Multi-function electronic device-enabled transmit controller

• US 9,808,730 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2014
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Traxxas LP (Traxxas)
• Original Assignee: Traxxas LP (Traxxas)
• Inventors: Jenkins, Michael S., DeWitt, Gary, Shirley, Brad, Rice, Jr., Richard Dale, Roathe, Lane, Russell, Chris, DeFauw, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Vernal
• Application Number:
  US14/266,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20150015376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 340 125
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

In an embodiment, a transmit controller capable of automatic configuration is provided. In another embodiment, an auxiliary user interface device for automatically configuring a transmit controller is provided. In another embodiment, an auxiliary user interface device for transmitting operational parameter settings is provided. In another embodiment, an auxiliary user interface device for receiving operational parameter settings is provided. In another embodiment, an auxiliary user interface device for updating an application program of a receiving device is provided.

Claims

1. A transmit controller capable of automatic configuration, the transmit controller comprising:

a memory comprising one or more operational parameters effecting a control instruction for controlling movement;

a control user interface for remotely controlling movement of a model vehicle;

an auxiliary user interface connector for connecting to an auxiliary user interface device, the auxiliary user interface device comprising a processor to automatically configure the transmit controller;

a transmit controller processor comprising a configuration to;

receive a vehicle identifier from a model vehicle receiver;

transmit the vehicle identifier to the auxiliary user interface device;

receive one or more operational parameter settings from the auxiliary user interface device in response to the transmission of the vehicle identifier;

change the one or more operational parameters to the one or more operational parameter settings;

receive the control instruction from the control user interface;

determine an output signal based on the control instruction and the changed one or more operational parameters; and

transmit the output signal remotely to the model vehicle to thereby control the movement of the model vehicle.

2. The auxiliary user interface device of claim 1, wherein the one or more operational parameter settings comprises at least one of a steering expo setting and a brake percentage setting.

3. The auxiliary user interface device of claim 1, wherein the one or more operational parameter settings comprises at least one of an end point setting and a servo reversing setting.

4. The transmit controller of claim 1, further comprising:

the auxiliary user interface device for automatically configuring a transmit controller, the auxiliary user interface device comprising a configuration to;

receive a vehicle identifier from a transmit controller;

identify one or more operational parameter settings associated with the vehicle identifier in a vehicle database; and

transmit the one or more operational parameter settings to the transmit controller.

5. The auxiliary user interface device of claim 4, wherein the one or more operational parameter settings comprises at least one of a steering expo setting and a brake percentage setting.

6. The auxiliary user interface device of claim 4, wherein the one or more operational parameter settings comprises at least one of an end point setting and a servo reversing setting.

7. The transmit controller of claim 1, further comprising:

the auxiliary user interface device transmitting operational parameter settings, the auxiliary user interface device comprising a configuration to;

store one or more operational parameter settings;

transmit the one or more operational parameter settings to a network address at a server; and

send an electronic mail message comprising the network address.

8. The auxiliary user interface device of claim 7, wherein the one or more operational parameter settings comprises at least one of a model vehicle acceleration configuration, a model vehicle steering configuration, a model vehicle braking configuration.

9. The auxiliary user interface device of claim 7, wherein the configuration is further to open an electronic mail application to a draft of the electronic mail message, the draft of the electronic mail message comprising the network address.

10. The transmit controller of claim 1, further comprising:

the auxiliary user interface device receiving operational parameter settings, the auxiliary user interface device comprising a configuration to;

receive an electronic mail message comprising a network address of a network location associated with the one or more operational parameter settings;

retrieve the one or more operational parameter settings from the network address location; and

store the one or more operational parameter settings.

11. The auxiliary user interface device of claim 10, wherein the one or more operational parameter settings comprises at least one of a model vehicle acceleration configuration, a model vehicle steering configuration, a model vehicle braking configuration.

12. The auxiliary user interface device of claim 10, wherein the configuration is further to:

recognize the network address as a network location of one or more operational parameter settings; and

in response to recognizing the network address, launch an application for operating a model vehicle.

13. The auxiliary user interface device of claim 10, wherein the configuration is further to configure the auxiliary user interface device to use at least some of the one or more operational parameter settings.

14. The auxiliary user interface device of claim 10, wherein the configuration is further to configure a transmit controller to use at least some of the one or more operational parameter settings.

15. The transmit controller of claim 1, further comprising:

the auxiliary user interface device updating an application program of a receiving device, the auxiliary user interface device comprising a configuration to;

receive an updated application program from a data network; and

transmit the updated application program to a model vehicle transmit controller.

16. The auxiliary user interface device of claim 15, wherein the model vehicle transmit controller is the receiving device.

17. The auxiliary user interface device of claim 15, wherein the model vehicle transmit controller is configured to transmit the updated application program to the receiving device.

18. The auxiliary user interface device of claim 15, wherein the configuration is further to communicate with the receiving device through the model vehicle transmit controller.

19. The auxiliary user interface device of claim 15, wherein the configuration is further to send an encoding challenge to the receiving device.

20. The auxiliary user interface device of claim 15, wherein the configuration is further to transmit a downloader program to the model vehicle transmit controller prior to transmitting the updated application program to the model vehicle transmit controller.