Virtual reality system with enhanced sensory apparatus
OwnerDavid E. E. Carmeininventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides a motion simulating device which provides the user with full freedom of motion. Ideally, the motion is coordinated with the user's senses. The motion simulating device may include a generally spherical capsule supported by a number of rollers, at least one of which is a multi-directional active roller which frictionally engages the spherical capsule. This causes the spherical capsule to rotate in any desired direction. The capsule may have mounted within it an interactive solid, which may take the form of an omni-directional treadmill for supporting the user.
Claims28
A motion simulating device, comprising:
- a capsule adapted to receive at least a portion of a user therein;
- at least three rollers carried by a frame and supportively abutting the capsule, wherein the capsule is supported solely by the rollers and at least two of the rollers are active multi-directional rollers for rotationally driving the capsule with respect to any of three orthogonal axes located at the center of the capsule;
- and
- a means for interactively controlling the motion of said capsule and said frame.
A motion simulating device having an active interactive solid for use in conjunction with a virtual reality display, comprising:
- a controllably movable physical medium having a sufficient substance for imparting the desired motion upon a user, the medium comprising an interactive support apparatus including a support arm and an interactive pneumatic support suit attached to said support arm;
- and
- a means for interactively regulating the motion of said physical medium for regulating the amount and direction of force applied upon a user.
A motion simulating device, comprising:
- a generally spherical capsule;
- a translatable frame for supporting said capsule, the frame including a plurality of beams, a plurality of connecting joints each rigidly orienting two of the beams, a plurality of actuator legs each rotatably connected on one end to one of the connecting joints and on the other end to a supporting surface;
- a plurality of rollers mounted to the connecting joints supportively abutting the capsule, and at least one of said rollers comprising an active roller, wherein the active roller comprises a drive wheel rotatable about a drive axis generally parallel to a tangent to the surface of said capsule and frictionally engaging said capsule, and a yoke for orienting the drive axis with respect to said capsule, the yoke being pivotable about an axis generally perpendicular to the drive axis;
- an interactive user support apparatus including a translatable support arm connected to an interactive pneumatic support suit;
- and
- a means for interactively controlling the motion of said capsule and said frame, the interactive control means including a visual display, a means for sensing the position of said capsule, a means for coordinating the motion of said capsule and a representation of motion on said visual display, a means for sensing the position of a user within said capsule, a means for coordinating the motion of a user and a representation of motion on the visual display, a means for controlling the motion of said capsule and at least one interactive solid responding to a representation of motion of the user on said visual display.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.