WO2011162448A1

WO2011162448A1 - Motion seat assembly for facility of showing pictures and method of showing pictures using the same

Info

Publication number: WO2011162448A1
Application number: PCT/KR2010/007186
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jae Won Lee
Original assignee: Cj 4Dplex Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2010-06-23
Filing date: 2010-10-20
Publication date: 2011-12-29
Also published as: TW201204290A; KR20110139613A

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a motion seat assembly for a facility that shows pictures and a method of showing pictures using the motion seat assembly. The motion seat assembly includes at least one motion seat, a tickler which is provided on a frame of the motion seat assembly and has a reciprocating structure, an embedded speaker, an actuator for operating the motion seat assembly, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the tickler and the actuator. Therefore, the motion seat assembly of the present invention can provide various special effects to an audience at an intensity appropriate for markedly increasing the pleasure of viewing pictures without disturbing the concentration of the audience on the picture.

Description

MOTION SEAT ASSEMBLY FOR FACILITY OF SHOWING PICTURES AND METHOD OF SHOWING PICTURES USING THE SAME

The present invention relates generally to motion seat assemblies for facilities of showing pictures and methods of showing pictures using the motion seat assemblies. More particularly, the present invention relates to a motion seat assembly for a facility of showing pictures which includes: at least one motion seat; a tickler which is provided on a frame of the motion seat assembly and has a reciprocating structure; an embedded speaker; an actuator for operating the motion seat assembly; and a control unit for controlling the operation of the tickler and the actuator, and a method of showing pictures in the facility installed with the motion seat assembly.

Hitherto, typical facilities such as theaters where pictures are shown have functioned only as places to show pictures. Recently, facilities such as theaters providing various special effects to audiences when showing pictures have gained in popularity.

In other words, the normal theaters were places where audiences could experience pictures only acoustically and visually, but recent improved theaters are places where audiences can experience various special effects as well as acoustically and visually seeing pictures.

Generally, theaters for showing pictures derived from stereoscopic photography to provide a cubic effect to audiences are called "3-D theaters" Theaters which are called "4-D theaters" stimulate not only the senses of sight and hearing but also the senses of touch and smell of audiences to enable the audience to see pictures using the five senses.

The origin of 4-D theaters is Riple's moving theater of the U.S.A. which opened in 1989. At that time, this theater showed twenty-minute pictures made by special cinematic techniques and provided raining, blowing and snowing effects to audiences in response to scenes of the pictures while showing the pictures.

Special effect devices are indispensable for such 4-D theaters. Most existing special effect devices stimulated only the sense of touch by exposing the audience to air and water in response to a scene where it was raining, blowing or snowing.

However, the kind of conventional special effect devices is restrictive. Thus, the audience's satisfaction in terms of bodily sensation which can be derived from the special effects is comparatively low. For example, the special effect devices that have been used in existing 4-D theaters have been limited to water supply devices, such as dry ice devices, raining devices, etc., that enable an audience to be touched by water and blowing devices, such as fans, etc., that enable the members of an audience to feel wind.

Meanwhile, systems in which the seats (hereinafter, referred to as "motion seats") in which audiences sit are moved in response to the scenes of the picture have been developed separately from the special effect devices. Such motion seats are presently being widely used in a variety of theme parks. However, the motion seats could not be used in theaters other than special places, such as theme parks.

There are two reasons for this. First, unlike theme parks which can use the physical or psychological condition of the person to easily control whether that person is allowed to enter into a facility and become a member of an audience, an unspecified number of the general public including children or old people use theaters. Hence, operation of motion seats may strain feeble members of the audience. Second, unlike theme parks in which the running time of a picture is relatively short and the number of kinds of movies is small, in theaters which show typical pictures, the operation of motion seats may disturb audiences ability to stay concentrated on the picture.

