IP Library Granted Patent US 10,751,622
Granted Patent B2
US 10,751,622 · App. 15/738,598 · Granted Aug 25, 2020

System and method of soft decoupling an input

Inventors: Jan Goetgeluk (Austin, TX); Ronald Kurt Bender (Dripping Springs, TX); James Douglas Shuffield (Cedar Park, TX)
Assignee: VIRTUIX HOLDINGS INC.
A63F13/5255A63F13/211A63F13/212A63F13/245A63F13/352A63F13/428A63F13/65A63F13/80A63F13/90G06F3/011A63F2300/8082
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,751,622
App. No.
15/738,598
Granted
Aug 25, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a virtual reality environment a user's movements are coupled, meaning the user cannot walk and look in different directions. Discloses are methods and systems for soft decoupling the movements of the user in a virtual reality environment, enabling the user to look and walk in different directions simulating real-world interactions. The soft decoupling is performed by receiving acceleration and orientation data from sensors attached to the user. A heading and a heading delta based on a ratio are calculated. The calculated heading and a velocity are translated into soft decoupling inputs for the virtual reality environment.

Claims (53)

1. A computer-implemented method of soft decoupling an input, the method comprising:

determining, at a server, a motion within a platform by an input received from one or more sensors, each sensor of the one or more sensors comprising: an attachment portion, a cover, a printed circuit board and an inertial measurement unit;

determining a heading by the input received from the one or more sensors;

calculating a heading delta;

combining the heading delta and the heading; and

calculating a velocity vector from a velocity received from the one or more sensors and the combined heading.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

translating the velocity vector into coordinates; and

normalizing the coordinates.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the coordinates are 2-dimensional Cartesian coordinates.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the coordinates are normalized within a minimum and maximum scale defined by an input device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input comprises acceleration data and orientation data.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the motion is determined when the acceleration data is greater than zero.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heading delta is calculated based on the angle of the heading and a ratio.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the combining further comprising:

adding the heading delta to the heading, wherein the heading delta and the heading are directional vectors.

9. A system of soft decoupling a virtual reality input, the system comprising:

one or more sensors configured to generate an input, each sensor of the one or more sensors comprising: an attachment portion, a cover, a printed circuit board and an inertial measurement unit; and

a server, configured to receive the input from the sensors, and in response to receiving the input, the server is configured to:

determine a motion within a platform;

determine a heading;

calculate a heading delta;

combine the heading delta and the heading; and

calculate a velocity vector from a velocity received from the one or more sensors and the combined heading.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more sensors further comprises:

a receptor including one or more ramps;

a mounting plate releasably couplable to the receptor, wherein the mounting plate comprises one or more actuators configured to be actuated by the one or more ramps; and

the printed circuit board coupled to the mounting plate, wherein the printed circuit board comprises one or more switches configured to be actuated by the one or more actuators, wherein the one or more sensors are identified by the switches actuated.

11. The system of claim 10 , the server further configured to:

determine, based on the input, a location of the sensor, wherein the location of the sensor is determined based on switches actuated.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the input comprises acceleration data and orientation data.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the user is in motion when the acceleration data is greater than zero.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the angle of the heading is determined from the orientation data.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the heading delta is calculated based on the angle of the heading and a ratio.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the combining further comprising:

adding the heading delta to the heading, wherein the heading delta and the heading are directional vectors.

17. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:

translate the velocity vector into coordinates; and

normalize the coordinates.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the coordinates are normalized within a minimum and maximum scale defined by a gaming input device.

19. A gaming system for soft decoupling a virtual reality input, the gaming system comprising:

a processor;

a memory, the memory storing instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to:

receive an input from one or more sensors, each sensor of the one or more sensors comprising: an attachment portion, a cover, a printed circuit board and an inertial measurement unit;

determine a motion within a platform;

determine a heading;

calculate a heading delta;

combine the heading delta and the heading;

calculate a velocity vector from a velocity received from the one or more sensors and the combined heading.

20. The gaming system of claim 19 , wherein the one or more sensors comprises:

a receptor including one or more ramps;

a mounting plate releasably couplable to the receptor, wherein the mounting plate comprises one or more actuators configured to be actuated by the one or more ramps; and

the printed circuit board coupled to the mounting plate, wherein the printed circuit board comprises one or more switches configured to be actuated by the one or more actuators, wherein the one or more sensors are identified by the switches actuated.

Assignments (6)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2025
From: VIRTUIX HOLDINGS INC.
To: STREETERVILLE CAPITAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 073293/0982 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2025
From: VIRTUIX HOLDINGS INC.
To: STREETERVILLE CAPITAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 072766/0625 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 29, 2025
From: VIRTUIX HOLDINGS INC.
To: STREETERVILLE CAPITAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 072769/0698 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2025
From: VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IX, INC.; WTI FUND X, INC.
To: VIRTUIX HOLDINGS INC.; VLRTUIX INC.; VLRTUIX MANUFACTURING LIMITED
Reel/Frame 072683/0334 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NUMBERS CHANGED TO PATENT NUMBERS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 59762 FRAME: 505. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Aug 12, 2025
From: VIRTUIX HOLDINGS INC.; VIRTUIX INC.; VIRTUIX MANUFACTURING LIMITED
To: VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IX, INC.; WTI FUND X, INC.
Reel/Frame 073207/0758 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 10, 2020
From: GOETGELUK, JAN; BENDER, RONALD KURT; SHUFFIELD, JAMES DOUGLAS
To: VIRTUIX HOLDINGS INC.
Reel/Frame 052364/0299 →