Programmable toy with an independent game cartridge

• US 6,083,104 A
• Filed: 12/31/1998
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Silverlit Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverlit Toys USA Incorporated (Silverlit Toys)
• Inventors: Choi, Kei Fung
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coburn, Corbett B
• Application Number:
  US09/223,958
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 446/436, 446/437, 446/454, 446/457, 446/460, 446/468, 463/43-46, 463/47, 463/6, 273/148 B
• US Class Current: 463/6
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/004 Stunt-cars, e.g. lifting front wheels, roll-over or invertible cars
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/395 steered by program
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

A programmable device such as a toy or novelty item wherein there is a body. There is also a keyboard on an independent cartridge with a microprocessor which can be activated by a user to selectively cooperate with the body and set up any one of multiple different motions of the toy. Sounds and lights in the body can be activated to coordinate with the movement. The toy can be a car or other device capable of moving in the environment. The keyboard on the cartridge can also be used independently to play a game programmed with the microprocessor in the cartridge, the game being independent of the body. The game can relate to issues of vehicle driving. An alarm clock feature can be included in the cartridge.

Claims

1. A programmable device comprising:

a body;

a motor for activating a motive generator on the body for causing the body to move relative to a surrounding environment;

a cartridge having a keypad including a series of control switches for operation by a user, the cartridge being selectively removable from the body; and

the switches being connected with a microprocessor for translating signals received from the switches selectively, in a first mode when the cartridge communicates with the body, into control signals for operating the motor whereby the body is caused to move in different directions according to the action of the motor on the motive generator;

or in a second mode when the cartridge is removed from the body, into signals for engaging a game related to a program in the cartridge, the game being operable by activating the keypad to operate the switches, and the switches cooperating with the program.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the motive generator is at least one wheel and the body is representative of a vehicle.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cartridge includes a the series of display elements, the display elements being reactive with the switches to indicate a selected program of motion for the motive means, or a game program, and indicate stages of the game.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the display elements include lights or an LCD, the lights being selectively at least one LED, and wherein the display elements being for indicating the state of operation of the first mode or a state of operation of the second mode.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body is representative of an automobile vehicle and wherein there are four spaced wheels, and wherein two wheels are driven by the motive generator.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the driven wheels are the rear wheels of the automobile vehicle.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is programmable so as to permit for a selection of motions including at least one or multiple motions of forward, backward, left turn, right turn or a circular direction.

8. A device as claimed in claim 6 including the motion of pop-wheeling, and wherein a center of gravity of the vehicle is located strategically relative to the wheels thereby to permit tipping of the vehicle according to the control of the wheel motion and thereby to permit pop-wheeling.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1 including a speaker for creating sounds, and means for selectively interacting with the motor of the motion generator thereby to create corresponding sounds from the speaker.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1 including a light in the body, the light being for reaction to the program.

11. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body is a representation selectively of a boat, train, plane, automobile, robot or motor bike.

12. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein, when the cartridge communicates with the body, the microprocessor in the cartridge is connected such that control means for operating the motor is enabled, and control means for operating a light in the body and a sound generator in the body are enabled, the sound generator being operable selectively according to a state of operation in the first mode.

13. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the keypad permits the user to select, through the microprocessor, at least one of a series of different games for operation in the second mode.

14. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cartridge includes a display, the display including an LCD, and wherein the operation of the microprocessor acts to selectively operate the LCD.

15. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cartridge includes a display and circuitry operably as a clock, and selectively an alarm clock.

16. A programmable toy vehicle and game comprising:

a body;

motor means for activating wheels on the body for causing the body to move on a surface;

a cartridge having a keypad located on the body including a series of control switches for operation by a user, the cartridge being selectively removable from the body;

a display on the cartridge; and

the switches being connected with a microprocessor for translating signals received from the switches selectively, in a first mode when the cartridge communicates with the body, into control signals for operating the motor means whereby the body is caused to move in different directions on the surface according to the action of the motor means on the wheels, or in a second mode when the cartridge is removed from the body, into signals for engaging a game related to a program in the cartridge wherein the display on the cartridge react to selective operation of the switches, and the switches cooperating with the program.

17. A toy as claimed in claim 16 wherein the body is representative of an automobile vehicle and wherein there are four spaced wheels, and wherein each of two wheels is driven by a respective motor.

18. A toy as claimed in claim 17 wherein the microprocessor is programmable so as to permit for a selection of motions including at least one or multiple motions of forward, backward, left turn, right turn or a circular direction.

19. A device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the display includes a LCD for indicating the state of operation of the first mode or the state of operation of the second mode.

20. A device as claimed in claim 16 including a speaker for creating sounds, and means for selectively interacting with the motor means thereby to create corresponding sounds from the speaker.

21. A device as claimed in claim 17 including a light in the body, the light being for reaction to the program.

22. A toy as claimed in claim 16 including a speaker for creating sounds, and means for selectively interacting relative to activation of the wheels, thereby to create corresponding sounds from the speaker relative to vehicle motion.

23. A toy as claimed in claim 17 wherein when the cartridge is connected to the body, the microprocessor is connected to enable control means for operating the motor, and control means for enabling operating a light in the body and a speaker in the body.

24. A toy as claimed in claim 17 wherein the keypad permits the operation of multiple controls which is thereby to permit the selection of multiple combinations of motion of the body when the cartridge is connected with the body.

27. A device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the cartridge includes a display and circuitry operably as a clock, and selectively an alarm clock.

25. A programmable device comprising:

a body;

a motor for activating a motive generator with the body for causing the body to move relative to a surrounding environment;

a cartridge having a keypad including a series of switches for operation by a user, the cartridge being for selective operation with the body or for operation independently of the body;

visually responsive means on the cartridge; and

the switches being connected with a microprocessor for translating signals received from the switches selectively, in a first mode when in an operative relationship with the body, into control signals for operating the motor whereby the body is caused to move in different directions according to the action of the motor on the motive generator;

or in a second mode when independent of the body, into signals for engaging a game in the cartridge for operation with the visually responsive means in response to user action of the switches.

26. A device as claimed in claim 25 wherein the cartridge communicatingly operates with the body through a non-physical, preferably infrared, connection with the body.

28. A method of operating a programmable device comprising:

activating a motive generator in a body for causing the body to move relative to a surrounding environment;

operating a keypad on a cartridge to activate a series of control switches;

energizing selectively a display on the cartridge; and

the switches being connected with a microprocessor for translating signals received from the switches selectively, in a first mode when the cartridge is communicatingly operable with the body, into control signals for operating the motive generator whereby the body is caused to move in different directions;

or in a second mode when the cartridge is independent of the body, into signals for a game wherein the display on the cartridge reacts to selective operation of the switches and a program in the cartridge.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28 wherein the cartridge operates with the body by being physically connected with the body.

30. A method as claimed in claim 29 wherein the game relates to vehicle driving.

31. A method as claimed in claim 28 wherein the cartridge operates with the body by a non-physical connection with the body preferably, infrared remote control of the body.

32. A method as claimed in claim 31 wherein the game relates to vehicle driving.