초록 ▼

A control program for a programmable toy (24) is created using a graphic programming system implemented on a personal computer (10). In the preferred embodiment, the programmable toy comprises a vehicle that can be commanded to make turns in 45°increments and to track an infrared source (220). To cr

A control program for a programmable toy (24) is created using a graphic programming system implemented on a personal computer (10). In the preferred embodiment, the programmable toy comprises a vehicle that can be commanded to make turns in 45°increments and to track an infrared source (220). To create the graphic control program, the user simply selects graphic objects from control panel (154) presented on a cartoon-like graphic screen. For example, the user can select a horn graphic object (168) or a headlight graphic object (166) to respectively activate a horn or headlights on the programmable toy. The user creates a graphic control program on a grid (160) using a mouse (23) to select the graphic objects and indicate parameters. Once the graphic control program is completed, it is downloaded from the RS-232 serial port of the personal computer into the programmable toy through a connecting link (25), which is then uncoupled from the programmable toy. A switch (29) on the toy activates the control program. Also included in the system is a calibration template (200) for calibrating the programmable toy to turn accurately on a specific surface.

대표청구항 ▼

A programmable toy adapted to be programmed with a control program that is based upon a graphical program developed on a computer, said programmable toy comprising: (a) a body in which is disposed a first prime mover, said first prime mover being coupled to move the body, and to move a component of

A programmable toy adapted to be programmed with a control program that is based upon a graphical program developed on a computer, said programmable toy comprising: (a) a body in which is disposed a first prime mover, said first prime mover being coupled to move the body, and to move a component of the programmable toy relative to the body, said component not being used to move the body; (b) a processor that is electrically coupled to the first prime mover to control its operation; (c) means for enabling removably electrically coupling the processor to the computer to download a control program developed on the computer, said means also enabling removably decoupling the processor from the computer after the control program is downloaded; (d) a power supply for the programmable toy that supplies electrical power to the first prime mover and to the processor; and (e) a memory associated with the processor, for storing the control program as it is downloaded from the computer through said means for enabling, said processor responding to the control program stored in the memory to effect control of the first prime mover of the programmable toy after said processor has been decoupled from said computer so as to enable the programmable toy to operate independently of the computer.