Apparatus and method for on-field virtual reality simulation of US football and other sports
First Claim
1. An apparatus for generating a virtual reality simulation of at least a portion of a sporting event, the simulation including visual images depicting actions of one or more simulated players, the actions of the simulated players appearing from the perspective of a user to be taking place within the three dimensions of an open location physically occupied by the user, the apparatus comprising:
- a user interface that enables specification of simulation input parameters that at least partly determine the action depicted by the visual images of the simulation, the simulation parameters including at least one of;
the starting position of at least one simulated player and the intended actions of at least one simulated player;
locating means that can determine user position information regarding location and orientation of the user within the open location, including the orientation of the user'"'"'s head;
a simulation generator, coupled to the user interface, that can generate the visual images of the simulation, the actions of the simulated players depicted by the visual images based at least partly on the simulation parameters and on the user position information, the scale and perspective of the visual images being continuously updated in real-time based on the user position information including the orientation of the user'"'"'s head;
first wireless transceiver means coupled to the simulation generator that can wirelessly receive the user position information transmitted from, and that can further wirelessly transmit the visual images to, a second wireless transceiver means coupled to headgear worn by the user; and
a visual superimposing apparatus attached to the headgear that superimposes the visual images of the generated simulation onto the user'"'"'s real-world field of vision of the open space so that it appears from the user'"'"'s perspective that the one or more simulated players are carrying out their actions within in the three dimensions of the open space physically occupied and viewed by the user and that the user is in the midst of the simulation.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method are disclosed for simulating United States football and other sports that are held on a playing field. The user stands in an area that at least approximates an actual playing field, and an apparatus incorporated into a football helmet or other headgear worn by the user superimposes simulation images onto the field of view of the user, creating an illusion of simulated action taking place on the actual field where the user is standing. This makes the information and skills conveyed by the simulation directly relevant and immediately useful. Preferred embodiments track the location and orientation of the user and thereby allow the user to participate in the simulation. In another aspect, essentially the same apparatus and method are used to simulate driving or flying of vehicles without the need of an expensive mockup of the interior of the vehicle.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for generating a virtual reality simulation of at least a portion of a sporting event, the simulation including visual images depicting actions of one or more simulated players, the actions of the simulated players appearing from the perspective of a user to be taking place within the three dimensions of an open location physically occupied by the user, the apparatus comprising:
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a user interface that enables specification of simulation input parameters that at least partly determine the action depicted by the visual images of the simulation, the simulation parameters including at least one of;
the starting position of at least one simulated player and the intended actions of at least one simulated player;locating means that can determine user position information regarding location and orientation of the user within the open location, including the orientation of the user'"'"'s head; a simulation generator, coupled to the user interface, that can generate the visual images of the simulation, the actions of the simulated players depicted by the visual images based at least partly on the simulation parameters and on the user position information, the scale and perspective of the visual images being continuously updated in real-time based on the user position information including the orientation of the user'"'"'s head; first wireless transceiver means coupled to the simulation generator that can wirelessly receive the user position information transmitted from, and that can further wirelessly transmit the visual images to, a second wireless transceiver means coupled to headgear worn by the user; and a visual superimposing apparatus attached to the headgear that superimposes the visual images of the generated simulation onto the user'"'"'s real-world field of vision of the open space so that it appears from the user'"'"'s perspective that the one or more simulated players are carrying out their actions within in the three dimensions of the open space physically occupied and viewed by the user and that the user is in the midst of the simulation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for generating a virtual reality simulation of at least a portion of a sporting event, that involves a plurality of the simulation including visual images depicting actions performed by one or more simulated players, the actions of the simulated players appearing from a user'"'"'s perspective to be taking place within the three dimensions of an open location where the user is physically located and that the user is in the midst of the simulation, the method comprising:
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specifying initial positions of all of the simulated players; specifying intended actions of at least one of the players; placing a user at an appropriate location in an open area that at least approximates a playing field appropriate to the sporting event being simulated; determining position information including location and orientation of the user in the open area including the orientation of the user'"'"'s head; generating the visual images of the simulation, the actions of the simulated players depicted by the visual images based at least partly on the simulation parameters and on the user position information, said generating further comprising continuously updating in real-time the scale and perspective of the visual images based on the user position information, including the orientation of the user'"'"'s head; transmitting wirelessly the visual images to receiving means attached to headgear worn by the user, the headgear being equipped with visual image presentation means that is able to superimpose the visual images onto the real-world field of view of the user; superimposing the visual images onto the user'"'"'s real-world field of view of the open area, such that the simulation appears to take place within the three dimensions of the open space to give the user the illusion of being in the midst of the simulation; and calibrating the position, orientation, and scaling of the visual images within the field of view of the user so that the visual images are properly scaled based on the position, orientation, and location of the user within the open area. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for creating virtual reality simulations, including visual images associated with the operation of user controlled simulated vehicles, including race cars, trucks, tanks, flying aircraft, and spacecraft, the images creating a specified environment that can include one or more other simulated vehicles or moving components that perform intended actions, and for superimposing the visual images onto the field of view of the user, the apparatus comprising:
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a user interface that; enables specification of simulation input parameters that at least partly determine the specified environment and the intended actions of at least one simulated vehicle or component that is part of the specified environment; and enables specifying general rules of behavior for the at least one vehicle or component; locating means that can determine the orientation of the user'"'"'s head; a simulation generator that can generate a simulation of the specified environment and the intended actions of the at least one simulated vehicle or component of the specified environment, the simulation generated based on the simulation input parameters and the orientation of the user'"'"'s head, wherein; the simulation includes visual images of the specified environment including the at least one simulated vehicle or component performing its intended actions, the specified environment including views through windows and windscreens and images of an enclosing environment that would surround a vehicle operator in a real-life situation; and the simulation generator includes artificial intelligence that uses the specified general rules of behavior to predict how the at least one simulated vehicle or component will react, substantially in real time, to the movements and actions of a simulated vehicle controlled directly by the user while otherwise performing its intended actions; wireless transmission means that can transmit the visual images by wireless means to headgear worn by the user of the simulation; a visual superimposing apparatus attached to the headgear that is able to superimpose the visual images onto the user'"'"'s field of vision; and control apparatus of a shape and style appropriate to the activity being simulated for transmitting to the simulation generator, signals representing desired movements and actions of the user'"'"'s simulated vehicle, the signals generated in response to control actions performed by the user on the control apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification