Interactive toy vehicle

Abstract

A computer-controlled toy vehicle that provides two distinct modes of play: 1) a roll-around play mode where a child pushes the vehicle around which causes the wheels to slowly rotate and may receive audio/visual feedback related to manual the manipulation of the vehicle in a mode/operation appropriate for the roll-around play mode, and 2) a race play mode where the child pushes the vehicle quickly/vigorously (an increased velocity and/or acceleration) causing the wheels to roll or accelerate more quickly/vigorously. An ON/OFF or grip detector may gate determination of sequencing state and output results.

1 : A method for operating a toy vehicle moving in engagement with a playsurface, the method comprising:
 (a) detecting a sequence including a set of discrete child-originated countable playsurface-engaged actions applied to the toy vehicle using a set of detectors coupled to the toy vehicle, said sequence including a number N of said actions with N>1; and   (b) responding to said sequence to provide a feedback indication.   
     
     
         2 : The method of  claim 1  wherein said feedback indication includes simulating a “charging” of the toy vehicle wherein an attribute of said feedback indication is directly related to said number N. 
     
     
         3 : The method of  claim 1  wherein responding to said sequence is responsive to a grip-indication signal. 
     
     
         4 : The method of  claim 2  wherein responding to said sequence is responsive to a grip-indication signal. 
     
     
         5 : The method of  claim 3  further comprising a switch including an ON mode and an OFF mode, said switch providing said grip-indication signal when operated in said ON mode and said switch not providing said grip-indication signal when operated in said OFF mode. 
     
     
         6 : The method of  claim 4  further comprising a switch including an ON mode and an OFF mode, said switch providing said grip-indication signal when operated in said ON mode and said switch not providing said grip-indication signal when operated in said OFF mode. 
     
     
         7 : The method of  claim 3  wherein the toy vehicle includes a chassis, further comprising a grip detector coupled to said chassis, said grip detector including an ON mode and an OFF mode, said grip detector providing said grip-indication signal when operated in said ON mode indicating a grip of said chassis and said grip detector not providing said grip-indication signal when operated in said OFF mode indicating a non-grip of said chassis. 
     
     
         8 : The method of  claim 4  wherein the toy vehicle includes a chassis, further comprising a grip detector coupled to said chassis, said grip detector including an ON mode and an OFF mode, said grip detector providing said grip-indication signal when operated in said ON mode indicating a grip of said chassis and said grip detector not providing said grip-indication signal when operated in said OFF mode indicating a non-grip of said chassis. 
     
     
         9 : The method of  claim 1  wherein the toy vehicle includes a motor driving motive elements contacting the playsurface to move the toy vehicle over the playsurface, further comprising:
 (c) responding to said sequence to provide a run-mode, said run-mode selected from a group including a roll-around mode and a race-mode, wherein a selection of a particular run-mode is responsive to one or more of the number N or a rate of an application of said set of actions to the toy-vehicle. 
 
     
     
         10 : A method for operating a toy vehicle moving in engagement with a playsurface, the toy vehicle including a motor driving motive elements contacting the playsurface to move the toy vehicle over the playsurface, the method comprising:
 (a) detecting a sequence including a set of discrete child-originated countable playsurface-engaged actions applied to the toy vehicle using a set of detectors coupled to the toy vehicle, said sequence including a number N of said actions with N>1; and   (b) responding to said sequence to provide a run-mode, said run-mode selected from a group including a roll-around mode and a race-mode, wherein a selection of a particular run-mode is responsive to one or more of the number N or a rate of an application of said set of actions to the toy-vehicle while the toy vehicle engages the playsurface.   
     
     
         11 : The method of  claim 10  wherein said run-mode includes simulating a “charging” of the toy vehicle wherein an attribute of said feedback indication is directly related to said number N. 
     
     
         12 : The method of  claim 10  wherein responding to said sequence is responsive to a grip-indication signal. 
     
     
         13 : The method of  claim 11  wherein responding to said sequence is responsive to a grip-indication signal. 
     
     
         14 : The method of  claim 12  further comprising a switch including an ON mode and an OFF mode, said switch providing said grip-indication signal when operated in said ON mode and said switch not providing said grip-indication signal when operated in said OFF mode. 
     
     
         15 : The method of  claim 13  further comprising a switch including an ON mode and an OFF mode, said switch providing said grip-indication signal when operated in said ON mode and said switch not providing said grip-indication signal when operated in said OFF mode. 
     
     
         16 : The method of  claim 12  wherein the toy vehicle includes a chassis, further comprising a grip detector coupled to said chassis, said grip detector including an ON mode and an OFF mode, said grip detector providing said grip-indication signal when operated in said ON mode and said grip detector not providing said grip-indication signal when operated in said OFF mode. 
     
     
         17 : The method of  claim 13  wherein the toy vehicle includes a chassis, further comprising a grip detector coupled to said chassis, said grip detector including an ON mode and an OFF mode, said grip detector providing said grip-indication signal when operated in said ON mode and said grip detector not providing said grip-indication signal when operated in said OFF mode. 
     
     
         18 : A method for operating a toy vehicle on a playsurface, the method comprising:
 (a) determining a particular actuation mode of the toy vehicle responsive to application of a set of user-manipulations applied to the toy vehicle, said set of user-manipulations detected using a set of detection structures coupled to said toy vehicle, wherein said particular actuation mode is selected from one of a predetermined set of actuation modes, and wherein each actuation mode of said set of actuator modes is determined from a predetermined configuration state of user-manipulations for said toy vehicle;   (b) setting a mode indicator of the toy vehicle responsive to said particular actuator mode; and thereafter   (c) operating the toy vehicle in said particular actuation mode;   wherein said set of detection structures include a grip-equivalent detector, a playsurface engagement-equivalent detector, and a vehicle motion-equivalent detector indicating a relative velocity of the toy surface moving in engagement with the playsurface; and   wherein said set of predetermined actuation modes include a start-up mode, a shut-down mode, a roll-around mode, and a race-mode.   
     
     
         19 : The method of  claim 18  wherein the toy vehicle includes a housing including a motor, a set of motive elements configured for supporting and moving said housing over a playsurface responsive to said motor, and a set of user-interface elements including one or more interface structures selected from the group consisting of a grip detector, a playsurface engagement detector, a playsurface relative motion detector, a feedback system, and combinations and equivalents thereof and a processor, supported by said housing and coupled to said motor and to said set of user-interface elements, said processor executing a set of instructions retrieved from a memory, execution of said set of instructions, responsive to a set of signals from said interface structures, setting said particular execution mode. 
     
     
         20 : The method of  claim 19  wherein said set of detection structures includes said grip-detector, said playsurface engagement detector, and said playsurface relative motion detector, wherein said start-up mode includes a detection of a grip event of the toy vehicle when said toy vehicle is in said shut down mode, wherein said roll around mode includes a detection of a set down event while the toy vehicle is in said start up mode or while the toy vehicle is in said roll around mode and a detection of a relative velocity of the toy vehicle over the playsurface indicates the toy vehicle is being moved slower than a predetermined velocity threshold, wherein said race mode includes a detection of said set down event while the toy vehicle is in said start up mode or while the toy vehicle is in said roll around mode and said detection of said relative velocity of the toy vehicle over the playsurface indicates the toy vehicle is being moved faster than a predetermined velocity threshold, wherein the toy vehicle is moved autonomously by said motor while the toy vehicle is in said race mode and said set down event is active. 
     
     
         21 : The method of  claim 20  wherein at least one of said actuation modes has a correlation to said set of said user-manipulations influencing said at least one of said actuation modes. 
     
     
         22 : The method of  claim 20  wherein none of said actuation modes has a correlation to said set of said user-manipulations influencing any of said actuation modes. 
     
     
         23 : The method of  claim 18  wherein said grip-equivalent detector includes a grip detector or a grip indication switch, wherein said playsurface engagement-equivalent detector includes a set down switch active when the toy vehicle is placed on the playsurface or a playsurface proximity detector when the toy vehicle is proximate the play surface, and a vehicle motion-equivalent detector indicating a relative velocity of the toy surface moving over the playsurface includes an optical encoder coupled to a motive element of the toy vehicle or a reflection tracking mechanism imaging the playsurface during movement of the toy vehicle. 
     
     
         24 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 : A method for a toy vehicle, comprising:
 (a) applying manually a set of events to the toy vehicle;   (b) detecting, from said set of events using a set of detectors, a sequence of discrete countable playsurface-engaged actions, said sequence including a number N of said actions with N>1; and   (c) setting, responsive to said number N, an operational mode of the toy vehicle.   
     
     
         29 : The method of  claim 28  wherein said operational mode includes a mode selected from a group consisting of a roll-around mode and a race-mode, wherein a selection of a particular operational mode is responsive to one or more of said number N or a rate of an application of said number N of said actions to the toy vehicle. 
     
     
         30 : The method of  claim 28  wherein said sequence of discrete countable playsurface-engaged actions includes a plurality of sweeps of the toy vehicle. 
     
     
         31 : The method of  claim 28  wherein said sequence of discrete countable playsurface-engaged actions includes a plurality of scrubs of the toy vehicle.