Two-phase stepper motor driven toys

Abstract

The present invention relates to a two-phase stepper motor driven toy comprising a toy body having at least one movable member; a transmission mechanism operatively coupled to said at least movable member; an electric drive means for driving said at least movable member which includes a motor control circuitry for generating electrical signals and a two-phase stepper motor operating in response to the generated electrical signals; and a battery power unit.

1 . A two-phase stepper motor driven toy comprising: 
 a toy body;    at least one movable member movably mounted to said toy body;    a transmission mechanism operatively coupled to said at least movable member;    an electric drive means for driving said at least movable member via said transmission mechanism;    a battery power unit for providing power to said drive means;    wherein said electrical drive means includes:    a motor control circuitry for generating electrical signals in accordance with preset modes; and    a two-phase stepper motor, which is electrically connected to said motor control circuitry to selectably regulate the operational modes of the two-phase stepper motor in response to the generated electrical signals, for translating the rotational motion via said transmission mechanism to actuate motion of said at least movable member of the toy.    
   
   
       2 . A two-phase stepper motor driven toy in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the motor control circuitry is a micro control unit or a microprocessor.  
   
   
       3 . A two-phase stepper motor driven toy in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the motor control circuitry is programmed to operate the two-phase stepper motor to move said at least one movable member in a manner permitting said movable member to be moved in a forward or backward direction.  
   
   
       4 . A two-phase stepper motor driven toy in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the two-phase stepper motor is operating at a speed which can be varied by adjusting the period of the electrical signals generated from the motor control circuitry.  
   
   
       5 . A two-phase stepper motor driven toy in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the two-phase stepper motor is reversible to drive the toy depending on the periods and pulse widths of the electrical signals.  
   
   
       6 . A two-phase stepper motor driven toy in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the transmission mechanism includes a gear assembly including two gears respectively connected to two drive shafts, said two drive shafts being secured respectively to said at lest movable member of the toy body and the two-phase stepper motor, whereby said at lest movable member is driven by the two-phase stepper motor through the gear assembly.  
   
   
       7 . A two-phase stepper motor driven toy in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the toy body is a toy vehicle body, which is mounted on a chassis equipped with four movable members: a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels.  
   
   
       8 . A two-phase stepper motor driven toy in accordance with  claim 7  wherein a freely rotating wheel is arranged centrally and somewhat forwardly underneath the chassis of the toy vehicle to replace the pair of front wheels and work with the pair of rear wheels.  
   
   
       9 . A two-phase stepper motor driven toy in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the toy body is a robot toy body, which is equipped with two movable members: a pair of leg members.  
   
   
       10 . A two-phase stepper motor driven toy in accordance with  claim 9  wherein a desired gait for the toy robot is generated by means of the two-phase stepper motor through a swing drive mechanism.  
   
   
       11 . A two-phase stepper motor driven toy in accordance with  claim 10  wherein the swing drive mechanism includes a shaft, two cams and two guide plates attaching to the two leg members connected by said shaft, and a guide rod, the two ends of which are separatively placed in a guide slot formed on the guide plate.  
   
   
       12 . A two-phase stepper motor driven toy in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the toy body is a candy holder body, which equipped with one movable member: a spindle shaft to which a candy is attached.  
   
   
       13 . A two-phase stepper motor driven toy in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the battery used in the battery power unit is a button cell.