US-20260126258-A1 - VR TRIGGER CONTROL DEVICE TO PLACE INSIDE A GUN

US20260126258A1US 20260126258 A1US20260126258 A1US 20260126258A1US-20260126258-A1

Abstract

A virtual reality, VR, trigger control device for various guns, comprising a casing containing a Bluetooth device and a trigger mechanism with a trigger protruding from a plane side of the casing, wherein said Bluetooth device is configured to detect a trigger output signal generated by the trigger mechanism in response to the trigger being pulled and to send a wireless event signal in response to the detected trigger output signal to a VR headset.

Inventors

Stephan Eskilander
Tobias Hörngren
Oscar BORG

Assignees

GAIM IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGY GROUP AB

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20231110
Priority Date: 20221111

Claims (19)

1 . A virtual reality, VR, trigger control device for various guns, comprising a casing containing a Bluetooth device and a trigger mechanism with a trigger protruding from a plane side of the casing, wherein said Bluetooth device is configured to detect a trigger output signal generated by the trigger mechanism in response to the trigger being pulled and to send a wireless event signal in response to the detected trigger output signal to a VR headset wherein said casing has a recess in an edge forming an indentation of the casing so as to cooperate with a complementary surface inside a receiver of a real handgun, dummy weapon, VR game gun, a VR trigger control device holder for a real firearm or rifle stock, a magazine box of a real gun, receiver of an automatic carbine, or receiver of an airgun, soft air gun, or airsoft gun, or inside a VR trigger device holder interface.
2 . (canceled)
3 . The VR trigger control device according to claim 1 , wherein the casing has a notch in an outside surface of the casing adapted to receive a latch pin for locking the VR trigger control device in place inside the gun.
4 . The VR trigger control device according to claim 3 , wherein the casing comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, a back surface, a front surface, a left side plate, and a right side plate forming a rectangular casing surrounding the Bluetooth device and the trigger mechanism.
5 . The VR trigger control device according to claim 4 , wherein the recess is arranged in the edge connecting the bottom surface and the back surface of the casing.
6 . The VR trigger control device according to claim 4 , wherein the notch is arranged in the back surface of the casing.
7 . The VR trigger control device according to claim 4 , wherein one or more of the top surface, bottom surface, back surface, front surface of the casing have one or more grooves for receiving corresponding tenons of a VR trigger control device holder.
8 . The VR trigger control device according to claim 1 , wherein the trigger mechanism comprises an adjustment screw arranged for adjustment of a trigger release distance accessible from the exterior of the VR trigger control device.
9 . The VR trigger control device according to claim 1 , comprising at least one electrical connector of the Bluetooth device for operatively connection to an electrical cartridge of a gun.
10 . The VR trigger control device according to claim 9 , wherein the Bluetooth device is adapted to detect or sense an electrical signal at the at least one electrical connector indicative of a shot signal generated in response to the electrical cartridge being activated and send a corresponding shot signal to the VR headset.
11 . The VR trigger control device according to claim 1 , wherein the Bluetooth device comprises a processor operatively connected to a memory, a battery, and an antenna, wherein the processor is configured to execute program instructions stored in the memory causing the Bluetooth device to detect the trigger output signal generated by the trigger mechanism in response to the trigger being pulled and to send the wireless event signal in response to the detected trigger output signal to the VR headset to cause an augmented reality or virtual reality event on an augmented reality or virtual reality display.
12 . The VR trigger control device according to claim 1 , wherein the gun is a rifle stock, real firearm, real handgun, real automatic carbine, airgun, soft air gun, airsoft gun, or VR game gun.
13 . A VR trigger control device holder for removably attaching a VR trigger control device according to claim 1 to a rifle stock, wherein the holder comprises a rigid frame adapted to surround and removably hold the VR trigger control device firmly within the rigid frame, wherein the rigid frame has trigger guard for surrounding the trigger and at least a protrusion inside the ridged frame so as to cooperate with the complementary indentation of the casing of the VR trigger control device.
14 . The VR trigger control device holder according to claim 13 , wherein the rigid frame have one or more tenons adapted to fit into corresponding grooves of the casing for holding the VR trigger control device in place.
15 . The VR trigger control device holder according to claim 13 , wherein the rigid frame has screw holes on both sides of the trigger guard for securing the VR trigger control device holder to the rifle stock.
16 . A VR trigger device holder interface for removably attaching a VR trigger control device according to claim 1 to a real firearm, wherein the holder interface comprises an openable casing including two separate and complementary parts for enclosing the VR trigger control device with the trigger protruding through an aperture of the openable casing.
