Steering wheel simulation assembly

• US 5,823,876 A
• Filed: 05/03/1996
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Erick Michael Unbehand
• Original Assignee: Erick Michael Unbehand
• Inventors: Unbehand, Erick Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US08/642,436
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/37, 463/30, 463/38, 74/492, 273/148 B, 273/442, 434/63, 434/65, 434/307 R, 434/373, 364/30, 364/410, 464/89
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• 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 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• 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 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• 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 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/04 for teaching control of land vehicles

Abstract

A computer driven video game accessory having a steering wheel or yoke coupled to a steering shaft, and having the steering shaft mounted in a frame. The steering torque applied by a player is opposed by non-linear torques created by a crank coupled to the steering shaft and a special kind of double acting pneumatic/hydraulic cylinder. The preferred embodiment includes an electric motor coupled by a clockwork to the steering shaft to superpose additional torques to simulate operation of boats, airplanes, cars, trucks, and the like. The player experiences an opposing torque which is composed of several torques, thus giving a richer, more complex driving experience. One major object of the invention is that a player who is physically strong and thus turns the wheel quickly will encounter more instantaneous opposing torque than would a weak player who turns the wheel slowly. Another object is to minimize the size of the electric motor without introducing large amplification of the inertia of the electric motor as a result of a large ratio of speed reduction in the clockwork.

Claims

1. In a computer driven video game accessory having a steering wheel mounted on a steering shaft, and the steering shaft mounted in a frame, the invention comprises

a. a crank mounted to rotate the steering shaft;

b. one or more cylinders sealed at one end and having a seal at the other to permit each cylinder to have a sliding rod to move with respect to the seal means and each sliding rod having its own piston attached to the end of the rod within the cylinder,

c. a preselected quantity of liquid disposed within the cylinders;

d. a preselected quantity of compressible gas disposed within the cylinders;

e. the action of the piston in the cylinder causes liquid and gas to flow between a first chamber and a second chamber;

f. flow restriction means between the first chamber and second chamber regulate flow due to pressure difference between the two chambers, said pressure difference caused by movement of the pistons within the cylinders

whereby, force applied by the compressed gas within the cylinders acting through the piston rod against the crank, and momentarily against the rest of the area of the piston causes continuing force against the crank, but also, as the liquid is forced from one chamber to the other, the liquid causes non-linear momentary forces opposing the rotation of the steering wheel.

2. The invention in claim 1 further comprises position detecting means coupled to the steering shaft.

3. The invention in claim 1 wherein the steering wheel is a steering yoke as used in aircraft.

4. In a computer driven video game accessory having a steering wheel coupled to a steering shaft, and having the steering shaft mounted in a frame, the invention comprises:

a. a crank coupled to the steering shaft,

b. a spring means coupled to the crank to bias the crank to bottom dead center,

c. a damping means cooperating with the spring means to oppose the rate of rotation, as the steering wheel is rotated by a player,

d. said spring means and damping means are combined within a double acting cylinder which, double acting cylinder comprises, (1.) a piston slidably mounted within the cylinder and thereby defining two chambers within the cylinder, (2.) a preselected quantity of relatively incompressible liquid contained within the cylinder, (3.) a preselected quantity of compressed gas within the cylinder, (4.) a piston rod connected to the piston and slidably extending through one end wall of the cylinder to and linking with the crank outside the cylinder, (5.) leakage means to permit flow of the liquid and gas from one chamber to the other within the cylinder, whereby a sudden rotation of the steering wheel by a physically strong player is opposed by two torques, the first is related to rotational displacement of the wheel, and the second is non-linear and is determined by the rate of rotation of the wheel, while a physically weaker player would experience proportionally less torque.

5. The invention of claims 4, further comprising

a. an electric motor mounted in the frame,

b. clockwork means linking the electric motor to the steering shaft.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the clockwork means are mounted in the frame and comprise:

a. a 1st pulley secured to the steering shaft,

b. an idler shaft,

c. a 2nd pulley secured to the idler shaft,

d. a 1st belt connects the 1st and 2nd pulley in fixed ratio of rotational speed,

e. a motor drive shaft,

f. a 3rd pulley coupled to the 2nd pulley,

g. a 4th pulley secured to the motor drive shaft,

h. a 2nd belt means connected to the 3rd and 4th pulley in fixed ratio of rotational speed.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein one or more of the belts have teeth which interfit with their respective pulleys such that the belts act as timing belts.

8. The invention of claim 5 wherein the motor means rotates clockwise or counterclockwise depending upon the electricity supplied to the motor.