GB2287115A - Radio controlled toy - Google Patents

Abstract

A radio controlled toy is provided including a controller and a toy body. The controller includes a microphone (18) for collecting external sounds, a pulse generating section (32) for generating a pulse signal when external sounds are collected by the microphone (18), a sequence circuit (33, 34) for generating a control signal selected from a plurality of sequential control signals, the sequence circuit (33, 34) switching control signals to a next sequential control signal when a pulse signal is generated by the pulse generating section (32), and a modulation circuit (35) for transmitting a radio signal modulated by the control signal. The toy body receives the radio signal and performs an operation selected from a plurality of operations based on modulation of the radio signal. Alternatively, the sequence circuit can be in the toy body. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION RADIO CONTROLLED TOY The present invention relates to a radio controlled toy in which a toy body alternatingly performs various patterned motions in accordance with a control signal output from a controller.

Radio controlled toys include toys such as a toy car capable of performing a plurality of patterned motions including advance and retreat and a controller capable of controlling the patterned motions of the toy car. The conaoltcr of the radio controlled toy is generally provided with a plurality of control switches corresponding to the plurality of patterned motions the controller transmits a radio signal modulated by a control signal corresponding to the control switch which is activated. The toy car receives the radio signal from the controller and perform a motion corresponding to the demodulated control signal.

The prior radio controlled toys are very troublesome for a child because he has to condnuously press a control switch in order to make the toy car perform a predetermined motion. Moreover, to change motion of the car, the child normally has to search for a desired switch among the various switches unless he is familiar with switch operations so that he can blind-touch the switches. Therefore, it is not only troublesome but also difficult to change motion of the car.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a radio controlled toy in which it is possible to easily control the toy body.

To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a radio controlled toy is provided comprising a controller and a toy body. The controller includes a microphone for collecting external sounds, a pulse generating section for generating a pulse signal when external sounds are collected by the microphone, a sequence circuit for generating a control signal selected from a plurality of sequential control signals, the sequence circuit switching control signals to a next sequential control signal when a pulse signal is generated by the pulse generating section, and a modulation circuit for transmitting a radio signal modulated by the control signal.The toy body receives the radio signal and performs an operation selected from a plurality of operations based on modulation of (he radio signal.

In the radio controlled toy according to the first aspect, the pulse generating section may have a time constant circuit having a time constant, the pulse generating section only generating the pulse signal when an external sound is detected after a period of silence continues for a time greater than or equal to the time constant. Moreover, the plurality of control signals may include a pulse of approximately 400 Hz, a pulse of approximately 2 KHz and no pulse.

A radio controlled toy according to a second aspect of the invention includes a controller and a toy body. According to the second aspect, the controller includes a microphone for collecting external sounds, a pulse generating section for generating a pulse signal when external sounds are collected by the microphone, and a transmitter circuit for transmitting a radio signal when the pulse signal is generated. The toy body receives the radio signal and includes a sequence circuit for generating an operation signal selected from a plurality of sequential operation signals, the sequence circuit changing operation signals to a next sequential operation signal when the radio signal is received, the toy body performing an operation selected from a plurality of operation based on the operation signal generated.

In the radio controlled toy according to the second aspect, the pulse generating section may have a time constant circuit having a time constant, the pulse generating section only generating the pulse signal when an external sound is detected after a period of silence continues for a time greater than or equal to the time constant.

In the radio controlled toy according to the first aspect of the present invention, the pulse generating section of the controller generates a pulse signal in accordance with external sounds collected by the microphone and the sequence circuit generates a control signal which corresponds to a specific operation of the toy body whenever the pulse signal is generated. There are different control signals, each corresponding to a different operation of the toy body. One of the diferent control signals is generated by sequentially choosing the next control signal is the sequence. The controller transmits to the toy body a radio signal modulated by the control signal. The radio signal is received by the toy body and the toy body performs an operation foUowing the received radio signal.

Therefore, because a patterned operation of the toy body can be performed by the voice of an operator, it is possible to perform the operations easily, accurately, and quickly. Moreover, it is possible to perform patterned operations in accordance with a predetermined sequence. Therefore, in the case of a traveling toy, it is possible to play a racing game by controlling extemal sounds and repeating advance, turn, and stop operations In the case of a fighting toy robor.

it is possible to play a fighting game by repeating advance, stop, and attack operations.

According to the radio controlled toy of the first aspect, the pulse generating section may be provided with a time constant circuit. In this case, the pulse generating section does not generate a pulse signal until a silent state continues for a time corresponding to the time constant of the time constant circuit. Therefore, even if an operator erroneously speaks intermittently, shortly ateer tuning a command, a radio signal is not interniittently transmitted due to this speech. The Therefore, erroneous changing of the toy body operation is prevented.

According to the radio controlled toy of a second aspect of the invention, the pulse generating section of the controller generates a pulse signal in accordance with external sounds collected by the microphone and generates a radio signal in accordance with the pulse signal, and the controller transmits the radio signal to the toy body. The radio signal is received by the toy body and the toy body performs a patterned operation by a sequence circuit according to a predetermined sequence whenever receiving the radio signal is received. Therefore, because the toy body sequentially performs an operation in accordance with the voice of an operator, operations are performed easily, accurately, and quickly. Moreover, it is possible to perform a patterned operation in accordance with a predetermined sequence. Therefore, in the case of a traveling toy, it is possible to play a racing game by controlling external sounds and repeating advance, turn, and stop operations. In the case of a fighting toy robot, it is possible to play a fighting game by repeating advance, stop, and attack operations.

Further advantages and features of the present invention will be appreciated from the following description when taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. I is an external peppective view of a radio controlled toy according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a controller according to the present invention; Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram of a transmitting section of the controller shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram of a receiving section of a toy body according to the present invention; Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the toy body according to the present invention; Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a rear wheel driving mechanism of the toy body shown in Fig, 5; and Fig. 7 is a structural chart of gears of the rear wheel driving mechanism shown in Fig. 6.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below by referring to the accompanying drawings. Fig. I shows an external view of the present radio controlled toy 1 (hereinafter referred to as the toy) of the embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the toy 1 comprises a radio controlled car 2 and a controller 3 for controlling the radio controlled car 2 by means of radio communication.

In the toy 1, when a voice is uttered toward the controller 3, the controller 3 transmits a radio signal to the radio controlled car 2 having a body 82 and the radio controlled car 2 receives the radio signal so as to perform an operation following the radio signal out of a plurality of patterned operations (advance, left turn, and stop). When an utterance is performed at a predetermined time interval, operations a successively changed and performed whenever the utterance is performed.

The controller 3 is described below in detail. As shown in Fig. 2, the controller3 has a top case 11 and a bottom case 12 which are assembled into one body by machine screws.

The controller 3 is provided with a microphone 18 for converting a voice to an aural signal (electric signal), a transmitting section (see Fig. 3) 31 for generating a radio signal in accordance with the aural signal, and an antenna 19 for transmitting the radio signal.

Moreover, the controller 3 is provided with a power supply switch 14 for turning on/off the power supply of the controller 3 and an LED 15 for displaying the power.supply on/off state, both of which are set to a transmission substrate 13.

A lever section of the power supply switch 14 and the LED 15 are constituted so as to protrude to the outside through hole sections 16 and 17 formed on the surface of the top case 11, when the cases 11 and 12 are fitted together.

Moreover, the transmission substrate 13 is connected to the microphone 18 for converting a voice to an aural signal and connected to the antenna 19 for transmitting a radio signal. In this case, the transmitting section 31 is set to the transmission substrate 13 and the microphone 18 is set to the inside of a sound collecting section 20 comprising a plurality of slits fanned at the bottom of the top case 11. The antenna 19 is fitted into and held by notches 21 formed on the bottom case 12 and the top case 11.

Furthermore, a battery box 23 for storing a battery 22 (see Fig. 3) is formed at thebottmofthebottomcase 12 so that power is supplied to the transmission substrate 13 by a power supply cable connecting an electrode connected to the battery 22 and the transmission substrate 13.

The electric circuitry of the transmitting section 31 of the controller 3 will now be described below referring to Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 3, the transmitting section 31 mainly comprises a pulse generation circuit (pulse generating section) 32, a counter circuit (sequence circuit) 33, an oscillation circuit 34, and a modulation circuit 35.

The pulse generation circuit 32 is a circuit for amplifying an aural signal input from the microphone 18 and generating a pulse signal in accordance with the amplified aural signal. The pulse generation circuit comprises a dial 41 for setting the level of an aural signal, NPN transistors 42 and 43 at two stages for amplifying the level-set aural signal, a resistor 45 and a capacitor 46 which constitute a time constant circuit 44, and a Schmitt trigger IC 47 for generating a pulse signal in accordance with the collector voltage of the transistor 43.

Among these components, the time constant circuit 44 holds the collector voltage of the transistor 43 at the low level w.Lw for a time corresponding to the time constant deterrruned by the resistance value of the resistor 45 and the capacitance of the capacitor 46 when a voice is input and the collector voltage instantaneously comes to L". That is, the time constant circuit 44 is constituted so as to make the Schmitt trigger IC 47 output a pulse signal only once when a voice utterance is input once and make the Schmitt trigger IC 47 output a new pulse signal when a new voice utterance is input again after a state in which no voice is input (silent state) continues for a time corresponding to the time constant.

Moreover, the Schmitt trigger IC 47 outputs the high-level voltage "H" (pulse signal) when the collector voltage of the transistor 43 is set to "L".

The counter circuit 33 comprises J-K flip flops (hereinafter preferred to as "FFs") 48 and 49 at two stages and has a function of a ternary counter.

Specifically, when no pulse signal is input, an "L" signal is output from an output terminal Ql of the FF 48 at the first stage and an output terminal Q2 of the FF 49 at the next stage resp6vely (mode 1). When a pulse signal is input to an input terminal CL of the FF 48, an "H" signal (oscillator-l starting signal) is output from the output terminal Ql of the FF 48 and an MLII signal is output from the output tenninal Q2 of the FF 49 synchronously with the leading edge of a control signal (mode 2). Thene, when a pulse signal is input, an "L" signal is output from the output terminal Q1 of the FF 48 and an "H" signal (oscillator-2 starting signal) is output from the output terminal Q2 of the FF 49 (mode 3). Moreover, when a pulse signal is input, the state of the mode 1 is set. Thus, the counter circuit 33 changes modes, in order (from mode 1 to mode 2 to mode 3 to mode 1, etc.), whenever a pulse signal is input In this case, the toy 1 is constituted so that the radio controlled car 2 stops in mode 1, goes straight in mode 2, and turns to the left in mode 3.

The oscillation circuit 34 comprises a first oscillator 51 for generating a 400-Hz rectangular-wavefrm modulating signal (control signal), a second oscillator 52 for generating a 2-KHz reotangular-waveform modulating signal (control signal), and a NAND gate 53.

Both the oscillators 51 and 52 are Schmitt trigger ICs whose oscillation is controlled by an oscillator starting signal output from the FFs 48 and 49 respectively. Specifically, the first oscillator 51 oscillates a 400-Hz pulse when the oscillator-l starting signal is output from the output terminal Q1 of the FF 48 and the second oscillator 52 oscillates a 2-Khz pulse when the oscillator-2 starting signal is output from the output terminal Q2 of the FF 49.

The NAND gate 53 is a Schmitt trigger IC, which shapes the waveforms of the pulse oscillation signals (modulating signals) output from the first oscillator 51 and the second oscillator 52 and functions as a buffer of a transistor 54 to be described later.

The modulation circuit 35 is a collector-tuning 27MHz band high-frequency oscillator, which mainly comprises an oscillation circuit including a transistor 54, a tuning coil 55, a tuning capacitor 56, and a feedback capacitor 57 and an antenna matching circuit including a tuning coil 58 and a tuning capacitor 59.

The modulation circuit 35 performs oscillation at a turning frequency following the tuning coil 55 and the tuning capacitor 56 when "H" voltage is input to the base of the transistor 54, that is, when a modulating signal is output from any one of the first oscillator 51 and the second oscillator 52. The modulation circuit 35 stops the oscillation when no modulating signal is input to the base.

More specifically, when a 400-Hz or 2-XHz modulating signal is input to the base of the transistor 54 from the NAND gate 53, the transistor 54 oscillates 27 MHz-band high frequency only while the modulating signal is input and generates a radio signal modulated by the modulating signal to output it to the antenna 19.

Next, operations of the transmitting section 31 are described below. When the power supply switch 14 is turned on, power is supplied to the transmitting section 31 from the battery 22 and the LED 15 is turned on. When an operator utters a command (e.g. "advance"), the microphone 18 receives the command and outputs an aural signal. The aural signal is amplified up to a saturation level by the transistors 42 and 43. As a result, the collector voltage of the transistor 43 comes to L- voltage and the time constant circuit 44 holds the L- voltage.

Specifically, the transistor 42 is turned off by the portion of the MLN voltage of the aural signal and, simultaneously when the transistor 43 is turned on, the collector voltage of the transistor 43 comes to "L" voltage which is held by the time constant circuit 44. When the wL voltage is input to the Schmitt trigger IC 47, the Schmitt trigger IC 47 outputs a pulse signal and the FF 48 outputs an oscillator-l starting signal (91=H) synchronously with the leading edge of the pulse signal.In this case, because the time constant circuit 44 keeps the 'L" voltage while voices are continuously uttered1 the Schmitt trigger IC 47 does not output a new pulse signal until a time corresponding to the time constant of the time constant circuit 44 passes after no voice is uttered.

When the FF 48 outputs an oscillator-l starting signal, the first oscillator 51 oscillates a 400-liz pulse in accordance with the starving signal. The modulated signal of the pulse is input to the transistor 54 and the transistor 54 outputs a radio signal (advance command) modulated at 400 Hz to the antenna 19.

When the next voice command (e.g. "left turn1) is received, a next pulse signal is output from the Schmitt trigger IC 47, thereby an oscillator-2 starting signal (Q2=H) is output from the FF 49, and the second oscillator 52 oscillates a 2KHz pulse. The modulating signal of the pulse is input to the transistor 54 and a radio signal (left turn command) modulated at 2 Khz is output from the antenna 19.

When the next voice command (e.g. "stop") is uttered, both the FF 48 and FF 49 stop outputting oscillator starting signals. Therefore, both the oscillators 51 and 52 stop oscillation, the transistor 54 also stops high-frequency oscillation, and no radio signal is output from the antenna 19 (stop mode).

Next, a receiving section 61 of the radio controlled car 2 is described, refening to Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 4, the receiving section 61 mainly comprises an antenna 62 for receiving a radio signal from the controller 3, a highfrequency detection circuit 63 connected to the antenna 62, a control IC 64 for controlling the operation of a motor to be described later, a power supply switch 65 for turning on and off the power supply, an LED 66 for displaying the powersupply on state, a plurality of capacitors and a plurality of resistors arranged outside the control IC 64.

Among these components, the high-frequency detection circuit 63 is a so called super-regeneration reception circuit which comprises a high-frequency transistor, a plurality of capacitors, a plurality of resistances, and a plurality of coils.

The high-frequency detection circuit 63 demodulates a 40GHz or 2-KHz modulating signal by detecting a radio signal input through the antenna 62 and outputs the demodulated modulating signal to the control IC 64 through a resistor 67 and a capacitor 68.

The control IC 64 includes a band-pass filter 71 having a pass band of 300 Hz to 2.2 KHz, a high-pass filter 72 having a cutoff frequency of 1.8 KHz, a lowpass filter 73 having a cut off frequency of 0.5 KHz, a control logic circuit 74 for generating a normal-rotation signal or a reversc rotadon signal to be described later from a demodulating signal, a motor driving circuit 75 comprising two driving circuits 75a and 75b for driving a motor M, and an LED driving transistor 76 for driving the LED 66.

Among these components, the band-pass filter 71 functions as a band-pass filter with a narrow band for improving the S/N ratio of a 2-KHz or 400-Hz demodulating signal by being combined with the high-pass filter 72 or the low-pass filter 73.

The control logic circuit 74 outputs an "L"-voltage normal-rotation signal for normally rotating the motor M, to the driving circuit 75a when receiving a 400-Hz demodulating signal and outputs an 1L1-voltage reverse-rotation signal for reversely rooting the motor M, to the driving circuit 75b when a 2-KHz demodulating signal is input.

Each of the driving circuits 75a and 75b of the motor driving circuit 75 is provided with a PNP transistor and an NPN transistor, both of which have the same constitution in driving circuit 75a and in driving circuit 75b. When a normal-rotation signal is input to the driving circuit 75a, both the PNP and NPN transistors are turned on to normally rotate the motor M. However, when a reverse-rotation signal is input to the driving circuit 75b, both the PNP and NPN transistors are similarly turned on to reversely rotate the motor M.

Next, operations of the receiving section 61 will be described. When the power supply switch 65 is turned on, power is supplied to each circuit and the LED driving transistor 76 turns on the LED 66. When a radio signal (advance command) modulated at 400 Hz is transmitted from the transmitting section 31, the high-frequency detering circuit 63 demodulates a 400 Hz low-frequency signal from the radio signal. The demodulated low-frequency signal is output to the control logic circuit 74 through the band-pass filter 71 and the low-pass filter 73.

The control logic circuit 74 normally rotates the motor M by outputting "L" voltage to the motor driving circuit 75a only while the 400-Hz demodulated signal is being received. Thereby, the radio controlled car 2 advances. However, when a radio signal (left turn command) modulated at 2 KIIz is transmitted, the high frequency detecting circuit 63 demodulates a 2KHz low frequency signal from the radio signal. The demodulated low-frequency signal is output to the control logic circuit 74 through the band-pass filter 71 the high-pass filter 72. The control logic circuit 74 reveesely rotates the motor M by outputting a "L* signal to the motor driving circuit 75b only while the 2-KHz demodulated signal is being received.

Thereby, the radio controlled car 2 turns to the left.

Next, the structure of the radio controlled car 2 is described with reference to Figs. 5 to 7. The radio controlled car 2 is provided with a chassis 81 (see Fig.

5) for mounting various parts and a body 82 (sce Fig, 1) made by modeling an actual commercial car so that the body 82 can be secured to the chassis by screws.

As shown in Fig. 5, a front wheel shaft 83 is set to the front of the chassis 81 so that front wheels 84 can be attached to the front wheel shaft 83. Moreover, a recess 85 is formed at the central portion of the chassis 81. A rear wheel driving mechanism 86 is set in the recess 85 and a cover 87 can be mounted on the recess 85 so as to cover the mechanism 86. Moreover, a printed circuit board 88 for mounting main parts of the above-described receiving section 61 can be set on the cover 87. Furthermore, a battery box 89 is formed at the rear of the chassis 81 so that a battery 90 (se l:ig. 4) can F2 stt in the box 89.

Next, the rear wheel driving mechanism 86 is described with reference to Fig. 6. The rear wheel driving mechanism 86 comprises a right frame 101 and a left frame 102 having a plurality of bearings respectively; a motor M which is arranged at the right of the right frame 101 in the recess 85 and to which a gear 103 is attached; a plurality of gears 104 to 108, 111 to 113, and 116 arranged between the right frame 101 and the left frame 102; double gears 109, 110, 114, 115, 117, and 118; axles 123 and 124 supporred by bearing metals 121 and 122 arranged on the frames 101 and 102 respectively, and tircs 125 and 126 to be attached to the axles 123 and 124.

Next, the operation of the rear wheel driving mechanism 86 will be described. First, a case is described in which an advance command is transmitted from tile transmitting section 31. When a normal rotation signal is output from the driving circuit 75a, the motor M rotates in the direction of the arrow A in Fig.

6. When the motor M rotates, the gear 103 and the gear 104 engaging with the gear 103, rotate and moreover the gears 105 and 106 set coaxially with the gear 104 rotate (in the direction of the arrow C in Fig.7). Then, the gears (planet gears) 107 and 108 move around the gears (sun gears) 105 and 106 (in the direction E in Fig. 7) while rotating on their axis (in the direction D in Fig, 7), the gears 107 and 108 engage with large-diameter gears of the double gears 109 and 110 respectively, and the double gears 109 and 110 rotate. Then, the gears 111 and 112 rotate which engage with small-diameter gears of the double gears 109 and 110 respectively and tbe both axles 123 and 124 rotate in the direction of the arrow B in Fig. 6. Thus, the both tires 125 and 126 rotate in the same direction. As a result, the radio controlled car 2 advances.

Next, a case is described below in which a left turn command is transmitted from the transmitting section 31. When a reverse rotation signal is output from the driving circuit 75b, the motor M rotates in the direction opposite to the arrow A in Fig. 6. When the motor M rotates, the gears 105 and 106 rotate through the gears 103 and 104 in the direction opposite to the arrow C in Fig. 7.

When the gears 105 and 106 rotate, the gear 113 moves around the gears 105 and 106 (in the direction of the arrow G in Fig. 7) while rotating on its axis (in the direction of the arrow F in Fig. 7) and engages with the largc diameter gears of the double gears 114 and 115 respectively, and thereby the double gears 114 and 115 rotate. The torque of the double gear 114 and that of the double gear 115 are transmitted to the gear 116 and the large-diameter gear of the double gear 118 which engage with the small-diameter gears of the double gears 114 and 115 respectively and thereby the gears 116 and 118 rotate.Moreover, the torque of the gear 116 is transmitted to the axle 123 through the largediameter gear of the double gear 117, the small-diarneter gear of the double gear 117, the largediameter gear of the double gear 109, and the gear 111, and thereby the right tire 125 rotates in the direction of anow B.

The torque of the double gear 118 is transmitted to the axle 124 through the sma1ldiameter gear of the double gear 118, the large diameter gear of the double gear 110, the small-diameter gear of the double gear 110, and the gear 112, and thereby the left tire 126 rotates in the direction opposite of arrow B. As aresult, because the right tire 125 rotates in the direction of arrow B and the left tire 126 rotates in the direction opposite to arrow B, the radio controlled car 2 turns to the left. When the gear 113 engages with the large-diameter gears of the double gears 114 and 115, the deceleration ratio increases fivefold. Therefore, the car 2 turns more slowly than the case in which it advances.

Next, how to play with the toy 1 will be described below. The power supply switch 14 of the radio controlled orr 2 and the power supply switch 65 of the controller are turned on. When an operator has the controller 3 in hand and utters, for example, 1advances toward the sound collecting section 20, a radio signal for the advance command is output from the controller 3 and the radio controlled car 2 advances in accordance with the radio signal. When the radio controlled car 2 advances and comes close to colliding with an obstacle, the operator utters, for example, "left turn1 toward the sound collecting section 20 of the controller 3, a radio signal for the left turn command is output from the controller 3 and the radio controlled car 2 turns to the left in accordance with the radio signal. Then, when the operator utters, for example, "stop" toward the sound coUecting section 20 of the controller 3, no radio signal is output from the controller 3 and the radio controlled car 2 stops. Therefore, whenever a voice is uttered, the advance, left-turn, or stop command is output from the controller 3 and the radio controlled car 2 successively repeats a corresponding motion in accordance with the command.

As described above, the invention does not require mechanical operation of switches or other mechanical controls because the radio controlled car 2 repeatedly perfonns patterned motions in the sequence of advance, left turn, and stop.

Therefore, an operator can operate the radio controlled car 2 as if the car 2 is a part of his body. Moreover, the operator does not get tired because a plurality of patterned motions are performed repeatedly.

Furthermore, even when voices are continuously collected, the same command is continuously output until tile voices stop and a time corresponding to the time constant of the time constant circuit 44 passes. Therefore, if an operator loses himself in operating the radio controlled car 2 and thereby continuously utters voices unrelated to controlling the car 2, the radio controlled car 2 does not change its motions against his intention. In this case, it is also possible to constitute the time constant circuit 44 so that the time constant can be changed and the motion of the car can be changed quickly by decreasing the time constant.

The radio controlled toy 1 of the present invention is not restricted to the traveling toy described in this embodiment. It can be embodied as another toy, such as a fighting toy robot or a music performing toy. In the case of the fighting toy robot, advance, torn, and fight motions may be used. In the case of the music performing toy, perform, stop perform and speak may be used.

Moreover, though the toy 1 repeatedly performs motions such as advance, left turn, and stop, it is also possible to make the toy 1 rvpeatedly advance, turn left, turn right1 and stop or perform any other combination of motions.

Furthermore, it is possible to constitute the toy 1 so that motion performing sequences can be changed. Furthermore, it is possible to constitute the toy 1 so as to include a function such as turning-on a lamp.

Furthermore, it is possible to employ a storage circuit for storing a voice pattern corresponding to a motion and a voice recognition circuit for recognizing the stored voice pattern by comparing the stored voice pattern with voice patterns collected by the microphone 18 so that a radio signal for a motion corresponding to the voice pattern recognized by the voice recognition circuit is transmitted.

Furthermore, in this embodiment the sequence circuit is described as being in the controller 3. However, it is also possible to constitute the controller 3 so that the pulse generating section of the controller 3 generates a pulse signal in accordance with an exteal voice collected by a microphone, the controller 3 transmits a radio signal with a predetermined time width to a toy body (car2) in accordance with the pulse signal, and the radio controlled car 2 receives the radio signal and outputs a normal-rotation signal or a reverse-rotation signal from a built-in sequence circuit to a driver circuit to perform patterned motions in accordance with a predetermined sequence. In this case, the controller exhibits the same advantages as that described with reference to the figures.That is, the controller is able to make the radio controlled car receiving a radio signal advance, turn left, and stop whenever a radio signal is input, only by outputting the same radio signal in accordance with an input external sound. Moreover, it is possible to perform these operations easily, accurately, and quickly.

The constitution of a system for controlling a toy body by transmitting a radio signal modulated by a control signal fpllowing collected voices includes, for exarnple, a constitution in which the time constant of the time constant circuit 44 is decreased, the number of pulse signals output from the Schmitt trigger IC 47 is counted, and a radio signal modulated by a type of control signal corresponding to the counted value is transmitted. It also includes a constitution in which the time constant of the time constant circuit 44 is greatly decreased and a radio signal modulated by a type of control signal corresponding to the length of a pulse signal by detecting the length of the pulse signal output from the Schmitt trigger IC 47.

That is, in these cases, it is possible to make the radio controlled car (toy body) 2 perform a motion corresponding to the number of syllables or a syllable length by detecting the number or length of syllables of collected external sounds.

As described above, according to the radio controlled toy of the present invention, a toy body is constituted so that it can perform a plurality of patterned motions, a controller transmits a radio signal in accordance with collected external sounds1 and thereby the toy body receiving the radio signal performs a motion following the radio signal.

Claims (6)

1. A radio controlled toy comprising: a controller comprising: a microphone for collecting external sounds; a pulse generating section for generating a pulse signal when external sounds are collected by the microphone; a sequence circuit for generating a control signal selected from a plurality of sequential control signals, the sequence circuit switching control signals to a next sequential control signal when a pulse signal is generated by the pulse generating section; and a modulation circuit for transmitting a radio signal modulated by the control signal; and a toy body for receiving the radio signal and for performing an operation selected from a plurality of operations based on modulation of the radio signal.

2. A radio controlled toy as claimed in claim 1, herein d pulse generating section has a time constant circuit having a time constant, the pulse generating section only generating the pulse signal when an external sound is detected after a period of silence continues for a time greater than or equal to the time constant.

3 A radio controlled toy as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of control signals include a pulse of approximately 400 Hz, a pulse of approximately 2 KHz and no pulse.

4. A radio controlled toy comprising: a controller comprising: a microphone for collecting external sounds; a pulse generating section for generating a pulse signal when extcmal sounds are collected by the microphone; and a transmitter circuit for transmitting a radio signal when the pulse signal is generated; and a toy body for receiving the radio signal, the toy body including a sequence circuit for generating an operation signal selected from a plurality of sequential operation signals, the sequence circuit changing operation signals to a next sequential operation signal when the radio signal is received, the toy body performing an operation selected from a plurality of operations based on the operation signal generated.

5, A radio controlled toy as claimed in claim 4, F:in 'che pulse generating section has a time constant circuit having a time constant, the pulse generating section only generating the pulse signal when an external sound is detered after a period of silence continues for a time greater than or equal to the time constant.

6. A radio controlled toy substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as illustrated in any one of the accompanying drawings.