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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is in the field of remote control vehicles and more
particularly to toy vehicles which are responsive to light energy to
provide directional movement.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Remote control toy vehicles of the kind responsive to light energy for
providing directional movement are well known in the art. Generally, these
vehicles have a plurality of photocells for converting light energy to
electrical energy which in turn are used to directionally drive the
vehicle. However, the maneuverability and control of such devices have
been limited and as a result they have never found wide usage with the
consuming public.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTON
A toy vehicle body has rotatably mounted to the underside thereof at a
rearward position a pair of spaced wheels which are driven by a first
motor. A pair of LDRs are coupled to the motor coil winding such that
light illumination on one of the LDRs will cause current flow in one
direction in the winding to cause the motor shaft to rotate the wheels in
one direction and light illumination on the other LDR will cause current
flow in the motor coil winding in the opposite direction to cause the
motor shaft to rotate in the opposite direction thus rotating the wheels
in the opposite direction. Therefore, light illumination on one LDR will
cause the vehicle to go forward and light illumination on the other LDR
will cause the vehicle to go in a reverse direction.
A second pair of spaced wheels are mounted forwardly of the underside of
the vehicle body and are mounted for rotation about the respective wheel
axes. Also, each of the wheels are mounted to turn about a vertical axis
and are connected by a steering or tie rod to cause the wheels to steer in
unison. A second motor is connected to the steering rod to move it in one
direction for rightward turning and in the opposite direction for leftward
turning. A second pair of LDRs are mounted to the vehicle upper surface
and illumination of one of the LDRs will cause current to flow in the
second motor coil winding in one direction to cause the motor shaft to
rotate in one direction thus moving the rod to steer the front wheels in a
rightward direction and light illumination on the second LDR in the pair
will cause current flow in the second motor coil winding in the opposite
direction to cause the motor shaft to rotate in the opposite direction
thus moving the rod in the opposite direction to cause the front wheels to
steer in the leftward direction. Limit switches are placed in the path of
the rod movement to de-energize the second motor after the front wheels
have been turned in a maximum rightward or leftward steering direction.
Alternatively, a slip clutch may be utilized between the second motor and
the rod.
The LDRs may be responsive to the same range of light energy frequency or
may be responsive to mutually exclusive frequency ranges. By placing
colored filters over the LDRs, the LDRs will be responsive only to that
light frequency range passing through the filters. By providing a hand
held manipulable illuminator having light frequency sources corresponding
to the filters, the LDRs may be easily individually energized to increase
and improve the control and maneuverability of the vehicle. The LDRs may
be operated in pairs to vary the turning arc of the vehicle thus further
increasing its maneuverability and making it adaptable for usage on a
racing track with other vehicles on the track. Each vehicle can be
responsive to light illumination in mutually exclusive ranges so that an
illuminator for one vehicle would not affect the control of another
vehicle.
The illuminator may generate a single frequency range, such as that of an
incandescent lamp, and would thus require only one switch control. The
illumination frequency range may be limited to correspond to LDR filters
for a particular vehicle, with each vehicle having a different mutually
exclusive frequency range from other vehicles. Alternatively, each
illuminator may emit a multiplicity of separate frequency ranges, which
may be mutually exclusive, each corresponding to a corresponding LDR
filter on an individual vehicle, and have four separate switch controls
for energizing the different ranges. Advantageously, the four switch
controls may be operated separately or in pairs to increase the control
and maneuverability of the vehicle. The frequency ranges may include
infrared and ultraviolet frequencies.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a remote controlled,
radiation actuated drive system for a vehicle that has improved
maneuverability and control.
It is an object to provide in a device according to the aforementioned
object controls for moving the vehicle in forward, reverse, rightward, and
leftward directions.
A still further object of this invention is to provide in a device of the
foregoing objects an illumination system which will permit racing of
several vehicles on a track and having mutually exclusive frequency ranges
for control of the vehicles.
The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and
the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention
itself will be best understood by reference to the following description
of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a first preferred embodiment of this
invention showing a vehicle and an illuminator therefor;
FIG. 1a is a partial view in perspective of another embodiment wherein two
vehicles, each having LDR filters and each having an illuminator with a
frequency range corresponding to the range of the filters, for its
vehicle;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view taken along 2--2 of the illuminator in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of another embodiment of this invention
wherein the vehicle has LDR filters and the illuminator has separate
frequency ranges corresponding to the filters;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view taken along 4--4 of the illuminator of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a control circuit diagram, partially diagrammatic for operating
motors in the embodiments in FIGS. 1 and 3;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged bottom plan view, partially diagrammatic, of the
vehicle shown in FIGS. 1 and 3;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken at 7--7 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial plan view of the control switches taken from
the direction of arrows 8 in FIG. 4;
FIG. 9 is a partial section taken at 9--9 of FIG. 8; and
FIG. 10 is a plan view of a track useful with this invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1, a toy vehicle 20, which is shown in the
configuration of an automobile, but which may assume any other vehicle
configuration, has an upper surface 22 wherein there are placed a first
LDR pair having LDRs 24, 26 and a second LDR pair having LDRs 28, 30. The
LDRs may also be placed on other vehicle surfaces. Referring to FIG. 6,
the underside 32 of vehicle 20 has fixed thereto motors 34, 36. Affixed to
surface 32 near the rearward portion thereof are brackets 38, 40 which
have openings therein for rotatably supporting shaft 42 of motor 34. Rear
wheels 44, 46 are affixed to opposite ends of shaft 42 and are driven
thereby. Motor 36 rotates a threaded shaft 48 which is threadedly engaged
with block 50 to move block 50 longitudinally of shaft 48 upon rotation
thereof, the direction of movement depending on the direction of rotation.
Block 50 (FIG. 7) has a slot 52 for receiving a pin 54 having head 56
riding on the outer surface of block 50. Pin 54 is affixed at the end
opposite to head 56 to a steering or tie rod 60 which is pivotably
connected at one end to bracket 62 and at the other end to bracket 64.
Bracket 62 is affixed to front wheel mount 66 which is pivotably supported
about vertical axis 68 to bracket 70, which is fixed to underside 32.
Front wheel 72 is rotatably supported on mount 66. Bracket 64 is affixed
to wheel mount 74 which is rotatably supported about vertical axis 76
relative to bracket 78, which is affixed to underside 32. Wheel 80 is
rotatably supported by mount 74. It is seen that depending on the
direction of rotation of shaft 48, block 50 will be moved upwardly or
downwardly, as viewed in FIG. 6, which in turn will move tie rod 60
upwardly or downwardly to steer wheels 72, 80 in a rightwardly or
leftwardly direction respectively.
Resilient conductive limit switch arms 82, 84 have insulative switch
buttons 86, 88 at their respective ends, which are registrable with block
50 and resiliently displaceable by block 50 in its uppermost and lowermost
travel respectively, as viewed in FIG. 6. Arms 82, 84 are resiliently
urged against ground terminal 85 in control circuit 90, later described,
as is motor 36. The electrical coupling between arms 82, 84 and terminal
85 is broken when block 50 displaces buttons 86, 88, respectively. Circuit
90 is conveniently contained within vehicle 20 and is also electrically
coupled to LDRs 28, 30 (FIG. 1). Control circuit 92 is electrically
coupled to motor 34, and is conveniently contained within vehicle 20, with
circuit 92 also being electrically coupled to LDRs 24, 26 (FIG. 1).
Illuminator 100 (FIG. 1), which may house flashlight batteries and be of a
flashlight size, is dimensioned for manual manipulation and has a control
button 102 for energizing a light source 104, (FIG. 2) which may be an
incandescent bulb, the radiation of which is collimated by lens 106, which
lenses are well known in the art and commercially available.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of control circit 90, the functions of which
may be obtained by equivalent circuits such as may be incorporated in an
integrated circuit. Circuit 90 is identical to control circuit 92 with the
deletion of those elements shown in dashed box 94, and both emitters of
transistors 134, 136 are connected directly and permanently connected to
ground. Batteries 110, 112, each of which may comprise a pair of batteries
commercially available, and may be rechargeable are connected at juncture
114 which is grounded. Batteries 110, 112 are so placed as to put a plus 3
volts on line 116 and a minus 3 volts on line 118. LDR 120 has one
terminal connected to line 116 and the other terminal connected at
junction 121 to first terminals of resistances 122 and 124. The other
terminal of resistance 122 is connected to first terminals of resistances
126, 128 and ground, with the other terminal of resistance 128 connected
at junction 129 to first terminals of LDR 130 and resistance 132. The
other terminal of LDR 130 is connected to line 118. Resistance 124 has its
other terminal connected to the base of NPN transistor 134 and the base of
PNP transistor 136 and to the other terminals of resistances 126 and 132.
Emitters of transistors 134 and 136 are in disengageable electrical contact
with terminal 85 which is grounded. The collector of transistor 136 is
connected at junction 143 to first terminals of resistors 142, 149. The
other terminal of resistor 149 is connected to the base of an NPN
transistor 140. The other terminal of resistor 142 is connected to line
118. The collector of transistor 134 is connected at junction 145 to first
terminals of resistors 146, 147. The other terminal of resistor 147 is
connected to the base of PNP transistor 144 and the other terminal of
resistor 146 is connected to line 116. The collectors of transistors 140,
144 are connected to junction 148 which is connected to one terminal of
motor coil 150, the other terminal of motor coil 150 being grounded. The
emitters of transistors 140, 144 are connected respectively to lines 118
and 116.
As mentioned, for circuit 92, circuit 94 is added. As block 50 moves
rightwardly and leftwardly on screw shaft 48, as previously explained, it
will displace buttons 86, 88, respectively, to resiliently displace open
the electrical contact between spring arms 82, 84, respectively, with
terminal 85 thus deenergizing motor coil 150.
In operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, illuminator 100 is directed
so that a beam 107 from lens 106 impinges on one of LDRs 24, 26, 28 and
30. Assuming that it is desired to steer front wheels 72, 80 to the right,
beam 107 will be directed to impinge upon LDR 28, which in circuit 92, is
LDR 120. LDR 120 is a light dependent resistor which lowers in resistance
upon incident light thus causing junction 121 to rise in potential raising
the voltage at the base of transistor 134 to turn it on. As is understood
in art, "on" may mean the transistor is fully saturated, or partially
saturated as is desired. Transistor 134 normally nonconducting since
during balanced conditions when LDRs 120 and 130 are equally illuminated,
is at ground potential. When 134 starts conducting, the potential at
junction 145 lowers, turning on transistor 144 causing current flow in
motor coil 150 in a rightward direction as viewed in FIG. 5. Assuming
correct wiring connections and winding directions, motor 36 is caused to
rotate shaft 48 in a direction to move block 50 leftwardly which would be
upwardly as viewed in FIG. 6. This movement of block 50 will continue
until either beam 107 is removed from LDR 28 or until block 50 displaces
button 86 breaking the connection between the emitter of transistor 134
and terminal 85, turning "off" transistors 134 and 144, and removing
current from motor coil 150. This defines the maximum steering angle of
wheels 72, 80 in the rightward direction.
Similarly, if the operator wanted to turn wheels 72, 80 in a leftward
direction, he would cause beam 107 to impinge upon LDR 30, which
corresponds to LDR 130 in FIG. 5, lowering its resistance, lowering, or
making more negative, the potential at junction 129 and the base of
normally nonconducting transistor 136 to turn transistor 136 "on," raising
the potential at junction 143 to turn transistor 140 "on," causing current
flow in a leftward direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, through the motor
winding of motor 36, which is winding 150 in the diagram of FIG. 5,
causing motor 36 to rotate shaft 48 in a direction to move block 50
rightwardly, which is downwardly as viewed in FIG. 6. This moves rod 60
rightwardly causing wheels 72, 80 to steer leftwardly about axes 68, 76,
respectively. Block 50 will continue its rightward movement until either
beam 107 is removed from LDR 30 or until block 50 displaces button 88
breaking the connection between the emitter of transistor 136 and terminal
85, turning "off" transistors 136, 140 and removing current from coil 150,
to define the maximum leftward steering angle of wheels 72, 80.
Assuming it is desired to move vehicle 20 forwardly, illuminator 100 is
directed so that beam 107 impinges on LDR 24, which would be LDR 120 in
circuit 90 in the diagram of FIG. 5, lowering its resistance, raising the
potential at junction 121, and base of transistor 134 to turn that
normally nonconducting transistor "on," lowering the potential at junction
145 and the base of transistor 144, causing that transistor to conduct
causing a current flow in a first direction through the winding of motor
34, which would be winding 150 in the diagram of FIG. 5. This rotates
shaft 42 causing wheels 44, 46 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction,
when viewed from the left side, moving vehicle 20 forwardly. Assuming that
it is desired to cause vehicle 20 to move in a rearwardly direction,
illuminator 100 is directed by the user until beam 107 impinges on LDR 26,
which corresponds to LDR 130 in the diagram of FIG. 5 lowering the
potential at junction 129 and the base of 136 turning that normally
nonconducting transistor "on," raising the potential at junction 143 and
the base of transistor 140, turning that transistor "on" to cause a
current flow in a second direction through the winding of motor 34, which
corresponds to winding 150 in FIG. 5. Motor 34 will then rotate shaft 42
in a direction to move wheels 44, 46 in a clockwise direction when viewed
from the left side driving vehicle 20 rearwardly. The turning arc of
vehicle 20 can be controlled by proportionally illuminating LDRs 24 and
28, with the arc radius being larger if LDR 24 receives more illumination
than LDR 28 and the arc radius being smaller if LDR 28 receives more
illumination. Similarly, vehicle 20 can be caused to move in a
controllable forward leftward arc by coordinating illumination of LDRs 24
and 30, with the arc radius being greater when LDR 24 receives more
illumination and the arc radius being smaller when LDR 30 receives more
illumination. In similar manner, a vehicle can be caused to move
rearwardly in an arc by coordinating illumination of LDRs 26 and 28 or
LDRs 26 and 30.
Referring to FIG. 1a, a further embodiment is shown wherein vehicles 20a,
20b respectively, are operated by illuminators 100a, 100b. Vehicle 20a has
LDR filters 21a which, for any one vehicle, are all of the same frequency
range which may be a red, blue, or green color, and in the embodiment
shown are green, placed over each LDRs 24, 26, 28, and 30, not shown but
are understood to be under the filters 21a and positioned as in the
embodiment of FIG. 1. Illuminator 100a has an actuator button 102a and a
lens 106a which is tinted or otherwise provided with a filtering member
which will provide beam 107a with a frequency that will be substantially
coextensive or within the frequency range passed by the filters 21a, and
which is green in the embodiment illustrated. Illuminator 100b and filters
21b are frequency related to the color blue. Thus, by providing each of
several vehicles 20a, 20b with filters 21a, 21b, respectively that has a
mutually exclusive frequency range different from the filter 21 for each
of the other vehicles, respectively, in combination with an illuminator
100a, 100b having lens 106a, 106b respectively that will provide a
frequency range which is coextensive or within the frequency range of the
filters for a corresponding vehicle, then when several vehicles are being
operated on the same track, inadvertent, or intentional, operation of a
vehicle other than the one associated with a particular illuminator 100a
will be prevented. Thus, a separate illuminator 100 would be provided for
each of several vehicles 20 and would be capable of operating only a
corresponding one of the several vehicles. The filters on any vehicle may
be changeable from one frequency range to another. Each of the
illuminators 100 would generate a beam 107 having a frequency range
different from that of the other illuminators.
Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4, 8 and 9, a further embodiment having different
colored filters over the LDRs for more selective control will be
described. For this embodiment, the underside 32 mechanism as shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7 and the control circuits 90, 92 as shown in FIG. 5 will be
identical to that for the embodiment shown and described for FIG. 1. The
illuminator 152, which may house flashlight batteries and may be of a
flashlight size, has buttons 154, 156, 158, 160 which are depressed
respectively for moving vehicle 20c forwardly, rightwardly, rearwardly and
leftwardly. Where the same frequency range is used for two different
directions, only three buttons would be necessary. Illuminator 152 also
has buttons 162, which, as will become apparent, actuates both buttons 154
and 156, button 164, which actuates both buttons 156 and 158, button 166
which actuates both buttons 158 and 160, and button 168 which actuates
both buttons 154 and 160. Illuminator 152 has a lens 170, FIG. 4, attached
at the forward end thereof and has four separate collimated light beams
172, 174, 176, 178 emanating therefrom. Beam 172 is green, 174 is red, 176
is green and 178 is blue. Corresponding filters 180, 186, 182 and 184 are
placed over LDRs 24, 26, 28 and 30 so that green filter 180 is placed over
LDR 24, green filter 182 is placed over LDR 26, blue filter 184 is placed
over LDR 28, and red filter 186 is placed over LDR 30.
Circuitry, not shown, but conventional in the art, is placed in illuminator
152 so that button 154 actuates beam 172 and LDR 24; button 156 actuates
beam 178 and LDR 28; button 158 actuates beam 176 and LDR 26; and button
160 actuates beam 174 and LDR 30. Thus, depressing button 154 will cause
vehicle 20 to move forwardly when directed at LDR 24; depressing button
156 will cause the vehicle to steer rightwardly when impinging upon LDR
28; depressing button 158 will cause the vehicle to go in a reverse
direction when directed at LDR 26; and depressing button 160, the vehicle
will be steered leftwardly since LDR 30 will be energized. The radiation
frequency ranges of beams 172, 174, and 178 are selected to be mutually
exclusive so that only one LDR will be energized for one button depression
even though more than one of the corresponding LDRs would be in a beam
path. Beams 172 and 176 are both green and therefore either may be used to
energize LDRs 24 and 26, both of which have green filters. It is noted
that the illuminator 100 may also be used with the vehicle 20a in FIG. 3
since the frequency range of ray 107 may be selected to include all of the
frequency ranges transmitted by filters 180, 182, 184 and 186.
Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a switching arrangement for illuminator 152 is
shown wherein one button depression can simultaneously depress a
predetermined pair of buttons 154, 156, 158 and 160. Each button 154, 156,
158 and 160 is of similar physical construction and only button 154 will
be described. Button 154 has an elongate shank 154a which extends through
opening 154b in housing wall of illuminator 152 and has an annular ridge
154c formed near the lower end thereof and a second ridge 154d
longitudinally spaced upwardly from ridge 154c. The lower end of button
154 bears against a resilient arm 154e which is anchored at one end to
rivet 154f to an insulative board 190 mounted in illuminator 152. A
contact 154g is at the free end of arm 154e and bears against a conductive
contact 154h affixed to board 190 when button 154 is depressed. Upon
depression of button 154, contacts 154g and 154h electrically engage to
complete a circuit, not shown, for energizing green beam 172.
Buttons 162, 164, 166 and 168 are similar in construction and only button
168 will be described. Button 168 has a shank 168a with an oval cross
section which extends through opening 168b in the housing wall of
illuminator 152. The lower end of shank 168a is affixed to a plate 168c
which has a first opening 168d for receiving shank 154a and a second
opening 168e for receiving shank 160a. The lower surface of plate 168c
bears against ridge 154c and ridge 164c so that depression of button 168
will cause simultaneous depression of buttons 154 to close contacts 154g,
154h and 160 to close contacts 160g, 160h. Thus, depression of button 168
will energize green beam 172 and red beam 174, causing the vehicle 20a to
turn in a forwardly or rearwardly leftward arc depending on whether LDR 24
or 26 is illuminated. In similar manner, button 162 has a shank which
extends through an opening in the housing wall of illuminator 152 and is
affixed to a plate 162c having opening which receives shank 154a and an
opening which receives shank 158a. Plate 162c bears against ridge 154d and
a ridge on button 156 so that when button 162 is depressed, both buttons
154 and 156 will be depressed to cause vehicle 20a to move in a forwardly
or rearwardly rightward arc. In similar manner, depression of button 166
will simultaneously depress buttons 158 and 160 causing vehicle 20a to
move in a rearwardly or forwardly leftward arc. Button 168 will depress
only buttons 154 and 160, button 162 will depress only buttons 154 and
156, button 164 will depress only buttons 156 and 158, and button 166 will
depress only buttons 158 and 160. Also, with arrangement in FIGS. 8 and 9,
each button 154, 156, 158, and 160 may be individually depressed without
affecting the other buttons.
Referring to FIG. 10, a track 200 is shown which is proportioned in width
and configuration to accommodate a number of vehicles and provide adequate
racing clearances. Track 200 may be banked and have configurations
resembling famous tracks such as at Daytona or other speedways. Due to the
maneuverability and control of the devices of this invention, such a track
may be raced by a number of vehicles 20 having the same or different
frequency ranges. By providing a number of illuminators 100 with different
mutually exclusive frequency ranges of radiation beams 107 used for
controlling corresponding vehicles 20 in any one race, and by providing
each vehicle 20 with LDR filters which will pass only the frequency range
of its respective beam 107, interference from the illuminators of other
car operators is minimized. Also, beam 107 may be infrared or ultraviolet
with corresponding LDR filters.
Block 50 may be provided with a slip clutch, which is commercially
available and well known in the art, in place of switch arms 82 and 84 to
slip the drive between shaft 48 and block 50 when the maximum steering
angles have been achieved.
Following are component values and identification for a preferred
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