METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR LEVERAGING A MOBILE PHONE OR MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICE FOR USE IN CONTROLLING MODEL VEHICLES

• US 20140057678A1
• Filed: 10/29/2013
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Investment Asset Holding LLC
• Inventors: Krupnik, Ari
• Granted Patent: US 9,144,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/02 Model aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Methods and systems for utilizing a mobile computing device (e.g., such as a mobile phone) for use in controlling a model vehicle are described. Consistent with some embodiments, a mobile computing device provides various user controls for generating signals that are communicated to a radio transmitter device coupled with the mobile computing device, and ultimately broadcast to a receiver residing at a model vehicle. With some embodiments, the mobile computing device may be integrated with a controller housing which provides separate user controls, such that a combination of user controls present on the mobile computing device and the controller housing can be used to control a model vehicle.

Claims

1. A wireless transmitter device for use with a mobile computing device to control a radio-enabled model vehicle, the wireless transmitter device comprising:

a housing to physically affix the wireless transmitter device to the mobile computing device;

a communications interface to receive an electrical control signal from the mobile computing device; and

a radio transmitter module to receive the electrical control signal, translate the electrical control signal into a radio control signal, and broadcast the radio control signal to a receiver residing within the radio-enabled model vehicle.