Patent ID: 7291054

Claim:
A programmable toy device comprising: a) a body; b) a motor for activating a motive generator on the body for causing the body to move relative to a surrounding environment, and including a receiver for electronic signals; c) a remote controller; d) a key pad mounted on the remote controller including a series of control elements for operation by a user; e) the key pad and control elements in the remote controller being connected with a microprocessor, located in the remote controller, for encoding control signals, and being connected with a transmitter being for transmission of the control signals to the receiver in the body, wherein the microprocessor is programmable, by a program having a plurality of program actions, so as to permit for a selection of motions; f) the receiver in the body being connected with a decoder for translating signals received into control signals for operating the motive generator whereby the body is caused to move in different directions according to the action of the motive generator; g) the arrangement being such that the key pad on the remote controller is operable or controllable to effect programmable control of the motive generator in the body, and wherein the keys of the key pad are preprogrammed such that keys represent different motion events to be encoded and transmitted to the receiver; and h) wherein the remote controller is operable for direct drive control with priority of input over one or more of the plurality of program actions currently being executed by the microprocessor, and wherein the microprocessor continues execution of the plurality of program actions after the user stops the direct drive control.