IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,939,192
Granted Patent B1
US 6,939,192 · App. 09/890,739 · Granted Sep 6, 2005

Programmable toy with communication means

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,939,192
App. No.
09/890,739
Granted
Sep 6, 2005
Kind
B1
Abstract

A programmable toy with a receiver for receiving instructions for programming of the toy, and elements for executing received instructions. The toy has a transmitter for transmission of instructions to a second toy.

Claims (65)

1. A microprocessor controlled toy building element ( 101 , 501 ) comprising:

a microprocessor ( 102 , 507 ) which can execute instructions in the form of a program stored in a memory ( 117 , 509 ), said memory comprising subprograms (R 1 , R 2 , . . . , R 6 ) which can be activated by subprogram calls;

coupling means mechanically inter-connectable with toy building elements ( 802 – 810 ) whereby a toy construction assembled from the microprocessor controlled toy building element ( 101 , 501 ) and said toy building elements ( 801 – 810 ) can be moved around by activation means, said activation means being controllable in response to the instructions,

a display which can show a plurality of icons which can be activated by a user, one-by-one, to create a program comprising a list of said subprogram calls, for programming of the microprocessor and controlling of the toy building element by means of the activation means;

communications means ( 504 , 505 ) which is arranged to transmit the list of subprogram calls to a second toy building element ( 502 ) for programming of said second toy building element ( 502 ), whereby the toy building element ( 101 , 501 ) and said second toy building element ( 502 ) can be moved in concert;

wherein the microprocessor, the display, the coupling means and the communications means are integral within the toy building element that provides a facility for transmitting a program and a programming facility that are integral portions within the toy building element wherein the program is run.

2. A microprocessor controlled toy building element according to claim 1 , wherein instructions, corresponding to an icon, implement a rule (R 1 , R 2 , . . . , R 6 ) by controlling the activation means in response to signals from sensors connected to the toy building element.

3. A microprocessor controlled toy building element according to claim 1 , further comprising a receiver ( 504 , 505 ) for wireless reception of instructions.

4. A microprocessor controlled toy building element according to claim 1 , further comprising a receiver ( 505 ) for reception of infrared signals.

5. A microprocessor controlled toy building element according to claim 1 , further comprising a keyboard for manual entering of instructions.

6. A microprocessor controlled toy building element according to claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter ( 504 , 505 ) for wireless transmission of instructions to the second toy.

7. A microprocessor controlled toy building element according to claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter ( 504 ) for transmission of said function calls via a light guide ( 503 ).

8. A microprocessor controlled toy building element according to claim 1 , further comprising an elongated light guide ( 503 ) through which visible light can be transmitted in its longitudinal direction, said light guide ( 503 ) being adapted to allow part of the light transmitted to escape through its sides.

9. A toy building set comprising microprocessor controlled toy building elements according to claim 1 , further comprising first and second microprocessor controlled toy building elements ( 501 , 502 ), where the second microprocessor controlled toy building element ( 502 ) comprises a memory ( 516 ) with subprograms (R 1 , R 2 , . . . , R 6 ) which can be activated individually by receiving subprogram calls from the first toy building element ( 501 ).

10. A toy building set according to claim 9 , wherein the first microprocessor controlled toy building element comprises operating means ( 508 ) for making a program, and that the second microprocessor controlled toy building element comprises operating means for activating just one of several programs.

11. A microprocessor controlled toy building element ( 101 , 501 ) comprising a microprocessor ( 102 , 507 ) which can execute instructions in the form of a program stored in a memory ( 117 , 509 ), said memory comprising subprograms (R 1 , R 2 , . . . , R 6 ) which can be activated by subprogram calls;

coupling means mechanically inter-connectable with toy building elements ( 802 – 810 ) whereby a toy construction assembled from the microprocessor controlled toy building element ( 101 , 501 ) and said toy building elements ( 802 – 810 ) can be moved around by activation means, said activation means being controllable in response to the instructions;

a display which can show a plurality of icons which can be activated by a user, one-by-one, to create a program comprising a list of said subprogram calls, for programming of the microprocessor and controlling of the toy building element by means of the activation means;

wherein a subprogram sends a signal to the activation means and/or receives a signal from the activation means, and

wherein the microprocessor controlled toy building element comprises communications means ( 504 , 505 ) which is arranged to transmit the list of subprogram calls to a second toy building element ( 502 ) for programming of said second toy building element ( 502 ), whereby the toy building element ( 101 , 501 ) and said second toy building element ( 502 ) can be moved in concert;

wherein the microprocessor, the display, the coupling means and the communications means are integral within the toy building element that provides a facility for transmitting a program and a programming facility that are integral portions within the toy building element wherein the program is run.

