EP3605481A1

EP3605481A1 - Coin-operated post with a virtual headset

Info

Publication number: EP3605481A1
Application number: EP18425069.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giuseppe Piccinni
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-08-03
Filing date: 2018-08-03
Publication date: 2020-02-05

Abstract

Due to its characteristics, the immersive virtual reality lends itself well to be used for both educational and cultural purposes. As a matter of fact, it can be used in the educational field, for tours around virtual museums as well as to visit archaeological sites which have been reconstructed to let people witness the transformation of these places through the ages.

Let's start by saying that we are used to devices which are generally placed inside because of some limitations due first of all, to the need for a controlled environment in order to prevent the risk of vandalism, property damage or theft of some of the device's components; secondly there is the need of protection against weather conditions as well as the need to a direct connection to the power grid.

Indeed, all these restrictions have limited the use of virtual headsets for the enjoyment of virtual reality. The main purpose of this invention is to remedy some of these failings by providing users with headsets for immersive virtual reality incorporated in designated posts, which can be located both indoors or outdoors. In this way, the invention also manages to solve protection related problems as well as the atmospheric ones, as it also does not require a direct connection to the power grid.

Description

The present invention is a virtual headset with two oculars designed for the use of digital contents according to the technique of immersive virtual reality, coin operated and incorporated into a designated post also placeable outdoors and that does not require a direct link up to the electricity grid because it can draw power both from one or more rechargeable batteries and from the solar panels which are also included.
In the state of the art virtual reality is an altered reality, a three-dimensional world elaborated by a computer, a space that can be explored and with which people can engage with thanks to computing devices.
Virtual reality can be "non-immersive" or "immersive": in the first case reality is simply reproduced on a two-dimensional monitor, while in the second case a new reality is constructed by using a visual headset, which isolates true reality by replacing it with a virtual one.
In order to reach this goal, a headset for immersive virtual reality must, first of all, "deceive" its users by giving them the impression of being confronted by a deep, huge space instead of a screen placed only inches away from their eyes; this is achieved among other things, thanks to the use of ocular lenses which magnify the headset's screen so that people do not notice its edges and the image can occupy the whole users' field of vision.
Then, the 3D effect gives people the feeling of being inside a real place. This particular goal is achieved by using two screens (one for each eye), each of which shows an image slightly displaced or optionally, a single screen on which a video is screened; this video is created by using some stereoscopical equipments and, in order to be reviewed, it also requires some suitable three- dimensional rendering lenses.
Besides, the two virtual realities also differ because, while in the "non -immersive" virtual reality users can interact only through a monitor by using the so-called joystick, in the "immersive" virtual reality experience, users can do it through head-movements, gathered by the headset or other parts of their bodies equipped with receptive sensors as for example wearable gloves or other types of sensors variously placed.
Strictly speaking about the headset, this item, in order to acquire users' head movements it has to track them while they are being performed like to look around; this is possible, thanks to the presence of a number of internal sensors capable of adquiring and quantifying every possible movement along the three cartesian axes.
Among the most well-known sensors used for this purpose, it is important to mention the accelerometer (used among other things to analyse gravity and to understand where "the top direction" is placed), the gyroscope (which allows the measurement of the rotation of an object around an axis) and the magnetometer (which help us defying precisely the direction the headset is going in).
A headset can also include speakers suitably placed to broadcast audio and turn users' experience even more immersive and realistic.
Due to its characteristics, the immersive virtual reality lends itself well to be used for both educational and cultural purposes; as a matter of fact, it can be used in the educational field (military or scientific for example) or for tours around virtual museums as well as to visit archaeological sites entirely reconstructed to mirror their original form.
This last example refers to the main field of use to which the invention is intended. This because in the cases mentioned before (educational field or virtual museums) they can already count on the presence of different well- known devices, while in the archaeological sites open to the pubblic, usually set outdoors and with no power grid, there are some unresolved problems which still prevent users to fully enjoy the services.
Let's start by saying that the well-known devices which are currently employed are mostly placed indoors because of some restrictions such as:

Need for a controlled environment. The risk of vandalism and/or property damage due to misuse or theft of parts of the device require that this is locate in a place where it can be overlooked by an operator.
Need for protection against weather conditions. In order to avoid the consequences of the coordinated action of rain and temperature, it is advisable to appropiately locate these kind of elettronic devices indoors.

