Synchronization device having a base station for synchronizing head-mounted displays with a virtual world in an amusement ride, amusement ride having a synchronization device of this type, and method for operating an amusement ride of this type

Abstract

The invention relates to a synchronization device for synchronizing head-mounted displays (22) with a virtual world in an amusement ride (10), comprising at least one head-mounted display (22) with which a virtual reality can be represented, a base station (24) for storing the head-mounted display (22), the base station (24) having receiving means with which the head-mounted display (22) can be stored in a defined position and orientation in the base station (24), and a display position detection device (28) for detecting the position and orientation of the head-mounted display (22), the synchronization device (12) being set up in such a way that the virtual reality is synchronized with the head-mounted display (22), taking into account the position and orientation of the head-mounted display (22) detected by the display position detection device (28) in relation to the position and orientation of the head-mounted display (22) in the base station (24), as soon as the head-mounted display (22) is removed from the base station (24). The invention also relates to an amusement ride (10) having a synchronization device (12) of this type. The invention also relates to a method for operating an amusement ride (10) of this type.

Claims

1. A synchronization device for synchronizing head-mounted displays (22) with a virtual world, comprising: at least one head-mounted display (22), with which a virtual reality generated by a virtual reality (VR) device (30) can be represented; a base station (24) for storing the head-mounted display (22), the base station (24) having receiving means with which the head-mounted display (22) can be stored in a defined position and orientation in the base station (24); a display position detection device (28) for detecting the position and orientation of the head-mounted display (22); and the synchronization device (12) being set up in such a way that the virtual reality is synchronized with the head-mounted display (22), taking into account the position and orientation of the head-mounted display (22) detected by the display position detection device (28) in relation to the position and orientation of the head-mounted display (22) in the base station (24), as soon as the head-mounted display (22) is removed from the base station (24).

2. The synchronization device according to claim 1, characterized in that the base station (24) has presence detection means (45), capable of detecting whether the head-mounted display (22) is stored in the base station (24) and when the head-mounted display (22) is removed from the base station (24).

3. The synchronization device according to claim 1, characterized in that the base station (24) has a charging device (48) for charging the head-mounted display (22).

4. The synchronization device according to claim 1, characterized in that the virtual world comprises an amusement ride (10).

5. An amusement ride (10), comprising: a route (14) on which at least one vehicle (16) is movably arranged, the vehicle (16) being designed to accommodate at least one passenger (20); a VR device (30), with which a virtual reality corresponding to a journey of the passenger (20) with the vehicle (16) along the route (14) can be generated and can be represented on a head-mounted display (22) assigned to the passenger (20); a vehicle position detection device (34) for detecting the position of the vehicle (16) on the route (14); and a synchronization device (12) according to claim 1, the amusement ride (10) being set up in such a way that: the virtual reality is synchronized with the position and the orientation of the head-mounted display (22) as soon as the head-mounted display (22) is removed from the base station (24), and the virtual reality, taking into account the position of the vehicle (16) on the route (14) and the position and orientation of the head-mounted display (22) with respect to the base station (24), being displayed on the head-mounted display (22).

6. The amusement ride (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the synchronization device and/or the base station (24) is arranged on the vehicle (16).

7. The amusement ride (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the vehicle (16) has at least two passenger receptacles (18) for accommodating one passenger (20) each and that ones of the head-mounted displays (22) is assigned to each passenger receptacle (18).

8. The amusement ride (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the head-mounted display (22) is connected to the base station (24) by means of a cable (46).

9. The amusement ride (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the synchronization device (12) is arranged outside the vehicle (16).

10. The amusement ride (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the VR device (30) is set up in such a way that a virtual reality corresponding to the position and orientation of the head-mounted display (22) outside the vehicle (16) can be generated and displayed on the head-mounted display (22) assigned to the passenger (20).

11. The amusement ride (10) according to claim 5, wherein the amusement ride is a roller coaster.

12. A method for operating, an amusement ride (10) having a route (14) on which at least one vehicle (16) is movably arranged, the vehicle (16) being designed to accommodate at least one passenger (20); and a vehicle position detection device (34) for detecting the position of the vehicle (16) on the route (14), and a synchronization device (12) comprising the following steps: generating a virtual reality corresponding to a journey of a passenger (20) with the vehicle (16) along the route (14) by means of a virtual reality (VR) device (30), detecting the position of the vehicle (16) on the route (14) by means of a vehicle position detection device (34), detecting the position and orientation of the head-mounted display (22) by means of a display position detection device (28), displaying the virtual reality on a head-mounted display (22) assigned to the passenger (20) depending on the position and orientation of the head-mounted display (22) in the vehicle (16), synchronizing the virtual reality with the position and the orientation of the head-mounted display (22) as soon as the head-mounted display (22) is removed from the base station (24), the virtual reality, taking into account the position of the vehicle (16) on the route (14) and the position and orientation of the head-mounted display (22) in relation to the base station (24), being displayed on the head-mounted display (22).

