VIBRATING FOOTWEAR DEVICE AND ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM FOR USE THEREWITH

• US 20090007458A1
• Filed: 06/18/2008
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haptech Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Brock Seiler
• Inventors: Seiler, Brock
• Granted Patent: US 8,644,967 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/136
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/00 Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/50 with sound or music sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5015 using specific interfaces or standards, e.g. USB, serial, parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5048 Audio interfaces, e.g. voice or music controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/12 Feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0236 using sonic waves, e.g. using loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• 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: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/023 Transducers incorporated in garment, rucksacks or the like

Abstract

A footwear device for enhancing an entertainment experience in accordance with an embodiment of the present application includes a first actuator mounted in the footwear device and operable to impart a vibration to the footwear device based on an indication of reproduced sound included in the entertainment experience. A vibration signal is provided to drive the vibration of the footwear device and may be based on reproduced audible information and/or enhanced information optimized to maximize vibration. The present application also relates to an entertainment system for use with the vibrating footwear device.

Claims

1. A footwear device for enhancing an entertainment experience comprising:

a first actuator mounted in the footwear device and operable to impart a vibration to the footwear device based on an indication of reproduced sound included in the entertainment experience.

2. The footwear device of claim 1 further comprising:

a control unit operable to receive a vibration signal associated with the reproduced sound and to provide control signals for driving the first actuator based on the vibration signal;

an amplifier operable to amplify the control signal provided to the first actuator; and

a power supply connected to the control unit, the first actuator and the amplifier to provide power.

3. The footwear device of claim 2, wherein the first actuator is attached to the footwear device at a first position.

4. The footwear device of claim 3, further comprising:

a second actuator attached to the footwear device at a second position different than the first position; and

a second amplifier connected between the control unit and the second amplifier and operable to amplify control signals provided to the second actuator.

5. The footwear device of claim 3, further comprising an input portal connected to the control unit to convey information for the actuator.

6. The footwear device of claim 5, wherein the vibration signal is received via the input portal.

7. The footwear device of claim 3, further comprising a wireless receiver device operable to receive the vibration signal and provide it to the control unit.

8. The footwear device of claim 1, further comprising a micro digital player device connected thereto, the micro digital player device operable to store the vibration signal.

9. The footwear device of claim 8, wherein the micro digital player device further comprises a wireless receiver device operable to receive instruction signals from a remote control unit to instruct operation of the micro digital player device to provide the vibration signal to the footwear device.

10. An entertainment system comprising:

a portable player operable to reproduce at least audible information for an entertainment experience;

a controller connected to the portable player and operable to provide an audible signal based on the reproduced audible information from the portable player and a vibration signal related to the audible signal;

an audible reproduction device operable to receive the audible signal from the controller and to reproduce the audible information to the user; and

a first footwear device connected to the controller and operable to vibrate based on the vibration signal to enhance the entertainment experience.

11. The entertainment system of claim 10, wherein the controller generates the vibration signal based on the audible information reproduced by the portable player such that the vibration signal generally corresponds to the reproduced audio information.

12. The entertainment system of claim 10, wherein the vibration signal includes enhanced information different from that in the audible information reproduced by the portable player in order to maximize vibration of the first footwear device.

13. The entertainment system of claim 12, wherein the enhanced information includes sub-sonic vibration information generated to represent non-audible elements complementary to the reproduced audible information

14. The entertainment system of claim 10, wherein the controller delays the audible signal by a predetermined period of time in order to synchronize perception of the audible signal and vibrations of the first footwear device in a brain of the user.

15. The entertainment system of claim 10, wherein the controller is connected to the first footwear device by a wire.

16. The entertainment system of claim 10, wherein the controller is connected to the first footwear device wirelessly.

17. The entertainment system of claim 10, wherein the footwear device further comprises a first actuator mounted in the first footwear device and operable to impart a vibration to the footwear device based on the vibration signal.