Moreover, when an unexpected situation occurs in the audience, coping with this is required. However, in general theaters unlike theme parks, it is not easy to cope with this unexpected situation. For example, if a shock is applied to the heart of an audience by the operation of the motion seat and thus the audience moves when the motion seat is being operated, there is a probability of a secondary accident.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a motion seat assembly which includes suitable kinds of special devices which can provide various special effects to audiences at an intensity appropriate to markedly increase the pleasure of showing pictures without disturbing the concentration of the audience on the picture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a motion seat assembly which includes special devices which can reduce the burden placed on feeble members of the audience so that it can be used in general facilities that show pictures as well as in theme parks.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a system which is configured such that when an unexpected situation occurs, the motion seat assembly can be immediately stopped so that an audience can safely move out of a facility that is showing the picture.

In order to accomplish the above object, in an aspect, the present invention provides a motion seat assembly for a facility of showing pictures, including: at least one motion seat; a tickler having a reciprocating structure; an embedded speaker; and an actuator operating the motion seat assembly.

The motion seat assembly may further include a footrest operating along with the motion seat assembly in accordance with the operation of the actuator.

The motion seat assembly may further include an air shooter. An air drier and an air cooler may be provided on a line for supplying air to the air shooter.

The motion seat assembly may further include a water shooter. A reducing valve may be provided on a line for supplying water to the water shooter.

The tickler may comprise at least one selected from the group including a vibration unit, a back tickler, a hip tickler and a leg tickler.

The air shooter may comprise at least one selected from the group including a face air shooter, a neck air shooter, a leg air shooter and a side air shooter. The water shooter may comprise a face water shooter.

The motion seat assembly may further include a back cushion, a seat cushion, side cushions and a rear cover. The tickler may comprise the back tickler and the hip tickler. The air shooter may comprise a face air shooter. The back cushion may include: a back tickler mount portion in which the back tickler is installed; and a speaker mount portion in which the embedded speaker is installed. The seat cushion may include a hip tickler mount portion in which the hip tickler is installed. The rear cover may have openings formed at positions corresponding to the face air shooter and the face water shooter.

The embedded speaker may be provided on an upper portion of a front surface of the motion seat. The embedded speaker may be oriented forwards.

The motion seat assembly may further include a bracket provided on a lower end of the motion seat. The tickler may comprise the leg tickler. The air shooter may comprise the leg air shooter. The leg tickler and the leg air shooter may be provided on the bracket.

The actuator may include: a center actuator; two side actuators; and a spline provided adjacent to the center actuator.

The motion seat assembly conducts rolling, pitching and/or heaving operations.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of showing pictures in the facility installed with the motion seat assemblies, including: (a) setting control signals synchronized with a picture that can be shown in the facility; (b) applying the set control signals to the control unit; and (c) showing the picture using the applied control signals while controlling and operating the motion seat assemblies.

Furthermore, (c) may include stopping the operation of the motion seat assemblies when a stop signal is applied to the control unit while the picture is being shown.

In addition, (c) may include stopping the operation of a motion seat assembly in a predetermined row when a seat motion stop signal for the predetermined row is applied to the control unit while the picture is being shown.

As described above, the present invention provides a motion seat assembly which includes suitable kinds of special devices which can provide various special effects to an audience at an intensity appropriate for markedly increasing the pleasure of showing pictures without disturbing the concentration of the audience on the picture.

Furthermore, the motion seat assembly of the present invention can reduce the burden placed on feeble members of the audience.

Moreover, when an unexpected situation occurs, the motion seat assembly can be immediately stopped so that an audience can safely move outs of a facility for showing pictures.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a motion seat assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the motion seat assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing seat frames of the motion seat assembly from which the cushions and rear covers have been removed according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view showing a process of assembling back cushions of the respective seat frames of the motion seat;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a seat frame of the motion seat assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the seat frame of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are rear perspective views of a bracket of the motion seat assembly according to the present invention: FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the bracket; and FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the circled portion "A" of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a pipeline structure for an air shooter and a water shooter;

FIG. 10 is a rear exploded perspective view showing an actuator of the motion seat assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing special devices installed in the motion seat assembly according to the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a method of showing pictures, according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

Reference now should be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components.

