EP0574634B1 - Dispositif de télécommande pour voitures jouet - Google Patents

Dispositif de télécommande pour voitures jouet Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0574634B1
EP0574634B1 EP19920401653 EP92401653A EP0574634B1 EP 0574634 B1 EP0574634 B1 EP 0574634B1 EP 19920401653 EP19920401653 EP 19920401653 EP 92401653 A EP92401653 A EP 92401653A EP 0574634 B1 EP0574634 B1 EP 0574634B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
code
pulse
toy car
remote control
control device
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19920401653
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0574634A1 (fr
Inventor
Richard Sgs-Thomson Microelectronics Kwok
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
STMicroelectronics SA
Original Assignee
SGS Thomson Microelectronics SA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SGS Thomson Microelectronics SA filed Critical SGS Thomson Microelectronics SA
Priority to EP19920401653 priority Critical patent/EP0574634B1/fr
Priority to DE1992619115 priority patent/DE69219115T2/de
Publication of EP0574634A1 publication Critical patent/EP0574634A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0574634B1 publication Critical patent/EP0574634B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H30/00—Remote-control arrangements specially adapted for toys, e.g. for toy vehicles
    • A63H30/02—Electrical arrangements
    • A63H30/04—Electrical arrangements using wireless transmission
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
    • G08C15/00—Arrangements characterised by the use of multiplexing for the transmission of a plurality of signals over a common path
    • G08C15/06—Arrangements characterised by the use of multiplexing for the transmission of a plurality of signals over a common path successively, i.e. using time division
    • G08C15/12—Arrangements characterised by the use of multiplexing for the transmission of a plurality of signals over a common path successively, i.e. using time division the signals being represented by pulse characteristics in transmission link
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
    • G08C19/00—Electric signal transmission systems
    • G08C19/16—Electric signal transmission systems in which transmission is by pulses
    • G08C19/22—Electric signal transmission systems in which transmission is by pulses by varying the duration of individual pulses

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a remote control device for toy cars. More particularly, it relates to a remote control device which uses radio signals to control the toy's electrically powered functions.
  • the document EP-019.448 discloses an apparatus and a method for controlling the speed and direction of a toy vehicle by radio.
  • This vehicle comprises two motors respectively connected to separate drive wheels, the speed and direction of the vehicle being proportional to the relative speeds of the motors.
  • the apparatus includes transmitting and receiving means, such that a desired movement is produced by determining the speeds of the motors, encoding them onto a transmitted signal, decoding them by the receiving means and applying them to the motors.
  • US patent 4.390.877 describes a remote control system in which control signals from a transmitter are sent to receivers mounted in a number of vehicles. Manually operated controllers for the respective vehicles are connected to the transmitter.
  • the data transmission system processes control signals into successive words, which permit the individual vehicles to be controlled by their individual controllers indepently of one another.
  • Each word of a control signal is preceded by a synchronizing bit, and is shared into several successive channels which correspond to the operating controllers.
  • the latter device is well adapted for the simultaneous control of several vehicles driven along given tracks. Otherwise, it may by subjected to various spurious effects like those precedently described.
  • US patent 4.334.221 deals with a radio control system for a multi-controller, multi-vehicle, independently controlled toy vehicle system.
  • the radio control system provides proportional steering and speed control, each of a plurality of control sets respectively transmitting low-duty cycle command bursts containing an identity code and steering and speed commands.
  • the control sets transmit their command bursts asynchronously, so that the probability of interference between several control sets is considerably decreased.
  • command bursts which are not correct in every respect, due to noise or interference between control sets, are ignored and the previously stored commands continue to be executed.
  • Some objects of the invention are to provide an inexpensive, reliable toy car remote control device for controlling the electrically powered functions of a toy car.
  • the invention comprises a transmitter that transmits a radio signal, and a receiver that receives the said signal and controls the functions of the car, able to store a reference identification code.
  • the signal is a digital waveform composed of serial data organized within a time frame.
  • the time frame comprises an identification code pulse, or ID code pulse, intented to be compared with the reference identification code followed by control code pulses, each control pulse controlling a function of the toy car.
  • the receiver only processes the control code pulses if it detects the identification code pulse preceding them.
  • the toy car remote control device is characterized in that the receiver is able to store a first and a second reference identification codes and that the time frame comprises successively a first and a second ID code pulses, both ID code pulses being detected successively and independently.
  • the receiver comprises clock capacities which provide synchronising signals from the reception of the first ID code pulse. It comprises also enabling capacities which enable the detection of the second ID code pulse only if the second ID code pulse has been received within a given time measured through said synchronising signals form the detection of the first ID code pulse and resetting the detection process otherwise.
  • the receiver comprises activating means, which activate the detection of the control code pulses only if both ID code pulses have been detected.
  • Spurious interference detected by the receiver is unlikely to be structured in the same way as the signal sent by the transmitter and so there is no risk of the receiver interpreting such interference as a radio control signal sent by the transmitter.
  • the toy car remote control device will have the following features either separately or several together:
  • Figure 1 is a representation of the data waveform.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the receiver of the invention.
  • FIGS 3 and 4 are schematic diagrams of the data decoder of the invention.
  • Figure 5 is a timing diagram showing how the invention functions.
  • Figure 6 is a flow chart of the operations performed.
  • the invention relates to a toy car remote control device.
  • the transmitter sends a radio signal that the receiver receives and uses to control the car's functions.
  • the signal transmitted by the transmitter is represented in Figure 1. It is a digital waveform comprising serial data codes 1-5 organized with a time frame 6.
  • This time frame 6 is regularly repeated whenever any control key of transmitter is pressed, the duration of each frame ranging from 15 to 20ms.
  • the first two pulses 1,2 of each frame are ID code pulses.
  • the duration of these ID code pulses is fixed at 4ms each, for example.
  • the third pulse 3 is the direction control code pulse that the receiver interprets according to the width or duration of the said pulse.
  • a narrow direction code pulse is interpreted as "forward” and a wide direction code pulse as "reverse”.
  • the fourth pulse is the turbo code pulse. It is interpreted on the basis of being present or absent in the time frame. When the turbo code pulse is present, this means that the turbo function is to be activated, and when the said pulse is absent, this means that the turbo function is to be deactivated.
  • the fifth and last pulse 5 is the steering code pulse.
