GB2361438A

GB2361438A - Sensing device for toys.

Info

Publication number: GB2361438A
Application number: GB0009892A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hsien-Chih Tsou
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-04-20
Filing date: 2000-04-20
Publication date: 2001-10-24
Also published as: GB0009892D0; FR2807949A3; DE20007348U1; FR2807949B3

Abstract

A sensing device for toys comprises a sensing means formed from two sensors 41, 42, a comparator to compare the signal from the sensors and a controller to control movement of the toys based on the results of the comparator. The sensors may be optical or acoustic sensors. In use the sensing device may be used in a toy which searches for an object. In one embodiment the toy is a tank which searches for a target of a particular colour. Once the target is located the tank simulates the firing of the tank's gun 111. In another embodiment the toy is a doll.

Description

2361438 DYNAMIC SEARCHING DEVICE FOR TOYS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a dynamic searching device for toys.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

Many toys are often driven by mechanical device to control the motion thereof, such as toy vehicles However, the toys are generally controlled by remote controller and lack of spontaneous and automatic movement and interactive operation. As the fast development of interactive game such as computer game, the conventional mechanical toys are relatively dull and can not attract children.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is intended to provide a dynamic searching device for toys, which comprises at least two optical sensors to sense a target and a control circuit to compare the sensed signal of the two sensors and control a driver to move the toys with sensor, thus gives the toys with dynamic movement.

It is another object of the present invention to give the toys dynamic simulation effects by adding more movement or visual effect to the toys when the sensor is sensing the right target.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a dynamic searching device which can use other sensor other than optical sensor.

The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is the cross section view of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is the perspective view of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is the circuit diagram of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is the bottom view of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a view showing the sensor of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is another view showing the sensor of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREPERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in Fig. 1, the dynamic searching device for toys according to the present invention comprises a main body 1 having a rotary stage 11 and a base 12, a driver 2, a control circuit 3, an optical sensor, and a power source 5. The rotary stage I I and the base 12 is connected through a link shaft 20 driven by the driver 2. The control circuit 3 sends command to the driver 2 with reference to the sensed result of the sensor 4.

With reference now to Figs. I and 2, in the tank 10 according to a preferred embodiment, the rotary stage I I is the turret 110 of the tank, the base 12 is the carrier of the tank, the optical sensor 4 is a pair of sensor 41 and 42 parallel to each other and arranged on both sides of the turret 110. Moreover, for providing 3-D searching effect, three sensors may be provided. A gun I 11 is arranged at the center of the turret I 10. The turret I 10 can rotate to aim the sensed target, therefore the tank provides interactive amusement. The two sensors 41 and 42 are of the same operational wavelength and the target 6 to be detected is of monochromatic one. For 2 examples, the military car is green color, the building is brown. The separation 60 between the two light axis 61 and 62 of the two sensors 41 and 42 is smaller than the size of the target 6. The sensed results of the sensors 41 and 42 are sent to a comparator 31 and amplified by an amplifier 32, then sent to the driver. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, after the power switch 51 is turned on, the turret 110 begin rotating to search target 6. The sensed results of the sensors 41 and 42 are different if the turret does not aim the right target, the comparator 31 sends an output signal corresponding to this result and the turret 110 keeps rotation. The sensed results of the sensors 41 and 42 are the same if the turret 110 aims the right target, the comparator 31 sends an output signal corresponding to this result and the turret 110 stops rotation.

Moreover, after the right target is aimed, the control circuit 3 activates an audio means 7 to raise sound of gun shot and activates an auxiliary means 8 to provides kick effect to the tank 10.

Furthermore, the tank 10 has a motor 9 within the carrier 120 and driving the wheels 100 under the carrier 120. At the beginning, the comparator 31 sends an output signal corresponding to not-finding target, and commands the motor 9 to keep the carrier 120 moving. After the target is aimed, the comparator 31 sends an output signal corresponding to finding target, and commands the motor 9 to stop the carrier 120. The motor 9 is single polarity due to the straight movement of the carrier 120, and the rotary stage I I is dual polarity because the turret 110 can rotate in clockwise or counter clockwise direction.

Moreover, the sensing range of the sensor 4 is limited to the content of table size to prevent wrong detection and ensure the sense region. In other word, the 3 sensor 4 will not detect the object out of the region of interest.

As shown in Fig. 4, the wheel driver of the motor 9 is a universal wheeldriver 90 wherein two wheels 91 and 92 are connected coaxially with the driving disk 93. Therefore, the carrier 120 will change its moving direction automatically 5 once meeting an obstacle.

Furthermore, the sensor 4 in the present invention can also be an audio sensor or other type of sensor such as IR sensor or thermal sensor. For explanation, an audio sensor is taken for example and has two audio sensors 410 and 420 for detecting audio signal. The sensors 4 10 and 420 are designed to detect predetermined audio data and find the direction of maximum audio source, and the dynamic searching device can be used in more heart-warming application. For example, the dynamic searching device with sensors 410 and 420 are arranged in a movable baby toy and the:baby toy is looking for a target of mother. The target (mother) will raise a comforting sound once the baby toy has found it.

When using an audio sensor, various-frequency signal can be used such as high-frequency, low frequency audio signal or other frequency signal. The control circuit 3 is designed to be applicable to signal of above frequency to trigger various auxiliary means, or an audio IC with corresponding audio sensor can be used.

Moreover, the present invention can use multiple type of sensor, e.g. audio and thermal sensor simultaneously to find multiple data, and the control circuit 3 is adapted to receive and process above multiple type of sensing data.

As shown in Fig. 5, the sensor 4 further comprises two light guiding pipes 410 and 420 along the axis 61 and 62 such that the size of the target can be reduced and the dynamic searching device is applicable to target of small size.

4 Moreover, as shown in Fig. 6, the axis of the sensors 41 and 42 are inclined and intersected such that the size of the target 6 can be reduced and the dynamic searching device is applicable to target of small size.

Moreover, the sensor of the present invention is designed to detect light of a 5 specific wavelength for using in the combat game. For example, the two armies are C.

featured with red and white color, and the sensor thereof can distinguish ally from enemy.

As shown in Fig. 1, a conductive terminal 50 is arranged between the base 12 and the rotary stage I I and centered around the shaft 20. By the conductive terminal 50, the power source 5 can be more flexibly arranged and the inventive device can be scaled down.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof Various substitutions and modifications have suggested in the foregoing description, and other will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A dynamic searching device for toys characterized in that, the said device comprising a sensing means having two sensors, the sensed results of the two sensors are compared by a comparator based on strength or speed of signals received, thus the comparator sending command to driving means controlling the movement of the toys.

2. The dynamic searching device for toys as in claim 1,characterized in that, the sensing means is arranged on a rotary stage driven by the driving means, the driving means can drive the rotary stage to have relative motion with respect to a base, thus changing the sensing direction of the sensing means.

3 The dynamic searching device for toys as in claim 1, characterized in that, a control circuit can activate an audio means or other auxiliary means when the two sensors detect the same signal.

4. The dynamic searching device for toys as in claim 1, characterized in that, the rotary stage can rotate in clockwise and counter clockwise direction.

5. The dynamic searching device for toys as in claim 1, characterized in that, a moving means is provided in the base and controlled by the control circuit, the moving means designed to i-nove the toy before the desired target is aimed.

6. The dynamic searching device for toys as in claim 1, characterized in that, a light-confining pipe is arranged along the axis of the sensor to reduce the sensing area.

7. The dynamic searching device for toys as in claim 1, characterized in that, the sensor is designed to sense a specific wavelength.

8. The dynamic searching device for toys as in claim 1, characterized in 6 that, the axis of the two sensors are inclined and intersected.

9. The dynamic searching device for toys as in claim 1, characterized in that, the sensor is an audio sensor.

10. The dynamic searching device for toys as claimed in claim 9 is an 5 optical sensor.

11. The dynamic searching device for toys as in claim 1, characterized in that, a conductive terminal is arranged between the base and the rotary stage.

12. The dynamic searching device for toys substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

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