WO2000051699A1

WO2000051699A1 - Advanced model racing car game

Info

Publication number: WO2000051699A1
Application number: PCT/IE2000/000028
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Byrne
Original assignee: Paul Byrne
Priority date: 1999-03-04
Filing date: 2000-03-06
Publication date: 2000-09-08
Also published as: EP1224020B1; ES2231161T3; DE60013467T2; DE60013467D1; IES990171A2; IES81044B2; AU3186700A; EP1224020A1; ATE274992T1

Abstract

A racing car game which allows competitors to drive model racing cars on a flat track surface via control consoles. The ability to steer the racing cars on any part of the track as well as control speed and direction (forward/reverse) via steering wheel on console, with very short reaction time, gives the user a 'Total racing car feel'. The game is mains powered (no batteries needed) and therefore gives total unlimited playing time. The track is composed of sections allowing different geometric shapes to be designed.

Description

ADVANCED MODEL RACING CAR GAME

Background of the invention Introduction

The present invention relates to wheeled vehicles deriving power and signals from a continuos smooth surface containing an electrical dipole and in particular to a toy racing car game whereby racing opponents can control steering and speed in both forward & reverse directions of their each selected vehicles .

Field of invention

It is a known to use a continuos slotted track of parallel dipoles to propel wheeled vehicles which derive their power by shoes riding on the dipole and control the vehicle speed by the use of a hand operated throttle electrically connected to the track dipole.

E.P.O No: 553 555 describes an improvement in toy cars whereby rigid pickup shoes are used in place of previous "brushes" for more continuos electrical connection between vehicle and track dipole.

US patent No: 4795154 describes a continuos toy car racing game in an endless slotted track with improvements in "track holding" of the vehicle by means of a special pin which rides in the slot and determines the steering of said vehicle.

EPO Patent no. 307659 describes a slotted track game as above but with the added advantage of permitting the vehicle to jump between adjacent tracks for the purpose of "Passing out" other vehicles and making the game more interesting.

Object of the invention.

The present invention is designed towards providing an improved construction of a racing car game with means for steering the vehicle on to any part of a smooth track while the vehicle receives power at all times and thereby receives controlling signals at all times since the control signals are superimposed upon the power lines. Means for providing forward and reverse motion is also a feature as is speed control.

Summary of the invention

According to the invention, there is provided a racing car game comprising ; a) a smooth track containing a continuos dipole upon which wheeled vehicles containing at least three "Shoes" and preferable four are attached which contact the smooth track dipole in such a manner that irrespective of the horizontal direction or position of the vehicle(s) electrical contact is continuously made with at least two of the shoes thereby supplying power to the vehicle. b) A means to generate electrical signals in response to mechanisms such as steering wheel, throttle, etc, being activated by the user . c) And means to further superimpose said signals upon the power supply lines attached to the track dipole. d) Means to convert mains electrical supply to low voltage supply for use by the device. e) Means within on-board circuitry within the vehicles to filter or separate signals from the power supply inherent on at least two of the contact shoes at any time for use in the on-board control mechanism for steering, speed control and direction of motion, forward and reverse. f) Means to generate a characteristic signal by the vehicle and transmit same via L.E.D to stationary receiving diodes positioned at points on the track for the purpose of speed detection, lap counting, average speed computation, etc.

Advantages of the invention.

One of the most important features of the invention is the ability for the user to control steering as well as speed/ direction of the moving vehicle anywhere on the track, while the vehicle receives continuos power from the track. This makes for a total "racing car driving" feel for the user with the ability of competing with opponents as on a real race track.

Another advantage is that transmitting the control signals via superimposition on the power lines rather than using separate medium means such as radio or optical makes for faster response critical in the enjoyment of the game. Anyone who has ever "driven" a radio controlled car will appreciate the delay in response from time of actuation of the control levers to actuation of the car steering. On a small track where relatively high speeds are desirable, response times of control features such as steering is paramount. A still further advantage is that the component / circuitry costs are kept to a minimum thereby ensuring competitive pricing comparable to conventional slot car games .

Not having to use batteries is an obvious advantage in that continuos playing time is achieved as well as cost savings. Safety is a still further advantage as batteries can become explosive particularly as the game is intended for use by juniors. Detailed description of the invention.

The invention is described with reference to drawings fig 1. through fig 7.

The invention relates to wheeled vehicles deriving power and signals from a continuos smooth surface containing an electrical dipole and in particular a toy racing car game where there is described in fig 1. a wheeled vehicle containing shoes 3 pushed against a track surface containing dipole 4 & 5 for the purpose of picking up power and signals for use in powering and controlling the steering / drive motor of said racing vehicle.

