Motor booster for toy vehicle

• US 8,337,274 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2011
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silverlit Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverlit Limited
• Inventors: Wong, Kwok Leung
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIMMS JR, JOHN ELLIOTT
• Application Number:
  US13/285,248
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 446/433, 446/347, 446/441, 446454-457, 446/462, 446/465, 446/444, 446/484, 463/58, 463/62, 238/10.E, 238/10.F
• US Class Current: 446/454
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 18/12 Electric current supply to toy vehicles through the track
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/22 Electric drives power supply through track A63H18/12

Abstract

A toy car and a remote control regulate the speed of the car. A source of supplemental power selectively energizes the drive motor thereby to selectively permit the vehicle to move faster than the normal speed. A sensor measures the voltage to the vehicle motor. After stepping up the voltage to the drive motor, and detecting a drive motor current increase in excess of the capability of vehicle, the source of supplemental power is disabled. When a normal low voltage state is detected, the source of supplemental power in the vehicle is enabled whereby the motor supply voltage is permitted to increase above a normal low voltage state permitting more power to be provided to motor.

Claims

1. A method of operating a toy, the vehicle including a body, a chassis, at least one drive wheel for engaging a surface for moving the vehicle on the surface, a power source with at least one battery comprising the steps of:

(a) moving a toy vehicle by control from a remote control device having controls;

(b) regulating the movement of the toy by a user to operating the remote control device;

(c) operating the power source to activate and power at least one drive electric motor;

(d) driving and turning the drive wheel of the vehicle at different normal speeds, the normal speeds including a normal top speed;

(e) controlling the speed of the motor through an electronic circuit;

(f) receiving by a receiver with the vehicle a signal from a transmitter with the remote control device;

(g) supplying a source of supplemental power for selectively energizing the drive motor with additional power;

(h) providing the drive motor with extra power in addition to the power from the battery; and

(i) boosting the drive motor to turn the drive wheel faster than the normal top speed whereby the vehicle moves faster than the normal top speed under battery power;

wherein the source of supplemental power includes a capacitor in the vehicle, including the steps of providing the additional power to energize the motor from the capacitor, and including detecting a voltage to monitor the capacitor voltage level, and wherein when the voltage level of the capacitor is higher than a threshold value, permitting the vehicle to enter a mode to permit the supplemental power to be activated to boost the drive motor.

2. A method of operating a toy, the vehicle including a body, a chassis, at least one drive wheel for engaging a surface for moving the vehicle on the surface, a power source with at least one battery comprising the steps of:

(a) moving a toy vehicle by control from a remote control device having controls;

(b) regulating the movement of the toy by a user to operating the remote control device;

(c) operating the power source to activate and power at least one drive electric motor;

(d) driving and turning the drive wheel of the vehicle at different normal speeds, the normal speeds including a normal top speed;

(e) controlling the speed of the motor through an electronic circuit;

(f) receiving by a receiver with the vehicle a signal from a transmitter with the remote control device;

(g) supplying a source of supplemental power for selectively energizing the drive motor with additional power;

(h) providing the drive motor with extra power in addition to the power from the battery; and

(i) boosting the drive motor to turn the drive wheel faster than the normal top speed whereby the vehicle moves faster than the normal top speed under battery power;

wherein the source of supplemental power includes a dc-dc converter in the vehicle, including the steps of providing the additional power to energize the motor from the converter, and including detecting a current to monitor the drive motor current level, and wherein when the current level is lower than a threshold value, permitting the vehicle to enter a mode to permit the supplemental power to be activated to boost the drive motor.

3. A method of operating a toy, the vehicle including a body, a chassis, at least one drive wheel for engaging a surface for moving the vehicle on the surface, a power source with at least one battery comprising the steps of:

(a) moving a toy vehicle by control from a remote control device having controls;

(b) regulating the movement of the toy by a user to operating the remote control device;

(c) operating the power source to activate and power at least one drive electric motor;

(d) driving and turning the drive wheel of the vehicle at different normal speeds, the normal speeds including a normal top speed;

(e) controlling the speed of the motor through an electronic circuit;

(f) receiving by a receiver with the vehicle a signal from a transmitter with the remote control device;

(g) supplying a source of supplemental power for selectively energizing the drive motor with additional power;

(h) providing the drive motor with extra power in addition to the top power level from the battery; and

(i) boosting the drive motor to turn the drive wheel faster than the normal top speed whereby the vehicle moves faster than the normal top speed under battery power.

4. The method of claim 3 including a track for the vehicle, the track including a contact for engagement with a mating contact on the vehicle, and

(a) connecting the source of supplemental power to the vehicle and to the driving motor when the vehicle passes a select portion of the track, and

(b) transmitting the supplemental power to the driving motor.

5. The method of claim 3 including a power storage capacitor with the vehicle as the source of supplemental power for connection for the drive motor, and

(a) providing to the motor when the vehicle receives a signal from the remote controller device;

(b) processing through the electronic circuit the signal onboard the vehicle;

(c) generating an output through the electronic circuit; and

(d) transmitting the supplemental power, whereby the supplemental power is transmittable to the driving motor.

