HAPTIC FLOOR SYSTEM WITH QUAKE PLATE ASSEMBLIES PRODUCING LARGE VIBRATION EFFECTS

Number: 20200038767
Published: 2020-02-06
Filed: 2019-10-10
Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors: SMOOT; LANNY S., CHRISTENSEN; DAVID LOYAL
CPC: A63G31/02; A63G33/00; A63G31/14; E04B5/43
Verdict: High Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Haptic vibrating-floor show-effect hardware (Smoot).

Abstract

A haptic floor system is provided that produces large vibration-based effects through the use of one-to-many panel or plate assemblies that can each be selectively operated by a controller in a programmed manner or in response to sensor outputs. Each of these panel or plate assemblies may be labeled a “quake plate assembly” as the special effect delivered by the haptic floor system can provide a person supported by one of the quake plate assemblies with ground trembling and vibrations similar to that felt in an earthquake or when a super strong fictional character strikes the floor nearby or a large animal or robot walks or runs by the person. Each quake plate assembly may include a thin plate or panel with an upper contact surface for supporting people or objects and an opposite lower surface, and one-to-many actuators may be provided on the lower surface of the thin plate.

Background

BACKGROUND1. Field of the Description

The present description relates, in general, to techniques and systems for producing haptic feedback or effects to users of particular devices or to participants in an entertainment or other physical world experience. More particularly, the description relates to systems and methods for providing a floor or support platform that can be selectively vibrated to provide haptic feedback or a large haptic effect that can be experienced by people on the floor or support platform.2. Relevant Background

There are many applications where it is desirable to provide people with new and surprising entertainment experiences. For example, theme and amusement parks are continuously searching for new ways to entertain their visitors and to draw in new visitors. Often, it is desirable for the experience to be immersive and hands on, and, if possible, it is desirable to deliver entertainment that is not available outside that particular theme or amusement park. Further, there is often a demand that the entertainment experience involves groups of participants who can interact with each other while they are all facing something new and unique.

For example, there is a demand for a physical world environment to be designed and built that can selectively provide people in that environment with haptic feedback in the form of a vibrating floor or ground. For example, the entertainment experience may involve placing the people in a space where on

Claims

1. A haptic floor system adapted to provide a vibration-based haptic experience, comprising: a master controller; and a plurality of quake plate assemblies, each of the quake plate assemblies comprising: a plate with an upper contact surface and a lower mounting surface opposite the upper contact surface, and at least one actuator mounted on the lower mounting surface and operable to apply forces to the plate to cause the upper contact surface to vibrate, wherein, in response to a sensed event, the master controller generates and transmits control signals to the plurality of quake plate assemblies to independently trigger operations of the plurality of quake plate assemblies to sequentially or concurrently operate to apply the forces to concurrently or sequentially vibrate the upper contact surfaces of the plurality of quake plate assemblies, and wherein the at least one actuator comprises at least one voice coil motor (VCM). 9. An apparatus for providing a vibration-based haptic experience, comprising: a plate with an upper contact surface and a lower mounting surface opposite the upper contact surface; an actuator coupled to the lower mounting surface, wherein the actuator includes at least one linear resonator actuator (LRA) operable to cause the plate to vibrate; and a controller generating control signals to trigger operations of the actuator to vibrate the upper contact surface and provide the vibration-based haptic experience. 16. A haptic floor system adapted to provide a vibration-based haptic experience, comprising: a master controller; and a plurality of quake plate assemblies, each of the quake plate assemblies comprising: a plate with an upper contact surface and a lower mounting surface opposite the upper contact surface, and at least one actuator mounted on the lower mounting surface and operable to apply forces to the plate to cause the upper contact surface to vibrate, wherein, in response to a sensed event, the master controller generates and transmits control signals to the plurality of quake plate assemblies to independently trigger operations of the at least one actuator of each of the quake plate assemblies to sequentially or concurrently operate to apply the forces to concurrently or sequentially vibrate the upper contact surfaces of the plurality of quake plate assemblies, and wherein each of the quake plate assemblies includes a local controller and memory storing a library of haptic effect definitions and wherein the local controller, in response to receipt of one of the control signals, retrieves one of the haptic effect definitions and operates the actuator to apply the forces to the plate.