Simulator

• US 5,813,864 A
• Filed: 05/17/1996
• Issued: 09/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Namco Limited (BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Namco Limited (BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Ikuta, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US08/648,981
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 434/60, 434/247, 434/253, 482/1-9, 482/51, 482/71, 482/902, 273/400, 273/449
• US Class Current: 434/253
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0033 Lower limbs performing together the same movement, e.g. on a single support element
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/18 with elements, i.e. platforms, having a circulating, nutating or rotating movement, generated by oscillating movement of the user, e.g. platforms wobbling on a centrally arranged spherical supporthoop exercising apparatus A63B19/00; eccentric weights put into orbital motion by nutating movement of the user A63B21/0608; pots rotating or rocking by moving the whole body A63G23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0093 for surfing, i.e. without a sail; for skate or snow boarding
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/18 for skiing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/807 Gliding or sliding on surfaces, e.g. using skis, skates or boards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8041 Skating using skis, skates or board

Abstract

A simulator for presenting a simulation movement on a display correspondingly to a movement of an operator. The operator rides on a support plate and the support plate can be turned about a vertical axis line and can be tilted about a horizontal axis line. The support plate is equipped with a first reactive force applying device and a second reactive force applying device. The first reactive force applying device holds the support plate in a natural state in a neutral position with respect to the vertical axis line and applies reactive force to the support plate when the support plate turns from the neutral position. The second reactive force applying device holds the support plate in a natural state in a neutral position with respect to the horizontal axis line and applies reactive force to the support plate when the support plate tilts from the neutral positions. A simulation image displayed on a display screen is controlled corresponding to a turning of the support plate about the vertical axis line and a tilting about the horizontal axis line.

Claims

1. A simulator for presenting a simulation movement on presentation means correspondingly to a movement of an operator, comprising:

an arm member being reciprocally turnable about a first axis line;

a support plate for supporting the operator, the support plate being supported by said arm member and tiltable about a second axis line extending in a direction crossing the first axis line;

first reactive force applying means for holding said arm member in a free state in a neutral position with respect to the first axis line and for applying a reactive force to said arm member when said arm member is turned to a direction in which said arm member deviates from the neutral position;

second reactive force applying means for holding said support plate in a free state in a neutral position with respect to the second axis line and for applying a reactive force to said support plate when said support plate is tilted to a direction in which said support plate deviates from the neutral position, the second reactive force applying means being supported by said arm member; and

control means for controlling the simulation movement on said presentation means correspondingly to a movement of said support plate about the first and second axis lines.

2. The simulator claimed in claim 1, wherein the second axis line is orthogonal to the first axis line.

3. The simulator claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second reactive force applying means comprises:

a core member having a cornered cross section and movable integrally with said support plate;

a casing member having a cornered cross section and surrounding said core member; and

an elastic member provided in a space defined between said core member and said casing member.

4. The simulator claimed in claim 1, wherein said presentation means comprises a display for displaying a virtual game space as a video image.

5. The simulator claimed in claim 1, wherein said support plate comprises a single board having a configuration similar to a snow board for sliding on a snow ground and said presentation means displays a scenery of a ski ground as a virtual game space.

6. The simulator claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means comprises:

first rotation angle detection means provided on the first axis line of said support plate for detecting a turning angle of said support plate about the first axis line; and

second rotation angle detection means provided on the second axis line of said support plate for detecting a tilting angle of said support plate about the second axis line.

7. The simulator claimed in claim 1, further comprising a handrail member provided in a space surrounding said support plate for supporting the operator.

8. The simulator claimed in claim 7, wherein said handrail member comprises rod members extending between said presentation means and the operator on said support plate with feet of the operator being on a center line of said support plate and perpendicularly to said support plate and extending both sides of and in parallel to said support plate.

9. The simulator claimed in claim 1, wherein protruding guides are provided on said support plate for guiding feet of the operator.

10. The simulator claimed in claim 9, wherein each said protruding guide comprising a plurality of protrusions arranged in parallel to each other and along a center line of said support plate, with a distance corresponding to a length of foot of the operator.

11. The simulator claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of said first and second reactive force applying means comprises:

a core member having a cornered cross section and movable integrally with said support plate;

a casing member having a cornered cross section and surrounding said core member; and

an elastic member provided in a space defined between said core member and said casing member.

12. The simulator claimed in claim 11, wherein said presentation means comprises a display for displaying a virtual game space as a video image.

13. The simulator claimed in claim 12, wherein said support plate comprises a single board having a configuration similar to a snow board for sliding on a snow ground and said presentation means displays a scenery of a ski ground as a virtual game space.

14. The simulator claimed in claim 13, wherein said control means comprises:

first rotation angle detection means provided on the first axis line of said support plate for detecting a turning angle of said support plate about the first axis line; and

second rotation angle detection means provided on the second axis line of said support plate for detecting a tilting angle of said support plate about the second axis line.

15. The simulator claimed in claim 14, further comprising a handrail member provided in a space surrounding said support plate for supporting the operator.

16. The simulator claimed in claim 15, wherein said handrail member comprises rod members extending between said presentation means and the operator on said support plate with feet of the operator being on a center line of said support plate and perpendicularly to said support plate and extending both sides of and in parallel to said support plate.

17. The simulator claimed in claim 16, wherein protruding guides are provided on said support plate for guiding feet of the operator.

18. The simulator claimed in claim 17, wherein each said protruding guide comprising a plurality of protrusions arranged in parallel to each other and along a center line of said support plate, with a distance corresponding to a length of foot of the operator.

19. The simulator claimed in claim 1, wherein a center turning axis of said support plate is defined by the first axis line, the first axis line being spaced from said support plate.