6. The method of claim 3 including a pair of metal brushes or contact plates with the vehicle, and connecting the brushes or plates to the electronic circuit.

7. The method of claim 3 including a track running the vehicle, and the track including a section including two metal strips and

(a) conducting electricity from the track to the vehicle;

(b) having the source of supplemental power as an external dc power source connected to the metal strips; and

(c) setting a supply voltage of the power source is about at least 1.1 times higher than the battery level inside the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7 including providing an external dc power source for energy to the electric motor inside the car when the vehicle passes through this track section.

9. The method of claim 7 including increasing suddenly the supplemental power source and boosting the operating voltage of the drive motor for the vehicle;

and causing the motor to gain speed instantly along the track.

10. The method of claim 7 including a high energy capacitor in the vehicle for charge storage, charging the capacitor when the vehicle passes through the track section, and wherein by remote control of the electronic circuit of the vehicle, signally the receiver thereby causing a quick discharging the capacitor to the drive motor at anytime and running the vehicle faster at that time.

11. The method of claim 3 including measuring the voltage to the vehicle motor, and after stepping up the voltage to the drive motor, detecting a drive motor current increase in excess of the capability of vehicle, and disabling the source of supplemental power whereby the motor supply voltage returns to a normal low voltage state.

12. The method of claim 3 including measuring the voltage to the vehicle motor, and after stepping up the voltage to the drive motor, detecting a drive motor current being essentially normal relative to the capability of vehicle, enabling the source of supplemental power in the vehicle and increasing the motor supply voltage above a normal voltage state, and operating the remote control to transmit a signal to the receiver on the vehicle, and permitting more power to be provided to motor.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the source of supplemental power includes a step up converter obtaining power directly from a battery in the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the source of supplemental power includes a step up converter and obtaining power directly from a battery in the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the source of supplemental power includes a step up converter connected, and obtaining power from a separate power source remote from the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the source of supplemental power includes a step up converter and obtaining power from a separate power source remote from the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 3 wherein the source of supplemental power includes a step up converter connected to obtain power from a separate power source remote from the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 3 including a track for the vehicle, and wherein source of supplemental power is connected to the vehicle and provided to the motor when the vehicle passes a select portion of the track, the track including a contact for engagement with a mating contact on the vehicle and transmitting the supplemental power to the drive motor.

19. The method of claim 18 including providing energy to the electric motor inside the car when the vehicle passes through this track section, and effecting a connection to the external dc power source.

20. The method of claim 18 including increasing suddenly the supplemental power source and boosting the operating voltage of the drive motor for the vehicle;

and causing the motor to gain speed instantly along the track.

21. The method of claim 18 including a high energy capacitor in the vehicle for charge storage, charging the capacitor when the vehicle passes through the track section, and wherein by remote control of the electronic circuit of the vehicle, signally the receiver thereby causing a quick discharging the capacitor to the drive motor at anytime and running the vehicle faster at that time.

23. The method of claim 3 wherein the normal top speed under battery power is the top speed when the battery is fully charged.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein the normal top speed under battery power is the top speed when the battery is fully charged.

26. The method of claim 3 wherein the source of supplemental power is a power source wherein a supply voltage of the power source is about at least 1.1 times higher than the battery voltage.

27. The method of claim 18 wherein the source of supplemental power is a power source wherein a supply voltage of the power source is about at least 1.1 times higher than the battery voltage.

22. A method of operating a toy, the vehicle including a body, a chassis, at least one drive wheel for engaging a surface for moving the vehicle on the surface, a power source with at least one battery comprising the steps of:

(a) moving a toy vehicle by control from a remote control device having controls;

(b) regulating the movement of the toy by a user to operating the remote control device;

(c) operating the power source to activate and power at least one drive electric motor;

(d) driving and turning the drive wheel of the vehicle at different normal speeds, the normal speeds including a normal top speed;

(e) controlling the speed of the motor through an electronic circuit;

(f) receiving by a receiver with the vehicle a signal from a transmitter with the remote control device;

(g) supplying a source of supplemental power for selectively energizing the drive motor with additional power;

(h) providing the drive motor with extra power in addition to the power from the battery;

(i) boosting the drive motor to turn the drive wheel faster than the normal top speed whereby the vehicle moves faster than the normal top speed under battery power, including a track for the vehicle, and

(j) connecting the source of supplemental power to the vehicle;

(k) provided to the motor when the vehicle passes a select portion of the track the supplemental power to the drive motor;

(l) measuring the voltage to the vehicle motor;

(m) stepping up the voltage to the drive motor;

(n) detecting a drive motor current increase in excess of the capability of vehicle, the source of supplemental power being disabled whereby the motor supply voltage returns to a normal low voltage state;

(o) after stepping up the voltage to the drive motor, and detecting a drive motor current being essentially normal relative to the capability of vehicle, enabling the source of supplemental power in the vehicle whereby the motor supply voltage is increased above a normal low voltage state, and

(p) operating the remote control to transmit a signal to the receiver on the vehicle providing more power to the motor.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the normal top speed under battery power is the top speed when the battery is fully charged.

28. The method of claim 22 wherein the source of supplemental power is a power source wherein a supply voltage of the power source is about at least 1.1 times higher than the battery voltage.