Abstract:
The invention relates to a control system and method for electric toy vehicles. The invention is suitable for vehicles which are controlled using a control element, which are actuated by an electric micromotor and which move on tracks comprising a guide groove which is flanked by electronductive tracks. Moreover, each vehicle is provided with a dynamic current collector and guide assembly comprising a guide flange which keeps the vehicle on the track. The inventive system comprises a transmitting control device which is associated with the above-mentioned control element in order to transmit signals in the form of digital waves which control the operation of the vehicle, a control device which receives the aforementioned signals and which is built into the vehicle, and actuation means which are connected to said receiving device. According to the invention, the signals are applied to at least one electronductive track which can be shared temporarily by at least two vehicles equipped with respective receivers.

Description:
This application claims priority to PCT International Application No. PCT/ES2002/000500 filed Oct. 22, 2002, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention refers to a control system for electric toy vehicles specially of the type that move on a track with guide grooves flanked by electroconductive tracks from which they take dynamically electrical current. The invention also concerns to a control method of such vehicles. In the state of art it is well known to remote control the speed of a toy vehicle, which moves by guide means and takes dynamically current from electroconductive tracks associated to these guide means, regulating by means of a variable resistor device the current provided to said electroconductive tracks. A power supply of DC provides a constant maximum voltage to said variable resistor device, which is integrated in a control provided with a pushbutton or trigger to disposition of the user and connected by cable to the electroconductive tracks associated to guide means of a particular vehicle. Generally, the game comprises several vehicles that move by parallel, independent guides, and the voltage provided to each vehicle is controlled by a different player. In this system of the state of the art, the control does not take place on a concrete vehicle but on the electroconductive tracks of the guide by whom it moves. It is not possible, for example, to control independently two vehicles that move by a same guide. 
     Patent EP-A-0806230 describes to a system of communication by radio between the control and power supply of the electroconductive tracks. Patent ES-A-2113312 describes a system by means of which different voltages are applied to the electroconductive tracks with the purpose of applying different speeds to the toy vehicles starting off from a programmable digital sequence. Patent ES-A-2117517 describes means of control of the speed of the vehicles that are well known in the state of the art but it adds the item that the electroconductive tracks present discontinuities. 
     Patent EP-A-0574634 describes a control system of a toy vehicle controlled by radio that rolls free (without being guidance by guide groove) to which is sent operative commands, transported by digital control signals that they include an authentication code. This is specially useful when by some reason there are not many radio channels or it is very expensive to create a system of tunable communication and it is necessary to share an only radio channel for more than one vehicle. 
     Finally, it is possible to emphasize the U.S. Pat. No. 5,311,106 in which a control is described that instead of using a variable resistor and a voltage uses a power signal of square waveform of variable cycle of work on electronic devices appropriated to reduce the heating. In addition it incorporates the facility to insert what denominates “personality module” that is a resistor circuit that can modify the behaviour of the signal so that it adapts to different types of cars. 
     The objective of the present invention is to contribute a control system and method for electric toy vehicles that move on a track with several guide grooves, each one flanked by electroconductive tracks from which the vehicles take dynamically electrical current, that allow to control independently each vehicle of the guide groove by whom this one moves. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The previous objective is reached, in agreement with present invention, applying the use of DS (digital signal) to the control of electric toy vehicles that move on a track with several guide grooves, being each guide flanked by electroconductive tracks from which the vehicles take dynamically electrical current. Said DS include an authentication code of each vehicle not on an only radioelectric radio channel, like in mentioned patent EP-A-0574634, but on the same electroconductive tracks, reason why the use of the authentication code is essential. 
     The present invention concerns to a control system for electric vehicle of special toy specially of the type that moves on a track with a guide groove flanked by electroconductive tracks with electrical current, as it is well known in the state of the art. Said vehicle includes an electrical micromotor that transmits movement to at least an shaft of the vehicle, constitutive of the drive shaft of the same one, and includes a set of guide and dynamic current collector in the front extremity of the chassis, as it includes an guided fin adapted to slide by the inner part of the mentioned guide groove retaining the vehicle on the track. 
