Remote controlled toy

• US 20050042971A1
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lego A/S (Kirkbi A/S)
• Original Assignee: Interlego, AG (Kirkbi A/S)
• Inventors: Munch, Gaute, Dooley, Mike, Rasmussen, Jesper
• Granted Patent: US 7,695,338 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/175
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

A toy construction set comprising a first toy construction element configured to resemble a toy construction element and toy construction elements which contains electronic units controllable from said first element, wherein the elements form an integrated toy structure when incorporated therein. The first toy construction element has means, integrated within it, for programming the element by means of a user interface and for storing a program to provide controlled actions of the structure within which it is incorporated. Additionally, the first toy construction element is configured to transmit the program as a download program to a second construction toy.

Claims

1. A toy construction set comprising:

a first toy construction element configured to resemble a toy construction element;

toy construction elements which contains electronic units controllable from said first element;

wherein the elements form a toy structure when incorporated therein;

said first toy construction element (601;

801) has integrated within it;

a storage memory (609;

817) configured to store a program;

a processor (607) to execute the program stored in the storage memory;

a transmitter (605,604); and

a user interface (608, 804, 813, 814, 815, 816) configured to enter a program for storage in the memory and execution by the processor in the first toy element;

said program, when executed by the processor, providing control (610) of the electronic unites that resemble elements of the toy construction set to provide controlled actions of the structure;

wherein the first toy element (601) is configured to transmit the program as a download program.

2. A toy construction set according to claim 1, further comprising a second toy construction element (602) with;

a receiver arranged to receive the download program;

a user interface for operating the second toy element by a choice selection;

a storage memory (616) configured to store the download program;

means (607) for executing the download program which is configured for execution by the first and second toy element;

said execution providing program control (610) of electronic units that resemble elements of the toy construction set and are coupled directly to the second toy element.

3. A toy construction set according to claim 1, wherein the user interface (608) is configured to activate download of a program entered via the user interface.

4. A toy construction set according to claim 1, wherein the user interface (608) is configured to activate download of a program received by download from a personal computer.

5. A toy construction set according to claim 1, wherein program control (610) of construction elements which contains an electronic unit controllable from said first element is provided via an input/output interface.

6. A toy construction set according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is adapted for wireless transmission of signals to the second toy element. (705, 706, 708).

7. A toy construction set according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter (605) is adapted for transmission of infrared signals.

8. A toy construction set according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor 105 is connected to a toy construction element for providing at least one of the following:

signals on external mechanical impacts (112), light signals (108, 113), motor control (114), sound signals via a sound generator (115).

9. A toy construction set according to claim 1, wherein sub-programs are stored in the second toy element, and the download signal comprises references to the rules stored in the toy element.

10. A toy construction set according to claim 1 wherein the second toy element checks whether the transmitted signals are to be interpreted as commands which are to be executed at once or whether the signals are to be interpreted as commands which are to be stored for subsequent execution.

11. A toy construction set according to claim 1, wherein the first toy element is caused to perform event-controlled movements when executing a program when incorporated into a structure with elements configured to provide the movements.

12. A toy construction set according to claim 1, wherein the first toy element comprises a light detector (“

VL input”

, 111) configured with a dual function of either detecting the intensity of the light impinging on the receiver from the toy element'"'"'s surroundings or detecting light signals received via a light guide to embody a communications function.

13. A toy construction set according to claim 1, wherein the first toy element comprises a display configured to show a plurality of specific icons or symbols and wherein program are entered by individually controlling the appearance of the symbols on the display.