Method and system for controlling radio controlled devices

• US 7,391,320 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2005
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Horizon Hobby Incorporated (Horizon Hobby, Llc)
• Original Assignee: Horizon Hobby Incorporated (Horizon Hobby, Llc)
• Inventors: Beard, Paul, Adams, John, Lee, Mathew, Meyers, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/252,984
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/507, 340/504, 340/546, 340/568.8, 340902-904, 340917-918, 340924-925, 340/825.62, 340/825.69, 446/454, 446/456, 455/230, 455/313
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

The present invention is a method and system for controlling a RC device via a secure radio link. In one embodiment of the invention, spread spectrum modulation may be employed which may provide a digital radio frequency (RF) link between a controller and a RC device. A controller may be coupled with a transmitter module and a radio controlled device may be coupled with a receiver module in accordance with the present invention to provide an add-on upgrade capability. The method and system for controlling a RC device may also include error detection and correction, interpolation of lost packets, failsafe technology and force-feedback telemetric technology to further enhance the user experience with radio controlled devices.

Claims

1. A radio control system for controlling a radio controlled device;

comprising;

a controller, said controller including a transmitter module; and

a radio controlled device, said radio controlled device including at least one motor to allow movement of said radio controlled device and a receiver module, wherein a control instruction regarding operation of said at least one motor from said controller is sent via a spread spectrum modulated digital radio frequency link;

said transmitter module of said controller being suitable for transmitting at least two discrete signals via a spread spectrum modulated digital radio link and said receiver module including at least two receivers whereby each receiver of said at least two receivers receives a signal of said spread spectrum digital link.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitter module is suitable for transmitting different frequency signals for said at least two discrete signals of said spread spectrum modulated digital radio link.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitter module is suitable for transmitting at least two discrete signals of said spread spectrum modulated digital radio link via at least two transmission diversity techniques.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said at least two transmission diversity techniques include frequency diversity, path diversity and time diversity.

5. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said at least two transmission diversity techniques include antenna diversity and polarization diversity.