Remote controlled toy

• US 7,695,338 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lego A/S (Kirkbi A/S)
• Original Assignee: Lego A/S (Kirkbi A/S)
• Inventors: Dooley, Mike, Rasmussen, Jesper, Munch, Gaute
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rada, II; Alex F. R. P.
• Application Number:
  US10/953,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20050042971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,022 Days
• Field of Search: 446/175, 446/454, 446455-456, 446/85, 446/91
• US Class Current: 446/91
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

A toy construction set comprising a first toy construction element configured to resemble a toy construction element and toy construction elements which contains electronic units controllable from said first element, wherein the elements form an integrated toy structure when incorporated therein. The first toy construction element has means, integrated within it, for programming the element by means of a user interface and for storing a program to provide controlled actions of the structure within which it is incorporated. Additionally, the first toy construction element is configured to transmit the program as a download program to a second construction toy.

Claims

1. A toy construction set comprising:

a first toy construction element configured to resemble a toy construction element;

toy construction elements which contains electronic units controllable from said first toy construction element;

wherein the toy construction elements and the first toy construction element form a toy structure when incorporated therein;

said first toy construction element has integrated within it;

a storage memory configured to store a program;

a processor to execute the program stored in the storage memory;

a transmitter; and

a user interface configured to enter a program for storage in the storage memory and execution by the processor in the first toy element;

said program, when executed by the processor, providing control of the toy construction elements to provide controlled actions of the toy structure;

wherein the first toy element is configured to transmit the program as a download signal; and

a second toy construction element with;

a receiver arranged to receive the download signal,

a user interface for operating the second toy element by a choice selection;

a storage memory configured to store the program;

means for executing the program which is configured for execution by the first and second toy element said execution providing program control of electronic units that resemble elements of the toy construction set and are coupled directly to the second toy element;

wherein the second toy construction element checks whether the download signal is to be interpreted as commands which are to be executed at once or whether the download signal is to be interpreted as commands which are to be stored for subsequent execution.

2. A toy construction set according to claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured to activate download of a program entered via the user interface.

3. A toy construction set according to claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured to activate download of a program received by download from a personal computer.

4. A toy construction set according to claim 1, wherein program control of construction elements which contains an electronic unit controllable from said first element is provided via an input/output interface.

5. A toy construction set according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter of the first toy construction element is adapted for wireless transmission of signals to the second toy construction element.

6. A toy construction set according to claim 4, wherein the transmitter of the first toy construction element is adapted for transmission of infrared signals.

7. A toy construction set according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor 105 is connected to a toy construction element for providing at least one of the following:

signals on external mechanical impacts, light signals, motor control, sound signals via a sound generator.

8. A toy construction set according to claim 1, wherein sub-programs are stored in the second toy element, and the download signal comprises references to the rules stored in the second toy construction element.

9. A toy construction set according to claim 1, wherein the first toy construction element is caused to perform event-controlled movements when executing a program when incorporated into a structure with elements configured to provide the movements.

10. A toy construction set according to claim 1, wherein the first toy construction element comprises a light detector configured with a dual function of either detecting the intensity of the light impinging on the receiver from the toy element'"'"'s surroundings or detecting light signals received via a light guide to embody a communications function.

11. A toy construction set according to claim 1, wherein the first toy construction element comprises a display configured to show a plurality of specific icons or symbols:

and wherein program are entered by individually controlling the appearance of the symbols on the display.