U.S. patent application number 16/030129 was filed with the patent office on 2019-04-18 for kinesthetic device with different seating orientations.
The applicant listed for this patent is BROGENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. Invention is credited to Ming-Tzung Huang, Teng-Hung Lai, Chih-Huang Wang.
Application Number | 20190111351 16/030129 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62192183 |
Filed Date | 2019-04-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190111351 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lai; Teng-Hung ; et
al. |
April 18, 2019 |
KINESTHETIC DEVICE WITH DIFFERENT SEATING ORIENTATIONS
Abstract
A kinesthetic device with different seating orientations
comprises a base unit, an actuator unit, a platform unit, and a
seat unit. The base unit includes a base seat. The actuator unit
includes an actuator module disposed on the base seat. The platform
unit includes a platform body disposed on the actuator module. The
seat unit includes plural seats disposed at the edge of the
platform body, wherein the orientations of the plural seats are
different, so that it can have the plural seats provide with
different kinesthesia.
Inventors: |
Lai; Teng-Hung; (Kaohsiung
City, TW) ; Huang; Ming-Tzung; (Kaohsiung City,
TW) ; Wang; Chih-Huang; (Kaohsiung City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BROGENT TECHNOLOGIES INC |
Kaohsiung City |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
62192183 |
Appl. No.: |
16/030129 |
Filed: |
July 9, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63G 31/16 20130101;
A47C 7/723 20180801; A63G 31/02 20130101; A47C 1/00 20130101; A47C
7/727 20180801; A47C 11/005 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63G 31/16 20060101
A63G031/16; A47C 1/00 20060101 A47C001/00; A47C 11/00 20060101
A47C011/00; A47C 7/72 20060101 A47C007/72; A63G 31/02 20060101
A63G031/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 12, 2017 |
TW |
106215037 |
Claims
1. A kinesthetic device with different seating orientations,
comprising: a base unit which includes a base seat; an actuator
unit which includes an actuator module disposed on the base seat; a
platform unit which includes a platform body disposed on the
actuator module; and a seat unit which includes plural seats
disposed at the ege of the platform body with different
orientations.
2. The kinesthetic device with different seating orientations as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the platform body is circular in shape,
and the plural seats are disposed on the tangent line of the
platform body.
3. The kinesthetic device with different seating orientations as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the platform body is polygonal in
shape, and the plural seats are disposed on the side of the
platform body.
4. The kinesthetic device with different seating orientations as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the plural seats are adjacent to one
another side by side in their length direction at a certain
distance.
5. The kinesthetic device with different seating orientations as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator module is a six-axis
actuator assembly of the Stewart platform.
6. The kinesthetic device with different seating orientations as
claimed in claim 1, further comprises a position adjustment unit
which includes plural position adjustment modules disposed between
the plural seats and the platform body, to adjust the position of
the plural seats.
7. The kinesthetic device with different seating orientations as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat unit further includes a safety
component disposed in the seat.
8. The kinesthetic device with different seating orientations as
claimed in claim 1, further comprises a control unit which includes
a control module connected electrically to the actuator module, and
an audiovisual module connected electrically to the control
module.
9. The kinesthetic device with different seating orientations as
claimed in claim 8, wherein the audiovisual module is composed of
plural video and audio playback components.
10. The kinesthetic device with different seating orientations as
claimed in claim 9, wherein the audiovisual module is provided with
plural memory components to store different video and audio data,
so that the plural video and audio playback components can play
different video and audio information.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
a) Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a kinesthetic device, and
more particularly to a kinesthetic device with different seating
orientations.
b) Description of the Prior Art
[0002] There are usually two types of facilities in general
amusement parks. One is used for games in reality, such as a roller
coaster, which allows the users to experience the speed and
G-Force. Another is a virtual kinesthesia facility, which uses
sound and visual effect with movement of a dynamic platform to
create virtual kinesthesia.
[0003] In general, there is a video player set in front of a
dynamic simulation device and play dynamic movies with an audio
equipment. A dynamic simulation device comprises a dynamic platform
with seats arranged on top of it, by controlling the actuator in
accordance with the movie, the platform and the seats can be moved
in multiple degrees of freedom such as surging, heaving, pitching
and rolling, and make the users sitting on the platform feel like
they were literally inside the movie.
