Patent Publication Number: US-2023144356-A1

Title: Modular pneumatic somatosensory device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 110142041 filed in Taiwan, Republic of China on Nov. 11, 2021, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technology Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a somatosensory device and, in particular, to a modular pneumatic somatosensory device. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Currently, in order to experience a video game more realistically in a game scene, the input device of the video game has gradually developed into a somatosensory device for playing a somatosensory game (or a motion sensing game). Namely, the somatosensory game is a video game that is experienced with the body, which is totally different from the conventional operation method that simply uses a joystick (with buttons and stick). The somatosensory game is a new type of video game that is operated through changes of body movements or gestures. 
     SUMMARY 
     One or more exemplary embodiments of this disclosure are to provide a modular pneumatic somatosensory device having a high operation flexibility and freedom. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a modular pneumatic somatosensory device of this disclosure comprises a main body, a plurality of airbags, a plurality of inflating modules and a control module. The airbags are detachably disposed at different positions of the main body, and at least a part of the airbags have different sizes. The inflating modules are detachably disposed on the main body, and each of the inflating modules is correspondingly connected with at least one of the airbags. The control module is detachably disposed on the main body and electrically connected with the inflating modules. The control module controls the inflating modules to inflate the corresponding airbags according to a control signal. 
     In one embodiment, the airbags, the inflating modules and the control module are detachably disposed on the main body by hook and loop fasteners and/or buckle fasteners. 
     In one embodiment, the airbags having different sizes are disposed at different positions of the main body based on a requirement of a user. 
     In one embodiment, each airbag comprises a plurality of air cells, and the inflating module inflates the corresponding airbag so as to inflate the air cells of the airbag. 
     In one embodiment, the control signal is a wireless transmitted signal. 
     In one embodiment, the control signal is a wire transmitted signal. 
     In one embodiment, the control module comprises a communication unit, and the communication receives the control signal. 
     In one embodiment, the control signal is received from a VR device or an AR device. 
     In one embodiment, the VR device or the AR device comprises a communication unit corresponding to the communication unit of the control device. 
     In one embodiment, the modular pneumatic somatosensory device further comprises a power module detachably disposed on/in the main body, and the power module is electrically connected to the control module and the inflating modules. 
     As mentioned above, in the modular pneumatic somatosensory device of this disclosure, the airbags are detachably disposed at different positions of the main body, and at least a part of the airbags have different sizes. The inflating modules are detachably disposed on the main body, and each of the inflating modules is correspondingly connected with at least one of the airbags. The control module is detachably disposed on the main body and electrically connected with the inflating modules. The control module controls the inflating modules to inflate the corresponding airbags according to a control signal. Accordingly, the modular pneumatic somatosensory device of this disclosure has the following advantages of: 1. adapting the modular design instead of the integral design, so that the user can assemble, disassemble, repair or replace parts by himself/herself; 2. in the application of, for example, motion sensing games, the airbags of different sizes can be optionally installed corresponding to different parts of the user&#39;s body based on the somatosensory operation requirements so as to feedback the real-time somatosensory of different body parts, so that the user can experience the feelings of vibration and being held and squeezed at different body parts, thereby achieving a high operation flexibility and freedom; and 3. for children who are not suitable for using car seat belts, the modular pneumatic somatosensory device can reduce the impact force of collision accidents and reduce the probability and severity of injuries. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and accompanying drawings, which are given for illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present disclosure, and wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic block diagram of a modular pneumatic somatosensory device according to an embodiment of this disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic diagram showing a modular pneumatic somatosensory device according to an embodiment of this disclosure; 
         FIG.  3 A  is a front view of the modular pneumatic somatosensory device in use according to the embodiment of this disclosure; 
         FIG.  3 B  is a rear view of the modular pneumatic somatosensory device in use according to the embodiment of this disclosure; 
         FIG.  3 C  is a side view of the modular pneumatic somatosensory device of  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , which is wore on a user; and 
         FIGS.  4 A to  4 C  are schematic diagrams showing different types of airbags (inflated statuses). 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same references relate to the same elements. 
       FIG.  1    is a schematic block diagram of a modular pneumatic somatosensory device according to an embodiment of this disclosure,  FIG.  2    is a schematic diagram showing a modular pneumatic somatosensory device according to an embodiment of this disclosure,  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  are a front view and a rear view of the modular pneumatic somatosensory device in use according to the embodiment of this disclosure, and  FIG.  3 C  is a side view of the modular pneumatic somatosensory device of  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , which is wore on a user. To be noted,  FIG.  2    only shows two airbags  12  and two inflating modules  13 . In practice, the numbers of the airbags  12  and the inflating modules  13  can be more than two. For example, as shown in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , the number of each of the airbags  12  and the inflating modules  13  is 15, and these airbags  12  and inflating modules  13  are arranged at different positions on the front side and the rear side of the main body  11 . In addition,  FIG.  3 C  shows only the positions of the airbags  12  with respect to the user&#39;s body but does not show the main body  11  (vest). 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the modular pneumatic somatosensory device  1  comprises a main body  11  (see  FIG.  3 A ), a plurality of airbags  12 , a plurality of inflating modules  13 , and a control module  14 . In addition, the modular pneumatic somatosensory device  1  of this embodiment further comprises a power module  15  and a switch  16  (see  FIG.  2   ). 
