Whole-body kinesthetic display
First Claim
1. A foot-haptic system for providing force feedback in response to a user position and orientation, the system comprising:
- a pair of footpads, one associated with each foot of a user;
a multi-axis electromechanical interface coupled to each footpad, the interface including an actuator for each axis responsive to user position and orientation, enabling the interface to generate electrical signals representative of the position and orientation of each footpad in three-dimensional space; and
a computer in operative communication with the electromechanical interface, the computer being programmed to perform the following functions;
store data representative of a visual virtual reality, including a virtual terrain associated with a ground plane,analyze the position and orientation of each footpad relative to the virtual terrain to determine any interaction therebetween,generate at least one force field in response to the interaction, if present, andgenerate a force signal for each axis of the electromechanical interface as a function of the force field, wherein the actuators are responsive to their respective force signals to provide a force to each axis for creating the force feedback.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A virtual-reality system provides a full-body, digitally programmed, kinesthetic display in the form of a foot-haptic system incorporating a pair of footpads, one associated with each foot of a user, and a multi-axis electromechanical interface responsive to user position and orientation. A computer, in communication with the electromechanical interface, permits the user to interact with a virtual terrain, vertical features, or other users. In a preferred physical realization, the system includes three major components: a locomotion simulator, a ground plane 104, and a vertical feature emulator. A head-mounted display provides all visual clues. The system may be operated in a first mode of operation, wherein the user'"'"'s feet and the footpads remain in constant contact with each other, or an alternative mode of operation, wherein the user makes and breaks contact with the footpads in a cyclical manner.
158 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A foot-haptic system for providing force feedback in response to a user position and orientation, the system comprising:
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a pair of footpads, one associated with each foot of a user; a multi-axis electromechanical interface coupled to each footpad, the interface including an actuator for each axis responsive to user position and orientation, enabling the interface to generate electrical signals representative of the position and orientation of each footpad in three-dimensional space; and a computer in operative communication with the electromechanical interface, the computer being programmed to perform the following functions; store data representative of a visual virtual reality, including a virtual terrain associated with a ground plane, analyze the position and orientation of each footpad relative to the virtual terrain to determine any interaction therebetween, generate at least one force field in response to the interaction, if present, and generate a force signal for each axis of the electromechanical interface as a function of the force field, wherein the actuators are responsive to their respective force signals to provide a force to each axis for creating the force feedback. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of providing force feedback in response to a user position and orientation, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a pair of moveable footpads upon which the user stands; computer simulating a virtual environment including a virtual three-dimensional terrain; sensing the movement of the user through the footpads; analyzing the position and orientation of each footpad relative to the virtual terrain to determine any interaction therebetween; generating at least one force field in response to the interaction, if present; and generating a force signal as a function of the force field so as to provide a haptic force feedback to each footpad. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification