Flight simulating video game

• US 4,527,980 A
• Filed: 04/07/1983
• Issued: 07/09/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert W. Miller
• Original Assignee: Robert W. Miller
• Inventors: Miller, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US06/432,244
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 434/51, 434/55, 434/56, 434/57, 434/58, 434/59, 434/46, 434/43, 434/44, 434/38, 434/33, 272/1 C, 272/17, 272/18, 272/338, 280/758
• US Class Current: 434/55
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/10 Geometric effects
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/12 Motion systems for aircraft simulators
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/302 the image being transformed by computer processing, e.g. updating the image to correspond to the changing point of view

Abstract

An enclosure generally shaped to simulate the appearance of a flight vehicle is provided with a seat facing a video display and is supported on a parabolic dish for freedom of angular motion in the pitch and roll modes. Included in the enclosure may be a weighted control stick which, according to its angular displacement, displaces the effective center of gravity, thus moving the enclosure in the pitch and roll modes. A set of orthogonal resolvers deployed in the enclosure and pendulum articulated provide binary signals of the pitch and roll angles achieved to the video display, simulating the flight vehicle attitude while a program is cycled through a microprocessor and superposed onto the pitch and roll inputs to generate on the video screen images simulating flight.

Claims

1. Apparatus conformed to simulate the angular motions of a flight vehicle comprising:

an enclosure provided with a seat conformed to support an occupant and an accessway for ingress and egress to said seat;

a parabolic support surface interposed between said enclosure and ground conformed for angular displacement relative ground in response to changes of center of gravity alignment of said enclosure; and

moveable control means deployed in said enclosure and provided with weights for changing the alignment of said center of gravity, including a plurality of pivotal members each supporting a corresponding weight, said members being adjustably linked to each other.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

spring means connected to said control means for maintaining the alignment thereof in a predetermined relationship relative said enclosure.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein:

said parabolic support surface is formed of a resilient material arranged to define a hermetic cavity subjacent said enclosure including pressurization means for selective expansion and contraction thereof.

4. An emulator for emulating the angular motion of a flight vehicle comprising:

an enclosure including a seat for use by an occupant and a moveable access closure for providing means for ingress and egress to said seat;

a parabolic support surface fixed subjacent said enclosure and conformed to provide stable states of alignment at various angular attitudes relative ground; and

moveable control means deployed in said enclosure for altering the angular alignment thereof, including a plurality of pivotal members each supporting a corresponding weight, said members being adjustably linked to each other.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising:

detection means deployed in said enclosure for sensing the angular alignment thereof relative ground and for producing an electrical signal indicative of said sensed alignment; and

video display means mounted in said enclosure and operatively connected to said detection means for producing a display in correspondence with said electrical signals.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising:

a throttle control actuator mounted for pivotal motion in said enclosure for emulating the throttle control of a flight vehicle.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising:

sensing means connected to sense the pivotal motion of said throttle control actuator for producing a throttle signal indicative of the pivotal alignment thereof.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising:

adding means connected to receive said throttle and electrical signals for integrating the difference therebetween.