     The main body  11  can be designed to be wore on any part of a user. For example, the main body  11  can be a vest (see  FIG.  3 A ), pants, leggings, a helmet, or any other styles of parts to be wore on the user&#39;s body. This disclosure is not limited thereto. For easy understanding, the embodiment as shown in  FIGS.  3 A to  3 C  is a vest as an example. 
     A plurality of airbags  12  are detachably disposed at different positions of the main body  11 . In this embodiment, at least a part of the airbags  12  have different sizes, and the airbags  12  with different sizes are arranged at different positions of the main body  11  based on the requirement of user. 
     A plurality of inflating modules  13  are detachably disposed on the main body  11 , and each inflating module  13  correspondingly connects to at least one of the airbags  12 . For example, the inflating module  13  can comprise an inflator pump and other components for installing the inflator pump. When the inflator pump inflates the airbag  12 , the airbag  12  can swell to provide a pushing force. In some embodiments, in order to facilitate the user to connect and assemble, different inflating modules  13  can be connected to different sizes of airbags  12 . In practice, different inflating modules  13  and different airbags  12  can be connected and distinguished by connecting tubes of different colors. For example, the inflation module  13  with a red connecting tube is connected to the airbag  12  with a red connecting tube, and the inflation module  13  with a green connecting tube is connected to the airbag  12  with a green connecting tube. This design is convenient for users to assemble or/and disassemble the components, and it is also convenient for users to install and replace by themselves. 
     In the embodiment as shown in  FIGS.  3 A to  3 B , the modular pneumatic somatosensory device  1  comprises fifteen airbags  12  and fifteen inflating modules  13 , which are detachably disposed at different positions of the main body  11  (vest). As shown in  FIG.  3 A , the front side of the main body  11  (vest) is configured with six airbags  12  corresponding to the upper part of left chest, the upper part of right chest, the lower part of left chest, the lower part of right chest, the left abdomen, and the right abdomen, respectively, and at least a part of the six airbags  12  have different sizes. For example, the airbags  12  at the upper parts of the left and right chest substantially have the same size, but are different from (smaller than) the airbags  12  at the lower part of left chest, the lower part of right chest, the left abdomen, and the right abdomen. In different embodiments, the airbags  12  at the upper parts of the left and right chest have different sizes. In addition, the airbags  12  at the lower parts of the left and right chest are smaller than the airbags  12  at the left abdomen and the right abdomen. To be noted, the sizes of the plurality of airbags  12  at the front side can be varied and are not limited to the above example. 
     As shown in  FIG.  3 B , the rear side of the main body  11  (vest) is configured with nine airbags  12  corresponding to the left, middle and right parts of upper back, the left, middle and right parts of middle back, and the left, middle and right parts of lower back, respectively, and at least a part of the nine airbags  12  have different sizes. For example, a part of the airbags  12  at the left, middle and right parts of upper back substantially have the same size, but the airbags  12  at the left, middle and right parts of upper back substantially have the same size are different from (smaller than) the airbags  12  at the left, middle and right parts of middle back, and the left, middle and right parts of lower back. In different embodiments, all of the airbags  12  at the left, middle and right parts of upper back substantially have the same size. In addition, the airbags  12  at the left, middle and right parts of middle back are smaller than the airbags  12  at the left, middle and right parts of lower back. To be noted, the sizes of the plurality of airbags  12  at the rear side can be varied and are not limited to the above example. 
     In different embodiments, the number of the airbags  12  can be less than or greater than 15, and the sizes thereof can be different. That is, the airbags  12  with different sizes can be arranged at different positions of the main body  12  based on the user&#39;s requirement. For example, if the front side of the main body  11  is configured with  5  airbags, these airbags can be arranged at the positions of the vest (main body  11 ) corresponding to the left chest, right chest, abdomen, left shoulder, and right shoulder. In this disclosure, the number, sizes and positions of the airbags  12  as well as the shape of the main body  11  are not limited. In practice, the user can arrange the airbags  12  in different sizes at proper positions based on the personal demand and the shape of the main body  11 , thereby providing the required somatosensory experience. 
     To be noted, in the embodiment as showing in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , the number of the inflating modules  13  is equal to the number of the airbags  12 , wherein one inflating module  13  corresponds to one airbag  12 . In different embodiments, one inflating module  13  can correspond to two or more airbags  12 , and this disclosure is not limited thereto. 
