Simulator and display stand

Abstract

To provide a simulator and a display stand capable of suppressing transmission of vibration from a vibration mechanism of a drive mechanism to a display.SOLUTION: The simulator includes: a display; a display stand including a holding part and a leg part for holding the display; and a drive mechanism including a movable part and a base part, the movable part of the drive mechanism including a vibration mechanism, and the leg part of the display stand being fixed to the base part of the drive mechanism.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a simulator for an automobile or the like, and more particularly to a simulator equipped with a display for displaying the situation that a driver in a cockpit sees while driving. [Background technology]

[0002] As an example of this type of simulator, Patent Document 1 describes a simulator in which the display is fixed in position relative to the cockpit so that it can move in conjunction with the movement of the cockpit. This allows a driver in the cockpit to simulate driving by viewing the display and obtaining visual information through the window of the simulated vehicle.

[0003] In such simulators, the drive mechanisms for moving the cockpit in various positions include a vibration mechanism consisting of multiple actuators that exert axial force by extending and retracting, a rotation mechanism such as a turntable that rotates the cockpit, and a translation mechanism that moves the cockpit in a linear direction or in two orthogonal linear directions. A rotation mechanism and / or translation mechanism is located below the vibration mechanism to rotate and translate the vibration mechanism. The drive mechanisms of such simulators generate high-frequency, high-acceleration vibrations to reproduce actual vehicle driving conditions. The operation of the drive mechanism may also generate micro-vibrations, for example, by a motor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2015-513123 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In Patent Document 1, the display is connected via a display stand to a part that is operated by a vibration mechanism that simulates movement in the cockpit. Therefore, vibrations from the vibration mechanism are transmitted to the display via the display stand, which may cause damage or malfunction to the display.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a simulator and a display stand that can suppress transmission of vibrations from a vibration mechanism in a drive mechanism to a display. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, one form of the present invention is a simulator comprising a display, a stand having a holding part and a foot part and holding the display, and a drive mechanism having a movable part and a base part, wherein the movable part of the drive mechanism comprises a vibration mechanism, and the foot part of the stand is fixed to the base part of the drive mechanism.

[0008] The base portion of the drive mechanism may include a rotation mechanism for rotating the movable portion of the drive mechanism, the platform may be disposed on the rotation mechanism, and the platform and the movable portion of the drive mechanism may be rotatable simultaneously.

[0009] The base portion of the drive mechanism may also include a translation mechanism for moving the vibration mechanism and the rotation mechanism.

[0010] The foot of the gantry may be fixed at an angle to the rotation mechanism of the drive mechanism, the base of the drive mechanism may have an arc-shaped rail, the rail may be disposed outside the rotation mechanism, and the holder of the gantry may be able to slide on the rail when the rotation mechanism rotates. The rail may also be disposed on the rotation mechanism. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the above configuration, in the simulator, it is possible to suppress transmission of vibrations from the vibration mechanism in the drive mechanism to the display. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1(a) and 1(b) are a side view and a perspective view, respectively, of a simulator according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2(a) and 2(b) are an exploded side view and an exploded perspective view of a simulator according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 3(a) and 3(b) are perspective and side views of a hexapod mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a translation mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 5(a) and (b) are perspective views of a rotation mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a connection structure of a display according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 7(a) and (b) are a perspective view and a front view of a display stand according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 8(a) to 8(c) are a front view, a perspective view, and a bottom view of a rail portion according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 9(a) and 9(b) are diagrams showing the rotational operation of the simulator according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 10(a) and 10(b) are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of the connection portion and the rail of the rail portion of the gantry according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 11(a) and 11(b) are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of the connection portion and the rail of the rail portion of the gantry according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a connection portion of a gantry according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0014] 1(a) and 1(b) are a side view and a perspective view, respectively, of a driving simulator 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Also, FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are a side view and a perspective view, respectively, of an exploded view of the driving simulator shown in FIG. 1. As shown in these figures, the driving simulator (hereinafter also simply referred to as the simulator) 10 includes a cockpit 105 and a drive mechanism 100 for driving the cockpit 105. Furthermore, the simulator 10 includes a display 200 that operates in conjunction with the cockpit 105 and a display stand 201 that holds the display 200.

[0015] The drive mechanism 100 comprises a movable part and a base part. The movable part comprises a hexapod mechanism 110 (vibration mechanism) that oscillates the cockpit 105, and the base part comprises a rotation mechanism 130 arranged below the hexapod mechanism 110 and a translation mechanism 150 arranged below the rotation mechanism 130 and capable of translation in two directions that are perpendicular to each other. The drive mechanism 100 is arranged between a mounting base 160 connected to the upper side of the hexapod mechanism 110 and a lower part 154 below the translation mechanism 150.