The term "pictures" which will be used in the following description means objects which are recorded on data recording media, such as films, digital data storage devices, etc., and are reproduced into images by players, such as projectors, etc. It is desirable that the pictures according to the present invention be digitally-recorded pictures which can be reproduced by projectors, but it must be understood that any kind of picture regardless of the analogue/digital nature of the storing/reproducing method falls within the bounds of the term "pictures" as defined in the present invention.

Furthermore, the term "audience" means people who are in a picture-showing facility and who are viewing the pictures.

In addition, the term "front side" means the side towards which the audience sitting on a motion seat assembly 10 of the present invention are looking. The term "rear side" is the side opposite to the front side.

Description of the outer shape of motion seat assembly 10

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a motion seat assembly 10 for a facility for showing pictures, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings, although the motion seat assembly 10 is illustrated as including four

motion seats

10a, 10b, 10c and 10d, the number of motion seats is not limited to this. For example, the motion seat assembly 10 may include only one motion seat or, alternatively, there may be more than one motion seat. Hereinafter, only for the sake of description, the motion seat assembly 10 including the four

motion seats

10a, 10b, 10c and 10d will be described by way of example.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the motion seat assembly 10. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the motion seat assembly 10. For the sake of description, FIG. 2 illustrates the motion seat assembly 10 from which a rear cover 230 is separated. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing seat frames 100 of the motion seat assembly 10 from which the cushions and rear covers 230 have been removed. FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view showing a process of assembling back cushions 210 with the respective seat frames 100.

As shown in FIG. 1, almost all special devices of the motion seat assembly 10 are covered with the cushions or the rear covers 230 and thus not exposed to the exterior of the motion seat assembly 10.

The motion seat assembly 10 is provided on a support base 110. As shown in FIG. 1, the motion seat assembly 10 includes, on a front side thereof, back cushions 210, side cushions 220, seat cushions 250 and armrests 225. As shown in FIG. 2, the motion seat assembly 10 includes, on a rear side thereof, rear covers 230.

Each back cushion 210 includes speaker mount portions 216 for embedded speakers 600, and back-tickler mount portions 213 for back ticklers 340 (refer to FIG. 4).

In the embodiment of the motion seat assembly 10 including the four

motion seats

10a, 10b, 10c and 10d, a total of five side cushions 220 are provided. An armrest 225, a cup holder, etc. are provided on each side cushion 220 to make them convenient for the audience (refer to FIG. 3).

The rear cover 230 has openings 235 which are for a face air shooter 420 and face water shooters 520 (refer to FIG. 2). These will be explained later herein with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

A bracket 160 is provided on a lower portion of the motion seat assembly 10. Leg ticklers 360 and leg air shooters 460 are coupled to the bracket 160. These will be explained later herein with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

The motion seat assembly 10 is coupled to the support base 110 by a plurality of actuators 700. Rolling, pitching and/or heaving operation of the motion seat assembly 10 can be conducted by the actuators 700.

In the embodiment, a bellows (not shown) may be provided between the support base 110 and the motion seat assembly 10 to protect the actuators 700 from the exterior and to make the operation of the motion seat assembly 10 by the actuators 700 smoother. The bellows have been omitted from the drawings of the specification.

Description of seat frame 100

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the seat frame 100 of the motion seat assembly 10 according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the seat frame 100.

The seat frame 100 of the motion seat assembly 10 has an L shape so that a user can sit on the corresponding seat. As shown in FIG. 3, the back cushion 210, the seat cushion 250, the side cushions 220 and the rear cover 230 are respectively attached to a front side of a back part, an upper surface of a seat part, side portions and a front side of the back part.

Special devices for providing special effects to the audience sitting on the corresponding seat are installed in the seat frame 100.