13. The method according to claim 12, comprising the following step: Displaying the virtual reality on the head-mounted display (22) as soon as the display position detection device (28) detects that the head-mounted display (22) is within a selectable area (52) of the amusement ride (10).

14. The method according to claim 12, comprising the following step: displaying the virtual reality on the head-mounted display (22) as soon as the vehicle position detection device (34) detects that the vehicle (16) is moving along the route.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the amusement ride is a roller coaster.

16. A synchronization device for synchronizing head-mounted displays (22) with a virtual world, comprising: at least one head-mounted display (22), with which a virtual reality generated by a virtual reality (VR) device (30) can be represented; a base station (24) for storing the head-mounted display (22), the base station (24) having receiving means (26), the receiving means (26) having a configuration to store the head-mounted display (22) in the base station 24 in a defined position and orientation with which the head-mounted display (22) in a defined position and orientation in the base station (24), at least one of the head-mounted display (22) and the receiving means (26) generating a notification signal on removal of the head-mounted display (22) is removed from the base station (24); a display position detection device (28) for detecting the position and orientation of the head-mounted display (22); and the synchronization device (12) being set up in such a way that the virtual reality is synchronized with the head-mounted display (22), taking into account the position and orientation of the head-mounted display (22) detected by the display position detection device (28) in relation to the position and orientation of the head-mounted display (22) in the base station (24), as soon as the head-mounted display (22) is removed from the base station (24) after receiving the notification signal.

17. The synchronization device according to claim 16, characterized in that the virtual world comprises an amusement ride (10).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an amusement ride with a first embodiment of a synchronization device according to the invention, and

(3) FIG. 2 shows an amusement ride with a second embodiment of a synchronization device according to the invention, each based on a basic plan view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) FIG. 1 shows an amusement ride 10 with a first embodiment of a synchronization device 12.sub.1 according to the invention, based on a basic illustration. The amusement ride 10 comprises a route 14, along which a vehicle 16 can be moved by means of drive means, not illustrated. Of course, the amusement ride 10 can have more than one vehicle 16. In the illustrated embodiment example the amusement ride 10 is a roller coaster. The vehicle 16 has a first passenger receptacle 18.sub.1 and a second passenger receptacle 18.sub.2, in which a first passenger 20.sub.1 and a second passenger 20.sub.2 can be accommodated, respectively.

(5) The synchronization device 12.sub.1 comprises at least one head-mounted display 22 with which a virtual reality can be displayed. Furthermore, the synchronization device has a base station 24 for storing the head-mounted display 22. A base station 24 is provided in the vehicle 16 for each passenger receptacle 18.sub.1, 18.sub.2. The base station 24 is provided with receiving means 26, which ensure that the head-mounted display 22 can only be stored in the base station 24 in a defined position and orientation.

(6) In addition, the synchronization device 12.sub.1 comprises a display position detection device 28 with which the position and the orientation of the head-mounted display 22 can be detected.

(7) The amusement ride 10 also has a VR device 30, with which a virtual reality can be generated. For this purpose, the VR device 30 has a computing unit 32. The VR device 30 communicates wirelessly with the synchronization device 12.sub.1 and the head-mounted display 22, which the passenger 20 wears much like glasses.

(8) Furthermore, the amusement ride 10 is equipped with a vehicle position detection device 34, which is used to detect the position of the vehicle 16 on the route 14. The vehicle position detection device 34 has distance sensors 36, with which the position of the vehicle 16 on the route 14 is detected and transmitted to the computing unit 32, which takes the position of the vehicle 16 on the route 14 into account when generating the virtual reality.

(9) The amusement ride 10 is operated in the following way: In the initial state, the head-mounted display 22 is stored in the base station 24. As mentioned, the receiving means 26 of the base station 24 are designed such that the head-mounted display 22 can only be stored in the base station 24 in a defined position and orientation. The head-mounted display 22 is correspondingly stored in the base station 24 assigned to the second passenger receptacle 18.sub.2.

(10) The amusement ride 10 has a station 38 which is traversed by the route 14 and in which the vehicle 16 is stopped and started again. Passengers can get in and out of vehicle 16 at the station 38. As soon as the passengers have taken a seat in the passenger receptacles 18.sub.1, 18.sub.2, they can remove and put on the head-mounted display 22 assigned to their passenger receptacle 18.sub.1, 18.sub.2 from the base station 24. It can be seen in FIG. 1 that the first passenger 20.sub.1 has already put on the head-mounted display 22 assigned to the first passenger receptacle 18.sub.1, while the head-mounted display 22 assigned to the second passenger receptacle 18.sub.2 is still in the base station 24.

(11) The position and the orientation of the head-mounted display 22 can be described with a first coordinate system 40. The movement and the orientation of the base station 24 can be described with a second coordinate system 42, while the movement and the orientation of the vehicle 16 can be described with a third coordinate system 44.

