Motion simulator for a video game

[0002] The present invention relates generally to video games and, more particularly, to an inexpensive motion simulator that adds realism to a video game experience.

[0003] Traditionally, video games are played by standing or sitting at a stationary video game machine that generally includes a video display and controls. The controls may include joysticks, buttons, levers and/or pedals. Some video game machines include driving games where a player sits in a driver's seat, steers a steering wheel, shifts gears, and manipulates driving pedals to simulate driving a vehicle appearing on the video display. Typically, the video display is stationary with respect to the seated player. Recently, moveable video game seats have been introduced in an attempt to simulate movements of the vehicle appearing on the video display, thereby adding a degree of realism to the video game experience. These moveable seats, however, are typically moved by hydraulics and thus are costly to mass produce. Although some other seats are moved by levers and therefore are less costly to produce, such seats are less versatile in that only a few basic movements can be effectuated. With such limited versatility, the seats poorly simulate vehicular movements appearing on the video display.

[0004] Accordingly, there is a need for an inexpensive motion simulator that adds a high degree of realism to a video game experience.

[0005] In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a motion simulator for a video game. The motion simulator includes a base and a platform supported on the base. The platform has first and second sides. First and second motors drive respective first and second shafts. First and second cams are mounted to the respective first and second shafts. First and second cam followers are connected to the platform proximate the respective first and second sides. The first and second cam followers rest on the respective first and second cams such that rotation of either the first or second shaft causes vertical movement of the platform.

[0006] Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a motion simulator for a video game according to the present invention;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the motion simulator of FIG. 1;

[0009] FIG. 3 is a top view of the motion simulator of FIG. 1;

[0010] FIG. 4 is a side view of the motion simulator of FIG. 1;

[0011] FIG. 5 is a rear view of a cam/cam follower arrangement for the motion simulator of FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the motion simulator of FIG. 1 in conjunction with a stationary video display;

[0013] FIGS. 7a-7care rear views showing how the cam/cam follower arrangement moves a platform of the motion simulator of FIG. 1;

[0014] FIGS. 8a-8bare side views of the motion simulator of FIG. 1 showing the platform in two different pitch positions;

[0015] FIGS. 9a-9bare rear views of the cam/cam follower arrangement the two different pitch positions shown in FIGS. 8a-8b;

[0016] FIGS. 10a-10bare rear views of the motion simulator of FIG. 1 showing the platform in two different roll positions; and

[0017] FIGS. 11a-11eare rear views of a profiled cam/cam follower arrangement for the motion simulator of FIG. 1.

[0018] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0019] Turning now to the drawings and referring initially to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the present invention is shown to include a motion simulator 10 for use with a video game. The motion simulator 10 includes a base 12 and a platform 14 supported on the base 12. The platform 14 includes a first side 16, a second side 18, a front 19a, and a back 19b.In one embodiment, the platform 14 includes two sections, an interior section 14aand an exterior section 14b.Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the platform 14 may be comprised of one unitary section or several sections depending on how the motion simulator 10 is constructed. As shown in FIG. 4, the platform 14 is supported on the base 12 by a coupling 15, such as, for example, a servo coupling, a universal coupling, a ball and socket coupling, a flexible coupling, etc. As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the coupling 15 is preferably located near the front 19aof the platform 14, approximately halfway between the sides 16, 18. First and second motors 20, 22 drive respective first and second shafts 24, 26, as shown in FIG. 3. In one embodiment, the first and second motors 20, 22 are DC gear motors having an output speed of approximately 60 revolutions per minute. Alternatively, any type of electric motor could be used. First and second cams 28, 30 are mounted to the respective first and second shafts 24, 26, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The first and second cams 28, 30 are eccentric cams (i.e., the respective shafts 24, 26 connect to each respective cam 28 and 30 in an off-center fashion, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 11a.) In one embodiment, the cams 28, 30 are made from a metal alloy.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7a, first and second cam followers 32, 34 are connected to the back 19bof the platform 14 proximate the respective first and second sides 16, 18. The cam followers 32, 34 are connected to the platform 14 by fasteners such as nails, screws, bolts, lugs, etc. The first and second cam followers 32, 34 comprise respective first and second rollers, as shown in FIG. 4. In one embodiment, these rollers are made from soft urethane rubber. The first and second cam followers 32, 34 rest on the respective first and second cams 28, 30 such that rotation of either the first or second shaft 24, 26 causes the respective eccentric cam to rotate, thus imparting vertical movement to the platform 14.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 6, the seat 38 is mounted to the platform 14. In some embodiments, a video display 36 is provided for allowing a seated player to view a video game scene. In one embodiment, the video display 36 is stationary relative to the platform 14. Thus, the platform 14, with the seat 38 mounted thereon, is subjected to motion while the base 12 and video display 36 remain stationary.

[0022] The motion simulator 10 operates by selectively rotating one or both of the first and second shafts 24, 26 by energizing their respective first and second motors 20, 22. For simplicity, in the following example, only the first shaft 24 will be rotated. However, in practice, one or both of the shafts will be selectively rotated to simulate different video game effects, as described below. Rotation of the first shaft 24 causes the first cam 28 to undergo a corresponding amount of angular rotation. As shown in FIGS. 7a, b, as the cam 28 rotates counterclockwise, the cam follower 32 is moved upward vertically. This causes the platform sections 14a,bto tilt to the right relative to its initial horizontal position, shown in FIG. 7a.To make the platform sections 14a,btilt further to the right, the second cam 30 is rotated clockwise to the position shown in FIG. 7c.The abutting relationship between the first and second cam followers 32, 34 and the respective first and second cams 28, 30 allows rotation of the respective cams 28, 30 to impart vertical movement to the cam followers 32, 34 thus imparting vertical movement to the platform sections 14a,b.