       FIGS.  4 A to  4 C  are schematic diagrams showing different types of airbags (inflated statuses). Herein,  FIGS.  4 A to  4 C  show three different types of airbags  12 . Specifically, the size of the air cells  121   a  of  FIG.  4 A  is larger than the size of the air cells  121   b  of  FIG.  4 B  and the size of the air cells  121   c  of  FIG.  4 C , and the arrangement density of the air cells  121   c  of  FIG.  4 C  is greater than the arrangement density of the air cells  121   a  of  FIG.  4 A  and the arrangement density of the air cells  121   b  of  FIG.  4 B . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the control module  14  is detachably disposed on the main body  11  and is electrically connected to the inflating modules  13 . The control module  14  includes a control circuit, which can control the inflating modules  13  to inflate the airbags  12  according to a control signal CS, so that the airbags  12  can swell to provide a pushing force. In this embodiment, the airbag  12  comprises a plurality of air cells  121 . When the inflating modules inflate the corresponding airbags  12 , the air cells  121  of each airbag  12  can be swelled and expand, so that the user wearing the modular pneumatic somatosensory device  1  can experience the feelings of vibration and being held and squeezed. To be noted, in addition to the application of motion sensing games, the modular pneumatic somatosensory device  1  of this embodiment can also be applied to other applications. For example, the baby children, who cannot be properly protected by car seat belts, can wear the modular pneumatic somatosensory device  1 , and the inflating modules  13  can inflate the airbags  12  (e.g. the airbags  12  positioned at the chest, abdomen and back). When the car is subjected to an impact, the expanded air cells  121  can provide impact buffering, reduce the impact force on children in the collision accident, and thus improve the safety of children in the car. 
     Different inflating modules  13  can provide the same or different airflow flux (liters/min), and the control module  14  can output corresponding electrical signals according to the control signal CS to control the inflating time or voltage of the inflating modules  13  to inflate the corresponding airbags  12 . In this case, the control signal CS can control one inflating module  13  to inflate one airbag  12 , or control multiple inflating modules  13  to inflate multiple airbags  12  at the same time, and this disclosure is not limited thereto. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , in order to achieve signal transmission, the control module  14  further comprises a communication unit  141 , which is configured to receive the control signal CS, and the virtual reality (VR) device  2  (or the augmented reality (AR) device) also comprises another communication unit  21  corresponding to the communication unit  141 . Through the communication units  141  and  21 , the control signal CS can be transmitted from the VR device  2  to the control module  14 , so that the control module  14  can control the inflating module  13  to inflate the corresponding airbag  12  according to the control signal CS. The modular pneumatic somatosensory device  1  of this embodiment can be applied to the motion sensing games, for example, applied within the VR device  2 . In different embodiments, the modular pneumatic somatosensory device  1  can also be applied to an AR device. In addition, the control signal CS transmitted from the VR device  2  of this embodiment is a wireless transmitted signal, such as the signals transmitted by Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mobile network (e.g. 3G, 4G or 5G), or the like. In different embodiments, the control signal CS can also be a wired transmitted signal, and the VR device  2  is connected to the control module  14  by a physical connection line. To be noted, how the VR  2  generates the control signal CS is not the technical feature of this disclosure, and will not be described in detail here. 
     In addition, the power module  15  can be detachably disposed on the main body  11 , and is electrically connected to the control module  14  and the inflating modules  13 . The power module  15  can comprise a lithium battery for providing the electric power to the control module  14  and the inflating modules  13 , and a switch  16  is configured between the power module  15  and the control module  14 . As shown in  FIG.  3 A , the power module  15  of this embodiment is, for example, disposed at a position on the main body  11  corresponding to the shoulder. 
     The above-mentioned airbags  12 , inflating modules  13 , control module  14  and power module  15  can be detachably disposed on/in the main body  11  by hook and loop fasteners (AKA Velcro fasteners) and/or buckle fasteners (including the buckle part and fasten part), or any of other suitable fastening components, so that the user can assemble, disassemble, repair or replace parts by himself/herself. 
     In summary, in the modular pneumatic somatosensory device of this disclosure, the airbags are detachably disposed at different positions of the main body, and at least a part of the airbags have different sizes. The inflating modules are detachably disposed on the main body, and each of the inflating modules is correspondingly connected with at least one of the airbags. The control module is detachably disposed on the main body and electrically connected with the inflating modules. The control module controls the inflating modules to inflate the corresponding airbags according to a control signal. Accordingly, the modular pneumatic somatosensory device of this disclosure has the following advantages of: 1. adapting the modular design instead of the integral design, so that the user can assemble, disassemble, repair or replace parts by himself/herself; 2. in the application of, for example, motion sensing games, the airbags of different sizes can be optionally installed corresponding to different parts of the user&#39;s body based on the somatosensory operation requirements so as to feedback the real-time somatosensory of different body parts, so that the user can experience the feelings of vibration and being held and squeezed at different body parts, thereby achieving a high operation flexibility and freedom; and 3. for children who are not suitable for using car seat belts, the modular pneumatic somatosensory device can reduce the impact force of collision accidents and reduce the probability and severity of injuries. 
     Although the disclosure has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover all modifications that fall within the true scope of the disclosure.