Furthermore, the back ticklers 340 are disposed in the back part of the seat frame 100 to which the back cushion 210 is attached. The back ticklers 340 are oriented forwards. Of course, the number of the back ticklers 340 is not limited to a certain number, and in this embodiment, two back ticklers 340 are provided in each seat frame 100.

The ticklers 300 are units which can reciprocate. A first end of each tickler 300 is fastened to the seat frame 100 or the bracket 160. Due to the reciprocation of the ticklers 300, the audience, parts of the body of which are in direct or indirect contact with the ticklers 300, can feel his/her body s parts being tickled or patted. Furthermore, amplitudes and periods of the reciprocation of the ticklers 300 are controlled to provide special effects to the audience within a range appropriate to prevent the audience from feel uncomfortable or prevent placing a burden on, particularly, a feeble body of a member of the audience.

In other words, the back ticklers 340 reciprocate under the control of the control unit 20. Thereby, the audiences who sit on the motions seats 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d can feel the tickling or patting. The control unit 20 can control the amplitudes and periods of reciprocation of the back ticklers 340.

As shown in FIG. 4, the back cushion 210 has the back-tickler mount portions 213 into which the corresponding back ticklers 340 are inserted. Each back-tickler mount portion 213 comprises a depression which is formed in the surface of the back cushion 210 that is attached to the seat frame 100.

The embedded speakers (600, not shown in FIGS. 1 through 8) are oriented forwards and disposed in the upper portion of the front side of the seat frame 100 to which the back cushion 210 is attached. The number of embedded speakers 600 is not limited to a special number, and each seat has two embedded speakers 600 in this embodiment.

The embedded speakers 600 output sound of the pictures under the control of the control unit 20. As such, because the separate embedded speakers 600 are provided in the motion seat assembly 10, the sound effect of the pictures can be markedly enhanced, compared to the existing facility having only speakers which are installed in, for example, the sidewalls or ceiling of the facility.

More preferably, the embedded speakers 600 can provide a stereophonic sound effect. For this, one embedded speaker 600 is disposed at each of positions adjacent to the left and right ears of the audiences who sit on the motions seats 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d. Therefore, each back cushion 210 has two speaker mount portions 216. It is desirable that front portions of the back cushion corresponding to the speaker mount portions 216 be made of a material which transmits sound or have openings to effectively transmit sound to the audience.

Hip ticklers 350 are provided on a lower portion of the seat frame 100 where the seat cushion 250 is attached. The hip ticklers 350 are oriented upwards. The number of hip ticklers 350 is not limited to a specific number, and in this embodiment, two hip ticklers 350 are provided in each seat frame 100.

The hip ticklers 350 reciprocate under the control of the control unit 20. Thereby, the audience who is sitting on the motions seats 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d can feel tickling or patting on their hips. The control unit 20 can control the amplitudes and periods of reciprocation of the hip ticklers 350.

Each seat cushion 250 has hip-tickler mount portions (not shown) into which the corresponding hip ticklers 350 are inserted. In the same manner as the back-tickler mount portion 213, each hip-tickler mount portion comprises a depression which is formed in the surface of the seat cushion 250 that is attached to the seat frame 100.

The face air shooter 420 and the face water shooters 520 are oriented rearwards and provided on an upper portion of the rear side of the seat frame 100 to which the rear cover 230 is attached. The number of face air shooters 420 or face water shooters 520 is not limited to a specific number, and in this embodiment, one face air shooter 420 and two face water shooters 520 are provided in each seat frame 100.

The face air shooter 420 is connected to an air tank 32 to discharge a small amount of wind at a comparatively high pressure to an audience who is sitting on a rear seat disposed behind the seat provided with the face air shooter 420. The face water shooters 520 are connected to a water tank 42 to discharge a small amount of water onto the audience who is sitting behind that seat. These will be explained later herein with reference of FIG. 9.

The rear cover 230 has openings 235 through which the face air shooter 420 and the face water shooters 520 respectively discharge air and water.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the motion seat assembly 10 may further include a vibration unit 310 (not shown in FIGS. 1 through 8) which vibrates the entire motion seat assembly 10. The vibration unit 310 can be disposed at any position on the motion seat assembly 10.

Furthermore, the motion seat assembly 10 may further include neck air shooters (430, not shown in FIGS. 1 through 8), leg air shooters 460 and side air shooters (470, not shown in FIGS. 1 through 8) which respectively discharge air to the necks, the legs and side portions of the audiences. These air shooters can be disposed at any position on the motion seat assembly 10 because the position or orientation of a nozzle of each air shooter can be adjusted.

Description of bracket 160 and footrest 260

FIGS. 7 and 8 are rear perspective views of a bracket 160 of the motion seat assembly 10. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the bracket 160. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the circled portion "A" of FIG. 7.

In the motion seat assembly 10 having the four

motion seats

10a, 10b, 10c and 10d according to the embodiment of the present invention, four of the same structures are coupled to the bracket 160. If the number of motions seats is increased, the number of structures is also increased.

Devices for providing special effects to the legs of the audiences are mounted to the bracket 160.

The leg ticklers 360 are installed inside the bracket 160. The number of the leg ticklers 360 is not limited to a specific number, and in this embodiment, two leg ticklers 360 are provided in each

motion seat

10a, 10b, 10c, 10d.

The leg ticklers 360 can reciprocate under the control of the control unit 20. The audience who is sitting in the

motion seats

10a, 10b, 10c and 10d can feel the tickling or patting on their legs. The control unit 20 can control the amplitudes and periods of the reciprocation of the leg ticklers 360.

Furthermore, the leg air shooters 460 are provided on the bracket 160. The number of the leg air shooters 460 is not limited to a specific number, and in this embodiment, two leg air shooters 460 are provided in each

motion seat

10a, 10b, 10c, 10d.

Footrests 260 provided on the front surface of the bracket 160 will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3.

As stated above, the motion seat assembly 10 of the present invention produces various special effects while showing pictures. Operating the entirety of the motion seat assembly 10 using the actuators 700 is one of such special effects. The motion seat assembly 10 can perform 3-degree-of-freedom operation including rolling, pitching and/or heaving operation using the actuators 700 which are provided on the support base 110 and couple the motion seat assembly 10 to the support base 110.

Here, if the feet of the audience are placed on the ground or the support base 110 fastened to the ground, only parts (particularly, upper bodies) of the bodies of the audience are moved by the operation of the motion seat assembly 10 while the other parts (particular, lower bodies) of the bodies of the audience do not move regardless of the operation of the motion seat assembly 10 or move in directions opposite to the directions in which the motion seat assembly 10 moves, so as to balance their bodies. In this case, the intensity of the sensation that audiences feel as a result of the operation of the motion seat assembly 10 is markedly reduced.

Thus, the motion seat assembly 10 of the present invention provides the separate footrest 260 onto which the feet of the audiences are placed, thus preventing the feet of the audience from being placed on the ground. Therefore, the footrest 260 also moves depending on the operation of the motion seat assembly 10. Thereby, the entire body of members of the audience smoothly moves along with the motion seat assembly 10. As a result, the intensity of the sensation that audiences feel as a result of the operation of the motion seat assembly 10 can be maximized.

Description of air and water supply lines of the air shooter and the water shooter

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a pipeline structure, in other words, air and water supply lines, for the air shooters and the water shooters.

As stated above, the air shooter 400 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes at least one of the face air shooter 420, the neck air shooter 430, the leg air shooter 460 and the side air shooter 470. The water shooters 500 include the face water shooters 520.

Air is supplied from a compressor 31 to the air shooter 400.

In detail, air which is supplied from the compressor 31 to the air tank 32 is cooled by an air cooler 33 and then dried by an air drier 34. Thereafter, the cooled and dried air is discharged towards the audience. The reason for this is that discharging cooled and dried air to the audience can impart the audience with a more comfortable feeling compared to when discharging hot and humid air onto the audience.

