Remote control system for operating toys

• US 5,944,609 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: Kulakowski, Robert T., DeAngelis, Peter C., Eichen, Paul, Crane, John J., Barton, William M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHAAF, JAMES CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US08/578,210
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 463/40, 463/62, 463/63, 446/454, 446/456, 446/457, 446/470, 446/465, 446/431, 446/436, 446/441, 446/460
• US Class Current: 463/62
• 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 upwardly and downwardly (and rightwardly and leftwardly) 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 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 motorized vehicles each having an address and 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 for controlling the addressing of any one of the motorized vehicles and controlling the movements of the addressed vehicle and the operation of the operable member in the addressed motorized vehicle,

first means responsive to the operations of the switches in each of the pads for addressing any one of the motorized vehicles and for providing for movements of the addressed motorized vehicle and for the operation of the operable member in the addressed motorized vehicle, and

the first means being displaced from the pads and the vehicles,

second means in the first means for interrogating the pads to determine the operation of the switches in the pads and for receiving the signals from the interrogated pads and for producing signals representing the addresses of the vehicles selected by the pads and representing the movements of the vehicles and the operation of the operable member in the addressed vehicles,

third means disposed in the motorized vehicles and responsive to the signals indicating the addresses produced by the second means for energizing the addressed vehicles and responsive to the signals indicating the operation of the switches in the pads for producing the movements of the addressed vehicles and for producing the operations of the operable members in the addressed vehicles, and

fourth means in the first means for providing for the movements of the addressed vehicles and for the operations of the operable members in the addressed vehicles after the addressing of the vehicles even when the motorized vehicles are not thereafter addressed by the pads controlling the operation of the vehicles but when the pads are operated to provide for the movements of the addressed motorized vehicles or for the operation of the operable member in the addressed motorized vehicles.

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

the second means being operative to produce the signals for the addressed motorized vehicles at a common carrier frequency and for modulating the signals at the common carrier frequency in accordance with the operation of the switches in the pads, and

the third means being disposed at the addressed motorized vehicles for operating upon the signals at the common carrier frequency to energize the addressed motorized vehicles and to produce the movements of the addressed motorized vehicles and to produce the operations of the operable members in the addressed motorized vehicles,

the first means being connected to the pads to provide power to the pads and to communicate with the pads and the first means communicating by wireless with the vehicles.

3. In a combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein

the first means constitutes a central station connected by wires to the pads and having a wireless relationship with the vehicles.

4. In combination,

a plurality of motorized 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 a member operable to perform functions and each having second controls to obtain the performance of the functions by the member,

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

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

the central station including means for interrogating the pads in the plurality to determine if there is an operation of the switches in the pads and including means for communicating the operation of the switches in the pads to the vehicles to obtain the operation of the addressed vehicles in accordance with the operation of the switches, and

means in the central station for releasing each of the vehicles from addressing by the pad addressing the vehicle when the second controls in the pads are not operated for a particular period of time to obtain the operation of the addressed vehicles and when the pad is the only pad addressing the vehicle.

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

the central station including means for retaining a communication previously established between the pads and the vehicles when there is an operation, within a particular period of time after the last previous communication between the pads and the vehicles, of the switches in the pads during the interrogation of the pads in the plurality and for discontinuing the communication when there is not an operation of the switches in the pads within the particular period of time.

6. In a combination as recited in claim 4,

each of the vehicles having an address, and

the central station providing common carrier signals for communication with the vehicles and providing on the carrier signals modulations providing the addresses of the addressed vehicles and identifying the operation of the switches in the pads.

7. In combination in a vehicle for use with control means having properties of providing packets of signals, each packet including a binary address and binary signals identifying the operations to be provided in the vehicle,

wheels on the vehicle for moving the vehicle,

first means operable for propelling the vehicle forwardly and rearwardly and for turning the vehicle in opposite directions,

an operable member disposed on the vehicle,

second means in the vehicle for operating the operable member,

first controls energizable in the vehicle to provide movements of the vehicle by the first means forwardly and rearwardly and to provide turnings of the vehicle by the first means in the opposite directions,

second controls energizable in the vehicle to provide an operation of the operable member,

third means in the vehicle for receiving the packets of signals transmitted from the control means, the packets of signals including a binary address addressing the vehicle and binary signals indicating the energizing of the first and second controls in the vehicle,

fourth means in the vehicle for recovering the packets with the address of the vehicle,

fifth means in the vehicle for decoding, in the packets with the address of the vehicle, the binary signals indicating the energizing of the first and second controls,

sixth means in the vehicle for energizing the first and second means in accordance with the decoding by the fifth means of the binary signals indicating the energizing of the first and second controls,

seventh means operatively coupled in the vehicle to the first means and responsive to the decoding of the binary signals by the fifth means for providing an initial movement of the vehicle at a first speed, and

eighth means responsive in the vehicle to the continued movement of the vehicle at the first speed for a particular period of time for changing the speed of movement of the vehicle to a second speed.

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

means disposed on the vehicle for providing an indication that the vehicle has been energized by the packets from the control means.

9. In a combination as forth in claim 7,

the control means being included in a central station,

the packets of the binary signals being transmitted from the central station,

the receiving means in the vehicle receiving the packets of the binary signals transmitted from the central station, the packets including the binary address identifying the vehicle and the binary signals indicating the energizing of the first and second controls in the vehicle.

10. In a combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein

the second means is motive and wherein the second means is movable in opposite directions.

11. In combination for use with control means having properties of providing packets of signals from a plurality of controlling, members each packet including a binary address and binary signals identifying the energizing of different controls,

a toy vehicle displaced from the control means,

wheels on the vehicle for moving the vehicle,

first means selectively operable in the vehicle for propelling the vehicle forwardly and rearwardly and for turning the vehicle in opposite directions,

an operable member disposed on the vehicle,

second means disposed on the vehicle for operating the operable member,

first controls operable in the vehicle to provide movements of the vehicle by the first means forwardly and rearwardly and to provide turnings of the vehicle by the first means in the opposite directions,

second controls operable in the vehicle to provide an operation of the operable member,

third means in the vehicle for receiving the packets of signals from the control means, the packets of signals including a binary address identifying the vehicle and binary signals indicating the energizing of the first and second controls in the vehicle,

fourth means in the vehicle for recovering the packets with the binary address of the vehicle,

fifth means in the vehicle for recovering, in the packets with the binary address of the vehicle, the binary signals indicating the energizing of the first and second controls,

sixth means in the vehicle for energizing the first and second means in accordance with the binary signals indicating the energizing of the first and second controls, and

seventh means responsive in the vehicle to the failure of the vehicle to receive for a particular period of time the packets of signals, including the binary address of the vehicle, from the control means for providing for a de-coupling of the vehicle from addressing by the control means until the control means thereafter provides the packets of signals with the binary address of the vehicle from any one of the controlling members.