[0023] The cams and cam followers produce two types of platform movement: pitch and roll. Pitch refers to movement that causes the platform 14 to pivot about the coupling 15 such that the front 19amoves up while the back 19bmoves down, and vice versa, as shown in respective FIGS. 8a-8b.To pitch the back 19bof the platform 14 down, the first and second cams 28, 30 would be rotated to the position shown in FIG. 9a.This causes the back 19bto be at its lowest point relative to the horizontal plane 17 of the coupling 15. Conversely, to pitch the back 19bof the platform 14 up, the first and second cams 28, 30 would be rotated to the position shown in FIG. 9b.This causes the back 19bto be at its highest point relative to the horizontal plane 17 of the coupling 15.

[0024] Similarly, roll refers to movement that causes the platform 14 to pivot about the coupling 15 such that the first side 16 moves down while the second side 18 moves up, and vice versa, as shown in FIGS. 10a-b.To roll the first side 16 of the platform 14 up, the first and second cams 28, 30 would be rotated to the positions shown in FIG. 10a.This causes the first side 16 to be at its highest point which is above the horizontal plane 17 of the coupling 15. Conversely, to roll the second side 18 of the platform 14 up, the first and second cams 28, 30 would be rotated to the positions shown in FIG. 10b.This causes the second side 18 to be at its highest point which is above the horizontal plane 17 of the coupling 15. Thus, movement of only one of the cams 28, 30 imparts vertical movement to only the corresponding one of the cam followers 32, 34, thereby causing the platform 14 to roll with respect to the coupling 15. Movement of both cams 28, 30 imparts vertical movement to the respective cam followers 32, 34, thereby changing the pitch of the platform 14 with respect to the coupling 15. Accordingly, rotation of one or both of the cams is translated into linear motion of the cam followers which thereby move the platform 14 about its pivot point, the coupling 15.

[0025] In one embodiment, at least one of the first and second cam followers 32, 34 includes a profiled outer surface 35, as shown in FIG. 11a,such that rotation of the corresponding cam produces non-linear vertical movement of the platform 14. The profile on the first cam follower 32 shown in FIG. 11aincludes a bumpy outer surface 35. Profiling one or both of the cam followers 32, 34 simulates, for example, a vehicle riding over different types of terrain such as asphalt, gravel, mud, water, etc. In still another embodiment, at least one of the first and second cams 28, 30 includes a profiled outer surface 31, as shown in FIG. 11a.For example, if the first cam 28 were profiled, rotation of first shaft 24 would impart angular rotation to eccentric, profiled cam 28 which would vertically move, in a non-linear fashion, the first cam follower 32, thus imparting non-linear vertical movement to the platform 14. The first cam 28 shown in FIG. 11aincludes three profiles: a cut-out section, a smooth section, and a section of depressions, respectively. The profile on one or both of the cam followers and/or cams may include, without limitation, bumps, teeth, projections, depressions and/or cut-outs, as shown in FIGS. 11a-e,respectively.

[0026] In another embodiment, both the cam followers 32, 34 and the cams 28, 30 include profiled outer surfaces. In this embodiment, each surface may contain several profiles. For example, in one embodiment, the cam 28 includes three sections: a cut-out section, a smooth section, and a section of depressions. This allows the video game controller to alternate between two or more profiles on each cam to produce different types of platform movement to enhance the realism of the video game experience. For example, where the cams and the respective cam followers are profiled, the cam followers can simulate a vehicle's tires while the cam simulates the surface of a road.

[0027] In one embodiment, the motion simulator 10 is used in a driving game where a player can choose to race an off-road vehicle on an off-road, mountainous track. In this embodiment, the motion simulator 10 would be fitted with cam followers 32, 34 having a bumpy outer profile. The cams 28, 30 would each have an outer profile that includes a section of depressions, a smooth section and a cut-out section. Thus, the video game controller would alternate between the various sections of the profiled cam to produce different road surface effects. This allows different effects to be created by one cam without the need to physically change to a cam with a different profile. If, as in this embodiment, the cam has three profiles, the video game controller can limit rotation of the cam to one-third the circumference of the cam so that only one profile is used at a time. By using the smooth section of the cam in conjunction with the bumpy profile of the cam follower, the motion simulator 10 can simulate driving on a flat section of the track where the player only feels the rough ride of the knobby tires. By switching to the depressions section of the cam, the motion simulator 10 can simulate driving on a bumpy section of the track where the player feels both the rough ride from the knobby tires and the underlying bumpy surface. By switching to the cut-out section of the cam, the motion simulator 10 can simulate a vehicle landing after a jump, hitting a hole, skipping over waves, etc. Different effects can be created by combining different profiles on the cams and/or cam followers. Using a profiled cam follower resting on a profiled cam allows the motion simulator 10 to produce many different rates of acceleration and deceleration which can be used to create many different video game effects.

[0028] In one embodiment, the motion simulator 10 includes a first pair of restraining members 40 and a second pair of restraining members 42, as shown in FIG. 5. The first pair of restraining members 40 help maintain the cam follower 32 resting on the cam 28. Similarly, the second pair of restraining members 42 help maintain the cam follower 34 resting on the cam 30. In this way, the abutting relationship between the first and second cam followers 32, 34 and the respective first and second cams 28, 30 is maintained despite relative motion between the cam/cam followers and despite the simulator 10 being moved, bumped, etc. In one embodiment, the first and second pairs of restraining members 40, 42 each comprise two rollers, as shown in FIG. 5. These rollers may be constructed similar to the cam followers (i.e., made from soft urethane rubber).

[0029] While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention which is set forth in the following claims.