CA2195492A1 - Electric toy car racing track controller system - Google Patents
Electric toy car racing track controller systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA2195492A1 CA2195492A1 CA002195492A CA2195492A CA2195492A1 CA 2195492 A1 CA2195492 A1 CA 2195492A1 CA 002195492 A CA002195492 A CA 002195492A CA 2195492 A CA2195492 A CA 2195492A CA 2195492 A1 CA2195492 A1 CA 2195492A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- power supply
- controller system
- remote controller
- supply rails
- receiver
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Abstract
A remote controller system (10) for use with an electric toy car racing track (40) formed by a series of track sections (41 & 42) connected together to provide lanes (40A
& 40B) having co-extending pairs of power supply rails (44) for supplying power to electric toy cars running along respective lanes (40A & 40B). The controller system (10) comprises a transmitter (20) for use by a respective player relative to each lane (40A/40B) and a receiver (30) for electrical connection to the power supply rails (44). The transmitter (20) includes a signal generator (26) for generating a control signal for transmission in a wireless manner. The receiver (30) includes a signal processor (38) for processing the control signal received from the transmitter (20) to determine the characteristic, such as level, duty cycle or frequency, of the voltage supplied to the respective pair of power supply rails (44) for controlling the movement of the associated toy car.
& 40B) having co-extending pairs of power supply rails (44) for supplying power to electric toy cars running along respective lanes (40A & 40B). The controller system (10) comprises a transmitter (20) for use by a respective player relative to each lane (40A/40B) and a receiver (30) for electrical connection to the power supply rails (44). The transmitter (20) includes a signal generator (26) for generating a control signal for transmission in a wireless manner. The receiver (30) includes a signal processor (38) for processing the control signal received from the transmitter (20) to determine the characteristic, such as level, duty cycle or frequency, of the voltage supplied to the respective pair of power supply rails (44) for controlling the movement of the associated toy car.
Description
2 i 9~492 ~ 1 --ELECTRIC TOY CAR RACING TRACK CONTROLLER SYSTEM
The present invention relates to a controller system for an electric toy car racing track.
Electric toy car racing tracks are generally known, which 5 are typically formed by an endless series of connected track sections to provide at least two side-by-side lanes, each having a pair of power supply rails, for respective electric toy cars to run along. The toy cars are to be controlled by players by means of respective hand-held 0 controllers which are électrically connected by wires to the corresponding pairs of power supply rails via a power pick-up track section.
The invention seeks to provide a modified controller system for an electric toy car racing track, which is more 15 convenient to use than the existing controller systems.
According to the invention, there is provided a remote controller system for use with an electric toy car racing track formed by a series of track sections connected together to provide lanes having co-extending pairs of power supply rails for supplying power to electric toy cars running along respective lanes, which system comprises a transmitter for use by a respective player relative to each lane and a receiver for electrical connection to the power supply rails, said transmitter including a signal generator for generating a control signal for transmission in a wireless ~nner, said receiver including a signal processor for processing the control signal received from the transmitter to determ;ne the characteristic of the voltage 5 supplied to the respective pair of power supply rails for controlling the ~,.ov~-,ent of the associated toy car.
Preferably, the control signal is transmitted from a respective transmitter and received by the receiver in the form of a radio frequency signal.
o More preferably, the radio frequency signal is amplitude modulated.
It is preferred that the receiver incorporates a voltage regulator to determine the characteristic of the voltage supplied to the power supply rails.
In a first preferred embodiment, the voltage regulator is adapted to change the level of the voltage supplied to the power supply rails.
In a second preferred embodiment, the voltage regulator is adapted to change the duty cycle of the voltage supplied to 20 the power supply rails.
In a third preferred embodiment, the voltage regulator is adapted to change the frequency of the voltage supplied to 21 9549~
the power supply rails.
It is preferred that the receiver is adapted to gradually adjust the characteristic of the voltage supplied to the power supply rails over a predeterm;ned range.
5 More preferably, each transmitter incorporates a variable resistor to determ;ne the control signal for controlling the receiver to gradually adjust the characteristic of the voltage supplied to the power supply rails.
It is alternatively preferred that the receiver is adapted o to select the characteristic of the voltage supplied to the power supply rails between predeterm;ned values.
More preferably, each transmitter incorporates a selector switch to determ;ne the control signal for controlling the receiver to select the characteristic of the voltage 15 supplied to the power supply rails.
In a preferred arrangement, the receiver is adapted to be electrically connected between the power supply rails and a power supply source for a said racing track.
Conveniently, the remote controller system is adapted for use with a conventional racing track.
The invention also provides an electric toy racing car track in combination with the aforesaid remote controller system.
The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying 5 drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of a controller system formed by a transmitter and a receiver, in accordance with the invention, for use with an electric toy car racing track comprising an endless track and a o power supply unit;
Figure 2 is an internal side view of the transmitter of Figure 1;
Figures 3A and 3B are functional block diagrams of respective operating circuitries of the transmitter and the receiver of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of the operating circuitry of the transmitter of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of the operating circuitry of the receiver of Figure 3;
20 Figures 6A to 6E are five graphs showing the voltage/speed relationship of a toy car running on the racing track under the control of the controller system of Figure 1; and Figures 7A and 7B are top plan views of the internal drive mech~n;sm, in different operating conditions, of a toy car.
Referring initially to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is 5 shown a remote controller system 10 embodying the invention, which system 10 is formed by two transmitters 20 for use by players to control respective electric toy cars (not shown) and a receiver 30 for use with an electric toy car racing track system comprising an endless racing track o 40 and a power supply unit 50. The racing track 40 is formed by a loop of inter-connected track sections 41, including a power intake track section 42, to provide two co-extensive endless lanes 40A and 40B along which the respective toy cars are to run. Each lane 40A/40B has a 15 central groove 43 for guiding a bottom peg of the respective toy car running therealong and two power supply rails 44 provided on opposite sides of the groove 43 for supplying power to the toy car. The power intake track section 42 has an outer side tab 45 on which two pairs of 20 contact term;n~ls 45T are provided in electrical connection with respective pairs of power supply rails 44.
The power supply unit 50 is provided by a battery box 51 containing, for example, eight battery cells to form a 6v DC power source (Vcc in Figure 5). The battery box 51 has 25 a front side tab 52 on which two pairs of supply t~rm;n~ls 52T are provided in electrical connection with the battery cells. The pairs of supply t~rm; n~l S 52T are connected with the respective pairs of contact termi n~ 1 S 45T by electrical wires such that the power supply unit 50 is 5 electrically connected to the power supply rails 44. The battery box 51 includes a rear side tab 53 on which two pairs of contact term; n~ 1 S 53T. Each pair of contact term;n~ls 53T represents a break in the power circuit of a respective pair of power supply rails 44 for the o corresponding toy car and is provided for the connection of a respective conventional hand-held controller by means of electrical wires. The controller is in effect a variable resistor for controlling the voltage applied to the respective pair of power supply rails 44 and, in turn, the 15 speed of a respective toy car.
The construction and operation of the racing track 40 and the power supply unit 50, as described above, are generally known in the art. Alternatively, the power supply unit 50 may be replaced by a voltage regulator connected to the 20 mains power supply.
The receiver 30 has a casing 31 which is provided with front and rear side tabs 32 and 33, each having a channel-shaped cross-section and two pairs of contact t~rm;n~ls 32T/33T. The receiver 30 iS used between the power intake 25 track section 42 and the power supply unit 50, with the tabs 32 and 33 slidably engaging the respective tabs 45 and _ 7 _ 2195492 52 and simultaneous electrical connection of the respective contact tPrm; n~l S 32T and 33T with the respective contact and supply t~rm; n~l S 45T and 52T.
Reference is now made to Figures 2 to 5 of the drawings.
5 Each transmitter 20 has a hand-grip body 21 including a spring-loaded trigger 22, an internal sliding selector switch 23 and an upwardly extending antenna 24. The transmitters 20 and the receiver 30 have respective internal electronic operating circuitries 25 and 35 which o are radio-linked together for the transmitters 20 to control the operation of the receiver 30.
Each transmitter circuitry 25 is formed by a bi-stable oscillator 26 which is connected to the selector switch 23 and an AM (amplitude modulation) modulator 27 which is 15 tuned to have a carrier frequency of 27MHz for one transmitter 20 or 40MHz for the other transmitter 20 and connected to the respective antenna 24. The receiver circuitry 35 has two parts, each of which is formed by a combined RF ~radio frequency) amplifier/demodulator 36 20 connected to a common antenna 34, an amplifier 37, a signal processor 38, a pair of transistor switches 38A and an output driver 39.
In each transmitter circuitry 25, the oscillator 26 is designed to generate a square-wave control signal of either 25 lkHZ or 2.6kHz which is selectable by the selector switch ~ t 95492 23 connecting either resistors R3/R4 or resistors R2/R5 (Figure 4). The AM modulator 27 serves to provide an AM
control signal, at a carrier frequency of 27MHz or 40MHz, for emission by means of the respective antenna 24.
In each part of the receiver circuitry 35, the RF
amplifier/demodulator 36 serves to receive the AM control signal by means of the common antenna 34 and then to recover, through demodulation, the lkHz or 2.6kHz square-wave control signal originally generated by the oscillator o 26 of either transmitter 20. The ~mo~ ted control signal is amplified by the amplifier 37 and then fed to the signal processor 38.
The signal processor 38 is in the form of an IC (integrated circuit) chip which has an input pin 1 for receiving the 15 control signal and two output pins 6 and 7. The output pin 6 provides a logic high ~3V) when a control signal of lkHz is received, whereas the other output pin 8 provides a logic high (3V) when a control signal of 2.6kHz is received. The transistor switches 38A are connected to the corresponding output pins 6 and 7 for modifying the logic high (3V) of the output pins 6 and 7 to control signals of 4.0-4.5V and 4.3-4.8V, respectively. The modified control signals vary simultaneously depending on the loading condition but will remain at a difference of 0.3V. The 25 modified control signals are finally fed to the output driver 39 for providing a correspondingly low or high track voltage, across the respective power supply rails 44, for driving the associated toy car (motor M) at a low or high speed.
The power supply unit 50 is connected to the power supply 5 rails 44 via the output driver 39 which acts as a voltage regulator to determ; n~ the level of the track voltage supplied to the power supply rails 44 and in turn to the respective toy cars for speed control.
As illustrated in Figure 6A of the drawings, the speed of o the toy cars is det~rm;n~d by the ~actual) level of the track voltage in direct proportion, as in the case of the above described embodiment. In a different embodiment, the output driver 39 may be configured to provide a pulsating track voltage (in square-wave form) and alter the average level of the track voltage by changing its duty cycle, such as 50~ on/50~ off (Figure 6B) for low speed and 75~ on/25~
off (Figure 6C) for high speed running of the toy cars. In another different embodiment, as illustrated in Figures 6D
and 6E, the frequency of the pulsating track voltage may be 20 altered by the output driver 39 such that a lower frequency is for low speed running and a higher frequency is for high speed running.
In all the described embodiments, it is envisaged that the track voltage may vary over a continuous range, rather than 25 having only two predeterm;ned high/low levels, such that 2i 95492 the speed of the toy cars may be controlled in a gradual m~nn~r For the control of the speed of the toy cars, instead of changing the actual or average/means level of the track 5 voltage, the polarity of the track voltage may be reversed.
Such a speed control requires the use of a special drive mechanism 60 for the toy cars, for example, as shown in Figures 7A and 7B.
The me~h~n;.sm 60 iS formed by an electric motor 61 having o a motor pinion 62, a pair of opposed crown wheels 63A and 63B for simultaneously driving by the pinion 62 to rotate in opposite directions, and two co-axial axles 65A and 65B
for rotation by respective crown wheels 63A and 63B in said opposite directions about a co~mon axis. A gear train 64 is employed between the crown wheel 63B and the axle 65B
for reducing the speed of the axle 65B compared with the other axle 65A. Each crown wheel 63A/63B iS rotatably engageable with the respective axle 65A/65B by means of a respective one-way ratchet 66A/66B, as shown. The ratchets 20 66A and 66B are arranged to operate (hold/slip) in opposite senses such that when one ratchet 66A/66B holds/slips the other ratchet 66B/66A slips/holds.
In an operating condition where the motor 61 iS powered at the polarity as shown in Figure 7A, the crown wheel 63A
2s rotates the axle 65A, through holding of the ratchet 66A, in a car-forward-moving direction. Although the other crown wheel 63R is rotated (by the same pinion 62) in the opposite direction, the ratchet 66B Slips to allow the associated axle 65B to follow and roll freely with the s driven axle 65A, via engagement of respective car wheels on the track surface. The toy car moves forwards.
In a different operating condition where the motor 61 iS
powered at the opposite polarity as shown in Figure 7B, the motor 61 and the crown wheels 63A and 63B rotate in the o reverse direction, causing the ratchet 66A to slip and the ratchet 66B to hold. Through holding of the ratchet 66B, the crown wheel 63B rotates the axle 65B in the reverse, now car-forward-moving direction and at a reduced speed caused by the gear train 64. The other ratchet 66A Slips 15 to allow the associated axle 65A to roll freely with the driven axle 65B, via the car wheels and track surface. The toy car r~m~;n~ moving forwards, albeit at slower speed.
The reversing of the polarity of the track voltage may be effected by suitable transistor switches in the receiver 20 operating circuitry 35 arranged to alter the positive (Vcc) and the earth connections of the power supply unit 50.
It is to be appreciated that the use of the transmitter 20 and receiver 30 of the described controller system 10 with the racing track 40 iS optional, in that the racing track 25 40 itself may instead be controlled by means of the conventional wired controllers The use of the controller system 10 to enable wireless remote control, without the need to modify the construction of the racing track 40 and the toy cars as generally known in the art, is simple and 5 greatly ~nh~nces the fun of playing.
In a different embodiment, the wireless remote control link between the transmitter 20 and the receiver 30 may be established by means of infrared signal or any other suitable wireless control signal. Also, the racing track o 40 may be powered by domestic mains power supply instead of battery cells.
The invention has been given by way of example only, and various other modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiment may be made by persons skilled in the 15 art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.
The present invention relates to a controller system for an electric toy car racing track.
Electric toy car racing tracks are generally known, which 5 are typically formed by an endless series of connected track sections to provide at least two side-by-side lanes, each having a pair of power supply rails, for respective electric toy cars to run along. The toy cars are to be controlled by players by means of respective hand-held 0 controllers which are électrically connected by wires to the corresponding pairs of power supply rails via a power pick-up track section.
The invention seeks to provide a modified controller system for an electric toy car racing track, which is more 15 convenient to use than the existing controller systems.
According to the invention, there is provided a remote controller system for use with an electric toy car racing track formed by a series of track sections connected together to provide lanes having co-extending pairs of power supply rails for supplying power to electric toy cars running along respective lanes, which system comprises a transmitter for use by a respective player relative to each lane and a receiver for electrical connection to the power supply rails, said transmitter including a signal generator for generating a control signal for transmission in a wireless ~nner, said receiver including a signal processor for processing the control signal received from the transmitter to determ;ne the characteristic of the voltage 5 supplied to the respective pair of power supply rails for controlling the ~,.ov~-,ent of the associated toy car.
