motion simulator system is described in It is therefore desirable to provide a system to create motion simulating the environment created in a video game for a user in an inexpensive and simple mechanical device. The present invention provides a motion simulation chair having a base providing elevated attachment points for a number of support cables. A seat support is carried within the base and engages a seat for an occupant at a top end. The seat support has companion attachment points for the support cables at a bottom end. A control system incorporates a forward vertical control element constrained for three axis motion about a control point. A horizontal control element displaced upward from the control point and extending rearward from the forward vertical control element, engages the seat support. A control column or joy stick operated by the user imparts motion to the forward vertical control element about the control point. Moving the horizontal control element alters the suspension angles of the cables providing a corresponding movement and tilt of the seat support and seat. These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: An embodiment of the invention is described herein with respect to use with video games or computer simulations. In alternative uses, a chair employing the invention could be used with an interactive movie, television program, internet site or any other plot or action driven entertainment media. All current active video game chairs or active simulators rely on input/controls from the computer or media source to move the simulation chair in concert with the motion of the visual image. With the present invention the user's physical movement of the chair's control induces motion in the chair and in advanced embodiments simultaneously sends matching directional signals to the media to produce corresponding visual appearance of motion within the media. The simplest example is a flight simulator. In this application, the user moves the chair's control to both change the direction of the airplane in the video flight simulator and to induce the corresponding movement of the chair. Referring to the drawings, Carried within the supporting base is a seat support 18. The seat support of the first embodiment shown in The elements of the control structure as shown in A rear vertical control rod 40 extends downward from the control shaft to engage an aft control connection described in detail subsequently. The forward vertical control post extends through and is restrained by a ball mount 42 which is rigidly attached to the base. The ball mount allows reciprocating motion of the post axially through the mount and allows rotation of the post by spherical displacement of the ball within its socket. For the embodiment shown, a ball mount attachment flange 46 extends from the top connection ring. The rear vertical control rod passes through and is constrained by a rear articulating joint assembly 48. The rear articulating joint assembly provides mobility in three axes for the rear vertical control rod in the embodiment shown. For the first embodiment, the rear articulating joint includes a rear ball mount 50 attached to a slip rod 52 received in a telescope barrel 54 mounted to the base. The slip rod is rotatable about its axis within the telescope barrel and axially extendible into and out of the barrel. For the forward ball mount and rear ball mount a "uniball" structure is employed in exemplary embodiments. A KSTM-16 base mounted nylon sleeve bearing produced by IGUS is employed in examples of the embodiments shown. The forward vertical control post, horizontal control shaft and rear vertical rod form a pinned structure with the post and rod orthogonal to the shaft. The location of the horizontal shaft is upward from the ball mount which acts as the motion control point. In operation, the seat support and an attached seat is suspended by the cables at a neutral point absent input from the occupant through the control column. In conjunction with operation of the standard controller connected to the video game, the player occupying the seat pushes on the control column. When the seat occupant pushes forward on the control column, the forward vertical control post rotating forward about the ball joint urges the horizontal control shaft forward which slightly moves the seat support forward changing the angle of the rear cables relative to the vertical to a more obtuse angle with the front cables adopting a more acute angle allowing the seat support suspension ring to adopt a forward tilt providing a pitch down motion for the seat. The forward vertical control post is also urged downward along its axis through the ball mount while rotating forward to provide mechanical relief for angle adjustment within the system. The rear vertical control rod provides reacting forces to maintain alignment of the seat support. The rear vertical control rod slides axially upward through rear ball mount in the rear articulating joint, and the slip rod is urged axially out of the receiving telescope barrel. Releasing pressure on the column returns the seat to its neutral point. Suspension of the seat support from the top connection ring of the base to the suspension ring on the seat support provides positive static stability. Similarly, pulling on the control column urges the rigidly attached horizontal control shaft rearward with the seat creating a more obtuse relative angle in the front cables and a more acute angle in the rear cables tipping the front of the seat support upward providing a pitch up motion for the seat. The forward control post slides axially upward through the ball mount and the rear vertical control rod slides axially downward through rear ball mount in the rear articulating joint with the slip rod urged axially into the receiving telescope barrel for angular relief. Pushing the control column right causes the horizontal control shaft to be rotated clockwise about an axis 56 (best seen in Similarly, pushing the control column left causes the horizontal control shaft to be rotated counter-clockwise about the axis extending between the ball joints. Reaction of the front vertical control post and rear vertical control rod in their respective ball mounts rotates the seat support into a left roll position. A second embodiment not covered by the present invention is shown in Support cables 66 attach from the corner pillars on the seat support to support landings 84 on a base 86 best seen in For the embodiment shown in the drawings, a seat back 100 is received in selected pair of adjustment slots 102 in the seat pan. The placement of the seat back allows adjustment for the length of the occupant's thigh as well as providing center of gravity adjustment for optimal performance of the motion simulation with control balance. A lower leg support 104 attaches to the front of the seat pan. Details of the seat pan with the depending seat support, the seat back and leg rest are seen in For the various embodiments shown in the drawings and described herein, the base and support elements are shown as circular. Alternative geometric shapes sufficient for interactive suspension of the seat support within the base and attachment of the seat to the support may be employed in alternate embodiments of the invention. In alternative embodiments, the mechanical leverage elements for control can be a single rod extending above the seat passing down through both a pivot point (ball joint) attached to the chair and on to a pivot point (ball joint) attached to the fixed base. By moving the upper end of the rod in any direction from the center, or the at-rest position, the chair will move in the same direction relative to the base. This motion results in a change of support angle for the cables relatively lengthening the elevation of cables in the direction of motion (a more acute angle with respect to the vertical) and shortening the elevation of cables opposite the direction of motion to tilt the chair. By way of example, pushing the rod forward will move/tilt the chair forward. Pulling the rod back will move/tilt the chair back. Release the control and the chair will return to its center, at-rest position. Similar motion can be had to any point of the compass Returning to The present invention as described for the exemplary embodiments herein provides a simple mechanical system for providing a motion simulation system to be used in conjunction with computer video games or similar devices such as Microsoft X-box® or Sony Playstation® where visual imagery is provided. Controllers for the electronic interaction with the gaming device are easily mountable on the control column as described and the simple control induced motion by the occupant/player significantly adds to the virtual reality of the gaming experience. Having now described the invention in detail as required by the patent statutes, those skilled in the art will recognize modifications and substitutions to the specific embodiments disclosed herein. Such modifications are within the scope and intent of the present invention as defined in the following claims. |