     As it is conventional, this vehicle is commanded by a control that in the present invention is characterized in that it includes at least a transmitting control system to send signals that manage the operation of the vehicle. Therefore said vehicle includes a receiving control system to receive said signals and actuator means associated to said receiver. In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the vehicle includes a transmitting control system, capable of transmitting signals of information as for example position, crosses or parking in certain points of the circuit or other incidences of the vehicle during its movement by the track. In addition, altogether with this transmitter, electromagnetic and/or mechanical means are arranged that interact with the mentioned transmitter to activate the transmission of the mentioned information to a management and control unit of the information to which said control, that is at least one, is associated. 
     The present invention also is characterized in that the mentioned signals sent in the first place from the associated transmitter to the control, are digital waveform, and consist of a temporary weft of pulses in series, composed by first pulses that carry of an authentication code of the vehicle, followed by second pulses that carry of an operative command about the operation of the vehicle. 
     The case of basic operative command transmitted from the station to the vehicle, is without any doubt the one of the control of the speed. This command concerns to the drive of one of the mentioned vehicle means of performance as a system that regulates the power applied to the micromotor and consequently regulates the speed of the same one. It has also been foreseen that in another embodiment, that the controls do not codify the signal. The controls are connected to the station in a concrete port. The station detects the presence of a control and associates to said port a code that later will associate to a concrete vehicle. 
     The important thing is to distinguish that this operative command is only processed if the receiver associated to the vehicle validates the authentication code. 
     Secondly, similarly, the present invention also is characterized in which the signals sent from the transmitter associated to the vehicle are of digital waveform composed by first pulses that carry an authentication code foreseen to be compared with a reference code by the station, followed of second pulses that carry of a message as a information about the position, crosses or parking in certain points of the circuit or similar situations or operative conditions of the vehicle. In the same way, said message is only processed if the receiver associated to the station validates the authentication code. 
     It has been foreseen that the transmission from the vehicle to the station is done in a certain interval of time fixed by said station after authorizing the vehicle the permission for it. Thus, before transmitting, the station makes a polling between the vehicles to ask which wants to transmit. Later the station is put in high impedance to make listening and after processing the answers, it applies a series of criteria to grant the permission to one of them whom after a period of time makes the communication. 
     The use of this codified communication has the main application that at least one same electroconductive track is susceptible to be temporarily shared by at least two vehicles equipped with respective control devices. This same shared electroconductive track is typically the one destined one to power. 
     Although in the preferred embodiment the DS are applied on the same electroconductive tracks of transmission of power of the mentioned micromotor, but it has been foreseen the possibility to use an alternative electroconductive track like independent channel of transmission of the mentioned DS. In a preferred embodiment this alternative route is placed in a lower level and in intermediate situation with respect to the two tracks of current collector that flank the guide groove. In addition, it implies the necessity of incorporating in the vehicle an additional dynamic current collector, to be able to take the control signals towards the receiver. In both cases the codified communication allows to share the same track. 
     It has been foreseen an embodiment where the DS of control are between a first level of voltage of predetermined power and a second level of voltage so that they are superimposed on a power signal to said first predetermined level of voltage, to circulate for the same power electroconductive tracks. 
     In another embodiment it has been foreseen to multiplex the control signal and the one of power in the time. During a very brief but sufficient period of time denominated tcontrol the described pulses would be transmitted and next it would apply the power signal to the electroconductive tracks. 
     It has been foreseen the possibility that in case that more than one vehicle moves on the same guide groove would be interesting to provide means so that the vehicle could make a change of guide groove, to make for example an advancement. 
     Those means will be based on the drive in the vehicle of performance means as an electromagnetic system, applied to move a retractable element that is preferably associated to the guide set, and which is capable of interacting with a track section, suitably designed, so that the change of guide groove is made. 
     In the context of the present invention, said drive will come directed by a specific operative command, sent from the transmitter associated to the control towards the vehicle. 
     For many applications it would be interesting to know the position of the vehicle in the circuit. As it has been mentioned already previously, for this purpose there are first means associated to the vehicle and second means associated to the guide groove. 
     The first means associated to the vehicle are electromagnetic and/or mechanic means capable of detecting the electromagnetic and/or mechanical excitation generated by second means included by different electromagnetic and/or mechanical devices associated to the guide groove. 