Preferably, the control signal is transmitted from a respective transmitter and received by the receiver in the form of a radio frequency signal.
o More preferably, the radio frequency signal is amplitude modulated.
It is preferred that the receiver incorporates a voltage regulator to determine the characteristic of the voltage supplied to the power supply rails.
In a first preferred embodiment, the voltage regulator is adapted to change the level of the voltage supplied to the power supply rails.
In a second preferred embodiment, the voltage regulator is adapted to change the duty cycle of the voltage supplied to 20 the power supply rails.
In a third preferred embodiment, the voltage regulator is adapted to change the frequency of the voltage supplied to 21 9549~
the power supply rails.
It is preferred that the receiver is adapted to gradually adjust the characteristic of the voltage supplied to the power supply rails over a predeterm;ned range.
5 More preferably, each transmitter incorporates a variable resistor to determ;ne the control signal for controlling the receiver to gradually adjust the characteristic of the voltage supplied to the power supply rails.
It is alternatively preferred that the receiver is adapted o to select the characteristic of the voltage supplied to the power supply rails between predeterm;ned values.
More preferably, each transmitter incorporates a selector switch to determ;ne the control signal for controlling the receiver to select the characteristic of the voltage 15 supplied to the power supply rails.
In a preferred arrangement, the receiver is adapted to be electrically connected between the power supply rails and a power supply source for a said racing track.
Conveniently, the remote controller system is adapted for use with a conventional racing track.
The invention also provides an electric toy racing car track in combination with the aforesaid remote controller system.
The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying 5 drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of a controller system formed by a transmitter and a receiver, in accordance with the invention, for use with an electric toy car racing track comprising an endless track and a o power supply unit;
Figure 2 is an internal side view of the transmitter of Figure 1;
Figures 3A and 3B are functional block diagrams of respective operating circuitries of the transmitter and the receiver of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of the operating circuitry of the transmitter of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of the operating circuitry of the receiver of Figure 3;
20 Figures 6A to 6E are five graphs showing the voltage/speed relationship of a toy car running on the racing track under the control of the controller system of Figure 1; and Figures 7A and 7B are top plan views of the internal drive mech~n;sm, in different operating conditions, of a toy car.
Referring initially to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is 5 shown a remote controller system 10 embodying the invention, which system 10 is formed by two transmitters 20 for use by players to control respective electric toy cars (not shown) and a receiver 30 for use with an electric toy car racing track system comprising an endless racing track o 40 and a power supply unit 50. The racing track 40 is formed by a loop of inter-connected track sections 41, including a power intake track section 42, to provide two co-extensive endless lanes 40A and 40B along which the respective toy cars are to run. Each lane 40A/40B has a 15 central groove 43 for guiding a bottom peg of the respective toy car running therealong and two power supply rails 44 provided on opposite sides of the groove 43 for supplying power to the toy car. The power intake track section 42 has an outer side tab 45 on which two pairs of 20 contact term;n~ls 45T are provided in electrical connection with respective pairs of power supply rails 44.
The power supply unit 50 is provided by a battery box 51 containing, for example, eight battery cells to form a 6v DC power source (Vcc in Figure 5). The battery box 51 has 25 a front side tab 52 on which two pairs of supply t~rm;n~ls 52T are provided in electrical connection with the battery cells. The pairs of supply t~rm; n~l S 52T are connected with the respective pairs of contact termi n~ 1 S 45T by electrical wires such that the power supply unit 50 is 5 electrically connected to the power supply rails 44. The battery box 51 includes a rear side tab 53 on which two pairs of contact term; n~ 1 S 53T. Each pair of contact term;n~ls 53T represents a break in the power circuit of a respective pair of power supply rails 44 for the o corresponding toy car and is provided for the connection of a respective conventional hand-held controller by means of electrical wires. The controller is in effect a variable resistor for controlling the voltage applied to the respective pair of power supply rails 44 and, in turn, the 15 speed of a respective toy car.
