Radio controlled model vehicle having coordinated sound effects system

• US 5,195,920 A
• Filed: 10/18/1990
• Issued: 03/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harry B. Collier
• Original Assignee: Harry B. Collier
• Inventors: Collier, Harry B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Muir, D. Neal
• Application Number:
  US07/599,659
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 446/454, 446/456, 446/409, 446/410, 446/404, 446/269, 446/270, 446/271, 446/272, 446/175, 446/484, 446/485, 446/431, 446/448, 273/86 B
• US Class Current: 446/409
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/34 Arrangements for imitating the noise of motors

Abstract

The self-contained sound effects system for a model radio controlled toy vehicle. The conventional internal control signals of the vehicle are detected by the present invention and are utilized to generate realistic sound effects on board the vehicle. The sound data and programming necessary to coordinate the realistic sound effects with the conventional on-board control signals are entirely contained on the vehicle. A microprocessor is used to provide the coordination of the sound data with the programming and the microprocessor modifies the sound effects with any changes in the on-board control signals by varying the pitch, timbre, amplitude, and the like of the sound effects. A communications port is also provided on the vehicle so that when connected with a remote computer, the sound data and programming can be selectively modified by the operator to add new sound effects or to change current sound effects and operating software.

Claims

1. A self-contained sound effects system for a model radio controlled toy vehicle, said toy vehicle having a remote transmitter for transmitting radio signals through air to said toy vehicle, said transmitted radio signals comprising one or a plurality of internal control signals for the operation of said toy vehicle, said self-contained system comprising:

means located in said toy vehicle and receptive of said transmitted radio signals for detecting said internal control signals,

means located in said toy vehicle and connected to said detecting means for generating sound data coordinated with said detected internal control signals, said generating means comprising;

a. means for delivering sound data corresponding to a plurality of predetermined realistic sounds for said toy vehicle,

b. means receptive of said detected internal control signals from said detecting means and of said sound data from said sound data delivering means for outputting sound data coordinated with said detected internal control signals, and

means located in said toy vehicle and receptive of said outputted sound data from said generating means for producing a realistic sound corresponding to said sound data.

2. The self-contained system of claim 1 wherein said sound data delivering means includes a sound synthesizer.

3. The self-contained system of claim 1 further comprising means located in said toy vehicle for sensing at least one physical condition of said toy vehicle, said generating means being responsive to said sensed physical condition for outputting sound data coordinated with said sensed physical condition.

4. The self-contained system of claim 3 wherein said sensing means is a sensor located on said toy vehicle for sensing when said toy vehicle strikes an object thereby activating said generating means to output a crash sound.

5. The self-contained system of claim 3 wherein said sensing means is a sensor located on said toy vehicle for sensing when said toy vehicle rolls over thereby activating said generating means to output a crash sound.

6. The self-contained system of claim 3 wherein said sensing means is a sensor located on said toy vehicle for sensing when said toy vehicle turns too quickly thereby activating said generating means to output a crash sound.

7. The self-contained system of claim 1 further comprising means located in said toy vehicle for sensing the presence of at least one external stimulus directed towards said toy vehicle, said generating means being responsive to said sensed external stimulus for outputting sound data coordinated with said sensed external stimulus.

8. The self-contained system of claim 1 further comprising means remote from said toy vehicle for delivering asynchronous sound effect signals to said generating means and means in said generating means receiving said asynchronous sound effect signals for outputting sound data corresponding to said asynchronous sound effect signals.

9. The self-contained system of claim 1 wherein said generating means modifies said sound data in response to changes in said detected internal control signals.

10. The self-contained system of claim 9 wherein said sound modification includes changing the pitch, timbre, or amplitude, of said sound.

11. The self-contained system of claim 1 further comprising a communications port connected to said generating means and a remote computer selectively engaging said communications port for changing the contents of said sound data.

12. The self-contained system of claim 1 further comprising means located on said computer for performing a physical function on said toy vehicle.

13. The self-contained system of claim 1 wherein said generating means averages a predetermined number of said internal control pulses in order to minimize the presence of noise and spurious pulses.

14. A self-contained sound effects system for a toy vehicle, said toy vehicle having a remote transmitter for transmitting electromagnetic signals through air to said toy vehicle, said transmitted electromagnetic signals containing one or a plurality of internal control signals for the operation of said toy vehicle, said self-contained system comprising:

means located in said toy vehicle and receptive of said transmitted electromagnetic signals for detecting said internal control signals,

means located in said toy vehicle and connected to said detecting means for generating sound data coordinated with said detected internal control signals, said generating means comprising;

a. means for delivering sound data corresponding to a plurality of predetermined realistic sounds for said toy vehicle,

b. means receptive of said detected internal control signals from said detecting means and of said sound data from said sound data delivering means for outputting sound data coordinated with said detected internal control signals, and

means located in said toy vehicle and receptive of said outputted sound data from said generating means for producing a realistic sound corresponding to said sound data.

15. The self-contained system of claim 14 wherein said sound data delivering means includes a sound synthesizer.

16. The self-contained system of claim 14 further comprising means located in said toy vehicle for sensing at least one physical condition of said toy vehicle, said generating means being responsive to said sensed physical condition for outputting sound data coordinated with said sensed physical condition.

17. The self-contained system of claim 16 wherein said sensing means is a sensor located on said toy vehicle for sensing when said toy vehicle strikes an object thereby activating said generating means to output a crash sound.

18. The self-contained system of claim 16 wherein said sensing means is a sensor located on said toy vehicle for sensing when said toy vehicle rolls over thereby activating said generating means to output a crash sound.

19. The self-contained system of claim 16 wherein said sensing means is a sensor located on said toy vehicle for sensing when said toy vehicle turns too quickly thereby activating said generating means to output a crash sound.

20. The self-contained system of claim 14 further comprising means located in said toy vehicle for sensing the presence of at least ne external stimulus directed towards said toy vehicle, said generating means being responsive to said sensed external stimulus for outputting sound data coordinated with said sensed external stimulus.

21. The self-contained system of claim 14 further comprising means remote from said toy vehicle for delivering asynchronous sound effect signals to said generating means and means in said generating means receiving said asynchronous sound effect signals for outputting sound data corresponding to said asynchronous sound effect signals.

22. The self-contained system of claim 14 wherein said sound modification includes changing the pitch, timbre, or amplitude, of said sound.

23. The self-contained system of claim 14 further comprising a communications port connected to said generating means and a remote computer selectively engaging said communications port for changing the contents of said sound data delivering means and said program storing means.

24. The self-contained system of claim 23 further comprising means located on said computer for performing a physical function on said toy vehicle.

25. The self-contained system of claim 14 wherein said generating means averages a predetermined number of said internal control pulses in order to minimize the presence of noise and spurious pulses.