A vehicle with a passenger compartment that can be used as a virtual reality space for gaming activities

Abstract

A vehicle with a passenger compartment (1) configured so that it can be used as a virtual reality space, for gaming activities, includes a main activation member (10), for activating a game mode only when the vehicle is in a "parking" condition. The driver seat (11) and preferably each passenger seat are supported by a vehicle structure (12) through a number of electronically controlled hydraulic actuators (13, 14). The windshield (3), rear window, and side windows (4, 5) of the vehicle are all equipped with electrochromic glasses, configured to be switched to an opaque condition when the vehicle is in game mode. A projector device (2), arranged inside the passenger compartment (1), and equipped with a series of projector outlets (2A) arranged in different directions, is configured to project images onto the interior surfaces of the windows when these are switched to an opaque condition. One or more electronic controllers (23, 31) are configured, when the vehicle is in game mode, to control the projector device (2) and the hydraulic actuators (13, 14) associated with each seat according to a predetermined game program and depending on the movements of the steering wheel (7) and any other game control member (17, 18), so that the user feels himself or herself as being fully immersed in a virtual game reality, while being subjected to movements and accelerations imparted by the hydraulic actuators (13, 14) of the seat occupied by the user.

Description

[0001] “A vehicle with a passenger compartment that can be used as a virtual reality space for gaming activities”

[0002] ****

[0003] Field of the invention

[0004] The present invention relates in general to vehicles and in particular to entertainment systems that can be used on board a vehicle.

[0005] Prior art

[0006] Various types of devices have been proposed in the past to entertain passengers on board a vehicle, or even the driver when the vehicle is in an inactive condition. For example, a conventional technique is to associate electronic displays to the passenger seats to allow viewing of video content or playing video games. Virtual reality viewers that can be worn by the driver and passengers on board a vehicle have also been proposed.

[0007] The present inventors have however sensed the possibility of achieving significant improvements in this field.

[0008] A vehicle having the features indicated in the preamble of claim 1 is known from document JP H11 90038 A. Document US 2016 / 303484 A1 disclosed a car simulator equipped with hydraulic supports.

[0009] Object of the invention

[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle equipped with an entertainment function for both the driver and any passengers of the vehicle, when the vehicle is stationary and in an inactive condition, which allows users to sense an impression of total immersion in a virtual game reality, without however requiring the use, by users, of accessory devices, such as virtual reality viewers.

[0011] A further object of the invention is to achieve said objective by associating some of the control members that are used for driving the vehicle with an alternative function of control members to carry out a gaming activity.

[0012] A further object of the invention is to achieve said objectives by also exploiting additional systems that are part of the vehicle, such as electronically controlled adaptive suspension, the vehicle HVAC system and the vehicle audio system, to improve the user experience in game mode. Summary of the invention

[0013] In order to achieve one or more of said objects, the invention relates to a vehicle having the features of claim 1 .

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, said one or more electronic controllers are configured to also control a vehicle HVAC system and a vehicle audio system when the vehicle is in said game mode, such that the user senses changes in temperature and / or flows of cool or warm air and / or sounds, according to the virtual game reality created by said game program and based on the user’s actions on said steering wheel and any other game control device.

[0015] In one example, the projector device is configured to also project images onto the interior surface of the roof of the vehicle, which is defined by an interior roof cover or an electrochromic glass that is configured to be switched to an opaque condition when the vehicle is in said game mode.

[0016] In a specific embodiment, the steering wheel of the vehicle has an upper portion and a lower portion - with reference to a neutral, non-rotated position of the steering wheel - which are removably connected to a main portion of the steering wheel, such that said upper and lower portions of the steering wheel can be removed when the vehicle is in game mode. In this way, in game mode, the steering wheel of the vehicle can take a configuration that simulates a pilot’s wheel (e.g. for games in which virtual reality simulates a spaceship or submarine cabin.

[0017] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the vehicle is equipped with electronically controlled front and rear adaptive suspensions, configured to change the vehicle’s attitude with respect to the ground and said one or more electronic controllers are configured to control said adaptive suspensions, in said game mode, in such a manner as to change the vehicle’s attitude according to said game program and depending on the movements of said steering wheel and said additional game control members.

[0018] Even more preferably, said main activation member is associated with a vehicle transmission control lever or knob having conventional positions of “Parking”, “Neutral”, “Drive” and “Reverse” and an additional game position which can be reached only by preliminarily selecting the position of “Parking” position.

