Foot Operated Navigation and Interaction for Virtual Reality Experiences

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020341544-A1
Application number	US-202016924916-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 9, 2020
Priority date	Dec 2, 2015
Publication date	Oct 29, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus for creating movement in a virtual reality for a user includes a computer includes a virtual reality headset in communication with the computer that is worn on the head of the user so the user sees the virtual reality shown by the headset and produced by the computer in the headset. The apparatus includes a foot controller in communication with the computer against which the user moves at least one of his feet to create control signals with the foot to cause movement in the virtual reality. A method for creating movement in a virtual reality for a user having the steps of the user seeing the virtual reality shown by a virtual headset and produced by a computer in the headset, a virtual reality headset in communication with the computer that is worn on the head of the user. There is the step of the user moving at least one of his feet against a foot controller to create control signals with the foot to cause movement in the virtual reality by the computer, the foot controller in communication with the computer. A computer software program for creating movement in a virtual reality for a user.

First claim

1 . An apparatus for creating movement in a virtual reality for a user comprising:
a computer; a virtual reality headset in communication with the computer that is worn on the head of the user so the user sees the virtual reality shown by the headset and produced by the computer in the headset; and a foot controller in communication with the computer against which the user moves at least one of his feet to create control signals with the foot to cause movement in the virtual reality shown by the headset.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control signals from a time-varying pressure variation on the bottoms of the feet of the user are used by the computer to create a moving object in virtual reality.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the control signals provide controls that always maintain static balance for the user's body and are used together with visual feedback from visuals in the virtual reality created by the computer which convey a degree and direction of physical tilt and roll consistent with a reactive force to an illusory lateral movement that the user perceives as downward with respect to the user's body.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the control signals are created with isometric gestures with each individual foot of the user.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the control signals are created using intermittent control gesture events by lifting 1 foot off of the foot controller and placing the foot back down onto the foot controller.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the foot controller is disposed only within the user's shoes or foot apparel.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 including a hand controller from which control signals are provided to the computer for the virtual reality.

8 . A method for creating movement in a virtual reality for a user comprising the steps of:
the user seeing the virtual reality shown by a virtual headset and produced by a computer in the headset, the virtual reality headset in communication with the computer that is worn on the head of the user; and the user moving at least one of his feet against a foot controller to create control signals with the foot to cause movement in the virtual reality by the computer, the foot controller in communication with the computer.

9 . The method of claim 8 including the step of using by the computer control signals from my time-varying pressure variation on the bottoms of the feet of the user to create a moving vehicle in virtual reality.

10 . The method of claim 9 including the step of the computer moving the vehicle created by the computer in virtual reality is either rolling, sliding, sailing, hovering or flying.

11 . The method of claim 10 including the step of the control signals providing controls that always maintain static balance for the user's body and are used together with visual feedback from visuals in the virtual reality created by the computer which convey a degree and direction of physical tilt and roll consistent with a reactive force to an illusory lateral movement that the user perceives as downward with respect to the user's body.

12 . The method of claim 11 including the step of creating the control signals with isometric gestures with each individual foot of the user.

13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the control signals provide a total number of linearly separable dimensions of control that the user can impart to the pressure imaging surface is at least 12, six dimensions per foot.

14 . The method of claim 13 including the step of using a hand controller by the user to create control signals.

15 . A computer software program for creating movement in a virtual reality for a user stored in a non-transient memory comprising the computer-generated steps of:
creating the virtual reality shown by a virtual headset and produced by the computer in the headset for the user to see, the virtual reality headset in communication with the computer that is worn on the head of the user; and causing movement in the virtual reality by the computer based on control signals created by the user moving at least one of the user's feet against a foot controller, the foot controller in communication with the computer.

Assignees

• Perlin Kenneth
• Hendee Charles
• Univ New York
• Tactonic Tech Llc

Inventors

• Perlin Kenneth
• Hendee Charles

Classifications

• G02B2027/014

  comprising information/image processing systems · CPC title

• G06F3/011 Primary

  Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00) · CPC title

• G02B2027/0141

  characterised by the informative content of the display · CPC title

• G02B2027/0187

  slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye · CPC title

• G02B27/017

  Head mounted · CPC title