Toy vehicle and terrain monitoring system used therein

Abstract

A toy vehicle includes a chassis, at least one light guide plate, at least one sensor unit and a driving unit. The at least one light guide plate includes a first portion and a second portion and is embedded into the chassis by the first portion. The at least one sensor unit is attached on the second portion of the at least one light guide plate and includes an emitter for emitting light, and a detector for receiving the reflected light and sending a signal according to a propagation delay of a light emitted from the emitter and received by the detector. The driving unit is configured for controlling the motion of the toy vehicle according to the signal outputted from the at least one sensor unit.

1 . A toy vehicle comprising:
 a chassis comprising an upper surface and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface;   at least one light guide plate comprising a first portion embedded into the chassis from the upper surface and projecting from the lower suface, and a second portion connected to the first portion;   at least one sensor unit attached to the second portion of the light guide plate, the at least one sensor unit comprising an emitter for emitting light at certain wavelength and a detector for receiving the certain wavelength light emitted by the emitter and sending a signal according to a propagation delay of a light of certain wavelength emitted from the emitter and received by the detector; and   a driving unit mounted on the chassis and electrically connected to the at least one sensor unit, the driving unit being configured for controlling the toy vehicle according to the signals outputted from the detector of the at least one sensor unit.   
     
     
         2 . The toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the detector of the at least one sensor unit sends an avoid signal to the driving unit when determines the propagation delay of the light below a predetermined value. 
     
     
         3 . The toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the chassis further comprises a flange formed along the edge of the chassis, and defines at least one pair of through holes thereon adjacent to the at least one sensor unit correspondingly; and the first portion of the at least one light guide plate is embedded into the pair of through holes. 
     
     
         4 . The toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the chassis further comprises a screen extending perpendicularly between the pair of the through holes. 
     
     
         5 . The toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the chassis further comprises at least one back cover extending from the upper surface and surrounding the through holes correspondingly. 
     
     
         6 . The toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the at least one back cover is higher than the screen to form a receiving space between the screen and the at least one back cover; and the at least one sensor unit is received in the receiving space. 
     
     
         7 . The toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the at least one light guide plate comprises a connecting sheet having a first surface, a second surface facing away from the first surface, and a slot defined in the middle of the connecting sheet with an open end through an edge of the connecting sheet. 
     
     
         8 . The toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the first portion of the at least one light guide plate comprises a first protrusion and a second protrusion which are spacedly formed on the first surface and received in the pair of through holes of the chassis. 
     
     
         9 . The toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the second portion of the at least one light guide plate comprises two light guide members extending on the second surfae of the connecting sheet and separated by the screen. 
     
     
         10 . The toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the two light guide members are longer than or equal to the screen in height relative to the upper surface of the chassis. 
     
     
         11 . The toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the at least one light guide plate further comprises a reinforcing block formed on the middle of the connecting sheet adjacent to the slot. 
     
     
         12 . The toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one sensor unit is attached on the top ends of the light guide members of the at least one light guide plate and surrounded by the back cover. 
     
     
         13 . The toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the emitter and the detector of each sensor unit are aligned with the first protrusion and the second protrusion of the at least one light guide plate correspondingly. 
     
     
         14 . The toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising two wheel assemblies symmetrically mounted on two opposite edges of the chassis and controlled by the driving unit. 
     
     
         15 . The toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising a roller being rotatably mounted on the chassis and positioned away from the axis connecting the wheel assemblies. 
     
     
         16 . The toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising a cover covering the chassis and the at least one sensor unit. 
     
     
         17 . A terraim monitoring system comprising:
 a chassis comprising an upper surface and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface;   at least one light guide plate comprising a first portion embedded into the chassis from the upper surface and projecting from the lower suface, and a second portion connected to the first portion; and   at least one sensor unit attached to the second portion of the at least one light guide plate, the at least one sensor unit comprising an emitter for emitting light at certain wavelength and a detector for receiving the certain wavelength light emitted by the emitter and outputting a signal according to a propagation delay of a light of certain wavelength emitted from the emitter and received by the detector.   
     
     
         18 . The terraim monitoring system as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising at least two wheels assemblies symmetrically mountd on two opposite edges of the chassis. 
     
     
         19 . The terraim monitoring system as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the detector of the at least one sensor unit outputs an avoid signal when determines the propagation delay of the light below a predetermined value.