Motion transducer system

• US 20010036868A1
• Filed: 01/05/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: D-Box Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: D-Box Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Roy, Philippe, Berube, Michel, Jacques, Michel
• Granted Patent: US 6,659,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 472/130
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/006 Oscillating, balancing or vibrating mechanisms connected to the bedstead for children's beds A47D9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/02 Rocking chairs specially for children A47D13/10
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/72 Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/16 creating illusions of travel
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 2005/002 moving the spectator's body
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/00 Simulators for teaching or training purposes for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/023 in a chair, pillow
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/00 Systems employing more than two channels, e.g. quadraphonic H04S5/00, H04S7/00 take precedence

Abstract

The system produces movements in a home entertainment chair. It has a motor controller and a plurality of movement generator units for generating small amplitude and low frequency movements in the viewers chair according to desired effects. A synchronization is achieved using an audio/video stream.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating motion effects for at least one actuator using an audio/video source stream signal, said apparatus comprising:

a track analyzer receiving said stream signal and performing a track analysis of said stream signal to produce a time variable characteristic signal;

an effect generator receiving said time variable characteristic signal and generating at least one effect according to at least one rule; and

a movement generator receiving said at least one effect and compiling said at least one effect to provide a single signal to each of said at least one actuator.

2. The apparatus as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein said stream signal is DTS or AC3 frame, each frame being handled separately by said apparatus.

3. The apparatus as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein said time variable characteristic signal represents an elapsed time from an origin.

4. The apparatus as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein said effect generator automatically generates said at least one effect according to an algorithm.

5. The apparatus as claimed in

claim 4

, wherein said analysis comprises a spectral envelope extraction.

6. The apparatus as claimed in

claim 3

, wherein said effect generator comprises an effect database, said effect database comprising at least one file, said file comprising raw effect data.

7. The apparatus as claimed in

claim 3

, wherein said effect generator comprises an effect database, said effect database comprising at least one file, said file comprising a description of the effects to be played and at least one file which comprises the raw effect data.

8. The apparatus as claimed in

claim 6

, wherein said at least one file of said effect database is stored in Random Access Memory (RAM) or in a Random Access Memory (RAM) disk.

9. The apparatus as claimed in

claim 7

, wherein said at least one file of said effect database is stored in Random Access Memory (RAM) or in a Random Access Memory (RAM) disk.

10. The apparatus as claimed in

claim 3

, wherein said track analyzer comprises a synchronization table, said synchronization table comprising a relation between at least one location on said information provided by said audio/video source and said elapsed time from an origin to said at least one location.

11. The apparatus as claimed in

claim 10

, wherein said location is identified by a digital signature.

12. The apparatus as claimed in

claim 11

, wherein said signature comprises the CRC1 field, one byte located at ⅕

of the AC3 frame, one byte located at ⅖

of the AC3 frame, one byte located at ⅗

of the AC3 frame, one byte located at ⅘

of the AC3 frame, and the CRC2 field located at the end of the AC3 frame.

13. A method for generating motion effects using at least one actuator with respect to an audio/video source, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal from said audio/video source;

analyzing said signal to generate a second signal;

using said second signal and rule to provide at least one effect; and

compiling said second signal in order to provide a third signal to each of said at least one actuator according to said at least one effect.

14. A method of providing haptic and motion sensations to at least one viewer in a simulator environment, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at least three actuators supporting at least one seat for said viewer, said actuators being adapted to move said seat and said viewer with small amplitudes at a frequency representing mechanical vibration;

generating a vibration signal representing a level of vibration in said seat corresponding to a level of vibration associated with a virtual environment at each point in time;

generating a visual cue signal representing a reciprocal visual cue movement in said seat corresponding to motion in said virtual environment at each point in time;

converting said vibration signal into a first actuator position value for all of said actuators;

converting said visual cue signal into second actuator position values for said actuators for causing at least a tilt in said seat;

combining said first position value and said second position values to obtain an activation control value for each of said actuators; and

supplying said control value to said actuators in real time.

15. The method as defined in

claim 14

, wherein said actuators comprise:

a supporting surface;

a first piston slidable within a chamber for lifting and lowering at small amplitude said supporting surface;

a second piston slidable within said chamber for driving up and down said first piston under hydraulic fluid pressure, said first and second piston providing a piston and cylinder arrangement; and

an electric motor for linearly reciprocating said second piston in accordance with power drive signals communicated to said electric motor.

16. The method as defined in

claim 15

, wherein said actuators comprise a ball screw connected to said electric motor and said second piston, said second piston carrying out axial movement in response to a torque transmitted by said motor to said ball screw.