Abstract:
The present document describes an actuated chair for inducing motion with respect to the ground as a function of motion signals synchronized with a video output of a feature length movie. The chair comprises a seat base, and an actuating base for receiving the motion signals. The actuating base comprises three link members, namely a first link member, a second link member and a third link member. Each link member has one translational degree of freedom and two rotational degrees of freedom. The first link member and the second link member are attached to the seat base closer to the rear edge than the third link member. The actuating base further comprises three linear actuators for inducing motion to the seat base. The actuators are fixed to the frame and each actuator is respectively connected to the seat base using a respective one of the three link members.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the first disclosure of this invention. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This description relates to the field of motion-enabled chair. More particularly, this description relates to actuation of movie theatre seats. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Prior art systems include motion simulators and motion chairs used in homes, in video game arcades and in attraction park rides. 
     There is a need to introduce the technology of providing motion in seats installed in movie theatres. In the context of a movie theatre, restrictions relative to the space occupied by each individual seat are present and need to be overcome. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an actuated chair for providing seating and inducing motion to a single user with respect to the ground as a function of motion signals synchronized with a video output of a feature length movie. The chair comprises a seat base for providing seating to the single user. The seat base has a rear edge. The chair further comprises an actuating base for receiving the motion signals. The actuating base is located substantially between the seat base and the ground and comprises a frame for interfacing with the ground. The actuating base also comprises three link members, namely a first link member, a second link member and a third link member. Each link member has one translational degree of freedom and two rotational degrees of freedom. The first link member and the second link member are attached to the seat base closer to the rear edge than the third link member. The actuating base further comprises three linear actuators for inducing motion to the seat base. The actuators are fixed to the frame and each actuator is respectively connected to the seat base using a respective one of the three link members. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an actuated chair for providing seating and inducing motion to one or more users with respect to the ground as a function of motion signals. The chair comprises a seat base for providing seating to the one or more users. The seat base has a rear edge. The chair further comprises an actuating base for receiving the motion signals. The actuating base comprises a frame for interfacing with the ground. The actuating base also comprises a link member having a translational degree of freedom and a rotational degree of freedom. The actuating base further comprises a linear actuator for inducing motion to the seat base. The actuator is fixed to the frame and is connected to the seat base using the link member. 
     According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided an actuating base for installation to a seat base between the seat base and the ground. The seat base is for providing seating to a user. The seat base has a rear edge. The actuating base is for inducing motion to the user with respect to the ground as a function of motion signals. The actuating base comprises a frame for interfacing with the ground. The actuating base also comprises a link member having a translational degree of freedom and a rotational degree of freedom. The actuating base further comprises a linear actuator for inducing motion to the seat base. The actuator is fixed to the frame and being connected to the seat base using the link member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a chair according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an actuated base according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a rear link member according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a front link member according to an embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a front link member according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an actuated movie chair  100  ( FIG. 1 ) is shown. The base  200  ( FIG. 2 ) of the chair  100  lies on the ground and is covered by a protective cover  101 . The seating portion of the chair  100  is very similar to a standard movie chair or seat and comprises a seat base  102 , a backrest  103  and armrests  104 - 105 . Although the chair  100  shown in  FIG. 1  is designed for one user/movie viewer, it is understood that the concepts described herein extend to multi-user chair as well. 
     Between the protective cover  101  and the seat base  102  there may be a protection skirt (not shown) for preventing users from injury while viewing a moving which comprising motion effects. According to an embodiment, the terms “protective cover” includes the protection skirt. The protection skirt is horizontally wrinkled and made of flexible material to adjust itself during the actuating (movement of the chair). 
     Below the right armrest  104 , a control panel  107  is accessible to the user for controlling the intensity (e.g., the amplitude range of the actuators  206   a - b - c ) of the motion effect inducing in the chair  100 . Some of the options (i.e., modes of operation) include “Off” (i.e., no motion), “Light” (i.e., reduced motion), “Normal” (i.e., regular motion), “Heavy” (i.e., maximum motion), “Discreet” (i.e., fully controllable motion level between “Off” and “Heavy”), and “Automatic”. Optionally, a vibration signal, a sound signal or light signal is provided to the user to indicate in which mode of operation or at which intensity level the chair  100  is operating. 
     In the “Automatic” mode, the chair  100  uses a sensor (not shown) to detect a characteristic of the user (e.g., weight) and, based on the characteristic, determines the setting for the level of motion that will be induced in the chair  100 . The sensor function can be achieved by a combination of feedback through one or more actuators  206   a - b - c  and software algorithm hosted in the processor (not shown) of the controller  210 . The weight sensor function can also be achieved by using a separate sensor  208  (see  FIG. 2 ) installed on the chair  100 . Sensor  208  is in communication (wired or wireless) communication with the controller  210  to determine, using a software algorithm, a characteristic of the user. The control panel  107  is therefore in communication with the controller  210 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown an actuating base  200  anchored to the floor using bolts  201 - 202  via anchor points (not visible) through anchor plates  203 - 204  (and another anchor plate which is not visible). Anchor plates  203 - 204  are fixed (e.g., welded) to a frame  205 . The fixed portions  208   a - b - c  of the three electrical linear actuators  206   a - b - c  are fixed to the frame  205  using bolts  207   a - b . Actuators  206   a - b - c  may be thereby be removed and replaced. During use of the chair  100 , there is no relative movement between the fixed portions  208   a - b - c  of the three electrical linear actuators  206   a - b - c  and the frame. 