[0019] In a further embodiment, said one or more electronic controllers are configured to also control a fragrance diffusion device, arranged in the passenger compartment.

[0020] As is evident from the above, the vehicle according to the invention allows for the creation of a game experience in which the user feels totally immersed in a virtual game reality, not only from a visual point of view but also with reference to a series of additional feelings, including the sense of accelerations, the sense of increases or decreases in temperature, the sense of air flows directed towards the user, the sense of odors and more generally of movements and vibrations. This result is achieved by using some driving commands of the vehicle as control members in the game mode.

[0021] Detailed description of the invention

[0022] Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description with reference to the attached drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, in which:

[0023] - figure 1 is a perspective view of a passenger compartment of an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention,

[0024] - figure 2 is a perspective view showing the detail of a control lever for the functions of an automatic transmission of the vehicle, which also serves as the main activation member of the game mode of the vehicle,

[0025] - figure 3 is a schematic view of an electronic display provided on the dash board of the vehicle, acting as a human-machine interface to allow the user to select a specific game program,

[0026] - figures 4A, 4B illustrate a side view of a vehicle according to the invention, respectively in a condition in which the electrochromic glasses of the windows of the vehicle are in a transparent condition and in a condition in which such glasses are switched to an opaque condition,

[0027] - figures 5A, 5B are perspective views of the steering wheel of the vehicle respectively in a normal operating condition for driving the vehicle and in a modified configuration usable in the game mode,

[0028] - figure 6 is a schematic side view of the driving position of the vehicle according to the invention, - figure 7 is a front view of a user occupying a seat of the vehicle, showing the possibility of the seat to perform lateral oscillations,

[0029] - figures 8A, 8B illustrate a side view of an example of a vehicle according to the invention, in the game mode, in two different operating conditions of the adaptive suspensions of the vehicle, and

[0030] - figures 9, 10 are block diagrams illustrating the operation of the entertainment system provided in the vehicle according to the invention.

[0031] In figure 1 , reference 1 indicates as a whole the passenger compartment of the vehicle according to the invention, in an exemplary embodiment.

[0032] The invention allows the passenger compartment 1 to be transformed into a virtual reality space for gaming activities.

[0033] To this end, a projector device 2 of any known type is arranged inside the passenger compartment 1 , having a plurality of projector outlets 2A arranged in different directions in order to project images onto the interior surfaces of the passenger compartment 1 and in particular onto the interior surface of a windscreen 3, onto the interior surface of a left side window 4, onto the interior surface of a right side window 5 (and onto any rear side windows) and onto the interior surface of the rear window (not visible in the drawing). To this end, the windscreen 3, the side windows 4, 5 and the rear window all have electrochromic glasses which can be switched electronically from a transparent condition (illustrated in figure 4A) to a darkened opaque condition (illustrated in figure 4B).

[0034] In the illustrated example, the projector device 2 also has projector outlets in its upper part configured to project images onto the interior surface 6 of the roof of the vehicle, which may be defined by a roof lining or a roof glass also configured as electrochromic glass, which can then be switched to a darkened opaque condition.

[0035] In the game mode implementable by the present invention, some control members that are used for driving the vehicle also have a function of control members usable in carrying out the gaming activity. In particular, the vehicle steering wheel, indicated by reference 7 in figure 1 , is also used as a control member in the game mode. In a preferred example, the steering wheel 7 is configured to take a different configuration in the vehicle driving mode and in the game mode. The configuration of the steering wheel in the driving mode is illustrated in figure 5A, while the configuration of the steering wheel in the game mode is illustrated in figure 5B. In the illustrated example, the steering wheel 7 has an upper portion 7A and a lower portion 7B - with reference to a neutral, non-rotated position of the steering wheel - which are removably connected to the remaining part of the steering wheel. In this way, in the game configuration illustrated in figure 5B, the steering wheel 7 takes on the appearance of a piloting wheel, with two handles 7C carried by two spokes 7D protruding from the central body 8 of the steering wheel 7.

[0036] In this description, and in the attached drawings, the construction details relating to the removably connection of the portions 7A, 7B with the handles 7C are not illustrated, since they can be made in any known way.

[0037] Furthermore, in the illustrated example, the handles 7C carry buttons 9 that can be used in the gaming activity.