12. In combination,

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 a first one of the controls in one of the pads and each operable to perform functions in accordance with the operation of second ones of the controls in the pad,

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

second means responsive in the central station to the signals indicating the addressing of the vehicles by the pads for addressing the vehicles,

third means responsive in the central station to the production by the second means of the addresses identifying the vehicles for transmitting signals representing the addresses of the vehicles and signals indicating the operation of the second controls in the pads,

the central station constituting a first central station,

a second central station including first means, second means and third means in the second central station respectively corresponding to the first, second and third means in the first central station, and

fourth means for connecting the first and second central stations in a relationship to provide for the operation of the first, second and third means in one of the central stations under the control of the other one of the central stations.

13. 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 a first one of the controls in the pads and each operable to perform functions in accordance with the operation of second ones of the controls in the pads,

first means for receiving from the pads signals indicating the addressing of the vehicles by the pads and indicating the operation of the first and second controls in the addressed pads,

second means responsive to the signals indicating the addressing of the vehicles by the pads for producing addresses identifying the pads and identifying the vehicles addressed by the pads,

third means responsive to the production by the second means of the addresses identifying the vehicles for transmitting signals representing the addresses of the vehicles and signals indicating the operation of the controls in the pads to obtain the performance of the functions in the vehicles,

means for charging the vehicles, and

means for terminating the charging of the vehicles after the vehicles have been charged for a particular period of time.

14. 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 a first one of the controls in the pads and each operable to perform functions in accordance with the operation of second ones of the controls in the pads,

first means in the central station for interrogating the pads to receive from the pads signals identifying the first and second ones of the controls operated in the pads,

second means in the central station for receiving from the pads signals identifying the first and second controls operated in the pads,

third means in the central station for providing first signals constituting, for each of the pads, an address for the vehicle identified by the operation of the first controls in the pads and second signals identifying the operation of the second controls in the the pads,

fourth means in the central station for transmitting the first and second signals for each of the pads to the vehicles, and

fifth means in the central station for discontinuing the operation of the vehicles by the pads when none of the second controls in the pads is operated for a particular period of time to obtain the operation of the vehicles.

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

the second means in the central station receiving, from each of the pads, binary signals having first and second logical levels, each of the binary signals having a first binary level indicating the operation of one of the controls in the pads, and

the third means providing for each of the pads the first binary signals identifying the address of the vehicle identified by the operation of the first controls in the pad and the second binary signals identifying the operation of the second controls in the pad.

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

the second means initially receiving in the central station from each of the pads signals identifying the operation of the first controls in the pad and receiving from the pad signals identifying the operation of the second controls in the pad for the period of time that the pad is operating the vehicle initially addressed by the first controls in the pads, and

the third means providing in the central station the first signals constituting for each of the pads the address for the vehicle identified by the operation of the first controls in the pad when the second means receives from the pad, for the period of time that the pad is operating the vehicle, the signals identifying the operation of the second controls in the pad even when the second means does not receive the first signals identifying the operation of the first controls in the pad.

17. In a combination as set forth in claim 14 wherein

the central station addresses one of the vehicles for operation by each of the pads in accordance with the number of operations of the first one of the controls in the pad within a particular period of time.

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

the first means including a read only memory for interrogating the pads to receive from each of the pads signals identifying the first and second controls operated in the pad,

the read only memory also including the addresses for the vehicles,

the third means including a random access memory for providing the first signals constituting, for each of the pads, the address for the vehicle identified by the operation of the first controls in the pad and for providing second signals identifying the operation of the second controls in the pad,

the random access memory also providing a memory of the vehicle being operated at each instant by each of the pads.

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

the second means initially receiving, from each of the pads, the signals identifying the operation of the first and second controls in the pad and subsequently receiving from the pad, for the period of time that the pad is operating the vehicle controlled by the pad, the signals identifying the operation of the second controls in the pad,

the third means providing the first signals constituting, for each of the pads, the address for the vehicle identified by the operation of the first controls in the pad when the third means receives from the pad, for the period of time that the pad is operating the vehicle, the signals identifying the operation of the second controls in the pad,

the first means including a read only memory to provide for the interrogation of the pads to receive from the pads signals identifying the first and second controls operated in the pads,

the read only memory also including the addresses for the vehicles,

the third means including a random access memory for providing the first signals constituting, for each of the pads, the address for the vehicle identified by the operation of the first controls in the pad and the second signals identifying the operation of the second controls in the pad,

the random access memory also providing a memory of the vehicle being operated at each instant by each of the pads.

20. In combination,

a central station for use with a plurality of pads each having operable controls and for use with a plurality of vehicles each addressable in accordance with the operation of a first one of the controls in one of the pads and each operable to perform functions in the vehicle in accordance with the operation of second ones of the controls in the pad,

first means in the central station for receiving from the pad signals indicating the operation of the first control to address the vehicle and the operation of the second controls in the pad to perform the functions in the vehicle,

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

third means responsive in the central station, after the operation of the second means for each of the vehicles, to the operation of the second controls in the pad to produce second signals for obtaining in the vehicle the performance of the functions identified by the operation of the second controls in the pad even when the vehicle is not being addressed by the pad.

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

the second means producing the first signals in a binary code identified by signals individual to each of the vehicles, and

the third means producing binary signals indicating the operation or the lack of operation of the second controls in the pads.

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

wires extending from the central station to provide communication with the pads, and

an antenna for providing a wireless communication with the vehicles in accordance with the operation of the controls in the pads.

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

fourth means for discontinuing the operation of the third means for each of the vehicles when there is no operation, for a particular period of time, of the controls providing in the the associated pad for the operation of the vehicle.

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

the central station constituting a first central station,

a second central station including first means, second means and third means respectively corresponding to the first means, the second means and the third means in the first central station, and

fourth means for connecting the first and second central stations in a particular relationship to provide for the operation of the first, second and third means in one of the central stations under the control of the other one of the central stations.

25. In a combination as set forth in claim 20 wherein

the first one of the controls in each of the pads is operative on an iterative basis within a particular period of time to select the motorized vehicle in accordance with the number of the iterative operations of the switch within the particular period of time.

26. In combination for use with first and second pluralities of pads each having a plurality of operable controls and for use with first and second pluralities of vehicles, each plurality of vehicles being associated with one of the first and second pluralities of pads, each of the vehicles in each of the pluralities being addressable in accordance with the operation of a first one of the controls in a selective one of the pads in the associated plurality and being operable to perform functions in accordance with the operation of second ones of the controls in the pad,

a first central station responsive to the operation of the first and second ones of the controls in each of the pads in the first plurality to obtain the addressing of one of the vehicles in the first plurality and the performance of the functions in the vehicle,

a second central station responsive to the operation of the first and second ones of the controls in each of the pads in the second plurality to obtain the addressing of one of the vehicles in the second plurality and the performance of the functions in the vehicle, and

coupling means connected to the first and second central stations to have one of the first and second central stations act as a master and the other one of the first and second central stations act as a slave.

27. In a combination as set forth in claim 26, p1 the coupling means including a cable providing a grounded connection at one end and the grounded end being connected to the other one of the first and second central stations to obtain the operation of the other one of the first and second central stations as a slave station.

28. In a combination as set forth in claim 26,

means in at least the master one of the first and second central stations for charging the vehicles, and

means in at least the master one of the first and second central stations for discontinuing the charging of the vehicles after a particular period of time.

29. In a combination as set forth in claim 26,

means in the master one of the first and second central stations for providing a memory of the vehicles being operated by the pads in the first and second pluralities at each instant, and

means in the master one of the first and second central stations for skipping over the selection of the vehicles in the first and second pluralities at each instant when the vehicles are being operated by the pads in the first and second pluralities.

30. 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 a first one of the controls in one of the pads and each operable to perform functions in the vehicle in accordance with the operation of second ones of the controls in the pad,

first means in the central station for interrogating the pads to determine if the first one of the controls in the pads has been operated,

second means responsive in the central station to the operation of the first one of the controls in each of the pads for sending first signals to the vehicle identified by the first one of the controls in the pad to obtain an activation of the vehicle,

third means responsive in the central station to the activation of the vehicles for sending second signals to all of the vehicles in accordance with the operation of the second controls in the pads to obtain the performance in the vehicles of the functions represented by the operation of the second controls in the pads, and

fourth means in the central station for providing for a discontinuance in the activation of each of the vehicles by the pad activating the vehicle when the pad fails to provide an operation of the vehicle for a particular period of time and when the vehicle is activated only by the pad.

31. In a combination in the central station as set forth in claim 30,

fifth means in the second means in the central station for providing addresses identifying the vehicles in accordance with the operation of the first ones of the controls in pads and for producing the first signals in accordance with the identifying addresses, and

sixth means in the third means in the central station for sending the second signals for the vehicles concurrently with the sending of the first signals for the vehicles.

32. In a combination in the central station as set forth in claim 30,

the sixth means being operable to send the second signals for the vehicles concurrently with the sending of the first signals for the vehicles without receiving from the pads the signals identifying the vehicles.

33. In a combination as set forth in claim 30,

seventh means for discontinuing the operation of the fifth means for each of the vehicles when there is no operation for a particular period of time of any of the controls in the pad controlling the operation of the vehicle.

34. In a combination as set forth in claim 30 wherein

the first one of the controls in each of the pads is operative on an iterative basis within a particular period of time to select the motorized vehicle in accordance with the number of the iterative operations of the switch within the particular period of time.

35. In combination,

a plurality of motorized vehicles each having a plurality of motors for moving the vehicles forwardly and rearwardly and for turning the vehicle to the right and left and each having an operable member,

a plurality of pads each having a plurality of controls for addressing any one of the motorized vehicles, for operating the motors in the vehicle to move the vehicle forwardly and rearwardly and to turn the vehicle to the right and left and for operating the operable member in the vehicle,

a central station for interrogating the pads to determine the operation of the controls in the pads for obtaining an operation of the motors in the vehicles to move the vehicles forwardly and rearwardly and to turn the vehicles to the right and left and for operating the operable member in the vehicles,

first means responsive in the central station to the operation of the controls in the pads for producing first signals providing an address for the vehicles selected by the pads and second signals identifying to the vehicles the controls operated in the pads,

second means in the central station for sending the first and second signals to all of the vehicles, and

third means in each of the vehicles for providing for a release of the vehicle by the pad addressing the vehicle when the controls providing in the pad for the operation of the motors and the operable members in the vehicle are not operated for a particular period of time and when the vehicle is addressed only by the pad.

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

fourth means in the vehicles for receiving the signals transmitted from the central station for the pads and for decoding the signals in accordance with the addresses of the vehicles and for operating the motors in the vehicles in accordance with the operation of the controls in the pads.

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

fourth means in the vehicles for releasing the vehicles from the pads when the pads address different ones of the vehicles than the vehicles previously addressed by the pads.

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

a plurality of wires extending from each of the pads in the plurality to the central station,

the central station having an antenna for sending the signals on a wireless basis in the first and second pluralities to the vehicles in the plurality, and

an antenna on each of the vehicles in the plurality for receiving the signals transmitted in the first and second pluralities from the central station to the vehicles in the plurality.

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

the central station including means for providing the first and second signals for transmission in a binary coded form to the vehicles, and

each of the vehicles including means for decoding the first and second signals transmitted in the binary coded form and including means for operating the motors in the vehicles and the operable member in accordance with the decoded signals.

40. 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, including the steps of:

interrogating the pads to determine from the pads the addressing of the vehicles and the functions to be performed in the addressed vehicles,

receiving from the pads indications of the vehicles addressed by the pads and indications of the functions to be performed in the addressed vehicles,

providing first signals indicating the address of each of the vehicles and second signals indicating the functions to be performed in the vehicle,

providing packets with the first and second signals, after the addressing of the vehicles by the pads, even when the pads provide only the second indications, and

transmitting the packets with the first and second signals to all of the vehicles to obtain a processing by the vehicles of the packets of signals in which the addresses represented by the first signals for the vehicles corresponds to the addresses of the vehicles.

41. In a method as set forth in claim 40, including the steps of:

providing a memory of the addressing of the vehicles by the pads and the addresses of the vehicles, and

thereafter providing the signals indicating in the memory the addresses of the vehicles addressed by the pads when the central station receives from the pads the indications of the functions to be performed by the vehicles without receiving the indications of the vehicles addressed by the pads, and

transmitting the packets with the first and second signals to all of the vehicles.

42. In a method as set forth in claim 40 where

the central station interrogates the pads through wires connected between the central station and the pads and receives signals from the pads through the wires and provides power to the pads through the wires wherein

the central station transmits the packets of signals to the vehicles on a wireless basis.

43. In a method as set forth in claim 40, including the steps of:

there being a plurality of accessories for addressing by the pads,

receiving from the pads indications of the addressing of the accessories by the pads, and

transmitting signals to the accessories in accordance with the indications from the pads of the addressing of the accessories thereby to obtain the operation of the accessories.

44. In a method as set forth in claim 43 wherein

the central station interrogates the individual ones of the pads on the cyclic basis through wires connected between the central station and the pads and receives signals from the pads through wires connected between the central station and the pads and wherein the central station transmits the signals to the individual ones of the stationary accessories through wires connected between the central station and the individual ones of the stationary accessories and wherein the central station transmits the signals to the individual ones of the vehicles in the plurality on a wireless basis.

45. In a method as set forth in claim 40, including the step of:

releasing each of the vehicles to provide for the addressing of the vehicle by any one of the pads when the central station fails to receive for a particular period of time signals from the pad addressing the vehicle upon the interrogation of the pad by the central station, and

preventing each of the vehicles from being addressed by more than one of the pads at any time.

46. In a method as set forth in claim 45, including the steps of:

there being a plurality of accessories for addressing by the pads,

receiving from the pads indications of the addressing of the accessories by the pads, and

transmitting signals to the accessories in accordance with the indications from the pads of the addressing of the accessories thereby to obtain the operation of the accessories and wherein

the central station interrogates the pads through wires connected between the central station and the pads and receives signals from the pads through wires connected between the central station and the pads and wherein the central station transmits the signals to the accessories through wires connected between the central station and the accessories and wherein the central station transmits the signals to the vehicles on a wireless basis.

47. In a method as set forth in claim 45,

releasing each of the vehicles to provide for an addressing of the vehicle by any of the pads when the pad addressing the vehicle addresses another one of the vehicles.

48. In a method for providing a co-operation between one of a plurality of pads and a central station to address any one of a plurality of vehicles and to obtain the operation of functions in the vehicle, including the steps of:

providing in the pad controls operable to provide for the addressing of the vehicle and to provide for the performance of the functions in the vehicle,

receiving in the pad from the central station signals interrogating the pad to determine the pattern of operation of the controls in the pad,

sending to the central station from the pad signals, upon the reception at the pad of the interrogating signals from the central stations in a pattern to indicate the addressing of the vehicle and the performance of the functions in the vehicle, and

providing in the central station for the release of the vehicle by the central station when the pad fails to provide for the sending to the central station for a particular period of time of signals indicating the performance of the functions in the vehicle, and when the pad is the only one of the pads providing for the control of the performance of the functions in the vehicle.

49. In a method as set forth in claim 48, including the steps of:

there being a plurality of accessories,

providing in the pad at least one additional control operable to obtain the addressing of one of the accessories, and

sending to the central station signals indicating the operation in the pad of at least one additional control upon the reception by the pad from the central station of the signals interrogating the pad.

50. In combination for providing first signals indicating one of a plurality of vehicles to be activated and indicating functions to be performed in the vehicle,

one of a plurality of pads,

a plurality of switches in the pad,

at least 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 vehicle,

a central station,

first means in the central station for activating the pads to obtain an indication of the operation of the switches in the pads, and

second means responsive in the central station to the activation of the pads for sending to all of the vehicles the first signals indicating the operation of first and second ones of the switches in the pad,

a read only memory in the central station for storing indications representing a particular period of time,

a random accessory memory in the central station for storing indications of a particular period of time since the last operation of the second ones of the switches in the pad,

means responsive in the central station to the indications of time in the read only memory and the random access memory for releasing the vehicle from control by the pad when the period of time indicated in the random access memory is at least equal to the period of time indicated in the read only memory, and

means disposed in the central station and including the read only memory and the random access memory for providing a re-charging of the vehicle for a particular period of time.

51. In a method of selectively controlling the operation of toy vehicles, including 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 vehicle,

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

providing a central station,

providing for an interrogation of the pads by the central station to determine the addressing by each pad of one of the vehicles,

providing for the transmission by each of the pads to the central station, upon the interrogation of the pad by the central station, of signals indicating the vehicle addressed by the pad and signals indicating the functions to be performed by the vehicle,

providing in the central station, for each of the vehicles, an address indicating the vehicle selected by the pad upon the interrogation of the pad even when only the functions to be performed in the vehicle are indicated thereafter in the pad, and

providing for the transmission by the central station to all of the vehicles of signals indicating the address of the vehicle addressed by the pad and indicating the functions to be performed in the vehicle.

52. In a method as set forth in claim 51, including the steps of:

receiving at each of the vehicles the signals transmitted from the central station, and

decoding at each of the vehicles the signals indicating the functions to be performed by the vehicle when the received signals indicate the address of the vehicle.

53. In a method as set forth in claim 51, including the steps of:

providing in packets at the central station the signals indicating the address of the vehicle and the functions to be performed in the vehicle, and

responding at the vehicle to the packets of signals indicating the address of the vehicle to perform in the vehicle the functions indicated by the signals in the packets.

54. In a method as set forth in claim 51, including the steps of:

providing in packets at the central station the signals indicating the address of the vehicles and the functions to be performed in the vehicles,

decoding at each of the vehicles the packets of signals indicating the functions to be performed by the vehicle when the signals received by the vehicle indicate the address of the vehicle,

performing in each of the vehicles the functions indicated in the decoded packets,

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 by each of the pads, upon the interrogation of the pad by the central station, of signals indicating the operation of the control in the pad to address the accessory,

providing for the transmission by the central station to the accessory of signals for obtaining the operation of the accessory,

providing for the transmission of signals between the pads and the central station through wires and providing for the transmission of signals from the central station to the accessories through wires and providing for the transmission of signals from the central station to the vehicles on a wireless basis, and

providing for the release of the vehicle from control by the central station when the vehicle fails to receive signals from the central station with the address of the vehicle for a particular period of time from the pad addressing the vehicle and when the pad is the only pad addressing the vehicle.

55. In a method as set forth in claim 51, including the steps of:

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 by each of the pads to the central station, upon the interrogation of the pad by the central station, of signals indicating the operation of the control in the pad to address one of the accessories, and

providing for the transmission by the central station to each of the accessories of signals for obtaining the operation of the accessory.

56. In a method as set forth in claim 55, including the step of:

providing for the transmission of signals between the pads and the central station through wires and providing for the transmission of signals from the central station to the stationary accessories through wires and providing for the transmission of signals from the central station to the vehicles on a wireless basis.

57. In combination,

a plurality of motorized 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 members to perform functions and each having second controls to obtain the performance of the functions,

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

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

the central station being operative to interrogate the pads to determine the operation of the switches in the pads,

the central station including means for retaining a communication previously established between the pad and the vehicle when there is a communication between the pad and the vehicle, within a particular period of time after the last previous communication between the the pad and the vehicle, during the interrogation of the pad by the central station and for discontinuing the previously established communication between the pad and the vehicles when there is not a communication between the pad and the vehicle within the particular period of time and when the pad is the only one of the pads addressing the vehicle.

58. In a combination as set forth in claim 57,

the central station being connected by wires to the pads in the plurality and communicating by wireless to the vehicles in the plurality.

59. In a combination as set forth in claim 57,

the central station providing common carrier signals for communication with the vehicles and providing on such carrier signals modulations providing addresses identifying each of the vehicles and identifying the operation of the first and second switches in the pad communicating with the vehicle.

60. In a combination as set forth in claim 57,

the central station being connected by wires to the pads and the central station including an antenna for transmitting on a wireless basis to the vehicles the signals representing the addresses of the vehicle and the operation of the controls at the pads.

61. 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, including the steps of:

receiving from the pads first signals indicating the addressing of the vehicles and second signals indicating the functions to be performed in the addressed vehicles,

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

producing for each of the vehicles a second pattern of signals indicating the functions to be performed in the vehicles,

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

transmitting the packets of the signals in the first and second patterns for each of the vehicles to obtain the reception of the packets in the vehicles in accordance with the addresses represented by the first patterns of the signals in the packets and to obtain the performance of the functions in the vehicles in accordance with the second patterns of the signals in the packets, and

maintaining the addressing of each of the vehicles by the pad addressing the vehicle as long as the central station continues to receive from the pad the second pattern of signals, within a particular period of time after the previous reception of the second pattern of signals by the central station, indicating the functions to be performed in the vehicle.

62. 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, including the steps of:

receiving from the pads first signals indicating the addressing of the vehicles and second signals indicating the functions to be performed in the vehicles,

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

producing for each of the vehicles 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 vehicles to produce packets of the signals, and

transmitting the packets of the signals in the first and second patterns for each of the vehicles to obtain the reception of the packets in the vehicles in accordance with the addresses represented by the first patterns of the signals in the packets and to obtain the performance of the functions in the vehicles in accordance with the second patterns of the signals in the packets,

the central station constituting a first central station and the pads in the plurality constituting a first plurality of pads and the vehicles in the plurality constituting a first plurality of vehicles,

providing a second central station which operates in the same manner as the first central station and which responds to the signals from pads in a second plurality to control the addressing and operation of vehicles in a second plurality, and

making the operation of the second central station a slave to the operation of the first central station.

63. 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, including the steps of:

receiving from the pads first signals indicating the addressing of the vehicles and second signals indicating the functions to be performed in the addressed vehicles,

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

producing for each of the vehicles a second pattern of signals indicating the functions to be performed in the vehicles,

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

transmitting the packets of the signals in the first and second patterns for each of the vehicles to obtain the reception of the packets in the vehicles in accordance with the addresses represented by the first patterns of the signals in the packets and to obtain the performance of the functions in the vehicles in accordance with the second patterns of the signals in the packets,

providing a memory,

storing in the memory the addressing of the vehicles by the pads, and

eliminating from the memory the addressing of the vehicles by the pads when the central station fails to receive the second patterns of signals from the pads for a particular period of time in the vehicles, and

maintaining the addressing of the vehicles by the pads as long as the central station continues to receive the second patterns of signals from the pads within a particular period of time after the previous reception by the central station of the second patterns of signals from the pads.

64. In a method as set forth in claim 63, including the steps of:

the central station constituting a first central station and the pads in the plurality constituting a first plurality and the vehicles in the plurality constituting a first plurality,

providing a second central station which operates in the same manner as the first central station and which responds to the signals from pads in a second plurality to control the addressing and operation of vehicles in a second plurality, and

making the operation of the second central station a slave to the operation of the first central station.

65. In combination,

a plurality of motorized vehicles each having first controls to provide a movement of the vehicle in accordance with the operation of the first controls, each of the motorized vehicles having an address,

a plurality of pads each having switches controlling the addressing of any one of the motorized vehicles and controlling the movements of the addressed vehicle,

first means responsive to the operations of the switches in the pads for providing for the addressing of the motorized vehicles and for providing for movements of the addressed motorized vehicles,

the first means being displaced from the pads and the vehicles,

second means in the first means for interrogating the pads in the plurality to determine the operation of the switches in the pads and for receiving the signals from the interrogated pads and for producing signals, in accordance with the operation of the switches, representing the addresses of the vehicles selected by the pads and representing movements of the vehicles,

third means disposed at the motorized vehicles and responsive to the signals indicating the addresses produced by the second means for energizing the vehicles represented by the addresses and responsive to the signals indicating the operation of the switches in the pads for producing the movements of the vehicles, and

fourth means in the first means for providing for the movements of the vehicles after the addressing of the vehicles by the pads even during the time that the pads are not addressing the vehicles but are being operated to provide for movements of the vehicles.

78. In a combination as set forth in claim 65, wherein

one of the switches in each of the pads is sequentially operative within a particular period of time to address the motorized vehicle in accordance with the number of the sequential operations of the switch within the particular period of time.

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

the second means being responsive to the signals from the pads to produce signals at a common carrier frequency and to modulate the signals at the common carrier frequency in accordance with the operation of the switches in the pads, and

the third means being disposed at the motorized vehicles and being responsive to the signals at the common carrier frequency for addressing the motorized vehicles and producing the movements of the addressed motorized vehicles.

66. In combination,

a plurality of motorized vehicles each having controls to provide a movement of the vehicle 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, and

means in each of the vehicles for providing for the addressing of the vehicle by any one of the pads when the switches in the pad providing for the addressing of the vehicle and for the operation of the controls in the vehicle have not been operated for a particular period of time and when the pad is the only pad addressing the vehicle.

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

each of the pads having an illuminable light on the pad,

means on each of the pads for illuminating the light on the pad when the switches in the pad are operated within the particular period of time,

each of the vehicles having an illuminable light disposed on the vehicle and identifying the vehicle, and

means on each of the vehicles for illuminating the light on the vehicle when the controls on the vehicle are being operated in accordance with the operation of the switches in one of the pads.

68. In a combination as set forth in claim 66 wherein

one of the switches in the pad addressing the vehicle is closed a particular number of times on an iterative basis within a particular period of time to address the vehicle.

69. In a combination as set forth in claim 66 wherein

the addressing means in each of the vehicles includes a microcomputer in the 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 an addressing of the vehicle by any one of the pads when the vehicle has not been operated by the pad for the particular period of time and when the pad is the only pad addressing the vehicle.

70. In combination as set forth in claim 69,

means for releasing the vehicle from control by the pad addressing the vehicle, and for providing for the addressing of the vehicle by any of the pads, when the pad addresses another one of the vehicles.

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

each of the vehicles having an operable member and having additional controls to provide an operation of the member, and

each of the pads having additional switches operable to control the operation of the additional controls in the vehicle.

72. In a combination as recited in claim 71 wherein

the addressing means in each of the vehicles includes a microcomputer in the 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 one of the pads when the switches in the pad providing for the selection of the vehicle have not been operated for the particular period of time and wherein

each of the pads has an illuminable light on the pad and wherein

means are provided on each of the pads for illuminating the light on the pad when the switches in the pad are operated within the particular period of time and wherein

each of the vehicles has an illuminable light disposed on the vehicle and individually identifying the vehicle and wherein

means are provided on each of the vehicles for illuminating the light on the vehicle during the time that the controls on the vehicle are being operated in accordance with the operation of the switches in one of the pads and for the particular period of time after the time that the controls of the vehicle are being operated in accordance with the switches in any one of the pads.

73. In a combination as set forth in claim 72 wherein

the operable member is movable independently of any movements of the vehicle and the additional switches in each of the pads are operative to provide a movement of the member in the vehicle independently of any movement of the vehicle.

