Method and system for controlling radio controlled devices

• US 8,330,583 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2011
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• 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): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): KING, CURTIS J
• Application Number:
  US13/267,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20120027049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/12.22
• 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 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, wherein said add-on receiver module only recognizes signals from said add-on transmitter module, said add-on transmitter module and said add-on receiver module transmit active packets and binding packets, said binding packets include fail-safe data, said add-on receiver module is configured to reconstruct lost packets by monitoring data of a last received packet.

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

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said packet represents an entire operating state for said radio controlled (RC) model device.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the real-time operating information includes speed, revolutions per minute, temperature and signal strength.

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

6. 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 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, wherein said add-on transmitter module and said add-on receiver module transmit active packets and binding packets, said binding packets include fail-safe data, said add-on receiver module is configured to reconstruct lost packets by monitoring data of a last received packet.