Ride system with motion simulation and video stream

• US 20080188318A1
• Filed: 02/01/2007
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gregory A. Piccionelli, Michael M. Gerardi
• Original Assignee: Gregory A. Piccionelli, Michael M. Gerardi
• Inventors: Piccionelli, Gregory A., Gerardi, Michael M.
• Application Number:
  US11/701,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20080188318A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 472/60
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/16 creating illusions of travel
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 7/00 Up-and-down hill tracks; Switchbacks
• 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

Abstract

A ride system includes a guide, a carriage adapted to travel along the guide, and a data source adapted to provide a video stream to the display device simulating the appearance of motion of the carriage relative to guide. The carriage includes a seat and a display device adapted to receive and display a video transmission to a passenger seated in the seat.

Claims

1. A ride system comprising:

a) a guide;

b) a carriage adapted to travel along the guide, the carriage comprising

i) a seat, and

ii) a display device adapted to receive and display a video transmission to a passenger seated in the seat; and

c) a data source adapted to provide a video stream to the display device simulating the appearance of motion of the carriage relative to a guide.

2. The ride system of claim 1 wherein the guide is a track comprising a plurality of track sections.

3. The ride system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of track sections comprises at least one primary track section and at least one motion simulation section.

4. The ride system of claim 3 wherein the motion simulation section is a sidetrack section disposed adjacent the primary track section.

5. The ride system of claim 3 comprising a plurality of motion simulation sections, at least a portion of which are sidetrack sections disposed adjacent the primary track section.

6. The ride system of claim 3 wherein the carriage further comprises at least one actuator which is adapted to accelerate the seat.

7. The ride system of claim 2 wherein the carriage comprises a plurality of seats.

8. The ride system of claim 7 wherein the carriage comprises display devices adapted to receive and display a video transmission to passenger seated in each of the plurality of seats.

9. The ride system of claim 2 wherein the display device is adapted to receive and display a video transmission to a passenger seated in the seat when the carriage meets a display activation criterion.

10. The ride system of claim 2 wherein the display device is adapted to discontinue display of a video transmission to a passenger seated in the seat when the carriage meets a display deactivation criterion.

11. The ride system of claim 9 wherein the plurality of track sections comprises at least one primary track section and at least one motion simulation section, the carriage further comprises at least one actuator which is adapted to accelerate the seat, and the actuator is activated when or after the carriage meets the display activation criterion.

12. The ride system of claim 2 wherein the display device comprises a headset.

13. The ride system of claim 12 wherein the headset is adapted to engage the head of a passenger seated in the seat.

14. The ride system of claim 13 wherein the headset is adapted to automatically engage the head of a passenger when the carriage meets an engagement criterion.

15. The ride system of claim 13 wherein the headset is adapted to automatically disengage the head of a passenger when the carriage meets a disengagement criterion.

16. The ride system of claim 1 wherein the guide is a cable and wherein the carriage is suspended beneath the cable.

17. The ride system of claim 1 wherein the guide comprises a guide section that is at least partially enclosed.

18. The ride system of claim 1 wherein the data source is a transmitter which is separate from the carriage and wherein the carriage further comprises a receiver adapted to receive the video stream from the transmitter and provide the video stream to the display device.

19. The ride system of claim 1 wherein the data source is included in the carriage.

20. A method of operating a ride comprising the steps of:

a) providing a ride system comprising

i) a guide;

ii a carriage adapted to travel along the guide, the carriage comprising

A) a seat, and

B) a display device adapted to receive and display a video transmission to a passenger seated in the seat; and

iii) a data source adapted to provide a video stream to the display device simulating the appearance of motion of the carriage relative to a guide;

b) causing the carriage to travel along the guide when a passenger is seated in the seat, and

c) providing a video stream from the data source to the display device simulating the appearance of motion of the carriage relative to a guide.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the guide is a track comprising a plurality of track sections including at least one primary track section and at least one motion simulation section, and wherein step (c) is carried out while the carriage is present on the motion simulation section.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the carriage further comprises at least one actuator which is adapted to accelerate the seat, and wherein the actuator is activated during step (c).