Sound effect device for radio controllable toy vehicle

• US 5,088,955 A
• Filed: 03/12/1991
• Issued: 02/18/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nikko Company (Toy State Industrial Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Nikko Company (Toy State Industrial Ltd)
• Inventors: Ishimoto, Zenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Application Number:
  US07/669,505
• Time in Patent Office: 343 Days
• Field of Search: 446/409, 446/410, 446/456, 446/397, 273/86 B, 273/86 R
• US Class Current: 446/409
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/34 Arrangements for imitating the noise of motors

Abstract

A sound effect device for radio controllable toy vehicles is capable of producing various realistic sounds such as a klaxon horn, an emergency braking sound, a small braking sound, and a tire-squealing sound upon sharp turning. The sounds are generated depending upon the driving condition of the toy vehicle, and the device is further capable of producing realistic sounds that are readily modified various types of toy vehicles. The device may have an engine sound on/off switch and a starting switch that causes production of a first engine sound which is thereafter varied based on the driving condition of the vehicle. Further, the device may generate certain sounds only upon simultaneous detection of two signals controlling the movements of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A sound effect device built in a radio controllable toy vehicle which includes a receiver circuit for receiving radio control signals, a decoder circuit for decoding the received signals, a power-motor drive circuit and a steering drive circuit which respectively actuate a motor unit and a steering unit depending upon a signal delivered from said decoder circuit, said receiver circuit being electrically connected through said decoder circuit to said power-motor drive circuit and said steering drive circuit, and engine sound on/off switch, a starting switch for generating a starting signal, an amplifier, a speaker electrically connected to said amplifier, and a microcomputer;

said engine sound on/off switch, said starting switch and said amplifier being electrically connected to said microcomputer;

said microcomputer performing a processing responsive to said starting signal for generating, in said speaker, various realistic sounds including engine sounds depending upon a driving condition of the toy vehicle on the basis of signals delivered from said decoder circuit and a position of each of said switches, wherein said microcomputer generates a first engine sound responsive to said starting signal and varies said first engine sound responsive to said signals delivered from said decoder circuit.

2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said engine sound on/off switch is electrically and operatively associated with said starting switch so that, when the engine sound on/off switch is turned on, the starting switch is automatically moved to ON-position vice versa.

3. A radio-controlled toy vehicle having a remote radio transmitter and a built-in receiving circuit and sound effect device, wherein a decoder circuit is provided to convert the received radio signals into a plurality of controlling signals for effecting movements of the vehicle, said controlling signals being also used by said sound effect device to generate corresponding sound effects, wherein said sound effect device comprises a one-chip microcomputer receptive of said plurality of controlling signals, and wherein said microcomputer is adapted to generate a signal to produce a particular sound responsive to the simultaneous detection of two of said plurality of controlling signals.

4. The toy vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said sound effect device comprises switch means movable from an OFF position to an ON position, said switch means at said ON position causing said microcomputer to generate a first engine sound simulating an idling engine sound, said transmitter having means for generating low speed and high speed signals for advancing said vehicle at a lower speed and a relatively higher speed, as well as for generating a turning signal, said particular sound effect being generated responsive to simultaneous detection of said signals for higher speed advancement and turning.