Platform for virtual reality movement

• US 10,444,827 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Bahrami, Mehdi, Chen, Wei-Peng, Kamiya, Takuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Eurice, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US15/707,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20190086996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/507 Head Mounted Displays [HMD]
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 19/04 movably supported on a framework or spheres or cylinders carrying the user inside standing on it for equilibrium exercises A63B26/003
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/06 with support elements performing a rotating cycling movement, i.e. a closed path movementsupport stands for bicycles A63B69/16; unicycles B62K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/14 Platforms for reciprocating rotating motion about a vertical axis , e.g. axis through the middle of the platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/16 creating illusions of travel
• 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 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/00 Simulators for teaching or training purposes for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131

Abstract

In one or more embodiments, one or more systems, methods, and/or processes may provide first images to a user; determine a rotation of a head of the user; provide second images, based at least on the rotation, to the user; and rotate a platform in accordance with the rotation. In one example, the platform may include a movement belt, and one or more of a walking movement and a running movement of the user may be determine via the movement belt. In another example, one or more optical sensors may be utilized to determine movements of the user. In one or more embodiments, determining the rotation of the head of the user may include utilizing one or more of a gyroscope and an accelerometer of a head mounted display, worn by the user. For example, the head mounted display may provide images of a virtual reality environment to the user.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a storage medium coupled to the processor and that stores instructions executable by the processor;

a first platform that has a top surface that is substantially planar and that is configured to rotate and support a user;

one or more handrails attached to the first platform and including a controller;

when the processor executes the instructions, the system;

provides first images to a user;

determines a rotation of a head of the user;

provides second images, based at least on the rotation of the head of the user, to the user; and

rotates the first platform in accordance with the rotation of the head of the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein

the first platform includes a movement belt that is substantially planar;

and

the system further;

determines one or more of a walking movement and a running movement of the user; and

moves the movement belt in accordance with the one or more of the walking movement and the running movement of the user.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

one or more optical sensors coupled to the processor and configured to determine one or more movements of the user;

wherein the system further determines the one or more of the walking movement and the running movement of the user via the one or more optical sensors.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further determines the rotation of the head of the user via one or more of a gyroscope and an accelerometer.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a virtual reality head mounted display configured to be wirelessly coupled to the processor and configured to be worn by the user;

wherein the system further determines the rotation of the head of the user via the virtual reality head mounted display.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein

the head mounted display is further configured to provide the first images and the second images to the user;

the system further provides the first images to the head mounted display; and

the system further provides the second images to the head mounted display.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second platform;

wherein the first platform is further configured to rotate on the second platform; and

wherein the system further rotates the first platform on the second platform in accordance with the rotation of the head of the user.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprises rotating the platform on another platform.

8. A method, comprising:

providing first images to a user;

determining a rotation of a head of the user;

providing second images, based at least on the rotation of the head of the user, to the user;

rotating a platform, that has a top surface that is substantially planar and that is configured to support the user, in accordance with the rotation of the head of the user; and

enabling the user to control the first images and the second images using a controller provided on one or more handrails attached to the platform.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining one or more of a walking movement and a running movement of the user; and

moving a movement belt, that is substantially planar, in accordance with the one or more of the walking movement and the running movement of the user.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprises determining the one or more of the walking movement and the running movement of the user via one or more optical sensors.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining the rotation of the head of the user via one or more of a gyroscope and an accelerometer.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining the rotation of the head of the user via a virtual reality head mounted display configured to be worn by the user.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein

the providing the first images to the user includes the virtual reality head mounted display providing the first images to the user;

and

the providing the second images based at least on the rotation includes the virtual reality head mounted display providing the second images to the user.

15. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor of a system to execute a process, the process comprising:

providing first images to a user;

determining a rotation of a head of the user;

providing second images, based at least on the rotation of the head of the user, to the user;

rotating a first platform, that has a top surface that is substantially planar and that is configured to support the user, in accordance with the rotation of the head of the user; and

enabling the user to control the first images and the second images using a controller provided on one or more handrails attached to the platform.

16. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 15, wherein

the first platform includes a movement belt that is substantially planar;

the process further comprises;

determining one or more of a walking movement and a running movement of the user; and

moving the movement belt in accordance with the one or more of the walking movement and the running movement of the user.

17. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 16, wherein the process further comprises determining the one or more of the walking movement and the running movement of the user via one or more optical sensors.

18. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 15, wherein the process further comprises determining the rotation of the head of the user via one or more of a gyroscope and an accelerometer.

19. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 15, wherein the process further comprises determining the rotation of the head of the user via a virtual reality head mounted display that is wirelessly coupled to the system and configured to be worn by the user.

20. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 19, wherein:

the head mounted display is further configured to provide the first images and the second images to the user;

the process further comprises providing the first images to the head mounted display;

the process further comprises providing the second images to the head mounted display; and

the first images and the second images are images of a virtual tour.