Patent Application
20060194507
The present invention relates to a remote-control toy that transmits a signal using infrared rays from a controller to a movable body, so as to control the movable body.
As remote-control toys utilizing infrared rays, structures in which controllers exchange ID information, assigned to each controller, to one another so as to prevent the transmission periods of the controllers from overlapping one another are provided so that two or more combinations of controllers and movable bodies (models) can be used at the same location at the same time.
In each of the conventional remote-control toys, signal transmission from each movable body to a controller is not carried out. One of the reasons for it is that, if bidirectional communication using infrared rays is performed between a controller and a movable body, the transmission period of the controller and the movable body is prolonged, and the responsiveness of the movable body to an input operation through the controller might deteriorate. However, the controller cannot determine the state of the movable body, unless any information is not supplied from the movable body to the controller. As a result, staging such as audio-visual effects cannot be obtained precisely according to the state of the movable body.
Therefore, the present invention is to provide a remote-control toy that can increase the excitement of playing by transmitting information from each movable body, without any influence on the structure that transmits signals from controllers to movable bodies using infrared rays.
The above described problems are eliminated by a remote-control toy that has a controller that transmits a code signal through infrared rays according to operation contents by a user, and a movable body that is controlled to drive based on the code signal. This remote-control toy includes: an indicator that is provided within a boundary of movement of the movable body or to the movable body, and includes at least one element to be detected; a detecting device that is provided within the boundary of movement of the movable body or to the movable body, whichever the indicator is not provided to, and detects the element to be detected; a transmitting device that transmits a predetermined detection signal through a radio wave in response to detection of the element detected by the detecting device; and a processing unit that determines a state of the movable body based on the detection signal, and performs predetermined processing based on determination result.
With the remote-control toy of the present invention, the detection signal is transmitted from the movable body utilizing a radio wave. Accordingly, it is not necessary to give consideration to crosstalk with code signals transmitted from the controller to the movable body. When the detecting device detects the element to be detected of the indicator, the detection signal is transmitted through a radio wave in response to the detection. Accordingly, the processing unit can at least determine that the movable body has reached the position in which the element to be detected is located, and can perform the processing associated with the detection. Thus, more excitement of playing can be provided compared with the conventional example in which information is not transmitted from the movable body. Since the detection signal is simply transmitted at the moment of detection of the element to be detected, the transmitting device is also simplified. Accordingly, with the transmitting device being mounted onto the movable body, the size of the movable body can be advantageously made smaller, and the power consumption of the transmitting device can also be reduced. Especially, if the power source of the transmitting device is a battery, the service life of the battery can be effectively prolonged.
In the first preferred aspect of the present invention, the indicator may be provided within the boundary of movement of the movable body, the detecting device and the transmitting device may be mounted to the movable body, and the processing unit determines the state of the movable body, based on the code signal and the detection signal, and performs the predetermined processing based on determination result.
Since the code signal contains an operating instruction directed to the movable body, if the operating instruction is referred to, it can be determined how the movable body is operating. Based on the combination of the operation and the detection signal, the state of the movable body can be determined concretely. Accordingly, the contents of the operation according to the state of the movable body can be varied, and more excitement of playing can be provided.
In the first aspect, the remote-control toy may be formed as follows.
The indicator may be provided at a plurality of locations within the boundary of movement. Each indicator has a plurality of element being formed to have a pattern that vary with a location within the boundary of movement. The processing unit determines the location of the movable body within the boundary of movement, based on the pattern of the detection signal corresponding to the pattern of the elements to be detected in the indicator. The processing unit changes the contents of the processing according to the determined location.
Alternatively, the indicator may be provided for a plurality of structures that are formed within the boundary of movement. Each indicator has a plurality of elements to be detected, and the elements to be detected form patterns that vary with the types of the structures. The processing unit determines the type of the structure at which the movable body is located, based on a pattern of the detection signal corresponding to a pattern of the elements to be detected in the indicator. The processing unit changes contents of the processing according to the determined type of structure.
With these aspects, the processing is associated with the location or the structure located within the boundary of movement. Thus, more excitement of playing can be provided.
The processing unit may determine whether the movable body is in a predetermined operating state at the location at which the elements to be detected are detected, based on the code signal received at the time of receiving the detection signal. The processing unit performs the predetermined processing when the movable body is in the predetermined operating state. By determining the operating state, various effects can be performed, reflecting the operating state of the movable body in the contents of the processing. For example, the processing performed when the movable body is moving is different from the processing performed when the movable body is stopped.
The movable body may be formed as a model that runs on a track, and the indicator may be located on the track or on a side of the track. The model may be formed by connecting a plurality of compartments. A driving unit that drives the model based on the code signal, and a transmission unit that includes the detecting device and the transmitting device, and transmits the detection signal, may be mounted on different compartments from each other.