The construction and operation of the racing track 40 and the power supply unit 50, as described above, are generally known in the art. Alternatively, the power supply unit 50 may be replaced by a voltage regulator connected to the 20 mains power supply.
The receiver 30 has a casing 31 which is provided with front and rear side tabs 32 and 33, each having a channel-shaped cross-section and two pairs of contact t~rm;n~ls 32T/33T. The receiver 30 iS used between the power intake 25 track section 42 and the power supply unit 50, with the tabs 32 and 33 slidably engaging the respective tabs 45 and _ 7 _ 2195492 52 and simultaneous electrical connection of the respective contact tPrm; n~l S 32T and 33T with the respective contact and supply t~rm; n~l S 45T and 52T.
Reference is now made to Figures 2 to 5 of the drawings.
5 Each transmitter 20 has a hand-grip body 21 including a spring-loaded trigger 22, an internal sliding selector switch 23 and an upwardly extending antenna 24. The transmitters 20 and the receiver 30 have respective internal electronic operating circuitries 25 and 35 which o are radio-linked together for the transmitters 20 to control the operation of the receiver 30.
Each transmitter circuitry 25 is formed by a bi-stable oscillator 26 which is connected to the selector switch 23 and an AM (amplitude modulation) modulator 27 which is 15 tuned to have a carrier frequency of 27MHz for one transmitter 20 or 40MHz for the other transmitter 20 and connected to the respective antenna 24. The receiver circuitry 35 has two parts, each of which is formed by a combined RF ~radio frequency) amplifier/demodulator 36 20 connected to a common antenna 34, an amplifier 37, a signal processor 38, a pair of transistor switches 38A and an output driver 39.
In each transmitter circuitry 25, the oscillator 26 is designed to generate a square-wave control signal of either 25 lkHZ or 2.6kHz which is selectable by the selector switch ~ t 95492 23 connecting either resistors R3/R4 or resistors R2/R5 (Figure 4). The AM modulator 27 serves to provide an AM
control signal, at a carrier frequency of 27MHz or 40MHz, for emission by means of the respective antenna 24.
In each part of the receiver circuitry 35, the RF
amplifier/demodulator 36 serves to receive the AM control signal by means of the common antenna 34 and then to recover, through demodulation, the lkHz or 2.6kHz square-wave control signal originally generated by the oscillator o 26 of either transmitter 20. The ~mo~ ted control signal is amplified by the amplifier 37 and then fed to the signal processor 38.
The signal processor 38 is in the form of an IC (integrated circuit) chip which has an input pin 1 for receiving the 15 control signal and two output pins 6 and 7. The output pin 6 provides a logic high ~3V) when a control signal of lkHz is received, whereas the other output pin 8 provides a logic high (3V) when a control signal of 2.6kHz is received. The transistor switches 38A are connected to the corresponding output pins 6 and 7 for modifying the logic high (3V) of the output pins 6 and 7 to control signals of 4.0-4.5V and 4.3-4.8V, respectively. The modified control signals vary simultaneously depending on the loading condition but will remain at a difference of 0.3V. The 25 modified control signals are finally fed to the output driver 39 for providing a correspondingly low or high track voltage, across the respective power supply rails 44, for driving the associated toy car (motor M) at a low or high speed.
The power supply unit 50 is connected to the power supply 5 rails 44 via the output driver 39 which acts as a voltage regulator to determ; n~ the level of the track voltage supplied to the power supply rails 44 and in turn to the respective toy cars for speed control.