Air to be discharged onto the audience is supplied to motion seat assemblies 10 by means of a manifold. In this embodiment, the manifold for distributing air comprises a main manifold 50 and a sub-manifold 35, but the method of supplying or distributing air is not limited to any specific method.

Furthermore, a plurality of valves and a plurality of filters 36 may be provided on the pipeline from the compressor 31 to the manifold. In this case, air purified by the filters 36 can be discharged towards the audience.

Water is supplied from a water tap 41 to the water shooters 500. The water tap 41 may comprise a separate water source or, alternatively, it may be a public water supply as shown in this embodiment.

Water supplied from the water tap 41 is stored in the water tank 42 and then supplied to the motion seat assemblies 10 by means of a manifold by a pump 43. It is preferable that a reducing valve 44 be provided to reduce the pressure of water supplied to the pump 43. In this embodiment, the manifold for distributing water may comprise a main manifold 50 and a sub-manifold 45, but a method of supplying or distributing water is not limited to any specific method.

Furthermore, a plurality of valves and a plurality of filters 46 may be provided along the pipeline extending from the water tap 41 to the manifold. In this case, water purified by the filters 46 can be discharged towards the audience.

Description of the actuator 700

The actuators 700 will be explained with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a rear exploded perspective view showing the actuators 700 of the motion seat assembly 10.

The motion seat assembly for the facility of showing pictures according to the present invention can perform the rolling, pitching and/or heaving operation. A plurality of actuators may be used to provide various patterns of movement. However, in the case where an excessive number of actuators are provided, power consumption is increased, and there is the disadvantage that it might impose a physical burden on feeble members of the audience, taking into account the fact that an unspecified number of the general public uses the facility where pictures are shown. On the other hand, if the number of actuators is reduced and thus the movement of the motion seat assembly 10 is limited, the motion seats cannot provide various patterns of movement to the audience.

To avoid these disadvantages, the inventor of the present invention discovered the fact that it is desirable that three actuators and a spline be provided to realize the rolling, pitching and/or heaving operation of the motion seat assembly and reduce the cost.

The operation of the actuators will be explained with reference to FIG. 1. For the sake of explanation, the longitudinal central axis of FIG. 1 along which the four seats are arranged is designated as an x-axis. A transversal center axis of FIG. 1 which connects the front side of the motion seat assembly to the rear side thereof is designated as the y-axis. A vertical central axis of FIG. 1 which connects the upside of the motion seat assembly 10 to the downside thereof is designated as a z-axis.

The rolling operation means an operation in which the left side of the motion seat assembly 10 moves upwards around the y-axis and, simultaneously, the right side thereof moves downwards around the y-axis, or reversely, the left side moves downwards and the right side moves upwards.

The pitching operation means operation in which the front side of the motion seat assembly 10 moves upwards around the x-axis and, simultaneously, the rear side thereof moves downwards around the x-axis, or reversely, the front side moves downwards and the rear side moves upwards.

The heaving operation means an operation in which the entirety of the motion seat assembly 10 moves upwards or downwards along the z-axis.

The actuators 700 will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 10.

In the embodiment, the actuators 700 include a single center actuator 710 and two

side actuators

720 and 730. As mentioned above, a larger number of actuators may be used, but it is desirable that three actuators be used.

The

actuators

710, 720 and 730 are respectively coupled at first ends thereof by

connectors

711, 721 and 731 to the frame support 150 on which the seat frames 100 are provided. The

actuators

710, 720 and 730 are fastened at second ends thereof to the support base 100, and the first end of each actuator 710, 720, 730 moves upwards or downwards.

The spline 750 is disposed on the central portion of the support base 110 at a position adjacent to the center actuator 710. The spline 750 connects the frame support 150 to the support base 110 to make movement of the frame support 150 smoother.

