Toy robot and control system therefor

• US 20040167665A1
• Filed: 02/26/2003
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shun Pui Andrew Chiu
• Original Assignee: Shun Pui Andrew Chiu
• Inventors: Chiu, Shun Pui Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 6,925,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0229 in combination with fixed guiding means

Abstract

A toy robot system includes a toy robot and a surface over which the robot can move. The surface is constructed from a number of modules of various types that may be joined together. Each module (except for spacer modules) includes at least one track segment along which the robot may move. Each module is square and each track segment extends from the center of the module to one side. A code readable by the robot is provided at the beginning of each segment so that the robot knows what type of module it is entering, and a code is provided at the center of each module so that the robot can calculate its position.

Claims

1. A toy robot system comprising, at least one toy robot and a surface over which said robot is adapted to move, wherein said surface is constructed from a plurality of modules selected from a set of predefined module types including tracks along which a toy robot may move, wherein each said module is provided with identification means readable by a said robot that identifies the type of module a robot is entering, a check-point in the center of the module detectable by said robot and control means for controlling a said robot in response to the type of module identified by said robot.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said module is further provided with a recognition code readable by a said robot to indicate to said robot that it is entering or leaving a module.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said modules are square and are formed with at least one track segment extending from the centre of said module to a side thereof.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said set of predefined types of module comprises five types of module;

a first type having a single track segment, a second type having two track segments arranged in a straight line, a third type having two track segments arranged at right angles, a fourth type having three track segments, and a fifth track segment having four track segments.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5 including a further type of module having no track and comprising a spacer module.

7. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein a said identification code is provided associated with each track segment of a module at the end of each said track segment adjacent the edge of said module.

8. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein each said track segment comprises a groove in a surface of a said module, wherein said identification code comprises a series of projections in said groove, and wherein said toy robot includes a downwardly extending groove following pin means adapted to engage said projections and move vertically in response thereto, a transducer means being provided to convert said movement into an electrical signal.

9. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means is provided as part of said toy robot.

10. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means is provided remote from said toy robot.

11. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided for connecting together said plurality of modules.

2. A system as claimed in 1 wherein at least some of said predefined module types are asymmetrical and wherein said identification means further identifies the orientation of the module.

12. A toy robot system comprising, at least one toy robot and a surface over which said robot is adapted to move, wherein said surface is constructed from a plurality of square modules each said module being formed with at least one track segment along which a toy robot may move, each said at least one track segment extending from the center of said square module to one side of said module, and wherein means are provided readable by said toy robot for indicating when the robot is at the center of a said module.