17 . The VR trigger device holder interface of claim 16 , comprising at least one exterior electrical connector for connection to an electrical cartridge of a firearm, and at least one interior electrical connector arranged inside the openable casing for connection to the at least one electrical connector of the Bluetooth device of the VR trigger control device wherein the at least one interior electrical connector is operatively connected to the at least one exterior electrical connector, wherein the Bluetooth device is adapted to detect or sense an electrical signal, indicative of a shot signal generated in response to the electrical cartridge being activated.
18 . The VR trigger device holder interface according to claim 16 , comprising a tracker holder for a VR tracker attached on top of the holder interface
19 . A magazine box for removably attaching a VR trigger control device according to claim 1 to a real firearm, wherein the magazine box adapted to receive and removably hold the trigger control device, wherein the magazine box has trigger guard for surrounding the trigger and a protrusion inside the magazine box so as to cooperate with a complementary indentation of the casing of the VR trigger control device.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a virtual reality, VR, trigger control device, and more particularly, to a VR trigger control device for various guns. BACKGROUND Shooting simulators have been provided for shooting practice for home or other indoor training where shooters can fire simulated projectiles against simulated targets to improve targeting and shooting techniques for hunters and sportsmen. Different types of prior art target practice and aiming devices have been suggested to simulate the firing of a weapon. A prior art virtual reality, VR, hunting and shooting simulator for training shooting in immersive environments, comprises a virtual reality (VR) rifle and associated software modules provided by the Applicant, and a VR headset and a VR tracker. The VR headset is configured for tracking the VR tracker. The VR rifle is equipped with a trigger unit specifically adapted for and fixedly mounted to the stock of the VR rifle. The trigger unit is adapted to detect or sense an electrical signal indicative of an event signal generated in response to the trigger has been pulled, and to send a corresponding event signal to the VR headset. Although, the VR rifle of the Applicant provide a reliable and durable shooting simulator system as well as a realistic user experience, the user of the simulator system is confined to a particular VR rifle. US2017307333 describes a system and method for simulating lead of a target including a network, a simulation administrator connected to the network, a database connected to the simulation administrator, and a user device connected to the network. The user device includes a set of virtual reality unit, and a computer connected to the virtual reality unit and to the network. A set of position trackers are connected to the computer. A trigger unit including a paddle is secured to the exterior of a weapon with fasteners used with the simulation system. Upon deflection of the paddle, the trigger unit sends electric signals utilized by the system. The trigger unit is in electronic communication with a simulation computer using a short range wireless communications protocol, such as Bluetooth. A positioning detector is fitted to the muzzle on the barrel of the weapon. This rather complex arrangement may be used with different kinds och rifles or shotguns but provides an unrealistic experience for the user and may easily break. US2019353457A1 describes a system and method for marksmanship training comprising a trigger sensor contoured to fit onto the back end of the trigger guard behind the trigger and a trigger sensor is secured onto the trigger guard by small screws. The trigger sensor detects the pull of the trigger when the trigger presses onto a pressure switch with sufficient movement and force. However, it is a fiddly job to mount and release the small pieces and screws of the trigger sensor to/from the trigger guard. Further, this sensor has sharp edges, on which the shooter can injure during himself during use. Accordingly, a more flexible and user friendly VR trigger device for various guns of VR shooting simulator system providing a realistic user experience is desirable in the art. SUMMARY It is an object of the teachings of this application to obviate at least some of the disadvantages discussed above, and to offer improvements in the technical field of VR trigger units. In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, this is achieved by a virtual reality, VR, trigger control device for various guns, comprising a casing containing a Bluetooth device and a trigger mechanism with a trigger protruding from a plane side of the casing, wherein said Bluetooth device is configured to detect a trigger output signal generated by the trigger mechanism in response to the trigger being pulled and to send a wireless event signal in response to the detected trigger output signal to a VR headset. In some embodiments, the casing may have a recess in an edge forming an indentation of the casing so as to cooperate with a complementary surface inside a receiver of a real handgun, dummy weapon, VR game gun, VR trigger control device holder for a real firearm or rifle stock, a magazine box of a real gun, receiver of an automatic carbine, or receiver of an airgun, soft air gun, or airsoft gun. In some embodiments, the casing may have a notch in an outside surface of the casing adapted to receive a latch pin for locking the VR trigger control device in place inside the gun. In some embodiments, the casing comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, a back surface, a front surface, a left side plate, and a right side plate forming a rectangular casing surrounding the Bluetooth device and the trigger mechanism. In some embodiments, the recess is arranged in the edge connecting the bottom surface and the back surface of the casing. In some embodiments, the notch is arranged in the back surface of the casing. In some embodiments, one or more of the top surface, bot