  • the steering code pulse is interpreted on the basis of its width or duration. For a narrow steering code pulse, the steering actuator must steer the car to the left, and for a wide steering code pulse, the steering actuator must steer the car to the right. When no steering code pulse is present in the time frame, the steering actuator must keep the steering centralized.
  • the width of a narrow direction or steering code pulse is 0.5ms and that of a wide direction or steering code pulse 2ms.
  • the width of the turbo code when present in the frame is 0.5ms.
  • the two ID code pulses are separated by a time interval 7 of 0.5ms, with a time interval 8 of 1.5ms separating the second ID code pulse and the first control code pulse.
  • Successive frames are separated by a free time interval of approximately 2ms.
  • FIG. 2 A block diagram of the receiver carried by the toy car is shown in Figure 2.
  • the receiver provides the control signal for each of the car's electrically powered functions on a separate output.
  • the RF signal is received by antenna 10.
  • Output pins 11 to 16 each correspond to a value of a function of the car to be activated.
  • the signal received by antenna 10 passes through the RF front-end circuit 17 to input pin 18.
  • the signal is then fed to a built-in tone amplifier 19 providing a closed loop gain of 60dB.
  • Tone amplifier 19 provides a constant maximum level digital signal at point 20 therefore mitigating the effects of any variation in received signal strength.
  • the signal at the output of amplifier 19 is also sampled by LED driver 22.
  • LED driver 22 makes LED 66 flash whenever there is no output signal from amplifier 19, and stops it flashing as soon as a signal reappears on the output of amplifier 19.
  • a synchronized astable timer 23 provides a string of 0.25ms clock pulse signals which control two timers 24, 25.
  • First timer 24 together with pulse comparator 26, first ID detector 27 and second ID detector 28 allow the receiver to recognize that the received signal is a valid signal and not spurious interference.
  • Clock demultiplexer 29 has seven outputs, each corresponding to a value of one of the control pulses.
  • Each of these outputs 32 to 36 is connected to a corresponding decoder 42-46, or pulse width comparator, that also receives the data from the signal.
  • decoder 42-46 operates a drive latch 52-56 that is connected to a corresponding output pin 12-16.
  • Output pin 11 corresponds to the "centre" steering code which is automatically selected in the absence of a "left” or “right” steering code pulse in the received signal frame.
  • Protection circuits 61 and 62 are provided between the drive latches for direction and steering to protect against cross-conducting.
  • FIGs 3 and 4 propose detailed practical circuit diagrams of the functions represented on the block diagram in Figure 2.
  • the signals transmitting the serial codes from the transmitter are received and fed to "Data In" pin 18.
  • the pulses are then shaped by Schmitt-triggered circuit 101 which comprises two Quad 2-Input Schmitt-triggered Nand Gates 102, 103.
  • One shot timer 104 is a Monostable Multivibrator which generates a 3.8ms pulse on each positive-going transition of the data codes.
  • This pulse is sent through circuit 105 to ID detector 108.
  • Circuit 105 comprises two Quad 2-Input Schmitt-triggered Nand Gates 106, 107.
  • ID detector 108 is a Dual J-K Flip-Flop with Clear.
  • astable timer 23 is synchronized at falling edge of output from detector 108 to provide a string of 0.25ms clock pulses.
  • a first ID detector 27 will be toggled and enable the second ID detector 28.
  • ID detector 27 will be reset automatically on the fifth clock pulse.
  • the process for the second ID detector 28 is the same as that for the first ID detector 27 except that second ID detector 28 enables a four-bit ring counter 116-125 and first ID detector 27 enables a three-bit ring counter 110-115.
  • Clock demultiplexer 29 is synchronized by astable timer 23, and is activated by a signal received from the second ID detector 28 through Quad 2-Input Nand Gate 109 together with Hex Inverter 130 and 131.
  • Clock demultiplexer 29 and its associated components 116-125 produce five clock signals.
  • Each clock signal, respectively 202, 203, 204, 205 and 206, supplied by clock demultiplexer 29 is correctly timed to coincide with one of the control code values. It is directed to a pulse width comparator 302-306 which receives the signal's digital data via filter 30 and can send a signal to drive latches 402-406 which in turn send a signal to output pin 12-16.
  • the pulse width comparators each comprise a Dual J-K Flip-Flop with Clear, each receiving data signals on the clock pulses.
  • the drive latches each comprise two Quad 2-Input Nand Gates in combination with two Quad 2-Input Nor Gates.
  • Figure 5 shows the timing diagram of some of the most important signals in the receiver.
  • 701 is the input signal, as already represented and described in Figure 1.
  • 702 is the signal produced by astable timer 23 in response to the first ID code pulse.
  • 704-709 are the signals produced by the clock demultiplexer, respectively on each of its outputs.
  • the signals are amplified (603) to provide a maximum constant level and then shaped by a Schmitt-triggered circuit (604).
  • the first pulse operates the one-shot multivibrator (605) that performs the ID code pulse comparison (606).
  • the first ID code pulse is detected (607) and its positive-going edge brings the three-bit ring counter (608) into operation.
  • the first ID detector will be toggled, enabling in turn the second ID detector (610).
  • ID detector 27 will be reset automatically on the fifth clock pulse.
  • the second ID code pulse is detected in the same way as the first ID code pulse (610-613), except that the ring counter is a four-bit ring counter (611).
  • each pulse After detection, each pulse activates a latch that operates the corresponding function.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
  • Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)

Claims (11)

  1. Dispositif de télécommande pour voiture jouet, ladite voiture jouet ayant des fonctions alimentées électriquement comprenant :
    - un émetteur qui émet un signal radio et,
    - un récepteur qui reçoit ledit signal et commande les fonctions de la voiture apte à emmagasiner un code d'identification de référence,
    - ledit signal étant une forme d'onde numérique constituée de données en série (1-5) organisées dans un cadre temporel (6), ledit cadre temporel (6) comprenant une impulsion de code d'identification (1, 2) ou impulsion de code ID destinée à être comparée avec le code d'identification de référence, suivie par des impulsions de code de commande (3-5), chaque impulsion de commande commandant une fonction de la voiture jouet et le récepteur traitant seulement les impulsions de code de commande s'il détecte l'impulsion de code d'identification (1, 2) qui les précéde, caractérisé en ce que le récepteur est apte à emmagasiner un premier et un deuxième codes d'identification de référence et en ce que ledit cadre temporel (6) comprend successivement une première (1) et une deuxième (2) impulsions de code ID, les deux impulsions de code ID étant détectées successivement et indépendamment, le récepteur comprenant des capacités d'horloge (23) qui fournissent des signaux de synchronisation (702) à partir de la réception de la première impulsion de code ID (1), validant les capacités (27) qui valident la détection de la deuxième impulsion de code ID (2) seulement si la deuxième impulsion de code ID (2) a été reçue dans une durée donnée mesurée par l'intermédiaire desdits signaux de synchronisation à partir de la détection de la première impulsion de code ID (1), et remettant à l'état initial le processus de détection autrement, et des moyens d'activation (23, 28, 29) qui activent la détection des impulsions de code de commande (3-5) seulement si les deux impulsions de code ID (1, 2) ont été détectées.
  2. Dispositif de télécommande pour voiture jouet selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un filtre numérique interne 30 pour rejeter du signal toute pointe ou bruit.
  3. Dispositif de télécommande pour voitures jouet selon l'une des revendications 1 et 2, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un amplificateur (19) et une bascule de Schmitt (21) traitant le signal avant le décodage.
  4. Dispositif de télécommande pour voiture jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que les fonctions de la voiture jouet sont une commande de direction, une commande de fonction de vitesse et une commande de braquage.
  5. Dispositif de télécommande pour voiture jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que la valeur produite par au moins l'une des impulsions de commande (3, 5) commandant une fonction de la voiture jouet dépend de la durée de l'impulsion de commande.
  6. Dispositif de télécommande pour voiture jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce que le récepteur comprend un amplificateur de son intégré (19) avec un gain de boucle fermée, un moyen pour verrouiller le niveau des impulsions de code et un décodeur.
  7. Dispositif de télécommande pour voiture jouet selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que le décodeur comprend au moins un comparateur de largeur d'impulsion (42-46).
  8. Dispositif de télécommande pour voiture jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications 6 et 7, caractérisé en ce que le décodeur comprend plusieurs comparateurs de largeur d'impulsion (42-46), chacun correspondant à une impulsion de code, et un démultiplexeur d'horloge (29) qui valide respectivement chacun des comparateurs de largeur d'impulsion (42-46) à l'instant où son code correspondant est disponible.
  9. Dispositif de télécommande pour voiture jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications 6 à 8, caractérisé en ce que le décodeur comprend plusieurs verrous (52-56) chacun correspondant à une impulsion de code, et qui sont déclenchés par le comparateur de largeur d'impulsion respectif pour commander une sortie.
  10. Dispositif de télécommande pour voiture jouet selon la revendication 9, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend des portes NON-ET (61, 62) qui protègent chaque sortie contre une conduction transversale.
  11. Dispositif de télécommande pour voiture jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 10, caractérisé en ce que le récepteur comprend une diode émettrice de lumière 66 qui émet de la lumière lorsqu'aucun signal n'est reçu par le récepteur.
EP19920401653 1992-06-15 1992-06-15 Dispositif de télécommande pour voitures jouet Expired - Lifetime EP0574634B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19920401653 EP0574634B1 (fr) 1992-06-15 1992-06-15 Dispositif de télécommande pour voitures jouet
DE1992619115 DE69219115T2 (de) 1992-06-15 1992-06-15 Fernsteuerung für Spielzeugautos

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19920401653 EP0574634B1 (fr) 1992-06-15 1992-06-15 Dispositif de télécommande pour voitures jouet

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0574634A1 EP0574634A1 (fr) 1993-12-22
EP0574634B1 true EP0574634B1 (fr) 1997-04-16

Family

ID=8211670

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19920401653 Expired - Lifetime EP0574634B1 (fr) 1992-06-15 1992-06-15 Dispositif de télécommande pour voitures jouet

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0574634B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69219115T2 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7833080B2 (en) * 2002-10-22 2010-11-16 Winkler International, Sa Control system and method for electric toy vehicles

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4021279B2 (ja) * 2002-08-12 2007-12-12 株式会社コナミデジタルエンタテインメント 遠隔操作システム並びにその送信機及び駆動機器
JP4311326B2 (ja) * 2004-10-04 2009-08-12 株式会社デンソー 遠隔操作用車載装置

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2006495B (en) * 1977-07-15 1982-10-20 Mettoy Co Ltd Remote control apparatus and to toys utilising such apparatus
DE2903075C2 (de) * 1979-01-26 1982-10-07 Flachenecker, Gerhard, Prof. Dr.-Ing., 8012 Ottobrunn Verfahren und Einrichtung zur pulslängencodierten Fernübertragung
DE3014413A1 (de) * 1979-05-14 1981-04-09 Noël M. Berkeley Calif. Calvin Verfahren und geraet zur funkfernsteuerung eines fahrzeugs
US4334221A (en) * 1979-10-22 1982-06-08 Ideal Toy Corporation Multi-vehicle multi-controller radio remote control system
US4390877A (en) * 1980-07-31 1983-06-28 Curran Kenneth J Remote control systems for toy vehicles, and the like
DE3338046A1 (de) * 1983-04-07 1984-10-18 Jürgen Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Wagner Drahtlose fernsteuerung zum einstellen des zustandes mehrerer elektrischer verbraucher
JP2508947Y2 (ja) * 1991-01-22 1996-08-28 大陽工業株式会社 キャタピラ式乗物玩具

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7833080B2 (en) * 2002-10-22 2010-11-16 Winkler International, Sa Control system and method for electric toy vehicles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69219115D1 (de) 1997-05-22
DE69219115T2 (de) 1997-11-20
EP0574634A1 (fr) 1993-12-22

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