Remote controller and recharger for remote controlling and for use in recharging of a toy item

• US 8,760,268 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2010
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Desk Pets International (HK) Limited
• Original Assignee: Desk Pets International (HK) Limited
• Inventors: Trzecieski, Michael, Piltz, David
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US13/387,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20120126956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• Field of Search: 340/12.5, 340/4.11, 340/4.42, 446/34, 446/35, 446/38, 320/158
• US Class Current: 340/12.5
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A toy remote controller and recharger (TRCR) for remote controlling and for use in recharging a toy item is disclosed. The TRCR is operable in two modes of operation. In a first mode of operation, the TRCR is used for controlling a playflow of the toy item through transmitting a playflow control wireless signal from a wireless transmitter in response to input from a user. In a second mode of operation, the TRCR is used for recharging the toy item by electrical power provided from a USB port when a toy charging connector is coupled with the toy item. Optionally, embodiments of the invention also allow for the TRCR to control the playflow of the toy item when the TRCR is coupled with the USB port for receiving a playflow control data from the USB port, and the toy item is uncoupled from the toy charging connector.

Claims

1. A remote controller and recharger for remote controlling and for use in recharging of a toy item, the remote controller and recharger comprising:

a housing (100a, 200a, 300a, 400a) comprising an outside surface (100b, 200b, 300b);

a toy charging connector (101) for connecting to the toy item and comprising a first portion (101a) disposed within the housing and a second portion (101b) extending past the outside surface (100b, 200b, 300b);

a wireless transmitter (102a) for transmitting a playflow control wireless signal (102b) past the outside surface (100b, 200b, 300b) of the housing (100a, 200a, 300a, 400a);

a retractable connector (103, 203, 303, 503) comprising at least two contacts (103a, 103b) and movable between a retracted state and an extended state for extending past the outside surface (100b, 200b, 300b) of the housing (100a, 200a, 300a, 400a), wherein in the extended state, the at least two contacts (103a, 103b) of the retractable connector (103) are for engaging a USB port (110) for having electrical power provided from the USB port (110) to the at least two contacts (103a, 103b);

a user input device (104) for at least one of extending past the outside surface (100b, 200b, 300b) of the housing (100a, 200a, 300a, 400a) and disposed within the housing (100a, 200a, 300a, 400a) for receiving input from the user; and

a control circuit (105) coupled with the at least two contacts (103a, 103b) and with the toy charging connector (101) and the wireless transmitter (102a) and the user input device (104), the control circuit (105) comprising a recharging circuit (105a), wherein in a first mode of operation the control circuit (105) is for controlling a playflow of the toy item (2010) through transmitting the playflow control wireless signal (102b) from the wireless transmitter (102a) and in a second mode of operation the control circuit (105) is for recharging the toy item (2010) through electrical power provided from the USB port (110) when the toy charging connector (101) is coupled with the toy item (2010, 2009, 1974) and the retractable connector (103, 203, 303, 503) is in the extended state.

2. A remote controller and recharger according to claim 1 wherein the wireless transmitter (102a) comprises at least one of an infrared light emitting diode (102) for emitting modulated light and a radio transmitter (302a) for emitting radio waves.

3. A remote controller and recharger according to claim 2 comprising a pivot axis (299, 399), wherein the retractable connector (203, 303) is for extending past the outside surface (200b, 300b) of the housing (200a, 300a) using a pivoting motion in the extended state and for being retracted approximately within the housing (200a, 300a) in the retracted state.

4. A remote controller and recharger according to claim 2 wherein the user input device (104) comprises a first button (104a) coupled with the control circuit (105), wherein the modulated light emitted from the light emitting diode (102) comprises a first set of optical signals upon pressing the first button (104a).

5. A remote controller and recharger according to claim 1 comprises one of a rechargeable battery (106) and a battery (108) disposed with the housing (100a, 200a, 300a, 400a) and coupled with the control circuit (105), wherein in the second mode of operation, the electrical power provided from the USB port (110) is for at least one of recharging the rechargeable battery (106) and for providing electrical power to the control circuit (105).

6. A remote controller and recharger according to claim 1 wherein the user input device (104) comprises at least one of a touch sensor (304a) and a variable resistor (204a) and an optical sensor.

7. A remote controller and recharger according to claim 1 wherein the remote controller and recharger comprises a releasable locking mechanism (109) coupled between the retractable connector (103, 203, 303, 503) and the housing (100a, 200a, 300a, 400a), wherein the releasable locking mechanism (109) is for releasably locking the retractable connector (103, 203, 303, 503) when the retractable connector (103, 203, 303, 503) is in at least one of transitions between the retracted state and the extended state and between the extended state and the retracted state, wherein in the retracted state the retractable connector is approximately retracted within the housing (100a, 200a, 300a, 400a).

8. A remote controller and recharger according to claim 1 wherein the retractable connector (503) comprises at least four contacts, the at least four contacts comprising the at least two contacts (103a, 103b) and two additional contacts (505c, 505d) coupled with the control circuit (105), wherein the two additional contacts (505c, 505d) are for receiving a playflow control data (588) from the USB port (110) when the retractable connector (503) is in the extended state and the control circuit (105) is operating in the first mode of operation for wirelessly controlling the playflow of the toy item (2010, 2009, 1974).

