Motion platform system and method of rotating a motion platform about plural axes

• US 20040077464A1
• Filed: 11/06/2002
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Powergrid Fitness Inc. (InterAction Laboratories, Inc.)
• Inventors: Merril, Greg, Feldman, Philip, Bruni, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,033,176 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/57
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0641 enabling a lateral movement of the exercising apparatus, e.g. for simulating movement on a bicycle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0007 by alternatively exercising arms or legs, e.g. with a single set of support elements driven either by the upper or the lower limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/001 by simultaneously exercising arms and legs, e.g. diagonally in anti-phase A63B22/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• 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: G09B 19/0038 Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/12 Motion systems for aircraft simulators

Abstract

A motion platform system includes a support and a motion platform supported by the support and rotatable about a plurality of bearing axes. The motion platform is further rotatable with respect to the support about at least one axis that is offset from the plurality of bearing axes. The motion platform may include an intermediate frame supported by the support, where the intermediate frame is rotatable about a first bearing axis with respect to the support. The motion platform may further include an inner frame supported by the intermediate frame, where the inner frame is rotatable about a second bearing axis with respect to the intermediate frame. Rotations of the inner and intermediate frames about the first and second bearing axes facilitate rotation of the inner frame with respect to the support about at least one axis offset from the bearing axes.

Claims

1. A motion platform system comprising:

a support; and

a motion platform supported by said support and rotatable about a plurality of bearing axes, wherein said motion platform is rotatable with respect to said support about at least one axis that is offset from said plurality of bearing axes.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said motion platform comprises:

an intermediate frame supported by said support, said intermediate frame being rotatable about a first bearing axis with respect to said support; and

an inner frame supported by said intermediate frame, said inner frame being rotatable about a second bearing axis with respect to said intermediate frame;

wherein rotations of said inner and intermediate frames about said first and second bearing axes facilitate rotation of said inner frame with respect to said support about at least one of a third axis and a fourth axis.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said inner frame includes a support section to support at least one user of said system during system operation.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a base coupled to said support to facilitate movement of said support with respect to said base in at least one direction.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said at least one direction includes a rotating direction of said support with respect to said base.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein said first and second bearing axes are substantially perpendicular to each other and said third and fourth axes are respectively offset from said first and second bearing axes.

7. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

at least one actuator that is actuable to facilitate rotations of said inner and intermediate frames about respective first and second bearing axes.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said at least one actuator comprises a first actuator and a second actuator, said first actuator is actuated to rotate said intermediate frame about said first bearing axis, and said second actuator is actuated to rotate said inner frame about said second bearing axis.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said first and second actuators are movable in at least two directions, said inner frame rotates about said third axis in response to moving said first and second actuators simultaneously in a first set of directions, and said inner frame rotates about said fourth axis in response to moving said first and second actuators simultaneously in a second set of directions.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a controller to control rotations of said intermediate and inner frames about said first and second bearing axes in response to actuation of said at least one actuator.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a monitor to display information relating to system operation.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a controller to control said monitor to display a virtual reality scenario that changes based upon user manipulation of said system.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

an exercise assembly supported by said inner frame for manipulation by a user to exercise a user body during system operation.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said exercise assembly includes a cycling assembly for manipulation by user feet.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

at least one sensor in communication with said controller, wherein said at least one sensor measures manipulation of at least one of said inner frame, said intermediate frame, said at least one actuator and said exercise assembly and sends measured information to said controller.

16. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

at least one resistance member to adjust resistance to at least one of said intermediate frame, said inner frame, said at least one actuator and said exercise assembly to simulate conditions within said virtual reality scenario.

17. An exercise device comprising:

a support;

a motion platform supported by said support and rotatable about a plurality of bearing axes, wherein said motion platform is rotatable with respect to said support about at least one axis that is offset from said plurality of bearing axes;

a monitor to display information relating to system operation;

a controller to control said monitor to display a virtual reality scenario that changes based upon user manipulation of said device; and

an exercise assembly supported by said motion platform for manipulation by a user to exercise a user body during system operation.

18. In a motion platform system including a motion platform supported by a support and rotatable about a plurality of bearing axes, a method of manipulating said motion platform comprising:

(a) rotating said motion platform about at least one axis that is offset from said plurality of bearing axes.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said motion platform includes an intermediate frame supported by said support and an inner frame supported by said intermediate frame, and wherein step (a) includes:

(a.1) rotating said intermediate frame about a first bearing axis with respect to said support; and

(a.2) rotating said inner frame about a second bearing axis with respect to said intermediate frame;

wherein rotation of said inner and intermediate frames about said first and second bearing axes facilitate rotation of said inner frame with respect to said support about at least one of a third axis and a fourth axis.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

(b) supporting at least one user on said inner frame.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said system further includes a base supporting said support, and wherein the method further comprises:

(b) moving said support in at least one direction with respect to said base.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein step (b) includes:

(b.1) rotating said support with respect to said base.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein said first and second bearing axes are substantially perpendicular to each other and said third and fourth axes are respectively offset from said first and second bearing axes.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein said system further includes at least one actuator, and wherein the method further comprises:

(b) actuating said at least one actuator to facilitate rotations of said inner and intermediate frames about respective first and second bearing axes.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said at least one actuator includes first and second actuators, and wherein step (b) includes:

(b.1) actuating said first actuator to effect rotation of said intermediate frame about said first bearing axis; and

(b.2) actuating said second actuator to rotate said inner frame about said second bearing axis.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein step (b.1) includes:

(b.1.1) moving said first actuator in a first direction to effect rotation of said intermediate frame about said first bearing axis; and

step (b.2) includes;

(b.2.1) moving said second actuator in said first direction to effect rotation of said inner frame about said second bearing axis;

wherein the first and second actuators are moved simultaneously to facilitate a rotation of said inner frame with respect to said support about said third axis.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein step (b.1) includes:

(b.1.1) moving said first actuator in a first direction to facilitate rotation of said intermediate frame about said first bearing axis; and

step (b.2) includes;

(b.2.1) moving said second actuator in a second direction that differs from said first direction to facilitate rotation of said inner frame about said second bearing axis;

wherein the first and second actuators are moved simultaneously to facilitate rotation of said inner frame with respect to said support about said fourth axis.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein said system further includes a controller, and wherein the method further comprises:

(c) controlling rotations of said intermediate and inner frames about said first and second bearing axes via said controller in response to actuation of said at least one actuator.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein said system further includes a monitor, and wherein the method further comprises:

(c) displaying information relating to system operation via said monitor.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said system further includes a controller, and wherein the method further comprises:

(d) controlling said monitor, via said controller, to display a virtual reality scenario that changes based upon user manipulation of said system.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said system further includes an exercise assembly, and wherein the method further comprises:

(e) facilitating manipulation of said exercise assembly to exercise a user body during system operation.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said exercise assembly includes a cycling assembly, and step (e) further includes:

(e.1) facilitating manipulation of said cycling assembly by user feet to exercise a user lower body during system operation.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein said system further includes at least one sensor in communication with said controller, and the method further comprises:

(f) measuring manipulation of at least one of said inner frame, said intermediate frame, said at least one actuator and said exercise assembly via said at least one sensor; and

(g) sending measured information from said at least one sensor to said controller.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein said system further includes at least one resistance member, and wherein the method further comprises:

(f) adjusting resistance, via said at least one resistance member, to at least one of said intermediate frame, said inner frame, said at least one actuator and said exercise assembly to simulate conditions within said virtual reality scenario.