     The first means associated to the vehicle are those that in addition interact with the mentioned transmitter to activate the transmission of the message that contains the position towards the station. 
     Previously it has been mentioned the possibility of using an alternative electroconductive track like independent channel of transmission of the mentioned DS. It has been foreseen that in addition this alternative route could also collaborate in the obtaining of information such as the position. 
     A way to do it would be to have this alternative route in a segmented form, since assuming that the means speed of the vehicles is sufficiently high, noncritical points can be defined in which the control can be interrupted by instants of time sufficiently short, so that it is not affected the performance of the game. The position can be approximately obtained based on with one of these segments the vehicle is in contact in a determined instant. 
     The present invention also foresees the integration of means for storing a registry of the transmitted signals with the purpose of making a later analysis of the races and preparation of game programs. 
     By means of the system and the method of the present invention, each player controls his particular vehicle and not the guide by which he runs; that is to say, it is possible to control each vehicle independently of the guide groove through this one moves. For example, two or more vehicles can run by a same guide being controlled independently by their respective players, which is not possible with the systems of the state of the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an elementary electrical representation of the state of the art with respect to the electric toy vehicle and  FIG. 2  does it with respect to the control. 
         FIG. 3  shows the temporary weft that composes the control signal and its disposition superimposed to the feeding signal. 
         FIG. 3   b  shows the temporary weft that composes the control signal and its multiplexed disposition during the time tcontrol with the feeding signal. 
         FIG. 4  shows an elementary electrical representation of the present invention with respect to the electric toy vehicle and  FIG. 5  does it with respect to the control. 
         FIG. 5   b  shows an elementary electrical representation of an alternative to the control in that there is not any feeding mechanisms and in that the traditional variable resistor is used. 
         FIG. 6  shows a block diagram of the control system. 
         FIG. 7  shows an example of an advanced control with vision and control of functions derived from the knowledge of the position and function of change of guide and other parameters of the vehicle in race. 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  refer to an example of application of the principles of the present invention to a change of guide groove.  FIG. 8  shows a scheme of a preferred embodiment of the means associated to the vehicle for said aim and  FIG. 9  shows a descriptive scheme of a suitably designed track. 
         FIG. 10  shows to a scheme of a preferred embodiment for a feeding system and contact system capable of feeding several vehicles in a scalable form. 
         FIG. 11  shows a flow diagram of a method embodying the invention. 
     
    
    
     Next a list of references is provided about the figures that could be used in the later concrete embodiment of the invention.
           1 . Lights     2 . Micromotor     3 . Dynamic feeding current collector     4 . Speed trigger     5 . Variable resistor     6 . Track connector     7 . Authentication code     8 . Message (Command or position)     9 . Attributes of the message     10 . Control signal     11 . Power signal     12 . Optional dynamic current collector in case of use of an alternative electroconductive track     13 . Lights     14 . Dynamic feeding current collector     15 . Micromotor     16 . Control system     17 . Electromagnet (change of guide)     18 . Speed trigger     19 . Optical reader device     20 . Control system     20   a . Code selector     21 . Vehicle code switch     22 . Light switch     23 . Switch of change of guide     24 . Track connector     25 . Control     26 . Control unit   A+I Feeding+information     28 . Tracks     29 . Vehicle     30 . Power supply     31 . Other elements of the game: lap counters, speedometer, etc.     32 . Indicator of the means speed     33 . Indicator of consumption     34 . Instantaneous speed indicator     35 . Indicator of number of laps     36 . Control Pushbuttons     37 . Speed trigger     38 . Electromagnetic device     39 . Guide cover     40 . Spring     41 . Movable fin     42 . Guide groove     43 . Deeper zone     44 . Pack of power supply of 12 V, insertable     45 . Track     46 . Six digital control collectors     47 . Power supply collector     48 . Digital power supply 24 and 12 V     49 . Speed trigger     50 . Variable resistor     51 . Control system     52 . Switch of gearshift (turbo)     53 . Light switch     54 . Switch of change of guide     55 . Track connector     56 . Authentication code     57 . Message (Command or position)     58 . Attributes of the message     59 . Control signal     60 . Power signal       

     Concrete Embodiment of the Invention 
       FIG. 11  illustrates steps of a method of controlling a to vehicle via a digital vehicle control signal that is applied to at least one electrically conductive trace of a toy vehicle track. This method also includes receiving a digital vehicle information signed at a remote controller and displaying vehicle information on a remote controller. The steps of the method illustrated in  FIG. 11  are discussed in greater detail in the following detailed description. 