18. The entertainment system of claim 17, wherein the first footwear device further comprises:

a control unit operable to receive the vibration signal and to provide a control signal for driving the first actuator based on the vibration signal;

an amplifier operable to amplify the control signal provided to the first actuator; and

a power supply connected to the control unit, the first actuator and the amplifier to provide power.

19. The entertainment system of claim 18, wherein the first actuator is attached to the first footwear device at a first position.

20. The entertainment system of claim 19, further comprising:

a second actuator attached to the first footwear device at a second position; and

a second amplifier connected between the control unit and the second amplifier and operable to amplify a second control signal provided to the second actuator.

21. The entertainment system of claim 20, wherein the first footwear device further comprises an input portal connected to the control unit to convey information for the actuator.

22. The entertainment system of claim 21, wherein the vibration signal is received via the input portal of the first footwear device.

23. The entertainment system of claim 20, further comprising a wireless receiver device operable to receive the vibration signal and provide it to the control unit for the actuator.

24. The entertainment system of claim 17, wherein the first footwear device further comprises a micro digital player device connected thereto, wherein the micro digital player device stores the vibration signal.

25. The entertainment system of claim 24, wherein the micro digital player device further comprises a wireless receiver device operable to receive instruction signals from a remote control unit to instruct operation of the micro digital player device to provide the vibration signal to the first footwear device.

26. The entertainment system of claim 10, further comprising a second footwear device, and wherein the reproduced audible information is stereo information including a left track and a right track.

27. The entertainment system of claim 26, wherein the vibration signal includes a left vibration signal based on the left track of the audible information and a right vibration signal based on the right track of the audible information and wherein the left vibration signal is provided to the first footwear device and the right vibration signal is provided to the second footwear device.

28. The entertainment system of claim 17, wherein the portable player device further comprises a first radio tuner device and the audible information is radio information provided via the radio, the system further comprising:

a micro digital device connected to the footwear device, wherein the micro digital device includes a second radio tuner, wherein the first and second radio tuner are tuned to a common radio frequency and audio information from the second radio tuner is used to drive the first actuator.

29. The entertainment system of claim 10, wherein the first actuator is structured for removable attachment to any footwear, and wherein the controller further comprises:

an amplifier connected to the first actuator, operable to amplify a control signal provided to the first actuator; and

a power supply connected to the first actuator and the amplifier to provide power.

30. The entertainment system of claim 17, further comprising a microphone operable to gather live audible information from a user'"'"'s immediate environment and to provide live vibration information for the first actuator.

31. The entertainment system of claim 30, wherein the microphone is connected to the controller.

32. The entertainment system of claim 30, wherein the microphone is connected to the control unit of the first footwear device.

33. A method of enhancing an entertainment experience comprising:

providing a reproduced audible information signal representing sound information in the entertainment experience;

generating a vibration signal based on the reproduced audible information signal, wherein the vibration signal stimulates nerve receptors in the foot area that complement the audible information signal; and

providing the vibration signal to a vibrating footwear device such that the vibrating footwear device vibrates to provide additional sensory stimulation to a user wearing the footwear device to enhance the entertainment experience.

34. An entertainment system comprising:

a portable player operable to provide an audible information signal representing sound information in the entertainment experience;

an audible reproduction device operable to receive the audible information signal from the portable player controller and to reproduce the sound information to the user;

a micro digital player device operable to store a vibration signal that is based on the audible information signal, the vibration signal simulating vibrations complementary to the audible information signal; and

a vibrating footwear device operable to vibrate to enhance the entertainment experience for a user wearing the footwear device, wherein the micro digital player are attached to the footwear device to convey the vibration signal thereto to control vibration of the footwear device.

35. The entertainment system of claim 34, further comprising a remote control device operable to provide instruction signals synchronized to the portable player and the micro digital player to begin reproduction of the audible information signal and to communicate the vibration signal to the footwear device, respectively.