Remote control toy system, and controller, model and accessory device to be used in the same

Abstract

A remote control toy system includes a plurality of sets. Each set includes a controller, and a model controlled based on data transmitted from the controller so as to correspond to an operation of a user. An accessory device is provided as a device independent from the controllers and models. The accessory device can conduct data communication with the controllers and models. Each of the controllers, the models, and the accessory device includes a radio communication module serving as a device for executing the data communication and can conduct bilateral data communication based on the Bluetooth standards, and a control device for implementing various controls based on data communication conducted through the radio communication module.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a remote control toy system utilizing radio communication, and a controller, a model and an accessory device to be used in the remote control toy system. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] In typical remote control toys, there is prepared a mechanism for definitely associating a controller with a model to be controlled by the controller by using an identification device, such as carrier frequencies or ID codes, in order to prevent false action of the model from being caused by jamming or the like against user's will. Even in a play form, such as a race or a battle game, premised on the assumption that there are a plurality of models, each model can be controlled accurately by only a controller associated with the model, owing to preparation of such a mechanism. [0003] In Japanese Patent Publication No. 2713603, there is disclosed a remote control toy system including tank models associated with a plurality of c...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a remote control toy system that is advantageous in size reduction of models and that can implement colorful plays, and a controller, a model and an accessory device that are to be used in the remote control toy system.

[0007] According to the present invention, each of the controller, the model and the accessory device has a radio communication module based on the same standards. Therefore, it is not necessary to mount a plurality of communication modules on the model, and consumption in the battery is also suppressed. Therefore, the size of the model can be advantageously reduced. In addition, since bilateral data communication among the controller, the model and the accessory device is possible, it is possible to exchange various data among them and implement various controls. As a result, the interest of the play implemented by remote control of the models can be enhanced.

[0013] In these cases, by conducting data sent from the controller or the model in the accessory device or performing a procedure based on information that is input on the accessory device in the accessory device, it is possible to implement, in the whole of the remote control toy system, control that cannot be implemented or hardly implemented only by remote control using a controller. Especially in the case where a plurality of models are concerned in each other to implement a specific play, it becomes possible to provide a new play form while suppressing the burden increase of controllers and models, by assigning processing, which is not suitable for becoming a burden on a specific controller or model, to the accessory device. For example, in the case where models are running a race, it is conceivable to acquire information for determining the order from each model, determine on the accessory device various restrictions such as handicaps according to the order, send data for notifying of contents of the determined restrictions to a controller or a model, and conduct control so that the control device of the controller received the data or the model received the data impose the given restrictions.

[0018] By thus making the controllers or models execute the same procedure by means of broadcast data, unified action and processing can be implemented in a play using a plurality of models. For example, when running a race by using a plurality of automobile models, flying can be prevented effectively if information for ordering all controllers or models to prohibit traveling, is transmitted as broadcast data until the start is permitted, and the controllers or models that have received the information execute a procedure for prohibiting driving of the models, as the common procedure. When some fault has occurred in the race, it is possible that information for restricting the maximum velocity of each model to a constant low velocity is transmitted from the accessory device as broadcast data and the control device of a controller or a model that has received the information executes a procedure for restricting the velocity of model.

[0022] The device for setting a correspondence relation between operation of the controller and action of the model may change a correspondence relation between an operation quantity of the controller concerning a specific action of the model and a control quantity concerning the specific action of the model according to contents of the restrictions. As a result, it becomes possible to make restrictions, such as the velocity that cannot be increased even if the throttle control section is operated in the automobile model, appear.

[0024] In this case as well, various data are exchanged between the controller and the model by utilizing advantages of the Bluetooth standards. As a result, the interest of the play can be enhanced.

Problems solved by technology

Therefore, the number of communication modules to be mounted on the model is large, and size reduction of the model is limited.

As a result, size reduction of the model is further limited.

In the case where dry cells are actually used as power supply, their consumption is fast and the user's burden is also heavy.

Images