[0004] Referring to FIG. 1, it shows a dynamic simulation device
disclosed in a Taiwanese Patent Publication No. M484450, including
a base 11, a platform 12 and an actuator assembly 13 disposed
between the base 11 and the platform 12. The actuator assembly 13
controls the position of the platform 12 and swings the platform 12
with respect to the base 11.
[0005] Plural seats 14 which accommodate plural users are disposed
on top of the platform 12. The orientations of the plural seats 14
are the same, so that the users on the seats 14 can experience the
same kinesthesia while receiving the same audiovisual
information.
[0006] Although aforementioned dynamic simulation device can
simulate kinesthesia, there are still some defects in practical
implementation.
[0007] 1. Limited Installation Location [0008] The plural seats
have its own height, and the height for visitors' entrance should
also be maintained. Because the plural seats are disposed on the
platform, considering the height of the actuator assembly, the
ceiling where the prior art dynamic simulation device is installed
is higher, and the installation location cannot be on the common
floors.
[0009] 2. Unable to Increase Revenue [0010] With the same
orientation of the plural seats, the users can only experience the
same kinesthesia and watch the same movie, and from a consumer's
point of view, they tend not to ride on the same facility more than
once, thus, the facility is unable to increase revenue.
[0011] 3. Unreal Kinesthesia [0012] In early days, the Stewart
platform was a device designed to train pilots, and it's used to
simulate the kinesthesia of a single person with certain
audiovisual information. However, in the amusement park, to
increase revenue, plural seats are disposed on the platform to
accommodate more people, but due to different positions of the
seats, when the platform is pitched forward by the actuator, the
users sit at the front part of the platform will experience leaning
forward kinesthesia while descending, and the users sit at the rear
part of the platform will experience leaning forward kinesthesia
while ascending, thus, the kinesthesia of the users cannot always
be matched with the audiovisual information.
[0013] How to improve the device to provide better kinesthesia with
different audiovisual information in a limited space and create
more revenue, are objectives that the relevant professionals need
to strive for.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Accordingly, an objective of an embodiment of the present
invention is to provide a kinesthetic device with different seating
orientations, comprising a base unit, an actuator unit, a platform
unit, and a seat unit.
[0015] The base unit includes a base seat.
[0016] The actuator unit includes an actuator module disposed on
the base seat.
[0017] The platform unit includes a platform body disposed on the
actuator module.
[0018] The seat unit includes plural seats with different
orientations disposed at the edge of the platform body.
[0019] Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention
is that the aforementioned platform body is circular in shape, and
the plural seats are disposed respectively on the tangent line of
the circular platform body.
[0020] Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention
is that the aforementioned platform body is polygonal in shape, and
the plural seats are disposed respectively on the sides of the
polygonal platform body.
[0021] Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention
is that the aforementioned plural seats are adjacent to one another
side by side in their length direction at a certain distance.
[0022] Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention
is that the aforementioned actuator module is a six-axis actuator
assembly of the Stewart platform
[0023] Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention
is that the aforementioned kinesthetic device with different
seating orientations further comprises a position adjustment unit,
which includes plural position adjustment modules disposed between
the plural seats and the platform body, to adjust the positions of
the plural seats respectively.
[0024] Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention
is that the aforementioned seat unit further includes a safety
component.
[0025] Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention
is that the aforementioned kinesthetic device with different
seating orientations further comprises a control unit, which
includes a control module connected electrically to the actuator
module, and an audiovisual module connected electrically to the
control module.
[0026] Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention
is that the aforementioned audiovisual module is composed of plural
video and audio playback components.
[0027] Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention
is that the aforementioned audiovisual module includes plural
memory components to store different audiovisual data, so that the
plural video and audio playback components can play different
audiovisual information.
[0028] The benefits of the present invention lie in that with the
different orientations of the plural seats, the users on the seats
can also experience different kinesthesia; with the plural seats
disposed at the outer side of the platform body, the height of the
kinesthetic device can be reduced; with the audiovisual module
providing different audiovisual information, the users on the
plural seats can experience kinesthesia with matching audiovisual
information
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view, a dynamic simulation device
disclosed in a Taiwanese Patent Publication No. M484450;
[0030] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view, illustrating a first
preferred embodiment according to the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view, illustrating a side view of
the first preferred embodiment;
[0032] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart, illustrating a control unit of the
first preferred embodiment;
[0033] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view, illustrating a second
preferred embodiment according to the present invention; and
[0034] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view, illustrating a top view of a
third preferred embodiment according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0035] The features and technical contents of this invention will
be clearly presented with detailed descriptions and drawings of the
following three preferred embodiments. Before proceeding with the
detailed description, it should be noted that similar elements are
labeled with the same reference number.
[0036] With reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, a first preferred
embodiment according to the present invention is depicted,
comprising a base unit 31, an actuator unit 32, a platform unit 33,
a seat unit 34, and a control unit 36.
[0037] The base unit 31 includes a base seat 311. Preferably, the
base seat 311 is a metal structure disposed and fixed on the
ground, to support the force and weight of the actuator unit 32,
and also provide pivotal connection to the actuator unit 32. In a
practical implementation, the base seat 311 can be disposed on a
turntable structure or a slide rail structure, and so should not be
construed as limiting the invention.
[0038] The actuator unit 32 includes an actuator module 321
disposed on the base seat 311. In the first preferred embodiment, a
six-axis actuator assembly of the Stewart platform is served as the
actuator module 321. It can simulate the kinesthesia by using its
six linear actuators to change the deflection angle of the platform
unit 33. In a practical implementation, other kinesthesia actuator
can be selected to sway or move the platform unit 33, and so should
not be construed as limiting the invention.
[0039] The platform unit 33 includes a platform body 331 disposed
on the actuator module 321. The platform body 331 is a steel
structure fixed on the actuator module 321, and the actuator module
321 controls the position of the platform body 331, so that the
platform body 331 can sway with respect to the base seat 311.
[0040] The platform body 331 is polygonal in shape, in the first
preferred embodiment, the shape of the platform body 331 is an
equilateral triangle. The six-axis actuator assembly of the Stewart
platform, served as the actuator module 321, and the platform body
331 are pivotally connected at the midpoint of each side of the
triangle-shaped platform body 331, so that the actuators can work
collaboratively to change the position and movement of the platform
body 331. In a practical implementation, the shape of the platform
body 331 can be any polygon other than equilateral triangle, and so
should not be construed as limiting the invention.
[0041] The seat unit 34 includes plural seats 341 disposed with
different orientations at the edge of the platform body 331. In the
first preferred embodiment, the shape of the platform body 331 is
an equilateral triangle, and there are three seats 341 disposed
respectively on top of each side of the platform body 331. The
plural seats 341 are adjacent to one another side by side in their
length direction at a certain distance and with an included angle
in between. Precisely speaking, the included angle formed by two
adjacent seats 341 will not be less than 60 degrees, so that the
plural seats 341 can be combined to form a shape of triangle or
other polygons, which can increase the capacity of the device with
the same mechanism without losing kinesthetic effect.
[0042] The inventor wants to emphasize that because the plural
seats 341 are disposed at the edge of the platform body 331,
according to the principle of lever, when the actuator module 321
swings the platform body 331, the movement of the plural seats 341
will be more severe than the center of the platform body 331, and
the users on the plural seats 341 can experience more intense
kinesthesia.
[0043] Each of the plural seats 341 is disposed respectively on top
of each side of the steel structure of the platform body 331 and
each seat 341 accommodates at least one user. In the first
preferred embodiment, the width of each seat 341 is approximately
the same as the side length of the platform body 331 and
accommodates plural users.
[0044] Each seat 341 provides a seat plate and a back plate, and
the sitting direction of the users are the same as the orientations
of the plural seats 341. In the first preferred embodiment, the
plural seats 341 are fixed on top of the equilateral triangular
steel structure of the platform body 331, and the orientations of
the plural seats 341 are opposite to the center of the platform
body 331.
