Toy vehicle play set
First Claim
1. In a toy vehicle play set including a master toy vehicle including a radio frequency (RF) receiver configured to receive control signals from an RF remote control unit for remote control of the operation of the master toy vehicle, the master toy vehicle further including a wireless transmitter configured to broadcast at least a tracking signal, and a slave toy vehicle including at least one directional receiver configured to detect at least the tracking signal and a self-directing control circuit coupled to the at least one directional receiver and configured to control the movement of the slave toy vehicle in response to at least the tracking signal detected by the receiver so as to chase the master toy vehicle, an improvement comprising:
- a stationary base unit having a wireless signal transmitter and a programmed game controller configured to autonomously generate command signals broadcast through the wireless signal transmitter; and
at least one of the master and slave toy vehicles having a wireless signal receiver and on-board control circuit configured to receive and process command signals from the base unit transmitter and to operate the at least one vehicle under the autonomous control of the base unit in response to the command signals; and
wherein the slave toy vehicle has the wireless signal receiver and wherein the master toy vehicle has a second wireless signal receiver and an on-board control circuit configured to receive and process command signals from the base unit transmitter as well as control signals from the remote control unit and to operate the master toy vehicle in response to the command signals and the control signals.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A play set comprises master and slave toy vehicles and a stationary base unit. The master toy vehicle includes a radio frequency (RF) receiver to be controlled by a manually operated RF remote control unit and an infrared (IR) transmitter configured to broadcast an IR tracking signal. The slave toy vehicle includes a directional receiver to detect the source of the IR tracking signal and an on-board, self-directing control circuit coupled to the at least one directional receiver to control the slave toy vehicle to chase the master toy vehicle. The base unit includes a platform with a game controller and one or more targets mounted so as to move when struck by the master toy vehicle. The game controller and one or both of the toy vehicles are configured for one way or two way wireless communication between the game controller and toy vehicles(s). The game controller is configured to initiate and control one or more modes of game play through the targets or communication with the toy vehicles.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. In a toy vehicle play set including a master toy vehicle including a radio frequency (RF) receiver configured to receive control signals from an RF remote control unit for remote control of the operation of the master toy vehicle, the master toy vehicle further including a wireless transmitter configured to broadcast at least a tracking signal, and a slave toy vehicle including at least one directional receiver configured to detect at least the tracking signal and a self-directing control circuit coupled to the at least one directional receiver and configured to control the movement of the slave toy vehicle in response to at least the tracking signal detected by the receiver so as to chase the master toy vehicle, an improvement comprising:
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a stationary base unit having a wireless signal transmitter and a programmed game controller configured to autonomously generate command signals broadcast through the wireless signal transmitter; and at least one of the master and slave toy vehicles having a wireless signal receiver and on-board control circuit configured to receive and process command signals from the base unit transmitter and to operate the at least one vehicle under the autonomous control of the base unit in response to the command signals; and wherein the slave toy vehicle has the wireless signal receiver and wherein the master toy vehicle has a second wireless signal receiver and an on-board control circuit configured to receive and process command signals from the base unit transmitter as well as control signals from the remote control unit and to operate the master toy vehicle in response to the command signals and the control signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. In a toy vehicle play set including a palm-sized, manually operated, portable remote control unit with a plurality of manual actuators, a control circuit responsive to the manual actuators to generate control signals from manipulation of the actuators and a radio frequency transmitter operably connected with the control circuit to transmit wireless radio control signals based upon the manipulations of the manual actuators and a toy vehicle with at least a first electric motor configured to impart movement to the toy vehicle, a radio frequency wireless signal receiver configured to receive wireless radio frequency control signals from the remote control unit and a controller operably connected with at least the radio frequency wireless signal receiver and the first motor, the controller being responsive to the received wireless radio frequency control signals from the remote control unit to control operation of at least the first motor, an improvement comprising:
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a base unit configured for stationary placement and operation on an underlying support surface, the base unit including a control circuit operatively connected to a second wireless signal transmitter operating differently from the radio frequency transmitter of the portable remote control unit, the control circuit further being configured to generate control signals transmitted to the toy vehicle through the second wireless signal transmitter and a power supply operably connected with least the second transmitter and the control of the base unit circuit; and at least a second wireless signal receiver in the toy vehicle configured to receive wireless control signals from the second wireless signal transmitter and further being operably connected with at least the controller to at least partially control operation of the toy vehicle with control signals from the base unit. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14)
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12. A toy vehicle play set comprising:
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a master toy vehicle including a radio frequency (RF) receiver configured to receive control signals from a manually operated, portable remote control unit with RF transmitter configured for remote control of the operation of the master toy vehicle, the manually operated, portable remote control unit configured for operator remote control operation of the master toy vehicle, the master toy vehicle further including a wireless transmitter configured to broadcast at least a tracking signal, a slave toy vehicle including at least one directional receiver configured to detect at least the tracking signal and a self-directing control circuit coupled to the at least one directional receiver and configured to control the movement of the slave toy vehicle in response to at least the tracking signal detected by the at least one directional receiver so as to automatically follow the master toy vehicle, and a stationary base unit separate from and in addition to the manually-operated, portable, remote control unit, the stationary base unit having a wireless signal transmitter and a programmed game controller configured to autonomously generate command signals broadcast through the wireless signal transmitter; wherein at least one of the master and slave toy vehicles has a wireless signal receiver and an on-board control circuit configured to receive and process command signals from the stationary base unit transmitter and to operate the at least one vehicle under the autonomous control of the base unit in response to the command signals; wherein the slave toy vehicle has the wireless signal receiver; and wherein the master toy vehicle has a second wireless signal receiver and an on-board control circuit configured to receive and process command signals from the base unit transmitter as well as control signals from the remote control unit and to operate the master toy vehicle in response to the command signals and the control signals. - View Dependent Claims (13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification