GB2423032A

GB2423032A - Moving flight simulator seat and screen for video game

Info

Publication number: GB2423032A
Application number: GB0502993A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bradley William Hale
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: RIDE THE WAVE S.L.
Priority date: 2005-02-12
Filing date: 2005-02-12
Publication date: 2006-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 2025-02-12
Also published as: GB2423032B; GB0502993D0

Abstract

A seat housed in a gimbals arrangement that can tilt a human occupant through two axis of rotation to simulate flight or other influences in a computer game. It incorporates a seat(4) mounted inside a gimbals frame (6 and 7) mounted on rolling element bearings (8 and 9) that allows a human occupant and a video monitor screen (3) to be tilted 50 degrees about the centre of rotation. This rotation is created by the linear retraction and extension of two electrically powered actuators (1 and 2). These actuators act independently of one another to produce rotation about the roll and pitch axis. The whole unit is supported on a base frame 5. The display screen (3) and seat (4) are linked so that they move in unison giving the occupant of the seat a constant aspect view of the screen.

Description

I

COMPUTER VIDEO GAME SEAT

The invention relates to a video gaming seat that tilts a human occupant and a video screen about a centre point in order to simulate the physical motions or actions experienced whilst playing a computer game. The design is free standing and powered by domestic electrical mains voltage.

Most flight and game simulators are too large and expensive to appeal to the home video gaming market due to the complex hydraulic and electrical actuation required to tilt the unit.

The object of this invention is to use electrical linear actuators placed onto a gimbals frame to tilt a human occupant through 50 degrees pitch and 50 degrees roll about a centre of rotation. This motion would for example, simulate the attitude of an aircraft in a flight simulator game or the lateral accelerations whilst driving a car.

This design of the gimbals frame allows a human to have easy access to the seat whilst providing enough structural strength to support the loading on the framework under all designed operating speeds and conditions.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows a side view of the whole unit.

FIGURE 2 shows a side view of the unit whilst the inner gimbals frame 7 is being rotated anticlockwise 25 degrees about the pitch axis.

FIGURE 3 shows a side view of the unit whilst the inner gimbals frame 7 is being rotated clockwise 25 degrees about the pitch axis.

FIGURE 4 shows a perspective view of the base frame that supports the whole unit.

FIGURE 5 shows a perspective view of the middle gimbals frame mounted onto the base frame.

FIGURE 6 shows a rear view of the unit.

FIGURE 7 shows a side view of the unit whilst the middle gimbals frame 6 is being rotated 25 degrees anticlockwise about the roll axis.

FIGURE 8 shows a side view of the unit whilst the middle gimbals frame 6 is being rotated 25 degrees clockwise about the roll axis FIGURE 9 shows a perspective view of the unit without the seat.

As shown in Figure 1 the unit comprises a seat 4 mounted onto an inner gimbals frame 7. The inner frame has a video monitor screen 3 also mounted rigidly onto it in clear view of the occupant who would be in seat 4. The inner gimbals frame can rotate in one axis due to it being mounted on two bearings 8, the angle of tilt being determined by the extension and retraction of actuator 1.

Figure 2 and 3 shows the inner frame being rotated about the pitch axis by the extension and retraction of actuator 1.

Figure 4 shows the base frame 5 that bears the mass of the whole unit. Actuator 2 is mounted onto this frame and the extension and retraction of actuator 2 causes frame 6 to rotate about the roll axis.

Figure 6, 7 and 8 shows a rear view the middle gimbals frame 6 whilst it is being tilted about its axis of rotation due to the retraction and extension of actuator 2.

The middle gimbals frame 6 is mounted onto two roller bearings 9 that allow it to rotate about one axis. The two bearings 9 are seated on a circular bar 10 that is rigidly attached to the base frame 5. Figure 4 shows the circular bar 10.

The inner gimbals frame 7 is mounted inside the middle gimbals frame 6 and any rotation by the middle frame causes the inner gimbals frame 7 to rotate with it.

Claims

1. A seat mounted in a gimbals frame allowing a human occupant and a video monitor screen to be rotated through two axis by the retraction or extension of two actuators in order to simulate motion or behaviour of objects in a computer video game.

2. A seat mounted in a gimbals frame as stated in claim 1 where the inner frame allows access to a human occupant whilst being constructed of such geometry and material that it can withstand the loading caused by their mass at all designed speeds and accelerations.

3. A seat mounted in a gimbals frame as stated in claim 1 that rotates by the force of two electrically powered linear actuators mounted perpendicular to the rotational axis of each gimbals frame so that an extension or retraction of the actuator would cause the occupant to pitch or roll about the centre point.

4. A seat mounted in a gimbals frame as stated in claim 1 that has a video monitor screen mounted rigidly to the inner gimbals frame to allow the human occupant to maintain a constant aspect to the screen.

5. A seat mounted in a gimbals frame as stated in claim 1 where the frame is constructed from steel, aluminium or any combination of both.

6. A seat mounted in a gimbals frame substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings