Method and Apparatus for Operatively Controlling a Virtual Reality Scenario with an Isometric Exercise System

Abstract

An interface, in the form of an isometric exercise system, according to the present invention includes an effector with at least one sensor, a platform and control circuitry including a processor. The platform accommodates a user in a standing position and includes the effector attached thereto. The sensor measures at least one force applied by a user lower body portion to the effector and causing a measurable strain on the effector. An additional effector with at least one sensor and a game controller or other input device may further be attached to the platform. The sensor measures at least one force applied by a user upper body portion to the additional effector and causing a measurable strain on that effector. The processor receives and processes data corresponding to applied force information for transference to the host computer system to update a virtual reality scenario.

1 . An isometric exercise system serving as a peripheral to manipulate a virtual reality scenario of a host processing system in accordance with user physical activity comprising: 
 a base;    a first effector for contact with and providing isometric resistance for a user lower body portion, wherein said first effector is secured to said base and receives force applied by said user lower body portion;    at least one sensor coupled to a selected location of said system to measure at least one force applied by said user to said system, wherein said force applied to said first effector effects a measurable deformation that is measured by at least one sensor; and    a control unit to facilitate manipulation of said virtual reality scenario, wherein said control unit is coupled to said at least one sensor and includes: 
 a processor to receive and process data corresponding to applied force information measured by said at least one sensor and to transfer information to said host processing system to control said virtual reality scenario in accordance with manipulation of said system by said user.  
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first effector includes: 
 a plurality of contact members to engage said user lower body portion, wherein said contact members are angularly displaced from each other and arranged to form an open central portion to receive said first effector.    
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said control unit further includes: 
 at least one display to display information relating to user manipulation of said first effector.    
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said processor further determines, based on said measured applied force, information relating to at least one of an amount of work applied by said user and an amount of calories burned by said user and controls at least one display to display said determined information.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said processor further selectively adjusts an amount of said at least one force that must be applied by said user to said first effector to facilitate user interaction with said virtual reality scenario.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said control unit further includes: 
 a resistance input device to enter the amount of said at least one force that must be applied by said user to said first effector.    
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said host processing system includes a gaming system.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said host processing system includes a simulation system.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said simulation system provides a military training simulation.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  further including a display to display said virtual reality scenario, wherein said user manipulates said first effector and handles a weapon to interact with said virtual reality scenario and perform said military training.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said display includes a head mounted display.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  further including: 
 a second effector for contact with and providing isometric resistance for a user upper body portion, wherein said second effector is secured to said base and receives force applied by said user upper body portion;    wherein said force applied to said second effector effects a measurable deformation that is measured by at least one sensor.    
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said control unit is mounted on said second effector and further includes at least one input device to manipulate said virtual reality scenario, and wherein said processor transfers information to said host processing system to control said virtual reality scenario in accordance with manipulation of said at least one input device by said user.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said control unit includes a handle to directly receive said at least one force applied by said user to said second effector.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said control unit further includes: 
 a display to display information relating to user manipulation of at least one of said first and second effectors.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said processor further determines, based on said measured applied force, information relating to at least one of an amount of work applied by said user, an amount of weight lifted by said user and an amount of calories burned by said user and controls said display to display said determined information.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said processor further selectively adjusts an amount of said at least one force that must be applied by said user to at least one of said first and second effectors to facilitate user interaction with said virtual reality scenario.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said control unit further includes: 
 a resistance input device to enter the amount of said at least one force that must be applied by said user to at least one of said first and second effectors.    
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said host processing system includes a simulation system, and said control unit simulates operation of an object for said simulation.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said simulation system provides a military training simulation and said control unit simulates operation of a weapon.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said virtual reality scenario includes a plurality of functions enabling manipulation of that scenario, and said control unit further includes an assignment module to selectively assign at least one of said first effector, said second effector and at least one input device to said manipulation functions to respectively control those functions.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said host processing system includes a gaming system.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said control unit includes a game controller.  
     
     
         24 . A method of performing a physical activity utilizing an exercise system that serves as a peripheral to manipulate a virtual reality scenario of a host processing system, said exercise system including a base, a first effector secured to said base, at least one sensor coupled to a selected location of said exercise system, and a control unit to facilitate manipulation of said virtual reality scenario and including a processor, said method comprising: 
 (a) measuring at least one force applied by a user to said exercise system, wherein said first effector provides an isometric resistance for a user lower body portion and receives force applied by said user lower body portion, and wherein said force applied by said user to said first effector effects a measurable deformation that is measurable by at least one sensor;    (b) processing data corresponding to applied force information measured by said at least one sensor via said processor; and    (c) transferring information from said control unit to said host processing system to control said virtual reality scenario in accordance with manipulation of said exercise system by said user.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said first effector includes a plurality of contact members angularly displaced from each other and arranged to form an open central portion, and step (a) further includes: 
 (a.1.1) engaging user lower body portions with said contact members.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said control unit further includes at least one display, and step (b) further includes: 
 (b.1) displaying information relating to user manipulation of said first effector.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein step (b.1) further includes: 
 (b.1.1) determining, based on said measured applied force, information relating to at least one of an amount of work applied by said user and an amount of calories burned by said user and controlling at least one display to display said determined information.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein step (a) further includes: 
 (a.1) selectively adjusting an amount of said at least one force that must be applied by said user to said first effector to facilitate user interaction with said virtual reality scenario.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said control unit further includes a resistance input device, and step (a.1) further includes: 
 (a.1.1) receiving the amount of said at least one force that must be applied by said user to said first effector via said resistance input device.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said host processing system includes a gaming system.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said host processing system includes a simulation system.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said simulation system provides a military training simulation.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said simulation system further includes a display to display said virtual reality scenario, and step (a) further includes: 
 (a.1) receiving force applied by said user handling a weapon to said first effector to interact with said displayed virtual reality scenario and perform said military training.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said display includes a head mounted display.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said exercise system further includes a second effector secured to said base, and step (a) further includes: 
 (a.1) measuring at least one force applied by said user to at least one of said first and second effectors, wherein said second effector provides an isometric resistance for a user upper body portion and receives force applied by said user upper body portion, and wherein said force applied by said user to said second effector effects a measurable deformation that is measurable by at least one sensor.    
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said control unit is mounted on said second effector and further includes at least one input device to manipulate said virtual reality scenario, and step (c) further includes: 
 (c.1) transferring information to said host processing system to control said virtual reality scenario in accordance with manipulation of said at least one input device by said user.    
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said control unit includes a handle to directly receive at least one force applied by said user to said second effector, and step (a.1) further includes: 
 (a.1.1) measuring said deformation of said second effector caused by at least one force applied by said user to said handle.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said control unit further includes a display, and step (b) further includes: 
 (b.1) displaying information relating to user manipulation of at least one of said first and second effectors.    
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein step (b.1) further includes: 
 (b.1.1) determining, based on said measured applied force, information relating to at least one of an amount of work applied by said user, an amount of weight lifted by said user and an amount of calories burned by said user and controlling said display to display said determined information.    
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein step (a.1) further includes: 
 (a.1.1) selectively adjusting an amount of said at least one force that must be applied by said user to at least one of said first and second effectors to facilitate user interaction with said virtual reality scenario.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said control unit further includes a resistance input device, and step (a.1.1) further includes: 
 (a.1.1.1) receiving the amount of said at least one force that must be applied by said user to at least one of said first and second effectors via said resistance input device.    
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said host processing system includes a simulation system, and said control unit simulates operation of an object for said simulation.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said simulation system provides a military training simulation and said control unit simulates a weapon.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said virtual reality scenario includes a plurality of functions enabling manipulation of that scenario, and step (b) further includes: 
 (b.1) selectively assigning at least one of said first effector, said second effector and at least one input device to said manipulation functions to respectively control those functions.    
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said host processing system includes a gaming system.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said control unit includes a game controller.