Remote control device with gyroscopic stabilization and directional control

• US 6,458,008 B1
• Filed: 09/05/2000
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jamie Hyneman
• Original Assignee: Jamie Hyneman
• Inventors: Hyneman, Jamie
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jacob K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Francis, Faye
• Application Number:
  US09/655,205
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 446/233, 446/234, 446/235, 446/236, 446/256, 446/259, 446/266, 446/454
• US Class Current: 446/259
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 1/00 Tops diabolos or similar thrown and caught spinning tops or throwing and catching devices therefor A63B67/16; flying tops A63H27/12
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 1/06 with integral winding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/00 Remote-control arrangements specially adapted for toys, e.g. for toy vehicles steering mechanisms for toy vehicles A63H17/36; for model railways A63H19/24, A63H19/28

Abstract

A remote control device that utilizes a variable velocity gyroscope for stabilization as well as directional control. The gyroscope is mounted within a device shell and aligned vertically. When the device is stationary or traveling in a straight line, the rotational velocity of the gyroscope is constant. The direction of the moving device can be controlled by accelerating or decelerating the gyroscope.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a gyroscope having a flywheel driven by a flywheel motor;

a shell having an interior space;

a drive motor; and

an internal housing upon which the gyroscope and drive motor are mounted;

wherein the internal housing is mounted in the interior space of the shell and the drive motor rotates the shell around the internal housing and the gyroscope is accelerated or decelerated to change the direction of the controllable device.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the rotational velocity of the flywheel motor and the rotational velocity of the drive motor are controlled by a remote control unit.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the rotational velocity of the flywheel motor and the drive motor are controlled by controller is a programmable microprocessor.

4. The mobile device of claim 3, further comprising:

two bearings mounted between the shell and the internal housing.

5. The mobile device of claim 4, wherein the two bear are mounted on symmetrically opposite sides of the shell.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the exterior surface of the shell is substantially spherical in shape.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising a battery mounted on the internal housing.