Remote control system

Abstract

The invention relates to a remote control system wherein a plurality of remote control devices and remote control receivers may be operating simultaneously. A remote control device comprises a connect switch for establishing a link between the remote control device and a remote control receiver. The remote control device further comprises a transmitter, an address register, and a processing device. The processing device is arranged for upon activation by the connect switch to enter a connect state wherein connect type data packets, containing an address stored in the address register, are transmitted from the remote control device. A corresponding connect function may simultaneously be effected in a remote control receiver, establishing a functional link between the remote control device and the remote control receiver. The invention may advantageously be used for remotely controlling playing or amusement equipment, such as controllable toys and model vehicles.

1 . Remote control device ( 100 ) for use in a communication coverage area ( 300 ) wherein a plurality of remote control devices ( 100 ) and remote control receivers ( 200 ) may be operating simultaneously, for remotely controlling a remote control receiver ( 200 ) operating in said area ( 300 ), the device ( 100 ) comprising 
 input elements for providing electrical control signals, including at least one connect switch ( 121 ) for establishing a link between the remote control device ( 100 ) and a remote control receiver ( 200 ),    a transmitter ( 104 ),    an address register,    a processing device ( 110 ) arranged for    upon receiving an activation signal from the connect switch ( 121 ), entering a connect state ( 133 ), wherein data packets are transmitted from the remote control device ( 100 ), said data packets containing a packet type identifier identifying the data packet as a connect type data packet, and an address stored in the address register.    
     
     
         2 . Remote control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the address stored in the address register is a random address generated by an address generator in the remote control device ( 100 ).  
     
     
         3 . Remote control device according to  claim 2 , wherein the processing device is further arranged to  
       upon receiving a deactivation signal from the connect switch, returning from the connect state and entering a running state ( 132 ), wherein data packets are transmitted from the remote control device ( 100 ), said data packets containing a packet type identifier identifying the packet as a control type data packet, and control information.  
     
     
         4 . Remote control device according to  claim 3 , wherein the connect type data packets are repeatedly transmitted from the remote control device.  
     
     
         5 . Remote control device according to  claim 4 , wherein the connect type data packets further contain a time slot identifier.  
     
     
         6 . Remote control receiver ( 200 ) for receiving and decoding signals from a remote control device ( 100 ), for use in an area ( 300 ) wherein a plurality of remote control devices ( 100 ) and remote control receivers ( 200 ) may be operating simultaneously, comprising 
 a receiver unit ( 205 ),    input elements for providing electrical control signals, including at least one connect switch ( 217 ) for establishing a link between the remote control receiver ( 200 ) and a remote control device ( 100 ),    a processing device ( 210 ) arranged for    upon receiving an activation signal from the connect switch ( 217 ), entering a connect state ( 233 ), wherein    data packets are derived from the data received from the receiver ( 205 ),    a packet type identifier field of a received data packet is detected, and if the data packet is recognized to be a connect type data packet, the address contained in the address field in the packet is stored in an address register and thus assigned as the current address of the remote control receiver ( 200 ).    
     
     
         7 . Remote control receiver ( 200 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the processing device ( 210 ) is arranged to  
       upon receiving a deactivation signal from the connect switch, returning from the connect state and entering an active state ( 232 ) or a passive state ( 231 ).  
     
     
         8 . Remote control receiver ( 200 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein the active state ( 232 ) is entered if a connect packet was received in the recent connect state period or if the remote control receiver ( 200 ) had an assigned time slot prior to the recent connect state period.  
     
     
         9 . Remote control receiver ( 200 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein the passive state ( 231 ) is entered if no connect packet was received in the recent connect state period and if the remote control receiver ( 200 ) did not have an assigned time slot prior to the recent connect state period.  
     
     
         10 . Remote control receiver ( 200 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein upon the detection of the packet as a connect type data packet, the time slot number contained in the time slot number field in the packet is assigned as the receiver's current time slot number by storing the time slot number in a time slot register in the remote control receiver ( 200 ).  
     
     
         11 . Remote control system ( 100 ,  200 ), comprising a remote control receiver ( 200 ) and a remote control device ( 100 ) for remotely controlling the remote control receiver ( 200 ), for use in a communication coverage area ( 300 ) wherein a plurality of remote control devices ( 100 ) and remote control receivers ( 200 ) may be operating simultaneously, wherein 
 said remote control device ( 100 ) comprises 
 input elements for providing electrical control signals, including at least one connect switch ( 121 ) for establishing a link between the remote control device ( 100 ) and the remote control receiver ( 200 ),  
 a transmitter ( 104 ),  
 an address register,  
 a processing device ( 110 ) arranged for  
 upon receiving an activation signal from the connect switch ( 121 ) in the remote control device ( 100 ), entering a connect state ( 133 ), wherein data packets are transmitted from the remote control device ( 100 ), said data packets containing a packet type identifier identifying the data packet as a connect type data packet, and an address stored in the address register, and wherein  
   the remote control receiver ( 200 ) comprises 
 a receiver unit ( 205 ),  
 input elements for providing electrical control signals, including at least one connect switch ( 217 ) for establishing a link between the remote control receiver ( 200 ) and a remote control device ( 100 ),  
 a processing device ( 210 ) arranged for  
 upon receiving an activation signal from the connect switch ( 217 ) in the remote control receiver, entering a connect state ( 233 ), wherein  
 data packets are derived from the data received from the receiver unit ( 205 ),  
 a packet type identifier field of a received data packet is detected, and if the data packet is recognized to be a connect packet, the address contained in the address field in the packet is stored in an address register in the remote control receiver ( 200 ) and thus assigned as the current address of the remote control receiver ( 200 ).  
   
     
     
         12 . Remote control system according to  claim 11 , wherein the address stored in the address register in the remote control device ( 100 ) is a random address generated by an address generator in the remote control device ( 100 ).  
     
     
         13 . Remote control system according to  claim 12 , wherein the connect type data packets transmitted from the remote control device ( 100 ) further contain a time slot identifier.  
     
     
         14 . Remote control system according to  claim 13 , wherein the processing device ( 210 ) in the remote control receiver ( 200 ) is arranged for  
       upon the detection of the packet as a connect type data packet, the time slot number contained in the time slot number field in the packet is assigned as the receiver's current time slot number by storing the time slot number in a time slot register in the remote control receiver ( 200 ).