So far, such restrictions have limited the employment of devices created for the use of digital contents according to the immersive virtual reality technique, only to indoor places.
However, one further requirement of the devices currently employed is the need for a direct connection to the power grid; a condition which clearly limits their use to places which can dispose of electricity.
It follows that, if one were to put a device for virtual reality in a place with no electricity power, (such as an archaeological site) or a specific place outside from coverage zones (with no wiring) that would not be possible.
The main purpose of this invention is to remedy some of these failings by providing users with headsets for immersive virtual reality incorporated in designated posts, which can be located both indoors or outdoors; in this way, it also manages to solve some protection related problems as well as the atmospheric ones.
The device also overcomes the problem concerning electricity, or better still, the difficultes related to the lack of a direct connection to the power grid both inside and outside the chosen location.
A further purpose is that of giving a suitable device also capable of being a source of income for its owners.
These and other aims will be mentioned in the following description with the assistance of some figures:

Fig.1) the axonometric view of the designated post;
Fig.2) the axonometric view of the virtual headset's swivel base;
Fig.3) the axonometric view of the virtual headset;
Fig.4) the side view of the virtual headset with some of its components partly removed;
Fig.5) the side view of the coin box with some of its components partly removed;
Fig.6) the side view of the base and part of the tubolar vertical element included in the designated post with some of its components partly removed;
Fig.7) exploded view of the designated post of fig.1, limited only to the elements which compose the module fot the capture of light's energy.

The designated post to which the invention refers is basically made of a vertical column shape body which we are going to indicated in the mechanism with the number [1], and of module [2] for the capture of light's energy.
The column shape body [1] and the module [2] are connected by suitable means to a large base platform [3] having an appropiate form, for exampe circular, as well as a limited thickness if compared to its surface dimensions.
The column shape body [1] has a cylindrical shape and it is entirely made of a metallic material in order to withstand criminal damage; on its surface it is also treated to withstand weather attacks if placed somewhere outdoors with no shelter.
Starting from the lower part of the column shape body [1], there is a compartment [4] equipped with an inspection door with a lock [5], a first tubolar element [6], a coin box which can be inspected [7], a second tubolar element [8] and a fork shape rotary support [9] which bear the weight of the headset [10] and also includes a control screen [11].
The base compartment [4] is intended to accomodate a processing unit [12] and two batteries [13] and [14]; The central processing unit [12] (the computer which manages the headset [10] and interacts with the screen [11]) is a known type which incorporates a data storage disk, a motherboard, a processor, a RAM and audio-visual cards.
The above mentioned processing unit [12], can draw the energy required, both from the rechargeable battery [13] and from the one [14] which includes an inverter (another well-known device) which is recharged only by tapping solar energy filtred by photovoltaic panels [15].
The unit [12], is powered first of all from the rechargeable battery [13] and draws on battery 14 only if the first one [13] is completely drained.
Battery [13] should be frequently recharged because it is considered the main battery, while the 14 is secondary and for this reason it can be recharged in different moments and according to the sun's availability.
To recharge battery [13], it is sufficent to pick it up from the base compartment [4], through the opening door [5], and plug it into the main power grid, by using or not a power supply (it depends on the technology employed).
Considering that the process unit [12] generates heat while working, it is important to constantly dispose of the extra-heat, in order to avoid the dangerous rise of temperature inside the compartment [4].
For this reason, an extractor fan valve [16] is placed at the base of the first tubolar element [6], which by being hollow shares a direct connection with the inside of the compartment [4], which in turn is solder on the top.
The fan [16], facilitates the natural mouvement of hot air upward by directing the warm airflow towards the inside of the tubolar element [6], from which it is later disposed thanks to the presence of some openings [17], placed on its lateral surface on the top.
This tip of the tubolar element [6] is welded to the base of the coin box [7]; this one is a classic example of coin box which consist of a simple mechanism for coin box [7.1], which through a slipway [7.2] channels the coins into a inner compartment[7.3].
The coin box [7] has a checkout door [7.4] through which it is possible to have access to the interior of the machine for checkups or to empty the coin bowl [7.3].
The top of the coin box is connected to the base of the second tubolar element [8]; which top is in turn connected to the base [9.1] of the rotating fork shaped support [9].
The vertical aixle around which the forked shaped base can rotate [9], is aligned with the one of the tubolar element [8]; that's to say, the entire fork shaped base [9] rotates 360 degrees thanks to a vertical axis ball bearing placed on the base [9.1], which in turn is connected to the top of the tubolar element [8], with which the ball bearing shares the vertical aixle.
The rotating part of the fork shaped base [9] integrates the screen [11] through which users can choose the contents to be displayed on the headset [10].
The screen [11] uses the touch screen technology and includes a reinforced glass to ensure a sufficient protection from vandalism.
The screen [11] points up and in so doing it gives users a better overview. Furthermore, users see on the screen [11] a menu through which they are able to choose among a number of contents to enjoy whith the virtual headset [10]. After that, users are invited through a message to introduce coins inside the coin box [7], which in turn interects with the processing unit [12], which is responsible for the initiation of the chosen digital content.
The base [9] includes two vertical forks [9.2] and [9.3] respectively right and left, which support the virtual headset [10], which in turn can rotate around the aixle passing through two hinge holes placed on the upper extremities of both forks [9.2] and [9.3].
The virtual headset [10] is made entirely of a metallic material and includes the two oculars [18], through which users can enjoy the contents of virtual reality.
According to the current techniques, the two oculars [18] are paired with two lenses [19] placed inside the virtual headset, which can be displaced or brought closer both longitudinally and reciprocally in order to be able to adjust to the characteristics of the eye and in so doing, optimize the visual experience.
The regulation of lenses [19] is kinematically done through some wheels [20], which partially emerge from the top of the virtual headset [10].
Then, there are a display [21] and some sensors [26] to complete the inside of the virtual headset[10]; this descriptive summary of the internal components has been made in order to specify that the technology behind the creation of virtual reality is not an object of this invention. In order to make users' experiences as much immersive as possible, the virtual headset [10] also includes two speakers [22] placed respectively on both sides and that can reach users' ears when they are looking through the oculars [18].
It has been said that the battery [14] is able to store the energy that comes from the sun; the module [2] is responsible for that.
It is composed of a suitable number of photovoltaic panels [15].
The solar panels [15] are assembled on a chassis [23] which in turn is supported by four vertical stakes [24], placed in correspondance of its four angles.
The stakes [24] are also bound to the base [3] through suitable means, it should be noted that the base [3] is already predisposed to include the lower extremities of the stakes [24].
In this way, the module [2] is reinforced in its entirety to effectively counteract the action of the wind or the accidental collisions of people with the device; the goal is reached by using the so called diagonal guides [25] which have to be put in "x" position and in correspondance three of the four lights (of course, the column [1] access-light has to be left open).
The electric cables which from the solar panels [15] arrive to the battery [14] (which as said before, includes an inverter) run inside one of the stakes [24] and then in a duct created inside the base [3].

