US20190336871A1

US20190336871A1 - Motion simulating device

Info

Publication number: US20190336871A1
Application number: US16/403,346
Authority: US
Inventors: Wei-Ching Tang; Ke-Cheng Chien
Original assignee: Brogent Technologies Inc
Current assignee: Brogent Technologies Inc
Priority date: 2018-05-04
Filing date: 2019-05-03
Publication date: 2019-11-07
Also published as: CN110433506A; TW201947551A; TWI676161B; EP3563915B1; CN210096946U; EP3563915A1; EP3563915C0

Abstract

A motion simulating device includes a positioning unit, at least one carrier unit adapted for carrying at least one user, at least one motion mechanism, and a display unit for displaying image information for viewing by the at least one user. The at least one motion mechanism includes a motion arm, a first driver, and a second driver. The motion arm has a first end portion connected to the positioning unit and pivotable relative to the positioning unit about a first axis, and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion. The at least one carrier unit is connected to the second end portion of the motion arm and pivotable relative to the motion arm about a second axis.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Invention Patent Application No. 107115177, filed on May 4, 2018.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to a motion simulating device, more particularly to a motion simulating device with simplified motion mechanism.

BACKGROUND

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional motion simulating device 1 may be used in amusement rides. The conventional motion simulating device 1 includes a loading platform 11, a plurality of motion mechanisms 12 disposed on said loading platform 11 (only one shown in FIG. 1), a plurality of seats 13 respectively disposed on said motion mechanisms 12, and a display 14 disposed in front of said seats 13. Each of the motion mechanisms 12 include a plurality of linear actuators 121 to drive the respective seat 12 to sway, surge, heave, pitch, yaw and roll. The conventional motion simulating device 1 plays video through the display 14, and cooperates the movement of the seats 13 driven by the motion mechanisms 12 with the video to provide an immersive simulation experience.
Even though the motion mechanisms 12 can drive the seats 13 to perform multi-axial movement with high degrees of freedom, the linear actuators 121 are unable to perform larger range motions. Moreover, the structure and control of the motion mechanisms 12 are complicated, which increase the costs of manufacture and maintenance.

SUMMARY

Therefore, the object of the disclosure is to provide a motion simulating device that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.
According to the disclosure, a motion simulating device includes a positioning unit, at least one carrier unit connected to the positioning unit and adapted for carrying at least one user, at least one motion mechanism, and a display unit for displaying image information for viewing by the at least one user.
The at least one motion mechanism includes a motion arm, a first driver, and a second driver.
The motion arm has a first end portion connected to the positioning unit and pivotable relative to the positioning unit about a first axis, and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion. The at least one carrier unit is connected to the second end portion of the motion arm and is pivotable relative to the motion arm about a second axis.
The first driver is disposed for driving the pivot action of the motion arm about the first axis relative to the positioning unit.
The second driver is disposed for driving the pivot action of the at least one carrier unit about the second axis relative to the motion arm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view of a conventional motion simulating device;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top schematic view of the conventional motion simulating device;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of a motion simulating device according to the disclosure, where a side wall and a plurality of support arms are not shown;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a motion mechanism and a carrier unit of the embodiment, where the support arm of the motion mechanism is not shown;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front schematic view, illustrating the carrier unit of the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a side view, illustrating a variation of the motion mechanism and the carrier unit of the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a side view, illustrating another variation of the embodiment including at least one head mounted display;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary front view of another variation of the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary front view of another variation of the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of another variation of the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, an embodiment of a motion simulating device according to the disclosure includes a positioning unit 2, at least one motion mechanism 3, at least one carrier unit 32 that is connected to the positioning unit 2 and that is adapted for carrying at least one user 5, and a display unit 4 for displaying image information to be viewed by the at least one user 5. In this embodiment, the motion simulating device includes a plurality of the motion mechanisms 3, and a plurality of the carrier units 32 connected respectively to the motion mechanisms 3 and adapted for carrying a plurality of the users 5. Since the structures of the motion mechanisms 3 are identical, and since the structures of the carrier units 32 are identical, only one motion mechanism 3 and one carrier unit 32 will be described hereinafter for the sake of brevity.
The positioning unit 2 may be a wall or a frame for the motion mechanism 3 to be pivotally connected to, and may be adapted depending on practical requirements relating to the location and use of the device. In this embodiment, the positioning unit 2 includes two parallel and spaced apart walls 20 (only one shown in FIG. 3).
The motion mechanism 3 includes a motion arm 31, a support arm 33, a first driver 34 and a second driver 35.
The motion arm 31 has a first end portion 311 connected to one of the walls 20 of the positioning unit 2 and pivotable relative to the positioning unit 2 about a first axis 310, and a second end portion 313 opposite to the first end portion 311. The carrier unit 32 is connected to the second end portion 313 of the motion arm 31 and is pivotable relative to the motion arm 31 about a second axis 312. In this embodiment, the first and second axes 310, 312 are parallel to each other and extend along a left-right direction of the users 5. The first driver 34 is disposed for driving the pivot action of the motion arm 31 about the first axis 310 relative to the positioning unit 2. The second driver 35 is disposed for driving the pivot action of the carrier unit 32 about the second axis relative to the motion arm 31. The support arm 33 has two end portions that are respectively and pivotally connected to the other one of the walls 20 of the positioning unit 2 and the carrier unit 32.
The carrier unit 32 includes a load platform 321 connected to the second end portion 313 of the motion arm 31 of the motion mechanism 3, at least one seat body 322 connected to the load platform 321, a linkage member 323, and a third driver 324. In this embodiment, the carrier unit 32 includes a plurality of the seat bodies 322 connected to the load platform 321 and adapted to be seated on by a plurality of the users 5, the linkage member 323 interconnects the seat bodies 322, and the third driver 324 is operable to move the linkage member 323 back and forth such that the seat bodies 322 tilts to the left and right thereof and relative to the load platform 321. Each of the seat bodies 322 is pivotable about an axis which extends in a front-rear direction of the seat bodies 322 and which is substantially perpendicular to the first and second axes 310, 312. In variations of the embodiment (see FIGS. 8 and 9), the carrier unit 32 may include only one seat body 322 connected to the load platform 321 and adapted to be seated on by one user 5, the linkage member 323 is connected to the seat body 322.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, in this embodiment, the support arm 33 and the motion arm 31 are respectively and pivotally connected to opposite left and right sides of the carrier unit 32. Specifically, the support arm 33 and the motion arm 31 are connected to an upright portion 326 of the load platform 321. In an variation of the embodiment (see FIG. 6), the support arm 33 and the motion arm 31 may be instead connected to a junction between the load platform 321 and the outermost seat bodies 322, and the load platform 321 may include a front support stand 327 for the users 5 to grab or lean against. In this embodiment, the seat bodies 322 are for the users 5 to be seated thereon, but in other embodiments may allow the users 5 to stand thereon. Referring to FIG. 8, in the variation of the embodiment where the carrier unit 32 includes only one seat body 322 pivotally mounted to the load platform 321, the motion and support arms 31, 33 may be respectively connected to left and right sides of the load platform 321, or alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9, the support arm 33 may be omitted and the motion arm 31 may be connected to a center of the load platform 321, with the walls 20 being replaced by a stand 21 for the motion arm 31 to be pivotally connected to.
Referring to FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the display unit 4 is a large monitor disposed in front of said seat bodies 322. In a variation of the embodiment, the display unit 4 may be a spherically curved display that encompasses the field of view of the user 5 to provide a more immersive motion simulating experience. The user 5 may be at the center of the sphere and be substantially equidistant from all points on the screen. Referring to FIG. 7, in another variation of this embodiment, the display unit 4 includes at least one head-mounted display 41 adapted to be worn by the at least one user 5. Usage of the head-mounted display 41 in variations of the embodiment where the carrier unit 2 includes only one seat body 322 allows the motion simulating device to be compact and suitable for single-person use.
Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the embodiment is operated as follows. First, the users 5 board the carrier unit 32 from a waiting area 6. After safety devices are used to secure the users 5 to the seat bodies 322, the display unit 4 starts to display image information and the motion mechanism 3 moves the carrier unit 32 corresponding to said image information. The first driver 34 drives the motion arm 31 to rotate about the first axis 310 relative to the positioning unit 2, and the second driver 35 drives the carrier unit 32 to rotate about the second axis 312 relative to the motion arm 31, thereby allowing the users 5 to heave and pitch. The third driver 324 drives each of the seat bodies 322 to rotate about the respective axis relative to the load platform 321, thereby allowing the users 5 to roll. In combination, the motion mechanism 3 and the carrier unit 32 allow the users 5 to experience heave, pitch and roll, simulating motion corresponding to the image information displayed by the display unit 4. In this embodiment, the first and second drivers 34, 35 are motor and transmission mechanisms whose structures are simpler than actuators used in the conventional motion simulating device, which lowers costs, and provide larger heaving and pitching effects.
Referring to FIG. 10, in another variation of this embodiment, the positioning unit 2 includes at least one movable vehicle 22 mounted to the motion arm 31 for moving the motion mechanism 3 between different locations. For example, the movable vehicle 22 may move the motion mechanism 3 between a boarding position and an experience position. At the boarding position, the carrier unit 32 is adjacent to the waiting area 6 and the users 5 may board the carrier unit 32 from the waiting area 6. At the experience position, the motion mechanism 3 may operate as described above. This separates a boarding area and an experience area to ensure that enough space is available for larger range motions of the motion mechanism 3. In other embodiments, the movable vehicle 22 may further move the carrier unit 32 to a plurality of the experience positions. For example, for a dinosaur themed motion simulator, the movable vehicle 22 may move the users 5 to a Triassic region, a Jurassic region, a Cretaceous region, etc.
In sum, the motion mechanism 3 of the disclosure uses the first and second drivers 34, 35 to respectively drive the motion arm 31 and the carrier unit 32 to a large range of circular motion with a simplified structure that reduces cost.
In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiment. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects, and that one or more features or specific details from one embodiment may be practiced together with one or more features or specific details from another embodiment, where appropriate, in the practice of the disclosure.
While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the exemplary embodiment, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A motion simulating device comprising:

a positioning unit;

at least one carrier unit connected to said positioning unit and adapted for carrying at least one user;

at least one motion mechanism including

a motion arm that has a first end portion connected to said positioning unit and pivotable relative to said positioning unit about a first axis, and a second end portion opposite to said first end portion, said at least one carrier unit being connected to said second end portion of said motion arm and being pivotable relative to said motion arm about a second axis,

a first driver that is disposed for driving the pivot action of said motion arm about the first axis relative to said positioning unit, and

a second driver that is disposed for driving the pivot action of said at least one carrier unit about the second axis relative to said motion arm; and

a display unit for displaying image information for viewing by the at least one user.

2. The motion simulating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one carrier unit includes a load platform connected to said second end portion of said motion arm of said at least one motion mechanism, and a plurality of seat bodies connected to said load platform and adapted to be seated on by a plurality of the users.

3. The motion simulating device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least one carrier unit further includes a linkage member interconnecting said seat bodies, and a third driver operable to move said linkage member back and forth such that said seat bodies tilt to the left and right thereof and relative to said load platform.

4. The motion simulating device as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said seat bodies is pivotable about a third axis which extends in a front-rear direction of said seat bodies and which is substantially perpendicular to the first and second axes.

5. The motion simulating device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said at least one motion mechanism further includes a support arm having two end portions that are respectively and pivotally connected to said positioning unit and said at least one carrier unit, said support arm and said motion arm being respectively and pivotally connected to opposite left and right sides of said at least one carrier unit.

6. The motion simulating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one carrier unit includes a load platform connected to said second end portion of said motion arm of said at least one motion mechanism, and a seat body connected to said load platform and adapted to be seated on by the at least one user.

7. The motion simulation device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said at least one carrier unit further includes a linkage member connected to said seat body, and a third driver operable to move said linkage member back and forth such that said seat body tilts to the left and right thereof and relative to said load platform.

8. The motion simulating device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said seat body is pivotable about a third axis which extends in a front-rear direction of said seat body and which is substantially perpendicular to the first and second axis.

9. The motion simulating device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said at least one motion mechanism further includes a support arm having two end portions that are respectively and pivotally connected to said positioning unit and said at least one carrier unit, said support arm and said motion arm being respectively and pivotally connected to opposite left and right sides of said at least one carrier unit.

10. The motion simulating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said positioning unit includes at least one movable vehicle mounted to said motion arm of said at least one motion mechanism for moving said at least one motion mechanism between different locations.

11. The motion simulating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display unit includes at least one head-mounted display adapted to be worn by the at least one user.