Rocking device and bodily sensation simulation apparatus

• US 6,152,828 A
• Filed: 04/02/1999
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tomita, Seijiro, Katagiri, Ichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US09/285,370
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 472/59, 472/60, 472/61, 472/130, 434/29, 434/55, 434/56, 434/58, 434/62, 463/46
• US Class Current: 472/60
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/16 creating illusions of travel
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/165 Condition of cabin, cockpit or pilot's accessories

Abstract

Three driving means for rocking a rocking object are provided, each of the foregoing driving means has a motor and an arm which rotates with one end thereof as an axis by the rotation of the motor, the other end of the foregoing arm is rotatably mounted to the front central portion and the rear both side portions of the foregoing rocking object, and each of the foregoing driving means is drivingly controlled to thereby pitch, roll and heave the foregoing rocking object. Such a rocking device capable of performing complicated operations with simple structure will be provided.

Claims

1. A rocking device for rocking a rocking object, comprising:

only three supporting means for rotatably supporting said rocking object; and

only three driving means for rocking said rocking object using said supporting means,

each of said driving means being drivingly controlled to thereby roll, pitch and heave said rocking object.

2. A rocking device according to claim 1, wherein each of said supporting means comprises a first arm;

a first end of a middle first arm is mounted to a middle driving means

a second end of said middle first arm is mounted to a central portion of said rocking object;

a first end of a left first arm is mounted to a left driving means;

a second end of said left first arm is mounted to a left portion of said rocking object;

a first end of a right first arm is mounted to a right driving means; and

a second end of said right first arm is mounted to a right portion of said rocking object.

3. A rocking device according to claim 1, wherein each of said supporting means comprises a first arm and a second arm, a first end of each of said first arms is mounted to one of said driving means, a second end of each of said first arms is mounted to said rocking object, a first end of each of said second arms is mounted to one of said first arms and a second end of each of said second arms is mounted to a base portion of said rocking device.

4. A rocking device according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said second arms is mounted for rotation relative to one of said first arms.

5. A rocking device according to claim 4, wherein at least one of said second arms is mounted to slide along an axis of one of said first arms.

6. A rocking device according to claim 1, wherein each of said driving means has a motor and a slider, and said slider is driven in an axial direction by each motor of said driving means, whereby an end of said supporting means rotationally moves in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction.

7. A bodily sensation simulation apparatus for providing a pseudo-experience to a user, comprising:

a rocking object for supporting said user;

a rocking device for rocking said rocking object, wherein the rocking device comprises;

only three supporting means for rotatably supporting said rocking object; and

only three driving means for rocking said rocking object using said supporting means,

each of said driving means being drivingly controlled to thereby roll, pitch and heave said rocking object; and

a control device for controlling a three-dimensional image and sound transmitted to said rocking object.

8. A bodily sensation simulation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said rocking object for supporting said user has a fixing device for fixing said user to a predetermined position;

a visual sensation device for individually displaying a three-dimensional image to said user; and

an auditory device for transmitting sound to said user.

9. A bodily sensation simulation apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said fixing device is equipped with a visual sensation device for displaying said three-dimensional image.

10. A bodily sensation simulation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said control device comprises:

a CPU for controlling said bodily sensation simulation apparatus;

a memory for accumulating a video file and an audio file;

a switch for starting and stopping;

a circuit for controlling safety; and

a circuit for controlling motors.

11. A bodily sensation simulation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said control device controls said three-dimensional image and sound to be synchronized with movements of said rocking object.

12. A bodily sensation simulation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said control device controls the operation of a fan to be synchronized with movements of said rocking object.