Remote-control toy, and extension unit, moving body, and auxiliary device for remote-control toy
A remote-control toy has a controller for transmitting a code signal through infrared rays according to operation contents by a user, and a movable body for being controlled based on the code signal. This remote-control toy includes: an indicator that is provided within the boundary of movement of the movable body, and includes at least one detectable element; a detecting device that is provided to the movable body, and detects the detectable element; a transmitting device for transmitting a detection signal through a radio wave in response to the detection of the element; and a processing unit for determining the state of the movable body based on the detection signal, and for performing a predetermined process based on the determined state.
1 . A remote-control toy comprising:
a controller for transmitting a code signal through infrared rays according to operation contents by a user;
a movable body for being controlled based on the code signal;
an indicator that is provided within a boundary of movement of the movable body or to the movable body, and includes at least one element to be detected;
a detecting device for detecting the element, the detecting device being provided within the boundary of movement of the movable body or to the movable body, whichever the indicator is not provided to;
a transmitting device for transmitting a predetermined detection signal through a radio wave, in response to a detection of the element detected by the detecting device; and
a processing unit for determining a state of the movable body based on the detection signal, and for performing a predetermined process based on the determined state of the movable body.
2 . The remote-control toy according to claim 1 , wherein the indicator is provided within the boundary of movement of the movable body,
the detecting device and the transmitting device are provided to the movable body, and
the processing unit determines the state of the movable body, based on the code signal and the detection signal, and performs the predetermined processing based on determination result.
3 . The remote-control toy according to claim 2 , wherein
the indicator is provided at a plurality of locations within the boundary of movement,
each indicator has a plurality of elements to be detected, the elements being formed to have a pattern that vary with a location within the boundary of movement,
the processing unit determines the location of the movable body within the boundary of movement, based on a pattern of the detection signal corresponding to a pattern of the elements to be detected in the indicator, and
the processing unit changes contents of the processing according to the determined location.
4 . The remote-control toy according to claim 2 , wherein
the indicator is provided for a plurality of structures that are formed within the boundary of movement,
each indicator has a plurality of elements to be detected, the elements to be detected having patterns that vary with the types of the structures,
the processing unit determines the type of the structure at which the movable body is located, based on the pattern of the detection signal corresponding to the pattern of the elements to be detected in the indicator, and
the processing unit changes the contents of the processing according to the determined type of structure.
5 . The remote-control toy according to claim 1 , wherein
the processing unit determines whether the movable body is in a predetermined operating state at the location at which the elements to be detected are detected, based on the code signal received at the time of receiving the detection signal, and
the processing unit performs the predetermined processing when the movable body is in the predetermined operating state.
6 . The remote-control toy according to claim 1 , wherein
the movable body is formed as a model that runs on a track, and
the indicator is located on the track or on a side of the track.
7 . The remote-control toy according to claim 6 , wherein
the model is formed by connecting a plurality of compartments,
a driving unit that drives the model based on the code signal, and a transmission unit that includes the detecting device and the transmitting device, and transmits the detection signal, are mounted on different compartments from each other.
8 . The remote-control toy according to claim 1 , wherein
a relationship between the movable body and the code signal transmitted from the controller is distinguished by an identification code contained in the code signal, and
a relationship between the processing unit and a detection signal transmitted from the transmitting device is distinguished by the frequency of the detection signal.
9 . The remote-control toy according to claim 1 , wherein
the indicator is provided to the movable body, and the detecting device is provided in such a manner that a detecting range includes at least a part of the boundary of movement of the movable body, and
the processing unit performs an operation corresponding to passing through the detecting range of the detecting device, in response to reception of the detection signal.
10 . The remote-control toy according to claim 9 , wherein
the indicator is provided at a location on the movable body, the location varying with a type of the movable body,
the detecting device includes a detector for each location of the indicator, and
the transmitting device outputs the detection signal, which has a frequency different for each detector.
11 . The remote-control toy according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined processing includes generation of an auditory effect or visual effect.
12 . The remote-control toy according to claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is mounted to the controller or to an extension unit that can be mounted to the controller.
13 . The remote-control toy according to claim 1 , wherein the transmitting device has a battery as a power source.
14 . A remote-control toy comprising:
a controller for transmitting a code signal through infrared rays according to operation contents by a user;
a movable body for being controlled based on the code signal;
an indicator that is provided within the boundary of movement of the movable body, and includes at least one element to be detected;
a detecting device for detecting the element, the detecting device being mounted on the movable body;
a transmitting device for transmitting a predetermined detection signal through a radio wave, the transmitting device being mounted on the movable body and, in response to detection of the element detected by the detecting device; and
a processing unit for determining a state of the movable body based on the code signal and the detection signal, and for performing a predetermined process based on the determined state.
15 . An extension unit for being applied to a remote-control toy that includes a controller for transmitting a code signal through infrared rays according to the operation contents by a user, a movable body for being controlled based on the code signal, and an indicator that is provided within the boundary of movement of the movable body and includes at least one element to be detected, the movable body including a detecting device for detecting the element to be detected, and a transmitting device for transmitting a predetermined detection signal through a radio wave in response to detection of the element detected by the detecting device,
the extension unit comprising:
a receiving unit for receiving the detection signal; and
a processing unit for determining a state of the movable body based on the code signal and the detection signal, and for performing a predetermined process based on the determined state.
16 . A movable body for being applied to a remote-control toy that includes a controller for transmitting a code signal through infrared rays according to operation contents by a user, and an indicator that is provided within a predetermined boundary of movement and includes at least one element to be detected, the movable body for being controlled based on the code signal,
the movable body comprising:
a detecting device that detects the element to be detected; and
a transmitting device that is mounted on the movable body, the transmitting device for transmitting a predetermined detection signal through a radio wave in response to detection of the element detected by the detecting device.
17 . A remote-control toy that comprising:
a controller for transmitting a code signal through infrared rays according to operation contents by a user;
a movable body for being controlled based on the code signal;
an indicator that is provided within the movable body, and includes at least one element to be detected;
a detecting device for detecting the element, the detecting device being provided within the boundary of movement of the movable body;
a transmitting device for transmitting a predetermined detection signal through a radio wave in response to detection of the element detected by the detecting device; and
a processing unit for determining a state of the movable body based on the detection signal, and for performing a predetermined process based on determination result.
18 . An extension unit for being applied to a remote-control toy that includes a controller for transmitting a code signal through infrared rays according to operation contents by a user, a movable body for being controlled based on the code signal, an indicator that is provided to the movable body and includes at least one element to be detected, a detecting device for detecting the element to be detected, and a transmitting device for transmitting a predetermined detection signal through a radio wave in response to detection of the element detected by the detecting device, the detecting device being provided so that a detecting range is at least a part of the boundary of movement of the movable body,
the extension unit comprising:
a receiving unit for receiving the detection signal; and
a processing unit for perfomring a predetermined operation that is associated with the passing through the detecting range of the detecting device, in response to reception of the detection signal.
19 . The extension unit according to claim 15 , which is adapted to be mounted to the controller.
20 . An auxiliary device for being applied to a remote-control toy that includes a controller for transmitting a code signal through infrared rays according to operation contents by a user, and a movable body for being controlled based on the code signal,
the auxiliary device comprising:
a detecting device that is provided so that a detecting range is at least a part of the boundary of movement of the movable body, and includes a plurality of detectors that each detect element to be detected in a plurality of indicators that are provided at a location different for each movable body; and
a transmitting device for transmitting a predetermined detection signal through a radio wave in response to detection of the element detected by the detectors, and for sending the detection signal at a frequency different for each of the detectors.