To conduct the rolling operation, a corresponding one of the

side actuators

720 and 730 moves upwards, and the other side actuator 720 or 730 moves downwards.

To conduct the pitching operation, the

side actuators

720 and 730 move upwards and the center actuator 710 moves downwards, or the

side actuators

720 and 730 move downwards and the center actuator 710 moves upwards.

To conduct the heaving operation, all the

actuators

710, 720 or 730 move upwards or downwards.

General description of special devices installed in motion seat assembly 10

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing special devices installed in the motion seat assembly 10 according to the present invention.

The special devices are controlled by the control unit 20. The special devices may comprise one or more selected from the group including the ticklers 300, the air shooters 400, the water shooters 500, the embedded speakers 600 and the actuators 700.

The ticklers 300 may comprise one or more selected from the group including the vibration unit 310 which vibrates the entirety of the motion seat assembly 10, and the back ticklers 340, the hip tickler 350 and the leg ticklers 360 which lightly tickle or pat the backs, the hips and the legs of the audience.

The air shooters 400 momentarily jet a small amount of air at comparatively high pressure towards the body of a member of the audience. The air shooters 400 may comprise one or more selected from the group including the face air shooter 420, the neck air shooters 430, the leg air shooters 460 and the side air shooters 470.

The water shooters 500 momentarily jet a small amount of water at comparatively high pressure towards the bodies of the members of the audience. The water shooters 500 may comprise the face water shooters 520.

Preferably, one embedded speaker 600 is disposed at each of the two positions adjacent to the left and right ears of a member of the audience.

The actuators 700 roll, pitch and/or heave the motion seat assembly 10.

Description of method of showing pictures

A method of showing pictures using the picture-showing facility according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 12.

The following embodiment will be explained on the assumption that not only the motion seat assembly 10 of the present invention but also other special effect devices for providing special effects may be used. For example, a fog generating device may be used as a representative example of these special effect devices, and several special effect devices besides the fog generating device may be provided.

First, control signals are separately set according to the picture to be shown at step S110. These signals can be set based on separate criteria for maximizing the effects of watching the picture on the audience. For example, when the audience watches a movie, the control of the driving of the special effect devices and the motion seat assembly 10 can be determined, as shown in the following Table 1.

Table 1

class	Scene of movie	4D effect
1	Scene where a main character takes a sniff	Softly and forwardly discharge air onto the face of a viewer through the air shooter
2	Scene where a main character is located on a cliff	Strongly discharge air onto the face of a viewer through the air shooter
3	Scene where a main character pursues a fleeing deer	Combine a heave motion with a pitch motion
4	Scene where icy ground gives way and then a main character is writhing	Perform a heave motion
5	Scene where a main character explodes a smoke shell	The fog generation device generates fog
6	Scene where a main character rescues a person while riding a pterodactyl	Provide the sensation of falling to a viewer by combining heave, roll, and pitch motions, and discharge wind by operating the fan

Next, the set control signals are input to the control unit 20 at step S120.

Thereafter, the picture is shown using the input control signals at step S210, and the special effect devices and the motion seat assemblies 10 are driven at step S220. With regard to the control signals, signals for controlling the special effect devices and the motion seat assemblies 10 are synchronized with one another according to the running time of the picture, so that steps S210 and S220 are simultaneously performed. Using the synchronized signals, the special effect devices and the motion seat assemblies 10 are driven in conformity with the contents of the picture currently being shown.

An unexpected situation may occur while the picture is shown. Depending on the circumstances, there may be a need to prompt each viewer to exit the picture-showing facility.

In an embodiment of the present invention, when an unexpected situation occurs, a separate stop signal is applied to the control unit 20 at step S230. A procedure for applying the stop signal may be performed such that the stop signal is applied manually by separate management personnel stationed in the control room or the auditorium, or such that the stop signal is applied by a viewer when an emergency button (not shown) is located adjacent to the viewer in the auditorium, or such that the stop signal is automatically applied by a separate device used to monitor the conditions of members of the audience.