In the case where a relationship between the movable body and the code signal transmitted from the controller is distinguished by an identification code contained in the code signal, a relationship between the processing unit and a detection signal transmitted from the transmitting device is distinguished by the frequency of the detection signal.
In a second preferred aspect of the present invention, the indicator maybe provided to the movable body, and the detecting device may be provided in such a manner that a detecting range is at least a part of the boundary of movement of the movable body. The processing unit may perform an operation corresponding to passing through the detecting range of the detecting device, in response to reception of the detection signal.
In this aspect, the detecting range is set in a particular position within the boundary of movement of the movable body, so that the movable body running past the particular position is detected, and the operation associated with the movable body running past can be performed. Thus, more excitement of playing is provided in a game such as a race in which each movable body is required to run past a particular position.
In the second aspect, the indicator may be provided at a location on the movable body, and the location varies with a type of movable body. The detecting device may include a detector for each location of the indicator. The transmitting device may output the detection signal, which has a frequency different for each detector. In such a case, the locations of indicators are varied, thereby passing through of each movable body can be detected to be distinguished and the detecting signal having a frequency different from each type of movable body can be transmitted. Thus, the present invention can be applied to the situation where movable bodies of various kinds are used at the same time.
In the remote-control toy of the present invention, the predetermined processing may include generation of an auditory effect or visual effect. The processing unit may be mounted to the controller or to an extension unit that can be mounted to the controller. In these aspects, sound or an image can be output according to the state of the movable body at the controller or in the vicinity of the controller.
Other aspects of the present invention include the following remote-control toys, extension units, movable body, and auxiliary device.
Another remote-control toy of the present invention has a controller that transmits a code signal through infrared rays according to the operation contents by a user, and a movable body that is controlled to drive based on the code signal. This remote-control toy includes: an indicator that is provided within the boundary of movement of the movable body, and includes at least one element to be detected; a detecting device that is mounted to the movable body, and detects the element to be detected; a transmitting device that is mounted to the movable body and transmits a predetermined detection signal through a radio wave in response to the detection of the element detected by the detecting device; and a processing unit that determines a state of the movable body based on the code signal and the detection signal, and performs predetermined processing based on determination result.
An extension unit of the present invention is applied to a remote-control toy that includes a controller that transmits a code signal through infrared rays according to operation contents by a user, a movable body that is controlled to drive based on the code signal, and an indicator that is provided within the boundary of movement of the movable body and includes at least one element to be detected. A detecting device that detects the element to be detected, and a transmitting device that transmits a predetermined detection signal through a radio wave in response to detection of the element detected by the detecting device are mounted to the movable body. The extension unit includes a receiving unit that receives the detection signal, and a processing unit that determines a state of the movable body based on the code signal and the detection signal, and performs predetermined processing based on determination result.
A movable body of the present invention is applied to a remote-control toy that includes a controller that transmits a code signal through infrared rays according to operation contents by a user, and an indicator that is provided within a predetermined boundary of movement and includes at least one element to be detected. The movable body is controlled to drive based on the code signal. This movable body includes a detecting device that detects the element to be detected, and a transmitting device that is mounted to the movable body and transmits a predetermined detection signal through a radio wave in response to the detection of the element detected by the detecting device.
Yet another remote-control toy of the present invention includes a controller that transmits a code signal through infrared rays according to operation contents by a user, and a movable body that is driven and controlled based on the code signal. This remote-control toy includes: an indicator that is provided to the movable body, and includes at least one element to be detected; a detecting device that is provided within the boundary of movement of the movable body, and detects the element to be detected; a transmitting device that transmits a predetermined detection signal through a radio wave in response to detection of the element detected by the detecting device; and a processing unit that determines a state of the movable body based on the detection signal, and performed predetermined processing based on determination result.
Another extension unit of the present invention is applied to a remote-control toy that includes a controller that transmits a code signal through infrared rays according to operation contents by a user, a movable body that is controlled to drive based on the code signal, an indicator that is provided to the movable body and includes at least one element to be detected, a detecting device that detects the element to be detected, and a transmitting device that transmits a predetermined detection signal through a radio wave in response to detection of the element detected by the detecting device. The detecting device is provided so that a detecting range is at least a part of the boundary of movement of the movable body. The extension unit includes a receiving unit that receives the detection signal, and a processing unit that performs a predetermined operation that is associated with the passing through the detecting range of the detecting device, in response to reception of the detection signal.
This extension unit may be mounted to the controller.
