Interactive simulation including force feedback
First Claim
1. Interactive simulation system comprising:
- a computer programmed with simulation rules;
a control unit connected to the computer and adapted to provide information and control signals to the computer to interact with the stored simulation rules and to receive information and control signals from the computer;
a moveable structure adapted to be moved with at least two degrees-of-freedom by an operator and interconnected to the control unit through actuators; and
programmable means for processing signals from the computer to generate signals to drive the actuators to apply force and touch feedback in the at least two degrees-of-freedom to the moveable structure and to the operator, the applied forces based on internal programming within the programmable means, events occurring in the simulation and movements of and forces applied to the moveable structure by the operator, whereby there is continuous interaction among motion of the moveable structure, the events in the simulation and forces applied to and applied by the moveable structure.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Interactive simulation including force feedback. The system includes a computer game display unit programmed with simulation rules. A control unit is connected to the computer and provides information and control signals to the computer to interact with the stored simulation rules and to receive information and control signals from the computer. A movable structure for movement in at least two degrees-of-freedom by an operator is interconnected to the control unit by means of actuators. A programmable unit processes signals and information from the computer to generate signals to drive the actuators so as to apply forces in the at least two degrees-of-freedom to the movable structure and thereby to the operator. The applied forces are based on internal programming within the programmable unit, events occurring in the simulation and movements of and forces applied to the movable structure by the operator. The system of the invention thereby provides continuous interaction among motion of and forces applied by the movable structure, the events in the simulation and forces applied to and applied by the movable structure.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. Interactive simulation system comprising:
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a computer programmed with simulation rules;
a control unit connected to the computer and adapted to provide information and control signals to the computer to interact with the stored simulation rules and to receive information and control signals from the computer;
a moveable structure adapted to be moved with at least two degrees-of-freedom by an operator and interconnected to the control unit through actuators; and
programmable means for processing signals from the computer to generate signals to drive the actuators to apply force and touch feedback in the at least two degrees-of-freedom to the moveable structure and to the operator, the applied forces based on internal programming within the programmable means, events occurring in the simulation and movements of and forces applied to the moveable structure by the operator, whereby there is continuous interaction among motion of the moveable structure, the events in the simulation and forces applied to and applied by the moveable structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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3. The interactive simulation system wherein the actuators comprise:
at least two motors for generating forces about respective axes of rotation.
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8. The interactive simulation system comprising:
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a computer programmed with simulation rules;
a control unit connected to the computer and adapted to provide information and control signals to the computer to interact with the stored simulation rules and to receive information and control signals from the computer;
a movable structure adapted to be gripped and moved by an operator in two degrees-of-freedom and interconnected to the control unit by means of electric motors and a transmission; and
programmable means associated with the control unit for processing signals from the computer to generate signals to drive the motors to apply forces in the two degrees-of-freedom to the movable structure and to the operator, the applied forces based on internal programming within the programmable means, events occurring in the simulation and movements of and forces applied to the movable structure by the operator, whereby there is continuous interaction among motion of the movable structure, the events in the simulation and forces applied to and applied by the movable structure.
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9. Control unit for interacting with a computer, comprising:
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a movable structure adapted to be moved with at least two degrees-of-freedom by an operator;
actuators adapted to apply force and touch feedback to the movable structure with at least two degrees-of-freedom; and
programmable circuitry for processing information to generate signals to drive the actuators to apply force and touch feedback in the at least two degrees-of-freedom to the movable structure and to an operator.
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Specification