12. A microprocessor controlled toy building element according to claim 11 , wherein instructions, corresponding to an icon, implement a rule (R 1 , R 2 , . . . , R 6 ) by controlling the activation means in response to signals from sensors connected to the toy building element.

13. A microprocessor controlled toy building element according to claim 11 , further comprising a receiver ( 504 , 505 ) for wireless reception of instructions.

14. A microprocessor controlled toy building element according to claim 11 , further comprising a receiver ( 505 ) for reception of infrared signals.

15. A microprocessor controlled toy building element according to claim 11 , further comprising a keyboard for manual entering of instructions.

16. A microprocessor controlled toy building element according to claim 11 , further comprising a transmitter ( 504 , 505 ) for wireless transmission of instructions to the second toy.

17. A microprocessor controlled toy building element according to claim 11 , further comprising a transmitter ( 504 ) for transmission of said function calls via a light guide ( 503 ).

18. A microprocessor controlled toy building element according to claim 11 , further comprising an elongated light guide ( 503 ) through which visible light can be transmitted in its longitudinal direction, said light guide ( 503 ) being adapted to allow part of the light transmitted to escape through its sides.

19. A toy building set comprising microprocessor controlled toy building elements according to claim 11 , further comprising first and second microprocessor controlled toy building elements ( 501 , 502 ), where the second microprocessor controlled toy building element ( 502 ) comprises a memory ( 516 ) with subprograms (R 1 , R 2 , . . . , R 6 ) which can be activated individually by receiving subprogram calls from the first toy building element ( 501 ).

20. A toy building set according to claim 19 , wherein the first microprocessor controlled toy building element comprises operating means ( 508 ) for making a program, and that the second microprocessor controlled toy building element comprises operating means for activating just one of several programs.

21. A microprocessor controlled toy building element ( 101 , 501 ) comprising

a microprocessor ( 102 , 507 ) which can execute instructions in the form of a program stored in a memory ( 117 , 509 ), said memory comprising subprograms (R 1 , R 2 , R 6 ) which can be activated by subprogram calls;

coupling means mechanically inter-connectable with toy building elements ( 802 – 810 ) whereby a toy construction assembled from the microprocessor controlled toy building element ( 101 , 501 ) and said toy building elements ( 802 – 810 ) can be moved around by activation means, said activation means being controllable in response to the instructions;

a display which can show a plurality of icons which can be activated by a user, one-by-one, to create a program comprising a list of said subprogram calls, for programming of the microprocessor and controlling of the toy building element by means of the activation means;

wherein the microprocessor controlled toy building element comprises communications means ( 504 , 505 ) which is arranged to transmit the list of subprogram calls to a second toy building element ( 502 ), whereby the toy building element ( 101 , 501 ) and said second toy building element ( 502 ) can be moved in concert;

wherein the microprocessor, the display, the coupling means and the communications means are integral within the toy building element that provides a facility for transmitting a program and a programming facility that are integral portions within the toy building element wherein the program is run; and

wherein the second toy building element comprises a second memory, which second memory also comprises the subprograms (R 1 , R 2 , . . . , R 6 ).

22. A microprocessor controlled toy building element according to claim 21 , wherein instructions, corresponding to an icon, implement a rule (R 1 , R 2 , . . . , R 6 ) by controlling the activation means in response to signals from sensors connected to the toy building element.

23. A microprocessor controlled toy building element according to claim 21 , further comprising a receiver ( 504 , 505 ) for wireless reception of instructions.

24. A microprocessor controlled toy building element according to claim 21 , further comprising a receiver ( 505 ) for reception of infrared signals.

25. A microprocessor controlled toy building element according to claim 21 , further comprising a keyboard for manual entering of instructions.

26. A microprocessor controlled toy building element according to claim 21 , further comprising a transmitter ( 504 , 505 ) for wireless transmission of instructions to the second toy.

27. A microprocessor controlled toy building element according to claim 21 , further comprising a transmitter ( 504 ) for transmission of said function calls via a light guide ( 503 ).

28. A microprocessor controlled toy building element according to claim 21 , further comprising an elongated light guide ( 503 ) through which visible light can be transmitted in its longitudinal direction, said light guide ( 503 ) being adapted to allow part of the light transmitted to escape through its sides.

29. A toy building set comprising microprocessor controlled toy building elements according claim 21 , further comprising first and second microprocessor controlled toy building elements ( 501 , 502 ), where the second microprocessor controlled toy building element ( 502 ) comprises a memory ( 516 ) with subprograms (R 1 , R 2 , . . . , R 6 ) which can be activated individually by receiving subprogram calls from the first toy building element ( 501 ).

30. A toy building set according to claim 29 , wherein the first microprocessor controlled toy building element comprises operating means ( 508 ) for making a program, and that the second microprocessor controlled toy building element comprises operating means for activating just one of several programs.

31. A microprocessor controlled toy building element ( 101 , 501 ) comprising:

a microprocessor ( 102 , 507 ) which can execute instructions in the form of a program stored in a memory ( 117 , 509 ), said memory comprising subprograms (R 1 , R 2 , . . . , R 6 ) which can be activated by subprogram calls;

coupling means mechanically inter-connectable with toy building elements ( 802 – 810 ) whereby a toy construction assembled from the microprocessor controlled toy building element ( 101 , 501 ) and said toy building elements ( 801 – 810 ) can be moved around by activation means, said activation means being controllable in response to the instructions;

a display which can show a plurality of icons which can be activated by a user, one-by-one, to create a program comprising a list of said subprogram calls, for programming of the microprocessor and controlling of the toy building element by means of the activation means;

communications means ( 504 , 505 ) which is arranged to transmit the list of subprogram calls to a second toy building element ( 502 ) for programming of said second toy building element ( 502 );

wherein the microprocessor, the display, the coupling means and the communications means are integral within the toy building element that provides a facility for transmitting a program and a programming facility that are integral portions within the toy building element wherein the program is run.

32. A microprocessor controlled toy building element ( 101 , 501 ) comprising a microprocessor ( 102 , 507 ) which can execute instructions in the form of a program stored in a memory ( 117 , 509 ), said memory comprising subprograms (R 1 , R 2 , . . . , R 6 ) which can be activated by subprogram calls;

coupling means mechanically inter-connectable with toy building elements ( 802 – 810 ) whereby a toy construction assembled from the microprocessor controlled toy building element ( 101 , 501 ) and said toy building elements ( 802 – 810 ) can be moved around by activation means, said activation means being controllable in response to the instructions;

a display which can show a plurality of icons which can be activated by a user, one-by-one, to create a program comprising a list of said subprogram calls, for programming of the microprocessor and controlling of the toy building element by means of the activation means;

wherein a subprogram sends a signal to the activation means and/or receives a signal from the activation means; and

wherein the microprocessor controlled toy building element comprises communications means ( 504 , 505 ) which is arranged to transmit the list of subprogram calls to a second toy building element ( 502 ) for programming of said second toy building element ( 502 );

wherein the microprocessor, the display, the coupling means and the communications means are integral within the toy building element that provides a facility for transmitting a program and a programming facility that are integral portions within the toy building element wherein the program is run.

33. A microprocessor controlled toy building element ( 101 , 501 ) comprising

a microprocessor ( 102 , 507 ) which can execute instructions in the form of a program stored in a memory ( 117 , 509 ), said memory comprising subprograms (R 1 , R 2 , R 6 ) which can be activated by subprogram calls;

coupling means mechanically inter-connectable with toy building elements ( 802 – 810 ) whereby a toy construction assembled from the microprocessor controlled toy building element ( 101 , 501 ) and said toy building elements ( 802 – 810 ) can be moved around by activation means, said activation means being controllable in response to the instructions;

a display which can show a plurality of icons which can be activated by a user, one-by-one, to create a program comprising a list of said subprogram calls, for programming of the microprocessor and controlling of the toy building element by means of the activation means;

wherein the microprocessor controlled toy building element comprises communications means ( 504 , 505 ) which is arranged to transmit the list of subprogram calls to a second toy building element ( 502 );

wherein the microprocessor, the display, the coupling means and the communications means are integral within the toy building element that provides a facility for transmitting a program and a programming facility that are integral portions within the toy building element wherein the program is run; and

wherein the second toy building element comprises a second memory, which second memory also comprises the subprograms (R 1 , R 2 , . . . , R 6 ).

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2008
From: INTERLEGO AG
To: LEGO A/S
Reel/Frame 020609/0865 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 16, 2002
From: MUNCH, GAUTE; RASMUSSEN, JESPER
To: INTERLEGO AG
Reel/Frame 012585/0630 →