Toy having enclosed antenna

• US 6,529,139 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1997
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Allen, Gregory D., Chen, Kaileen, Behun, Catherine H., Hildebrandt, Janelle D., Sainati, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tokar, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): JeanGlaude, Jean Bruner
• Application Number:
  US08/972,141
• Time in Patent Office: 1,933 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/901, 343/895, 343/792, 343/802, 343/768, 343/777, 343/789, 340/825.69, 340/475, 340/473, 341/20, 455/95, 455/100, 446/456
• US Class Current: 340/12.5
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

Enclosed antenna for use in toy remote control assemblies. In one aspect the antenna is a flexible antenna which can be flexed to fit within housings of remote control devices and toys (e.g., toy vehicles). The flexible antenna may include an electrically conductive layer coupled to a flexible substrate, wherein the electrically conductive layer is in the shape of an antenna pattern.

Claims

1. A remote control toy assembly comprising:

a remote control device comprising a housing, a flexible transmitting antenna mechanism enclosed within said housing, a user input mechanism, and

a controller electrically coupled to said user input mechanism for transmitting output signals via said flexible transmitting antenna mechanism, said flexible transmitting antenna mechanism comprising a flexible sheet material that includes an electrically conductive layer on a major surface thereof, wherein said output signals are representative of a control input received from said user input mechanism; and

a remote control toy responsive to said output signals for operation of said remote control toy.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said flexible sheet material includes a dielectric material.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive layer includes copper metal.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said flexible sheet material and said electrically conductive layer are curved within said housing.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive layer is in an open loop pattern.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive layer is in a generally spiral shaped pattern.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive layer is in a slot antenna pattern.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive layer has a pattern shape corresponding to the shape of said housing.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said antenna mechanism is concealed.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said antenna is concealed.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said flexible antenna is flexed within said housing.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible antenna mechanism has sufficient flexibility that upon being wrapped and unwrapped around a rod having a diameter of 12.7 said electrically conductive layer does not break, and said flexible substrate does not sever or crack.

13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible antenna mechanism has sufficient flexibility that upon being wrapped and unwrapped around a rod having a diameter of 2.54 millimeters said electrically conductive layer does not break and said flexible substrate does not sever or crack.

14. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive layer includes a dielectric material.

15. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said flexible sheet material is made of a polymeric material.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein said polymeric material is made of polyester.

17. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said controller includes a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting said output signal via said flexible antenna mechanism.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein said output signal is a radio frequency signal transmitted at 49 MHz.

19. The assembly of claim 17, wherein said output signal is a radio frequency signal transmitted at 27 MHz .

20. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said remote control toy includes a housing, a flexible receiving antenna mechanism enclosed within said housing, a control mechanism, and a power source coupled to said control mechanism.

21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein said flexible receiving antenna mechanism is coupled to said control mechanism for receiving said output signals.

22. The assembly of claim 20, wherein said flexible receiving antenna mechanism comprises a flexible sheet material that includes an electrically conductive layer on a major surface therof.

23. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said flexible sheet material is made of a polymeric material, and wherein said electrically conductive layer includes copper.

24. A remote control toy assembly comprising:

a remote control device comprising;

a housing;

an antenna mechanism enclosed within said housing, said antenna mechanism including an electrically conductive layer positioned on an interior surface of said housing;

a user input mechanism; and

a controller electrically coupled to said user input mechanism for transmitting an output signal to the remote control toy via said antenna mechanism, wherein said output signal is representative of a control input received from said user input mechanism; and

a remote control toy responsive to said output signals for operation of said remote control toy.

25. The assembly of claim 24, wherein said electrically conductive layer is deposited in-situ on said interior surface of said housing.

26. A remote control toy assembly comprising:

a remote control device comprising;

a housing;

an antenna mechanism enclosed within said housing, said antenna mechanism including an electrically conductive layer at least partially embedded within said housing;

a user input mechanism;

a controller electrically coupled to said user input mechanism for transmitting an output signal to the remote control toy via said antenna mechanism, wherein said output signal is representative of a control input received from said user input mechanism; and

a remote control toy responsive to said output signals for operation of said remote control toy.