Abstract:
A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed for adapting an existing scaled vehicle remote controller for use with an enhanced controller. An enhanced controller modifies control signals to conform to the response features of an existing controller. The modified control signal is transmitted to an original remote controller and broadcast to a scaled vehicle. The enhanced control system can control the scaled vehicle with no changes to the vehicle and only modest changes to the original vehicle controller. The present invention allows existing remote control vehicles to be used in more sophisticated competitions and driven using enhanced operational environments.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation-In-Part of and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/353,642, filed on Jan. 31, 2002 for Racing Visions, L.L.C., and for Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/374,440 filed on Apr. 22, 2002 for Racing Visions, L.L.C. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. The Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The invention relates to controlling a scaled vehicle using an alternate remote control system. Specifically, the invention relates to controlling a scaled vehicle by interfacing an alternate, enhanced remote control system to the vehicle&#39;s original remote controller.  
           [0004]    2. The Relevant Art  
           [0005]    Hobbyists own hundreds of thousands of scaled, remote control vehicles. Users can maneuver or race these vehicles individually using a vehicle&#39;s original controller systems. However, there is a growing demand to employ scaled vehicles in increasingly sophisticated events that exceed the capabilities of the original controllers. Remote scaled-vehicle competitions require increased organization and control of drivers, many of whom are young or novice competitors. A track marshal may need to temporarily control vehicles in order to position them for the start of a race, resolve accidents or mechanical failures, and maintain order on the track.  
           [0006]    There is a growing interest in driving remote control vehicles using advanced maneuvering and feedback systems. However, advanced features, services, and functionality cannot be made available to existing scaled vehicle users because their vehicles use a variety of incompatible controllers. Currently, enhanced remote control systems must be closely integrated with a racing or driving venue. Racing venue operators cannot economically supply the variety of expensive enhanced remote control systems needed to allow all users operate their vehicles with a venue&#39;s added features, services, and functionality. Without access to advanced remote control systems, vehicles cannot be controlled in centrally managed and directed events and competitions. Users also cannot take advantage of advanced driving and racing services such as remote vision, driving simulator cockpits and controls, or computer enhancement of a user&#39;s driving.  
           [0007]    What is needed are methods, apparatus, and systems for allowing more sophisticated remote vehicle controllers to control and operate existing scaled vehicles by adapting a vehicle&#39;s original remote controller for use with an alternate controller. In particular, what is needed is a method, apparatus, and system for interfacing an enhanced remote control system with the transmitter of an existing remote controller, thereby allowing the enhanced remote control system to manipulate a vehicle with modest modifications to the original controller and without changes to the vehicle.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The various elements of the present invention have been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available scaled remote vehicles. Accordingly, the present invention provides an improved apparatus, method, and system for maneuvering existing scaled vehicles with an enhanced remote control system. In one aspect of the present invention, a method of interfacing an enhanced controller of a remote control system to an original remote controller of an existing scaled vehicle is presented. A user controls a scaled vehicle through an enhanced controller while using the additional features, services, and functionality of the remote control system.  
           [0009]    In another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is also presented and provided with an enhanced controller that converts a user&#39;s control inputs into a control signal. The enhanced controller also modifies the control signal to match the operating parameters of the original remote controller and the scaled vehicle. The apparatus is further provided with a connection to an original remote controller. The connection supplies the enhanced controller&#39;s control signal to the remote controller&#39;s transmitter. The apparatus allows a user to control a scaled vehicle with an alternate enhanced controller through the vehicle&#39;s original remote controller.  
           [0010]    Various elements of the present invention are combined into a system for maneuvering a scaled vehicle. The system provides a user with an enhanced controller for generating a control signal. The system substitutes the enhanced controller&#39;s control signal for the control signal of the original scaled vehicle remote controller. The system employs the vehicle&#39;s original remote controller to broadcast the enhanced controller&#39;s control signal to the scaled vehicle.  
           [0011]    The present invention facilitates a user controlling an existing scaled vehicle with an enhanced remote vehicle controller system. The present invention may also support an advanced operational environment, including video, audio, motion, and/or force feedback to the user. In one embodiment, the present invention facilitates a track marshal taking control of an existing scaled vehicle to manage recreational and racing events. The present invention further supports modification of a user&#39;s driving commands to improve or change maneuvering performance. These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    In order that the manner in which the advantages and objects of the invention are obtained will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a remote control system in accordance with the prior art;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an enhanced controller/remote controller system of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a remote control system of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an enhanced controller of the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a remote control method in accordance with the prior art; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a remote control method in accordance with the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]    Many of the functional units described in this specification have been labeled as modules, in order to more particularly emphasize their implementation independence. For example, a module may be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom VLSI circuits or gate arrays, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components. A module may also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices or the like.  
         [0020]    Modules may also be implemented in software for execution by various types of processors. An identified module of executable code may, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions which may, for instance, be organized as an object, procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the executables of an identified module need not be physically located together, but may comprise disparate instructions stored in different locations which, when joined logically together, comprise the module and achieve the stated purpose for the module.  
         [0021]    Indeed, a module of executable code could be a single instruction, or many instructions, and may even be distributed over several different code segments, among different programs, and across several memory devices. Similarly, operational data may be identified and illustrated herein within modules, and may be embodied in any suitable form viola  20  and organized within any suitable type of data structure. The operational data may be collected as a single data set, or may be distributed over different locations including over different storage devices, and may exist, at least partially, merely as electronic signals on a system or network.  
         [0022]    Referring to FIG. 1, a remote control system  100  is illustrated that is representative of the environment wherein the present invention may be deployed. The remote control system  100  allows a user to maneuver a scaled vehicle  150 . The depicted remote control system  100  includes a remote controller  110  and a scaled vehicle  150 . The remote controller  110  includes a mechanical control input module  120 , a transducer module  130 , an encoder module  135 , and a transmitter module  140 . The scaled vehicle  150  includes a receiver module  160 , a decoder module  165  and an actuator module  170 .  
         [0023]    In one embodiment, a user may maneuver the scaled vehicle  150  by manipulating the mechanical control input module  120 . The transducer module  130  converts a mechanical control input into an electrical control signal. The encoder module  135  encodes the control signal. The transmitter module  140  broadcasts the control signal. The receiver module  160  of the scaled vehicle  150  receives the control signal. The decoder module  165  decodes the control signal. In response to control signal, the actuator module  170  manipulates an actuator, such as a steering mechanism, of the scaled vehicle  150 . Manipulating an actuator of the scaled vehicle  150  allows the user to maneuver the scaled vehicle  150 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an enhanced controller/remote controller system  200  of the present invention. The depicted system  200  includes an enhanced controller module  210  and a marshal controller module  230 . The depicted system  200  further includes a remote controller  110  with a mechanical control input module  120 , a transducer module  130 , an encoder module  135 , a control circuit connection module  220 , and a transmitter module  140 .  
         [0025]    The system  200  maneuvers a scaled vehicle  150  with an enhanced controller module  210  configured to introduce a control signal into the original remote controller  110  of the scaled vehicle  150 . In this way, the enhanced controller module  210  provides a control interface for maneuvering a scaled vehicle  150 . Control interfaces may be items commonly found in a standard vehicle  150  including a steering wheel, handlebars, gas pedal, brake, clutch, stick shift, speedometers, or gauges. Control interfaces may alsoincludejoysticks, game pads, and pointing devices. The enhanced controller module  210  converts an input to a control interface into a control signal.  
         [0026]    The enhanced control module  210  connects to an original remote controller  110  of a scaled vehicle  150  through a control circuit connection module  220 . The control circuit connection module  220  replaces a control signal that is input into a remote controller&#39;s  110  encoder module  135 . The control signal is broadcast to a scaled vehicle  150  by the transmitter module  140 . The mechanical control input module  120  and the transducer module  130  are not used by the remote control system  200 .  
         [0027]    The marshal controller module  230  provides means for a track marshal to maneuver a scaled vehicle  150 . Through the marshal controller module  230  a track marshal may override a control signal of the enhanced control module  210 . In one embodiment, the marshal controller module  230  may facilitate positioning or removal of a scaled vehicle  150  in a racing event.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an enhanced remote control system  300  of the present invention. The remote control system  300  provides a plurality of feedback, race management, and performance enhancement features to a user controlling a scaled vehicle  150  using an original remote controller  110 . The depicted system  300  includes a remote controller  110 , an enhanced controller  210 , a control signal modification module  310 , a video feedback module  320 , a motion feedback module  330 , a force feedback module  340 , an olfactory feedback module  350 , an audio feedback module  360 , a tactile feedback module  370 , and a track management module  380 .  
         [0029]    The enhanced controller  210  generates a control signal from a user control input. The control signal is broadcast to a scaled vehicle  150  through the remote controller  110  as illustrated in FIG. 2. Control inputs may come from a variety of devices including steering wheels, gear-shift levers, gas pedals, brake pedals, handle bars, joy sticks, control yokes, control levers, or game controllers.  
         [0030]    The control signal modification module  310  provides services for modifying a control signal from the enhanced control module  210 . The control signal modification module  310  modifies the control signal to conform to a remote controller  110  of an existing scaled vehicle  150 .  
         [0031]    In one embodiment, the control signal modification module  310  improves the maneuvering performance of a scaled vehicle  150 . The control signal modification module  310  may slow the response of the control signal to control inputs, improving the maneuvering performance of novice drivers. The control signal modification module  310  may also simulate the maneuvering response of a target vehicle.  
         [0032]    The video feedback module  320  in one embodiment provides services for displaying a video image. The image may be provided from at least one video camera  106  mounted on a scaled vehicle  150 . In an alternate embodiment, the video image is provided from at least one video camera mounted adjacent a track. The video image may also be simulated from the positions of a scaled vehicle  150 .  
         [0033]    The motion feedback module  330  in one embodiment provides a user with a sensation of the motion of a scaled vehicle  150  by modifying the physical position of the user in from an original position. For example, small motions of a user&#39;s driving cockpit may simulate acceleration, cornering, and braking. The force feedback module  340  provides a user with force feedback in a control interface of the enhanced controller  210 . For example, a steering wheel control interface may resist being turned by a user or a clutch may vibrate or resist being released. Similarly, a gear-shift lever may also simulate grinding if the user attempts to shift gears incorrectly.  
         [0034]    The olfactory feedback module  350  may in one embodiment provide a user with a smell or scent associated with a racing experience. The olfactory feedback module  350  may introduce a subtle scent resembling high-octane fuel. In a similar manner, the audio feedback module  360  may provide a user with audio feedback similar to that of a racing experience. For example, the audio feedback module  360  may provide a user with audio feedback from microphones mounted on the scaled vehicle  150 . In an alternate embodiment, the audio feedback module  360  may provide simulated racing sounds based on the status of control inputs. For example, the audio feedback module  360  may be configured to provide the sound of squealing tires while the user initiates a turn, or the sound of an accelerating engine as the user depresses an accelerator pedal. The tactile feedback module  370  in one embodiment provides a user with the tactile sensations associated with maneuvering a vehicle. A stream of air may simulate wind striking a driver. The air stream may increase or decrease depending on the speed of the scaled vehicle  150 .  
         [0035]    The track management module  380  in one embodiment provides services for a track marshal to control a scaled vehicle  150  independent of a user&#39;s enhanced controller  210 . Allowing a track marshal to independently control a scaled vehicle  150  facilitates racing or orderly track use. A track marshal may use the track management module  380  to correctly position all scaled vehicles  150  for the start of a race. A track marshal may also use the track management module  380  to take control of a vehicle  150  that is behaving erratically and remove the vehicle  150  from the track.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an enhanced controller  600  of the present invention. The enhanced controller  400  converts a user control input for maneuvering a scaled vehicle  150  into a control signal capable of driving the transmitter  140  of the vehicle&#39;s original remote controller  110 . The enhanced controller  400  is substantially similar to the enhanced controller  210  of FIG. 2 and includes a mechanical control input module  410 , a transducer module  420 , an analog to digital module  430 , a digital processing module  440 , and a digital to analog module  450 .  
         [0037]    The illustrated mechanical control input module  410  accepts a user control input. The mechanical control input module  410  may include a steering wheel, a control lever, a handlebar assembly, an accelerator pedal, a brake, a clutch, a gear-shift lever, or a joystick. The transducer module  420  converts a mechanical motion of the mechanical control input module  410  into an analog electrical signal. The analog to digital module  430  converts the analog electrical signal of the transducer module  420  into a digital control signal.  
         [0038]    The digital processing module  640  in one embodiment processes a digital control signal to conform to a remote controller  110  of an existing scaled vehicle  150 . The digital processing module  440  may modify the digital control signal to improve the maneuvering performance of the user and scaled vehicle  150 . For example, the digital processing module  440  may slow the response of a digital control signal for a novice user so that the scaled vehicle  150  is more easily maneuvered. The digital processing module  440  may also modify control signals simulating the response of a target vehicle. In one instance, a track marshal may override the digital control signal with an alternate digital control signal, allowing the track marshal to take control of a scaled vehicle  150 .  
         [0039]    The digital to analog module  450  converts the processed digital control signal into an analog signal. The analog signal is provided to the control circuit connection module  220  as shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a remote control method  500  in accordance with the prior art. The remote control method  500  facilitates maneuvering of a scaled vehicle  150  by a user. Although for purposes of clarity the steps of the remote control method  500  are depicted in a certain sequential order, execution of the steps within an actual system, such as the system  100  of FIG. 1, may be conducted in parallel and not necessarily in the depicted order.  
         [0041]    The depicted remote control method  500  includes a user inputs step  510 , a mechanical to electrical step  520 , an encode control signal step  525 , a control signal transmission step  530 , a control signal receiving step  540 , a decode control signal step  545 , a control actuation step  550 , and an end step  560 . The control inputs step  510  accepts a user control input for maneuvering a scaled vehicle  150 . Control inputs are accepted from a steering wheel, a control lever, a gear-shift lever, an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal, a handle bar, a control lever, or a joystick. The mechanical to electrical step  520  converts the user&#39;s mechanical control input motion into an control signal. The encode control signal step  535  encodes the control signal. The control signal transmission step  530  broadcasts the control signal from a remote controller  110 . The control signal receiving step  540  receives a control signal at a scaled vehicle  150 . The decode control signal step  545  decodes the control signal. The control actuation step  550  modifies the position of actuators on a scaled vehicle  150  according the parameters of the control signal. The change in actuator position controls the motion of the scaled vehicle  150 , allowing the user to maneuver the scaled vehicle  150 . The method  500  then terminates at the end step  560 .  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a remote control method  600  of the present invention. The remote control method  600  facilitates maneuvering of a scaled vehicle  150  by a user through an enhanced remote control system  300 . Although for purposes of clarity the steps of the remote control method  600  are depicted in a certain sequential order, execution of the steps within an actual system, such as the system  200  of FIG. 2, may be conducted in parallel and not necessarily in the depicted order.  
         [0043]    The depicted remote control method  600  includes a user inputs step  610 , a mechanical to digital step  620 , a digital processing step  630 , and a digital to analog step  640 . The control method  600  further includes the encode control signal step  525 , the control signal transmission step  530 , the control signal receiving step  540 , the decode control signal step  545 , the control actuation step  550  of the remote control method  500  of FIG. 5, and an end step  650 .  
         [0044]    The user inputs step  610  accepts a user input for maneuvering a scaled vehicle  150 . The mechanical to digital step  620  converts the user input into a digital control signal. The digital processing step  630  processes the digital control signal. For example, the digital processing step  630  modifies the digital control signal to conform with an original remote controller  110  of a target scaled vehicle  150 . The digital processing step  630  may also modify the digital control signal to improve the maneuvering performance of the user and scaled vehicle  150 . The digital processing step  630  may further modify the digital control signal to simulate the response of a target vehicle. In one embodiment, a track marshal may override the digital control signal with an alternate digital control signal, allowing the track marshal to take control of a scaled vehicle  150 .  
         [0045]    The digital to analog step  640  converts a digital control signal into an analog control signal. The encode control signal step  525  encodes the control. The control signal transmission step  530  broadcasts the control signal using the original remote controller  110  of the scaled vehicle  150 . The control signal receiving step  540  receives a control signal at a scaled vehicle  150 . The decode control signal step  545  decodes the control signal. The control actuation step  550  modifies the position of actuators on a scaled vehicle  150  according the parameters of the control signal. The change in actuator position controls the motion of the scaled vehicle  150 , allowing the user to maneuver the scaled vehicle  150 . The method  600  then terminates at the end step  650 .  
         [0046]    The present invention allows a user to maneuver an existing scaled vehicle  150  with an enhanced controller/remote control system  200  that supports additional features, services, and functionality. In particular, the present invention supports the maneuvering of an existing scaled vehicle with an enhanced remote control system  300  with improved control inputs, added feedback options, and provided with capabilities to manage a sophisticated racing event.  
         [0047]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.