In fig. 2 there is detailed a steering mechanism which could be used to steer such a vehicle. There is a servo motor 5 with pinion wheel 1 acting on rack 2 to turn wheels 3 containing rod ends 4.

In fig 3. There is detailed a drive motor with stator magnets 5 and rotor coil 6 which turns cog wheel 4 which engages larger cog wheel 3 for purpose of gearing and increasing torque on axial 2 containing rear wheels 1. Fig 5. Details schematic block diagram of on-board circuitry including

Brushes 1 feeding rectifiers 2 feeding regulators which provide the stabilised power supplies for the amplifiers., etc .

Capacitors extract the control signals which are fed to a limiter / shaper 3 and further to the separate filters 4 and on to the demodulators 5. The steering takes signal from demodulator to comparator 6 which is also fed from servo potentiometer 8 and outputs voltage to servo 7 which activates steering pinion wheel 13.

The rear axle power supply to motor 10 is obtained from second demodulator which feeds amplifier 11 and relay 9 while polarity is defined by voltage sampler 12, which activates relay and determines forward / reverse of motor whose speed is determined by voltage level from amplifier.

In fig 4. There is detailed the modulator and low voltage circuitry which generates a DC supply with AC signals superimposed. There is a steering wheel 1 which turns potentiometer 2 which is connected to plug 4 and throttle 3 which also turns a potentiometer which is connected to same plug 4. Plug 4 in turn is connected to socket 5 and is used to vary frequency of oscillators 6.

Summing amp 7 adds multiple frequencies from oscillators 6 and resulting output is superimposed upon DC supply by summing amplifier from mains adapter 10 connected to mains through pug 11.

Fig 1 illustrates a track composed of coupled like segments, 8 & 9 ( which can further be added to, to complete a continuos track.

Lateral dipoles 6 & 7 connect to the appropriate track surface segments 4 & 5 to polarise the conductive surface. Insulation layers 10 separate the dipoles being wider than maximum shoe contact area to avoid arcing.

Shoes 1 & 2 are shown to be in contact with separate dipoles and deliver the appropriate power & signals to the vehicle electric's. Track layers are electrically connected together by dipoles 7 and 6 which run along the complete track and connect via wires 11 to modulation circuit in fig 4.

In another embodiment fig 6. Shows a more "digital" approach whereby digital potentiometer 2 provides digital data concerning it's position to encoder 3 which is sequenced through a switch controlled by oscillator 5 to FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) I.C which produces two tones which are alternatively superimposed upon power supply lines. Switch 1 is forward / reverse actuator.

Fig 7. Details the vehicle circuitry necessary to compliment fig 6. There are "shoes" 1 which pick up power & signals from the track. The power is derived by rectifiers 2 and is fed to regulator for voltage stabilisation.

The signals are isolated from the power lines by capacitors and fed to limiter / shaper amp 3.

The sinusoidal tones are fed to FSK demodulator 4 and resulting digital serial data fed to decoder 5 and parallel digital data is converted to an analogue signal via D/A converter 6. Comparator 7 compares voltage from servopot and produces resultant servo drive voltage for steering via pinion wheel 10.

The speed control voltage is derived by D/A converter 11 and direction is obtained by switching relay 12 whose coil 13 is energised by digital line from decoder. Motor 14 is buffered by amplifier 15 and is geared to produce required torque to turn the wheels.

Claims

Claims :

1

Wheeled vehicle(s) having a multiple of "shoes" in contact with a smooth partially conductive surface containing a continuos electrically conductive dipole track, such that at least two of the shoes are in contact with the dipole at all times no matter what the orientation of the vehicle horizontally and receiving electrical power from the dipole for the purpose of powering an electrical driving motor and steering apparatus and other on-board circuitry 2

The invention of Claim 1 having means to generate electrical signals in response to mechanism such as steering wheel , throttle, etc, being activated by the user. 3 and further means to superimpose these upon the low voltage power supplying lines attached to the "track" as in Claim 1.

4

The invention of Claim 1 where by each wheeled vehicle receives electrical signals as in Claim 3, being superimposed upon the supply dipole and further having means to "filter" selective signals from said supply for use in the control of the steering mechanism and in the control of the speed mechanism, featuring forward & reverse selection. 5 The invention of Claim 1 whereby each vehicle generates a characteristic signal and transmits same via semiconductor L.E.D or other means to stationary receiving diode / diodes on selective parts of the track whereby said diode / diodes are activated whenever the vehicle passes said point of the track for the purpose of monitoring progress / lap counting of each vehicle, etc.