Advanced ruggedized augmented reality instrumented self contained breathing apparatus

• US 20040130504A1
• Filed: 12/17/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Information Decision Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Information Decision Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Ebersole, John Franklin Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,034,779 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/04 Gas helmets
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/006 Indicators or warning devices, e.g. of low pressure, contamination
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0198 System for aligning or maintaining alignment of an image in a predetermined direction
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features

Abstract

An augmented reality instrumented SCBA with electronic equipment with positional tracking equipment, airflow of both the user'"'"'s breathing and electronic cooling, and a head pad that allows the unit to rest more comfortably on a user'"'"'s head.

Claims

1. A ruggedized Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) instrumented with electronic and passive equipment so that the instrumented SCBA can be used in augmented reality-based training in which the location and orientation of the user'"'"'s head is tracked by a tracking system, comprising:

an instrumented SCBA adapted to be worn by a user to cover at least the user'"'"'s mouth and nose and comprising a breathing portion adapted to cover at least the user'"'"'s mouth and nose, and a covering device that covers at least part of the breathing portion, to protect the breathing portion and the electronic and passive equipment from shock and environmental hazards; and

at least three microphones coupled to the SCBA for use in the tracking system, so that both the location and orientation of the user'"'"'s head can be determined by the tracking system.

2. The ruggedized SCBA of claim 1 in which the microphones are mounted so that they are exposed to the outside of the covering device.

3. The ruggedized SCBA of claim 1 in which there are four microphones coupled to the SCBA and organized into two pairs, with one of each pair located on one side of the user'"'"'s head, and the other of each pair located on the other side of the user'"'"'s head.

6. The ruggedized SCBA of claim 1 in which the instrumentation is shielded to improve tracking quality.

7. The ruggedized SCBA of claim 1 in which the SCBA further comprises a compressed air breathing regulator that is used without compressed air in order to act as a one-way valve and remove exhaled air from the SCBA.

8. The ruggedized SCBA of claim 1 in which the SCBA further comprises a compressed air breathing regulator that is used with compressed air, but where the SCBA is not air-tight, thus allowing the compressed air and exhaled air to exit the SCBA through gaps in the SCBA.

9. The ruggedized SCBA of claim 1 in which the SCBA further comprises a compressed air breathing regulator that is used with compressed air, but where the SCBA is air-tight, thus allowing normal use of the SCBA breathing systems, and allowing compressed air and exhaled air to exit the SCBA through the standard exit in the regulator.

10. The ruggedized SCBA of claim 9 further comprising an additional one-way valve to allow air into the SCBA in the case that the use inhales, and no compressed air is available.

16. The ruggedized SCBA of claim 1 in which the field of view of at least one microphone overlaps the user'"'"'s field of view.

4. The ruggedized SCBA of claim 4 in which a first pair of microphones is located toward the front of the SCBA and a second pair of microphones is located toward the rear of the SCBA.

5. The ruggedized SCBA of claim 5 in which the microphones of the first pair are each adapted to receive sound waves emanating generally from in front of and above the user'"'"'s head, and the microphones of the second pair are each adapted to receive sound waves emanating generally from in back of the user'"'"'s head.

11. A ruggedized Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) instrumented with electronic and passive equipment so that the instrumented SCBA can be used in augmented reality-based training in which the location and orientation of the user'"'"'s head is tracked by a tracking system, comprising:

an instrumented SCBA adapted to be worn by a user to cover at least the user'"'"'s mouth and nose and comprising a breathing portion adapted to cover at least the user'"'"'s mouth and nose, and a covering device that covers at least part of the breathing portion, to protect the breathing portion and the electronic and passive equipment from shock and environmental hazards; and

a regulator for at least passing air exhaled by the wearer to the outside of the SCBA.

12. A ruggedized Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) instrumented with electronic and passive equipment so that the instrumented SCBA can be used in augmented reality-based training in which the location and orientation of the user'"'"'s head is tracked by a tracking system, comprising:

an instrumented SCBA adapted to be worn by a user to cover at least the user'"'"'s mouth and nose and comprising a breathing portion adapted to cover at least the user'"'"'s mouth and nose, and a covering device that covers at least part of the breathing portion, to protect the breathing portion and the electronic and passive equipment from shock and environmental hazards; and

optical tracking system components coupled to the SCBA to detect the positional and rotational position of the SCBA.

17. The ruggedized SCBA of claim 12 in which the field of view of at least one microphone overlaps the user'"'"'s field of view.

18. The ruggedized SCBA of claim 12 in which there is at least one optical sensor coupled to the SCBA

19. The ruggedized SCBA of claim 18 in which there are at least two optical sensors coupled to the SCBA.

13. A ruggedized Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) instrumented with electronic and passive equipment so that the instrumented SCBA can be used in augmented reality-based training in which the location and orientation of the user'"'"'s head is tracked by a tracking system, comprising:

an instrumented SCBA adapted to be worn by a user to cover at least the user'"'"'s mouth and nose and comprising a breathing portion adapted to cover at least the user'"'"'s mouth and nose, and a covering device that covers at least part of the breathing portion, to protect the breathing portion and the electronic and passive equipment from shock and environmental hazards; and

side air louvered vents in the SCBA located such that flows directly onto electronic equipment inside the unit.

14. A ruggedized Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) instrumented with electronic and passive equipment so that the instrumented SCBA can be used in augmented reality-based training in which the location and orientation of the user'"'"'s head is tracked by a tracking system, comprising:

an instrumented SCBA adapted to be worn by a user to cover at least the user'"'"'s mouth and nose and comprising a breathing portion adapted to cover at least the user'"'"'s mouth and nose, and a covering device that covers at least part of the breathing portion, to protect the breathing portion and the electronic and passive equipment from shock and environmental hazards; and

a resilient pad attached to the covering device in such a manner as to support the unit directly onto the user'"'"'s head.

15. A ruggedized Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) instrumented with electronic and passive equipment so that the instrumented SCBA can be used in augmented reality-based training in which the location and orientation of the user'"'"'s head is tracked by a tracking system, comprising:

an instrumented SCBA adapted to be worn by a user to cover at least the user'"'"'s mouth and nose and comprising a breathing portion adapted to cover at least the user'"'"'s mouth and nose, and a covering device that covers at least part of the breathing portion, to protect the breathing portion and the electronic and passive equipment from shock and environmental hazards; and

a cable bundle wrapped with a high strength polymer cable wrap to add durability.