When the stop signal is manually or automatically applied to the control unit 20, the control unit 20 may stop the driving of the special effect devices and the motion seat assemblies 10 at step S231.

Thereafter, when a return signal is manually or automatically applied to the control unit 20 at step S232, the control unit 20 again drives the special effect devices and the motion seat assemblies 10.

In another embodiment of the present invention, when an unexpected accident occurs, a separate seat motion stop signal is applied to the control unit 20 at step S240. Unlike the above stop signal, the seat motion stop signal is a signal required to stop only a motion seat assembly 10 in a relevant row on the basis of rows in which motion seat assemblies 10 are installed. That is, when an unexpected accident occurs, only the motion seat assembly 10 in the row in which the unexpected accident has occurred is stopped, thus minimizing interference with other viewers who are watching the picture. As described above, the seat motion stop signal may also be manually or automatically applied.

When the seat motion stop signal is applied to the control unit 20 at step S240, only a motion seat assembly 10 in a relevant row is stopped at step S241. Thereafter, when a return signal is manually or automatically applied to the control unit 20 at step S242, the motion seat assembly 10 is again driven.

Based on the above description, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be defined by the accompanying claims without being limited to the contents described in the detailed description of the specification.

Claims

A motion seat assembly for a facility of showing pictures, comprising:

at least one motion seat;

a tickler having a reciprocating structure;

an embedded speaker; and

an actuator operating the motion seat assembly.
The motion seat assembly as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a footrest operating along with the motion seat assembly in accordance with the operation of the actuator.
The motion seat assembly as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

an air shooter,

wherein an air drier and an air cooler are provided on a line for supplying air to the air shooter.
The motion seat assembly as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

a water shooter,

wherein a reducing valve is provided on a line for supplying water to the water shooter.
The motion seat assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein the tickler comprises at least one selected from the group including a vibration unit, a back tickler, a hip tickler and a leg tickler.
The motion seat assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein the air shooter comprises at least one selected from the group including a face air shooter, a neck air shooter, a leg air shooter and a side air shooter, and

the water shooter comprises a face water shooter.
The motion seat assembly as set forth in claim 6, further comprising:

a back cushion, a seat cushion, side cushions and a rear cover,

wherein the tickler comprises the back tickler and the hip tickler,

the air shooter comprises a face air shooter,

the back cushion comprises:

a back tickler mount portion in which the back tickler is installed; and

a speaker mount portion in which the embedded speaker is installed,

the seat cushion comprises:

a hip tickler mount portion in which the hip tickler is installed, and

the rear cover has:

openings formed at positions corresponding to the face air shooter and the face water shooter.
The motion seat assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein the embedded speaker is provided on an upper portion of a front surface of the motion seat, the embedded speaker being oriented forwards.
The motion seat assembly as set forth in claim 6, further comprising:

a bracket provided on a lower end of the motion seat,

wherein the tickler comprises the leg tickler,

the air shooter comprises the leg air shooter, and

the leg tickler and the leg air shooter are provided on the bracket.
The motion seat assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises:

a center actuator;

two side actuators; and

a spline provided adjacent to the center actuator.
The motion seat assembly as set forth in claim 10, conducting rolling, pitching and/or heaving operations.
A method of showing pictures in the facility installed with motion seat assemblies according to any one of claims 1 through 11, comprising:

(a) setting control signals synchronized with a picture that can be shown in the facility;

(b) applying the set control signals to the control unit; and

(c) showing the picture using the applied control signals while controlling and operating the motion seat assemblies.
The method according to claim 12, wherein (c) comprises stopping the operation of the motion seat assemblies when a stop signal is applied to the control unit while the picture is being shown.
The method according to claim 13, wherein (c) comprises stopping the operation of a motion seat assembly in a predetermined row when a seat motion stop signal for the predetermined row is applied to the control unit while the picture is being shown.