Motion simulator for a video game

• US 6,315,673 B1
• Filed: 10/05/1999
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Warner Bros Entertainment Incorporated (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Midway Amusement Games, LLC (Midway Games Inc.)
• Inventors: Anderson, Thomas P., Kopera, Thomas M., Bobrowski, Christopher T., Goschy, Patrick E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US09/412,960
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 472/59, 472/60, 472/61, 472/130, 434/55, 434/59, 434/62
• US Class Current: 472/60
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• 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 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying

Abstract

In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a motion simulator for a video game. The motion simulator includes a base and a platform supported on the base. The platform has first and second sides. First and second motors drive respective first and second shafts. First and second cams are mounted to the respective first and second shafts. First and second cam followers are connected to the platform proximate the respective first and second sides. The first and second cam followers rest on the respective first and second cams such that rotation of either the first or second shaft causes vertical movement of the platform.

Claims

1. A motion simulator for a video game comprising:

a base;

a platform supported on the base and having first and second sides;

first and second motors driving respective first and second shafts;

first and second cams mounted to the respective first and second shafts; and

first and second cam followers connected to the platform proximate the respective first and second sides, the first and second cam followers resting on the respective first and second cams such that rotation of either the first or second shaft causes vertical movement of the platform.

2. The motion simulator of claim 1, further including a video display that is stationary relative to the platform.

3. The motion simulator of claim 1, wherein the platform includes a back, the first and second cam followers being connected to the back of the platform.

4. The motion simulator of claim 1, further including a seat mounted to the platform.

5. The motion simulator of claim 1, wherein the first and second cam followers comprise respective first and second rollers.

6. The motion simulator of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second cam followers has one or more profiled portions on its outer surface such that the vertical movement of the platform is non-linear.

7. The motion simulator of claim 6, wherein the profiled portions are selected from a group consisting of teeth, bumps, projections, depressions and cut-outs.

8. The motion simulator of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second cams has one or more profiled portions on its outer surface such that the vertical movement of the platform is non-linear.

9. The motion simulator of claim 8, wherein the profiled portions are selected from a group consisting of teeth, bumps, projections, depressions and cut-outs.

10. The motion simulator of claim 1, further including first and second pairs of restraining members for maintaining the respective first and second cam followers resting on the respective first and second cams.

11. The motion simulator of claim 10, wherein the first and second pairs of restraining members each comprise two rollers.

12. The motion simulator of claim 1, wherein the first and second cams are eccentric cams.

13. The motion simulator of claim 1, wherein the movable platform is pivotally supported on the base.

14. The motion simulator of claim 1, wherein the base includes a support member for pivotally supporting the base at a first location, and the cam followers are connected to the platform at a second location spaced from the first location.

15. A motion simulator for a video game comprising:

a base;

a movable platform supported on the base;

a motor driving a shaft;

a cam mounted to the shaft; and

a cam follower connected to the platform and resting on the cam such that rotation of the shaft causes vertical movement of the platform.

16. The motion simulator of claim 15, wherein one of the cam and the cam follower has one or more profiled portions on its outer surface such that the vertical movement of the platform is non-linear.

17. The motion simulator of claim 16, wherein the one or more profiled portions are on the cam.

18. The motion simulator of claim 16, wherein the one or more profiled portions are on the cam follower.

19. The motion simulator of claim 16, wherein the one or more profiled portions are selected from a group consisting of teeth, bumps, projections, depressions and cut-outs.

20. The motion simulator of claim 15, further including a video display that is stationary relative to the movable platform.

21. The motion simulator of claim 15, wherein the movable platform is pivotally supported on the base.

22. The motion simulator of claim 15, wherein the base includes a support member for pivotally supporting the base at a first location, and the cam follower is connected to the platform at a second location spaced from the first location.

23. The motion simulator of claim 15, further including a seat mounted to the platform.

24. The motion simulator of claim 15, wherein the platform includes a back, the cam follower being connected to the back of the platform.

25. The motion simulator of claim 15, wherein the cam is an eccentric cam.

26. A method of moving a video game seat comprising:

providing a motion simulator including a base, a platform supported on the base and having first and second sides, first and second motors for driving respective first and second shafts, first and second cams mounted to the respective first and second shafts, and first and second cam followers connected to the platform proximate the respective first and second sides, the first and second cam followers resting on the respective first and second cams such that rotation of either the first or second shaft causes vertical movement of the platform;

depicting an action on a video display; and

rotating one or both of the first and second shafts to cause vertical movement of the platform to simulate the action on the video display.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of providing a motion simulator includes providing a seat mounted to the platform.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein said step of depicting an action on a video display includes isolating the video display with respect to the platform.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein said step of rotating includes the step of engaging an outer cam follower surface of one of said first and second cam followers with one of said first and second cams such that the vertical movement of the platform is non-linear, said outer cam follower surface having one or more profiled portions.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein engaging an outer cam follower surface comprises engaging one or more profiled portions selected from a group consisting of teeth, bumps, projections, depressions, and cut-outs.

31. The method of claim 26 wherein said step of rotating includes the step of engaging an outer cam surface of one of said first and second cams with one of said first and second cam followers such that vertical movement of the platform is non-linear, said outer cam surface having one or more profiled portions.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein engaging an outer cam surface comprises engaging one or more profiled portions selected from a group consisting of teeth, bumps, projections, depressions, and cut-outs.

33. The method of claim 26 wherein said step of rotating includes the step of engaging an eccentric cam with a cam follower.

34. A motion simulator comprising:

a base;

a platform movable with respect to said base; and

at least three connecting members between said platform and said base, one of said connecting members being a fixed connection mechanism, the other connecting members being at least first and second vertically movable connectors, at least one of said vertically movable connectors including a cam system.

35. The motion simulator of claim 34 wherein said first and second vertically movable connectors comprise cam systems including first and second cams and first and second cam followers.

36. The motion simulator of claim 35 wherein at least one of said first and second cams includes an outer surface having one or more cam profiles.

37. The motion simulator of claim 36 wherein said cam profiles are selected from the group consisting of teeth, bumps, projections, depressions, and cut-outs.

38. The motion simulator of claim 35 wherein at least one of said first and second cam followers includes an outer surface having one or more cam follower profiles.

39. The motion simulator of claim 38 wherein said cam follower profiles are selected from the group consisting of teeth, bumps, projections, depressions, and cut-outs.

40. The motion simulator of claim 34 wherein said fixed connection mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a servo coupling, a universal coupling, a ball and socket coupling, and a flexible coupling.

41. The motion simulator of claim 34 wherein said at least three connecting members are positioned so as to form a triangle.

42. The motion simulator of claim 41 wherein said triangle is an isosceles triangle.