High performance control loading system for manually-operable controls in a vehicle simulator
First Claim
1. A high performance control loading system for conveying to manually-operable controls of a vehicle simulator a "feel" sensed by an operator of the vehicle simulator that matches the real world response of actual controls, comprising:
- force transducer means to develop an electrical signal corresponding to the force applied to said manually-operable controls by said operator of said vehicle simulator;
computer means to generate an electrical signal corresponding to the force required for said manually-operable controls to give realistic sensory cues to said operator;
said electrical signal generated by said computer means includes components representative of characteristics of the vehicle being simulated and the particular maneuver being performed;
means to compare said signal corresponding to the applied force with said signal corresponding to the required force and to provide an electrical signal corresponding to the difference;
actuator means including means to develop, on said manually-operable vehicle controls, a force responsive to said difference electrical signal to give the sensory cue of actual controls in an actual vehicle, andmonitor means to detect deviations in force magnitude from said force responsive to said difference electrical signal and to disable the control loading system when said force magnitude exceeds a pre-set limit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The control loading system described is capable of higher performance than anything available heretofor because of certain described features built in. The control loading system that is described includes a force transducer to develop an electrical signal corresponding to the force applied to the manually-operable controls of a vehicle simulator to develop a "feel" as sensed by an operator that matches the real world response of actual controls. A computer generates an electrical signal corresponding to the force required for these controls to give these realistic cues. A compare circuit generates a signal corresponding to the difference between the applied force and the required force, and the usual actuator device develops a force on the manually-operable vehicle controls in response to this difference signal. One of the more significant features of the invention is the monitor which detects deviations in force magnitude to disable the control loading system when the force detected exceeds a pre-set limit.
31 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A high performance control loading system for conveying to manually-operable controls of a vehicle simulator a "feel" sensed by an operator of the vehicle simulator that matches the real world response of actual controls, comprising:
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force transducer means to develop an electrical signal corresponding to the force applied to said manually-operable controls by said operator of said vehicle simulator; computer means to generate an electrical signal corresponding to the force required for said manually-operable controls to give realistic sensory cues to said operator; said electrical signal generated by said computer means includes components representative of characteristics of the vehicle being simulated and the particular maneuver being performed; means to compare said signal corresponding to the applied force with said signal corresponding to the required force and to provide an electrical signal corresponding to the difference; actuator means including means to develop, on said manually-operable vehicle controls, a force responsive to said difference electrical signal to give the sensory cue of actual controls in an actual vehicle, and monitor means to detect deviations in force magnitude from said force responsive to said difference electrical signal and to disable the control loading system when said force magnitude exceeds a pre-set limit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A high performance control loading system for conveying to manually-operable controls of a vehicle simulator a "feel" sensed by an operator of the vehicle simulator that matches the real world response of actual controls, comprising:
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force transducer means to develop an electrical signal corresponding to the force applied to said manually-operable controls by said operator of said vehicle simulator; computer means to generate an electrical signal corresponding to the force required for said manually-operable controls to give realistic sensory cues to said operator; said electrical signal generated by said computer means includes components representative of characteristics of the vehicle being simulated and the particular maneuver being performed; means to compare said signal corresponding to the applied force with said signal corresponding to the required force and to provide an electrical signal corresponding to the difference; amplifier means to amplify said difference electrical signal a predetermined amount to produce a drive signal with a magnitude representative of said difference electrical signal; a normally closed electrical switch means connected to receive said drive signal produced by said amplifier means; monitor circuit means connected in parallel with said normally closed electrical switch means, to receive said drive signal also, to monitor the rate of change of said drive signal, and to produce a logic signal output the state of which is indicative of the rate of change of of said drive signal; electrically operable servo valve means to control the flow of a hydraulic fluid in the development of said required force in accordance with the magnitude of said drive signal, and actuator means including means to develop a force determined by the hydraulic fluid pressure as controlled by said servo valve means, whereby said normally closed electrical switch means is opened when said drive signal is detected to have reached a predetermined rate of change. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A high performance control loading servo system for conveying to manually-operable controls of a vehicle simulator a "feel" sensed by an operator of the vehicle simulator that matches the real world response of actual controls, comprising:
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force transducer means to develop an electrical signal corresponding to the force applied to said manually-operable controls by said operator of said vehicle simulator; computer means to generate an electrical signal corresponding to the force required for said manually-operable controls to give realistic sensory cues to said operator; said electrical signal generated by said computer means includes components representative of characteristics of the vehicle being simulated and the particular maneuver being performed; means to compare said signal corresponding to the applied force with said signal corresponding to the required force and to provide an electrical signal corresponding to the difference; actuator means including means to develop, on said manually-operable vehicle controls, a force responsive to said difference electrical signal to give the sensory cue of actual controls in an actual vehicle; monitor circuit means to detect deviations in force magnitude from said force responsive to said difference electrical signal and to disable the control loading system when said force magnitude exceeds a pre-set limit; and self-test means to check predetermined ones of the component parts of said control loading system for proper operation to protect said operator from possible physical injury when the control loading forces exceed predetermined limits. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An article of manufacture to function as a safety system for a high performance control loading system for conveying to manually-operable controls of a vehicle simulator a "feel" sensed by an operator of the vehicle simulator that matches the real world response of actual controls, comprising:
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electrical switch means including connections for controlling an electrical operating current in response to a control signal; monitor circuit means including a plurality of input connections for receiving a plurality of signals from which to detect deviations in force magnitude from a pre-set limit, and for generating said control signal; and abort manifold means including input and output hydraulic fluid connections so that hydraulic fluid under pressure can be interrupted responsive also to said control signal. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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Specification