Abstract:
A vehicle simulation system includes a sound resonant chamber assembly for simulating audio sounds representative of the sounds produced during the operation of the simulated vehicle, comprising a speaker and a sound resonant tube attached to the speaker for enhancing and directing the audio sounds.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The invention generally relates to vehicle simulators and, more particularly, is concerned with realistically simulating to the user the sound of the vehicle as it moves within the simulated universe.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Vehicle simulators and arcade games utilizing video displays have been available to the public for some time, but with the passage of time, the simulators and video arcade games have become ever more sophisticated and realistic. In many of today&#39;s vehicle simulators and arcade video games it is desired to immerse the driver in a particular environment, for example, by placing the driver in a realistic auto cockpit with a video screen presenting a road or race course with realistic racing sounds.  
           [0005]    Great strides have been made in improving the quality of the simulation. The physical layout of a typical driving game can include clutch, brake and gas pedals, a gearshift and a steering wheel to make the driver feel as if he or she is in a real auto cockpit. The driver is provided with a video display having a realistic three-dimensional graphical representation of the driving environment. But less has been done to improve the sound quality of the arcade game beyond providing stereo sound and multiple speakers.  
           [0006]    Consequently, a need exists for realistic vehicle simulators and arcade games that accurately reproduce the real life sounds that accompany the displayed visual images in order to capture the driver&#39;s imagination and increase the quality of the driver&#39;s experience.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The aforementioned needs are satisfied by the invention which includes a vehicle simulation system including a sound resonant chamber system for simulating the audio sounds representative of the sounds produced during the operation of the simulated vehicle, including a seat, wherein a user of the simulated vehicle sits during operation of the simulated vehicle, multiple input devices 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, including audio sounds, wherein the control output signals correspond to events occurring during operation of the simulated vehicle in the simulated universe, and a sound resonant chamber assembly including a speaker and a sound tube attached to the speaker for directing the audio sounds.  
           [0008]    The invention further includes a method of realistically producing sounds representative of engine conditions produced during the operation of a simulated vehicle in a simulated driving game, including providing a plurality of input devices for controlling the operation of the simulated vehicle, determining position information of the simulated vehicle in a simulated environment, displaying position information with a view of the simulated environment as seen from said simulated vehicle on a video display to the user, producing sound signals representing engine conditions during operation of said simulated vehicle in said simulated environment, and directing the sound signals through a sound chamber to provide a realistic sound which is representative of engine conditions produced during operation of a corresponding actual vehicle and in a corresponding actual universe.  
           [0009]    These and other objects and features of the invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one preferred arcade game of the invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of one preferred embodiment of a sound resonant chamber assembly connected to a seat housing and a seat;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a sound resonant chamber assembly of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]    Reference is now made to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 shows one preferred embodiment of a simulated driving system  100  of the invention. The simulated driving system  100  is operated by a user or driver  102  (shown schematically), who desires to engage in a simulated driving experience. It should be understood that the simulated driving system  100  as hereinafter described is applicable to any type of vehicle that is operated by a human. Also, the embodiment of the simulated driving system  100  as presented in the following Figures and description is presented as an arcade game for racing. However, the invention includes a realistic sound production system that is easily generalized to simulated driving systems for all kinds of simulated vehicles and types of driving.  
         [0015]    In FIG. 1, the user  102  preferably sits in a booth or housing (not shown) such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,117, entitled “Rear Entry Booth and Adjustable Seat Apparatus for a Sit-Down Arcade Video Game,” which is hereby incorporated by reference. In that way, distractions are minimized and the user  102  can concentrate on the simulated driving system  100 . The sitting position also better simulates the actual conditions associated with driving a car.  
         [0016]    In the simulated driving system  100 , the user  102  depresses a brake pedal  106  and gas pedal  108  in the customary manner. In addition, a gearshift  110  is manipulated by the user  102  to maximize acceleration and deceleration for the given velocity of the vehicle as simulated by the simulator  100 . A steering wheel  112  is turned by the user  102  so as to guide the simulated vehicle in the desired direction of travel.  