[0045] The control unit 36 includes a control module 361 connected
electrically to the actuator module 321, and an audiovisual module
362 connected electrically to the control module 361. The
audiovisual module 362 is composed of plural video and audio
playback components to provide image and sound respectively, and it
is provided with plural memory components 363 to store different
audiovisual data, so that the plural video and audio playback
components can play different audiovisual information.
[0046] The inventor wants to emphasize that since the platform body
331 of the first preferred embodiment is equilateral triangular in
shape, and the orientations of the plural seats 341 are opposite to
the center of the platform body 331, so the line of sight of the
users on the plural seats 341 are not the same. Thus, when the
actuator module 321 swings the platform body 331, the users on
different seats 341 can experience different kinesthesia.
[0047] For example, a six-axis Stewart platform can provide
kinesthetic effect in six degrees of freedom by pitching, yawing,
rolling, surging, heaving, and swaying to the platform body 331,
when the users on one of the seats 341 experience forward leaning,
the users on other seats 341 may experience backward leaning. The
kinesthesia is completely different.
[0048] Therefore, the audiovisual module 362 can program an
audiovisual data for each of the plural seats 341 and store the
data in the plural memory components 363, so that the users on
different seats 341 may receive different audiovisual
information.
[0049] It is preferable to set a panoramic screen around the
kinesthetic device and use plural video and audio playback
components to project the image onto the panoramic screen, so the
users on the plural seats 341 can experience kinesthesia with
matching audiovisual information. In a practical implementation,
the plural video and audio playback components can be plural
head-mounted display devices and earphones, and so should not be
construed as limiting the invention.
[0050] FIG. 5 shows a second preferred embodiment according to
present invention. The second preferred embodiment is generally the
same as the first preferred embodiment, and therefore the
similarities will not be described in detail herein after. The
difference between the two preferred embodiments is that the plural
seats 341 of the second preferred embodiment are disposed on the
outer sides of the platform body 331, so that the total height for
installing the present invention can be reduced.
[0051] The second preferred embodiment further comprises a position
adjustment unit 35, which includes plural position adjustment
modules 351 disposed between the plural seats 341 and the platform
body 331, to adjust the positions of the plural seats 341
respectively.
[0052] Each position adjustment module 351 includes a vertical
adjustment component and a horizontal adjustment component. The
vertical adjustment component can adjust the vertical position or
the height of the plural seats 341, while the horizontal adjustment
component can adjust the distance between the plural seats 341 and
the center of the platform body 331. Preferably, a ball screw can
be used as the vertical adjustment component, and a linear guide
can be used as the horizontal adjustment component. In a practical
implementation, types of the adjustment component should not be
limited thereto.
[0053] As the position adjustment module 351 raises the position of
the seats 341, the users' feet will be dangled below while sitting
on the plural seats 341; as the position adjustment module 351
lowers the position of the seats, the users can easily sit on or
get up from the seats 341. When the position adjustment module 351
shifts the seats 341 outward, the users sitting on the seats 341
will experience more intense kinesthesia according to principle of
lever.
[0054] The inventor wants to emphasize that the position adjustment
module 351 does not participate in the control of kinesthesia, the
position adjustment module 351 will stop acting after moving the
seats 341 to the right position, while the actuator module 321 is
in total charge of the control of kinesthesia.
[0055] Besides, in the second preferred embodiment, the plural
seats 341 are disposed on the outer side of the platform body 331,
when the position adjustment module 351 lowers the position of the
seats 341, the height of the plural seats 341 can be the same as
the actuator module, so the total height for installing the
kinesthetic device can be effectively reduced. Thus, the present
invention can be installed directly on the ground, and the users
can easily sit on the seats 341 without walking through a ladder
stage, and there is no need to modify the building to dispose the
actuator module 321 underground.
[0056] In addition, when the seat 341 is disposed on the outer side
of the platform body 331, both the moving speed and moving distance
of the plural seats 341 increase due to principle of lever, and the
users on the plural seats 341 can experience more intense
kinesthesia as well.
