Toy vehicle

• US 4,219,962 A
• Filed: 08/28/1978
• Issued: 09/02/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bryan Mccoy, Richard C. Levy
• Original Assignee: Scienco Incorporated
• Inventors: Levy, Richard C., McCoy, Bryan L., Dankman, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Jr., Houston S.
• Application Number:
  US05/937,132
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 46/232, 46/177, 46/202
• US Class Current: 446/409
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/34 Arrangements for imitating the noise of motors

Abstract

A toy vehicle including provisions for generating realistic simulations of an engine operating through a range of gears, squealing tires, and a crash. Provisions are also described for providing a siren simulation. Preferred circuitry for generating such simulation signals is described.

Claims

1. A toy vehicle comprising:

a body;

electronic means disposed on said body for selectively generating respective electrical simulation signals, said electronic means including;

first means, for selectively generating an engine noise simulation signal, second means, for selectively generating a crash simulation signal, and third means for selectively generating a tire screeching simulation signal;

said toy further comprising transducer means disposed in said body for generating an audible output indicative of electrical signals applied thereto; and

means for selectively applying said simulation signals as input signals to said transducer means.

2. The toy of claim 1 wherein said first means comprises:

means responsive to a speed signal representative of vehicle speed, said signal having a frequency which increases with increasing vehicle speed in accordance with a first predetermined time constant and decreases with decreasing vehicle speed in accordance with a second predetermined time constant.

3. The toy of claim 1 wherein said second means comprises:

switch means for enabling said means for selectively applying to effect application of said crash simulation signal to said transducer means;

a pseudo-random noise signal generator for generating a pseudo-random noise signal;

an amplifier, responsive to said pseudo-random noise signal and a bias signal applied thereto for generating said crash simulation signal; and

biasing means, responsive to said switch means, for generating a biasing signal of varying magnitude to said amplifier to effect a gradual amplitude decay of said crash simulation signal.

4. The toy of claim 1 wherein said electronic means includes:

governor means responsive to said speed signal for generating a frequency control signal indicative of said speed signal with a controlled rate of change.

5. The toy of claim 3 wherein said third means for generating said tire screeching simulation signal comprises:

a frequency divider, responsive to said pseudo-random noise signal; and

switching means for selectively enabling said means for selectively applying said simulation signals, to effect application of said frequency divider output signal to said transducer means.

6. The toy of claim 1 wherein said means for selectively applying said simulation signals comprises logic means for applying said simulation signals to said transducer in accordance with a mutually exclusive predetermined priority.

7. The toy of claim 1 further including a remote engine analyzer accessory, adapted for removable electrical connection to said electronic means for varying the tonal quality of said engine simulation signal and controllably effecting generation thereof.

8. The toy of claim 2 further including a remote engine analyzer accessory adapted for electrical interconnection into said electronic means, for effectively altering said first means to generate said engine noise simulation signal with increasing frequency in accordance with a third predetermined time constant.

9. The toy of claims 7 or 8 wherein said remote analyzer accessory further includes an illumination device, and means for removably electrically connecting said illumination device to said first means whereby said illumination device flashes at a rate in accordance with said engine noise simulation signal frequency.

35. The toy of claim 3 wherein said switching means comprises means effecting application of said frequency divider output signal to said transducer means in response to turning movements of said vehicle.

36. The toy of claim 1 wherein said third means for selectively generating a tire screeching simulation signal includes:

means for generating a turn control signal indicative of turning movements by said body at speeds greater than a predetermined threshold speed, said turn control signal being applied to said means for selectively applying to effect application of said tire screeching simulation signals to said transducer means.

10. A toy for audibly simulating engine noise in a toy vehicle comprising:

means adapted for disposition on said toy vehicle for generating a speed signal representative of the speed of said vehicle;

electronic means, adapted for disposition on said vehicle and responsive to said speed signal, for generating an engine noise simulation signal having a frequency which increases with increasing speed in accordance with a first predetermined time constant and which decreases with decreasing speed in accordance with a second predetermined time constant;

transducer means, adapted for disposition on said vehicle for generating audible output signals representative of electrical input signals applied thereto; and

means for applying said engine noise simulation signal as an input signal to said transducer means.

11. The toy of claim 10 wherein said electronic means comprises:

an RC network responsive to said speed signal and having one of said first or second predetermined time constants, for developing a frequency control signal;

oscillator means, responsive to said frequency control signal, generating an output signal having a frequency composition in accordance with said frequency control signal; and

sensing means responsive to said speed signal, for effectively altering said RC network to change the time constant thereof to the other of said first or second predetermined time constants.

12. The toy of claim 11 wherein said oscillator means comprises:

means for generating a plurality of tone signals having respective frequencies in accordance with said frequency control signal; and

combinatorial logic means responsive to said tone signals and signals from said sensing means, for selectively generating respective output signals comprising differing combinations of said tone signals, during periods of increasing speed and decreasing speed, respectively.

13. The toy of claim 11 further including:

remote engine analyzer means, adapted for removable electrical connection to said electronic means, for effectively alterning said RC network to change the time constant thereof to a third predetermined time constant and for charging said RC network in accordance with said third predetermined time constant.

14. The toy of claim 13 wherein said remote engine analyzer means further includes means for effecting a change in the tonal quality of said engine simulation signal.

15. The toy of claim 13 wherein said remote analyzer means further includes an illumination device, and means for removably electrically connecting said illumination device to said oscillator means whereby said illumination device flashes at a rate in accordance with said engine noise simulation signal frequency.

16. A toy vehicle comprising:

a body;

means, disposed on said body for generating a speed signal indicative of the speed of said body;

electronic means, disposed on said body, for generating an electrical engine noise simulation signal including;

a timing circuit, responsive to said speed signal and having a predetermined time constant, for developing a frequency control signal;

means, responsive to said frequency control signal, for generating a plurality of tone signals at respective frequencies in accordance with said frequency control signal;

combinatorial logic means, responsive to said tone signals and said control signal, for selectively generating said electrical engine noise simulation signal comprising a combination of respective tone signals in accordance with said control signal; and

means responsive to said control signal, for selectively changing said predetermined time constant;

said toy further comprising transducer means disposed on said body for generating audible output signals indicative of electrical input signals applied thereto and means for applying said engine noise simulation signal to said transducer means as an electrical input signal.

17. The toy of claim 16 wherein said timing circuit comprises an RC network.

18. The toy of claim 16 wherein said means for generating a control signal comprises means for generating a signal indicative of respective states of increasing speed and decreasing speed of said body.

19. The toy of claim 17 wherein said means for generating a control signal comprises:

a differentiator responsive to said speed signal;

a Darlington amplifier responsive to said differentiator;

a Schmitt trigger circuit, responsive to output signals from said Darlington amplifier;

a resistance; and

a unidirectional conductive device;

said resistance and unidirectional conductive device being serially coupled between said Schmitt trigger circuit and said resistance capacitance network, to effectively couple said resistance into said RC network during a selected operational state of said Schmitt trigger circuit.

20. The toy of claim 16 further including:

means, disposed within said body, for generating an electrical tire screeching simulation signal; and

means for selectively applying said electrical tire screeching signal to said transducer means.

21. The toy of claim 20 wherein said means for selectively applying said electrical tire screeching signal to said transducer means includes means for inhibiting said means for applying said electrical engine noise simulation signal to said transducer during periods when said tire screeching signal is applied.

22. The toy of claim 20 further including:

means, disposed within said body for selectively generating an electrical crash simulation signal; and

means for applying said electrical crash simulation signal as an input signal to said transducer means.

23. The toy of claim 22 wherein said means for applying said electrical crash simulation signal includes means for inhibiting said means for applying said engine noise simulation signal to said transducer means during periods when said crash signal is generated.

24. The toy of claim 22 wherein said means for generating an electrical crash simulation signal comprises:

means for generating an pseudo-random noise signal;

amplifier means, responsive to said noise signal and a bias signal applied thereto, for selectively generating said crash simulation signal; and

means for varying said bias signal to said amplifier to effect a gradual amplitude decay of said crash simulation signal.