An auxiliary device of the present invention is applied to a remote-control toy that includes a controller that transmits a code signal through infrared rays according to operation contents by a user, and a movable body that is controlled to drive based on the code signal. The auxiliary device includes: a detecting device that is provided so that a detecting range is at least a part of the boundary of movement of the movable body, and includes a plurality of detectors that each detect element to be detected in a plurality of indicators that are provided at a location different for each movable body; and a transmitting device that transmits a predetermined detection signal through a radio wave in response to detection of the element detected by the detectors, and outputs the detection signal at a frequency different for each of the detectors.
The controller 2 includes a CPU 5. The CPU 5 generates drive control information according to an operation performed on an input device 6 by a user. The CPU 5 then outputs a control signal (a code signal) to a light emitter circuit 7. The control signal contains the drive control information and identification code (ID) allotted uniquely to the respectively controllers 2A to 2D. The identification code is, for example, any of 1 to 4, and the drive control information contains an instruction value for the running direction and the running speed of the model 3. When two or more models 3 can be selectively controlled by a single controller 2, model select information for designating which model 3 is to be controlled may be added to the drive control information. The light emitter circuit 7 transmits the code signal sent from the CPU 5 through an infrared signal at a predetermined carrier frequency. The carrier frequency of the infrared signal is the same for all the controllers 2A to 2D. To avoid crosstalk of code signals transmitted from the controllers 2A to 2D, each controller 2 has a light receiver circuit 8 that receives the code signal. The transmission period of the code signal transmitted of each controller 2 is allocated to the corresponding identification code in advance within a predetermined period of time (200 milliseconds, for example) in such a manner that each transmission period does not overlap another transmission period. The CPU 5 refers to the identification code contained in the code signal received by the light receiver circuit 8, and determines the own transmission period. The CPU 5 then causes the light emitter circuit 7 to output the code signal in the determined transmission period. The controller 2 has an output terminal unit 9 that outputs the code signal through a cable. The other components than the controller 2 shown in
As shown in
In the second compartment 3b, a transmission unit 20 for detection signals is mounted. The transmission unit 20 includes a detecting device 21 that is attached to the bottom surface of the compartment 3b, a transmitting device (a transmitter circuit) 22, and a power source battery 23. The detecting device 21 detects the element to be detected 26 of an indicator provided on the rails 4 to output a predetermined detection signal (an ON signal). Any one of various sensors, such as a microswitch or a photoswitch, can be employed as the detecting device 21. In the case of employing a microswitch as the detecting device 21, the element to be detected 26 may be formed with convexities that can be in contact with the microswitch. In the case of employing a reflective photoswitch as the detecting device 21, the element to be detected 26 may be formed with reflection layers that exhibit high reflectance for the light emitted from the photoswitch. Alternatively, any suitable combination of the detecting device 21 and the detectable elements 26 can be employed. The transmitting device 22 transmits the detection signal from the detecting device 21 through a radio wave of a predetermined carrier frequency from an antenna 22a. Here, the carrier frequency varies with the respective identification codes allotted to the models 3.
As shown in
As shown in
The code signal from the output terminal unit 9 is supplied to the CPU 31, and is also supplied to a booster signal mixer 35 via the extension unit 30. The booster signal mixer 35 mixes the code signals output from the output terminal units 9 of the respective controllers 2, and distributes the mixed code signals to boosters 36. The boosters 36 amplify the code signals transmitted from the mixer 35, and transmits the amplified signals through infrared signals with a predetermined carrier frequency, like the light emitting circuit 7 of each controller 2. The boosters 36 are disposed scatteringly in places in the area where the rails 4 are set. With the use of the boosters 36, the placement area of the rails 4 can be expanded beyond the transmission range of the controllers 2.
Next, the functions of the extension unit 30 are described. The receiver circuit 32 of the extension unit 30 receives only the radio wave of the carrier frequency corresponding to the identification code of the controller 2 connected via the output terminal unit 9, among the radio waves of various carrier frequencies transmitted from the transmission unit 20 of the model 3. Upon receipt of the detection signal from the receiver circuit 32, the CPU 31 determines the state of the model 3 based on the detection signal and the code signal obtained from the controller 2 via the output terminal unit 9. According to the determination result, the CPU 31 issues a sound producing instruction to the sound generator circuit 33. The sound generator circuit 33 holds various sound effects in the memory thereof, and outputs a sound effect that is designated by the CPU 31, from a speaker 34.
The above functions of the extension unit 30 are realized by implementing the sound output control routine shown in
In the sound output control routine shown in
After the situation of the model 3 is determined in the above manner, the operation moves on to step S6. In step S6, the CPU 31 instructs the sound generator circuit 33 to output the sound corresponding to the determined situation, and then ends the routine. The sounds of public announcements for the names of stations and various calls for attention are stored as sound effects in the memory of the sound generator circuit 33, so that sound suitable for the model 3 approaching the station 27A or stopping at the station 27A can be output from the speaker 34. When the model 3 approaching the railroad crossing 27B is detected, a different sound effect (such as warning sound of a crossing or alarm whistle) is output. The sound effect is different from that for the model 3 approaching the station 27A. In this manner, the contents of each process are suitably changed according to the situation of the model 3.
Although a sound effect is generated according to the detection of the indicators 25 in the above described routine, it is also possible for the extension unit 30 to determine the situation of the model 3 based only on a detection signal and generate a sound effect. Further, it is also possible for the extension unit 30 to generate a sound effect based only on the drive control information. As an example of the former case, a control operation can be considered that the type of the indicator 25 is determined based on the ratio of the greater length to the shorter length of the detection signal patterns, and each sound effect is generated corresponding to the model 3 running past the structure 27 or stopping at the structure 27. As an example of the latter case, an example may be considered that start or stop of the model 3 is determined from the drive control information, and a start sound or a stop sound is generated, regardless of whether a detection signal exists. Instead of or in addition to the auditory effect by a sound output, the extension unit 30 may generate a visual effect such as an image output or a blinking lamp according to the state of the model 3. The indicator 25 can be located at the place which has a specified meaning even if the place does not have the structure 27. The types of the structures may be employed from various points of view. For example, a different indicator 25 may be allocated to each station name, so that each station name has different structure from one another. The indicators 25 may not be located only on the rails 4, but also may be located on the sides of the rails 4, as long as the detecting device 21 can detect them.
The remote-control toy 51 of this embodiment is characterized by the point where it has become possible to confirm the number of laps of model 53 through a reception unit 60 mounted onto each controller 52 by using lap management system 55. In the following, the characteristic components are described.
The lap management system 55 includes a pair of a light emitting unit 56 and a light receiving unit 57 that are located on both ends of the goal line 54a, a transmission unit 58 that is connected to the light receiving unit 57, and a management unit 59 that is connected to the transmission unit 58. As shown in
As shown in
The transmission unit 58 transmits the detection signals from the light receiving elements 57a to 57d from an antenna 58a through radio waves of predetermined carrier frequencies. The carrier frequencies for the light receiving elements 57a to 57d differ from one another. The management unit 59 is used to display the state of the flag 67 detected by the light receiving unit 57, to set the conditions for transmission from the transmission unit 58 and so on.
The reception unit 6 receives radio waves having only one carrier frequency among radio waves of various carrier frequencies transmitted from the transmission unit 58 by a receiver circuit 6a via an antenna 6b. The carrier frequency received by the receiver circuit 6a should be made equal to the carrier frequency corresponding to the identification code of the controller 52 to which the reception unit 6 is mounted. The reception unit 6 has a 6 built therein. The 6 functions as a processing unit by repeatedly performing the lap control routine shown in I.7.
In the lap control routine shown in I.7, the 6 first determines whether a detection signal has been received in step. If a detection signal has not been received, the CPU 61 ends this routine. If a detection signal has been received, the operation moves on to step S12, and “1” is added to the number of laps stored in a predetermined memory. In step S13, the number of laps is output, and this routine comes to an end. The number of laps may be output as an audio output or display of a numeric value on a monitor or the like. Other than the number of laps, it is possible in step S13 to make a notification that the model 3 has run past the goal line 54a, or to output the number of remaining laps if the number of laps to run is predetermined.
In this embodiment, the reception unit 60 is equivalent to an extension unit, and the lap control system 55 is equivalent to an auxiliary device. The reception unit 60 may be disposed at some other location at a distance from each corresponding controller 2. The reception unit 60 may be built in the housing of each corresponding controller 2.
Each of the above embodiments is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to those embodiments. Various changes and modifications can be made to those embodiments For example, it is possible to change the structures of the controllers and the models. In the above embodiments, each of the CPU 31 of the extension unit 30 and the CPU 61 of the reception unit 60 functions as a processing unit. However, the built-in CPUs in the controllers 2 and 52 may function as processing units, and the function of an extension unit may be incorporated into the one function of the controllers 2 and 52.
As described so far, according to the present invention, it is determined at least that a movable body has reached a location where a detectable element is provided by using a detection signal, and a certain operation in association with the detection is performed. Accordingly, more excitement of playing can be provided to users, compared with the conventional cases where any information is not transmitted from a movable body. Furthermore, as detection signals are transmitted through radio waves, the structure of transmitting signals through infrared rays from controllers to movable bodies is not affected by the transmission of the detection signals.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-045131 | Jan 2003 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP04/00311 | 1/16/2004 | WO | 10/28/2005 |
