Toy vehicles and play sets with contactless identification

• US 20050148281A1
• Filed: 11/15/2004
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Amireh, Nicholas, Grzesek, Robert, Sanchez-Castro, Jorge, Barri, Darin
• Granted Patent: US 7,387,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/444
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/14 Endless-track automobiles or trucks
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/262 Chassis; Wheel mountings; Wheels; Axles; Suspensions; Fitting body portions to chassis
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 18/14 Drives arranged in the track, e.g. endless conveying means, magnets, driving-discs
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 18/16 Control of vehicle drives by interaction between vehicle and track; Control of track elements by vehicles

Abstract

Toy vehicle sets may include a toy vehicle with an RFID transponder operable to produce an identification signal to identify the toy vehicle and an RFID reader configured to generate an electromagnetic field, detect an identification signal produced by an RFID transponder, and produce data representative of the identified toy vehicle. In some embodiments, the toy vehicle includes circuitry adapted to convert electromagnetic energy into power to operate the RFID transponder. In some embodiments, the toy vehicle includes a metal chassis with an aperture configured to support the RFID transponder and a transverse slot cut from an outer edge of the chassis to the aperture.

Claims

1. A toy vehicle set comprising:

at least one toy vehicle, each of the at least one toy vehicle including an RFID transponder configured to identify the toy vehicle; and

an RFID reader having an associated interrogation zone;

wherein the RFID reader is operable to detect an RFID transponder within the interrogation zone and produce an output representative of the toy vehicle that includes the detected RFID transponder.

2. The toy vehicle set of claim 1, further including a track with a toy vehicle guiding pathway, wherein the RFID reader is disposed along the pathway such that a toy vehicle traversing the pathway engages the interrogation zone.

3. The toy vehicle set of claim 1, wherein the toy vehicle further includes circuitry associated with the RFID transponder, wherein the circuitry is adapted to provide power to the RFID transponder upon engaging the interrogation zone.

4. A toy vehicle set comprising:

a toy vehicle including an RFID transponder operable to produce an identification signal to identify the toy vehicle;

an RFID reader configured to;

generate an electromagnetic field;

detect an identification signal produced by an RFID transponder; and

produce data representative of the identified toy vehicle.

5. The toy vehicle set of claim 4 wherein the toy vehicle further includes circuitry associated with the RFID transponder, such that the circuitry is adapted, upon engaging the electromagnetic field, to convert electromagnetic energy into power to operate the RFID transponder.

6. The toy vehicle set of claim 4 wherein the toy vehicle further includes circuitry associated with the RFID transponder, such that the circuitry is adapted, upon engaging the electromagnetic field, to convert electromagnetic energy into power to provide motive force to the toy vehicle.

7. The toy vehicle set of claim 6 wherein the toy vehicle further includes a plurality of wheels, including at least one driven wheel, and wherein the converted power is adapted to drive the at least one driven wheel of the toy vehicle.

8. The toy vehicle set of claim 4, further including a track with a toy vehicle guiding pathway, wherein the RFID reader is disposed along the pathway such that a toy vehicle traversing the pathway engages the electromagnetic field.

9. The toy vehicle set of claim 4 wherein the toy vehicle further includes a chassis configured to support the RFID transponder within the toy vehicle and to prevent interference with the electromagnetic field generated by the RFID reader.

10. The toy vehicle set of claim 9 wherein the chassis is at least partially fabricated from a material that is one or more of conductive and magnetic, and further includes:

an outer edge;

an aperture defined by an inner edge; and

a transverse slot from the outer edge to the inner edge.

11. The toy vehicle set of claim 4, further including a processor responsive to the RFID reader and configured to process data produced by the RFID reader.

12. The toy vehicle set of claim 11, further including an output device responsive to the processor and configured to emit one or more report signals when the RFID reader produces data representative of an identified toy vehicle.

13. The toy vehicle set of claim 11 wherein the processor is configured to calculate the velocity of an identified toy vehicle.

14. The toy vehicle set of claim 13 further including a track with a toy vehicle guiding pathway, wherein the RFID reader is disposed along the pathway such that a toy vehicle traversing the pathway engages the electromagnetic field.

15. The toy vehicle set of claim 14 wherein the pathway further includes a booster device responsive to the processor and configured impart a velocity change to an identified toy vehicle as it passes the booster device, wherein the velocity change is based at least in part on the velocity of the identified toy vehicle as calculated by the processor.

16. A toy vehicle set comprising:

a toy vehicle including an identification device, the identification device being configured to identify the toy vehicle; and

an interrogating device with an associated interrogation zone;

wherein the interrogating device is operable to detect an identification device within the interrogation zone and produce an output representative of the toy vehicle that includes the detected identification device.

17. The toy vehicle set of claim 16 wherein the identification device includes an RFID transponder, and wherein the interrogation device includes an RFID reader.

18. A toy vehicle comprising:

an RFID transponder; and

a chassis defined by an outer edge, the chassis further including;

an aperture defined by an inner edge, the aperture configured to support the RFID transponder; and

a transverse slot from the outer edge to the inner edge.

19. The toy vehicle of claim 18 wherein the chassis is at least partially fabricated from a material that is one or more of conductive and magnetic.

20. The toy vehicle of claim 18, further including a plurality of wheels adapted to support the chassis on a ground surface.

21. The toy vehicle of claim 18, further including a support sized to receive the RFID transponder and fit substantially within the aperture.