Vehicle simulator with low frequency sound feedback

Claim 2

A low frequency sound system of a vehicle simulation system for simulating the physical sensation representative of the sensations produced during the operation of the simulated vehicle, comprising: a seat, wherein a user of the simulated vehicle sits during operation of the simulated vehicle; a plurality of input device corresponding to input devices of the vehicle simulated by the vehicle simulation system; a computer for receiving input signals from the input devices; a control process executed by the computer for selectively converting the input signals into a plurality of control output signals, wherein the plurality of control output signals correspond to a plurality of events occurring during operation of the simulated vehicle in simulated universe; and a transducer responsive to the control output signals for communicating a plurality of low frequency output signals to the seat, wherein each of the plurality of low frequency output signals produce a corresponding physical motion of the seat so as to provide the user with a physical sensation that corresponds to one of the plurality of events occurring during the operation of the simulated vehicle in the simulated universe.

Claim 3

A vehicle simulator for modeling physical sensations produced by occurrence of physical events during the operation of the simulated vehicle in the simulated universe, comprising: a plurality of input devices for controlling the operation of a simulated vehicle; a controller which receives signals from at least one of said plurality of input devices that direct said simulated vehicle through a simulated universe wherein at least one of said plurality of simulated physical events occur by said simulated vehicle in a simulated universe; a computer, responsive to the controller, for determining position information of the simulated vehicle in said simulated universe and for providing a signal representing occurrence of a simulated physical events during operation of said simulated vehicle in said simulated universe; and a low frequency sound system, having a speaker positioned in the proximity to a user and responsive to the signal produced by the computer, for communicating a of frequency sound signal from the speaker which produces a physical sensation felt by the user that is representative of a sensation that said user would detect upon actual occurrence of the simulated physical event occurring during the operation of the simulated vehicle in the simulated universe.

Claim 4

A vehicle simulator for modeling physical sensations produced by occurrence of physical events during the operation of the simulated vehicle in the simulated universe, comprising: a plurality of input devices for controlling the operation of a simulated vehicle; a controller which receives signals from at least one of said plurality of input devices that direct said simulated vehicle through a simulated universe wherein at least one of said plurality of simulated physical events occur by said simulated vehicle in a simulated universe; a computer, responsive to the controller, for determining position information of the simulated vehicle in said simulated universe and for providing a signal representing occurrence of a simulated physical events during operation of said simulated vehicle in said simulated universe; and a low frequency sound system, having a speaker positioned in the proximity to a user and responsive to the signal produced by the computer, for communicating a of frequency sound signal from the speaker which produces a physical sensation felt by the user that is representative of a sensation that said user would detect upon actual occurrence of the simulated physical event occurring during the operation of the simulated vehicle in the simulated universe.

Claim 5

A simulator as defined in claim 2, further comprising a surface positionable in physical contact with the user and responsive to the sound signal such that said surface communicates said physical sensation to said user.

Claim 6

A simulator as defined in claim 2, wherein the computer selects one of a plurality of sound signals stored in a memory in response to the determined position information, and provides the selected signal to the speaker of said low frequency sound system.

Claim 7

A simulator as defined in claim 4, further comprising a video display responsive to the signals from the computer for providing the user with a view of the simulated universe.

Claim 8

A simulation system for a user of a simulated vehicle for providing simulated physical sensations representative of the sensations produced during the operation of the simulated vehicle, comprising: a plurality of simulated input devices for controlling the operation of the simulated vehicle; modeling means responsive to the input devices for determining position information of the simulated vehicle in a simulated environment; a video display for presenting the user with a view of the simulated environment as seen from said simulated vehicle; and means, responsive to the position information of the simulated vehicle in said simulated environment, for providing to the user a selected low frequency sound signal representing occurrence of a simulated physical event during operation of said simulated vehicle in said simulated environment, wherein said low frequency sound signal is selected from a plurality of low frequency sound signals stored in a signal storing means and wherein each of said low frequency sound signals is configured to produce a physical sensation that is sensed by the user and which is representative of a sensation produced during operation of a corresponding actual vehicle in a corresponding actual position and in a corresponding actual universe.