       FIG. 1  shows an elementary electrical representation of the state of the art with respect to an electric toy vehicle. 
     A dynamic feeding current collector  3  feeds micromotor  2  and lights  1  directly, so that they receive more voltage or less voltage as this one is regulated by means of the control. The speed of turn of the micromotor depends directly on the voltage applied on terminals. Therefore, regulating the voltage with the control the speed of vehicle is regulated and with this the speed of the vehicle. 
       FIG. 2  shows an elementary electrical representation of the state of the art with respect to the control. 
     The speed trigger  4  mechanically regulates the length of a variable resistor  5  applied to a voltage divider so that in the track connector  6  a voltage is had that varies within a certain margin as the trigger  4  varies. 
     The control signal, as it is possible to be observed in  FIG. 3 , is of digital waveform and is formed by pulses in series that carry information, organized in a weft so that it has first pulses that carry an authentication code  7  foreseen to be compared with a reference code by the mentioned receiver. After this code, second pulses  8  are arranged that carry an operative command or message (the position, for example), so that this last one is only processed if the receiver validates the mentioned authentication code. And finally third pulses  9 , that carry complementary information, attributes or data in general, being this information associated to the command or the message transmitted in the second pulses  8 . 
     In a first embodiment of the present invention is arranged that this signal is applied on the same electroconductive tracks of feeding by means of the superposition that it has just mentioned. Another embodiment has the multiplexation of the control signal during a brief but sufficient period of time, denominated tcontrol, of about 8 mseg. In that time it would be transmitted the described pulses and next it would apply the power signal to the electroconductive tracks without the motor appreciates the difference. 
     Both cases are ideal to make compatible the present tracks with the digital system. This compatibility will allow the manufacture of kit of digitalization valid for the old circuits. 
       FIG. 3  shows a range of power voltage between 0 V (mass) and a first level of predetermined power voltage Vvehicle (typically of 12 V) and a range of voltage destined to the control signal and comprised between Vvehicle and a second level Vmax voltage (typically of 24 V). The  FIG. 3   b  shows the maximum value of the pulses between a Vveh voltage of 18 V and a Vmax voltage of 24 V. The minimum value is of 0 V and power signal is included between Vveh and Vmax. 
     These levels of voltage are adequated to avoid noise problems and guarantee that there will not be losses in the circuit. 
       FIG. 4  shows to an elementary electrical representation of the present invention with respect an toy electric vehicle and  FIG. 5  shows it with respect to the control. 
       FIG. 4  shows to the dynamic feeding current collector  14  and an optional dynamic current collector  12  that corresponds to the use of an alternative electroconductive track, if there were. The novelty with respect to  FIG. 1  is the introduction of a control system  16  that makes the functions of receiver of the vehicle. Said device formed by passive components, three transistors and a basic microcomputer. It receives the orders, it decodifies them and it executes them, acting on performance means, as for example electromagnet  17  foreseen for the change of guide. In addition, from the scheme it is deducted that the performance means that regulate the motor speed (that is to say, the voltage applied to its terminals) are integrated within the module corresponding to the control system. 
       FIG. 5  shows the speed trigger  18  whose movement is detected by means of an optical reader device  19 . This device is formed by two optocouplers that make a reading on a plastic sheets of bars associated to the trigger. 
     From this reading it is obtained the position and the direction of trigger of the control and is processed by the control system  20  that communicates to the vehicle transmitting the signal previously explained. 
     In addition in the control there is a selector code  20   a , a switch of code of vehicle  21 , switch of lights on/off  22 , switch of change of guide  23 . All these switches act over the control system  20 , that is the most important novelty with respect to  FIG. 2  again, so that this suitably communicates the operative command to the vehicles, knowing that only one of them will answer to this command. 
     The control transmits the authentication code to the vehicle by means of the already mentioned DS, recording this one in its noneraseable internal memory of its processor so that from that moment they form a couple “emitter-receiver”. The programming of the code of the vehicle will be made in any section of the track, with the control and the source connected and without no other vehicle in the track, to avoid that two vehicles share the same code. 
     The  FIG. 5   b  shows an elementary electrical representation of an alternative to the control in which there are not any signal codification mechanisms and in that the traditional variable resistor  50  is used. In addition switch  52  is a switch of gearshift (turbo). In general, as new functionalities are included, the control will be designed to be incorporating new switches. 
     The controls are connected to the station in a concrete port. The station detects the presence of a control and associates to said port a code that later will associate to a concrete vehicle. 
     The stations in that case can have up to four ports and only one of them would connect to the tracks. In order to add more vehicles it is necessary to connect a secondary station to the main one by means of specific connector to extend four more vehicles and so until a maximum of four stations, which would suppose a maximum of 16 vehicles playing. 
       FIG. 6  shows a block diagram of the control system. It can be observed how the system allows to be applied parallelly to several vehicles. The key point is the control unit  26 . It is remarked that on the same tracks that they feed the vehicles it can be connected other elements of the game  31  how lap counters, speedometer, etc. that will be commented later. 
       FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  refers to an example of the application of the principles of the present invention to a change of guide groove. 
       FIG. 8  shows a scheme of an embodiment preferred of the means associated to the vehicle. It is possible to observe that the principle of change of guide is the drive of an electromagnet  38 , arranged to move a retractable element associated to the guide set, as movable fin  41 , forced by the spring  40 , by means of which a change of guide is made in a section of track adequately designed for it, so as it is indicated schematically in  FIG. 9 . The key is that said fin  41  can sink to make contact with a deeper zone  43  (to prevent that it exists problems in the contacting point between the two guide grooves  42 ) to force to the vehicle to follow the alternative guide. 
     It is possible to emphasize that the fact to share the same tracks of feeding by different vehicles implies the necessity to cause that the feeding means are scalables according to the final number of vehicles that circulate, for this purpose it has been foreseen the use a new module of feeding like the one shown in the  FIG. 10 . This is based on a base  48  (“Pack of digital supply”) with a common part that it generates +24 V of signalling and +Vvehicle for, for example, 4 simultaneous vehicles, and allows the insertion of up to three more modules  44 , than on automatic form, are paralleled over the base pack allowing the growth of the system according to the number of vehicles. 
     As conclusion is interesting to consider that if to the digital communication differentiated to the feeding it is added the knowledge of the position of the vehicle it is obtained a range of new benefits of simulation of the real competitions, such as any product that depends on a detector of passage by the finishing line like lap counters, speedometers, etc. 
     If in addition means are provided to store a registry of the transmitted signals it could be done a later analysis of the races and prepare training programs in which the player must overcome his own registries. 
     Generalizing, thanks to the digitalization will be able to have new concepts in the game, like for example the gregarious vehicles. These are vehicles to which a program with defined orders (speed, change of guide, etc.) has been implemented, that it executes in a sequential and repetitive way, during all the race, becoming during the same one a movable obstacle that will create driving problems and will force to have a special attention during the same one. The type of program to execute can be definable by external form, by means of a specific terminal of programming of said vehicle. 
     Other concepts will be real trainings with times of classification and position in starting grid, sound reproduction according to real position of the vehicles, pursuit vehicle (Professional Trainer vehicle) and at a more concrete level, on/off lights, push brakes, gearshift, smoke in the skids, reproduction of real sound, entrance in boxes, an advanced control that shows a summary of the parameters of the race, connection to a personal computer to analyze the race with some program adapted for it. 
     It is foreseen to project also in the future the installation of microcameras inside the vehicles, controls with track vision, races with LCD colour glasses with vision of the position of the pilot in the vehicle, etc. 
     These new functions will force to develop among other things advanced controls like the one shown in the  FIG. 7  that is an example of a digital advanced control with vision and control of functions derived from the knowledge of the position and function of change of guide and other parameters of the vehicle in race.