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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A haptic effect system configured to be mounted to the frame of an actual firearm to convert the actual firearm into a firearm simulator, comprising: 
 a housing configured to be mounted in a receiver of the actual firearm;   a haptic effect generator mounted on the housing, the haptic effect generator being configured to generate a haptic effect that simulates firing live ammunition with the firearm;   a sensor mounted on the housing such that when the housing is mounted in the receiver of the firearm, the sensor can generate a signal that is indicative of an operational condition of the firearm;    a controller that is operatively coupled to the haptic effect generator and the sensor and that causes the haptic effect generator to generate the haptic effect; and   a power source that provides power to the controller, the sensor and the haptic effect generator.   
     
     
         2 . The haptic system module of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to be mounted inside the main body or receiver of an actual M240 firearm. 
     
     
         3 . The haptic effect system of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor is positioned on the housing such that when the housing is mounted in the receiver of an actual M240 firearm, the sensor can generate a signal that is indicative of the position of a cover of the actual M240 firearm. 
     
     
         4 . The haptic effect system of  claim 1 , further comprising first array of electrical contacts provided on a top of the housing, wherein the first array of electrical contacts are located on the housing such that when the housing is mounted in a main body of the actual firearm, the first array of electrical contacts is positioned at or adjacent a location where a belt of ammunition would be mounted to the actual firearm. 
     
     
         5 . The haptic effect system of  claim 4 , further comprising a belt of simulated ammunition that includes a second array of electrical contacts, wherein the belt of simulated ammunition is configured such that when it is loaded on the actual firearm where a belt of actual ammunition would be loaded on the actual firearm, and the housing is mounted inside the main body or receiver of the actual firearm, individual ones of the second array of electrical contacts on the belt of simulated ammunition contact corresponding ones of the first array of electrical contacts on the housing.  
     
     
         6 . The haptic effect system of  claim 5 , further comprising a simulated ammunition can that is configured to be mounted to the main body of the actual firearm, wherein a power source is located in the simulated ammunition can. 
     
     
         7 . The haptic effect system of  claim 6 , wherein electrical wires in the simulated belt of ammunition connect the power source to the second array of electrical contacts such that the power source in the simulated ammunition can supplies electrical power to the controller and haptic effect generator via at least some of electrical contacts in the first and second arrays of electrical contacts. 
     
     
         8 . The haptic effect system of  claim 1 , wherein the haptic effect generator includes a linear motor with a stator and a sliding mass. 
     
     
         9 . The haptic effect system of  claim 8 , further comprising a sliding arm that is operatively coupled to the sliding mass of the linear motor, wherein the sliding arm is configured such that when the housing is mounted in the main body or receiver of an actual firearm, a charging handle of the actual firearm will contact the sliding arm when a user pulls the charging handle rearward. 
     
     
         10 . The haptic effect system of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to control movements of the sliding mass and the sliding arm such that when a user pulls the charging handle of the actual firearm rearward, the sliding mass of the linear motor will resist the rearward movement of the charging handle such that the user will experience forces that are similar to the forces that a user would experience when conducting a cocking operation of the actual firearm. 
     
     
         11 . A haptic effect system configured to be mounted to the frame of an actual firearm to convert the actual firearm into a firearm simulator, comprising: 
 a housing configured to be mounted in a receiver of the actual firearm;   a haptic effect generator mounted on the housing, the haptic effect generator including a linear motor having a stator and a sliding mass, the haptic effect generator being configured to generate a haptic effect that simulates firing live ammunition with the firearm;   a sliding arm that is slidably mounted on the housing and that is operatively connected to the sliding mass of the linear motor, wherein the sliding arm is configured such that when the housing is mounted in the receiver of an actual firearm, rearward motion of a charging handle of the actual firearm will cause the sliding arm to move rearward;   a controller that is operatively coupled to the haptic effect generator and that causes the haptic effect generator to generate a haptic effect that simulates firing a live round of ammunition with the actual firearm; and   a power source that provides power to the controller and the haptic effect generator.   
     
     
         12 . The haptic effect system of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to control the linear motor such that when a user pulls the charging handle of the actual firearm rearward to simulate a cocking or charging action, the sliding mass of the linear motor and the sliding arm will resist rearward movement of the charging handle such that the user experiences forces that are similar to the forces that a user would experience when conducting a cocking or charging operation of the actual firearm. 
     
     
         13 . The haptic effect system of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured such that when a user releases the charging handle of the actual firearm after moving the charging handle rearward to simulate a cocking or charging operation, the controller causes the sliding mass of the linear motor and the sliding arm to push the charging handle forward to an at-rest position. 
     
     
         14 . The haptic effect system of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a trigger assembly mounted on the housing and that includes a movable trigger; and   a sensor mounted in the trigger assembly and operatively connected to the controller, wherein the sensor is configured to output a trigger signal when a user actuates the trigger, and wherein the controller causes the haptic effect generator to generate a haptic effect that simulates firing a live round of ammunition with the actual firearm when the sensor outputs the trigger signal.   
     
     
         15 . The haptic effect system of  claim 14 , wherein the trigger assembly includes a safety switch that is movable between safe and live firing positions, and wherein the sensor also is configured to output a signal that is indicative of the position of the safety switch. 
     
     
         16 . The haptic effect system of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor is a time-of-flight sensor that includes a plurality of radiation emitters and a corresponding plurality of radiation detectors, wherein the plurality of emitters and the plurality of detectors are arranged in a two-dimensional array. 
     
     
         17 . The haptic effect system of  claim 16 , wherein the time of flight sensor is configured and positioned on the trigger assembly such that signals output by a first plurality of the radiation detectors are indicative of a position and movements of the trigger and wherein signals output by a second plurality of the radiation detectors are indicative of a position of the safety switch. 
     
     
         18 . The haptic effect system of  claim 11 , further comprising an adaptor fork having first and second legs, wherein the adaptor fork is configured to secure the housing of the haptic effect system to the main body or receiver of the actual firearm. 
     
     
         19 . The haptic effect system of  claim 11 , wherein the housing is configured to be received in a main body or receiver of an actual M240 firearm, and further comprising an adaptor fork having first and second legs, wherein the first and second legs of the adaptor fork are configured to slide into grooves on the main body or receiver of the actual M240 firearm that are normally used to secure a buttstock to the main body or receiver of the actual M240 firearm in order to secure the housing of the haptic effect system to the main body or receiver of the actual M240 firearm.  
     
     
         20 . The haptic effect system of  claim 11 , further comprising an array of electrical contacts provided on a top of the housing, wherein the array of electrical contacts are located on the housing such that when the housing is mounted in a main body of the actual firearm, the array of electrical contacts is positioned at or adjacent a location where a belt of ammunition would be mounted to the actual firearm, and wherein at least some of the array of electrical contacts are connected to the controller.