U.S. patent application number 10/004225 was filed with the patent office on 2003-05-15 for acceleration simulator.
Invention is credited to Alsenz, Richard H..
Application Number | 20030092496 10/004225 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21709757 |
Filed Date | 2003-05-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030092496 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Alsenz, Richard H. |
May 15, 2003 |
Acceleration simulator
Abstract
The current invention is an apparatus for and a method of
producing a virtual reality effect of changing acceleration
direction and magnitude by rotating a subject relative to a center
axis to produce a centrifugal force, rotating the subject relative
to a second axis perpendicular to centrifugal force and rotating
the subject relative to a third axis perpendicular to the axis
perpendicular to centrifugal force, and changing the magnitude of
the centrifugal force. As a consequence the subject will perceive
the acceleration upon his center of mass as changing in magnitude
and angle. It is further enhanced by projecting a simulated image
on a screen which is rotating in the same frame of reference as the
subject.
Inventors: |
Alsenz, Richard H.;
(Houston, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALTECH CONTROLS CORPORATION
RICHARD H. ALSENZ
1545 INDUSTRIAL DRIVE
MISSOURI CITY
TX
77489
US
|
Family ID: |
21709757 |
Appl. No.: |
10/004225 |
Filed: |
November 2, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
472/59 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63G 31/16 20130101;
A63G 1/24 20130101; G09B 9/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
472/59 |
International
Class: |
A63G 031/16 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of producing an acceleration on a mass which has
changing magnitude and direction comprising, rotating a mass
relative to a center axis to produce a centrifugal force, rotating
the mass relative to a second axis perpendicular to centrifugal
force, rotating the mass relative to a third axis perpendicular to
the axis perpendicular to centrifugal force, and changing the
magnitude of the centrifugal force on the mass.
2. A method of producing a virtual reality effect of changing
acceleration direction comprising, rotating a subject relative to a
center axis, rotating the subject relative to a second axis
perpendicular to centrifugal force, and rotating the subject
relative to a third axis perpendicular to the axis perpendicular to
centrifugal force.
3. A method of producing a effect of changing acceleration
magnitude on a subject comprising, creating a centrifugal force on
a subject by rotating the subject relative to a center axis and,
changing the magnitude of the centrifugal force sensed by the
subject.
4: A machine for creating a changing force direction and magnitude
sensed by an object over time comprising: a positioning containment
for an object, a centrifugal rotating means for rotating the
positioning containment and producing a centrifugal force at the
object positioning containment as a function of the rotating and, a
rotating orientating positioning means for orientating the
positioning containment at a varying angles to the centrifugal
force.
5: A machine for creating a changing force magnitude sensed by an
object over time comprising: a positioning containment for an
object, a means for rotating the positioning containment and
producing a centrifugal force at the object positioning containment
as a function of the rotating.
6: A machine for creating a changing force direction and magnitude
sensed by an object over time comprising: a positioning containment
for an object, a means for rotating the positioning containment and
producing a centrifugal force at the object positioning containment
as a function of the rotation and, a rotating positioning means for
orientating the positioning containment at a varying angles to the
centrifugal force.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention pertains to the field of acceleration affect
and effect and applies to those areas which utilize this effect for
creating a human sensation of such an affect and the use of the
actual effect on masses to produce varying processes in
manufacturing and entertainment, product evaluation simulation such
as a flight simulator, automobile, fun ride, space craft, or space
station. Numerous other uses will become known for the effects and
affects which are described here.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] The Inventor is not aware of any relevant art. The other
known uses of similar principals are in the simulator used at NASA
and centrifuges used in various manufacturing process. Another
possible Art may be in Thrill rides such as roller costars and
merry-go-rounds.
OBJECTIVES AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0005] FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the invention which includes a
simulated scene inside a room.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a side view of a simulator room.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a coordinate system relative to the simulator
room.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a coordinate system rotated relative to the
platform.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The current invention is a method of producing a virtual
reality effect of changing acceleration direction and magnitude by
rotating a subject relative to a center axis to produce a
centrifugal force, rotating the subject relative to a second axis
perpendicular to centrifugal force and rotating the subject
relative to a third axis perpendicular to the axis perpendicular to
centrifugal force, and changing the magnitude of the centrifugal
force. As a consequence the subject will perceive the acceleration
upon his center of mass as changing in magnitude and angle. It is
further enhanced by projecting a simulated image on a screen which
is rotating in the same frame of reference as the subject.
