Reflected light controlled vehicle
The remotely controlled toy vehicle of the present invention is configured to respond to a tracking signal of a narrow beam of non-visible light that is projected onto the surface of the ground in proximity of the toy vehicle. The sensors mounted on the toy vehicle are configured to receive, and respond to, the light energy of the beam that is reflected off the surface of the ground. The controller, which is the source of the tracking signal, is a handheld component configured to project the beam of non-visible light to a location as desired by the user. A beam of visible light is also projected as an indicator of the location of the tracking spot. Operation of the toy vehicle is controlled by moving the tracking spot. Preferably, the control circuitry is configured such that the toy vehicle follows the tracking spot. Alternatively, the remotely controlled toy vehicle of the present invention is configured to respond to an auditory tracking signal.
The present invention relates to remote controlled toy vehicles and, in particular, it concerns a remotely controlled toy vehicle that is responsive to a reflected tracking signal.
Remotely controlled toy vehicles that are responsive to a tracking signal are known in the art. One such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,780,077 to Baumgartener et al. The Baumgartener et al. toy includes a conventionally remotely controlled master toy vehicle with a transmitter configured to broadcast an IR tracking signal, and a slave toy vehicle with at least two directional IR receivers configured to receive a direct signal from the master toy vehicle in order to follow or evade the master toy vehicle.
Remotely controlling a toy vehicle with a directly received tracking signal drastically limits the range of movement of the toy vehicle since the source of tracking signal must be moved from one location to another in order to direct the movement of the tracking toy vehicle.
There is therefore a need for a remotely controlled toy vehicle that is responsive to a reflected tracking signal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is a remotely controlled toy vehicle that is responsive to a reflected tracking signal.
According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided, a method for remotely guiding a toy vehicle, the method comprising: a) providing a first light source configured to project at least a first narrow beam tracking signal; b) projecting said at least a first tracking signal so as to provide a tracking spot on a surface; c) providing a motorized toy vehicle configured with at least one sensor responsive to a position of said at least a first tracking spot; wherein output from said sensor affects at least one operational feature of said motorized toy vehicle, and said operational feature is effective to change a location of the toy vehicle; and d) altering said position of said at least a first tracking spot so as to alter said at least one operational feature and thereby guide the toy vehicle to a change of location.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, said first tracking signal is implemented as a beam of light within the spectrum of non-visible light.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, said first tracking signal is implemented as infrared light.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, there is also provided at least a second light source providing a beam of visible light, configured to indicate said position of said tracking spot.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, said light source is implemented in a handheld component operated by a user.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, said light source is implemented so as to be wearable by a user.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, said tracking spot is projected onto said surface in proximity to said motorized toy vehicle.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, there is also provided a control circuit in electronic communication with said at least one sensor, said control circuit configured to receive output from said at least one sensor and to control said at least one operational feature.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, said at least one sensor is implemented as a plurality of sensors and said at least one operational feature is implemented as a plurality of operational features.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, said plurality of operational features are implemented so as to include at least locomotion and directional steering of said motorized toy vehicle and said control circuit is in electronic communication with at least a drive motor and a steering mechanism.
There is also provided according to the teachings of the present invention, a light guided toy vehicle comprising: a) a first light source configured to project at least a first narrow beam tracking signal so as to provide a tracking spot on a surface; and b) a motorized toy vehicle configured with at least one sensor responsive to a position of said at least a first tracking spot; wherein output from said sensor affects at least one operational feature of said motorized toy vehicle, and said operational feature is effective to change a location of the toy vehicle.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, said first tracking signal is configured as a beam of light within the spectrum of non-visible light.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, said first tracking signal is configured as infrared light.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, there is also provided, at least a second light source configured to project a beam of visible light, so as to indicate said position of said tracking spot.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, said light source is configured in a handheld component operated by a user.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, said at least one sensor is configured to respond to said tracking spot when said tracking spot is projected onto said surface in proximity to said motorized toy vehicle.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, there is also provided, a control circuit in electronic communication with said at least one sensor, said control circuit configured to receive output from said at least one sensor and control said at least one operational feature.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, said at least one sensor is configured as a plurality of sensors and said at least one operational feature is configured as a plurality of operational features.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, said plurality of operational features included locomotion and directional steering of said motorized toy vehicle and said control circuit is in electronic communication with at least a drive motor and a steering mechanism.
