Vehicle simulation system

• US 8,033,830 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2006
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ichimi, Sadanao, Miyamaru, Yukio
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai; Xuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yip; Jack
• Application Number:
  US11/441,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20070008089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,964 Days
• Field of Search: 434/29, 434/30, 434/61, 434/62, 482/57, 482/63, 482/64
• US Class Current: 434/29
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/058 for teaching control of cycles or motorcycles

Abstract

A vehicle simulation system equipped to display information on the rear side of a driver (rider). The simulation system includes a dummy bicycle operated by the rider, a monitor on the front side for displaying a scene based on the operations of the dummy bicycle, and a lamp unit connected to the dummy bicycle and provided on the rear side relative to the seated position of the rider. The lamp unit has a red lamp, a yellow lamp and a green lamp, and is controlledly turned ON under the action of a main control unit. An input device is provided on a steering handle of the dummy bicycle. The input device has a switch for red, a switch for yellow, and a switch for green. The rider checks behind, and operates the input device according to the ON/OFF conditions of the lamp unit.

Claims

1. A vehicle simulation system comprising:

a dummy vehicle with a frame placed on a flat surface when operated by a driver;

a front display unit for displaying a scene based on operation of said dummy vehicle; and

a rear display unit connected to said dummy vehicle and provided on a rear side relative to a seated position of said driver, the rear display unit being capable of displaying a plurality of different situations which are detectable by the driver;

an input device provided in a position inwardly in a lateral direction with respect to a grip on a steering handle of said dummy vehicle for said driver to input signals therethrough based on a specific one of the situations detected by the driver;

an input judging unit for making a comparative judgment between said input signal and information displayed on said rear display unit; and

an output unit for indicating the result of said comparative judgment,

wherein the rear display unit is a monitor, and an image imitating multiple lamps is displayed on the monitor, and

the input device includes a plurality of switches arranged horizontally side-by-side and corresponding to colors of the lamps when the lamps are turned ON, and

wherein the plurality of switches are adapted to be operated by said driver to input the signals therethrough after the driver looks back to detect specific ones of the colors of the lamps in the monitor,

the simulation system further comprising;

a pair of foot pedals operated by the driver in order to rotate a flywheel located between a seat tube and a rear wheel with a tire mounted on a rear side of the frame, the tire being grounded on the flat surface,

wherein the foot pedals operated by the driver transmit a drive force via a front sprocket and a chain to a rear sprocket in order to rotate the flywheel.

2. The vehicle simulation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the monitor is capable of displaying a picture, and

wherein a shape of the input device is substantially analogous to a shape of the rear display unit, and a color arrangement of the switches is the same as a color arrangement of the lamps.

3. The vehicle simulation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rear display unit is mounted to an upper end of a stay which is fixed to a hub of a rear wheel of the dummy vehicle, and

the one or more lamps are turned ON in a plurality of colors under control of a main controller mounted separately from the frame which is connected a frame-mounted controller, each of the controllers being provided with a communication unit which enables real-time communication between the controllers,

a shape of the input device is substantially analogous to a shape of the rear display unit, and a color arrangement of the switches is the same as a color arrangement of the lamps.

4. The vehicle simulation system as set forth in claim 3, further comprising a recession switch provided at a rear portion of a saddle of the dummy vehicle for sending a signal to the frame-mounted controller, the frame-mounted controller being mounted between right and left front forks of the dummy vehicle.

5. The vehicle simulation system as set forth in claim 1,

the vehicle simulation system further comprising:

a first speed pickup disposed at a position closely opposed to spokes of the flywheel, so that when the flywheel is rotated, the first speed pickup supplies a signal to a frame-mounted controller of the system indicating the presence or absence of the spokes,

a second speed pickup and a detected rotor disposed adjacent to the front sprocket, so that when the front sprocket is rotated, the second speed pickup supplies a signal indicating the presence or absence of the detected rotor to the frame-mounted controller of the system,

wherein the rear wheel functions as a rear stand for supporting a rear portion of the dummy vehicle on the flat surface.

6. The vehicle simulation system as set forth in claim 5, further comprising a recession switch provided at a rear portion of a saddle of the dummy vehicle for sending a signal to the frame-mounted controller, the frame-mounted controller being mounted between right and left front forks of the dummy vehicle.

7. The vehicle simulation system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a rear-view mirror mounted on a steering handle of the dummy vehicle for visualizing the rear display unit,

wherein a shape of the input device is substantially analogous to a shape of the rear display unit, and

a color arrangement of the switches is the same as a color arrangement of the lamps.

8. The vehicle simulation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein, in addition to the tire on the rear wheel supporting a portion of the dummy vehicle, the dummy vehicle also is provided with right and left front forks having lower ends attached to a horizontal pipe for supporting a front portion of the dummy vehicle on the flat surface while being operated by the driver,

wherein a frame-mounted controller is mounted between the right and left front forks in a position above a central portion of the horizontal pipe.

9. The vehicle simulation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a shape of the input device is substantially analogous to a shape of the rear display unit.

10. The vehicle simulation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a color arrangement of the switches is the same as a color arrangement of the lamps.

11. The vehicle simulation system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a frame-mounted controller mounted between right and left front forks of the dummy vehicle for receiving a signal from at least a recession switch provided at a rear portion of a saddle of the dummy vehicle.