Physically interactive electronic toys

• US 6,682,392 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2001
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thinking Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Thinking Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Chan, Albert Wai
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks, Derris H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cegielnik, Urszula M
• Application Number:
  US09/837,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20020155783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 446/175, 446/335, 446/90, 446/91, 446/236, 446/333, 446/334, 446/477, 446/118, 446/102, 446/103, 446/330, 446/336, 446/357, 404/14, 404/11, 340/686.6, 340/686.1, 340/539.23
• US Class Current: 446/335
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 13/06 imitating boxing or fighting

Abstract

An electronic toy with at least one moving part, comprising a pre-programmed integrated circuit and at least one electric motor, is adapted to perform actions. Multiple such toys may be inter-connected in different combinations and programmed to interact in groups of two or more.

Claims

1. An electronic toy set comprising:

a first electronic toy on a first rotating platform having at least one action part, a first transmitter and first receiver, a first means for moving the action part and a first integrated circuit programmed to respond to the first receiver and control the first means for moving the action part through a first predetermined sequence;

a second electronic toy on a second rotating platform having at least one action part, a second transmitter and second receiver, a second means for moving the action part and a second integrated circuit programmed to respond to the second receiver and control the second means for moving the action part through a second predetermined sequence; and

wherein the first transmitter sends a first signal to the second receiver and the second receiver activates the second integrated circuit to move the action part of the second electronic toy through the second predetermined sequence.

2. The electronic toy set of claim 1 wherein the second transmitter responds to the first signal by sending a second signal to the first receiver and the first receiver activates the first integrated circuit to move the action part of the first electronic toy through the first predetermined sequence.

3. The electronic toy set of claim 2, wherein the first and second predetermined sequences are synchronized.

4. The electronic toy set of claim 3, wherein the synchronization is maintained through information contained in the first and second signals.

5. The electronic toy set of claim 4, wherein the synchronized movement of the action parts simulates a sword fight between the first and second electronic toys.

6. The electronic toy set of claim 2, wherein the predetermined sequences include rotation movement provided by the first and second rotating platforms.

7. The electronic toy set of claim 6, wherein the first integrated circuit is further programmed to control rotation of the first rotating platform and the second integrated circuit is further programmed to control rotation of the second rotating platform.

8. The electronic toy set of claim 2, further including a first sensor on the first electronic toy and wherein activation of the first sensor causes the first transmitter to send the first signal to the second receiver.

9. The electronic toy set of claim 8, further including a second sensor on the second electronic toy and wherein activation of the second sensor causes the second transmitter to send the second signal to the first receiver.

10. The electronic toy set of claim 8, wherein the first sensor is a motion sensor.

11. The electronic toy set of claim 10, wherein the motion sensor is tunable for direction, height and range.

12. The electronic toy set of claim 10, wherein the motion sensor is a CDS motion detector.

13. The electronic toy set of claim 8, wherein the first sensor is activated by touch.

14. The electronic toy set of claim 8, wherein the first sensor is activated by vibration.

15. The electronic toy set of claim 2, further including a third electronic toy having at least one action part, a third transmitter and third receiver, a third means for moving the action part and a third integrated circuit programmed to respond to the third receiver and control the third means for moving the action part through a third predetermined sequence and wherein the third transmitter sends a third signal to either the first or second receiver.

16. The electronic toy set of claim 15, wherein the first integrated circuit further includes a first additional predetermined sequence for execution upon reception of the third signal.

17. The electronic toy set of claim 15, wherein the second integrated circuit further includes a second additional predetermined sequence for execution upon reception of the third signal.

18. The electronic toy set of claim 2, further including a third electronic toy having at least one action part, two transmitters and two receivers, a third means for moving the action part and a third integrated circuit programmed to respond to one of the two receivers and control the third means for moving the action part through a third predetermined sequence and wherein each transmitter sends a third signal to the first and second receiver.

19. The electronic toy set of claim 18, wherein the first integrated circuit further includes a first additional predetermined sequence for execution upon reception of the third signal and the second integrated circuit further includes a second additional predetermined sequence for execution upon reception of the third signal.

20. An electronic toy set comprising:

a first electronic toy on a first rotating platform having at least one action part, a first transmitter and first receiver, a first means for moving the action part and a first integrated circuit programmed to respond to the first sensor and control the first means for moving the action part through a first predetermined sequence;

a second electronic toy on a second rotating platform having at least one action part, a second transmitter and second receiver, a second means for moving the action part and a second integrated circuit programmed to respond to the second sensor and control the second means for moving the action part through a second predetermined sequence; and

wherein the first transmitter sends a first signal to the second receiver causing the second receiver to activate the second integrated circuit to move the action part of the second electronic toy through the second predetermined sequence, the second transmitter responds to the first signal by sending a second signal to the first receiver causing the first receiver to activate the first integrated circuit to move the action part of the first electronic toy through the first predetermined sequence, and the first and second predetermined sequences simulate a sword fight.