Apparatus and method for grid-based virtual reality attraction

• US 10,413,839 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2018
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2016
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: UnchartedVR, Inc.
• Original Assignee: UnchartedVR, Inc.
• Inventors: Gutierrez, Kalon Ross, Duncan, John Joseph, Griffin, Douglas, Schulze, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Mushambo, Martin
• Application Number:
  US16/116,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20180369709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0278 Projectiles A63F9/0208, A63F9/0247 and A63F9/0252 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/00 Amusement arrangements hoop exercising apparatus driven by the user A63B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/16 creating illusions of travel
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 33/00 Devices allowing competitions between several persons, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 1/02 Scenery; Curtains; Other decorations; Means for moving same fireproof curtains A62C2/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 5/02 Arrangements for making stage effects; Auxiliary stage appliances
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/003 Navigation within 3D models or images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00

Abstract

A comprehensive solution is provided to transforming locations and retail spaces into high-traffic virtual reality (VR) attractions that provide a VR experience blended with a real-world tactile experience. A grid-based stage and kit of fixed and moveable accessories suitable for a wide variety of commercial venues contain all of the necessary equipment, infrastructure, technology, and content to assemble and operate a tactile, on-site VR attraction. Utilizing a modular set of set design and physical props, the physical structure and layout of the installations are designed to be easily rearranged and adapted to new VR content without requiring extensive construction or specialized expertise.

Claims

1. A grid-based virtual reality (VR) attraction apparatus, comprising:

a VR stage kit that is associated with a plurality of VR representations generated by a VR simulation engine, said VR stage kit comprising;

a stage having a pattern of markings and accessory mounts arranged thereon for affixing accessories thereto, said pattern identifying coordinates corresponding to a location of said accessory mounts; and

a motion tracking system, configured to track identity, location, and/or orientation of a VR participant on said stage; and

said VR simulation engine, coupled to said motion tracking system, configured to receive said identity, location, and/or orientation, and configured to generate said plurality of VR representations to simulate a virtual environment with virtually represented objects whose locations and orientations correspond to locations and orientations of said accessories.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said accessories comprise fixed accessories and moveable accessories, and wherein said accessory mounts restrict a possible location of said fixed accessories on said stage.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said plurality of VR representations align representations of fixed VR objects to locations and orientations of corresponding fixed accessories without relying upon sensory information about the location of said fixed accessories.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said pattern of markings marks lines of a grid.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein a corresponding virtual grid is displayed within one or more of said plurality of VR representations to illustrate a virtual coordinate system.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein said virtual grid overlays a floor and includes grid lines that extend across and along a section of said floor.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein said fixed accessories comprise a wall and a door.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein said virtual grid also overlays said wall and said door.

10. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein a corresponding virtual grid is displayed within one or more of the plurality of VR representations to illustrate a virtual coordinate system, and wherein the virtual grid overlays a floor and includes grid lines that extend across and along a section of the floor.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the fixed accessories comprise a wall and a door, and wherein the virtual grid also overlays the wall and the door.

12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said accessory mounts comprise holes or pegs.

13. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of VR representations comprises a unique set and/or position and/or orientation of VR objects, and wherein corresponding physical objects are modular, reconfigurable, and operable to be arranged to correlate with the position and orientation of the VR objects in any selected one of said plurality of VR representations.

14. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said accessories comprise textures that provide tactile sensations to complement and augment audio and visual sensations said VR participant experiences within said VR environment.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the pattern of markings marks lines of a grid.

4. The system as recited in 3, wherein representations of said fixed VR objects are more precisely aligned than representations of moveable virtual objects corresponding to said movable accessories.

16. A grid-based virtual reality (VR) method, comprising:

employing a VR simulation engine to generate a plurality of VR representations and associating each of a plurality of stage kits with one or more of the plurality of VR representations; and

assembling one of the plurality of stage kits, the plurality of stage kits comprising a stage and accessories, the stage having a pattern of markings thereon to aid in assembling the accessories to the stage;

configuring a motion tracking system to track a VR participant'"'"'s identity, location, and/or orientation on the stage, and communicating the identity, location and/or orientation information to the VR simulation engine;

using the identity, location, and/or orientation to simulate a virtual environment with virtually represented objects whose locations and orientations correspond to locations and orientations of the plurality of accessories.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the accessories comprise fixed accessories and movable accessories.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the plurality of VR representations align representations of fixed VR objects to locations and orientations of corresponding fixed accessories without relying upon sensory information about the location of the fixed accessories.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the accessory mounts comprise holes or pegs.

20. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of VR representations comprises a unique set and/or position and/or orientation of VR objects, and wherein corresponding physical objects are modular, reconfigurable, and operable to be arranged to correlate with the position and orientation of the VR objects in any selected one of the plurality of VR representations.