Electronic tag game

Abstract

Toys having a light projector or a light receiver are disclosed, including ways of using the toys. Toys having a light projector are configured to emit a coded light beam, and toys having a light receiver are configured to receive a coded light beam and respond appropriately. A game may be played with the toy light projector and light receiver such that competing players or teams may attempt to activate their opponent's light receiver with their own light projector, scoring points in the process.

1 . A toy light projector for playing a shooting game, comprising: 
 a toy body; and    a light projection device supported by the toy body, comprising: 
 a light source configured to emit light not within the visible light spectrum in response to a received first electrical signal;  
 a controller configured to provide a coded electrical signal to the light source and to energize the light source to emit a beam of light including the code and to provide a second electrical signal;  
 a trigger manually actuatable to actuate the controller; and  
 an output device, operatively connected to the controller by the second electrical signal, configured to output a humanly cognizable output when the light source is energized.  
   
   
   
       2 . The toy of  claim 1  wherein the light beam comprises infrared light.  
   
   
       3 . The toy of  claim 1  wherein the toy body comprises plastic.  
   
   
       4 . The toy of  claim 1  wherein the output device comprises a second light source configured to emit light in the visible light spectrum.  
   
   
       5 . The toy of  claim 4  wherein the controller is configured to energize the first light source and the second light source approximately simultaneously.  
   
   
       6 . The toy of  claim 1  further comprising a modification device manually removably coupled to the toy body.  
   
   
       7 . The toy of  claim 6  wherein the modification device is configured to connect electrically to the controller and to alter operation of the controller.  
   
   
       8 . The toy of  claim 1  wherein the toy body includes an externally accessible grip enclosed substantially within an inner space of the toy body.  
   
   
       9 . The toy of  claim 8  wherein the trigger is disposed on a surface of the grip.  
   
   
       10 . A set of toys for playing a shooting game, comprising: 
 a light energy projector, comprising: 
 a first light source responsive to a first electrical signal and configured to emit a beam of light not within the visible light spectrum, the beam of light being representative of the first electrical signal; and  
 a controller configured to provide the first electrical signal having a code to the first light source and to energize the first light source to emit the beam of light including the code;  
 a trigger manually actuatable to actuate the controller;  
 an output device operatively connected to the controller and configured to produce a humanly cognizable output when the light source is energized; and  
 an emission aperture configured substantially to focus the beam of light; and  
 a light energy receiver, comprising:  
 a first light receiver configured to sense the beam of light including the code and to convert the coded light into a second coded electrical signal;  
 a second circuit configured to provide the second coded electrical signal to a second controller, comprising; 
 the second controller responsive to the second coded electrical signal and configured to recognize a second code and to activate at least one second light source in response to reception of the second code; and  
 
 an output feedback device configured to produce a humanly cognizable output in response to recognition of the second code.  
   
   
   
       11 . The toy of  claim 10  wherein the second coded electrical signal is at least substantially identical to the first coded electrical signal.  
   
   
       12 . The toy of  claim 10  further comprising a modification device configured removably to couple to at least one of the light energy projector and the light energy receiver.  
   
   
       13 . The toy of  claim 12  wherein the modification device is configured electrically to alter operation of at least one of the first controller and the second controller.  
   
   
       14 . A method of playing a shooting game, comprising: 
 providing a light projector having a first controller;    providing a light receiver physically separated from the light projector having a second controller;    activating the first controller to produce a first coded electrical signal;    converting the first coded electrical signal into a coded light signal;    projecting the coded light signal;    receiving the coded light signal at the light receiver;    converting the coded light signal into a second coded electrical signal;    receiving the second coded electrical signal at the second controller;    discriminating the second coded electrical signal from other electrical signals; and    activating an output device in response to recognition of the second coded electrical signal.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the first coded electrical signal and the second coded electrical signal are at least substantially identical.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the coded light signal consists essentially of light not within the visible light spectrum.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the output device is configured to provide a visible light output.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the step of providing a light projector having a first controller further includes a step of connecting a modification device to the light projector to alter operation of the first controller.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the step of providing a light receiver physically separated from the light projector having a second controller further includes a step of connecting a modification device to the light receiver to alter operation of the second controller.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the output device is configured to provide an audible output.