Method and system for controlling radio controlled devices

• US 8,049,600 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2008
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Horizon Hobby Incorporated (Horizon Hobby, Llc)
• Original Assignee: Horizon Hobby Incorporated (Horizon Hobby, Llc)
• Inventors: Adams, John, Lee, Mathew, Beard, Paul, Meyers, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): KING, CURTIS J
• Application Number:
  US12/214,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20080284613A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69
• US Class Current: 340/13.27
• 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 (RC) model device comprising:

an add-on transmitter module, said add-on transmitter module configured for removable coupling to a controller which includes at least one control input and said add-on transmitter module configured for removable mounting within a receptacle of said controller, said add-on transmitter module further comprises an integrated antenna coupled to said add-on transmitter module; and

an add-on receiver module configured for removable coupling to said radio controlled (RC) model device, said radio controlled (RC) model device including at least one motor to allow movement of said radio controlled (RC) model device, said add-on receiver module being suitable for receiving a control instruction regarding operation of said at least one motor from said add-on transmitter module of said controller via a spread spectrum modulated digital radio frequency link, said spread spectrum modulated digital radio frequency link being a form of direct sequence spread spectrum modulation, said spread spectrum modulated digital radio frequency link is suitable for back-channel transmission of data from said add-on receiver module of said radio controlled (RC) model device to said add-on transmitter module, said back-channel transmission of data includes real-time operating information regarding said radio controlled (RC) model device, said controller is configured to provide force-feedback to the at least one control input of said controller based upon speed of said radio controlled (RC) model device.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spread spectrum modulated digital radio frequency link is a one to one network link.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein if a disruption occurs in said spread spectrum modulated digital radio frequency link between said controller and said radio controlled (RC) model device, said at least one motor operates according to a fail-safe position.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said add-on receiver module only recognizes signals from said add-on transmitter module.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control instruction is transmitted via a packet across a streaming transmission.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said packet represents an entire operating state for said radio controlled (RC) model device.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein motor channel data is encoded individually.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein motor channel data is encoded within a sub-packet of a packet.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said sub-packet of said packet is decodable by said receiver module when received by the add-on receiver module.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said add-on transmitter module and said add-on receiver module transmit active packets and binding packets.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said binding packets include fail-safe data.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said add-on receiver module is suitable for reconstructing lost packets by monitoring data of a last received packet.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controller further includes a display, said display configured to present said real-time operating information of said radio controlled (RC) model device.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said antenna is a 2.4 GHz folded dipole antenna.