Remote control system for operating toys

• US 5,944,607 A
• Filed: 12/29/1995
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rokenbok Toy Company
• Original Assignee: Rokenbok Toy Company
• Inventors: Crane, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHAAF, JAMES CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US08/580,753
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 463/40, 463/62, 463/63, 463/39, 446/454, 446/456, 446/457, 446/470, 446/465, 446/431, 446/436, 446/441
• US Class Current: 463/39
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

When manually closed, switches in pads select toy vehicles and the operation of motors for moving the vehicles in different directions and moving in different directions a receptacle for holding transportable elements (e.g. marbles). When interrogated by a central station, each pad sends through wires to the station signals indicating the switch closures in such pad. Such station produces first binary signals addressing the vehicle selected by such pad and second binary signals identifying the motor control operations in such vehicle. Thereafter the switches identifying in such pad the motor control operations in such selected vehicle can be closed without closing the switches identifying such vehicle. The first and second signals for each vehicle are transmitted by wireless to all of the vehicles at a common carrier frequency modulated by the first and second binary signals. The vehicle identified by the transmitted address demodulates the modulating signals and operates its motors in accordance with such demodulation. When the station fails to receive signals from a pad for a particular period of time, the vehicle previously selected by such pad can be selected by another pad and such pad can select that vehicle or another vehicle. A cable may couple two (2) central stations (one as a master and the other as a slave) to increase the number of pads controlling the vehicles. Stationary accessories (e.g. elevator) connected by wires to the central station become operative when selected by the pads.

Claims

1. In combination,

a plurality of vehicles each having first controls to provide a movement of the vehicle in different directions in accordance with the operation of the first controls and each having at least one member operable to perform functions and each having second controls to obtain the performance of the functions by the operable member,

a plurality of pads each having a plurality of switches controlling the addressing of a one of the vehicles and controlling the movement of the addressed vehicle in the different directions and controlling the operation of the operable member in the addressed vehicle in performing the functions, and

first means responsive sequentially to the operations of the switches in the pads in the plurality for addressing any ones of the vehicles, depending upon the switch operations in the pads, not addressed by any of the other pads and for providing for movements of the addressed vehicles and for the operations of the operable member in the addressed vehicles.

2. In a combination as recited in claim 1,

second means responsive in each of the pads to the operation of the switches in the pad for transmitting to the first means signals indicating the operation of the switches in the pad, and

third means included in the first means and responsive to the signals from the second means in the pads for sequentially addressing any ones of the vehicles, dependent upon the operation of the switches in the pads, not addressed by any of the other pads and for producing signals providing for the movements of the addressed vehicles and for the operation of the operable member in the addressed vehicles.

3. In a combination as recited in claim 2,

the first means being operative to produce carrier signals at a common carrier frequency and to modulate the carrier signals in accordance with the operation of the switches in the pads and to transmit the carrier signals to all of the vehicles in the plurality, and

fourth means disposed at the addressed vehicles for demodulating the modulated carrier signals representative of the vehicles to address the vehicles and to produce the movements of the addressed vehicles and to produce the operations of the operable member in the addressed vehicles,

the first means being connected to the pads to provide power to the pads and to communicate with the pads.

4. In a combination as set forth in claim 2,

means in each pad for providing a visual indication in the pad of any one of the vehicles being addressed by the operation of the switches in the pad.

5. In a combination as set forth in claim 1,

means in each of the vehicles for providing an illumination identifying the vehicle during the time that the vehicle is being addressed by one of the pads.

6. In combination,

a plurality of vehicles each movable forwardly and rearwardly and each turnable in first and second opposite directions and each having an operable member, each of the vehicles having drive members providing for the movement of the vehicle forwardly and rearwardly and for the turning of the vehicle in the opposite directions and for the operation of the operable member,

a central station for sending signals to the vehicles to provide movements of the vehicles forwardly and rearwardly and turning movements of the vehicles in the first and second opposite directions and operations of the operable members in the vehicles, the central station providing signals with addresses individual to each of the vehicles, and

a plurality of pads each constructed to address any one of the vehicles and each having a plurality of controls operable to introduce to the central station signals providing for the addressing of any one of the vehicles by the central station and signals indicating to the addressed vehicle the drive members to be actuated in the addressed vehicle and the type of actuation to be provided to such drive members in the addressed vehicle and signals indicating the operation of the operable member in the addressed vehicle, each of the pads being constructed to receive from the central station power to operate the pad and to communicate with the pad,

the central station being constructed to transmit sequentially to all of the vehicles signals representative of the controls operated in the different pads.

7. In a combination as set forth in claim 6,

the central station including means for providing a signal having a common carrier frequency for all of the vehicles and for modulating the common carrier frequency signal with signals addressing Man (each) of the vehicles in the plurality and identifying the drive members to be operated in the addressed vehicle and the operation of the operable members in the addressed vehicle,

the central station being connected to the pads to provide power to the pads and to communicate with the pads.

8. In a combination as set forth in claim 7,

each of the vehicles including means for receiving the modulated signals addressed from the central station to the vehicle at the common carrier frequency and for demodulating the modulations in the signals addressed to the vehicle and for operating the drive members and the operable member in the addressed vehicle in accordance with such demodulations.

9. In a combination as set forth in claim 8,

means in each of the vehicles for providing on the vehicle an illumination identifying the vehicle when the vehicle is addressed by the central station.

10. In combination as set forth in claim 6,

at least one accessory providing an operation when energized,

the pads in the plurality having additional controls for providing signals to the central station for addressing the accessory to provide the operation of the accessory,

the central station including means responsive to the signals from the additional controls in the pads for addressing the accessory sequentially with the addressing of the vehicles.

11. In a combination as set forth in claim 6,

means in each of the pads for visually providing an illumination identifying the vehicle being addressed by the controls in the pad.

12. In a combination as set forth in claim 6,

means in each of the vehicles for providing an illumination identifying the vehicle during the time that the vehicle is being addressed by one of the pads.

13. In combination,

a plurality of vehicles each having first members to provide a movement of the vehicle in different directions and having first controls operable to provide a movement of the vehicle in the different directions and each having a second member to perform functions and each having second controls operable to obtain the performance of the functions by the second member,

a plurality of pads each having a plurality of switches controlling the addressing of any one of the vehicles and controlling the operation of the first and second controls in the addressed vehicle,

a central station sequentially responsive to the operation of the switches in the pads for providing for an operation of the first and second controls in the vehicles addressed by the pads, and

means in the central station for providing for the addressing of each of the vehicles by the operation of the switches in any one of the pads when the pad previously addressing the vehicle addresses another one of the vehicles.

14. In a combination as set forth in claim 13, the central station being connected by wires to the pads in the plurality to provide power to the pads and to communicate with the pads and being constructed to communicate by wireless to the vehicles in the plurality.

15. In a combination as set forth in claim 14,

the central station providing common carrier signals for communication with all of the vehicles in the plurality and providing on such carrier signals modulations providing addresses individual to one of the vehicles and identifying the operation of the first and second switches in the pad addressing the vehicle.

16. In a combination as set forth in claim 13,

means in each of the pads for visually indicating in the pad the vehicle being addressed by the operation of the switches in the pad.

18. In a combination as set forth in claim 13,

the central station being connected by wires to the pads to provide power to the pads and to communicate with the pads and the central station including an antenna for transmitting on a wireless basis to the vehicles the signals addressing the vehicles and representing the operation of the controls in the pads addressing the vehicles.

17. In combination in a central station for use with a plurality of pads each having a plurality of operable controls for use with a plurality of vehicles each addressable in accordance with the operation of first ones of the controls in any one of the pads and each operable to perform operations in accordance with the operation of second ones of the controls in the addressing pad,

first means in the central station for receiving from the pads signals indicating the selection of the vehicles and the operation of the first and second controls in the pads,

second means responsive in the central station to the signals indicating the selection of vehicles by the pads for producing addresses identifying the vehicles selected by the pads, and

third means responsive to the production by the second means of the addresses identifying the vehicles selected by the pads for sequentially transmitting signals indicating the addresses of the vehicles and the operation of the second controls in the pads.

19. In combination for providing first signals addressing any one of a plurality of vehicles and indicating functions to be performed in the addressed vehicle,

a pad,

a plurality of switches in the pad,

a first one of the switches being operable sequentially in the pad to provide for the addressing of any one of the vehicles dependent upon the number of the sequential operations of the first one of the switches in the pad,

second ones of the switches being operable in the pad to provide for the performance of the functions in the addressed vehicle,

the pad being constructed to be periodically interrogated to indicate the operation of the switches in the pad, and

first means responsive in the pad to the periodic interrogation of the pad for providing signals indicating the number of sequential operations of the first switch in the pad and the operation of the second ones of the switches in the pad.

20. In a combination as set forth in claim 19,

means for visually indicating in the pad the vehicle addressed by the pad.

21. In combination for providing first signals addressing any one of a plurality of vehicles and indicating functions to be performed in the addressed vehicle,

a pad,

a plurality of switches in the pad,

at least a first one of the switches being operable in the pad to provide for the addressing of any one of the vehicles.

second ones of the switches being operable in the pad to provide for the performance of the functions in the addressed vehicle.

the pad being constructed to be periodically interrogated to indicate the operation of the switches in the pad, and

first means responsive in the pad to the periodic interrogation of the pad for providing signals indicating the operation of the first and second switches in the pad.

the first means in the pad including means for sending the signals indicating, in a particular sequence and in a binary-coded form, the number of the sequential operations of the first switch and the operation of the second ones of the switches in the pad.

22. In combination for providing first signals addressing any one of a plurality of vehicles and indicating functions to be performed in the addressed vehicle,

a pad,

a plurality of switches in the pad,

a first one of the switches being operable in the pad to provide for the addressing of any one of the vehicles,

second ones of the switches being operable in the pad to provide for the performance of the functions in the addressed vehicle.

the pad being constructed to be periodically interrogated to indicate the operation of the switches in the pad, and

first means responsive in the pad to the periodic interrogation of the pad for providing signals indicating the operation of the first and second switches in the pad,

the first one of the switches in the pad being operable in a particular number of successive actuations to provide for an addressing of the vehicle, and

second means in the pad for visually indicating the addressing of the vehicle.

23. In a combination as set forth in claim 22,

the first means in the pad including means for sending to a removed position the signals indicating, in a particular sequence and in a binary-coded form, the operation of the first and second ones of the switches in the pad.

24. In a method of selectively controlling the operation of a plurality of toy vehicles, the steps of:

providing a plurality of pads each having controls operable to address any one of the vehicles and to select functions to be performed in the addressed vehicle,

operating controls in each of the pads to obtain the addressing by the pad of any one of the vehicles and to select functions to be performed in the addressed vehicle,

providing for an activation of the pads to determine the addressing by each of the pads of a one of the vehicles,

providing for the sequential transmission to all of the vehicles, upon the activation of the pads, of signals addressing the vehicles and signals indicating the functions to be performed by the addressed vehicles,

providing for the reception by each of the vehicles of the signals indicating the address of the vehicle and the signals indicating the functions to be performed in the addressed vehicle,

performing the functions in each of the addressed vehicles in accordance with the operation of the controls in the pad addressing the vehicle, and

preventing each of the vehicles from being addressed simultaneously by more than one of the pads.

25. In a method as set forth in claim 24, the steps of:

providing packets each including the signals indicating the address of one of the vehicles and the functions to be performed in the addressed vehicle, and

responding at each of the vehicles to the packets of signals addressing the vehicle to perform in the addressed vehicle the functions indicated by the signals in the packets.

26. In a method as set forth in claim 24, the steps of:

providing packets each including the signals indicating the address of any one of the vehicles and the functions to be performed in the addressed vehicle,

performing in each of the vehicles the functions indicated in the packets of signals addressing the vehicle,

providing a plurality of accessories each operative to perform a function,

operating one of the controls in each of the pads to address one of the accessories,

providing for the transmission to each of the accessories of packets of signals addressing the accessory when the control in one of the pads is operated to address the accessory, and

providing for the transmission to the vehicles on a wireless basis of the packets of signals addressing the vehicles and signals providing for the performance of the functions in the addressed vehicles.

27. In a method as set forth in claim 24, the step of:

visually indicating in each of the pads the vehicle addressed by the pad.

28. In a method as set forth in claim 27, the step of:

visually indicating in each of the pads one of the vehicles other than the vehicle previously addressed by the pad when the pad addresses the other one of the vehicles.

29. In a method as set forth in claim 24, the steps of:

visually indicating in each of the pads the vehicle addressed by the pad, and

providing for the addressing of the vehicle by any one of the pads, including the pad addressing the vehicle, when the pad addressing the vehicle addresses another one of the vehicles.

30. (In a method as set forth in claim 25, the steps of:

)

In a method of selectively controlling the operation of a plurality of toy vehicles, the steps of;

providing a plurality of pads each having controls operable to address any one of the vehicles and to select functions to be performed in the addressed vehicle,

operating controls in each of the pads to obtain the addressing by the pad of any one of the vehicles and to select functions to be performed in the addressed vehicle,

providing for a periodic activation of each of the pads to determine the addressing by the pad of any one of the vehicles,

providing for a sequential transmission by the pads, upon the periodic activation of the pads, of signals addressing in each of the pads any one of the vehicles and signals indicating the functions to be performed in the addressed vehicle,

providing for the reception by the vehicles of the signals indicating the addresses of the vehicles and the signals indicating the functions to be performed in the addressed vehicles,

performing the functions in each of the addressed vehicles in accordance with the operation of the controls in the pad addressing the vehicle.

providing a plurality of accessories each operative to perform a function,

operating one of the controls in each of the pads to address any one of the accessories, and

providing for the transmission to each of the accessories of signals addressing the accessory when the control in one of the pads is operated to address the accessory.

31. In a method as set forth in claim 30, including the step of:

providing for the transmission to the vehicles on a wireless basis of the signals addressing the vehicles and the signals providing for the performance of the functions in the addressed vehicles.

32. In a method at a central station for controlling the operation of a plurality of vehicles in accordance with the addressing of the vehicles by a plurality of pads and in accordance with the operation in the pads of controls to obtain the performance of functions in the addressed vehicles, the steps of:

receiving from each of the pads, on a periodic basis with the others of the pads, first indications providing for the addressing of any one of the vehicles and second indications of functions to be performed in the addressed vehicle,

producing first signals addressing any one of the vehicles in accordance with the receipt of the first indications on the periodic basis from the pad addressing the vehicle,

producing for each of the addressed vehicles second signals indicating the functions to be performed in the addressed vehicle in accordance with the receipt on the periodic basis of the second indications from the pad addressing the vehicle,

combining the first and second signals on the periodic basis for each of the pads to produce packets of the first and second signals, and

sequentially transmitting to all of the vehicles the packets of the signals for the pads on the periodic basis to obtain the reception by the vehicles of the packets of signals and to obtain the performance of the functions in each of the addressed vehicles in accordance with the second signals in the packets of signals in which the first signals are addressed to the vehicle.

33. In combination in a vehicle for use with control means having properties of providing packets of signals, each packet including first signals providing a binary address of the vehicle different from binary addresses for other vehicles and second signals providing binary indications of functions to be performed in the vehicle, the control means being operable to address the vehicle when one of pads in a plurality is operated to provide indications of the address of the vehicle and indications of the functions to be performed in the vehicle,

the control means being operable to provide third signals when the pad indicating the address of the vehicle indicates the address of a second one of the vehicles,

first means responsive to the first signals in the packets from the control means with the binary address of the vehicle for activating the vehicle,

second means responsive to the second signals in the packets from the control means with the address of the vehicle for moving the vehicle in forward and reverse directions and for turning the vehicle,

third means in the vehicle for receiving and holding the transportable elements and for providing a release of the transportable elements, and

fourth means responsive to third ones of the second signals in the packets with the address of the vehicle for operating the fourth means in the vehicle in receiving, holding and releasing the transportable elements,

the control means being a central station,

the vehicle being displaced from the central station and receiving the signals in the packets on a wireless basis from the central station, and

fifth means responsive in the vehicle to the third signals from the control means for deactivating the vehicle.

34. In combination in one of a plurality of pads for providing first signals indicating one of a plurality of vehicles to be addressed and indicating functions to be operated in the vehicle,

a plurality of switches in the pad,

a first one of the switches being operable to provide for the addressing of the vehicle,

second ones of the switches being operable to provide for the performance of the functions in the addressed vehicle,

the pad being constructed to be interrogated concerning the operation of the first and second switches in the pad, and

first means responsive to the interrogation of the pad for sending signals indicating the operation of the first and second ones of the switches in the pad,

the first one of the switches being operable a particular number of times within a particular period of time to provide for the addressing of the vehicle,

second means for visually indicating the addressing of the vehicle, and.

35. In a combination as set forth in claim 34,

the pad being constructed to be interrogated by a central station,

the first means in the pad including means for sending to the central station the signals indicating, in a particular sequence and in a binary-coded form, the operation of the first switch and the second ones of the switches in the pad.

36. In a combination as set forth in claim 34,

third means responsive to the successive actuations of the first one of the switches for skipping the addressing of the vehicles being addressed by other pads in the plurality.

37. In a method at a central station for controlling the operation of a plurality of vehicles in accordance with the addressing of the vehicles by pads in a plurality and in accordance with the operation in the pads of controls to obtain the performance of functions in the vehicles, the steps of:

receiving from each of the pads first indications of the addressing of any one of the vehicles and second indications of functions to be performed in the addressed vehicle,

producing first patterns of signals indicating the address of the vehicle addressed by each of the pads in accordance with the receipt of the first signals from the pad,

producing for each of the vehicles, in accordance with the second indications from the pad addressing the vehicle, a second pattern of signals indicating the functions to be performed in the vehicle,

combining the first and second patterns of signals for each of the pads to produce packets of the first and second signals, and

sequentially transmitting to all of the vehicles the packets of the signals in the first and second patterns for the pads, and

preventing each of the vehicles from being addressed by any one of the pads, other than the pad addressing the vehicle, when the vehicle is being addressed by the addressing pad.

38. In combination,

a plurality of vehicles each having controls to provide a movement of the vehicle in different directions in accordance with the operation of the controls,

a plurality of pads each having a plurality of switches operable to control the addressing of an one of the vehicles and the energizing of the addressed vehicle to provide a movement of the addressed vehicle in the different directions,

a central station for sequentially sending signals to the vehicles to address the vehicles in accordance with the operation in the pads of the switches providing for the addressing of the vehicles and to provide movements in the different directions of each of the addressed vehicles in accordance with the operation of the switches in the pad addressing the vehicle.

39. In a combination as set forth in claim 38,

the central station including means for providing a signal having a common carrier frequency for the vehicles and for modulating the common carrier frequency signal with signals identifying each of the vehicles and identifying the operation of the switches in each of the pads and for transmitting the modulated carrier signals for each of the vehicles to all of the vehicles in the plurality,

the central station being connected to the pads to communicate with the pads and to provide power to the pads and the central station being constructed to communicate on a wireless basis with the vehicles.

40. In a combination as set forth in claim 39,

each of the vehicles including means for receiving the signals at the common carrier frequency from the central station and for demodulating the modulations addressed to the vehicle and for providing a movement of the vehicle in accordance with the demodulations.

41. In a combination as set forth in claim 38,

the vehicles being constructed to provide an illumination identifying the vehicles during the time that the vehicles are being addressed by the central station.

42. In a combination as set forth in claim 38,

the central station having a memory for indicating the vehicle being addressed by each of the pads, and

the central station being constructed to remove from the memory the addressing of each of the vehicles by the addressing pad when the pad addresses another one of the vehicles.

43. In combination,

a plurality of vehicles each having controls to provide a movement of the vehicle in different directions in accordance with the operation of the controls,

a plurality of pads each having a plurality of switches operable to control the addressing of any one of the motorized vehicles and the operation of the controls in the addressed vehicle to provide a movement of the addressed vehicle in the different directions,

means for sequentially transmitting to all of the vehicles signals addressing the vehicles, and the operations of the controls in the vehicles in accordance with the operations of the switches in the pads,

each of the vehicles being illuminable to identify the vehicle, and

means on each of the vehicles for illuminating the vehicle to identify the vehicle during the time that the controls on the vehicle are being operated in accordance with the operation of the switches in the pad addressing the vehicle and

means in each of the pads for preventing each of the vehicles from being simultaneously addressed by more than one of the pads.

44. In a combination as set forth in claim 43,

means in each of the pads for providing an illumination identifying the vehicle being addressed by the pad during the time that the pad is addressing the vehicle, and

means in each of the vehicles for providing for the addressing of the vehicle by any one of the pads, and for changing the illumination of the vehicle, upon a failure of the pad addressing the vehicle to operate any of the controls in the vehicle for a particular period of time after the addressing of the vehicle by the pad.

45. In a combination as set forth in claim 43, each of the vehicles having a member movable on the vehicle independently of any movement of the vehicle and having controls to provide a movement of the member, and

each of the pads having additional switches operable to control the operation of additional controls in the addressed vehicle to provide a movement of the member in the addressed vehicle independently of any movement of the addressed vehicle.

46. In a combination as set forth in claim 43 wherein

a microcomputer in each vehicle for indicating the period of time that the controls in the vehicle have not been operated and for providing for a release of the vehicle for operation by any of the pads when the switches in the pad providing for the operation of the controls in the vehicle have not been operated for the particular period of time.

47. In combination in a central station for use with a plurality of pads each having a plurality of operable controls and for use with a plurality of vehicles each addressable in accordance with the operation of first ones of the controls in one of the pads and each movable in accordance with the operation of second ones of the controls in the pad,

a microcomputer in the central station,

means including the microcomputer in the central station for indicating the pads being operated at each instant and the vehicles being addressed by the pads, and

means including the microcomputer for discontinuing the indications of the operation of the pads and the operation of the vehicles by the pads when the pads address other vehicles.

48. In a combination as set forth in claim 47,

each the vehicles being illuminable to indicate the addressing of the vehicle by one of the pads, and

means in the central station for providing for the illumination of each of the vehicles when the vehicle is being addressed by one of the pads, and

means in the central station for providing for changing the illumination of each of the vehicles when the pad addressing the vehicle addresses another one of the vehicles.

49. In combination in a central station for use with a plurality of pads and a plurality of vehicles each constructed to perform functions,

first means for interrogating each of the pads on a periodic basis to determine the operation of the pad in addressing any one of the vehicles and in indicating the functions to be performed by the addressed vehicle,

second means for receiving from each of the pads on the periodic basis indications of the vehicle addressed by the pad and the functions to be performed by the addressed vehicle,

third means responsive to the indications received by the second means for sequentially producing signals representing the vehicles addressed on the periodic basis by the pads and the functions to be performed by the addressed vehicles, and

fourth means for transmitting to the vehicles the signals sequentially produced by the third means.

50. In a combination as set forth in claim 49,

connections for wires extending from the central station to the pads to provide power to the pads and to communicate with the pads,

an antenna at the central station for sending the signals to the vehicles.

51. In a combination as set forth in claim 49,

a memory for indicating the relationship between each of the pads and the vehicle addressed by the pad,

fourth means for eliminating in the memory the relationship between each of the pads and the vehicle addressed by the pad when the pad addresses another one of the vehicles, and

fifth means for releasing the vehicle from being addressed by the pad previously addressing the vehicle when the pad addresses another one of the vehicles.

52. In combination as set forth in claim 49 wherein

the functions to be performed in the vehicle include moving the vehicle and operating a member in the vehicle and wherein

the first means interrogates each of the pads on the periodic basis to determine the operation of the pad in providing for a movement of the vehicle addressed by the pad and in providing for the operation of the operable member in the addressed vehicle and wherein

the third means provides, on the periodic basis for each of the pads, signals indicating the movements of the vehicle addressed by the pad and the operation of the operable member in the addressed vehicle.

53. In a pad for addressing one of a plurality of vehicles each having an address different from the address of the other vehicles,

a switch operable a particular number of times within a particular period of time to address the vehicle, and

means for transmitting from the pad signals indicating the number of times that the switch has been operated within the particular period of time to address the vehicle.

54. In a pad as set forth in claim 53,

means for visually indicating the vehicle addressed by the pad in accordance with the number of times that the switch has been operated within the particular period of time.

55. In a pad as set forth in claim 53 wherein,

the pad is one of a plurality of pads and wherein

means are provided for skipping over vehicles addressed by other pads in the plurality when the switch is operated the particular number of times to address the vehicle.

