Short title: Computer control apparatus.
The invention relates to a computer control apparatus in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.
A computer control apparatus of the above-mentioned type is known in practice. The known apparatus is designed to be placed on a work surface next to a monitor which is connected to a computer, the spherical body being designed to be rotated by the fingers and/or palm of a hand in order to supply a corresponding output signal to a computer which is connected to the control apparatus. The output signal supplied to the computer by the control apparatus is used in particular to move one or more objects, such as a cursor, over the display screen of the monitor by means of associated programs in the computer.
The known computer control apparatus has the drawback that in a number of situations the movement of the one or more objects over the screen is carried out by means of movements of the spherical body which are performed by means of the hand and may be unnatural in such situations. One such situation is, for example, that in which a user of the computer arrangement is navigating his/her way through a virtual world, in which case it is unnatural for the user to "walk" through the virtual world by using his/her hands. A similar situation is that in which the virtual world is displayed on a wall-mounted screen or on screens which are arranged in front of the eyes of the user in a helmet to be worn by the user. The unnaturalness of this situation primarily stems from the fact that the coordination ability of a man when walking has no relation to movements performed by means of a hand. An additional problem is that the speed at which the user "walks" through the virtual world and the turns which he/she makes in the virtual world are much quicker or more abrupt, respectively, than is the case in reality. The quick and abrupt movements in the virtual world can easily occur accidentally, because the- fingers are much more mobile than the legs of the person. Another drawback of the known control apparatus is
that it is not very suitable for use by a candidate in a game with spectators .
The object of the invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the known control apparatus . This object is achieved according to the invention by means of the computer control apparatus according to claim 1.
As a result, the user is able to navigate his/her way through, for example, a virtual world in a more natural way by using at least one of his/her feet. Furthermore, the movements which a user makes in order to rotate the spherical body can be observed more easily by spectators and, in the present case, can be clearly related to the consequences of these movements, for example, by movements of one or more objects on a wall-mounted screen.
These and other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clear from the explanation given below with reference to the drawings, in which:
Fig.l shows a first embodiment of a computer control apparatus according to the invention, partially cut away for the purpose of illustration;
Fig.2 shows a second embodiment of a computer control apparatus according to the invention;
Fig 3 shows a third embodiment of a computer control apparatus according to the invention; and
Fig.4 shows a fourth embodiment of a computer control apparatus according to the invention.
The computer control apparatus shown in Fig. 1 comprises a housing 10, preferably with a substantially flat upper wall or side 11 which is sufficiently strong to allow a person 12 to stand on it. On the upper side 11, the housing 10 has an opening 13, through which an upper part of a spherical body 14 projects upwards. The spherical body 14 may be solid or hollow, and is at any rate sufficiently strong to allow the person 12 to stand on it.
The spherical body 14 is supported on support means which allow rotation of the spherical body 14 in every direction and which may be designed in various ways. In Fig. 1, the support means are indicated by way of
illustration by means of balls 15, which themselves may in turn be supported by roller means (not shown) inside the housing 10. In the housing 10 there are arranged sensor means which are indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 1 by means of electromechanical transducers Iβ and an electronic circuit 17 which is connected thereto. The electronic circuit 17 can be connected to a computer (not shown) via a cable 18.
If the person 12 standing on the spherical body 14 rotates the spherical body 14 by means of at least one foot, the transducers 17 supply signals which are dependent on the rotation to the circuit 17, which supplies a corresponding output signal (or a plurality of output signals) to the computer via the cable 18. As a result, the computer is able to follow the rotation of the spherical body 14 and a program running inside the computer can react accordingly, for example by moving one or more objects on a display screen.
In order to be able to move the spherical body 14 by means of a foot, the spherical body 14 has a diameter of at least 20 cm. Preferably, however, the spherical body 14 has a greater diameter, so that a person 12 can stand on it with both feet and can perform a walking motion thereon. If a suitable computer program and display means are used, the person 12 standing on the spherical body 14 can then navigate his/her way through a virtual world in a relatively natural manner.