[0016] The rotation mechanism 130 has a rotatable rotary table 170, which allows the entire hexapod mechanism 110 to move in a rotational direction. Furthermore, the hexapod mechanism 110 is supported by the translation mechanism 150 via the rotation mechanism 130 having the rotary table 170, which allows it to move in two perpendicular directions. As described above, the simulator 10 operates the cockpit 105 by controlling the hexapod mechanism 110, the rotation mechanism 130 having the rotary table 170, and the translation mechanism 150, each of which operates in accordance with the desired movement of the cockpit 105.

[0017] Although the present embodiment relates to a simulator used as an automobile simulator, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it will be clear from the following description that the present invention can be used as a simulator for moving objects such as railway vehicles and airplanes.

[0018] <Hexapod mechanism> 3(a) and 3(b) are a perspective view and a side view, respectively, of the hexapod mechanism 110 (vibration mechanism) shown in FIG. 3(a) and 3(b). As shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), the hexapod mechanism 110 includes actuators 170a, 170b, 170c, 170d, 170e (not shown), and 170f (not shown) arranged circumferentially around the mounting table 160 and rotatably connected to the mounting table 160. Similarly, actuators 170a, 170b, 170c, 170d, 170e (not shown), and 170f (not shown) arranged circumferentially around the rotating table 170 are rotatably connected to the rotating table 170. These six actuators are hydraulic cylinders, and rods connected to pistons contract axially relative to the cylinders, applying an axial force to the mounting table 160 as a result of the contraction.

[0019] <Translation mechanism> FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the translation mechanism 150 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 4, if one direction of movement of the translation mechanism 150 is defined as the X axis and the direction perpendicular to the X axis is defined as the Y axis, the translation mechanism 150 is configured to include a first movement mechanism (X-axis table) 151 for moving the cockpit in the X axis direction and a second movement mechanism (Y-axis table) 152 for moving the cockpit in the Y axis direction. The first movement mechanism 151 can move the rotary table 170 (and further, the vibration mechanism such as the hexapod mechanism 110) in the X axis direction. The second movement mechanism 152 can move the first movement mechanism 151 (and further, the rotary mechanism 130 such as the rotary table 170 and the hexapod mechanism 110 (vibration mechanism)) in the Y axis direction.

[0020] <Rotation mechanism> 5(a) and (b) are perspective views showing the rotation mechanism 130. FIG. 5(a) shows the rotation mechanism 130 together with the rotation table 170 that supports the hexapod mechanism 110, and FIG. 5(b) shows the rotation mechanism 130 without the rotation table 170. The rotation table 170 rotates by connecting to a rotation drive unit 132 that is rotated by a motor (not shown) provided below the rotation table 170. In the rotation mechanism 130, the base 131 is the non-rotating part other than the rotation drive unit 132 and constitutes the upper base of the translation mechanism 150. As shown in FIG. 5(a), the rotation table 170 can be rotated by driving the motor, which in turn rotates the hexapod mechanism 110 (vibration mechanism) above it.

[0021] <Display connection structure> FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a connection structure of a display 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the drive mechanism 100 and the cockpit 105 are disposed on a rotary table 170. The display 200 is connected to the rotary table 170 of the rotation mechanism 130 via a display stand 201. This allows the display 200 to move in conjunction with the movement of the rotary table 170. That is, as described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, when the cockpit 105 is operated by the drive mechanism 100, the display 200 moves in conjunction with the movement of the cockpit 105. This allows a driver in the cockpit to keep the display in his or her field of vision at all times and obtain visual information from the vehicle window according to the simulated driving condition from the image on the display.

[0022] At the same time, since the display 200 is connected to the turntable 170 of the rotation mechanism 130 via the display stand 201, it is possible to avoid connection that involves the movement of the display 200 and the vibration mechanism 110. In other words, the turntable 170 constitutes a fixed part in the movement of the vibration mechanism 110, and maintains a stationary state against the vibration of the vibration mechanism 110. As a result, it is possible to suppress or reduce transmission to the display 200 of vibrations that the vibration mechanism 110 generates to simulate driving, and vibrations that may be generated from the vibration mechanism 110 in association with the driving for this vibration.

[0023] <Display stand structure> 7(a) and (b) are a perspective view and a front view, respectively, showing the structure of the display stand 201. As shown in Fig. 6(a) and (b), the display stand 201 includes a stand 220 having a structure in which vertical, horizontal, and diagonal beams are interconnected, and a rail part 230 that slidably supports a holding part 240 of the stand 220.

[0024] The base 220 includes a holder 240 that holds the display, feet 250 of the base 220 that are fixed to the rotary table 170 of the rotation mechanism 130, and a connection portion 260 for connecting to the rail portion 230. The display 200 is arranged so that the screen of the display 200 faces the direction of the rotation axis of the rotation caused by the rotation mechanism 130. The base 220 may hold a plurality of displays, and the plurality of displays are arranged side by side along the arc-shaped holder 240.

[0025] As described above in FIG. 6, the foot 250 of the platform 220 is connected to the rotary table 170 of the rotation mechanism 130, which allows the platform 220 to rotate and move together with the cockpit 105, hexapod mechanism 110, etc., by the rotation of the rotation mechanism 130.

[0026] 7(b), the rail connection part 260 of the gantry 220 is disposed at the center of the gantry 220. In the initial position, the connection part 260 is disposed at the center position of the rail part 230 and is slidably connected to the rail part 230. The connection structure between the connection part 260 and the rail part 230 will be described later.

[0027] 8(a) to 8(c) are a front view, a perspective view, and a bottom view, respectively, of a rail unit 230 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 8(a) to 8(c), the rail unit 230 includes an arc-shaped rail 270 and a rail foot 280. The rail 270 has an arc shape centered on the rotation axis of the rotation mechanism 130. In this embodiment in which the simulator 10 includes the translation mechanism 150, the rail foot 280 is fixed to the translation mechanism 150 (the base 131 connected to the translation mechanism 150) or the rotation mechanism 130. However, if the simulator 10 does not include the translation mechanism 150, the rail foot 280 may be fixed to an outer portion of the rotation mechanism, such as the lower portion 154.

[0028] With this structure, base 220 rotates and moves in conjunction with the rotation of rotation mechanism 130, and connection portion 260 of base 220 slides on arc-shaped rail 270 of rail portion 230. As a result, hexapod mechanism 110 and cockpit 105 on rotation mechanism 130, and display 200, rotate and move simultaneously.

[0029] In the mount 220, the connection part 260 may be arranged to extend in the direction of gravity from the center of gravity of the mount 220 so as to support the center of gravity of the mount 220 including the display 200, and the connection part 260 is supported from below by the rail part 230. This allows the mount 220 to rotate stably while always being supported by the rail part 230. The mount 220 and the rail part 230 have a frame structure, and braces can be arranged diagonally across the two frames in parts (for example, at the rail connection part, on both sides of each foot part, etc.) to reinforce the framework and increase rigidity.

[0030] The holder of the mount 220 is disposed outward of the hexapod mechanism 110 and the rotation mechanism 130 from the direction of the rotation center of the rotation mechanism 130 to avoid contact with the hexapod mechanism 110 and the cockpit 105. As is clear from the above description, the feet 250 of the mount 220 extend inward toward the rotation center of the rotation mechanism and connect to the turntable 170. The shape of the feet 250 may be linear and angled relative to the rotating part, but is not limited to this and may be an arc or a combination of linear parts at right angles. As a result, the display mount 201 can suppress transmission of vibrations that may be generated by the vibration mechanism 110 to the display 200, as described above, and can also allow the weight of the display 200 to be appropriately supported by the base 131. Furthermore, as described above, in the display stand 201, the rail portion 230 in the display stand 201 has its feet fixed to the base 131, so that it remains stationary while the cockpit 105 is operating, and the portion above the rail portion 230 can move in conjunction with the movement of the cockpit 105.

[0031] 9(a) and 9(b) are diagrams illustrating the left-right rotation of the simulator 10. As shown in FIG. 1(b), when the simulator 10 is in its initial position, the rail connection portion 260 of the base 220 is positioned at the center of the rail 270. In FIG. 9(a), the simulator 10 has rotated 15° clockwise from the initial position, and in FIG. 9(b), the simulator 10 has rotated 15° counterclockwise from the initial position. As shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), when the rotary table 170 is rotated by the rotation mechanism 130, the holding portion 240 of the base 220 above the rail portion 230 slides on the rail 270 and rotates in the same manner as the vibration mechanism 110 and the cockpit 105. The rail connection portion 260 can slide to the end of the rail 270.

[0032] 10(a) and 10(b) are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, showing the engagement relationship between the rail connection portion 260 of the display stand 220 and the rail 270 of the rail portion 230 in the display stand 201 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b), the rail connection portion 260 has an engagement groove, while the arc-shaped rail 270 has a protrusion structure that engages with the engagement groove. In this engagement, a predetermined amount of gap exists between the inner wall of the groove of the rail connection portion 260 and the protrusion. This gap allows the rail connection portion 260 to slidably engage with the rail 270. This engagement structure reduces the contact area between the rail connection portion 260 and the rail 270, facilitating sliding.

[0033] Furthermore, a resin plate or resin coating may be disposed on the surface of the rail connecting portion 260 that engages with the rail 270, or on the surface of the rail 270 that engages with the rail connecting portion 260.

[0034] The rail 270 may also have a grease groove for applying grease to the surface that engages with the rail connection portion.

[0035] In addition, the material of the mating surface of the rail connection part 260 may be softer than the material of the mating surface of the rail 270, which allows the rail connection part 260 and the rail 270 to slide smoothly.

[0036] Furthermore, the rail connection portion 260 may be provided with a gap adjustment mechanism so as to minimize the gap between the rail connection portion 260 and the rail 270. An example of the gap adjustment mechanism is a mechanism that can adjust the gap between the rail connection portion 260 and the rail 270 using a screw or the like, thereby minimizing the gap between the rail connection portion 260 and the rail 270.

[0037] The gap adjustment mechanism may also include a spring that presses the rail connection portion 260 against the rail 270 to minimize the gap.

[0038] Furthermore, the internal shape of the rail connection portion 260 that engages with the rail 270 may be a straight inner shape, or may have an arcuate internal shape that follows the arcuate shape of the rail 270 .

[0039] 11(a) and 11(b) are perspective and cross-sectional views, respectively, illustrating an engagement structure between a rail connection portion 260 and a rail 270 according to another embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b), the rail connection portion 260 of the platform 220 has two pulleys 265 on each side that abuts against the rail 270. These pulleys are supported by shafts (not shown), while the rail 270 has corresponding protrusions on its inner surface for abutting against the pulleys. The embodiment shown in FIG. 11 also illustrates an example in which two connection portions 260 are provided, and accordingly, the platform 220 has two beams connected to the connection portions. This enables stable sliding, as will be described later in FIG. 12. The pulleys 265 may be arranged on either the top, bottom, left, or right sides, or all of the top, bottom, left, and right sides; the number of pulleys 265 is not limited. Such an engagement structure reduces friction between the rail connection portion 260 and the rail 270, making sliding even easier.

[0040] Fig. 12 is a schematic top view showing two rail connection parts 260 and rails 270 in the configuration shown in Fig. 11. As shown in Fig. 12, there are two rail connection parts 260, and with this configuration, the rail connection parts 260 and the rails 270 abut at two or more points, allowing the rail connection parts 260 to slide stably along the arc-shaped rails 270. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 10 Simulator 105 Cockpit 110 Vibration mechanism (hexapod mechanism) 130 Rotation mechanism 150 Translation mechanism 160 Mounting table 170 Rotating Table 200 displays 201 Display stand 220 Mounting stand 230 Rail section 260 Rail connection 265 Pulley 270 Rail

Claims

1. A simulator comprising: The display and a base for holding the display, the base having a holding portion and a foot portion; a drive mechanism having a movable part and a base part; Equipped with the movable part of the drive mechanism includes a vibration mechanism; A simulator characterized in that the feet of the platform are fixed to a base of the drive mechanism.

2. the base portion of the drive mechanism includes a rotation mechanism for rotating the movable portion of the drive mechanism; The simulator according to claim 1 , wherein the platform is disposed on the rotation mechanism, and the platform and the movable part of the drive mechanism are rotatable simultaneously.

3. The simulator of claim 2 , wherein a base portion of the drive mechanism includes a translation mechanism for moving the vibration mechanism and the rotation mechanism.

4. a foot portion of the gantry is fixed to a rotation mechanism of the drive mechanism, and a holding portion of the gantry is disposed radially outward from a rotation center of the drive mechanism; the base portion of the drive mechanism includes an arc-shaped rail portion; the rail portion is disposed outside the rotation mechanism, The simulator according to claim 2 , wherein a holder of the platform is slidable on the rail when the rotation mechanism rotates.

5. The foot of the frame is fixed at an angle to the rotation mechanism of the drive mechanism, the base portion of the drive mechanism includes an arc-shaped rail portion; The simulator according to claim 2 , wherein the rail portion is disposed on the rotation mechanism.

6. the platform includes a rail connection portion; The simulator of claim 4 , wherein the rail connection portion engages with a rail of the rail portion, allowing the platform to slide relative to the rail portion.

7. A display stand for a simulator, comprising: a stand for holding a display; and an arc-shaped rail portion for slidably supporting the stand.

8. the platform includes a rail connection portion; 8. The simulator display stand according to claim 7, wherein the rail connection portion engages with a rail of the rail portion, allowing the stand to slide relative to the rail portion.

Images