25. The toy of claim 22 wherein said means for generating an electrical crash signal comprises:

a shift register having plural stages, a data input terminal, and a clock input terminal, data at said data input terminal being loaded into the first stage of said shift register and the contents of each stage being shifted to the next successive stage in response to clock signals applied to said clock input terminal;

an oscillator for generating said clock signals;

an exclusive OR gate, having plural input terminals and an output terminal, said input terminals being receptive of signals indicative of the contents of respective stages of said shift register and said output terminal being connected to said shift register data terminal;

a counter, responsive to signals indicative of the contents of one of said shift register stages; and

a flip-flop, having a data and clock input terminals and an output terminal, said flip-flop providing at its output terminal, responsive to signals applied to said clock input terminal, a signal indicative of the instantaneous signal applied at said data input terminal, said data input terminal having applied a signal indicative of the contents of one of said shift register stages and said clock terminal having applied output signals from said counter;

an amplifier, receptive of said flip-flop output signal and responsive to bias signals applied thereto; and

means for selectively generating a varying bias signal to said amplifier to effect gradual amplitude decay of said crash simulation signal.

26. A toy vehicle comprising:

a body;

at least one wheel rotatably mounted to said body and disposed to cooperate with a ground surface such that said wheel rotates at a speed in accordance with the movement of said toy vehicle relative said ground surface;

generator means, mechanically cooperating with said wheel, for generating an electrical speed signal indicative of said speed of rotation;

electronic means, disposed within said body and responsive to said speed signal for generating an electrical engine noise simulation signal of frequency in accordance with said speed signal;

transducer means, disposed within said body, for producing an audio output indicative of input signals applied thereto; and

means for selectively applying said electrical engine noise simulation signals to said transducer means as an input signal.

27. A toy of claim 26 wherein said generator means comprises:

a DC motor having a shaft; and

means for mechanically coupling said motor shaft to said wheel such that said shaft is rotated at speeds in accordance with rotation of said wheel, whereby said motor is operative as a generator to produce said speed signal.

28. The toy of claim 27 wherein said electronic means includes:

governor means, responsive to said speed signal for generating a frequency control signal indicative of said speed signal with a controlled rate of change.

29. The toy of claim 28 wherein said governor means comprises a RC network.

30. The toy of claim 29 wherein said electronic means includes:

sensing means, responsive to said speed signal, for selectively changing the time constant of said RC network during states of acceleration or deceleration, respectively, of said wheel rotation.

31. The toy of claims 26 or 27 wherein said electronic means includes a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) responsive to signals indicative of said speed signal, for generating a VCO output signal of a frequency indicative of the speed of rotation of said wheel;

and

multi-tone generator means, responsive to said VCO output signals, for generating an engine noise simulation signal having a plurality of frequency components at frequencies related to the frequency of said VCO output signal.

32. The toy of claims 28, 29 or 30 wherein said electronic means includes a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) responsive to said frequency controlled signal, for generating a VCO output signal of a frequency indicative of the speed of rotation of said wheel;

and

multi-tone generator means, responsive to said VCO output signals, for generating an engine noise simulation signal having a plurality of frequency components at frequencies related to the frequency of said VCO output signal.

33. The toy of claims 31 or 32 wherein said multi-tone generator means comprises:

a plurality of frequency divider means for generating respective tone signals; and

combinatorial logic means for selectively combining said tone signals.

34. The toy of claim 29 wherein said electronic means comprises:

a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), responsive to said frequency control signal, for generating a VCO output signal;

a plurality of frequency divider means for generating respective tone signals at frequencies related to frequency of said VCO output signal; and

combinatorial logic means, responsive to said tone signals and a control signal applied thereto for selectively combining said tone signals;

signals from said sensing means being applied as said control signal to said combinatorial logic to effect combination of different tones during respective states of acceleration and deceleration of said wheel rotation.