US4527980A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flight simulating video game
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-04-07
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Granted: 1985-07-09
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Expires: 2003-04-07
Abstract
Abstract An enclosure generally shaped to simulate the appearance of a flight vehicle is provided with a seat facing a video display and is supported on a parabolic dish for freedom of angular motion in the pitch and roll modes. Included in the enclosure may be a weighted control stick which, according to its angular displacement, displaces the effective center of gravity, thus moving the enclosure in the pitch and roll modes. A set of orthogonal resolvers deployed in the enclosure and pendulum articulated provide binary signals of the pitch and roll angles achieved to the video display, simulating the flight vehicle attitude while a program is cycled through a microprocessor and superposed onto the pitch and roll inputs to generate on the video screen images simulating flight.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W. Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:20
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B9/00; G09B9/02; G09B9/08; G09B9/12; G06; G06T; G06T15/00; G06T15/10; G09B9/30; G09B9/301; G09B9/302
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
Apparatus conformed to simulate the angular motions of a flight vehicle comprising: an enclosure provided with a seat conformed to support an occupant and an accessway for ingress and egress to said seat; a parabolic support surface interposed between said enclosure and ground conformed for angular displacement relative ground in response to changes of center of gravity alignment of said enclosure; and moveable control means deployed in said enclosure and provided with weights for changing the alignment of said center of gravity, including a plurality of pivotal members each supporting a corresponding weight, said members being adjustably linked to each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus conformed to simulate the angular motions of a flight vehicle comprising: an enclosure provided with a seat conformed to support an occupant and an accessway for ingress and egress to said seat; a parabolic support surface interposed between said enclosure and ground conformed for angular displacement relative ground in response to changes of center of gravity alignment of said enclosure; and moveable control means deployed in said enclosure and provided with weights for changing the alignment of said center of gravity, including a plurality of pivotal members each supporting a corresponding weight, said members being adjustably linked to each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: spring means connected to said control means for maintaining the alignment thereof in a predetermined relationship relative said enclosure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein: said parabolic support surface is formed of a resilient material arranged to define a hermetic cavity subjacent said enclosure including pressurization means for selective expansion and contraction thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
An emulator for emulating the angular motion of a flight vehicle comprising: an enclosure including a seat for use by an occupant and a moveable access closure for providing means for ingress and egress to said seat; a parabolic support surface fixed subjacent said enclosure and conformed to provide stable states of alignment at various angular attitudes relative ground; and moveable control means deployed in said enclosure for altering the angular alignment thereof, including a plurality of pivotal members each supporting a corresponding weight, said members being adjustably linked to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
92 words
An emulator for emulating the angular motion of a flight vehicle comprising: an enclosure including a seat for use by an occupant and a moveable access closure for providing means for ingress and egress to said seat; a parabolic support surface fixed subjacent said enclosure and conformed to provide stable states of alignment at various angular attitudes relative ground; and moveable control means deployed in said enclosure for altering the angular alignment thereof, including a plurality of pivotal members each supporting a corresponding weight, said members being adjustably linked to each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising: detection means deployed in said enclosure for sensing the angular alignment thereof relative ground and for producing an electrical signal indicative of said sensed alignment; and video display means mounted in said enclosure and operatively connected to said detection means for producing a display in correspondence with said electrical signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising: a throttle control actuator mounted for pivotal motion in said enclosure for emulating the throttle control of a flight vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising: sensing means connected to sense the pivotal motion of said throttle control actuator for producing a throttle signal indicative of the pivotal alignment thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising: adding means connected to receive said throttle and electrical signals for integrating the difference therebetween.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-07-08 | 1989-01-07 | 1989-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-07-08 | 1993-01-07 | 1993-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-07-08 | 1997-01-07 | 1997-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |