JP3133273U - Electric toy - Google Patents

Abstract

A toy having operating characteristics controlled by a user is provided.
An electric motor, a DC power supply, an electric accumulator, and a user-controlled switching circuit that are drivingly connected to the moving element of the toy are provided. In the charging mode, the switching circuit is connected in parallel to the motor to charge the accumulator during motor operation, and in boost mode the accumulator is connected to the motor to increase the voltage applied to the motor. The motor and the accumulator can be electrically connected to a DC power source so as to be connected in series.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a motorized electric toy, and more particularly to a toy having operational features controlled by a user.

  Battery-powered toys with various motor drive elements are very popular, and great efforts have been made to their structure, shape, and size to make these toys more interesting and attractive. It was. In addition, another way to enhance the enjoyment and entertainment for the child user is to have the child control the operating characteristics of the drive element. For example, in battery-powered toys known from the prior art, the toy may be provided with a switch to select high speed or low speed operation, or a remote control may be used to control the speed of the toy vehicle.

  Although such prior art toys have provided great diversity and enjoyment to children's users, the industry continues to need more interesting and exciting electric toys. ing.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a motor that is drivingly connected to a moving element of a toy, a DC power source, an electric accumulator, and, in a charging mode, an accumulator for charging the accumulator during operation of the motor Is connected in parallel to the motor, and in boost mode, the motor and accumulator are electrically connected to the DC power source so that the accumulator is connected in series with the motor to increase the voltage applied to the motor. A toy comprising a user-controlled switching circuit having an actuatable switch for providing a toy.

  The switch may be a solid switch, a relay or the like. Alternatively, the switch may be manually activated.

  Preferably, the toy further includes a controller for alternately operating the switching circuit between a charging mode and a boost mode.

  Preferably, the DC power source is a battery. Preferably, the accumulator is a rechargeable battery or capacitor.

  Preferably, the switching circuit is capable of electrically disconnecting the accumulator from the DC power source in the disconnect mode.

  The controller is configured to operate the switching circuit with two or more programs, each program defining at least a respective boost mode duration and a plurality of boost mode cycles, and the toy is connected to the controller An input device, whereby the controller operates the switching circuit in accordance with one of the programs selected by user input from the input device.

  In a preferred embodiment, the input device comprises a code reader, whereby the controller provides a switching circuit according to a plurality of preset programs selected by a user by inputting a coding key into the code reader. Manipulate. Preferably, the coded key is a bar code printed on a card and the code reader is an optical bar code reader.

  Preferably, the switching circuit is configured such that a current supplied by the accumulator is a small amount of the current capacity of the DC power supply.

  Preferably, the toy is a toy vehicle, the motor is a rotary motor that is drivingly connected to one or more wheels for moving the vehicle forward, and the vehicle further includes first and second card sets. Each card of the first set has a unique bar code associated with multiple cycles of the respective boost mode, and each card of the second set is associated with a respective boost mode duration. A unique bar code, the memory holds data defining each program and two associated code specific codes, and the controller is continuously input from the code reader 2 If the controller recognizes that one barcode matches a program held in memory, the controller To operate the switching circuit in accordance with the gram.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for controlling the speed of a motor connected to a toy moving element. The toy has a switching circuit for selectively connecting a motor and an accumulator to a DC power source. The method
a) electrically connecting the accumulator to the DC power source in parallel with the motor to charge the accumulator during operation of the motor in charging mode; b) operating the switching means to connect the accumulator to the motor; Connecting to a DC power supply in series and increasing the voltage applied to the motor in boost mode.

  Preferably, step b is performed during the boost mode duration and during the multiple boost mode cycles in each cycle, the method comprising receiving user input from a user input device, and boost mode duration and boost from the user input. Determining the number of mode cycles.

  Preferably, the user input includes code, and the method includes comparing the user input code with code stored in a memory device and associated with a program, and the matching code is retained in memory. A step of operating the switching circuit according to the associated program.

  The present invention provides a toy that is effective and efficient in operation and is economical to produce and provides improved entertainment value for children's users.

  A preferred embodiment of the present invention in the form of a toy vehicle 1 is shown in FIG. 1 and comprises a rotary DC electric motor 2 that is drivingly connected to wheels 3 for advancing the vehicle. The vehicle 1 is supplied with direct current to a motor 2 and a controller 5 for operating a switching circuit 6 in accordance with a signal from an input device in the form of a barcode reader 7 for reading a barcode 8 on a card 9. A battery cell 4 is mounted.

  Referring to FIGS. 2 a to 2 c, the motor 2 and the battery terminals 10 a and 10 b are connected by a switching circuit 6 including three switches 12, 13 and 14, a capacitor 15, and a charger 16. The motor 2, the node 18 and the switch 13 are connected in series between the positive terminal 10a and the negative terminal 10b. The charger 16, the switch 12, the node 17, and the capacitor 15 are connected in series with each other between the positive terminal 10a and the node 18. The switch 14 is connected between the node 17 and the negative terminal 10b.

  As shown in FIG. 2a, when both switches 12 and 14 are open, switch 13 is closed and current I1 is applied at voltage V1 to operate the motor. In such a cutting mode or state, the capacitor 15 is electrically disconnected from the battery and the motor 2.

  FIG. 2 b shows the charging mode of the capacitor 15 realized by closing the switch 12 and connecting the capacitor 15 in parallel with the motor 2 with the switch 14 open and the switch 13 closed. In this mode, current I2 passes through motor 2 and voltage V2 is induced across capacitor 15. The capacitor charging current I3 does not place a large load on the battery, and in this state, the same voltage V1 is supplied over the entire motor 2, so that the current is reduced compared to the cutting mode, so that only a small torque drop occurs.

  FIG. 2 c shows the boost mode, in which case the capacitor 15 increases the voltage applied across the motor 2. With switch 12 open, switch 13 open, and switch 14 closed, capacitor 15 is connected in series with motor 2 and voltage V3 applied across motor 2 is the sum of V1 and V2, thereby resulting in motor speed. Up.

  The controller 5 has a processor and a memory for operating the switching circuit 6 periodically in the charge and boost modes according to a plurality of preset programs. As shown in FIG. 3, in each program, the motor operates in either a charging mode that produces a motor speed S1 or a boost mode that produces a motor speed S2. Each program is defined by a boost mode duration 22 and the number of cycles 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d (four in the illustrated embodiment) with the switching circuit in charge mode and boost mode, and the motor speed is Each alternates between S1 and S2. The number of cycles 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d and boost mode duration 22 can both be changed by the user separately.

  The toy vehicle 1 further includes first card sets 23a and 23b and second card sets 24a and 24b. Each card 23a, 23b has a unique code that defines the number of cycles 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, respectively. Each card 24a, 24b has a unique code that defines the boost continuation engine 22.

  The memory has data defining each program and two associated code specific codes. If the controller recognizes that two codes entered in succession from the code reader match the program stored in the memory, the controller operates the switching circuit according to the associated program.

  In use, for example, when the user inputs the first card 23a into the card reader 7, the processor receives and stores the associated first code. Then, when the user inputs the second card 24b into the card reader 7, the processor receives the associated second code and before operating the switching circuit 6 according to the selected program, the first and second Select the program defined by the code.

  It should be understood that aspects of the present invention are described by way of example only and modifications and additions can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is the schematic showing the toy by this invention. a, b, and c are schematic views of the switching circuit of the toy of FIG. It is a graph showing operation | movement of the toy of FIG.

Claims (9)

A toy,
A motor drivingly connected to the moving element of the toy;
DC power supply,
An electrical accumulator;
In charge mode, an accumulator is connected in parallel to the motor to charge the accumulator during operation of the motor, and in boost mode, the accumulator is in series with the motor to increase the voltage applied to the motor. A user-controlled switching circuit having an actuatable switch to electrically connect the motor and accumulator to the DC power source to be connected;
A toy with   The toy according to claim 1, further comprising a controller for alternately operating a switching circuit between the charging mode and the boost mode.   The toy according to claim 1, wherein the DC power source is a battery.   The toy according to claim 1, wherein the accumulator is a rechargeable battery or a capacitor.   The controller is configured to operate the switching circuit with two or more programs, each program defining at least a respective boost mode duration and a plurality of boost mode cycles, and the toy is connected to the controller The toy of claim 2, further comprising an input device configured to allow the controller to operate the switching circuit in accordance with one of the programs selected by user input from the input device.   The input device includes a code reader, whereby the controller operates a switching circuit according to a plurality of preset programs selected by a user by inputting a coding key into the code reader. The toy according to claim 5.   The toy according to claim 6, wherein the coded key is a barcode printed on a card, and the code reader is an optical barcode reader.   The toy according to claim 1, wherein the switching circuit is configured such that a current passed by the accumulator is a small amount of the current capacity of the DC power supply. The toy is a toy vehicle, the motor is a rotary motor drivingly connected to one or more wheels for advancing the vehicle, and the vehicle further comprises first and second card sets; Each card in the first set has a unique barcode associated with multiple cycles of the respective boost mode, and each card of the second set has a unique barcode associated with the respective boost mode duration. Have a barcode,
The memory holds data defining each program and two associated code specific codes, and the program holds in the memory two barcodes that the controller has successively entered from the code reader 3. The toy according to claim 2, wherein the controller operates a switching circuit according to the related program when recognizing that the two match.

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