[0038] The game mode can only be activated when the vehicle is in a “Parking” condition. In the example illustrated here, the main activation member is associated with a lever 10 for controlling the functions of an automatic transmission of the vehicle. With reference to figure 2, the control lever 10 has, in addition to the conventional operating positions D (“Drive”), N (“Neutral”), R (“Reverse”) and P (“Parking”), an additional operating position “G” (“Game”) which can only be reached after having preliminarily selected the operating position P for “Parking”. In the example illustrated in figure 2, the position G can be reached by moving the lever 10 to the right, after having brought it to the position P. Of course, in place of the lever 10, the control member for the vehicle transmission can have any other known configuration and be, for example, in the form of a rotary knob. It is also evident that the main activation member of the game mode can be a completely separate control member, it being understood that the electronic control system of the vehicle will be configured in such a way that the game mode can be enabled only provided that the vehicle is in a “Parking” condition.

[0039] Also in order to improve the game experience for the user and allow him / her to also sense movements, vibrations and accelerations, in the vehicle according to the invention the driver seat 11 (see figure 6), and preferably also each passenger seat, is supported on the structure 12 of the vehicle by means of a plurality of electronically controlled hydraulic actuators (schematically symbolized in figure 6 by the arrows 13, 14). In the preferred example, the support system of the seat 11 by means of hydraulic actuators is configured to be able to move the seat according to six degrees of freedom (three movements according to the X, Y, Z axes and three rotations around the X, Y, Z axes).

[0040] As will be illustrated in detail below, in the game mode, the projector device 2 and the hydraulic actuators 13, 14 associated with each seat are controlled by one or more electronic controllers according to a predetermined game program and depending on the movements imparted by the user to the game control members, and first of all to the steering wheel 7.

[0041] With reference again to figure 5B, in the game mode, the steering wheel 7 is configured to get additional degrees of freedom, including in particular a telescopic movement according to the arrows 15 and / or an oscillation movement according to the arrows 16.

[0042] The steering wheel 7 is associated with sensors of any known type configured to detect the movements 15 and 16 in the game mode and to send a signal containing the information on such movements to one or more electronic controllers that control the virtual reality system in the game mode.

[0043] Additional control members may be provided for use in the game mode. Preferably, additional control elements that are used in driving the motor vehicle, such as the accelerator 17 and the brake pedal 18 (see figure 1 ) are configured to take an additional function of control elements in the game mode. The additional control elements 17, 18 are associated with additional sensors capable of detecting the position of these control elements and sending a signal containing the corresponding information to one or more electronic controllers of the virtual reality system.

[0044] The vehicle according to the invention also has a human-machine interface, which can be consisted of a conventional electronic touch display 19, arranged on the dash board 20 of the vehicle (see figure 1 ) or in the form of a Head-Up Display. By means of the touch display 19 the user can select a specific game program from a plurality of game programs contained in a game library saved in a memory associated with an electronic controller of the system. The different selectable programs can be represented for example by icons 21 displayed on the display 19 (see figure 3).

[0045] Figure 7 shows a passenger seat of the vehicle according to the invention (for example a rear seat) and makes clear the possibility of lateral oscillations of the seat imparted by means of the system of electronically controlled hydraulic actuators associated with the seat, as already described above.

[0046] According to a further preferred embodiment, the electronic controller of the game system can be configured to also control the front and rear adaptive suspensions with which the vehicle is equipped, to change the attitude of the vehicle (lower or higher) with respect to the ground, as illustrated in figures 8A, 8B, to increase the possibilities of simulating the movements and accelerations perceptible by the user during the gaming activity.

[0047] In figure 10, the reference number 22 indicates as a whole a diagram of a game mode control system, usable in a vehicle according to the invention.

[0048] As already indicated, in the game mode, the different functions are controlled by one or more electronic controllers, represented in figure 10 by a main electronic controller 23 and by additional electronic controllers 29 and 31 -35, as described in detail below.

[0049] Controller 23 receives information from a block 24 associated with the human-machine interface, represented for example by the electronic display 19, regarding the selected game program.

[0050] Controller 23 also receives information from a block 25 representing a sensor associated with the main control lever 10, configured to detect when the vehicle is in a “Parking” condition and the position G corresponding to the game mode has been selected.

[0051] Block 26 is a sensor that is configured to detect a fastened condition of the seat belts associated with the seats and block 27 represents the sensors associated with the seats and configured to detect the presence of an occupant. Such sensors may be of any known type. The electronic controller 23 is configured to enable the game mode only if the seat belts of all the seats that are occupied are fastened.

[0052] Block 28 represents as a whole the sensors for detecting the movements of all the control members of the system in the game mode. In particular, block 28 detects the movements imparted to the steering wheel 27 according to the different degrees of freedom that the steering wheel takes in the game mode. Furthermore, block 28 detects movements of each additional control member of the game mode, represented for example by the accelerator pedal 17, the brake pedal 18, or even by further inputs given by the user on the touch display 19.

[0053] On the basis of the game program selected in block 24, and depending on the movements given by the user on the different control members, as detected in block 28, the electronic controller 23 commands, in block 29, a switching of the electrochromic glass of the windows to an opaque condition and controls, in block 30, the projector device 2 in such a way as to project onto the entire interior surface of the passenger compartment, and in particular on the interior surfaces of all the windows and preferably also on the interior surface of the roof, images aimed at recreating a dynamic virtual reality, a function of the commands given by the user, which gives the user the impression of being totally immersed in it.

[0054] To improve the reproduction of the simulated reality, in block 31 the electronic controller 23 controls the hydraulic actuators of the seats occupied by the users to impart movements, vibrations and accelerations as a function of the simulated reality in the selected game program.

[0055] For the same reason, in block 32, the electronic controller 23 controls the adaptive suspensions of the vehicle to make each user sense additional movements, vibrations and accelerations.

[0056] Block 33 indicates the electronic controller of the vehicle HVAC (“Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning”) system in order to obtain effects of increasing or decreasing the temperature or in order to hit the users with flows of fresh or hot air. This system can also include a controllable fragrance diffuser to diffuse particular fragrances that further improve the simulation of reality in the selected game mode.

[0057] Block 34 represents a controller of the electronic interface display, which can also be a head-up display. Block 35 represents the controller of the car audio system, which is controlled to create sound effects during the gaming activity.

[0058] Finally, block 36 is related to the generation of a feedback signal for the driver.

[0059] Figure 9 shows an example of a flow chart that illustrates the subsequent operations in the system according to the invention.

[0060] Block 100 represents the start step of the procedure. In block 101 the user switches the main control lever 10 to the position G, after having preliminarily entered the Parking condition.

[0061] In block 102 the system displays on the display 19 one or more game libraries from which the user can select his / her favorite game.

[0062] Block 103 is related to a possible verification step of the subscription to the entertainment system. In the case of a negative response, in block 104 a message is displayed that invites the user to subscribe to the system. In the case of an affirmative response, a block 104 is displayed in which the vehicle doors are locked and the sliding glasses of the side windows are raised and closed. In block 105, it is verified that the seat belts of all the seats that are occupied are fastened. In block 106, the user selects a predetermined game program in the available game library and also provides information on the seats occupied by the users who wish to participate in the game.

[0063] In block 107, all the windows, which in step 104 had all been automatically brought to the raised closed position, are switched to the opaque condition. In step 108, the projector device 2 is activated to project the images on the entire interior surface of the passenger compartment.

[0064] In block 109, based on the detection by the presence sensors associated with the seats, the hydraulic actuators of the seats that are occupied are controlled in synchronism with the images developed by the projector device 2 in order to give the user the sense of movements, vibrations, accelerations consistent with what is displayed.

[0065] In block 110, the HVAC system is activated to control the temperature and diffuse fragrances, in synchronism with the images displayed. In block 111 , if the game program is for example a simulation of take-off, landing or collision on board a spaceship, the adaptive suspensions are activated to increase the acceleration imparted to the user.

[0066] In block 112 the user controls the virtual vehicle (for example a spaceship or a submarine) with the help of the control members provided to go through the different steps of the game. Block 113 represents the end of the game.