         [0017]    The mechanical inputs provided by the user  102  to the input devices  106 ,  108 ,  110  and  112  are translated by transducers (not shown) into electrical signals which are fed into a processor  114 . The processor  114  in one embodiment includes a microprocessor (not shown) such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,178 entitled “Vehicle Simulator with Low Frequency Sound Feedback,” which is hereby incorporated by reference. The processor  114  executes computer software which is stored in a memory (not shown) such as read-only memory (ROM) chips. The computer software executed by the computer  114  is logically organized to include a control process  120 .  
         [0018]    The control process  120  receives digitized signals from the input devices  106 ,  108 ,  110  and  112 . The control process  120  then passes data from these digitized signals, across a data path  118 , to a model process  116  that models the velocity and acceleration vectors to determine position data of the simulated car. The position data is made available, across the data path  118 , back to the control process  120 . The control process  120  uses the new position of the car, and initiates signals to drive a video display  122 , general sound speakers  123  and engine noise speakers  124 , and an instrument panel  130 .  
         [0019]    The control process  120  further provides a user viewpoint into a graphical representation of the vehicle universe. In the preferred vehicle simulation embodiment, the computer  114  generates polygon graphics to the video display  122 . The video display  122  may include a plurality of video devices arranged in a semi-circle to give the user  102  a simulated view similar to that of a real car. This arrangement is known in the art and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,565, entitled “Modular Display Simulator and Method,” which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
         [0020]    The video display  122  preferably generates a color, three-dimensional graphical representation of the environment, i.e., the user&#39;s perspective of a graphical universe including items such as a roadway. The speakers  123  and  124  produce sounds such as gear changes, engine revving, skidding, and so on. The instrument panel  130  includes a speedometer to indicate the speed of the simulated vehicle, an indicator for the gear selected by using the shifter  110  and various other indicator lights. Thus, the user  102  is presented with real-time feedback from the output devices  122 ,  123 ,  124 , and  130  that is personalized according to his own individual performance and what he encounters in the simulated universe.  
         [0021]    The control process  120  further provides feedback to simulate the feeling of a steering wheel in a real automobile while being driven. This is preferably accomplished in the same manner as described in assignee&#39;s patent “Control Device such as a Steering Wheel for Video Vehicle Simulator With Realistic Feedback Forces”, U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,956 which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
         [0022]    The basic operation of the simulator system  100  will now be described. The computer  114  generates a graphics universe to be displayed to the user  102  via the video display  122  along with associated sounds via the speakers  123 ,  124 . The user  102 , in response to what he sees in the video display  122  and what he hears from the speakers  123 ,  124  manipulates the driving controls to thereby drive the simulated vehicle.  
         [0023]    In response to the user inputs provided via the input devices  106 ,  108 ,  110  and  112 , the control process  120  of the computer  114  passes data to the model process  116  via the data path  118  which enables the model process  116  to model the velocity and acceleration vectors of the simulated vehicle thereby determining the Cartesian coordinates of the vehicle. This data is then passed back to the control process  120  via the data path  118  and is then used by the control process  120  to provide additional signals to the user  102 . For example, the Cartesian coordinates as determined by the model process  116  may determine that the user  102  has driven the simulated vehicle over a cone in the simulated universe, hence the control process  120  causes the general sound speakers  123  to generate an appropriate noise as well as cause the steering wheel  112  to vibrate in the hands of the user  102  in response to hitting the cone.  
         [0024]    Music and collision sounds, such as sounds associated with the observer car colliding with barriers, cones, buildings and the like, are generated if the computer  114  determines that the simulated vehicle has collided with something and played through general sound speakers  123 . Engine noise sounds such as revving the engine are generated by the computer according to the driver inputs  106 ,  108 ,  110 , and  112  as described in the prior art and played through the engine noise speakers  124 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 is a side elevation diagram of one preferred embodiment of a sound resonant chamber assembly  200  according to the invention. FIG. 2 displays a seat  202  and a seat housing  204 . The sound resonant chamber assembly  200  is attached to the housing  204  so that it is positioned below the seat  202 . The sound resonant chamber assembly  200  includes a speaker cover  210  and a sound tube  220 . The sound tube  220  extends from the speaker cover  210  towards the rear of the housing  204  and is substantially parallel with the side of the housing  204 . The purpose of the sound resonant chamber assembly  200  is to provide the user  102  (FIG. 1) with meaningful and realistic automobile sounds such as the sounds one would hear from a car exhaust.  