There is also provided according to the teachings of the present invention, a method for remotely guiding a toy vehicle, the method comprising: a) providing a source of at least a first auditory tracking signal configured to emit said at least a first auditory tracking signal; b) emitting said at least a first auditory tracking signal; c) providing a motorized toy vehicle configured with at least one sensor responsive to a position of said at least a first auditory tracking signal; wherein output from said sensor affects at least one operational feature of said motorized toy vehicle, and said operational feature is effective to change a location of the toy vehicle; and d) altering said position of said at least a first auditory tracking signal so as to alter said at least one operational feature and thereby guide the toy vehicle to a change of location.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, said source of said at least a first auditory tracking signal is implemented as an electronic device.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, said at least a first auditory tracking signal implemented so as to be at a predetermined frequency and said at least one sensor is configured to respond substantially solely to said pre-determined frequency.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, said at least one sensor is implemented so as to respond to a loudest auditory signal received.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, said at least a first auditory tracking signal is implemented as at least a first voice command.
The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present invention is a remotely controlled toy vehicle that is responsive to a reflected tracking signal.
The principles and operation of a remotely controlled toy vehicle that is responsive to a reflected tracking signal according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.
By way of introduction, the remotely controlled toy vehicle of the present invention is configured to respond to a reflected tracking signal. Preferably, a tracking signal of a narrow beam of non-visible light is projected to the surface of the ground creating a tracking spot in proximity of the toy vehicle. The sensors mounted on the toy vehicle are configured to receive, and respond to, the reflected light energy of the beam emanating from the tracking spot. The output from the sensors is used to control the operational features of the toy vehicle such as, but not limited to, locomotion and directional steering. Optionally, other sensors may be deployed on the toy vehicle that are configured to effect other operational features such as, but no limited to, turning on and off lights and sound effects, opening doors, and firing “weapons”.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the controller, which is the source of the tracking signal, is a handheld component configured to project the beam of non-visible light to a location as desired by the user. Optionally, the controller also projects a beam of visible light along a path substantially parallel to the beam of non-visible light as an indicator of the location of the tracking spot. Optionally, the controller may be configured so as to enable it to be Urn such as, but not limited to, clipped on a belt, sticking out from a pocket, tucked in a head or hat band, or attached to a wrist or ankle band, in such a way that a tracking spot is projected onto the ground in order to provide hands free control of the toy vehicle. Alternatively, a separate wearable controller may be provided with the toy.
Operation of the toy vehicle is controlled by moving the tracking spot. Preferably, the control circuitry is configured such that the toy vehicle follows the tracking spot, as will be discussed in more detail with regard to the Figures. Optionally, the control circuitry may be configured such that the toy vehicle evades the tracking spot.
Referring now to the drawings, it should be noted that directional terms such as left, right, forward and reverse are used with regard to the drawings being discussed and are not intended as limitations to the principles of the present invention.
The front 10 and rear 12 sensor arrangements of this embodiment include three sensors each. This sensor arrangement will be discussed in greater detail with regard to
The control circuit 16 is in electronic communication with the sensors 10 and 12, the drive motor 6 and the steering motor 20. Output signals from the sensors are received by the control circuit 16, which in turn controls the operational features of the toy vehicle such as, but not limited to, locomotion and steering by operating the drive motor 6 and the steering motor 20.
The triple sensor arrangement illustrated in
The second preferred embodiment 90 of the vehicle of the present invention illustrated in
A variant embodiment of the present invention includes the use of sound detection sensors rather than light sensors. In such an embodiment, sensor arrangements and schemes for vehicle operation substantially as described above with regard to
Yet another variant embodiment of the vehicle of the present invention configured to respond to auditory signals is configured to respond to voice commands, which may include, for example, calling the toy by name. This may be implemented in conjunction with the sensor arrangements described with regard to
It will be appreciated that the above descriptions are intended only to serve as examples and that many other embodiments are possible within the spirit and the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A method for remotely guiding a toy vehicle, the method comprising: wherein output from said sensor affects at least one operational feature of said motorized toy vehicle, and said operational feature is effective to change a location of the toy vehicle; and
- (a) providing a first light source configured to project at least a first narrow beam tracking signal;
- (b) projecting said at least a first tracking signal so as to provide a tracking spot on a surface;
- (c) providing a motorized toy vehicle configured with at least one sensor responsive to a position of said at least a first tracking spot;
- (d) altering said position of said at least a first tracking spot so as to alter said at least one operational feature and thereby guide the toy vehicle to a change of location.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first tracking signal is implemented as a beam of light within the spectrum of non-visible light.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein said first tracking signal is implemented as infrared light.
