Omni-directional treadmill surface including tiles

Abstract

An omnidirectional treadmill allows users to walk, jog, or run in any direction. When the treadmill is coupled with computer-generated immersive environments users can maneuver their way on-foot through 360-degree VR environments of infinite expanse and scope. The treadmill includes a blood cell shaped structure comprising pentagons and hexagons assembled from triangles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An omnidirectional treadmill comprising:
 a blood-cell-shaped inner component, the inner component being concave on one or two sides;   a membrane configured to fit around the inner component;   a layer of tiles, flexibly joined at their edges, and formed around the inner component, the layer of tiles being disposed between the membrane and the inner component, wherein ball bearings disposed in the tiles contact the inner component; and   a drive motor configured to move the layer of tiles in response to movement of a user or actions within a virtual environment.   
     
     
         2 . The treadmill of  claim 1 , wherein the tiles include a plurality of polygon types, including hexagons and pentagons. 
     
     
         3 . The treadmill of  claim 1 , wherein the inner component is concave on two sides. 
     
     
         4 . The treadmill of  claim 1 , further comprising a lubricant disposed between the inner component and the membrane. 
     
     
         5 . The treadmill of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect movement of the membrane. 
     
     
         6 . The treadmill of  claim 1 , further comprising omni-wheels configured to move the membrane. 
     
     
         7 . The treadmill of  claim 1 , further comprising bearings configured to move the membrane. 
     
     
         8 . The treadmill of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane is held proximate to the internal component via a vacuum. 
     
     
         9 . The treadmill of  claim 1 , further including at least 3 drive omniwheels. 
     
     
         10 . The treadmill of  claim 9 , wherein the omniwheels include interlocking rollers or have rollers spaced apart by a distance less than a length of each roller. 
     
     
         11 . The treadmill of  claim 1 , further comprising 3 omniwheels, each configured to support the inner component. 
     
     
         12 . The treadmill of  claim 1 , wherein the tiles include 12 pentagons and 20 hexagons. 
     
     
         13 . The treadmill of  claim 12 , wherein the pentagons are made from isosceles triangles and the hexagons are each made from equilateral triangles. 
     
     
         14 . The treadmill of  claim 13 , wherein the triangles include the ball bearings. 
     
     
         15 . The treadmill of  claim 13 , wherein the triangles are connected by hinges. 
     
     
         16 . The treadmill of  claim 11 , wherein the pentagons each comprise 20 or more triangles, and the hexagons each comprise 24 or more triangles. 
     
     
         17 . The treadmill of  claim 11 , wherein the pentagons each comprise 40 or more triangles, and the hexagons each comprise  48  or more triangles. 
     
     
         18 . The treadmill of  claim 1 , wherein the bladder includes multiple layers and the tiles are disposed between the multiple layers. 
     
     
         19 . The treadmill of  claim 1 , wherein each of the tiles includes ball bearings configured to protrude on two sides of the tiles, such that each ball bearing is in contact with both the inner component and the membrane.