(12) In the example shown, the vehicle 16 can only move along the route 14 in a single manner, so that the orientation of the vehicle 16 is known for each position on the route 14. With the vehicle position detection device 34, the current position of the vehicle 16, and consequently the speed, can be determined and taken into account by the VR device when generating the virtual reality.

(13) Since the base station 24 is fixedly mounted on the vehicle 16, the second coordinate system 42 and the third coordinate system 44 are in a fixed relationship to one another, which does not change.

(14) As long as the head-mounted display 22 is in the base station 24, the first coordinate system 40 is also in a fixed relationship to the second and third coordinate systems 42, 44. However, this changes as soon as the passenger 20 concerned removes the head-mounted display 22 from the base station 24. The removal from the base station 24 can be registered by the display position detection device 28, although the base station 24 has a presence detection means 45 which is integrated in the receiving means 26 and is implemented, for example, in the form of a reed contact, and which generates a notification signal as soon as the head-mounted display 22 is removed from the base station 24. The notification signal is sent to the computing unit 32 of the VR device 30. At the moment of removal, the virtual reality is synchronized with the position and orientation of the head-mounted display 22 in the base station 24 and the subsequent positions and orientations of the head-mounted display 22 are based on the position and orientation of the head-mounted display 22 in the base station 24. Removal from the base station 24 can also be used to start the representation of the virtual reality in the head-mounted display 22, but this can also be done at a later point in time, for example as soon as the vehicle position detection device 34 detects that the vehicle 16 is moving along the route 14. Corresponding signals are also transmitted to the computing unit 32 of the VR device 30 for this purpose. Other triggering events can also be used for this, for example the closing of safety bars (not shown here), a release signal which is emitted by an employee of the amusement ride 10, or a start signal which is emitted by the operator of the amusement ride 10.

(15) Assistance of the passenger 20 during the synchronization is not necessary. All changes in the position and the orientation of the head-mounted display 22 are taken into account by the VR device 30 when representing the virtual reality. On the basis of the signals from the vehicle position detection device 34, the position of the vehicle 16 on the route 14 is also taken into account in the representation of the virtual reality by the VR device 30, so that high immersion can be achieved.

(16) As soon as the journey has ended, the passengers 20 take off the head-mounted display 22, put it back in the base station 24 and leave the vehicle 16 via the station 38. Now further passengers 20 can use the amusement ride 10 in the manner described.

(17) FIG. 1 also shows that the head-mounted display 22 is connected to the base station 24 via a cable 46. The cable 46 can be used for data transmission, for securing the head-mounted display 22 or for charging the head-mounted display 22. In the example shown, a charging device 48 is however integrated in the receiving means 26 of the base station 24, so that the head-mounted display 22 can be charged as soon as the head-mounted display 22 is stored in the base station 24.

(18) FIG. 2 shows an amusement ride 10 with a second embodiment of a synchronization device 12.sub.2 according to the invention. The main difference from the amusement ride 10 with a synchronization device 12.sub.1 according to the first embodiment is that the base stations 24 are arranged outside the vehicle 16, for example in a waiting area 50 of the amusement ride 10 adjoining the station 38. However, the basic structure and the basic mode of operation of the synchronization device 12.sub.2 according to the second embodiment do not differ from that of the first embodiment. As the base stations 24 are however arranged outside the vehicles 16 and do not change their position, the second and third coordinate systems 42, 44 are no longer in a fixed, unchangeable relationship, as is the case with the first embodiment of the synchronization device 12.sub.1.

(19) In the second embodiment of the synchronization device 12.sub.2, synchronization is also carried out as soon as the passenger 20 removes the head-mounted display 22 from the base station 24. However, since the passenger 20 still has to travel a certain distance to the station 38 and to the vehicle 16, it cannot be ruled out that he is already putting on the head-mounted display 22 before reaching the station 38 and before boarding the vehicle 16, as the second passenger 20.sub.2 did. In order to nevertheless give the passenger the necessary orientation, either the real world or a virtual reality extending beyond the vehicle 16 can be shown. In the case of virtual reality that goes beyond the vehicle 16, obstacles in the real world are taken into account in such a way that they do not pose any danger to the passenger 20 who has put on the head-mounted display 22. For example, virtual reality can only be shown when the passenger 20 is within a selectable area 52 of the amusement ride 10, for example inside the station 38 or inside the vehicle 16.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(20) 10 amusement ride 12 synchronization device 12.sub.1 first synchronization device 12.sub.2 second synchronization device 14 route 16 vehicle 18 passenger receptacle 18.sub.1 first passenger receptacle 18.sub.2 second passenger receptacle 20 passenger 20.sub.1 first passenger 20.sub.2 second passenger 22 head-mounted display 24 base station 26 receiving means 28 display position detection device 30 VR device 32 computing unit 34 vehicle position detection device 36 distance sensor 38 station 40 first coordinate system 42 second coordinate system 44 third coordinate system 45 presence detection means 46 cable 48 charging device 50 waiting area 52 selectable area