74. In combination,

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

a plurality of pads each having a plurality of switches operable to address any one of the motorized vehicles and to obtain the operation of the controls in the addressed vehicle to provide a movement of the addressed motorized vehicle,

each of the vehicles being illuminable to identify the vehicle,

means on each of the vehicles for illuminating the vehicle to identify the vehicle when the controls on the vehicle are being operated in accordance with the operation of the switches in one of the pads,

means in each of the vehicles for maintaining the operation of the vehicle by the pad and for providing the illumination of the vehicle to identify the vehicle after the pad has addressed the vehicle for operation, and

means in each of the vehicles for providing for the addressing of the vehicle by any one of the pads, and for discontinuing the illumination of the vehicle, when the pad addressing the vehicle fails to operate any of the controls in the vehicle for a particular period of time after the addressing of the vehicle by the pad and when the pad is the only pad addressing the vehicle.

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

each of the vehicles having an operable member and having additional controls to provide an operation of the operable member, and

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

76. In a combination as set forth in claim 74, wherein one of the switches in each of the pads is sequentially operative within a particular period of time to address the motorized vehicle in accordance with the number of sequential operations of the switch within the particular period of time.

77. In a combination as set forth in claim 74, wherein

the addressing means in each of the vehicles includes a microcomputer in the vehicle for indicating the period of time that the vehicle has not been operated by the pad addressing the vehicle and for providing for a release of the vehicle for operation by any one of the pads when the vehicle has not been operated for the particular period of time by the pad addressing the vehicle.

80. In combination,

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

a plurality of pads each having switches for controlling the addressing of any one of the motorized vehicles and for controlling the energizing of the controls in the addressed motorized vehicle,

a central station responsive to the operation of the switches in each of the pads for providing for an operation of the controls in the vehicle,

the central station including means for interrogating the pads in the plurality to determine if there is an operation of the switches in the pads and including means for communicating the operation of the switches in the pads to the vehicles to obtain the operation of the vehicles in accordance with the operation of the switches, and

means in the central station for releasing each of the vehicles from control by the pad addressing the vehicles when the switches providing in the pad for the operation of the controls in the vehicle are not operated for a particular period of time to obtain the operation of the vehicle and when the vehicle is being controlled only by the pad addressing the vehicle.

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

the central station including means for retaining a communication previously established between the pads and the vehicles when there is a selective operation, within a particular period of time after the last previous communication between the pads and the vehicles, of the switches in the pads and for discontinuing the previously established communication when there is not a selective operation of the switches in the pads within the particular period of time.

82. In a combination as recited in claim 80,

the central station providing common carrier signals for communication with the vehicles and providing on the carrier signals modulations providing addresses identifying the vehicles and identifying the operation of the switches in the pads communicating with the addressed vehicles,

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 communicating by wireless with the vehicles.

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

means in the central station for releasing the vehicles from control by the pads when the pads address vehicles other than the vehicles previously addressed by the pads.

84. In combination for use in a vehicle with control means having properties of providing packets of signals, each packet including a binary address and binary signals identifying controls,

wheels on the vehicle for moving the vehicle,

motive means operable for propelling the vehicle forwardly and rearwardly and for turning the vehicle in opposite directions,

controls energizable in the vehicle to provide movements of the vehicle by the motive means forwardly and rearwardly and to provide turnings of the vehicle in the opposite directions,

first means in the vehicle for receiving the packets of signals transmitted from the control means, the packets of signals including a binary address identifying the vehicle and binary signals indicating the energizing of the controls in the vehicle,

second means in the vehicle for decoding the binary signals to recover the packets with the address of the vehicle,

third means in the vehicle for decoding, in the packets with the address of the vehicle, the binary signals indicating the energizing of the controls,

fourth means in the vehicle for energizing the motive means in accordance with the decoding by the second means of the binary signals indicating the energizing of the controls,

fifth means operatively coupled in the vehicle to the motive means and responsive to the decoding of the binary signals by the third means for providing an initial movement of the vehicle at a first particular speed, and

sixth means responsive in the vehicle to the continued movement of the vehicle at the first particular speed for a particular period of time for changing the speed of movement of the vehicle to a second particular speed.

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

means disposed on the vehicle for providing an indication that the vehicle has been energized by the packets of signals from the control means.

86. In combination for use with control means having properties of providing packets of signals, each packet including a binary address and binary signals identifying the energizing of controls,

a toy vehicle displaced from the control means,

wheels on the vehicle for moving the vehicle,

motive means selectively operable in the vehicle for propelling the vehicle forwardly and rearwardly and for turning the vehicle in opposite directions,

an operable member disposed on the vehicle,

controls operable in the vehicle to provide movements of the vehicle by the motive means forwardly and rearwardly and to provide turnings of the vehicle in the opposite horizontal directions,

first means in the vehicle for receiving the packets of signals transmitted from the control means, the packets of signals including a binary address identifying the vehicle and binary signals indicating the energizing of the controls in the vehicle,

second means in the vehicle for decoding the binary signals in the packets to recover the packets with the binary address of the vehicle,

third means in the vehicle for decoding, in the packets with the binary address of the vehicle, the binary signals indicating the energizing of the controls, and

fourth means in the vehicle for energizing the motive means in accordance with the decoding by the third means of the binary signals indicating the energizing of the controls,

fifth means in the vehicle for operating the operable member,

sixth means operatively coupled in the vehicle to the motive means and responsive to the operation of the fourth means for providing a movement of the vehicle,

seventh means responsive in the vehicle to the failure of the vehicle to receive from the control means for a particular period of time the packets of signals with the binary address of the vehicle for providing for a release of the vehicle from operation by the control means, and

eighth means disposed on the vehicle for providing an illumination identifying the vehicle and indicating that the vehicle has been energized by the packets of signals from the control means.

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

the operable member being movable in opposite directions,

the fifth means being operative to move the operable member in the opposite directions.

88. In combination,

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 the pads,

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

second means responsive in the central station to the signals indicating the addressing of the vehicles by the pads for producing addresses identifying the addressed vehicles,

third means responsive in the central station to the production by the second means of the addresses identifying the vehicles for transmitting signals representing such addresses and signals indicating the operation of the controls in the pads,

the central station constituting a first central station,

a second central station including first means, second means and third means in the second central station respectively corresponding to the first, second and third means in the first central station, and

fourth means for connecting the first and second central stations in a particular relationship to provide for the operation of the first, second and third means in one of the central stations under the control of the other one of the central stations.

89. In combination,

a plurality of motorized vehicles each having motors for moving the vehicle forwardly and rearwardly and for turning the vehicle to the right and left,

a plurality of pads each having controls for selecting one of the motorized vehicles and for operating the motors in the vehicle to move the vehicle forwardly and rearwardly and to turn the vehicle to the right and left,

a central station for interrogating the pads in the plurality to determine the operation of the controls in the pads for obtaining an operation of the motors in the vehicles to move the vehicles forwardly and rearwardly and to turn the vehicles to the right and left,

first means responsive in the central station to the operation of the controls in the pads for producing first signals providing an address for the vehicles selected by the pads and second signals identifying to the addressed vehicles the controls operated in the pads,

second means in the central station for sending the first and second signals to the vehicles, and

third means in the vehicles for providing for a release of each of the addressed vehicles from the pad addressing the vehicle and for providing for the addressing of the vehicle by any of the pads when the vehicle is not operated by the pad for a particular period of time and when the pad is the only pad addressing the vehicle.

90. In a combination as set forth in claim 89,

the central station including means for providing the first and second signals for transmission in a binary coded form to the vehicles, and

the fourth means in the addressed vehicles being operable to decode the first and second signals transmitted in the binary coded form and to operate the motors in the addressed vehicles in accordance with the decoded signals.

91. In a combination as set forth in claim 89,

fourth means in the vehicles for receiving the first and second signals from the central station and for decoding such signals in accordance with the addresses of the vehicles and for operating the motors in the addressed vehicles in accordance with the operation of the controls providing in the pads for the operation of the motors in the addressed vehicles.

92. In a combination as set forth in claim 91,

a plurality of wires extending from each of the pads to the central station to provide power to the pads from the central station and to provide a communication between the pads and the central station,

the central station having an antenna for sending the signals on a wireless basis to the vehicles, and

an antenna on each of the vehicles for receiving the signals transmitted from the central station to the vehicles.

93. In combination for use with a central station for transmitting signals representing an address and representing functions to be performed and for use with a plurality of pads each having controls operable to provide the address and to indicate the functions to be performed,

a movable vehicle having the address,

first means in the vehicle for receiving the signals transmitted from the central station,

second means responsive in the vehicle to the received signals for passing the signals with the address of the vehicle,

third means responsive in the vehicle to the signals passed by the second means with the address of the vehicle for performing the functions indicated by the received signals, and

fourth means responsive in the vehicle to a failure of the vehicle to receive signals from the central station with the address of the vehicle for a particular period of time for releasing the vehicle from the performance of functions indicated by the signals from the pad and for providing for the addressing thereafter of the vehicle by any one of the pads, the pad being the only pad addressing the vehicle.

94. In a combination as set forth in claim 93,

an illuminable member disposed on the vehicle and identifying the vehicle, and

means in the vehicle for providing an illumination of the member during the reception by the vehicle of the signals with the address of the vehicle from the pad and for providing for an extinguishing of the illumination by the illuminable member when the vehicle fails to receive signals from the central station with the address of the vehicle for the particular period of time.

95. In a combination as set forth in claim 94,

a read only memory in the vehicle for storing the address of the vehicle,

a random access memory in the vehicle for storing the address of the signals received from the central station, and

means in the vehicle for comparing the addresses in the read only memory and the random access memory for providing for the passage by the second means in the vehicle only of the signals from the central station with the address of the vehicle.

96. In a combination as set forth in claim 94,

a read only memory in the vehicle for storing the particular period of time,

a random access memory in the vehicle for storing the period of time since the last reception by the vehicle of signals from the central station with the address of the vehicle, and

means for comparing the indications of time in the read only memory and the random access memory to provide for the extinguishing of the illumination by the illuminable member in the vehicle when the vehicle fails to receive signals from the central station with the address of the vehicle for the particular period of time.

97. In a combination as set forth in claim 96,

the read only memory in the vehicle storing the address of the vehicle,

the random access memory in the vehicle storing the address of the signals received from the central station, and

means in the vehicle for comparing the addresses in the read only memory and the random access memory for providing for the passage by the second means only of the signals from the central station with the address of the vehicle.

98. In combination for use with control means having properties of providing packets of signals from a plurality of controlling members, each packet including binary signals providing a binary address and binary signals identifying different controls,

a toy vehicle displaced from the control means,

wheels on the vehicle for moving the vehicle,

motive means disposed on the vehicle and operable for moving the vehicle forwardly and rearwardly and for turning the vehicle in opposite directions,

an operable member disposed on the vehicle,

first means disposed on the vehicle for operating the operable member,

first controls operable in the vehicle to provide controlled movements of the vehicle by the motive means forwardly and rearwardly and to provide controlled turnings of the vehicle by the motive means in the opposite directions,

second controls operable in the vehicle to provide controlled operations of the operable member,

second means in the vehicle for receiving the packets of signals transmitted from the control means, the packets of signals including a binary address identifying the vehicle and binary signals indicating the operation of the first and second controls in the vehicle,

third means in the vehicle for decoding the binary signals to recover the packets with the address of the vehicle,

fourth means in the vehicle for decoding, in the packets with the address of the vehicle, the binary signals indicating the operation of the first and second controls in the vehicle, and

fifth means in the vehicle for operating the motive means and the first means in accordance with the decoding of the binary signals by the fourth means,

sixth means in the vehicle for providing a memory indicating the period of time since the last address of the vehicle by the control means, and

seventh means operatively coupled to the fifth means and the sixth means for de-coupling the vehicle from addressing by the control means when the sixth means indicates that the vehicle has not been addressed by the control means for a particular period of time, such de-coupling thereafter continuing until the control means provides the packets from any one of the controlling members with the binary signals providing the binary address of the vehicle.

99. In combination for use with control means having properties of providing packets of signals, each packet including binary signals providing a binary address and binary signals identifying different controls,

a toy vehicle displaced from the control means,

wheels on the vehicle for moving the vehicle,

motive means disposed on the vehicle and operable for moving the vehicle forwardly and rearwardly and for turning the vehicle in opposite directions,

an operable member disposed on the vehicle,

first means disposed on the vehicle for operating the operable member,

first controls operable in the vehicle to provide controlled movements of the vehicle by the motive means forwardly and rearwardly and to provide controlled turnings of the vehicle by the motive means in the opposite directions,

second controls operable in the vehicle to provide controlled operations of the operable member,

second means in the vehicle for receiving the packets of signals transmitted from the control means, the packets of signals including a binary address identifying the vehicle and binary signals indicating the operation of the first and second controls in the vehicle,

third means in the vehicle for decoding the binary signals to recover the packets with the address of the vehicle,

fourth means in the vehicle for decoding, in the packets with the address of the vehicle, the binary signals indicating the operation of the first and second controls in the vehicle, and

fifth means in the vehicle for operating the motive means and the first means in accordance with the decoding of the binary signals by the fourth means,

sixth means in the vehicle for providing a memory indicating the period of time since the last address of the vehicle by the control means,

seventh means operatively coupled to the fifth means and the sixth means for releasing the vehicle from control by the control means when the sixth means indicates that the vehicle has not been addressed by the control means for a particular period of time and

means disposed on the vehicle for providing a visual illumination identifying the vehicle and indicating that the vehicle has been addressed by the packets from the control means.

100. In a combination as set forth in claim 99,

means in the vehicle for providing for the addressing of the vehicle by the control means in any one of the pads when the vehicle fails to receive for a particular period of time packets of signals from the control means in the pad addressing the vehicle.

101. In a combination as set forth in claim 99,

means in the vehicle for extinguishing the illumination identifying the vehicle when the vehicle has not received the packets of signals from the control means with the address of the vehicle for a particular period of time.

102. In combination in a vehicle for use with control means having properties of providing packets of signals from a plurality of controlling members, 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 controls to be provided in the vehicle, the vehicle being usable with transportable elements,

first means in the vehicle for decoding the first signals in the packets from the control means with the binary address of the vehicle,

second means responsive in the vehicle to first ones of 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, holding and releasing the transportable elements,

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

fifth means in the vehicle for de-coupling the vehicle from addressing by the control means upon a failure of the control means to address the vehicle for a particular period of time and until the control means thereafter provides the first signals with the binary address of the vehicle from any of the controlling members.

103. In a combination as set forth in claim 102,

sixth means including a plurality of switches manually settable in the vehicle to vary the binary address of the vehicle.

104. In a combination as set forth in claim 103,

an antenna for receiving the first and second signals from m the control means.

105. 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 controls to be provided in the vehicle, the vehicle being usable with transportable elements,

first means in the vehicle for decoding the first signals in the packets from the control means with the binary address of the vehicle,

second means responsive in the vehicle to first ones of 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 holding and releasing the transportable elements,

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

fifth means in the vehicle for releasing the vehicle from addressing by the control means upon a failure of the control means to address the vehicle for a particular period of time

sixth means in the vehicle for providing a visual illumination identifying the vehicle and indicating the addressing of the vehicle during the period of time that the vehicle is addressed.

106. 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 controls to be provided in the vehicle, the vehicle being usable with transportable elements,

first means in the vehicle for decoding the first signals in the packets from the control means with the binary address of the vehicle,

second means responsive in the vehicle to first ones of 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, holding and releasing the transportable elements,

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

fifth means in the vehicle for releasing the vehicle from addressing by the control means upon a failure of the control means to address the vehicle for a particular period of time,

sixth means in the vehicle for providing a visual illumination identifying the vehicle and indicating the addressing of the vehicle by the control means, and

seventh means including a plurality of switches settable in the vehicle to vary the binary address of the vehicle.

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

first means for receiving from the pads signals indicating the operation of the first controls to address the vehicles and signals indicating the operation of second controls to perform the functions in the addressed vehicles,

second means responsive to the signals indicating the addressing of the vehicles by the pads for producing first signals addressing the vehicles, and

third means responsive to the operation of the second controls in each of the pads for producing the first signals addressing the vehicle even when the central station does not receive from the pad the signals providing for the addressing of the vehicle but receives from the pad the signals indicating the operation of the second controls to perform the functions in the addressed vehicle.

108. In a combination as set forth in claim 107,

the second means producing in a binary code the first signals addressing each of the vehicles, and

fourth means responsive to the operation of the second controls in each of the pads for producing in a binary code the second signals indicating the functions to be performed in the vehicle addressed by the pad.

109. In a combination as set forth in claim 107,

wires extending from the central station to the pads to provide a communication with the pads and to provide power to the pads, and

an antenna for providing a wireless transmission of the first and second signals to all of the vehicles in accordance with the operation of the controls in the pads.

110. In a combination as set forth in claim 107,

fourth means for discontinuing the operation of each of the vehicles when the pad addressing the vehicle addresses another one of the vehicles or when there is no operation, for a particular period of time after the pad has last produced indications of the functions to be performed in the vehicle, of the controls providing in the pad for the operation of the vehicle.

111. In combination in a vehicle for use with control means having properties of providing packets of signals from a plurality of controlling members, 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 movement to be provided in the vehicle, the vehicle being usable with transportable elements,

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

second means responsive in the vehicle 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 to the left and the right,

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

fifth means responsive in the vehicle to a failure of the vehicle for a particular period of time to receive any of the second signals from the control means with the address of the vehicle for de-coupling the vehicle from control by the control means until the control means thereafter provides from any of the controlling members the first signals addressing the vehicle.

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

sixth means including a plurality of switches manually settable in the vehicle to vary the binary address of the vehicle.

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

an antenna for receiving the packets of signals from the control means,

the control means providing third signals for releasing the vehicle from control by the control means, and

sixth means responsive in the vehicle to the third signals for releasing the vehicle from control by the control means.

114. 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 movement to be provided in the vehicle, the vehicle being usable with transportable elements,

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

second means responsive in the vehicle 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 to the left and the right,

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

fifth means responsive in the vehicle to a failure of the vehicle for a particular period of time to receive any of the second signals from the control means with the address of the vehicle for releasing the vehicle from control by making the vehicle available for selection by any of the control means,

sixth means in the vehicle for providing a visual illumination identifying the vehicle and indicating the addressing of the vehicle by the control means during the period of time that the vehicle is being addressed by the control means.

115. 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 movement to be provided in the vehicle, the vehicle being usable with transportable elements,

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

second means responsive in the vehicle 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 to the left and the right,

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

fifth means responsive in the vehicle to a failure of the vehicle for a particular period of time to receive any of the second signals from the control means with the address of the vehicle for releasing the vehicle from control by making the vehicle available for selection by any of the control means,

sixth means in the vehicle for providing a visual illumination identifying the vehicle and indicating the addressing of the vehicle by the control means during the period of time that the vehicle is being addressed by the control means, and

seventh means including a plurality of switches manually settable in the vehicle to vary the address of the vehicle.

116. In a method at a central station for controlling the movement 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 movement of the vehicles, the steps of:

receiving from the pads first indications of the address of the vehicles and second indications of the movement to be provided 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 movements to be provided in the addressed vehicles,

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

transmitting to all of the vehicles the packets of the first and second signals for each of the addressed vehicles to provide for the reception of the signals in the vehicles in accordance with the addresses represented by the first signals in the packets and to provide for the movements of the addressed vehicles in accordance with the second signals in the packets,

providing a memory,

storing in the memory the selection of the vehicles by the pads, and

eliminating from the memory the selection of the vehicles by the pads when the central station fails to receive from the pads for a particular period of time any indications of any functions to be performed by the vehicles.

117. In a method as set forth in claim 116,

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

118. 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 controls to be provided in the vehicle, the vehicle being usable with transportable elements,

first means in the vehicle for decoding the first signals in the packets from the control means with the binary address of the vehicle,

second means responsive in the vehicle to first ones of 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, holding and releasing the transportable elements,

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

fifth means in the vehicle for releasing the vehicle from addressing by the control means upon a failure of the control means to address the vehicle for a particular period of time,

means for providing for the addressing of the vehicle by any one of the pads when the vehicle fails to receive, for at least a particular period of time, signals from the pad addressing the vehicle.