MOTION SIMULATING DEVICE
A motion simulating device includes a positioning unit, at least one carrier unit adapted for carrying at least one user, at least one motion mechanism, and a display unit for displaying image information for viewing by the at least one user. The at least one motion mechanism includes a motion arm, a first driver, and a second driver. The motion arm has a first end portion connected to the positioning unit and pivotable relative to the positioning unit about a first axis, and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion. The at least one carrier unit is connected to the second end portion of the motion arm and pivotable relative to the motion arm about a second axis.
This application claims priority of Taiwanese Invention Patent Application No. 107115177, filed on May 4, 2018.
FIELDThe disclosure relates to a motion simulating device, more particularly to a motion simulating device with simplified motion mechanism.
BACKGROUNDReferring to
Even though the motion mechanisms 12 can drive the seats 13 to perform multi-axial movement with high degrees of freedom, the linear actuators 121 are unable to perform larger range motions. Moreover, the structure and control of the motion mechanisms 12 are complicated, which increase the costs of manufacture and maintenance.
SUMMARYTherefore, the object of the disclosure is to provide a motion simulating device that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.
According to the disclosure, a motion simulating device includes a positioning unit, at least one carrier unit connected to the positioning unit and adapted for carrying at least one user, at least one motion mechanism, and a display unit for displaying image information for viewing by the at least one user.
The at least one motion mechanism includes a motion arm, a first driver, and a second driver.
The motion arm has a first end portion connected to the positioning unit and pivotable relative to the positioning unit about a first axis, and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion. The at least one carrier unit is connected to the second end portion of the motion arm and is pivotable relative to the motion arm about a second axis.
The first driver is disposed for driving the pivot action of the motion arm about the first axis relative to the positioning unit.
The second driver is disposed for driving the pivot action of the at least one carrier unit about the second axis relative to the motion arm.
Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
Referring to
The positioning unit 2 may be a wall or a frame for the motion mechanism 3 to be pivotally connected to, and may be adapted depending on practical requirements relating to the location and use of the device. In this embodiment, the positioning unit 2 includes two parallel and spaced apart walls 20 (only one shown in
The motion mechanism 3 includes a motion arm 31, a support arm 33, a first driver 34 and a second driver 35.
The motion arm 31 has a first end portion 311 connected to one of the walls 20 of the positioning unit 2 and pivotable relative to the positioning unit 2 about a first axis 310, and a second end portion 313 opposite to the first end portion 311. The carrier unit 32 is connected to the second end portion 313 of the motion arm 31 and is pivotable relative to the motion arm 31 about a second axis 312. In this embodiment, the first and second axes 310, 312 are parallel to each other and extend along a left-right direction of the users 5. The first driver 34 is disposed for driving the pivot action of the motion arm 31 about the first axis 310 relative to the positioning unit 2. The second driver 35 is disposed for driving the pivot action of the carrier unit 32 about the second axis relative to the motion arm 31. The support arm 33 has two end portions that are respectively and pivotally connected to the other one of the walls 20 of the positioning unit 2 and the carrier unit 32.
The carrier unit 32 includes a load platform 321 connected to the second end portion 313 of the motion arm 31 of the motion mechanism 3, at least one seat body 322 connected to the load platform 321, a linkage member 323, and a third driver 324. In this embodiment, the carrier unit 32 includes a plurality of the seat bodies 322 connected to the load platform 321 and adapted to be seated on by a plurality of the users 5, the linkage member 323 interconnects the seat bodies 322, and the third driver 324 is operable to move the linkage member 323 back and forth such that the seat bodies 322 tilts to the left and right thereof and relative to the load platform 321. Each of the seat bodies 322 is pivotable about an axis which extends in a front-rear direction of the seat bodies 322 and which is substantially perpendicular to the first and second axes 310, 312. In variations of the embodiment (see
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In sum, the motion mechanism 3 of the disclosure uses the first and second drivers 34, 35 to respectively drive the motion arm 31 and the carrier unit 32 to a large range of circular motion with a simplified structure that reduces cost.
In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiment. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects, and that one or more features or specific details from one embodiment may be practiced together with one or more features or specific details from another embodiment, where appropriate, in the practice of the disclosure.
While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the exemplary embodiment, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
Claims
1. A motion simulating device comprising:
- a positioning unit;
- at least one carrier unit connected to said positioning unit and adapted for carrying at least one user;
- at least one motion mechanism including a motion arm that has a first end portion connected to said positioning unit and pivotable relative to said positioning unit about a first axis, and a second end portion opposite to said first end portion, said at least one carrier unit being connected to said second end portion of said motion arm and being pivotable relative to said motion arm about a second axis, a first driver that is disposed for driving the pivot action of said motion arm about the first axis relative to said positioning unit, and a second driver that is disposed for driving the pivot action of said at least one carrier unit about the second axis relative to said motion arm; and
- a display unit for displaying image information for viewing by the at least one user.
2. The motion simulating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one carrier unit includes a load platform connected to said second end portion of said motion arm of said at least one motion mechanism, and a plurality of seat bodies connected to said load platform and adapted to be seated on by a plurality of the users.
3. The motion simulating device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least one carrier unit further includes a linkage member interconnecting said seat bodies, and a third driver operable to move said linkage member back and forth such that said seat bodies tilt to the left and right thereof and relative to said load platform.
4. The motion simulating device as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said seat bodies is pivotable about a third axis which extends in a front-rear direction of said seat bodies and which is substantially perpendicular to the first and second axes.
5. The motion simulating device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said at least one motion mechanism further includes a support arm having two end portions that are respectively and pivotally connected to said positioning unit and said at least one carrier unit, said support arm and said motion arm being respectively and pivotally connected to opposite left and right sides of said at least one carrier unit.
6. The motion simulating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one carrier unit includes a load platform connected to said second end portion of said motion arm of said at least one motion mechanism, and a seat body connected to said load platform and adapted to be seated on by the at least one user.
7. The motion simulation device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said at least one carrier unit further includes a linkage member connected to said seat body, and a third driver operable to move said linkage member back and forth such that said seat body tilts to the left and right thereof and relative to said load platform.
8. The motion simulating device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said seat body is pivotable about a third axis which extends in a front-rear direction of said seat body and which is substantially perpendicular to the first and second axis.
9. The motion simulating device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said at least one motion mechanism further includes a support arm having two end portions that are respectively and pivotally connected to said positioning unit and said at least one carrier unit, said support arm and said motion arm being respectively and pivotally connected to opposite left and right sides of said at least one carrier unit.
10. The motion simulating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said positioning unit includes at least one movable vehicle mounted to said motion arm of said at least one motion mechanism for moving said at least one motion mechanism between different locations.
11. The motion simulating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display unit includes at least one head-mounted display adapted to be worn by the at least one user.
Type: Application
Filed: May 3, 2019
Publication Date: Nov 7, 2019
Inventors: Wei-Ching TANG (Kaohsiung), Ke-Cheng CHIEN (Kaohsiung)
Application Number: 16/403,346