Methods and apparatus for generating and processing synthetic and absolute real time environments

• US 5,759,044 A
• Filed: 07/06/1995
• Issued: 06/02/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Redmond Products Incorporated (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Redmond Products Incorporated (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Redmond, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): CHENG, JOE H
• Application Number:
  US08/498,595
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 634/43, 634/69, 634/307 R-309, 634/365, 340/825, 340/6, 340/825.36, 340/980, 370/60, 370/75, 370/85.2, 370/93, 370/34.1, 370/95.3, 379/59, 379/60, 455/89, 381/190, 395/127, 395/135, 395/152, 395/154, 395/155, 395/161, 395/156, 395/806, 395/807, 395/173, 395/326, 395/761, 364/578, 345/7, 345/8, 348/53, 348/115, 348/39, 348/383, 359/13, 359/630
• US Class Current: 434/307.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/015 Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/001 Teaching or communicating with blind persons G09B21/02 - G09B21/06 take precedence

Abstract

A system for generating and processing synthetic and absolute real time remote environments for interaction with a user and her biological senses is comprised of seven modules. These modules store, retrieve and process data to generate an output which interfaces with the system user'"'"'s biological senses. These modules also track user data to accurately place the user in the generated and processed model. Various embodiments of the system user sensory interface are provided including visual and aural input devices, a three dimensional chamber having interactive tactile output via matrix-addressed, electromechanically operated rods driving a flexible skin and a head mounted sensory interface having a selectable a see through mode and multidimensional sonic arrays.

Claims

1. A virtual reality system to be used by a sighted user, said virtual reality system comprising:

a system controller to control the operation of said virtual reality system;

a first wireless transceiver coupled to said system controller to send signals containing image information and to receive information from said user;

a second wireless transceiver to receive image information from said first transceiver and to send information from said user to said first transceiver;

a first image generator coupled to said second wireless transceiver to receive and process said image information;

a first image display that is transparent and has a reflective surface, said first image display coupled to said first image generator to display processed image information as an image on said reflective surface with said reflective surface disposed adjacent at least one eye of said user wherein the image perceived by said user is an overlaid image of the environment of said user as seen through said first image display together with said displayed image on said reflective surface of said first image display;

a multiaxis position subsystem coupled to said second wireless transceiver to provide information to said system controller via said second and first transceivers relative to the position of said user; and

a first repeater in a first fixed location relative to said wireless transceiver to send and receive signals between said first and second wireless transceiver.

2. A virtual reality system as in claim 1 further comprising a second repeater in a second fixed location relative to said first wireless transceiver to send and receive signals between said first and second wireless transceivers.

3. A virtual reality system as in claim 2 wherein:

said first repeater is located at a first height that is greater than the height of said user; and

said second repeater is located at a second height that is lower than said first height.

4. A virtual reality system as in claim 2 wherein each of said first repeater, second repeater and second wireless transceiver operate at different frequencies from each other.

5. A virtual reality system as in claim 2 wherein each of said first repeater, second repeater, first wireless transceiver and second wireless transceiver are each infrared devices.

6. A virtual reality system as in claim 1 wherein said position information further provides information as to the orientation of the head of said user.

7. A virtual reality system as in claim 6 wherein said multiaxis position subsystem is mounted on the head of said user when said virtual reality system is in use.

8. A virtual reality system as in claim 1 further including:

a second image generator coupled to said system controller to receive and process user environment image information; and

a second image displayed coupled to said second image generator to receive said user environment image to be displayed full size to be viewed by said user through said first image display.

9. A virtual reality system as in claim 8 wherein said system controller coordinates and manipulates said image displayed in said reflective surface of said first image display and said environment image displayed on said second image display in response to user position information received from said multiaxis position subsystem.

10. A method of transferring information between a system controller of a virtual reality system and a sighted user that is using said virtual reality system, said method comprising the steps of:

disposing a reflective surface of a transparent first image display adjacent at least one eye of said user;

transmitting image information from said system controller by means of a first wireless transceiver;

receiving said transmitted image information by means of a second wireless transceiver mounted on said user;

generating an image to be displayed by said image display from said received image information;

displaying said generated image on said first image display, wherein the image perceived by said user is an overlaid image of the environment of said user seen through said image display together with said displayed image in said reflective surface of said image display;

generating position data relative to the position of said user by a multiaxis position subsystem;

applying said generated position data to said second wireless transceiver;

transmitting said position data to said system controlled via said first transceiver;

locating a first repeater in a first fixed location relative to said first wireless transceiver; and

sending and receiving signals between said first and second wireless transceiver via said first repeater.

11. A method as in claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

locating a second repeater in a second fixed location relative to said first wireless transceiver; and

sending and receiving signals between said first and second wireless transceivers via said second repeater.

12. A method as in claim 11 wherein said first repeater is located at a first height that is greater than the height of said user;

and

said second repeater is located at a second height that is lower than said first height.

13. A method as in claim 11 wherein each of said first repeater, second repeater and second wireless transceiver operate at different frequencies from each other.

14. A method as in claim 11 wherein each of said first repeater, second repeater, first wireless transceiver and second wireless transceiver are each infrared devices.

15. A method as in claim 10 wherein said generated position data further provides information as to the orientation of the head of said user.

16. A method as in claim 15 further comprises the step of:

mounting said multiaxis position subsystem on the head of said user when said virtual reality system is in use.

17. A method as in claim 10 further including the steps of:

generating an environment image to be displayed; and

displaying said environment image life size on a second image display.

18. A method as in claim 17 further including the steps of:

coordinating and manipulating said image displayed in said reflective surface of said first image display and said environment image displayed on said second image display in response to user position information received by said system controller.