9. A system comprising:

a USB port (110);

a toy item (2010, 2009, 1974) comprising a toy housing (2010b) and having a toy rechargeable battery (2010c) disposed within the toy housing (2010b) and a toy charging receptacle coupled (2010d) with the toy rechargeable battery (2010c) and a wireless receiver (2010e) for receiving a playflow control wireless signal (102b) and coupled with a toy control circuit (2010f) for controlling a playflow of the toy item (2010, 2009, 1974) in dependence upon the playflow control wireless signal (102b);

a remote controller and recharger (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) for operating in a first mode of operation for controlling the playflow of the toy item (2010, 2009, 1974) and for in a second mode of operation for recharging the toy item (2010, 2009, 1974), the remote controller and recharger (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) comprising;

a housing comprising (100a, 200a, 300a, 400a) an outside surface (100b, 200b, 300b);

a toy charging connector (101) for connecting to the toy item and comprising a first portion (101a) disposed within the housing and a second portion (101b) extending past the outside surface (100b, 200b, 300b);

a wireless transmitter (102a) for transmitting a playflow control wireless signal (102b) past the outside surface (100b, 200b, 300b) of the housing (100a, 200a, 300a, 400a), the playflow control wireless signal (102b) for being received by the wireless receiver (2010e);

a retractable connector (103, 203, 303, 503) comprising at least two contacts (103a, 103b) and movable between a retracted state and an extended state for extending past the outside surface (100b, 200b, 300b) of the housing (100a, 200a, 300a, 400a), wherein in the extended state, the at least two contacts (103a, 103b) of the retractable connector (103, 203, 303, 503) are for engaging a USB port (110) for having electrical power provided from the USB port (110) to the at least two contacts (103a, 103b);

a user input device (104) for at least one of extending past the outside surface (100b, 200b, 300b) of the housing (100a, 200a, 300a, 400a) and disposed within the housing (100a, 200a, 300a, 400a) for receiving input from the user; and

a control circuit (105) coupled with the at least two contacts (103a, 103b) and with the toy charging connector (101) and the wireless transmitter (102a) and the user input device (104), the control circuit (105) comprising a recharging circuit (105a), wherein in the first mode of operation the remote controller and recharger (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) is for controlling the playflow of the toy item (2010, 2009, 1974) through transmitting the playflow control wireless signal (102b) from the wireless transmitter (102a) for being received by the wireless receiver (2010e) and in the second mode of operation the remote controller and recharger (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) is for recharging the toy item (2010, 2009, 1974) toy rechargeable battery (2010c) through electrical power provided from the USB port (110) when the toy charging connector (101) is coupled with toy charging receptacle (2010d) and the retractable connector (103, 203, 303, 503) is in the extended state.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein the wireless receiver (2010e) comprises an optical receiver for receiving light pulses and the wireless transmitter (102a) comprises an optical transmitter for emitting the light pulses past the outside surface of the housing, wherein the playflow of the toy item is controllable through the light pulses emitted from the optical transmitter and received by the optical receiver when the remote controller and recharger is in the first mode of operation.

11. A system according to claim 9 wherein the retractable connector (103, 203, 303, 503) comprises at least four contacts, the at least four contacts comprises the at least two contacts (103a, 103b) and two additional contacts (505c, 505d) coupled with the control circuit (105), wherein the two additional contacts (505c, 505d) are for receiving a playflow control data (588) from the USB port (110) when the retractable connector (103, 203, 303, 503) is in the extended state and the control circuit (105) is operating in the first mode of operation for wirelessly controlling the toy item (2010, 2009, 1974) in dependence upon the playflow control data (588).

12. A system according to claim 9 wherein the toy item (2010, 2009, 1974) comprises one of a propeller (1974a), at least a leg (2009a), and at least a wheel (2010a).

13. A method comprising:

providing a toy remote controller and recharger (TRCR) (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) comprising a wireless transmitter (102a) coupled with a retractable connector (103, 203, 303, 503), a toy charging connector (101), and a user input device (104), and having a housing (100a, 200a, 300a, 400a);

coupling the TRCR (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) with the toy item (2010, 2009, 1974) via the toy charging connector (101), and coupling the retractable connector (103, 203, 303, 503) with a USB port (110);

receiving electrical power provided from the USB port (110);

recharging the toy item (2010, 2009, 1974) through the electrical power received from the USB port (110);

uncoupling the toy charging connector (101) from the toy item (2010, 2009, 1974);

wirelessly transmitting a playflow control wireless signal (102b) using the wireless transmitter (102a);

receiving the playflow control wireless signal (102b) by the toy item (2010, 2009, 1974); and

controlling a playflow of the toy item (2010, 2009, 1974) through the received playflow control wireless signal (102b) by the toy item (2010, 2009, 1974).

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the playflow comprises at least one of:

moving the toy item (2010, 2009, 1974) in a forwards direction, moving the toy item (2010, 2009, 1974) in a backwards direction, moving the toy item (2010, 2009, 1974) in a right turn, and moving the toy item (2010, 2009, 1974) in a left turn.

15. A method according to claim 14 comprising:

receiving input from a user by the user input device (104) to change the playflow control wireless signal (102b); and

changing the playflow of the toy item (2010, 2009, 1974).

16. A method according to claim 15 comprising:

uncoupling the retractable connector (103, 203, 303, 503) from the USB port (110).

17. A method according to claim 13 wherein coupling the retractable connector (103, 203, 303, 503) with a USB port (110) comprises extending the retractable connector (103, 203, 303, 503) in relation to the housing (100a, 200a, 300a, 400a).

18. A method according to claim 13 comprising:

receiving a playflow control data (588) from the USB port (110);

generating the playflow control wireless signal (102b) in dependence upon the playflow control data (588); and

controlling the playflow of the toy item (2010, 2009, 1974) in dependence upon the received playflow control wireless signal (102b).

19. A method according to claim 18 comprising:

providing a computer (599);

providing software for execution on the computer (599); and

generating the playflow control data (588) by using the software for execution on the computer (599).

20. A method according to claim 13 comprising:

providing a rechargeable battery (106) disposed within the TRCR (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) and coupled with the wireless transmitter (102a) and wherein recharging comprises recharging the rechargeable battery (106) from electrical power received from the USB port (110).