Claim 9

A simulation system for a user of a simulated vehicle for providing simulated physical sensations representative of the sensations produced during the operation of the simulated vehicle, comprising: a plurality of simulated input devices for controlling the operation of the simulated vehicle; modeling means responsive to the input devices for determining position information of the simulated vehicle in a simulated environment; a video display for presenting the user with a view of the simulated environment as seen from said simulated vehicle; and means, responsive to the position information of the simulated vehicle in said simulated environment, for providing to the user a selected low frequency sound signal representing occurrence of a simulated physical event during operation of said simulated vehicle in said simulated environment, wherein said low frequency sound signal is selected from a plurality of low frequency sound signals stored in a signal storing means and wherein each of said low frequency sound signals is configured to produce a physical sensation that is sensed by the user and which is representative of a sensation produced during operation of a corresponding actual vehicle in a corresponding actual position and in a corresponding actual universe.

Claim 10

The simulation system of claim 6, wherein the low frequency sound signal providing means comprises: means for processing the selected low frequency sound signal retrieved from the signal storing means; and means for transducing the selected low frequency sound signal received from the processing means into low frequency sound.

Claim 11

The simulation system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of low frequency sound signals include signals representative of the physical sensation of the simulated vehicle colliding with an object in the simulated evironment.

Claim 12

The simulation system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of low frequency sound signals comprises a plurality of digital signals and processing means comprises: a digital to analog converter receiving the digital signals from the signal storing means; a filter receiving analog signals from the converter; and an amplifier receiving a filtered signals from the filter.

Claim 13

The simulation system of claim 9, wherein the filter is a low pass filter.

Claim 14

The simulation system of claim 7, wherein the transducing means comprises: a speaker providing an audio signal to a chamber; and a semi-rigid diaphragm connected to the chamber which vibrates in response to the audio signal.

Claim 15

The simulation system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of low frequency sound signals include signals representative of the physical sensation of the simulated vehicle colliding with objects in the simulated environment.

Claim 16

The simulation system of claim 12, wherein the simulated vehicle comprises an automobile equipped with an engine and the plurality of low frequency sound signals include signals representative of the physical sensation of the revving of the automobile engine.

Claim 17

A simulation system for a user of a simulated vehicle for providing simulated physical sensations representative of the sensations produced during the operation of the simulated vehicle, comprising: a plurality of simulated input devices for controlling operation of the simulated vehicle in a simulated universe; a computer, responsive to the plurality of simulated input devices, for determining position information of the simulated vehicle in the simulated universe and for providing a plurality of control signals at least in part in response to the position information of the simulated vehicle in the simulated universe; a video display responsive to the plurality of control signals for providing the user with a view of the simulated universe as seen from the simulated vehicle; and a low frequency sound system, having a speaker positioned adjacent to the user for providing the user with low frequency sound signals that are configured to produce physical sensations experienced by the user which are representative of physical sensations that occur during operation of a corresponding actual vehicle in a corresponding actual universe, wherein the low frequency sound system responsive to the control signals selects one of a plurality of low frequency sound signals stored in the computer corresponding to the determined position information, and provides the selected signal to the speaker.

Claim 18

A simulation system for a user of a simulated vehicle for providing simulated physical sensations representative of the sensations produced during the operation of the simulated vehicle, comprising: a plurality of simulated input devices for controlling operation of the simulated vehicle in a simulated universe; a computer, responsive to the plurality of simulated input devices, for determining position information of the simulated vehicle in the simulated universe and for providing a plurality of control signals at least in part in response to the position information of the simulated vehicle in the simulated universe; a video display responsive to the plurality of control signals for providing the user with a view of the simulated universe as seen from the simulated vehicle; and a low frequency sound system, having a speaker positioned adjacent to the user for providing the user with low frequency sound signals that are configured to produce physical sensations experienced by the user which are representative of physical sensations that occur during operation of a corresponding actual vehicle in a corresponding actual universe, wherein the low frequency sound system responsive to the control signals selects one of a plurality of low frequency sound signals stored in the computer corresponding to the determined position information, and provides the selected signal to the speaker.

Claim 19

The simulation system of claim 14, wherein the simulated vehicle comprises an automobile and the plurality of simulated input devices includes a steering wheel, an accelerator pedal, a gear shift, and a brake pedal.

Claim 20

The simulation system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of stored low frequency sound signals include signals representative of the physical sensation produced by the simulated vehicle hitting a simulated object in the simulated universe.

