Locomotion system and apparatus

• US 9,329,681 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2013
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Virtuix Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Venture Lending & Leasing Vii, Inc. (Westech Investment Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Goetgeluk, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien
• Application Number:
  US14/062,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20140111424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 472/59, 472/60, 472/61, 472/130, 434/34, 434/55, 463 30- 31, 463/34, 463 36- 39, 345/156, 345/157, 345163-166
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0037 safety devices, e.g. warning bells, rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0035 on the spot
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0064 Attachments on the trainee preventing falling
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/16 creating illusions of travel
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/012 Walk-in-place systems for allowing a user to walk in a virtual environment while constraining him to a given position in the physical environment
• 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

Abstract

A locomotion system for use with a virtual environment technology includes a platform configured to support a user, a harness support assembly coupled to the platform and extending upwardly from the platform, and a safety harness configured to be worn by the user. The harness support assembly includes a support halo positioned above the platform and extending about a vertical central axis. The safety harness includes an interface structure moveably coupled to the support halo.

Claims

1. A locomotion system for use with a virtual environment technology, the system comprising:

a platform configured to support a user;

a harness support assembly coupled to the platform and extending upwardly from the platform, wherein the harness support assembly includes a support halo positioned above the platform and extending about a vertical central axis; and

a safety harness configured to be worn by the user, wherein the safety harness includes a low friction interface structure configured to slidingly engage the support halo;

wherein the interface structure is vertically separate from the support halo and configured to move circumferentially relative to the support halo while being vertically supported by the support halo.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface structure is configured to move radially relative to the support halo while being vertically supported by the support halo.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the support halo is disposed at an adjustable height H above the platform.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the support halo is disposed at a height H above the platform, and wherein the height H is between 30.0 and 50.0 in.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the support halo is annular.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the support halo is configured to extend completely about the user.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the support halo includes an access door configured to allow a user to pass into the support halo.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the platform has an upper surface comprising a plurality of adjacent grooves.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising foot coverings configured to slidingly engage the platform.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein each foot covering includes a first variable friction pad having a low coefficient of friction and a second variable friction pad having a coefficient of friction higher than the first variable friction pad.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the platform includes a plurality of circumferentially-adjacent sections coupled together.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein harness support assembly includes a pair of circumferentially spaced connecting beams coupled to the support halo.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the safety harness includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced interface structures, wherein each interface structure is moveably coupled to the support halo.

14. A locomotion system for use with a virtual environment technology, the system comprising:

a platform configured to support a user;

a harness support assembly coupled to the platform and extending upwardly from the platform, wherein the harness support assembly includes a support halo positioned above the platform and extending about a vertical central axis; and

a safety harness including a belt configured to be worn by the user, an interface structure coupled to the belt, and a vertical member coupled to the belt, wherein the interface structure slidingly engages an upper surface of the support halo, and wherein the vertical member is disposed within the support halo and is configured to limit the radial movement of the interface structure relative to the support halo.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the support halo is annular.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the support halo is configured to extend completely about the user.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the upper surface comprises a plurality of circumferentially-adjacent sections coupled together.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the support halo is disposed at an adjustable height H above the platform.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the support halo is disposed at a height H above the platform, and wherein the height H is between 30.0 and 50.0 in.

20. A virtual reality system, comprising:

a locomotion system including a platform configured to support a user, at least one foot covering to be worn by the user to engage the platform, a harness support assembly coupled to the platform, and a safety harness configured to be worn by the user;

wherein the foot coverings include a first variable friction pad having a low coefficient of friction and a second variable friction pad having a coefficient of friction higher than the first variable friction pad;

wherein the harness support assembly includes a support halo positioned above the platform and extending about a vertical central axis, and wherein the safety harness is configured to move relative to the support halo;

a processing unit;

a motion sensing device in communication with the processing unit and configured to detect and track the motion of the user.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the safety harness is configured to move vertically relative to the support halo.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the safety harness is configured to move circumferentially relative to the support halo.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the safety harness is configured to move radially relative to the support halo.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the safety harness is configured to move circumferentially and radially relative to the support halo while being vertically supported by the support halo.

25. The system of claim 20, further comprising a plurality of motion sensing devices, each configured to detect and track the motion user.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the plurality of motion sensing devices is disposed in at least one of the platform, a controller configured to be held by the user, and a display device.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein the processing unit is disposed in the platform.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein one or more of the motion sensing devices are selected from the group comprising an inertial motion sensor, an accelerometer, a magnetometer, an infrared or optical tracking device, a capacitive sensor, a global positioning tracking device, and magnetic tracking device.

29. The system of claim 20, further comprising a controller configured to be held by the user.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the motion sensing device is coupled to the controller.

31. The system of claim 20, where the motion sensing device is a first inertial motion sensor coupled to a first of the at least one foot covering and a second inertial motion sensor coupled to a second of the at least one foot covering.