Amusement devices: toys – Rolling or tumbling – Remotely controlled
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-13
2002-08-27
Ackun, Jacob K. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Rolling or tumbling
Remotely controlled
C446S091000, C446S043000, C463S039000, C463S043000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06439956
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to handheld electronic games and, more particularly, to devices that are controllable using a handheld game player device.
2. Description of the Related Technology
A variety of radio controlled, or remote controlled (RC), devices are known in the art. RC toys are among the most popular RC devices. Remotely controlled toy cars, boats and planes are very popular with children and other enthusiasts because they allow the user to directly control and effect the action and movement of the toy. Such toys are typically controlled by use of a dedicated handheld controller that broadcasts radio signals (which correspond to the user's input) to a radio receiver part of the toy which then implements the commands. Battery driven electrical motors and servos typically provide propulsion to move the toy and carry out other commands. One drawback of RC toys is that the controller and toy are an inseparable unit and the controller cannot be used for any purpose other than operating the specific intended toy. A lost controller may render the RC toy useless absent replacing the dedicated controller.
Another drawback of RC toys is that the design or configuration of the toy's body is not readily interchangeable. This happenstance heightens the possibility that a user, particularly a child, will lose interest in playing with the toy. For example, in today's pop culture, an RC toy configured to resemble the Batmobile or Bat Plane may become quickly obsolete or out of vogue by the next blockbuster fad, taking away from the user's enjoyment of playing with the obsolete looking RC toy.
Still yet another drawback of RC toy devices is that typical units require the user to continuously interact with the controller to coordinate the toy's movement to keep the toy on course and avoid crashes or other stoppages in play. Continuous attention to the controller and the toy to monitor direction and speed has proven difficult for many users who lack the necessary dexterity to synchronize the required commands. For these users, a set of pre-programmed commands or pre-programmable routes entered or selected by the user may be preferable.
Another drawback with RC toy controllers is the lack of a user interface-display. A user interface-display which provides or creates game conditions (i.e., display of vehicle speed, direction, obstacles, fuel levels, etc.) may add to the user's enjoyment of operating the toy by adding an additional dimension or challenge to mastering the toy. Such a display may also allow the toy to serve as a means of competition between multiple users by, for example, keeping track of high scores or best times.
A popular user interface-display in use today is the liquid crystal display (LCD) panel on a handheld game machine or “player”. Such a device is described for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,830 of Okida et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Typically, handheld game player systems are packaged and sold in two components: a main body (host display unit) comprising a handheld game player device and an interchangeable game cartridge unit. Typical handheld game players are operated with both thumbs of a user interacting with control keys on the game player in response to game images displayed on the LCD panel. The popularity of these handheld game systems has sky-rocketed in recent years because they may be used for a variety of games by simply inserting different game cartridges into the game player. Providing use with a variety of games, and continually developing new games, prevents the device from becoming tiresome or monotonous and greatly increases the life-span of the game player system with the consuming public.
One drawback of prior art handheld game player systems is that the user's sole interaction is based on little more than what is displayed within the parameters of the LCD panel. Up until now, however, no one has attempted to use a handheld game player for playing a game outside the parameters and confines of the LCD user interface-display; all of the prior art devices require the user to react to the development of the game as it unfolds on the LCD panel alone.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,438 discloses a handheld LCD game machine capable of adaptation to a fish finder by insertion of a game cartridge having a cable connected to an ultrasonic sensor and transmitter which interface with the host game player unit. The units display the topography of the water bottom and any fish in the water on the LCD panel. Not only does this system lack remote control or programmable features, but this system also forces the user to direct his or her attention exclusively to monitoring the display on the LCD panel.
The foregoing underscores some of the problems associated with conventional RC toy devices and handheld game players. Furthermore, the foregoing highlights the need for an RC toy device with a changeable body design. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved system for remote control of an RC toy or other robotic type device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an RC toy device that is controllable by a handheld game player device. The RC toy is adapted to be directly controlled, and/or to follow preprogrammed instructions, based on a user's input of commands via a handheld game player, wherein the LCD panel of the game player preferably provides a user with information regarding the game's progress.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an RC toy device including a control unit and a remotely controlled device that is “alternatively controllable”, meaning capable of both direct real time control (wherein the toy immediately follows the instructions of a player operating a handheld game player device) and, alternatively, pre-programmed control (wherein a user enters a series of commands or a series of desired actions resulting in the generation of a series of commands stored in the memory of the game player device and the commands are selectively broadcast to the toy at a later time).
It is another object of the present invention to provide an RC toy device which is alternatively controllable by a handheld game player wherein an integral LCD panel provides, as appropriate, either a game display coordinated to show the development and progression of the game in response to a user's direct control or, alternatively, a display of a user's preprogrammed route (and/or other preprogrammed commands) and, the RC toy's progress with respect to the preprogrammed route (and/or other commands).
It is a related object of this invention to provide a remote control unit for mating with a handheld game player, wherein the remote control unit has a game cartridge portion housing a memory storing software capable of accepting user inputted commands and communicating the commands to an associated transmitter for broadcasting the commands to a remotely controllable object such as an RC toy.
It is also a related object of the invention to provide software capable of operating a remotely controllable object such as an RC toy or other remotely controllable object, by direct control in response to a user's real time inputs or by broadcasting preprogrammed commands previously entered by the user.
It is a further related object of this invention to provide software capable of direct or preprogrammed control of the RC toy and capable of displaying real time development of the game on the LCD panel of a handheld game player or capable of displaying a preprogrammed route and/or other commands and, the object's progress with respect to the preprogrammed route and/or other commands.
It is yet another related object of this invention to provide a method of preprogramming the operation of an RC toy device using a handheld game player.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless remote control system for controlling an RC toy device incor
Ackun Jacob K.
Fulbright & Jaworski LLP
Interact Accessories, Inc.
Miller Bena B.
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