Preferably, in order to make the walking motion of the person 12 on the spherical body 14 more natural , brake means are preferably arranged against the spherical body
14, which brake means are represented in Fig. 1 by a friction member 19, which is arranged on a support structure 20. The friction member 19 is, for example, a piece of rubber and the support structure 20 is preferably suitable for pushing the friction member to a greater or lesser extent against the spherical body 14 , in order in this way to adjust the frictional force exerted by the friction member 19. As a result, the frictional force can be made uniform for persons 12 of different weights.
Since it can be difficult for the person 12 standing on the spherical body 14 to keep his/her balance, support members, such as the poles 21, may be attached to the housing 10, and the person 12 can hold onto these support members. In addition, or as an alternative, it is possible to provide means which prevent the person 12 from falling. These means may comprise a belt or harness 22 to be worn by the person 12 and rigid or flexible means, such as cords 23, which are attached to the belt or harness and are also attached to a stationary point (not shown) above the person 12.
Walking on the spherical body 14 can be facilitated by producing the body 14, or at least an outer layer thereof, from elastic material in such a manner that when the person 12 stands on it the upper side of the body 14 is flattened suitably.
The embodiment of the computer control apparatus as shown in Fig. 2 differs from the embodiment of Fig. 1 in that in the embodiment of Fig. 2 the holding poles 21 are connected to one another by means of an optionally bent intermediate bar 24, and in that a seat structure 25 with a saddle 26 is attached to the housing 10. Preferably, the seat structure 25 has adjustment means 27 for adjusting the height of the saddle 26. As a result, the person 12 sitting on the saddle 26 can rotate the spherical body 14 relatively easily.
The embodiment shown in Fig. 3 differs from the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 2 in that the person 12 is supported by a support structure, such as the strap structure 28, which is suspended, for example by means of cords 29 from stationary points (not shown) and parts 30 of which can be placed beneath the armpits of the person 12.
The embodiment of Fig. 4 differs from the preceding embodiment in that a seat structure 32 is attached to the housing 10, the seat structure having a saddle 33 on which the person 12 can sit and having side arms 34 on which the person 12 can support him/herself by means of his/her own arms or which the person 12 can hold onto with his/her hands. This seat structure 32 preferably also has means 35
for adjusting the height of the saddle 33 and, in this case, the side arms 34.
The support structures 21, 24, 28 and 32 may be provided with electrical switch means (not shown) which can be operated by the person 12 standing on the spherical body 14 by means of at least one hand and which may also be connected, for example via the circuit 17 and the cable 18, to the computer. As a result, the person 12 has extra means available for supplying control signals to the computer in order to allow the computer program functioning to perform one or more defined actions depending on the actuation of the switch means.
Preferably, sensor means are provided which detect a vertical force exerted by the spherical body 14 on the support means and which supply the computer with an output signal which is dependent on this force, via an electronic circuit, such as the circuit 17. The sensor means may be arranged in one of the locations of the support members 15, such as 15a. Depending on the application for which the control apparatus is used, the output signal can change simultaneously with the vertical force or only if the vertical force passes above or below a defined threshold, in particular if the ball causes a vertical acceleration which is above a specific threshold. This feature can be used to supply a switch signal for controlling the computer, for example if a game candidate standing on the spherical body performs a sufficiently strong jump.
The computer control apparatus according to the invention is suitable for various applications, in which it is possible for the user to perform and feel a walking motion in a reasonably natural manner in order in so doing to allow corresponding actions to be performed by the computer program functioning in a reasonably natural manner. Furthermore, the apparatus can be used by a game candidate, in which case the spectators can observe a clear relationship between rotational movements of the spherical body 14 performed by the candidate and events caused by the program in reaction to these movements. The said extra switch means which can be actuated manually by the user 12
can be used, for example, by designers of buildings or interiors and by game candidates in order to place or move objects, which may be virtual objects or mathematical symbols (lines, circles, etc.) in a virtual world.