As illustrated in Figure 6A of the drawings, the speed of o the toy cars is det~rm;n~d by the ~actual) level of the track voltage in direct proportion, as in the case of the above described embodiment. In a different embodiment, the output driver 39 may be configured to provide a pulsating track voltage (in square-wave form) and alter the average level of the track voltage by changing its duty cycle, such as 50~ on/50~ off (Figure 6B) for low speed and 75~ on/25~
off (Figure 6C) for high speed running of the toy cars. In another different embodiment, as illustrated in Figures 6D
and 6E, the frequency of the pulsating track voltage may be 20 altered by the output driver 39 such that a lower frequency is for low speed running and a higher frequency is for high speed running.
In all the described embodiments, it is envisaged that the track voltage may vary over a continuous range, rather than 25 having only two predeterm;ned high/low levels, such that 2i 95492 the speed of the toy cars may be controlled in a gradual m~nn~r For the control of the speed of the toy cars, instead of changing the actual or average/means level of the track 5 voltage, the polarity of the track voltage may be reversed.
Such a speed control requires the use of a special drive mechanism 60 for the toy cars, for example, as shown in Figures 7A and 7B.
The me~h~n;.sm 60 iS formed by an electric motor 61 having o a motor pinion 62, a pair of opposed crown wheels 63A and 63B for simultaneously driving by the pinion 62 to rotate in opposite directions, and two co-axial axles 65A and 65B
for rotation by respective crown wheels 63A and 63B in said opposite directions about a co~mon axis. A gear train 64 is employed between the crown wheel 63B and the axle 65B
for reducing the speed of the axle 65B compared with the other axle 65A. Each crown wheel 63A/63B iS rotatably engageable with the respective axle 65A/65B by means of a respective one-way ratchet 66A/66B, as shown. The ratchets 20 66A and 66B are arranged to operate (hold/slip) in opposite senses such that when one ratchet 66A/66B holds/slips the other ratchet 66B/66A slips/holds.
In an operating condition where the motor 61 iS powered at the polarity as shown in Figure 7A, the crown wheel 63A
2s rotates the axle 65A, through holding of the ratchet 66A, in a car-forward-moving direction. Although the other crown wheel 63R is rotated (by the same pinion 62) in the opposite direction, the ratchet 66B Slips to allow the associated axle 65B to follow and roll freely with the s driven axle 65A, via engagement of respective car wheels on the track surface. The toy car moves forwards.
In a different operating condition where the motor 61 iS
powered at the opposite polarity as shown in Figure 7B, the motor 61 and the crown wheels 63A and 63B rotate in the o reverse direction, causing the ratchet 66A to slip and the ratchet 66B to hold. Through holding of the ratchet 66B, the crown wheel 63B rotates the axle 65B in the reverse, now car-forward-moving direction and at a reduced speed caused by the gear train 64. The other ratchet 66A Slips 15 to allow the associated axle 65A to roll freely with the driven axle 65B, via the car wheels and track surface. The toy car r~m~;n~ moving forwards, albeit at slower speed.
The reversing of the polarity of the track voltage may be effected by suitable transistor switches in the receiver 20 operating circuitry 35 arranged to alter the positive (Vcc) and the earth connections of the power supply unit 50.
It is to be appreciated that the use of the transmitter 20 and receiver 30 of the described controller system 10 with the racing track 40 iS optional, in that the racing track 25 40 itself may instead be controlled by means of the conventional wired controllers The use of the controller system 10 to enable wireless remote control, without the need to modify the construction of the racing track 40 and the toy cars as generally known in the art, is simple and 5 greatly ~nh~nces the fun of playing.
In a different embodiment, the wireless remote control link between the transmitter 20 and the receiver 30 may be established by means of infrared signal or any other suitable wireless control signal. Also, the racing track o 40 may be powered by domestic mains power supply instead of battery cells.
The invention has been given by way of example only, and various other modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiment may be made by persons skilled in the 15 art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.
Claims (15)
1. A remote controller system for use with an electric toy car racing track formed by a series of track sections connected together to provide lanes having co-extending pairs of power supply rails for supplying power to electric toy cars running along respective lanes, which system comprises a transmitter for use by a respective player relative to each lane and a receiver for electrical connection to the power supply rails, said transmitter including a signal generator for generating a control signal for transmission in a wireless manner, said receiver including a signal processor for processing the control signal received from the transmitter to determine the characteristic of the voltage supplied to the respective pair of power supply rails for controlling the movement of the associated toy car.
2. A remote controller system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control signal is transmitted from a respective transmitter and received by the receiver in the form of a radio frequency signal.
3. A remote controller system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the radio frequency signal is amplitude modulated.
4. A remote controller system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the receiver incorporates a voltage regulator to determine the characteristic of the voltage supplied to the power supply rails.
5. A remote controller system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the voltage regulator is adapted to change the level of the voltage supplied to the power supply rails.
6. A remote controller system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the voltage regulator is adapted to change the duty cycle of the voltage supplied to the power supply rails.
7. A remote controller system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the voltage regulator is adapted to change the frequency of the voltage supplied to the power supply rails.
8. A remote controller system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the receiver is adapted to gradually adjust the characteristic of the voltage supplied to the power supply rails over a predetermined range.
9. A remote controller system as claimed in claim 8, wherein each transmitter incorporates a variable resistor to determine the control signal for controlling the receiver to gradually adjust the characteristic of the voltage supplied to the power supply rails.
10. A remote controller system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the receiver is adapted to select the characteristic of the voltage supplied to the power supply rails between predetermined values.
11. A remote controller system as claimed in claim 10, wherein each transmitter incorporates a selector switch to determine the control signal for controlling the receiver to select the characteristic of the voltage supplied to the power supply rails.
12. A remote controller system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiver is adapted to be electrically connected between the power supply rails and a power supply source for a said racing track.
13. A remote controller system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, adapted for use with a conventional racing track.
14. A remote controller system for use with an electric toy car racing track, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
15. An electric toy racing car track in combination with a remote controller system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9608894A GB2312631B (en) | 1996-04-30 | 1996-04-30 | Electric toy car racing track controller system |
| GB9608894.3 | 1996-04-30 | ||
| EP96308291A EP0806230B1 (en) | 1996-04-30 | 1996-11-15 | Remote controller system for electric toy car racing track |
| EP96308291.2 | 1996-11-15 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2195492A1 true CA2195492A1 (en) | 1997-10-31 |
Family
ID=26143946
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002195492A Abandoned CA2195492A1 (en) | 1996-04-30 | 1997-01-20 | Electric toy car racing track controller system |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPH1033838A (en) |
| CN (1) | CN1104920C (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2195492A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6883720B2 (en) * | 2002-11-01 | 2005-04-26 | Mattel, Inc. | Toy vehicle slot track |
| FR2848872B1 (en) * | 2002-12-18 | 2005-05-27 | Wany Sa | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING MOBILE OBJECTS, IN PARTICULAR MINIATURE CARS, IMPLEMENTING A MULTI-CHANNEL GUIDE PROCESS AND SYSTEM USING SUCH A METHOD |
| CN104102221A (en) * | 2014-07-23 | 2014-10-15 | 赵红领 | Intelligent track racing car toy and control method thereof |
| CN107569856A (en) * | 2016-07-05 | 2018-01-12 | 奥飞娱乐股份有限公司 | Toy car matching system and contest judges' box |
| KR101748216B1 (en) * | 2016-10-11 | 2017-06-16 | 주식회사 모노리스 | Track for a racing car performing non-powered driving using gravity |
| CN106474743B (en) * | 2016-12-28 | 2022-05-06 | 赵红领 | Control method of intelligent track code scanning racing toy car |
-
1997
- 1997-01-20 CA CA002195492A patent/CA2195492A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-02-28 CN CN 97103429 patent/CN1104920C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1997-03-05 JP JP6559697A patent/JPH1033838A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPH1033838A (en) | 1998-02-10 |
| CN1104920C (en) | 2003-04-09 |
| CN1165707A (en) | 1997-11-26 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |