Interactive remote control toy

• US 6,380,844 B2
• Filed: 08/26/1998
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frederick Pelekis
• Original Assignee: Frederick Pelekis
• Inventors: Pelekis, Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US09/140,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20010045898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.34, 340/5.8, 345/474, 446/268, 446/297, 446/454, 446/446, 446/175
• US Class Current: 340/5.8
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1149 Arrangements for indoor wireless networking of information

Abstract

A remote control toy is provided for interacting with and responding to its environment. The remote control toy includes at least two wireless transmitters for generating unique control signals, wherein each of the transmitters is positioned in a different room or location in a child'"'"'s environment. The transmitters each generate a unique infra-red control signal by means of a light-emitting diode. A remote control device in the shape of a doll or other appealing configuration includes a battery-powered photodiode for receiving said control signals. The remote control device identifies the specific wireless transmitter that generated said control signal and generates a message or sound effect in response to the control signal appropriate for the specific location of the transmitter that generated the signal.

Claims

1. A remote control toy capable of independently interacting with its environment, said toy comprising:

at least two wireless transmitters for independently and continuously generating a control signal unique to each of said transmitters, each of said transmitters situated at different locations in said environment; and

a remote control device including;

a receiver for receiving said control signals;

a means to identify the location of said remote control device in its environment by identifying the specific wireless transmitter that generated said control signal;

a means for generating at least one programmed operation in response to said control signal from each of said specific wireless transmitters, said programmed operation being tailored individually for each of said different locations; and

a means for preventing said remote control device from continuously generating said at least one programmed operation in response to said control signal.

2. The remote control toy of claim 1, wherein said wireless transmitters include a light-emitting diode for emitting infra-red control signals.

3. The interactive remote control toy of claim 2, wherein said light-emitting diode produces a continuous infra-red control signal.

4. The interactive remote control toy of claim 2, wherein said light-emitting diode produces an intermittent infra-red control signal.

5. The remote control toy of claim 2, wherein said control signals generated by said transmitters are unique to each of said transmitters.

6. The remote control toy of claim 1, wherein said receiver comprises a battery-powered photodiode.

7. The remote control toy of claim 1, wherein said means for identifying comprises a microprocessor.

8. The remote control toy of claim 1, wherein said programmed operation consists of the generation of a message or sound effect.

9. The remote control toy of claim 8, wherein said means for generating includes an information storage medium coupled with a digital playback means.

10. The remote control toy of claim 9, wherein said magnetic storage medium consists of a read-only memory.

11. The remote control toy of claim 9, wherein said magnetic storage medium consists of a programmable digital disk.

12. The remote control toy of claim 11, wherein said programmable digital disk is recordable.

13. The remote control toy of claim 9, wherein said magnetic storage medium consists of a voice recordable integrated circuit chip.

14. The remote control toy of claim 9, wherein said means for generating further includes a means for downloading said message or sound effect from a global computer network.

15. The remote control toy of claim 9, wherein said digital playback means consists of a speech synthesizer coupled with a speaker.

16. The remote control toy of claim 1, wherein said programmed operation consists of the motorized movement of said remote control device.

17. The remote control toy of claim 1 further including a time-keeping means integral with a microprocessor.

18. The remote control toy of claim 17, wherein said microprocessor determines the specific programmed operation in response to said control signals based upon the time information provided by said time keeping means.

19. A remote control toy capable of independently interacting with its environment, said toy comprising:

at least two wireless transmitters for independently and continuously generating a control signal unique to each of said transmitters, each of said transmitters adapted to be situated at different locations in said environment, wherein said transmitters include a light-emitting diode for emitting continuous or intermittent infra-red control signals unique to each transmitter; and

;

a remote control device including;

a receiver comprising a battery-powered photodiode for receiving said control signals;

a means to identify the location of said remote control device in its environment by identifying the specific wireless transmitter that generated said control signal, wherein said means for identifying comprises a microprocessor;

a means for generating at least one programmed operation in response to said control signal from each of said specific wireless transmitters, said programmed operation being tailored individually for each of said different locations, wherein said means for generating includes a magnetic storage medium coupled with a digital playback means; and

a means for preventing said remote control device from continuously generating said at least one programmed operation in response to said control signal.

20. A method for a remote control toy to independently respond to its environment, said method comprising the steps of:

positioning at least two wireless transmitters for independently and continuously generating a control signal unique for each of said transmitters, each of said transmitters being positioned at separate locations, said control signals serving to identify each of said locations;

receiving said control signals by said remote control toy;

identifying the location of said remote control device in its environment by identifying the specific wireless transmitter that generated said control signals and determining the specific location identified by said control signal; and

generating at least one programmed operation in response to said control signal from said specific wireless transmitter, said programmed operation being tailored individually for each of said locations.