Simulator apparatus employing actual craft and simulators

• US 5,240,416 A
• Filed: 04/19/1991
• Issued: 08/31/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas E. Bennington
• Original Assignee: Thomas E. Bennington
• Inventors: Bennington, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHENG, JOE H
• Application Number:
  US07/699,308
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 434/29, 434/30, 434/35, 434/38, 434/43-45, 434/48, 434/49, 434/53, 434/59, 434/61, 434/62, 434/66, 434/69, 434/71, 273/439, 244/194, 244/197, 244/75 R, 364/578, 370/104.1, 358/54, 455/2, 455/13, 455/12.1, 455/14
• US Class Current: 434/30
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/08 for teaching control of aircraft, e.g. Link trainer
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/10 with simulated flight- or engine-generated force being applied to aircraft occupant G09B9/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/16 Ambient or aircraft conditions simulated or indicated by instrument or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/28 Simulation of stick forces or the like

Abstract

A simulator system adaptable to an actual craft or existing simulator is disclosed. The system comprises computer hardware and software capable of simulation, combinations of simulations and networked simulations. Computer inputs come from sensors attached on or near control and operation members. Computer output is sent to overlay displays and other components. Visual, audio and motion cuing systems are added to increase realism where appropriate to the simulation. All equipment may be quickly and easily installed or removed so as to make maximum use of an otherwise inoperative craft or allow for diversity and upgrading of existing simulators. By the use of computer program modifications and component construction, the system may be used to simulate a wide variety of craft, including air, ground, naval and space craft.

Claims

1. A simulator system for use with at least one craft and at least one simulator comprising:

a plurality of simulators;

a plurality of actual crafts;

at least one computer having an input and an output and including a computer program for running at least one simulator;

a power source for said computer;

at least one removably mountable overlay means;

each said overlay means including display means for displaying information;

said display means including connection means to said output of said computer, light generating means, audio cuing means, video cuing means and motion cuing means;

each said overlay means having at least one position sensor means, wherein each of said position sensor means is removably mountable on each of at least one existing control device for sensing the position of each said control device;

each said position sensor means including connection means to said input of said computer, and pressure feedback means removably attachable to an existing control device for providing pressure feedback to said computer;

said pressure feedback means having pressure sensor means for sensing pressure upon said pressure sensor means;

each said overlay means having at least one simulated switch thereon;

each said switch including connection means to said input of said computer;

said input and said output of said computer including connection means to each said at least one existing control device for control thereof;

whereby input from each said sensor means to said computer is calculated through said computer program and said computer outputs an appropriate response to said display means of each said overlay means for instructional simulation;

another computer having networking means to network with and control each said at least one computer of said at least one simulator from said computer program; and

said networking means including transmission lines and satellite communications for communicating between each of said plurality of simulators and each of said plurality of actual crafts.

2. A simulator system for use with at least one craft and at least one simulator comprising:

a plurality of simulators;

at least one computer having an input and an output and including a computer program for running at least one simulator;

a power source for said computer;

at least one removably mountable overlay means;

each said overlay means including display means for displaying information;

said display means including connection means to said output of said computer, light generating means, audio cuing means, video cuing means and motion cuing means;

each said overlay means having at least one position sensor means, wherein each of said position sensor means is removably mountable on each of at least one existing control device for sensing the position of each said existing control device;

each said position sensor means including connection means to said input of said computer, and pressure feedback means removably attachable to an existing control device for providing pressure feedback to said computer;

said pressure feedback means having pressure sensor means for sensing pressure upon said pressure sensor means;

said input and said output of said computer including connection means to said existing control devices for control thereof;

whereby input from each said sensor means to said computer is calculated through said computer program and said computer outputs an appropriate response to said display means of each said overlay means for instructional simulation;

another computer having networking means to network with and control each said at least one computer of said at least one simulator from said computer program; and

said networking means including transmission lines and satellite communications for communicating between each of said plurality of simulators.