[0067] As is evident from the preceding description, the vehicle according to the invention allows to create a game experience in which the user feels totally immersed in a virtual game reality, not only from a visual point of view but also with reference to a series of further sensations, including the sense of accelerations, the sense of increases or decreases in temperature, the sense of air flows directed towards the user, the sense of odors and more generally of movements and vibrations. This result is obtained by using some driving orders of the vehicle as control members in the game mode. Of course, notwithstanding the principle of the invention, the construction details and the embodiments may vary widely with respect to what is described and illustrated purely by way of example, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the attached claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A vehicle with a passenger compartment (1 ) configured so that it can be used as a virtual reality space, for gaming activities, wherein the vehicle includes:- a main activation member (10), for activating a game mode, configured to be operable only when the vehicle is in a “parking” condition,- a driver seat (11 ) and at least one passenger seat,- wherein the driver seat (11 ) and preferably each passenger seat are supported by a vehicle structure (12) through a number of electronically controlled actuators (13, 14),- a vehicle steering wheel (7) that, in addition to a rotational movement for steering the vehicle, is configured to acquire additional degrees of freedom when the vehicle is in said game mode, such that said steering wheel (7) can be used as a game control member when the vehicle is in said game mode,- a plurality of additional game control members (17, 18), for example consisting of an accelerator pedal (17) and a brake pedal (18) of the vehicle,- one or more sensors (28) configured to detect movements of the steering wheel (7) and any other game control member (17, 18) in said game mode, said vehicle being characterized in that:- the electronically controlled seat actuators are hydraulic actuators (13, 14),- the vehicle comprises one or more electronic controllers (23, 31 ) for controlling said hydraulic actuators (13, 14) associated with each seat, said one or more electronic controllers (23, 31 ) being configured to maintain said hydraulic actuators (13, 14) in a locked condition when the vehicle is not in said game mode,- wherein the vehicle has a windshield (3), a rear window, and left and right-side windows (4, 5) all equipped with electrochromic glasses, configured to be switched to an opaque condition when the vehicle is in said game mode,- the vehicle comprises a projector device (2), arranged inside the passenger compartment (1 ), and equipped with a series of projector outlets(2A) arranged in different directions, so as to be able to project images onto the interior surfaces of said windscreen (3), said rear window and said left and right-side windows (4, 5), when said windows are switched to said opaque condition,- said one or more electronic controllers (23, 31 ) being configured, when the vehicle is in said game mode, to control the projector device (2) and the hydraulic actuators (13, 14) associated with each seat according to a predetermined game program and depending on the movements of the steering wheel (7) and any other game control member (17, 18), as detected by said sensors (28), so that the user feels himself or herself as being fully immersed in a virtual game reality, while being subjected to movements and accelerations imparted by the hydraulic actuators (13, 14) of the seat occupied by the user.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 , characterized in that said one or more electronic controllers (23, 33, 35) are configured to also control a vehicle HVAC system and a vehicle audio system when the vehicle is in said game mode, such that the user senses changes in temperature and / or flows of cool or warm air and / or sounds, according to the virtual game reality created by said game program and based on the user’s actions on said steering wheel (7) and any other game control member (17, 18).

3. The vehicle according to claim 1 , characterized in that the projector device (2) is configured to also project images onto the interior surface of the roof of the vehicle, which is defined by an interior roof cover or an electrochromic glass of the roof of the vehicle, configured to be switched to an opaque condition when the vehicle is in said game mode.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1 , characterized in that the steering wheel (7) has an upper portion (7A) and a lower portion (7B), with reference to a neutral and non-rotated position of the steering wheel, which are removably connected to a main portion (8, 7D, 7C) of the steering wheel (7), such that said upper and lower portions (7A, 7B) of the steering wheel can be removed when the vehicle is in game mode.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1 , characterized in that it is equipped with electronically controlled front and rear adaptive suspensions, configured to change the vehicle’s attitude with respect to the ground and that said one or more electronic controllers (23, 32) are configured to controlsaid adaptive suspensions in said game mode in such a manner as to change the vehicle’s attitude according to said predetermined game program depending on the movements of said steering wheel (7) and said additional game control members (17, 18).

6. The vehicle according to claim 1 , characterized in that said main activation member (10) is associated with a vehicle transmission control lever or knob (10) having conventional positions of “Parking”, “Neutral”, “Drive” and “Reverse” and an additional game position (G) which can be reached only by preliminarily selecting the position of “Parking”.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1 , characterized in that said one or more electronic controllers (23, 33, 35) are configured to also control a fragrance diffusion device, arranged in the passenger compartment (1 ).

8. The vehicle according to claim 1 , characterized in that it includes an electronic display, for example a head-up display, and / or additional electronic displays to be used by passengers, and in that said one or more electronic controllers (23, 34) are configured to control said displays in said game mode.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a human-machine interface (19) configured to enable a selection of a game from a set of games in a game library saved in a memory associated to one of said electronic controllers (23).

10. The vehicle according to claim 1 , characterized in that said one or more electronic controllers (23) are configured to lock all doors of the vehicle and to bring sliding windows of the vehicle into a raised closed condition when the game mode is activated.

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