Sound Generator for Virtual Switches in a Simulator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017193840-A1
Application number	US-201614989009-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 6, 2016
Priority date	Jan 6, 2016
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and apparatus for managing a simulation. The method comprises detecting a user input manipulating a virtual control on a control panel displayed in a target output location on a display system in a simulator during the simulation of a platform. Further, the method comprises identifying a sound for the virtual control when the user input is detected. Still further, the method comprises controlling a speaker system to output the sound identified during the simulation in a manner that is perceived by a human operator to be from the target output location.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A simulation system comprising:
a display system having a target output location at which a control panel is displayed for a simulation of a platform; a speaker system; and a simulation controller that detects a user input manipulating a virtual control on the control panel during the simulation of the platform; identifies a sound for the virtual control when the user input is detected; and controls the speaker system to output the sound identified during the simulation in a manner that is perceived by a human operator to be from the target output location.

2 . The simulation system of claim 1 further comprising:
a simulator having a shape that holds the human operator inside the simulator for the simulation of the platform, wherein the control panel is displayed inside the simulator.

3 . The simulation system of claim 1 , wherein the sound is a mechanical sound made by a physical control simulated by the virtual control.

4 . The simulation system of claim 1 , wherein the simulation controller excludes a group of sounds that is not a part of the simulation when controlling the speaker system to output the sound for the virtual control.

5 . The simulation system of claim 1 , wherein the sound is played on a sound channel and wherein in controlling the speaker system to output the sound in the manner that is perceived by the human operator to be from the target output location, the simulation controller controls a volume mixer for sound channels to output the sound in the sound channel with a volume level such that the sound for the virtual control is perceived by the human operator to be from the target output location at which the control panel is displayed.

6 . The simulation system of claim 1 , wherein in controlling the speaker system to output the sound in the manner that is perceived by the human operator to be from the target output location, the simulation controller employs a virtual surround system to output the sound from the speaker system in the manner that is perceived by the human operator to be from the target output location.

7 . The simulation system of claim 1 , wherein the speaker system includes a group of speakers located proximate to the target output location, wherein in controlling the speaker system to output the sound in the manner that is perceived by the human operator to be from the target output location, the simulation controller sends the sound to the group of speakers.

8 . The simulation system of claim 1 , wherein the platform is selected from one of a mobile platform, a stationary platform, a land-based structure, an aquatic-based structure, a space-based structure, an aircraft, a surface ship, a tank, a personnel carrier, a train, a spacecraft, a space station, a satellite, a submarine, an automobile, a power plant, a manufacturing facility, and a building.

9 . The simulation system of claim 1 , wherein the user input is generated by a group of input devices selected from one of a mouse, a keyboard, a trackball, a touchscreen, a stylus, a motion sensing input device, and a cyberglove.

10 . The simulation system of claim 1 , wherein the sound is one made by a physical control displayed corresponding to the virtual control on the control panel.

11 . The simulation system of claim 1 , wherein the virtual control is selected from one of a switch, a toggle, a push button, a pull-out button, a selector switch, a vertical slider, a horizontal slider, a vertical lever, a horizontal lever, a rotary knob, and a three-way switch.

12 . An aircraft simulation system comprising:
a flight deck simulator having a configuration that holds a human operator for a simulation of an aircraft; a display system associated with an interior of the flight deck simulator, wherein the display system has a target output location at which a control panel is displayed for the simulation of the aircraft; a speaker system; and a simulation controller that detects a user input manipulating a virtual control on the control panel during the simulation of the aircraft; and identifies a sound for the virtual control, wherein the sound is one made by a manipulation of a physical version of the virtual control, controlling the speaker system to output the sound in a manner that is perceived by the human operator to be from the target output location where the control panel is displayed.

13 . A method for managing a simulation, the method comprising:
detecting a user input manipulating a virtual control on a control panel displayed in a target output location on a display system in a simulator during the simulation of a platform; identifying a sound for the virtual control when the user input is detected; and controlling a speaker system to output the sound identified during the simulation in a manner that is perceived by a human operator to be from the target output location.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the simulator has a shape that holds the human operator inside the simulator for the simulation of the platform, wherein the control panel is displayed inside the simulator.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the sound is a mechanical sound made by a physical control simulated by the virtual control.

16 . The method of claim 13 further comprising:
excluding a group of sounds that is not a part of the simulation when controlling the speaker system to output the sound for the virtual control.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the sound is played on a sound channel and wherein in controlling the speaker system to output the sound in the manner that is perceived by the human operator to be from the target output location, a simulation controller controls a volume mixer for sound channels to output the sound in the sound channel with a volume level such that the sound for the virtual control is perceived by the human operator to be from the target output location at which the control panel is displayed.

18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein controlling the speaker system to output the sound in the manner that is perceived by the human operator to be from the target output location comprises:
employing a virtual surround system to output the sound from the speaker system in the manner that is perceived by the human operator to be from the target output location.

19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the speaker system includes a group of speakers located proximate to the target output location, wherein in controlling the speaker system to output the sound in the manner that is perceived by the human operator to be from the target output location, a simulation controller comprises:
sending the sound to the group of speakers.

20 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the platform is selected from one of a mobile platform, a stationary platform, a land-based structure, an aquatic-based structure, a space-based structure, an aircraft, a surface ship, a tank, a personnel carrier, a train, a spacecraft, a space station, a satellite, a submarine, an automobile, a power plant, a manufacturing facility, and a building.

21 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the user input is generated by a group of input devices selected from one of a mouse, a keyboard, a trackball, a touchscreen, a stylus, a motion sensing input device, and a cyberglove.

22 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the sound is one made by a physical control displayed corresponding to the virtual control on the control panel.

2

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Whelan John Desmond

Classifications

• G09B9/22

  including aircraft sound simulation · CPC title

• G09B9/12

  Motion systems for aircraft simulators · CPC title

• G09B9/30

  Simulation of view from aircraft · CPC title

• G09B9/063

  by using visual displays · CPC title

• G06F3/165

  Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path · CPC title