TACTILE WEARABLE GAMING DEVICE

• US 20080153590A1
• Filed: 12/07/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cel-Kom LLC
• Original Assignee: Cel-Kom LLC
• Inventors: Soto, Baltazar, Kelly, Joshua John, Ombrellaro, Mark P., Ombrellaro, Patrick A., Morris, Aaron Leonard
• Granted Patent: US 7,967,679 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 1/02 Armoured or projectile- or missile-resistant garments; Composite protection fabrics F41H5/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 5/24 Targets producing a particular effect when hit, e.g. detonation of pyrotechnic charge, bell ring, photograph

Abstract

A tactile garment, such as a gaming vest (420) or other garment or body-enveloping device. A pneumatic force-generating device (425) is embedded in the vest in multiple cell zones for selectively applying a modulated force to a user wearing the multi-layered vest. A compressed air source comprising a compressor (612) and an associated canister (606) selectively actuates the pneumatic force-generating devices to produce a tactile response. A control valve assembly couples the pneumatic force-generating device to the compressed air source. A controller (426) selectively opens and closes the control valve to modulate the pneumatic force-generating device and generate forces simulating real forces, such as impact and G-forces. Force sensors may be deployed in the cell zones to provide force data for generating secondary forces.

Claims

1. A tactile wearable device comprising:

a garment including a plurality of pneumatic force-generating devices adapted to selectively apply a force to a user wearing the garment;

a compressed air source;

a control valve assembly comprising a plurality of valves operatively coupling the plurality of pneumatic force-generating devices to the compressed air source; and

a controller operatively coupled with the control valve assembly to selectively open and close the valves to modulate the plurality of pneumatic force-generating devices.

2. The tactile wearable device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of force-generating devices comprise at least four force-generating devices.

3. The tactile wearable device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of force sensors, each force sensor being associated with one of the plurality of pneumatic force-generating devices.

4. The tactile wearable device of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to receive control signals from a computer, and further wherein the controller selectively opens and closes the valves in response to the received control signals from the computer.

5. The tactile wearable device of claim 4, wherein the received control signals comprise signals generated based on events occurring in a computer game.

6. The tactile wearable device of claim 1 comprises a gaming vest.

7. The tactile wearable device of claim 1, wherein the pneumatic force-generating device comprises one of a toroidal bladder and a pleated cylinder.

8. The tactile wearable device of claim 7, wherein the compressed air source comprises a compressor and a canister.

9. The tactile wearable device of claim 1, wherein the compressed air source comprises at least one canister of a compressed gas.

10. The tactile wearable device of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to receive control signals from a display device displaying recorded media, and further wherein the controller selectively opens and closes the valves in response to the received control signals from the display device.

11. A tactile wearable device comprising:

a garment comprising a plurality of force-generating devices for delivering a modulated force to a user wearing the garment;

a power distribution network operatively coupled with the force-generating devices for actuating the force-generating devices;

a controller operatively coupled with the force-generating devices to control generation of the modulated force by the force-generating device according to a modulated control signal; and

a power-switching component operatively coupled with the power distribution network, the controller, and the force-generating devices to control the flow of power to the force-generating devices.

12. The tactile wearable device of claim 11, wherein the force-generating devices are bladders, and the power distribution network comprises a plurality of pneumatic lines operatively connecting the power-switching component with a source of pressurized air.

13. The tactile wearable device of claim 12, wherein at least some of the bladders comprise pleated cylindrical bladders.

14. The tactile wearable device of claim 11, wherein the force-generating devices comprise at least one of a pneumatic actuator, a hydraulic actuator and a mechanical actuator.

15. The tactile wearable device of claim 11, wherein the garment is a gaming garment comprises one of a vest, a glove, a pant leg, and a sleeve.

16. The tactile wearable device of claim 11, wherein the plurality of force-generating devices comprise at least four force-generating devices.

17. The tactile wearable device of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of force sensors, each force sensor being associated with one of the plurality of force-generating devices.

18. The tactile wearable device of claim 11, wherein the garment comprises a gaming vest, and wherein some of the plurality of power generating devices are disposed in a front panel of the vest and some of the power generating devices are disposed in a back panel of the vest.

19. A method for delivering tactile stimuli to a user, the method comprising:

in response to receiving a modulated control signal by a controller coupled with a tactile garment, activating a power-switching component according to the modulated control signal;

in response to the activating of the power-switching component, distributing power supplied by a power distribution network, using the power-switching component, to at least one of an array of linear motion force-generating devices embedded in the garment; and

in response to the distributing power supplied by the power distribution network, generating a force inwardly to the body of a user wearing the garment in accordance with the modulated control signal.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising generating force data by a force sensor.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising activating the power-switching component in response to the force data generated by the force sensor.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein generating a force inwardly comprises generating a linear motion force

23. A system for delivering tactile stimuli, the system comprising:

a signal generator component for generating a modulated control signal;

a tactile force software library for providing information to the signal generator component used in generating the modulated control signal;

a tactile garment including at least one embedded force-generating device for delivering a modulated force according to the modulated control signal to a user wearing the multi-layered garment;

a power distribution network operatively coupled with the embedded force-generating device for providing power to the embedded force-generating device;

a controller operatively coupled with the embedded force-generating device to control generation of the modulated force by the embedded force-generating device according to a modulated control signal; and

a power-switching component operatively coupled with the power distribution network, the controller, and the embedded force-generating device to control the flow of power to the embedded force-generating device.

24. The tactile wearable device of claim 23, further comprising a force sensor included in the cell zone.

25. The tactile wearable device of claim 23, wherein the controller controls the generation of the modulated force in response to force sensor data obtained from the force sensor.

26. The tactile wearable device of claim 23 comprises a gaming vest.