HEAD MOUNTED MOTION SIMULATOR

SIMULATEUR DE MOUVEMENT COUVRANT LA TETE

English Abstract

A headset supporting an arrangement of weights and actuators controlled in a manner so as to
simulate physical motion and acceleration of the wearer. In equipment including, but not
limited to, flight simulators, amusement rides, entertainment systems and virtual reality
displays, this invention may be used to simulate motion without requiring physical movement of
the whole body.

French Abstract

Casque conçu pour soutenir un assemblage de poids et d'actionneurs commandés de manière à simuler un mouvement physique et une accélération pour celui qui le porte. Ce casque est notamment destiné à des équipements comme les simulateurs de vol, les manèges, les systèmes de divertissement et les systèmes de réalité virtuelle; il permet de simuler un mouvement sans que l'utilisateur ait à déplacer l'ensemble de son corps.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A headset, comprising:
one or more weights;
a means of fastening the weights to the users head;
and a means of moving the weights relative to the users head
so that a corresponding motion of the users head may be obtained.
2. A headset as claimed in claim 1, wherein movement of the weights may be controlled
electrically so as to produce a desired motion of the users head.

Description

CA 022092~2 1997-07-07
UEAD MOUNTED MOTION SIMULATOR
This invention relates to an apparatus for simulating motion of the user by applying
controlled accelerations to the head of the user.
It is common in equipment such as flight simulators and immersive entertainment systems to
employ a system of actuators capable of accelerating and tilting a platform supporting the
user together with display systems and their immediate environment, such as a mockup of an
aircraft cockpit or a section of theatre seating. By controlling the motion of the platform
in tandem with visual cues provided via the display systems, it is possible to generate the
illusion of movement in three dimensions. Examples of such a device is described in United
States Patent Number 5,490,784 dated Feb. 13, 1996 granted to David E.E. Carmein for a
"Virtual Reality System with Fnh~nced Sensory Apparatus", and in United States Patent Number
4,461,470 dated Jul. 24, 1984 granted to Mark E. Astroth for a "System for Adding Realism to
Video Display". Equipment of this type, however, is necessarily bulky, power-con~l-ming, and
limited in the number of users who may be accommodated at one time.
This invention achieves an illusion of motion by applying small accelerative forces to the
head of the user. These small accelerations may be interpreted by the inner ear of the user as
substantial motion. The new invention is considerably more compact and less costly than
existing full-body motion simulators.

CA 022092~2 1997-07-07
In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is an elevational view of
a headset provided with eight acluatol~ in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a
cut-away view of an embodiment of one actuator, and Figure 3 shows a person wearing a headset
as detailed in Figure 1.
The headset comprises a helmet (not shown) or he~db~n-l (1), fitted snugly around the head of
the user, together with one or more actuators (2-9). Each actuator comprises a weight which is
free to move along one or more axes together with a driving mechanism capable of moving the
weight relative to the headset.
Figure 1 shows an arrangement of eight actuators each capable of operating in one axis only.
Motion of the user' s head is obtained by driving the weights in the opposite direction in
accordance with Newton' s second law of motion.
In order to obtain a full range of motion, several actuators are required. In Figure 1, motion
of the head in the upwards direction is obtained by operating the vertical aclualol~
(2),(4),(6),(8) in a downwards direction. Motion of the head in a sideways direction is
obtained by operating the horizontal actuators (3),(5),(7),(9) in concert. Rotational motion
of the head is obtained by operating pairs of a~ atol~, in opposite directions, for instance a
rocking motion to the side is obtained by operating actuator (2) downwards and actuator (6)
upwards. The acluatol~, may be controlled by electrical signals provided via a connecting cable
(10).

CA 022092~2 1997-07-07
Figure-2 shows an embodiment of an actuator capable of motion along one axis. The actuator
comprises a tube (11) fixed to the headset, together with a permanent magnet (12) secured on a
shaft (16) between two spiral-cut springs (14),(15). Conductive windings (13) comprise an
electric coil which, when electric current is applied, act on the magnet (12) causing it to
move. The springs (14),(15) constrain the magnet (12) to move along the axis of the tube
(11), and provide a restoring force acting to return the magnet (12) to a centMl position.
The magnet (12) acts as the actuator weight whose motion produces the desired motion of the
headset and the user' s head.
The invention may be combined with a head-mounted display such as that described in United
States Patent No. 5,281,957 granted to Arnold Schoolman on Jan. 25, 1994 for a "Portable
computer and head mounted display" or that described in United States Patent No. 4,952,024
gMnted to Thomas S. Gale for a "Three-dimensional sight and sound reproduction apparatus for
individual use".
The invention may be used in conjunction with a large-screen projection system such as that
described in United States Patent No. 4,966,454 granted to Imax Systems Corporation for a "3-D
motion picture projector", to provide the user with the sensation of sudden acceleMtion and
low-frequency vibration associated with recordings of events such as take-off of manned
spacecMft, high-pelrol.llallce flight or race-car driving.
The invention may be used in conjunction with a video game apparatus to provide the user with
the sensation of blows to the head, as may be generated by a boxing or other martial arts
simulation.

Representative Drawing