Haptic system for a firearm simulator

Abstract

A haptic effect system for generating haptic effects includes components that are configured to be mounted to an actual firearm. Elements of the haptic effect system are configured to occupy at least a part of the space that would otherwise be occupied by elements of the actual firearm. The haptic effect system converts an actual firearm capable of firing live ammunition into a firearm simulator. The haptic effect system generates haptic effects that cause a user holding the firearm to feel forces that mimic or simulate what a user would feel when performing various actions with the firearm. In some instances, an adaptor plate is used to secure the haptic effect system to the body of the actual firearm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A haptic effect system configured to be mounted to a firearm, comprising:
 a haptic effect generator module that is configured to be removably secured to a body of an actual firearm, the haptic effect generator module including a haptic effect generator that is capable of generating a haptic effect that simulates firing the firearm;   a controller that is operatively coupled to the haptic effect generator and that causes the haptic effect generator to generate the haptic effect;   a trigger interface configured to be operatively coupled to a trigger mechanism, wherein the trigger interface causes a trigger signal to be sent to either the controller or the haptic effect generator when the trigger mechanism is actuated; and   an adaptor plate that is configured to be attached to a grip assembly mounting mechanism of the firearm after an existing grip assembly of the firearm has been removed, wherein the adaptor plate also is configured to removably secure the haptic effect generator module to the body of the firearm.   
     
     
         2 . The haptic effect system of  claim 1 , wherein the haptic effect generator module is configured such that at least a portion of the trigger mechanism of the actual firearm may be integrated with the haptic effect generator module such that it is operatively coupled to the trigger interface. 
     
     
         3 . The haptic effect system of  claim 1 , wherein the adaptor plate comprises at least one plate mounting aperture, wherein the haptic effect generator module includes at least one module mounting aperture, and wherein a mounting pin can be inserted into the at least one plate mounting aperture and the at least one module mounting aperture to secure the haptic effect generator module to the adaptor plate, and thereby to the body of the firearm. 
     
     
         4 . The haptic effect system of  claim 3 , wherein a grip assembly removed from the actual firearm is attached to the haptic effect generator module, the grip assembly comprising first and second grips and at least one bracket that extends between the first and second grips, and wherein the adaptor plate comprises at least one bracket groove that is configured to receive the at least one bracket of the grip assembly when the haptic effect generator module is secured to the adaptor plate. 
     
     
         5 . The haptic effect system of  claim 4 , wherein the grip assembly comprises a backplate that is used to attach the grip assembly to the grip assembly mounting mechanism of the actual firearm, and wherein the backplate of the grip assembly is used to attach the grip assembly to the haptic effect generator module. 
     
     
         6 . The haptic effect system of  claim 1 , wherein the haptic effect generator comprises a linear motor that includes a stator and a sliding mass. 
     
     
         7 . The haptic effect system of  claim 6 , wherein the haptic effect generator module further comprises a cocking mechanism interface that is operatively coupled to the sliding mass, wherein when the haptic effect generator module is secured to a body of the firearm, the cocking mechanism interface is positioned such that a cocking movement of a cocking mechanism of the firearm will cause the cocking mechanism interface and the sliding mass of the linear motor to move. 
     
     
         8 . The haptic effect system of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to control movement of the sliding mass of the linear motor so as to provide force feedback to the cocking mechanism of the firearm via the cocking mechanism interface during a cocking movement of the cocking mechanism to simulate the forces a user would feel during a normal cocking movement of the cocking mechanism of the firearm. 
     
     
         9 . The haptic effect system of  claim 7 , wherein the cocking mechanism interface comprises a spring-loaded shaft that is operatively coupled to the sliding mass of the linear motor, wherein the spring-loaded shaft can move axially inward while the haptic effect generator module is being secured to the body of the firearm and can move axially outward once the haptic effect generator module has been removably secured to the body of the firearm such that an end of the spring-loaded shaft protrudes from a housing of the haptic effect generator module. 
     
