Virtual body control device
DCFirst Claim
1. Virtual body modeling apparatus operable to generate and animate under user direction a representation of a body in a virtual environment, said apparatus comprising:
- a first data store, holding data defining the virtual environment;
a second data store, holding data related to features of a virtual body representation;
user motion detector to detect user body motion; and
a processor arranged to generate a representation of the virtual environment based on data from the first data store, to generate the virtual body representation within the virtual environment based on data from the second data store, and to periodically modify the generated virtual body representation in response to the detected user body motion, said second data store holding sequence data defining at least one sequence of virtual body motions; and
said processor being arranged to call said sequence data and translate the detected user body motion using said sequence data, wherein the generated virtual body representation is modified to follow the detected user body motion.
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Abstract
A virtual body modelling apparatus and method models a users body in a virtual environment and animated to follow physical movements of the user. Stores (30,32) hold data defining the virtual environment as well as features of the virtual body representation, including sequences of virtual body motions (for example a walking sequence for the legs of the virtual body) which sequences are initiated in response to one or more predetermined physical movements by the user, and animated by a display generator (28) providing images of the virtual environment to the user. Various forms of feedback to the user are provided, including force feedback where the users physical movements are constrained in dependence on conditions within the virtual environment, visual feedback where the users viewpoint of the virtual world is modified as a sequence of body motions is executed, and audio feedback (62) such as the sound of footsteps triggered at predetermined points in the sequence of motions.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. Virtual body modeling apparatus operable to generate and animate under user direction a representation of a body in a virtual environment, said apparatus comprising:
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a first data store, holding data defining the virtual environment;
a second data store, holding data related to features of a virtual body representation;
user motion detector to detect user body motion; and
a processor arranged to generate a representation of the virtual environment based on data from the first data store, to generate the virtual body representation within the virtual environment based on data from the second data store, and to periodically modify the generated virtual body representation in response to the detected user body motion, said second data store holding sequence data defining at least one sequence of virtual body motions; and
said processor being arranged to call said sequence data and translate the detected user body motion using said sequence data, wherein the generated virtual body representation is modified to follow the detected user body motion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
the second data store holds data defining a plurality of sequences of virtual body motions in respective areas of a look-up table;
the processor is configured to derive a speed value from the input from the user motion detector;
said speed value is used to index the look-up table, wherein the speed of the virtual body motion follows the derived speed value.
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9. A method for user-directed animation of a computer-generated representation of a body in a virtual environment, comprising the steps of:
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determining an initial position for the virtual body within the environment, rendering an image of the body within the environment, and presenting the image to a user;
monitoring movement of the user in a physical environment and translating said movement into movement of the virtual body relative to the virtual environment; and
periodically updating the rendered and presented image, at least one pre-stored sequence of virtual body motions being provided, and the generated body representation being modified using the pre-stored sequence of virtual body motions wherein motion of a particular user body portion results in motion of a corresponding virtual body portion. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A virtual body modeling apparatus for generating and animating in response to user movement a representation of a body in a virtual environment, said apparatus comprising:
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a first data store configured to hold data defining the virtual environment;
a second data store configured to hold sequence data defining at least one sequence of virtual body motions;
a user motion detector configured to detect user body motion corresponding to movement of a particular user body portion; and
a processor configured to generate a representation of the virtual environment based on data from the first data store, to generate the virtual body representation within the virtual environment based on data from the second data store, and to call said sequence data and translate the detected user body motion using said sequence data, wherein the movement of the particular user body portion produces movement of a corresponding body portion of the generated virtual body representation. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
the motion detector comprises a restraint coupled to a rotatable shaft, attachable to the user'"'"'s body portion, and configured to translate movement of the restraint by the user into rotation of the shaft;
the processor is configured to detect the user body motion by detecting the degree of rotation of the shaft; and
the force feedback generator configured to generate a torque opposing rotation of the shaft.
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17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:
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the motion detector comprises a restraint coupled to a rotatable shaft, attachable to the user'"'"'s body portion, and configured to translate movement of the restraint by the user into rotation of the shaft; and
the processor is configured to detect the user body motion by detecting the degree of rotation of the shaft.
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Specification