         [0026]    The seat  202  is preferably made of a lightweight plastic or upholstered wood, upon which the user  102  (FIG. 1) will sit while operating the system. The housing  204  is preferably made of a durable metal or plastic. The seat  202  is movably mounted on the housing  204 , containing a seat adjust mechanism (not shown). The seat adjust mechanism can be of any type known in the art which permits the user  102  (FIG. 1) to adjust the seat  202  into a preferred position relative to the steering wheel  112  and the video display  122 .  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the sound resonant chamber assembly  200  and shows that the speaker cover  210  has a substantially horseshoe-shaped base  212  and a horseshoe-shaped mouth  214 . Extending from the mouth  214  is the sound tube  220 . The sound tube  220  can be varying lengths, such as between one foot and four feet in length. The sound tube  220  can be a circular tube having varying diameters, such as between two inches and six inches. Alternatively, the sound tube  220  can have an elliptical or other shape. Preferably, the sound tube  220  has a diameter of at least three inches. In one preferred embodiment the sound tube  220  is a substantially circular tube with a four inch diameter and is approximately 21 inches long.  
         [0028]    The sound tube  220  has two ends  302 ,  304  that can be cut at 45-degree angles so that the openings at the ends  302 ,  304  form ellipsis. A base plate  306  is attached to the first end  302  of the sound tube  220 . The base plate  306  has a top flange  308  and a bottom flange  310  opposite the top flange  308  that extend slightly beyond the outer circumference of the sound tube  220 . The base plate  306  with flanges  308 ,  310  allow for a connecting surface as will be discussed below. A tab  312  extends from one side of the base plate  306 . A side flange  314  extends from a side of the base plate  306  opposite the tab  312  and is substantially parallel with the sound tube  220 . When in the operable position, a hole  316  in the tab  312  is aligned with a hole  318  in the speaker cover  210 . Also, holes  320  in the side flange  314  are aligned with holes  322  in the speaker cover  210 . Screws or other fastening devices can be inserted through holes  316  and  318 , and holes  320  and  322  to attach the sound tube  220  to the speaker cover  210 .  
         [0029]    The engine noise speaker  124  is connected to the base plate  306  in such a way that the sounds produced by the speaker  124  are directed through the sound tube  220 .  
         [0030]    The speaker  124  is preferably a 5.25 inch full range 4 ohm speaker. Holes  332  in the top flange  308  and the bottom flange  310  align with holes  334  in the speaker  124  and screws or other fastening devices can be used to attach the speaker  124  to the base plate  306 . Alternatively, other methods can be used to attach the speaker to the base plate such as an adhesive. The tab  312  and the side flange  314  are angled so that when the speaker cover  210  is connected to the housing  204 , the sound tube  220  is adjacent to and parallel with the housing  204  as shown back in FIG. 2. The rear side of the speaker  124  is vented into the seat housing  204  forming an infinite baffle. A circular grate  336  with substantially the same diameter as the sound tube  220  is inserted in the second end  304  of the sound tube  220  to prevent debris from collecting in the sound tube  220 .  
         [0031]    In one embodiment, the sound tube  220  and the speaker cover  210  are fabricated from CR1010 commercial quality steel and are chrome-plated. This provides the desired tonal quality, and when positioned on the housing as in FIG. 2, gives the appearance of an actual hot rod car exhaust pipe. Alternatively, other materials may be used such as plastic, cardboard, etc.  
         [0032]    In one embodiment of the invention, the simulated driving system  100  can include two sound resonant chamber assemblies  200  connected on opposite sides of the housing  204 . The speakers  124  in each sound resonant chamber assemblies  200  can be wired in phase so the sound from the speakers  124  is balanced. In one embodiment, the two speakers  124  could be driven from two different sources, creating a stereo sound, further enhancing the simulation effect.  
         [0033]    The sound resonant chamber assembly  200  enhances the tonal quality of the engine noise sounds produced by the engine noise speaker  124  because the sound resonates from the sound tube  220  and is focused much like sound from an actual engine exhaust pipe. This creates a more realistic sound presentation to the driver.  
         [0034]    Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been principally shown and described as relating to a racing arcade game, the present invention could also be used in other type of vehicle arcade games, such as a motorcycle or a jet fighter game, and could also be used in a vehicle simulator such as a simulated driving system.  
         [0035]    Although the above detailed description has shown, described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to various embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention.