Wireless transmission system for transmitting data to a simulation system user

• US 6,630,915 B1
• Filed: 01/26/1999
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LSA, Inc.
• Original Assignee: LSA, Inc.
• Inventors: Flood, Kevin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIZIALI, JEFFREY J
• Application Number:
  US09/236,605
• Time in Patent Office: 1,715 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7-9, 345/121, 345/139, 345/158, 359/13, 359/630, 359/632, 359/152, 250/206.2, 250/559.29
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0198 System for aligning or maintaining alignment of an image in a predetermined direction
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/003 for military purposes and tactics

Abstract

A wireless transmission system for transmitting data to a user in a simulation system includes a light source for generating a modulated light beam for transmitting the data, an active pointing mechanism for actively pointing the light source, an optical receiver carried by the user for receiving and demodulating the modulated light beam, and a display or audio source for using the data to provide stimuli to the user. The light source preferably includes a laser device which is intensity-modulated with a wave form appropriate for the audio and video interfaces being used. The active pointing mechanism preferably includes a two-dimensional gimbal which receives tracking information from a tracking detector that tracks the optical receiver, and which uses that tracking information to actively point the light source. User position and head orientation are wirelessly tracked via optical sensors or feedback from user-worn sensor data.

Claims

1. A real-time virtual-reality simulation system for providing three-dimensional real-time video and stereo audio stimuli to a mobile user in a simulation space, comprising:

a wireless transmission system for wirelessly transmitting three-dimensional real-time video and stereo audio digital data to said user and wirelessly receiving tracking data from said user in a data communication rate of at least 295 Mbps,

said wireless transmission system including a signal projector having a transmitter for generating a modulated light beam so as to transmit said digital data, and a tracker for actively tracking said mobile user so as to direct said digital data said mobile user and thereby update said digital data to correspond with a viewing orientation of said user; and

a user module carried by said mobile user having at least one optical receiver for wirelessly receiving and demodulating said modulated light beam and at least one optical transmitter for wirelessly transmitting said tracking data corresponding to said viewing orientation of said user to said projector, and a converter for converting said demodulated light beam to said stimuli to said user,

wherein said wireless transmission system is operatively connected to said user module so as to simulate a virtual-reality environment for said user who roams freely in the simulation space, and said at least one optical receiver is operatively formed so as to un-obstructively receive said modulated light beam and to maintain direct communication between said signal projector and said optical receiver via said tracker.

2. The simulation system according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter generates a modulated laser beam.

3. The simulation system according to claim 1, wherein said tracker includes a two-dimensional gimbal.

10. The simulation system according to claim 1, wherein a front end of the optical receiver is formed to minimize internal noise generated therein.

12. The simulation system according to claim 10, wherein the front end operates within a noise floor range of 4.29-19.2 nW up to 200 MHz.

13. The simulation system according to claim 10, wherein said front end includes a photodetector and a preamplifier.

14. The simulation system according to claim 13, wherein the photodetector is an avalanche photodiode.

15. The simulation system according to claim 13, wherein the preamplifier is a transimpedance amplifier.

16. The simulation system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one receiver includes a RF combiner for summing electrical output signals of each module of said at least one receiver into a single signal to be delivered to an audio/video demodulator.

17. The simulation system according to claim 10, wherein the front end operates at a noise floor of 5.89 nW up to 200 MHz.

18. The simulation system according to claim 10, wherein the front end operates at a noise floor range of 96-435 nW at 13.5 dB SNR.

26. The simulation system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one receiver includes multiple detectors.

28. The simulation system according to claim 1, wherein said data communication rate is 1,006 Mbps.

4. A real-time virtual-reality simulation system for providing three-dimensional real-time video and stereo audio stimuli to a mobile user in a simulation space, comprising:

a processor for processing position and orientation data and for outputting three-dimensional real-time video and stereo audio digital data in a data communication rate of at least 295 Mbps;

a directional wireless transmitter for transmitting at least said video digital data via a modulated light beam;

a wireless head-mounted display device having at least one video receiver for remotely receiving said video digital data from said transmitter, and the display device converts said video digital data into said video stimuli for said user;

at least one wireless audio receiver for remotely receiving said stereo audio digital data and for translating said stereo audio digital data into stereo audio stimuli for said user;

a sensor for tracking user position and orientation and for generating position and orientation data; and

at least one wireless data link transmitter for transmitting said position and orientation data to said processor,

wherein said user roams freely in a virtual-reality environment simulated by the system within the simulation space, and

said wireless transmitter is operatively connected to said display device so as to simulate the virtual-reality environment for said user, and said video receiver is operatively formed so as to un-obstructively receive said modulated light beam and to maintain direct communication between said wireless transmitter and said video receiver via said sensor.

5. The simulation system according to claim 4, wherein said wireless transmitter includes an optical transmitter.

6. The simulation system according to claim 5, wherein said optical transmitter includes an actively pointed laser.

7. The simulation system according to claim 4, wherein said audio receiver is mounted to said user.

8. The simulation system according to claim 4, wherein said audio receiver is mounted in said simulation space.

9. The simulation system according to claim 4, wherein said sensor is an inertial sensor.

11. The simulation system according to claims 4, wherein a front end of at least one of the video receiver and the audio receiver is formed to minimize internal noise generated therein.

19. The simulation system according to claim 11, wherein the front end operates within a noise floor range of 4.29-19.2 nW up to 200 MHz.

20. The simulation system according to claim 11, wherein said front end includes a photodetector and a preamplifier.

21. The simulation system according to claim 20, wherein the photodetector is an avalanche photodiode.

22. The simulation system according claim 20, wherein the a preamplifier is a transimpendance amplifier.

23. The simulation system according to claim 4, wherein one of the video receiver and the audio receiver includes a RF combiner for summing electrical output signals of each module of at least one of said video receiver and said audio receiver into a single signal to be delivered to an audio/video demodulator.

24. The simulation system according to claim 11, wherein the front end operates at a noise floor of 5.89 nW up to 200 MHz.

25. The simulation system according to claim 11, wherein the front end operates at a noise floor range of 96-435 nW at 13.5 dB SNR.

27. The simulation system according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the receivers includes multiple detectors.

29. The simulation system according to claim 4, wherein said data communication rate is 1,006 Mbps.