Claim 21

The simulation system of claim 16, wherein the simulated vehicle comprises an automobile containing an engine and the plurality of stored low frequency sound signals representative of the physical sensation of the revving of the engine.

Claim 22

The simulation system of claim 14, wherein the vehicle simulator includes a seat mounted on a base for the user of the simulated vehicle.

Claim 23

The simulation system of claim 18, wherein the base includes an enclosure and the diaphragm of the speaker is positioned adjacent the enclosure so that when the speaker transmits a low frequency signal representative of a physical sensation produced by the operation of the simulated vehicle, the air contained within the enclosure is displaced causing the seat mounted on the base to vibrate.

Claim 24

The system of claim 18, wherein the seat includes an interior hollow enclosure located in the back of the seat, said hollow enclosure containing a bladder, and wherein the speaker is mounted in the back of the seat adjacent the bladder so that when the speaker transmits a low frequency signal representative of a physical sensation produced by the operation of the simulated vehicle, the air contained within the bladder is displaced causing the seat to vibrate.

Claim 25

A simulation system including a simulated vehicle for providing simulated physical sensations representative of the sensations produced during the operation of the simulated vehicle, the system comprising: a plurality of simulated input devices for controlling the operation of the simulated vehicle; a computer, responsive to the plurality of simulated input devices, for determining position information of the simulated vehicle in the simulated universe and for providing a plurality of control signals in response to the determined position information; a video display, responsive to the plurality of control signals, for providing the user with a view of the simulated universe as seen from said simulated vehicle as the simulated vehicle moves through the simulated universe; and a low frequency sound feedback system, having a low frequency speaker positioned adjacent to the user for providing the user with low frequency sound signals producing a physical sensation representative of a physical sensation produced during operation of an actual vehicle in conditions corresponding to those influencing operation of the simulated vehicle in an actual universe, wherein the low frequency sound feedback system responsive to the control signals selects one of a plurality of low frequency sound signals stored in the computer corresponding to the determined position information and provides the selected signal to the low frequency speaker thereby producing the physical sensation.

Claim 26

A simulation system including a simulated vehicle for providing simulated physical sensations representative of the sensations produced during the operation of the simulated vehicle, the system comprising: a plurality of simulated input devices for controlling the operation of the simulated vehicle; a computer, responsive to the plurality of simulated input devices, for determining position information of the simulated vehicle in the simulated universe and for providing a plurality of control signals in response to the determined position information; a video display, responsive to the plurality of control signals, for providing the user with a view of the simulated universe as seen from said simulated vehicle as the simulated vehicle moves through the simulated universe; and a low frequency sound feedback system, having a low frequency speaker positioned adjacent to the user for providing the user with low frequency sound signals producing a physical sensation representative of a physical sensation produced during operation of an actual vehicle in conditions corresponding to those influencing operation of the simulated vehicle in an actual universe, wherein the low frequency sound feedback system responsive to the control signals selects one of a plurality of low frequency sound signals stored in the computer corresponding to the determined position information and provides the selected signal to the low frequency speaker thereby producing the physical sensation.

Claim 27

The simulation system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of stored low frequency sound signals include signals representative of a physical sensation produced by the simulated vehicle hitting a simulated object in the simulated universe.

Claim 28

The simulation system of claim 21, wherein the simulated vehicle comprises an automobile containing an engine and the plurality of stored low frequency sound signals include signals representative of the physical sensation of the revving of the engine.

Claim 29

The simulation system of claim 21, wherein the vehicle simulator includes a seat mounted on a base for the user of the simulated vehicle.

Claim 30

The simulation system of claim 24, wherein the base includes an enclosure and the diaphragm of the low frequency speaker is positioned adjacent the enclosure so that when the low frequency speaker transmits a low frequency signal, the air contained within the enclosure is displaced causing the seat mounted on the base to vibrate.

Claim 31

The simulation system of claim 24, wherein the seat includes an interior hollow enclosure located in the back of the seat, said hollow enclosure containing a bladder, and wherein the low frequency speaker is mounted in the back of the seat adjacent to the bladder so that when the low frequency speaker transmits a low frequency signal, the air contained within the bladder is displaced causing the seat to vibrate.