56. In a pad as set forth in claim 53 wherein

the pad has a visual indication illuminable for each of the vehicles in the plurality and wherein

the visual indications for the vehicles become progressively illuminated as the switch becomes operated a successive numbers of times within the particular period of time and wherein

the visual indications of vehicles being addressed by other pads are skipped as the switch in the pad becomes operated the successive number of times within the particular period of time to address the vehicle.

57. In a central station for use with a plurality of pads and a plurality of vehicles,

means for receiving from each of the pads on a cyclic basis within a particular period of time a plurality of successive indications identifying the address of one of the vehicles,

means for converting the successive indications from each of the pads to a plurality of signals indicating the address of the vehicle identified by the successive indications from the pad, and

means for transmitting to the vehicles the plurality of signals provided for each of the pads to address the vehicle identified by the signals.

58. In a central station as set forth in claim 57 wherein

wires extend from the central station for connection to the pads and wherein

an antenna is provided for the transmission to the vehicles of the signals addressing the vehicles.

59. In a central station as set forth in claim 58 wherein

a memory is provided for storing the relationship between each pad and the vehicle addressed by the pad and wherein

the relationship between each pad and the vehicle addressed by the pad is removed from the memory when the pad addresses another one of the vehicles.

60. In combination,

a plurality of vehicles each having an address different from the address of the other vehicles,

a plurality of pads each including a switch operable a number of times within a particular period of time;

the number being dependent upon the address of the vehicle whose operation is to be controlled by the pad, and

a central station responsive to the number of operations of the switch in each of the pads within the particular period of time for providing signals in a pattern addressing the vehicle whose operation is to be controlled by the pad and for transmitting the signals to the vehicles.

61. In combination as set forth in claim 60 wherein

each of the pads provides a visual indication of the vehicle addressed by the pad during the time that the pad is addressing the vehicle.

62. In combination as set forth in claim 60 wherein

the central station provides a pairing between each pad and the vehicle addressed by the pad during the time that the vehicle is addressed by the pad and wherein

the central station stores the pairing between each pad and the vehicle addressed by the pad and wherein

the central station releases the stored pairing between each pad and the vehicle addressed by the pad when the pad addresses another one of the vehicles.

63. In a combination as set forth in claim 60 wherein

the central station is connected by wires to the pads to provide a communication with the pads and to provide power to the pads and wherein

the central station communicates on a wireless basis with the vehicles.

64. In a central station as set forth in claim 60 wherein

each of the pads provides a visual indication of the vehicle addressed by the pad during the time that the pad is addressing the vehicle and wherein

the central station provides a pairing between each pad and the vehicle addressed by the pad during the time that the vehicle is addressed by the pad and wherein

the central station stores the pairing between each pad and the vehicle addressed by the pad and wherein

the central station releases the stored pairing between each pad and the vehicle addressed by the pad when the pad addresses another one of the vehicles.

65. In a central station for addressing a plurality of vehicles in accordance with the operation of a plurality of pads,

means for receiving from each of the pads on a cyclic basis an indication of the vehicle addressed by the pad,

means for indicating the vehicles addressed by the pads, and

means responsive to the indications from each of the pads of the vehicle addressed by the pad for skipping the vehicles addressed by the other pads in determining the vehicle addressed by the pad.

66. In a combination as set forth in claim 65,

means for storing a paired relationship between each of the pads and the vehicle addressed by the pad, and

means for releasing from storage the paired relationship between each pad and the vehicle addressed by the pad when the pad addresses another one of the vehicles.

67. In a combination as set forth in claim 66,

means for transmitting to the vehicles signals indicating the addresses of the vehicles addressed by the pads.

68. In a central station for use with a plurality of pads and a plurality of accessories,

means for receiving from each of the pads within a particular period of time a plurality of successive indications identifying the address of one of the accessories,

means for converting the successive indications from each of the pads to a plurality of signals indicating the address of the accessory identified by the successive indications from the pad, and

means for transmitting to the accessories signals provided for each of the accessories to address the accessory identified by the signals.

69. In a combination as set forth in claim 68 wherein

first wires extend from the central station for connection to the pads and wherein

second wires extend from the central station for connection to the accessories.

70. In a central station as set forth in claim 69 where

a memory is provided for storing the relationship between each pad and the accessory addressed by the pad and

wherein the relationship between each pad and the accessory addressed by the pad is removed from the memory when the pad addresses another one of the accessories.

71. In combination,

a plurality of vehicles each having an address different from the addresses of the other vehicles,

a plurality of accessories each having an address different from the addresses of the other accessories,

a plurality of pads each including a first switch operable a number of times within a first period of time, the number of operations of the first switch in each of the pads within the first period of time being dependent upon the address of the vehicle whose operation is to be controlled by the pad, each pad including a second switch operable a number of times within a second period of time, the number of operations of the second switch in each pad within the second period of time being dependent upon the address of the accessory whose operation is to be controlled by the pad, and

a central station responsive to the number of operations of the first switch in each of the pads within the first period of time for providing first signals in a pattern addressing the vehicle whose operation is to be controlled by the pad and responsive to the number of operations of the second switch in each of the pads within the second period of time for providing second signals in a pattern addressing the accessory whose operation is to be controlled by the pad.

72. In a combination as set forth in claim 71,

means in the central station for pairing and storing each of the pads and the vehicle being addressed by the pad and for pairing and storing each of the pads and the accessory being addressed by the pads, and

means in the central station for eliminating the storage of the paired relationship between each of the pads and the paired vehicle when the pad addresses another one of the vehicles and for storing the paired relationship between the pad and the other one of the vehicles and for eliminating the storage of the paired relationship between each of the pads and the paired accessory when the pad addresses another one of the accessories and for storing the paired relationship between the pad and the other one of the accessories.

73. In a combination as set forth in 71 wherein

each of the vehicles has a movable member for providing a movement of the vehicle and has an operable member for providing a function other than the movement of the vehicle and wherein

each of the pads provides indications of the desired movements of the movable member in the addressed vehicle and of the functions to be performed by the operable member in the addressed vehicle and wherein

the central station provides for each of the pads packets of signals including first signals indicating the address of the vehicle being controlled by the pad, second signals indicating the desired movements of the movable member in the addressed vehicle and third signals indicating the functions to be performed by the operable member in the addressed vehicle.

74. In combination,

a plurality of vehicles each having an address different from the addresses of the other vehicles,

a plurality of pads each constructed to address only one of the vehicles at each instant,

a central station associated with the pads and the vehicles for determining and storing the paired relationship between each of the pads and the vehicle addressed by the pad and for addressing the paired vehicle in accordance with indications from the pads, and

means in the central station for eliminating the stored paired relationship between each of the pads and the vehicle addressed by the pad when the pad addresses another one of the vehicles and for storing in the central station the paired relationship between the pad and the other one of the vehicles.

75. In a combination as set forth in claim 74,

each of the vehicles being constructed to perform functions in accordance with commands from the pad addressing the vehicle,

each of the pads being constructed to provide commands to the addressed vehicle when it addresses the vehicle for the performance of functions in the addressed vehicle, and

the central station being constructed to provide the commands from each of the pads to the vehicle addressed by the pad when the central station addresses the vehicle.

76. In a combination as set forth in claim 74,

the central station being connected by wires to the pads,

an antenna on the central station for transmitting to the vehicles the addresses from the pads, and

antennas on the vehicles for receiving the addresses from the pads.

77. In a combination as set forth in claim 76,

each of the vehicles being constructed to be moved in accordance with commands from the pad addressing the vehicle,

each of the pads being constructed to provide the commands to the addressed vehicle when the pad addresses the vehicle for the performance of functions in the addressed vehicles, and

the central station being constructed to provide the commands from each of the pads to the vehicle addressed by the pad when the central station addresses the vehicle.

78. In a combination as set forth in claim 76,

each of the vehicles having a member movable on the vehicle to perform functions in accordance with commands from the pad addressing the vehicle,

each of the pads being constructed to provide the commands for moving the member on the addressed vehicle, and

the central station being constructed to provide the commands from each of the pads for moving the movable member in the vehicle addressed by the pad when the central station addresses the vehicle.

82. In a combination as set forth in claim 78 for use with a plurality of accessories each having an address different from the addresses of the other accessories,

the first means being operative to receive from each of the pads on the cyclic basis indications of the address of one of the accessories, and

the second means being responsive to the indications from each of the pads to transmit on the cyclic basis to the accessories signals representing the address of the vehicle being addressed by the pad, signals representing the movements to be provided in the addressed vehicle by the first members in the addressed vehicle, signals representing the operations to be provided by the operable member in the addressed vehicle and signals representing the addresses of the accessory being addressed by the pad.

83. In a combination as set forth in claim 82,

third means for storing a pairing of each of the pads and the vehicle addressed by the pad and a pairing of each of the pads and the accessory addressed by the pad, and

fourth means for eliminating the storage of the pairing of each of the pads and the vehicle addressed by the pad when the pad addresses another one of the vehicles and for then providing for a storage by the third means of the pairing of the pad and the other one of the vehicles and for eliminating the storage of the pairing of each of the pads and the accessory addressed by the pad when the pad addresses another one of the accessories and for providing for a storage by the third means of the pairing of the pad and the other one of the accessories.

84. In a combination as set forth in claim 83,

connections for wires extending from the central station to the pads and the accessories, and

an antenna for transmitting the signals on a wireless basis to the pads.

79. In combination in a central station for use with a plurality of pads and for use with a plurality of vehicles each having an address different from the addresses of the other vehicles and each having first members for moving the vehicle and each having an operable member,

first means for receiving from each of the pads, on a periodic basis, indications of the address of one of the vehicles, indications of the movements to be provided in the addressed vehicle by the first members in the addressed vehicle and indications of the operations to be provided by the operable member in the addressed vehicle, and

second means responsive to the indications on the periodic basis from the pads for sequentially transmitting to the vehicles on the periodic basis signals representing the addresses of the vehicles being addressed by the pads, representing movements to be provided in the addressed vehicles by the first members in the addressed vehicles and representing the operations to be provided by the operable member in the addressed vehicles.

80. In a combination as set forth in claim 79,

third means for providing a pairing of each of the pads and the vehicle addressed by the pad during the time that the vehicle is addressed by the pad and for storing the pairing of the pad and the vehicle addressed by the pad during the time that the vehicle is addressed by the pad, and

fourth means for eliminating the storage of the pairing of each of the pads and the vehicle addressed by the pad when the pad addresses another one of the vehicles and for providing a pairing of the pad and the other one of the vehicles during the time that the other one of the vehicles is addressed by the pad and for providing for a storing by the third means of the pairing of the pad and the other one of the vehicles during the time that the other one of the vehicles is addressed by the pad.

81. In a combination as set forth in claim 79,

connections for wires extending from the central station to the pads to provide power to the pads and to communicate with the pads, and an antenna for transmitting the signals on a wireless basis to the vehicles.

85. In combination,

a plurality of vehicles each having an address different from the addresses of the other vehicles,

a plurality of pads each operable to provide first signals for addressing any one of the vehicles and second signals for providing operations of the addressed vehicle,

means responsive to the first and second signals from the pads for sequentially sending packets of signals to the vehicles in the plurality for addressing the vehicles and for providing operations of the addressed vehicles, and

means for providing a stored record indicating a pairing between any one of the vehicles and the pad addressing the vehicle during the time that the pad is addressing the vehicle

means for eliminating the stored record of the pairing between each vehicle and the pad addressing the vehicle when the pad addresses another one of the vehicles, and

means for providing a stored record of the pairing between the other one of the vehicles and the pad during the time that the pad addresses the other one of the vehicles.

86. In a combination as set forth in claim 85,

each of the vehicles additionally including an operable member,

each of the pads being constructed to include in the packets signals providing for the operation of the operable member in the vehicle being addressed by the pad.

87. In a combination as set forth in claim 85,

means for providing a movement of each of the vehicles and for an operation of the operable member in the vehicle in accordance with the signals in the packets addressed to the vehicle.

88. In combination in a vehicle for use with control means having properties of providing packets of signals, each packet including first signals providing a binary address of the vehicle different from binary addresses for other vehicles and second signals for providing binary indications of functions to be performed in the vehicle, the control means being operable to address the vehicle when one of the pads in a plurality is operated to provide indications of the address of the vehicle and indications of the functions to be performed in the vehicle, the control means being operable to provide third signals when the pad indicating the address of the vehicle indicates the address of a second one of the vehicles,

first means responsive to the first signals in the packets from the control means with the binary address of the vehicle for activating the vehicle,

second means responsive to the second signals in the packets from the control means with the address of the vehicle for performing the functions indicated by the second signals, and

third means responsive to the third signals from the control means for de-activating the vehicle.

89. A method of controlling the operation of toy vehicles, including the steps of:

providing each of the toy vehicles with an address different from the addresses of the other vehicles,

providing a plurality of pads each providing addresses for any one of the vehicles,

providing for an addressing by each of the pads of any one of the vehicles,

providing for an operation by each of the pads of one of the vehicles after the addressing of the vehicle by the pad,

providing for the sequential transmission to all of the vehicles of signals indicating the addressing of the vehicles by the pads and indicating the operations of the addressed vehicles

providing for a release of each of the vehicles by the pad controlling the operation of the vehicle when the pad addresses another one of the vehicles and

preventing each the vehicles from being simultaneously addressed by more than one of the pads.

90. A method as set forth in claim 89, including the steps of:

providing on each of the pads a plurality of visual indications identifying the individual ones of the vehicles, and

providing for an energizing on each of the pads of the visual indication identifying the vehicle addressed by the pad.

91. A method as set forth in claim 89, including the steps of:

providing on each of the a visual indication identifying the vehicles, and

energizing the visual indication on each of the vehicles when the vehicle is addressed by one of the pads.

92. A method as set forth in claim 89, including the steps of:

providing a control on each of the pads with a plurality of sequentially operable positions each identifying an individual one of the vehicles, and

sequentially operating the control in each of the pads to one of the control positions providing for an addressing of the vehicle identified by the one of the control positions.

93. A method as set forth in claim 92, including the steps of:

providing for a skipping, during the sequential operation of the control in each of the pads, of the control positions identifying vehicles addressed by the other pads.

94. A method as set forth in claim 93, including the steps of:

providing on each of the pads a plurality of visual indications identifying the individual ones of the vehicles,

providing for an energizing on each of the pads of the visual indication identifying the vehicle addressed by the pad,

providing on each of the vehicles a visual indication identifying the vehicle, and

energizing the visual indication on each of the vehicles when the vehicle is addressed by one of the pads.

95. A method of controlling the operation of toy vehicles, including the steps:

providing each of the toy vehicles with an address different from the addresses of the other toy vehicles,

providing a plurality of pads each having a first control for addressing any one of the vehicles and each having second controls for operating the addressed vehicle(s) after the vehicle(s) has been addressed,

providing for an addressing by each of the pads of one of the vehicles in accordance with the operation of the first control in the pad and for the operation of the vehicle in accordance with the operation of the second controls in the pad after the vehicle has been addressed by the pad,

providing for a release of the vehicle by the pad controlling the operation of the vehicle when the pad addresses another one of the vehicles,

providing for the sequential transmission to all of the vehicles of signals indicating the addresses of the vehicles by the pads and indicating the operations of the addressed vehicles,

providing for an addressing of each of the vehicles by the operation of the first control in any one of the pads when the vehicle is released by the pad previously addressing the vehicle.

96. A method as set forth in claim 95, including the steps of:

providing on each of the pads a plurality of visual indications identifying the individual ones of the vehicles, and

providing for an energizing on each of the pads of the visual indication identifying the vehicle addressed by the pad.

97. A method as set forth in claim 95, including the steps of:

providing on each of the vehicles a visual indication identifying the vehicle, and

energizing the visual indication on each of the vehicles when the vehicle is addressed by one of the pads.

98. A method as set forth in claim 95, including the steps of:

providing a control on each of the pads with a plurality of sequentially operable positions each identifying an individual one of the vehicles, and

sequentially operating the control in each of the pads to one of the control positions providing for an address of the vehicle identified by the one of the switch positions.

99. A method as set forth in claim 98, including the steps of:

providing for a skipping, during the sequential operation of the control in each of the pads, of the control positions identifying vehicles addressed by the other pads.

100. A method as set forth in claim 99, including the steps of:

providing on each of the pads a plurality of visual indications identifying the individual ones of the vehicles,

providing for an energizing on each of the pads of the visual indication identifying the vehicle addressed by the pad,

providing on each of the vehicles a visual indication identifying the vehicles, and

energizing the visual indication on each of the vehicles when the vehicle is addressed by one of the pads.

101. A method of controlling the operation of toy vehicles, including the steps of:

providing each of the toy vehicles with an address different from the addresses of the other vehicles,

providing a plurality of pads each having a first control operable to provide for the addressing of any one of the vehicles and each having second controls operable to provide for an operation of the addressed vehicle,

providing a central station for sequentially communicating to all of the vehicles the addresses provided by the operation of the first control in the pads and the operation of the addressed vehicles as provided by the operation of the second controls in the pads

providing for an addressing by the central station of each of the vehicles in accordance with the addressing of the vehicle by the operation of the first control in the pads,

providing in the central station for an operation of each of the vehicles in accordance with the operation of the second controls in the pad addressing the vehicle, and

providing in the central station for a release of each of the vehicles by the pad controlling the operation of the vehicle when the pad addresses another one of the vehicles in accordance with the operation of the first control in the pad.

102. A method as set forth in claim 101, including the step of:

providing in the central station for an addressing of each of the vehicles by the operation of the first control in any of the pads after the release of the vehicle by the pad controlling the operation of the vehicle.

103. A method as set forth in claim 102, including the steps of:

providing in each of the pads a plurality of visual indications identifying the individual ones of the vehicles,

providing for an energizing in each of the pads of the visual indications identifying the vehicle addressed by the pad,

providing on each of the vehicles a visual indication identifying the vehicle, and

energizing the visual indication on each of the vehicles when the vehicle is addressed by one of the pads.

104. A method as set forth in claim 102, including the steps of:

providing the first control in each of the pads with a plurality of sequentially operable positions each identifying an individual one of the vehicles addressed by the operation of the first control in the pad,

sequentially operating the first control in each of the pads to one of the control positions providing for a selection of the vehicle identified by the one of the control positions,

providing for a skipping, during the sequential operation of the first control in each of the pads, of the control positions identifying vehicles selected by the other pads.

105. A method as set forth in claim 104, including the steps of:

providing in each of the pads a plurality of visual indications identifying the individual ones of the vehicles,

providing for an energizing in each of the pads of the visual indications identifying the vehicle addressed by the pad,

providing on each of the vehicles a visual indication identifying the vehicle, and

energizing the visual indication on each of the vehicles when the vehicle is addressed by one of the pads.

106. A method as set forth in claim 101, including the steps of:

providing in each of the pads a plurality of visual indications identifying the individual ones of the vehicles,

providing for an energizing in each of the pads of the visual indications identifying the vehicle addressed by the pad,

providing on each of the vehicles a visual indication identifying the vehicle, and

energizing the visual indication on each of the vehicles when the vehicle is addressed by one of the pads.

107. A method as set forth in claim 101, including the steps of:

providing the first control in each of the pads with a plurality of sequentially operable positions each identifying an individual one of the vehicles addressed by the operation of the first control in the pad, and

sequentially operating the first control in each of the pads to one of the control positions providing for a selection of the vehicle identified by the one of the control positions.

108. In combination for controlling the operation of toy vehicles,

a plurality of toy vehicles each having an address different from the addresses of the other vehicles,

a plurality of pads each operable to provide addresses any one of the vehicles and each providing controls for the operation of the addressed vehicles,

means for providing for an addressing of any one of the vehicles by each of the pads and for the operation of the addressed vehicle by the operation of the controls in the pad, and

means for providing for a release of each of the vehicles by the pad controlling the operation of the vehicle when the pad addresses another one of the vehicles and for providing for the addressing thereafter of the released vehicle by any of the pads.

109. In a combination as set forth in claim 108,

each of the pads being constructed to provide energizable indications each identifying one of the vehicles, and

means in each of the pads for energizing the visual indication in the pad of the vehicle addressed by the pad.

110. In a combination as set forth in claim 108,

each of the vehicles being constructed to provide an energizable indication that the vehicle has been addressed by one of the pads, and

means in the vehicle for energizing the visual indication in the vehicle when the vehicle has been addressed by one of the pads.

111. In a combination as set forth in claim 108,

each of the pads having an additional control sequentially operable to different positions each identifying an individual one of the vehicles, and

means responsive to the sequential operation of the additional control to one of the positions in each of the pads for addressing the vehicle identified by the position of the additional control in the pad.

112. In a combination as set forth in claim 111,

means for skipping, during the sequential operation of the additional control in each of the pads, of the positions identifying vehicles selected by the other pads.

113. In a combination as set forth in claim 112,

each of the pads being constructed to provide energizable indications each identifying one of the vehicles, and

means in each of the pads for energizing the visual indication in the pad of the vehicle addressed by the pad,

each of the vehicles being constructed to provide an energizable indication that the vehicle has been addressed by one of the pads, and

means in the vehicle for energizing the visual indication in the vehicle when the vehicle has been addressed by one of the pads.

114. In a method at a central station for controlling the operation of a plurality of vehicles in accordance with the addressing of the vehicles by a plurality of pads and in accordance with the operation in the pads of controls to obtain the performance of functions in the vehicles, the steps of:

receiving from the pads first indications of the addresses of the vehicles and second indications of the functions to be performed in the vehicles,

producing first signals indicating the addresses of the vehicles addressed by the pads in accordance with the receipt of the first indications from the pads,

producing for each of the addressed vehicles second signals indicating the addressed vehicle,

combining the first and second signals for each of the vehicles to produce packets of the first and second signals,

sequentially transmitting, to all of the vehicles in the plurality, the packets of the first and second signals for the addressed vehicles to provide for the reception of the signals in the addressed vehicles in accordance with the addresses represented by the first signals in the packets and to provide for the performance of the functions in the addressed vehicles in accordance with the second signals in the packets,

providing a memory,

storing in the memory the addressing of the vehicles by the pads during the time that the vehicles are addressed by the pads, and

eliminating from the memory the addressing of the vehicles by the pads when the pads address vehicles other than the vehicles previously addressed by the pads.

115. In a method as set forth in claim 114, the step of:

preventing each of the vehicles from being addressed by any of the pads other than the pad addressing the vehicle.

116. In a method as set forth in claim 114, the step of:

storing in the memory the addressing of the other vehicles by the pads during the time that the pads address the other vehicles.

117. In combination for use with a plurality of vehicles each having an individual address and having members for moving the vehicles,

a central station,

a plurality of pads each operatively connected to the central station and each operative to provide addresses individual to any one of the vehicles and to provide commands for operating the vehicle,

the central station being operative to receive the addresses and commands from the pads and to transmit to the vehicles addresses and commands in packets each composed of a plurality of binary indications representing the address and the commands for an individual one of the vehicles,

means in the central station for transmitting the packets of the binary indications to the vehicles,

each of the pads including a switch actuatable a number of times to select any one of the vehicles, the particular number of times being dependent upon the particular one of the vehicles to be addressed by the pad,

memory means in the central station for remembering each of the vehicles addressed at any instant and the pad addressing the vehicle, and

means in the central station for preventing each of the pads from addressing one of the vehicles already being addressed by another one of the pads.

118. In combination for use with a plurality of vehicles each having an individual address and having members for moving the vehicles,

a central station,

a plurality of pads coupled to the central station, each of the pads having a first member actuatable a sequential number of times to address any one of the vehicles dependent upon the number of actuations and having second members actuatable to provide for a movement of the addressed vehicle,

means in the central station for interrogating the pads to determine the number of actuations of the first member in each of the pads and to determine the actuations of the second members in each of the pads,

means in the central station for providing for each of the pads first binary indications addressing the vehicle being selected by the pad and second binary indications relating to the movements to be provided in the vehicle,

means in the central station for remembering each pad and the vehicle selected by the pad and for providing for the transmittal of such information to the pads, and

means responsive in the pads to the remembered information transmitted to the pads from the central station for skipping in each pad the binary indications of vehicles already being addressed by others of the pads when the first member in the pad is actuated the sequential number of times.