Toy with identification capability

Abstract

A toy vehicle set is disclosed herein. A toy vehicle set includes a toy vehicle having at least one reflective surface. A toy track is provided having a toy vehicle guiding pathway. A toy vehicle identification system is coupled to at least a portion of the toy track. The identification system includes a light source arranged to direct an emitted light towards the at least one reflective surface. A plurality of light sensors, each arranged to receive the emitted light that is reflected from the at least one reflective surface. A controller is electrically coupled to the plurality of light sensors, the controller having a processor responsive to executable computer instructions for identifying the toy vehicle in response to a first signal received from the plurality of light sensors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toy, comprising:
 a toy vehicle having at least one reflective surface;   a toy track having a toy vehicle guiding pathway;   a toy vehicle identification system coupled to at least a portion of the toy track, the toy vehicle identification system having:
 a light source arranged to direct an emitted light towards the at least one reflective surface; 
 a plurality of light sensors, each arranged to receive the emitted light that is reflected from the at least one reflective surface; and, 
 a controller electrically coupled to the plurality of light sensors, the controller having a processor responsive to executable computer instructions for identifying the toy vehicle in response to a first signal received from the plurality of light sensors. 
   
     
     
         2 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the first signal is indicative of an intensity value of the emitted light that is reflected from the at least one reflective surface. 
     
     
         3 . The toy according to  claim 2 , wherein the controller is further responsive to executable computer instructions for determining an identity of the toy vehicle from a database in response to receiving the first signal, wherein the database includes a plurality of toy vehicles and an associated intensity value for each of the plurality of toy vehicles. 
     
     
         4 . The toy according to  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of light sensors is comprised of a first light sensor, a second light sensor, a third light sensor and a fourth light sensor, each of the plurality of light sensors outputting a second signal having an eight-bit intensity value. 
     
     
         5 . The toy according to  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further responsive to executable computer instructions for averaging each of the second signals and identifying the toy vehicle from an average intensity value. 
     
     
         6 . The toy according to  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further responsive to executable computer instructions for summing each of the second signals and identifying the toy vehicle from a total intensity value. 
     
     
         7 . The toy according to  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further responsive to executable computer instructions for comparing each of the second signals to the database intensity values and identifying the toy vehicle by determining the database intensity value that corresponds to one of the second signals. 
     
     
         8 . The toy according to  claim 3 , wherein the toy vehicle is configured to transform between a first configuration and a second configuration, the toy vehicle reflecting the emitted light with a first intensity value in the first configuration, and reflecting the emitted light with a second intensity value in the second configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The toy according to  claim 8  wherein the database includes a first plurality of intensity values and a second plurality of intensity values, each of the first plurality of intensity values being associated with one of the plurality of toy vehicles in the first configuration and the second plurality of intensity values being associated with one of the plurality of toy vehicles in the second configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The toy according to  claim 1  wherein the toy vehicle guiding pathway includes a first pathway coupled to a second pathway with a movable wall disposed therebetween, an actuator is coupled to the movable wall and is electrically coupled to the controller, wherein the actuator moves the movable wall from a first position to a second position in response to a signal from the controller. 
     
     
         11 . The toy vehicle set of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of light sensors includes four light sensors, the four light sensors each outputting a second signal, the second signal having a four bit intensity value. 
     
     
         12 . The toy vehicle of  claim 1  further comprising a display device electrically coupled to the controller, wherein the display device generates a message in response to the controller receiving first third signal. 
     
     
         13 . A method of identifying a toy vehicle comprising:
 emitting a light from a light source;   receiving the light reflected off the toy vehicle by a plurality of light sensors;   generating a first signal of intensity value with each of the plurality of light sensors;   determining an identity of the toy vehicle from the first signal; and   transmitting a second signal based on the identity of the toy vehicle.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the reflected light determines a color of the toy vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the light from the light source is emitted onto a side of the toy vehicle having a first indicia or a second indicia. 
     
     
         16 . The according to  claim 13 , further comprising generating an audio message in response to the second signal. 
     
     
         17 . An identification system comprising:
 a light source positioned adjacent a movable portion of a toy;   a plurality of light sensors positioned adjacent the light source for sensing light from the light source reflected off of the movable portion, wherein the sensed light determines at least one feature of the object; and   a controller includes a processor responsive to executable computer instructions that identifies the object in response to receiving signals from the plurality of light sensors.   
     
     
         18 . The identification system of  claim 17 , further comprising a display device configured to produce representative data of the identified object. 
     
     
         19 . The identification system of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is further responsive to executable instructions for:
 storing information relating to the configuration and use of the identified object; and   directing light on the object, receiving a signal indicative of the object, and storing a signature for the object.