     The linear directions of movement of each of the actuators  206   a - b - c  define three linear axes which are substantially vertical (i.e., perpendicular) with respect to the ground or floor on which the chair is installed. 
     The mobile portions  209   a - b - c  of the actuators  206   a - b - c  are connected to the seat base  102  using link members  300   a - b - c . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the fixed portion  208   a  of the front actuators  206   a  is more distant from the ground than the fixed portions  208   b - c  of the two rear actuators  206   b - c . This results in a rearward inclination of the seat base  102  when the actuators  206   a - b - c  are in their reference position. The inclination of the seat base  102  is useful in providing a natural seating position to the user. 
     The person skilled in the art will understand that electrical linear actuators  206   a - b - c  can be replaced by any linear actuators powered by any other types of energies such as hydraulic, pneumatic, or thermal. 
     The function of controller  210  is to receive motion signals from an encoder (not shown) and interpret and transform the motion signals into drive signals for driving each actuator  206   a - b - c.    
     The controller  210 , or another electronic device with a processor and memory (not shown), may include functionalities related to the maintenance of the actuators  206   a - b - c . This includes saving data in memory for download and analysis. The types of data include: time since installation, time since new, time under power, accelerations induced to the chair over time, number of movie representations shown, etc. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown the link member  300   b  between the actuator  206   b  and the seat base  102  located at the right rear corner of the seat base  102 . The link member  300   b  comprises an eye connector  304   b  mounted on a ball  303   b  having a hole for admitting a shaft  302   b  therethrough. The eye connector  304   b  is screwed into the seat base  102 . The ball  303   b  provides three rotational degrees of freedom. A person skilled in the art will understand that only two of the three rotational degrees of freedom could be used. An embodiment where only two rotational degrees of freedom are present is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The shaft  302   b  is mounted on a cradle  301   b  attached to the mobile portion  209   b  of the actuator  206   b . The ball  303   b  is free to move on the shaft  302   b . The movement of the ball  303   b  on the shaft  302   b  provides a translational degree of freedom along a longitudinal axis of the shaft  302   b.    
     The longitudinal axis of the shaft  302   b  is from right to left of the seat base  102  from the point of view of the user. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown the link member  300   a  between the actuator  206   a  and the seat base  102  centered at the front of the seat base  102 . The link member  300   a  comprises an eye connector  304   a  mounted on a ball  303   a  having a hole for admitting a shaft  302   a  therethrough. The eye connector  304   a  is screwed into the seat base  102 . The ball  303   a  provides three rotational degrees of freedom. 
     The shaft  302   a  is mounted on a cradle  301   a  attached to the mobile portion  209   a  of the actuator  206   a . The ball  303   a  is free to move on the shaft  302   a . The movement of the ball  303   a  on the shaft  302   a  provides a translational degree of freedom along a longitudinal axis of the shaft  302   a.    
     The longitudinal axis of the shaft  302   a  is from front to rear of the seat base from the point of view of the user. The actuator  206   a  is located in the middle of the front edge of the seat base  102  thereby providing free space on each side thereof for the legs of the user under the seat base  102 . 
     The embodiment described is useful for inducing motion to a user in two rotational degrees of freedom to pitch and roll and in one translational up/down degree of freedom. 
     Other embodiments are possible where only two actuators are used at the back of the seat base  102  and one fixed point of contact is present forward of the two actuators. Other possible embodiments would include only one actuator, possibly at the front of the seat base  102 , and one or more fixed point of contact, possibly at the back of the seat base  102 . 
     Now referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown another embodiment of a link member  500   a . In  FIG. 5 , link member  500   a  is installed between the actuator  206   a  and the seat base  102 . Other link members which may be installed at the rear of seat base  102  are not shown. 
     In an embodiment, link member  500   a  would be attached at the center forward of the middle of the seat base  102 . The link member  500   a  comprises a connector  503   a  mounted on a pivot joint  502   a  forming part of a sliding ring  501   a  for admitting a shaft  302   a  therethrough. The connector  503   a  is screwed into the seat base  102 . The link member  500   a  provides two rotational degrees of freedom as shown by the curved arrows. 
     The shaft  302   a  is mounted on a cradle  301   a  attached to the mobile portion  209   a  of the actuator  206   a . The sliding ring  501   a  is free to move on the shaft  302   a . The movement of the sliding ring  501   a  on the shaft  302   a  provides a translational degree of freedom along a longitudinal axis of the shaft  302   a.    
     While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made therein without departing from the essence of this invention. Such modifications are considered as possible variants comprised in the scope of the invention.