4. The method of claim 2, further including providing at least a second light source providing a beam of visible light, configured to indicate said position of said tracking spot.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said light source is implemented in a handheld component operated by a user.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein said light source is implemented so as to be wearable by a user.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein said tracking spot is projected onto said surface in proximity to said motorized toy vehicle.
8. The method of claim 1, further including providing a control circuit in electronic communication with said at least one sensor, said control circuit configured to receive output from said at least one sensor and to control said at least one operational feature.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein said at least one sensor is implemented as a plurality of sensors and said at least one operational feature is implemented as a plurality of operational features.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein said plurality of operational features are implemented so as to include at least locomotion and directional steering of said motorized toy vehicle and said control circuit is in electronic communication with at least a drive motor and a steering mechanism.
11. A light guided toy vehicle comprising: wherein output from said sensor affects at least one operational feature of said motorized toy vehicle, and said operational feature is effective to change a location of the toy vehicle.
- (a) a first light source configured to project at least a first narrow beam tracking signal so as to provide a tracking spot on a surface; and
- (b) a motorized toy vehicle configured with at least one sensor responsive to a position of said at least a first tracking spot;
12. The light guided toy vehicle of claim 111, wherein said first tracking signal is configured as a beam of light within the spectrum of non-visible light.
13. The light guided toy vehicle of claim 12, wherein said first tracking signal is configured as infrared light.
14. The light guided toy vehicle of claim 13, further including at least a second light source configured to project a beam of visible light, so as to indicate said position of said tracking spot.
15. The light guided toy vehicle of claim 11, wherein said light source is configured in a handheld component operated by a user.
16. The light guided toy vehicle of claim 11, wherein said at least one sensor is configured to respond to said tracking spot when said tracking spot is projected onto said surface in proximity to said motorized toy vehicle.
17. The light guided toy vehicle of claim 11, further including a control circuit in electronic communication with said at least one sensor, said control circuit configured to receive output from said at least one sensor and control said at least one operational feature.
18. The light guided toy vehicle of claim 17, wherein said at least one sensor is configured as a plurality of sensors and said at least one operational feature is configured as a plurality of operational features.
19. The light guided toy vehicle of claim 18, wherein said plurality of operational features included locomotion and directional steering of said motorized toy vehicle and said control circuit is in electronic communication with at least a drive motor and a steering mechanism.
20. A method for remotely guiding a toy vehicle, the method comprising: wherein output from said sensor affects at least one operational feature of said motorized toy vehicle, and said operational feature is effective to change a location of the toy vehicle; and
- (a) providing a source of at least a first auditory tracking signal configured to emit said at least a first auditory tracking signal;
- (b) emitting said at least a first auditory tracking signal;
- (c) providing a motorized toy vehicle configured with at least one sensor responsive to a position of said at least a first auditory tracking signal;
- (d) altering said position of said at least a first auditory tracking signal so as to alter said at least one operational feature and thereby guide the toy vehicle to a change of location.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein said source of said at least a first auditory tracking signal is implemented as an electronic device.
22. The method of claim 20, wherein said at least a first auditory tracking signal implemented so as to be at a pre-determined frequency and said at least one sensor is configured to respond substantially solely to said pre-determined frequency.
23. The method of claim 20, wherein said at least one sensor is implemented so as to respond to a loudest auditory signal received.
24. The method of claim 20, wherein said at least a first auditory tracking signal is implemented as at least a first voice command.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 26, 2006
Publication Date: Jul 26, 2007
Inventors: Gyora Mihaly Pal Benedek (Haifa), Shai Seger (Haifa), Yehiel Avraham Olti (Karmiel)
Application Number: 11/339,572
International Classification: A63H 30/00 (20060101);