Mobile interactive virtual reality product

• US 20040106504A1
• Filed: 09/02/2003
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Leonard Reiffel
• Original Assignee: Leonard Reiffel
• Inventors: Reiffel, Leonard
• Application Number:
  US10/653,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20040106504A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0271 omnidirectional
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/012 Walk-in-place systems for allowing a user to walk in a virtual environment while constraining him to a given position in the physical environment
• 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

Abstract

A novel form of virtual reality product is described which uses a powered mobile structure that follows a person as the person roams freely around a real physical terrain of arbitrary size that may simultaneously be portrayed in the virtual space. Virtual objects may be included in the portrayal. The product includes coded data source and imager combinations that provide information used by a control system and motive means to keep the structure in a known spatial relationship to the moving person. These also may provide data for avatar control and other purposes in the virtual space. The product may be used to stress persons in a virtual environment by requiring them to deal with, for example, varied and challenging terrain underfoot and long traverses.

Claims

1. A virtual reality apparatus comprising:

a platform;

a structure connected to the platform;

a motive means that drives the platform over a surface;

a coded data source on an independent person proximate the structure;

a signal from the coded data source;

an imager on the structure that detects the signal;

a control system that receives the signal and causes the motive means to maintain a medial location of the coded data source relative to the structure;

an information system generating virtual reality imagery that incorporates data from the coded data source; and

display means for presenting the imagery to the person.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising image motion stabilization means.