[0010] Elements and Functions
1 Table of Element and Numbers # Element Description a Angle made
by Simulation Vector S an Z axis A Simulation Centrifugal
Acceleration Vector A ` Second Simulation Centrifugal Acceleration
Vector d Distance Between Simulator Room Center of Mass and Room
Counter Mass Center of Mass G Gravitational Force Vector r 1 Angle
of Simulator Room Rotation r 2 Angle of X Axis Rotation S Simulator
Acceleration Vector w 1 Angular Rotation Frequency of Platform X X
axis of Simulation Seat Y Y axis of Simulation Seat Z Z axis of
Simulation Seat 10 Anchor Base 20 Motor 30 Motor Shaft 40 Rotating
Base 50 Simulator 1.sup.st Angular Orientation Motor 60 Simulator
Room Motor Shaft 70 Simulator Room 80 Simulator 2.sup.nd Angular
Orientation Motor 90 a Room Rotating Support Platform Arm 90 b Room
Rotating Support Platform Arm 95 Room Rotating Support Platform 100
a Room Rotating Axis Arm 100 b Room Rotating Axis Arm 110 Room
Counter Balance Mass 120 Inputs to Computer 130 Outputs From
Computer 140 Computer (micro-processor) 150 Counter Mass / Room
Screw Adjust 160 Mass / Room Adjust Motor 170 Acceleration Seat 180
Net Simulator Acceleration Vector 190 Video Screen 200 Video Screen
210 Simulator room vertical extender
[0011]
2 Table of Functions, purposes, objectives, goals, advantages,
tasks Objective, goal, result or purpose Solution, operation or
function Produce an acceleration on a Produce a reference frame
relative to mass within a room which will rotating frame which will
rotate about 2 vary in direction. curvilinear coordinates Produce
an acceleration on a Change the angular frequency of mass within a
room which will rotating base 40 or the center of mass vary in
amplitude. distance d from the center of the rotat- ing base or the
distance Change the angular frequency of the rotating frame or the
distance from the center of the rotating reference frame. Produce
an acceleration on a Produce a reference frame relative to mass
which will vary in rotating frame which will rotate about 2
amplitude and direction. curvilinear coordinates Relative to a
reference object 40 or the center of mass distance d from the
center of the rotating base or the distance Change the angular
frequency of the rotating frame or the distance from the center of
the rotating reference frame. Produce an acceleration on a mass
within a room which will vary in amplitude and direction relative
to the room.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] In FIG. 1 an acceleration on a mass located in simulator
room 70, such as a person setting in acceleration seat 140, is
represented by net simulator acceleration vector 180, which varies
in magnitude and varies in direction relative to simulator room 70.
The variation in magnitude is produced as a consequence of the
varying angular rotation w of the rotating base 40. The variation
in direction r2 is produced by rotating simulator room support
platform 90 relative to rotating base by causing simulator 1.sup.st
angular orientation motor 50. The variation in direction r1
relative to simulator room 70 is produced by causing simulator
2.sup.nd angular orientation motor 80 to rotate simulator room 70
around room rotating axis arms 100a and 100b.
[0013] The variation in magnitude of the simulator vector can also
be accomplished by varying the distance d which is distance that
the simulator is from the center of rotation around platform motor
20 and the simulator room's center of mass 70. This is accomplished
by room screw adjust drive 150.
[0014] In FIG. 2 an acceleration seat 170 is secured to simulator
room 70. The simulation video screen 190 projects a simulated event
which has an associated simulated acceleration vector S associated
with it in time. The simulated event may be a prerecorded on video
tape, an animated film or a computer program etc..
[0015] In FIG. 3 a reference frame XYZ is displayed which is
rotating relative to some other reference frame. A simulated
acceleration vector S is the composite of the gravitational vector
G and the centrifugal force vector A i.e., S=A+G.
[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates the resultant transformation S to S' if
one angle of orientation is changed by angle r1, i.e., the x axis
of XYZ is rotated an angle r1 about the z axis. The simulated
acceleration vector appears to change directions in the frame XYZ.
If a rotation is then produced by rotating an angle r2 around the Z
axis of the XYZ frame then an orientation of any angle can be
obtained.
[0017] Computer 140 interfaces to the motors and video screens
through inputs 120 and outputs 130. A joy stick (not shown) could
be interfaced to the computer through inputs 120 and an existing
video game could be modified to produce an acceleration vector
parameter to be used by the computer to control the simulation
acceleration vector S. An acceleration sensor could be interfaced
as an input device to provide feed back as to the actual
acceleration produced on a mass within the simulator room.
[0018] While my above description contains many specificities,
these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the
invention, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred
embodiment thereof. Many other variations are possible. The scope
of the invention should be determined not by the embodiment(s)
illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal
equivalents.
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