Optical remote controller pointing the place to reach

• US 7,147,535 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2003
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Go Wireless Incorporated, Inospark Limited
• Original Assignee: Janick Simeray
• Inventors: Simeray, Janick
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Xuan M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoel, Matthew D.
• Application Number:
  US10/426,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20030228916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 463/62, 463/63, 434/62, 434/63, 446/175, 446/85, 446/94, 446/95, 446/96, 446/438, 446/443, 446/444, 446/448, 446/451, 446/454, 446/457, 446/460, 446/462, 446/465, 446/468, 446/496, 446/470
• US Class Current: 446/175
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/36 Steering-mechanisms for toy vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

A motorized mobile toy remote controlled by light beams. The remote control projects a spot on the ground, the toy, equipped with optical sensors, follows the spot. The optical sensor delivers instructions on the variation of the position of the spot compared to the center of the image, the processing of an electronic circuit then controls the motors to compensate the variation.

Claims

1. A motorized mobile toy comprising:

four wheels;

a remote controller which has a light source which emits, in a ground direction, a light beam which is modulated at a frequency above a domestic light frequency modulation, the remote controller configured to generate a spot on a ground surface through a lens of collimation that focuses light from a light source generated by a transmitting diode;

at least two optoelectronic sensors which are disposed on two opposite front sides of the toy, wherein reception fields of the sensors are oriented towards the ground surface and the sensor are each configured to deliver a control signal substantially proportional to an intensity of a flow of the modulated light which is received in the respective reception field; and

at least one electric motor configured to receive the control signals and drive one wheel of the toy at a substantially proportional speed to the intensity of the flow of the modulated light received in the respective reception field, wherein a difference of the control signals delivered by two of the at least two optoelectronic sensors controls a steering of the toy on a side of the optoelectronic sensor which delivers a greater control signal and a sum of the control signals delivered by two of the at least two optoelectronic sensors controls a driving forward of the toy so that the toy follows and reaches the spot on the ground surface.

2. The motorized mobile toy according to claim 1, wherein the toy comprises two motors, a first motor driving a left wheel and a second driving a right wheel and two optoelectronic sensors, a left sensor controlling a right motor forward and a right sensor controlling a left motor forward.

3. The motorized mobile toy according to claim 1, wherein the toy comprises one motor which drives one wheel, an opposite wheel being free, and wherein both other wheels are configured to swivel together under a control of a steering system which is controlled by the difference of the control signals such that the wheels are configured to swivel together swivel to a side of the optoelectronic sensor which delivers a greater control signal and wherein the motor is controlled by the sum of the signals of the optoelectronic sensors.

4. The motorized mobile toy according to claim 2, further comprising:

two optoelectronic sensors which are arranged on two opposite rear sides of the toy, wherein each rear optoelectronic sensor controls a backward driving of the motor which is disposed on a same side as the respective optoelectronic sensor.

5. The motorized mobile toy according to claim 2, further comprising:

one optoelectronic sensor which is arranged on a rear side of the toy, wherein the rear optoelectronic sensor controls a backward driving of the two motors.

6. A motorized mobile toy according to claim 1, wherein the motor is controlled proportionally without loss of load, wherein a processing electronic circuit is configured to deliver width modulated pulses with widths that are substantially proportional to an intensity of the flow received by the optoelectronic sensors.

7. A motorized mobile toy according to claim 6, further comprising:

a processing electronic circuit configures to amplify and filter the optoelectronic signals at a fixed frequency and then compare “

the signals”

or “

the sum of the signals”

to a reference voltage and deliver width moderated pulses, and wherein the remote controller is configured to generate light pulses at a fixed frequency.

8. The motorized mobile toy according to claim 6, further comprising:

a processing electronic circuit configured to amplify and filter the optoelectronic signals at a fixed high frequency and then rectify “

the signals”

or “

the sum of the signals” and

compare “

the signals”

or “

the sum of the signals”

to a reference voltage and deliver the width moderated pulses, wherein the remote controller is configured to generate light pulses at a fixed high frequency with an amplitude varying at a lower frequency.

9. The motorized mobile to according to claim 1, wherein the remote controller is configured to generate one modulated beam of infrared light for controlling the toy and a coaxial beam of visible light for indicating a position of the spot.

10. The motorized mobile toy according to claim 1, wherein the remote controller further comprises:

a light source constituted by a lens collimating one of a light emitting diode and a laser diode.

11. The motorized mobile toy according to claim 1, wherein the remote controller comprises a switching arrangement which is configured to sense an arrangement orientation and to stop the emission of the modulated light beam, when remote controller is not directed to the ground.

12. The motorized mobile toy according to claim 1, wherein an axle of the at least one electric motor is configured with a sleeve which is rolling on the wheel and drives the wheel.

13. A motorized mobile toy comprising:

a movement arrangement;

a remote controller which has a light source which emits, in a ground direction, a light beam which is modulated at a frequency above a domestic light frequency modulation, the remote controller configured to generate a spot on a ground surface through a lens of collimation that focuses light from a light source generated by a transmitting diode;

at least two optoelectronic sensors which are disposed on two opposite front side of the toy, wherein reception fields of the sensors are oriented towards the ground surface, and the sensors are each configured to deliver a control signal substantially proportional to an intensity of a flow of the modulated light which is received in the respective reception field; and

at least one electric motor configured to receive the control signals and drive one section of the movement arrangement of the toy at a substantially proportional speed to the intensity of the flow of the modulated light received in the respective reception field wherein a difference of the control signals delivered by two of the at least two optoelectronic sensors controls a steering of the toy on a side of the optoelectric sensor which delivers a greater control signal and a sum of the control signals delivered by two of the at least two optoelectronic sensors control a driving forward of the toy so that the toy follows and reaches the spot on the ground surface.

14. The motorized mobile toy according to claim 13, wherein the mobile toy is shaped like an animal that has at least two legs.

15. The motorized mobile toy according to claim 13, wherein the mobile toy is shaped like a figurine.

16. The motorized mobile toy according to claim 13, wherein the mobile toy is shaped like a mouse.

17. The motorized mobile toy according to claim 13 wherein the mobile toy is shaped like an animal.