     
         10 . The haptic effect system of  claim 6 , wherein the haptic effect generator module further comprises:
 a housing that is configured to be inserted into the body of the firearm;   a weight that is attached to the sliding mass of the linear motor; and   a linear rail that is attached to an interior of the housing, wherein the weight is configured to slide along the linear rail such that the weight and the attached sliding mass of the linear motor move in a controlled linear fashion when the sliding mass of the linear motor moves relative to the stator of the linear motor.   
     
     
         11 . A mounting plate for securing a haptic effect generator module to a body of an actual firearm to convert the actual firearm into a firearm simulator, comprising:
 a frame;   a firearm attachment mechanism configured to attach the frame to a body of the actual firearm; and   a module attachment mechanism configured to secure a haptic effect generator module to the frame.   
     
     
         12 . The mounting plate of  claim 11 , wherein the frame attachment mechanism is configured to attach the frame to a grip assembly mounting mechanism of the actual firearm. 
     
     
         13 . The mounting plate of  claim 11 , wherein the module attachment mechanism comprises at least one plate mounting aperture configured to receive a mounting pin that secures a haptic effect generator module to the frame. 
     
     
         14 . The mounting plate of  claim 11 , wherein at least one bracket groove is provided on the frame, the at least one bracket groove being configured to receive at least one bracket of a grip assembly of the actual firearm when the haptic effect generator module is secured to the frame. 
     
     
         15 . The mounting plate of  claim 11 , wherein the firearm attachment mechanism is configured to attach the frame to a grip assembly mounting mechanism of the actual firearm. 
     
     
         16 . A method of mounting a haptic effect generator module to elements of an actual firearm to convert the actual firearm to a firearm simulator, comprising:
 removing a handle assembly from a handle mounting mechanism on a body of the firearm;   mounting an adaptor plate to the handle mounting mechanism;   mounting the handle assembly that was removed from the firearm to a haptic effect generator module; and   removably mounting the haptic effect generator module to the body of the firearm by, at least in part, coupling the haptic effect generator module to the adaptor plate such that the handle assembly is located in substantially the same position relative to the body of the firearm that the handle assembly occupied when it was mounted to the handle mounting mechanism on the body of the firearm.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the handle assembly of the firearm comprises at least one handle and a trigger lever that together form an integrated handle and trigger module, wherein the haptic effect generator module comprises a trigger interface, and wherein mounting the handle and trigger module to the haptic effect generator module results in the trigger lever being operatively coupled to the trigger interface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the adaptor plate comprises at least one plate mounting aperture, wherein the haptic effect generator module comprises at least one module mounting aperture, and wherein removably mounting the haptic effect generator module to the body of the firearm comprises inserting a mounting pin through the at least one plate mounting aperture and the at least one module mounting aperture to removably secure the haptic effect generator module to the body of the firearm. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the haptic effect generator module comprises a linear motor that includes a stator and a sliding mass, and a cocking mechanism interface that is operatively coupled to the sliding mass, and wherein removably mounting the haptic effect generator module to the body of the firearm results in the cocking mechanism interface being positioned such that a cocking movement of a cocking mechanism of the firearm will cause the cocking mechanism interface and the sliding mass of the linear motor to move. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the cocking mechanism interface comprises a spring-loaded shaft that is operatively coupled to the sliding mass of the linear motor, wherein the spring-loaded shaft is configured to move axially between retracted and extended positions and is biased toward the extended position, and wherein removably mounting the haptic effect generator module to the body of the firearm comprises causing the spring-loaded shaft to move inward toward the retracted position while the haptic effect generator module is being inserted into the body of the firearm, and then allowing the spring-loaded shaft to move outward toward the extended position once the haptic effect generator module has been removably mounted to the body of the firearm such that an end of the spring-loaded shaft protrudes from a housing of the haptic effect generator module.