Atari Games Corporation

Milton H Loper, Iii

Rick L Moncrief

Max L Behensky

Erik J Durfey

Dennis D Harper

Samuel Lee

David S Akers

Mark S Pierce

A vehicle simulator has tandem surfaces for supporting first and second users, who 'drive' respective first and simulated vehicles through a simulated space. A solenoid is mounted underneath each surface for selectively impacting the associated surface to give the user the sensation of having his simulated vehicle hit by a projectile. Each user sits in front of a video monitor, and each monitor is electrically connected to a computer. Each computer has a 'map' of a simulated space stored in its electronic memory, and the computers are linked through a common RAM. The computers cause their monitors to display a changing video image of the simulated space to model motion of the simulated vehicles through the space, in response to signals from controls that can be manipulated by the operators. Each user controls a trigger which can be pushed to initiate the motion of a simulated projectile through the simulated space toward the user's vehicle. The computer of the shooter sends a signal to the RAM to indicate that s hot has been initiated. The computer of the user being shot accesses the common RAM each game cycle to determine whether a shot has been fired, and if so, computes whether the shot has 'hit' the associated vehicle. If the computer determines that a 'hit' has occurred, the computer activates the solenoid of the seat of the user being shot to thump the seat and thereby model the effects of a hit on the vehicle.

Vehicle simulator including cross-network feedback

A device for causing the steering wheel of a video-based vehicle simulator to selectively vibrate during predetermined periods of the video sequence includes a frame which is rigidly attached to the steering wheel. A cylindrical electrical motor is mounted on the frame, and a first shaft is attached to one base of the motor and extends outwardly from the motor. Also, a second shaft is attached to and extends outwardly from the other base of the motor, and the second shaft is coaxial with the first shaft. The two shafts can be rotated by the rotor of the motor. Each shaft has a weight attached to the shaft. These weights are attached to their respective shafts radially asymmetrically with respect to the axis of the shafts. One weight is attached to its shaft on one side of the axis of the shafts, and the other weight is attached to its shaft on the side of the axis which is opposite from the first weight. A microprocessor is electrically connected to the motor to selectively energize the motor during predetermined periods of the game sequence. When the motor is energized, the rotation of the weights causes the motor to vibrate. The vibration of the motor is transferred through the frame to the steering wheel.

Shaker control device

An apparatus and method for simulating the forces acting on the steering wheel or other control device of a vehicle. The apparatus uses an electrical motor coupled to a steering wheel in the preferred embodiment. The electrical motor is driven by a computer running software which received data regarding the real world forces which would be acting upon a real steering wheel in a car under similar conditions. A software driver coupled to a position-sensing transducer on the steering wheel calculates the steering wheel position and velocity and sends this data to a model process not forming part of the invention. The model process then calculates the conditions affecting the simulated vehicle and outputs data reflecting the real world forces which would affect the steering wheel of the actual car under similar conditions. This data is used to calculate a force number which in turn drives a driver amplifier and motor combination coupled to the steering wheel of the simulated vehicle to simulate the forces that the driver of a real vehicle would feel.

Control device such as a steering wheel for video vehicle simulator with

Growing community of inventors

Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Milton H Loper, Iii