Claims

"Coin-operated designated post with a virtual headset that does not require a link up to the electricity grid" including a high-rise column shape body [1] a processing unit [12], one or more rechargeable batteries [13], one or more batteries with inverter integrated [14], a touch screen [11] interacting with the processing unit [12], a coin box [7] fitted with an adequate mechanism [7.1] in addition to the coin compartment [7.3] in addition to a slipway [7.2] and a lock [7.4]. Besides, the virtual headset [10] is provided with an internal screen [21], a suitable number of sensors [26], two speakers [22], two oculars [18] paired with two lenses [19] which are longitudinally and transversally adjustable thanks to two wheels [20] partially emerging from the top of the virtual headset [10]. Moreover, the processing unit [12] and the batteries [13] and [14] are located in a compartment [4] equipped with an inspection door [5] placed at the base of the column shape body [1]; the latter, by being connected to a base platform [3] with a suitable form and reduced thickness if compared to the dimensions of the top, which in turn are appropiate to firmly accomodate the column shape body [1].
Designated post with a virtual headset referred to in claims [1], characterised by the fact that the headset [10] is limited with a degree of freedom to a fork support [9] which rotates 360 degrees thanks to a vertical axis ball bearing housed in its fixed base [9.1], the forx support [9] incorporates the touch screen [11] and the two vertical forks [9.2] and [9.3] that serve the purpose of supporting the headset [10], which in turn will be able to rotate around the axis passing through the hinging holes drilled on the top of both forks [9.2] and [9.3].
Designated post with a virtual headset referred to in previous claims, characterised by a first hollow tubolar element [6] which lower end is rigidly linked to the top of the compartment [4], while the top, in turn, is rigidly connected to the bottom surface of the coin box [7], and by a second hollow tubolar element [8] which lower part is strongly linked to the upper surface of the coin box [7], while the top is connected to the base [9.1] of the fork shape support [9] and also shares its vertical aixle.
Designated post with a virtual headset referred to in previous claims, characterised by an extractor fan valve [16] placed inside the tubolar element [6] and in correspondance to its bottom surface which in turn is connected to the compartment [4]. The fan [16] directs the warm airflow towards the holes [17] placed on the sides of the tubolar element [6] in correspondance to its upper surface.
Designated post with a virtual headset referred to in previous claims characterised by the fact that the processing unit [12] can draw the energy required for its functioning both from the rechargeable battery [13] and a second battery [14], the first removabe and rechargeable through the power grid while the second rechargeble only by tapping solar energy through a module [2] comprising a suitable number of solar panels [15] assembled on a chassis [23] supported by four angular vertical stakes [24], three pairs of which are connected to one another by diagonals [25], the processing unit [12] is preferentially powered by the rechargeable battery [13], and it only draws power from the second battery [14] if the first one [13] is completely depleted.
Designated post with a virtual headset referred to in previous claims also characterised by the fact that the entire module [2] is completely connected to the base [3].
Designated post with a virtual headset referred to in claims [1] [2] [4] [5] and [6], characterised by the fact that in one variant, the touch screen [11] is fixed, that's to say it is not part of the fork shape support [9] and does not rotate with it.
Designated post with a virtual headset referred to in claims [1] [2] [4] [5] [6] and [7], characterised by the fact that in one variant the two tubolar elements [6] and [8] are replaced by a single hollow tubolar element.