Compact simulator system theater

• US 5,433,670 A
• Filed: 02/05/1993
• Issued: 07/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ridefilm Theaters Corporation, Whitmore B. Kelley
• Original Assignee: Ridefilm Corporation (IMAX Corporation)
• Inventors: Trumbull, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Safavi, Michael
• Application Number:
  US08/014,330
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 52/6, 52/8, 52/9, 52/10, 472/59, 472/130, 472/60, 472/61, 434/29, 434/46, 434/50, 434/51, 434/58, 434/62, 434/55, 104/83, 104/85, 104/86, 352/48, 352/85, 352/132
• US Class Current: 472/60
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/16 creating illusions of travel
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/02 for teaching control of vehicles or other craft
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/12 Motion systems for aircraft simulators
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/32 by projected image G09B9/307, G09B9/36 take precedence

Abstract

A compact theater for use with a simulator system includes a motion base moveable only along three mutually orthogonal displacement axes by means of displaceable actuators. A projector and screen are included for providing a sequence of audio signals and visual images to the occupants. A motion base controller generates actuator drive signals. A system controller provides the command signals to the motion base controller in synchronization with the presentation of the audio-visual images. The system controller generates the motion base command signals such that the displacement of the motion base is synchronized to the presentation of the audio signals and visual images. The motion base is characterized by a reduced height when fully retracted such that, when configured with the projector and screen, the total height is less than conventional simulators, enabling the present theater to be housed within buildings of a standard commercial height.

Claims

1. A simulator system theater for providing an event simulation to a plurality of occupants thereof in a room of standard commercial height of approximately 14.5 feet, said simulator system theater comprising:

a three axis orthogonal motion base having

a base member fixed to provide a foundation to the room floor said base member having a base member interface surface;

a lower member received by said base member interface surface along a cooperative first lower member interface surface to be moveable relative thereto in a first axis;

cooperatively engaging base and lower displacement guide elements respectively affixed to said base member interface surface and said first lower member interface surface for constraining said base and lower members to linear relative movement along said first axis;

first actuator means communicating with said base and lower displacement guide elements for effecting displacement of said base and lower members relative to one another in response to received first actuator drive signals;

a middle member received by a second lower member interface surface along a cooperative first middle member interface surface to be moveable relative to said lower member along a second axis orthogonal to said first axis;

cooperatively engaging lower and middle displacement guide elements respectively affixed to said second lower member interface surface and said first middle member interface surface for constraining said lower and middle members to linear relative movement along said second axis;

second actuator means communicating with said lower and middle displacement guide elements for effecting displacement of said lower and middle members relative to one another in response to received second actuator drive signals;

a platform having seats for said occupants and received by a second middle member interface surface along a cooperative first platform interface surface to be moveable relative to said middle member along a third, vertical axis orthogonal to both said first and second axes between a retracted height and an extended height as measured from said floor;

a third actuator means communicating with said middle and platform displacement guide elements for effecting displacement of said middle member relative to said platform in response to received third actuator drive signals;

an audio display means for providing a sequence of audio signals to the simulator system occupant;

a projector means including projection optics for presenting visual images within a solid angle sector bounded by upper and lower planes, said projection means vertically separated from said motion base platform such that said motion base platform and said occupants in said seats do not intersect said sold angle sector lower plane when said motion base is positioned at said extended height, the sum of said motion base extended height and said projection means separation being less than or equal to approximately 14.5 feet;

a screen spaced from said motion base and said projection means for receiving said projected visual images and reflecting said visual images to said occupants in focus, said screen including a segment of a spherical surface anti having dimensions sufficient to intercept said solid angle sector upper and lower planes, thereby intercepting all of said visual images;

a motion base controller for generating said actuator drive signals in response to received command signals; and

a system controller for providing said command signals to said motion base controller in synchronization with the presentation of said audio signals and said visual images.

2. The theater of claim 1 wherein:

said base member further comprises a frame with an upper frame surface;

said lower member further comprises a frame adapted to be received by said base member along said base member upper frame surface and having an inner surface bounding a lower member interior cavity, said lower member to be linearly moveable relative to said base member in said base member only along a lower frame member axis; and

said middle member further comprising a frame adapted to be received by said lower member along said lower member interior cavity surface to be linearly moveable relative to said lower member only in a second axis orthogonal to said first axis substantially parallel to a middle frame member axis.

3. The theater of claim 1 wherein said lower and middle member frames further comprise respective inner surfaces bounding an interior cavity and wherein said platform is vertically moveable and is adapted to be received within said interior cavity.

4. The theater of claim 1 wherein said actuator means comprise hydraulic actuators.

5. The theater of claim 1 wherein said displacement means further comprise cooperative rack and pinion means.

6. The theater of claim 1 wherein said motion base controller further comprises a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller.

7. The theater of claim 1 further comprising feedback sensors configured with each of said actuator means for providing, to said motion base controller, signals indicative of the measured actuator means displacement.

8. The theater of claim 1 wherein said visual images further comprise visual image subset signals to be received by said occupant corresponding to a subset of said visual images, said controller further comprises a means to constrain said visual image subset signals to move only along said three orthogonal axes and a means for synchronizing the presentation of said actuator drive signals with said visual image subset signals and with the remainder of said visual images and said audio signals.

9. The theater of claim 1 wherein said projection optics further comprise a fisheye projection lens.

10. The theater of claim 9 wherein said fisheye lens has a focal length of approximately 14 mm.

11. The theater of claim 1 wherein said screen intersects said solid angle sector upper plane about 14.5 ft. from said floor.

12. The theater of claim 1 wherein said platform includes a center seat and wherein said projection optics are in approximate registration thereabove fixed relative to said motion base platform.