Motion-coupled visual environment for prevention or reduction of motion sickness and simulator/virtual environment sickness

• US 7,128,705 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2002
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG, Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Artis LLC
• Inventors: Brendley, Keith W., Marti, Jed
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US10/304,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20040102676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 600 27- 28, 702150-154, 128897-898, 340/945, 340/967, 340973-978, 348/148, 701/1, 701/3, 701/23
• US Class Current: 600/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0022 by the tactile sense, e.g. vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/005 images, e.g. video
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/507 Head Mounted Displays [HMD]
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/70 relating to mental therapies, e.g. psychological therapy or autogenous training
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A motion-coupled visual environment prevents, reduces and/or treats motion sickness by sensing inertial motion and providing a corresponding evocative image for a subject to view. Inertial sensors may include accelerometers, gyroscopes or a variety of other different sensor types. A cross-coupling algorithm may be used to cross couple different sensed inertial motions. A variety of mapping schemes may be used to map sensed inertial motion to corresponding motion within the evocative scene displayed on the display. Applications include reducing motion sickness on passenger vehicles such as airplanes, trains and cars; on military vehicles such as ships, airplanes, helicopters and the like; and reducing “cybersickness” in the context of simulations on moving platforms.

Claims

1. A method for preventing, reducing or treating motion sickness of a user on a moving platform, comprising:

sensing at least one inertial motion condition existing on said moving platform and providing signals responsive thereto;

processing said signals to provide display control signals; and

displaying, on a surface having first and second dimensions, at least one window for the user to focus on, and moving, based at least in part on said display control signals, the displayed position of said at least one window on said surface in both said first and second dimensions so as to correlate perceived motion with said sensed inertial motion.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said displaying comprises displaying an evocative scene.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said sensing comprises sensing acceleration in plural directions.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said sensing includes sensing changes in orientation relative to the earth.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said signal providing includes conditioning said sensed inertial motion to provide corresponding representative digital signals.

6. The method of claim 1 further including cross-coupling different aspects of said sensed inertial motion.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein further including applying a coupling algorithm that has been empirically customized for a particular human subject.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said surface comprises a computer screen, and said displaying comprises displacing said window displayed on said computer screen.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said surface comprises a television screen, and said displaying comprises displacing an entertaining image displayed on a television screen.

10. A system for preventing, reducing or treating motion sickness of a user on a moving platform, said system comprising:

at least one inertial sensor mechanically coupled to said moving platform, said inertial sensor sensing at least one inertial motion conditions existing on said moving platform and providing signals responsive thereto;

a processing arrangement connected to receive said signals, said processing arrangement processing said signals to provide display control signals; and

a display device connected to receive said display control signals, said display device providing a two-dimensional display on a surface having first and second dimensions, said display device displaying at least one window for the user to focus on, said display device moving, based at least in part on said processing performed by said processing arrangement, the displayed position of said at least one window on said surface in both said first and second dimensions so as to correlate said perceived motion with said sensed inertial motion.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said display comprises a television screen.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said display comprises a head-mounted display.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein said display comprises a projection type display.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein said display comprises a computer screen.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein said sensor includes an accelerometer.

16. The system of claim 10 further including signal processing circuitry that cross-couples plural sensed inertial motion signals.

17. In a system for preventing, reducing or treating motion sickness of a user on a moving platform, the system including a sensor for sensing at least one inertial motion condition existing on said moving platform, and a processor coupled to the sensor that processes said sensed inertial motion condition to provide display control signals for coupling to a display of the type that provides a display surface having first and second dimensions, said display displaying at least one window for the user to focus on, a memory device storing instructions for execution by said processor, said instructions causing the processor to move the displayed position of said at least one window on said display surface in both said first and second dimensions so as to correlate perceived motion with said sensed inertial motion.