[0057] The seat unit 34 also includes a safety component 342
disposed in the seat 341. Preferably, a seat belt can be used as
the safety component 342 to hold the user on the seat 341,
guaranteeing the user from any physical injury while riding on the
kinesthetic device. In a practical implementation, types of the
safety component 342 should not be limited thereto.
[0058] FIG. 6 shows a third preferred embodiment according to
present invention. The third preferred embodiment is generally the
same as the second preferred embodiment, and therefore the
similarities will not be described in detail herein after. The
difference between the two preferred embodiments is that the
platform body 331 is circular in shape, and the plural seats 341
are disposed respectively on the tangent line of the platform body
331.
[0059] In the third preferred embodiment, the platform body 331 is
a circular steel structure fixed on the actuator module 321, and
there are twelve seats 341 averagely disposed on the outer side of
the platform body 331 with their orientation opposite to the center
of the platform body 331, and each seat 341 accommodates one user.
In a practical implementation, the number and capacity of the
plural seats 341 should not be limited thereto.
[0060] The inventor wants to emphasize that the early Stewart
platform was mainly used for simulating the kinesthesia of a single
person, to provide kinesthetic effect in six degrees of freedom.
Later, the platform was used as an amusement facility with multiple
seats disposed on it, but the early audio-video playback device can
only provide single-screen image, so the seats must all face the
same direction toward the screen, and due to the restriction of the
Stewart platform mechanism, the users wouldn't be able to
experience the same kinesthesia while watching the same image.
[0061] With advances of audio-video playback technology, the
panoramic image is widely used in various facilities. In this
invention, the plural seats 341 are disposed on the outer side of
the platform body 331 and the orientation of the plural seats 341
is opposite to the center of the platform body 331, so the
kinesthesia of the users can be matched with the 360-degree
panoramic image.
[0062] In addition, the height for installing the entire
kinesthetic device can be effectively reduced by disposing the
plural seats 341 on the outer side of the platform body 331, so
that the whole device can fit in a general building's floor and can
be directly installed without modifying the building
structures.
[0063] From aforementioned descriptions, it is known that the
present invention is indeed provided with following benefits:
[0064] 1. More Intense Kinesthesia [0065] Since the seats 341 are
disposed at the edge of the platform body 331, when the actuator
module 321 swings the platform body 331, both the moving speed and
moving distance of the plural seats 341 increased due to the
principle of lever, thus, the users on the plural seats 341 can
experience more intense kinesthesia.
[0066] 2. Cost Saving [0067] Since the plural seats 341 are
disposed on the outer side of the platform body 331, the height for
installing the kinesthetic device can be effectively reduced, so
that the kinesthetic device can be installed directly on the ground
or inside a general building's floor. The users can easily sit on
the seats 341 without walking through a ladder stage or modifying
the building structure to dispose the actuator module 321
underground, thus, the installation cost can be saved
effectively.
[0068] 3. Dangled Feet [0069] According to the aforementioned
description, even if the kinesthetic device is installed inside a
building's floor, the position adjustment module 351 can still
change the vertical position of the seats 341, thus, allow the
users' feet to be dangled below, so there is no need to modify the
structure of the seat or the building to reach the same effect.
[0070] 4. Experience Different Kinesthesia [0071] The orientations
of the plural seats 341 are opposite to the center of the platform
body 331, so that the line of sights of the users sit on the plural
seats 341 are different, and the kinesthetic effects of each seat
341 are also different when the actuator module 321 swings the
platform body 331. Thus, in combination with different audiovisual
information given by the audiovisual module 362, each user on the
plural seats 341 can experience different kinesthesia. Accordingly,
the orientations of the plural seats 341 are opposite to the center
of the platform body 331, so that the plural seats 341 can be
disposed at the edge of the platform body 331, and the users the
plural seats 341 can experience more intense kinesthesia in
combination with different audiovisual information given by the
audiovisual module 362. The plural seats 341 disposed on the outer
side of the platform body 331 can reduce the total height for
installing the kinesthetic device, so the device can be installed
inside a general building and save the installation cost.
Therefore, the objective of the present invention can be actually
achieved.
[0072] It is of course to be understood that the embodiments
described herein is merely illustrative of the principles of the
invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be
effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following
claims.
* * * * *