Advanced Light Beam Remote Control

Abstract

Remote control of a toy helicopter by projecting a modulated Infra-Red light spot on a wall. The spot is beamed from a hand-held remote control unit and aimed by the user in different directions. The helicopter follows that spot by a controlled ascend or descend if the light spot is above or below the helicopter respectively, as well as turns right or left in the direction of the light spot.

1 . Light controlled flying toy comprising of a flying toy in the shape of a helicopter or any other hovering object and a remote controller, wherein the remote controller emits a modulated saw-tooth infra-red (‘I/R’) light beam that creates an I/R light spot on the wall it points to; and a helicopter that comprises of a microcontroller (‘MCU’); at least 2 motors driving at least 2 rotors which their speeds are each controlled by an independent binary PWM signal generated by the MCU; at least 3 directional infra-red (‘I/R’) sensors connected to the MCU and positioned in front of the helicopter pointing forwards and outwards in such a configuration that allows the MCU, by comparing the relative I/R light intensity among the sensors, to determine the horizontal and the vertical angles between the line of sight from the I/R light spot to the front of the helicopter, and the line leading from the front of the helicopter directly forwards. By such determination of the I/R light spot angle, the MCU is configured to send changing PWM signals to the motors in specific pre-determined time changing patterns which cause the helicopter to rise in a controlled way when the light spot is above the helicopter, or descend in a controlled way when the light spot is below the helicopter, as well as turn right or left in respect of the light spot horizontal angle relative to the helicopter. 
     
     
         2 . Light controlled flying toy as per  claim 1  wherein there are additional I/R sensors connected to the MCU and located on other sides of the helicopter, possibly also on the top or bottom of the helicopter, which add further I/R signal strengths information to the MCU in respect to the position of an I/R light spot created by the remote controller, and the MCU is configured to provide additional pre-programmed changing PWM signals to the motors to create flight patterns that relate to the position of the light spot. 
     
     
         3 . Light controlled flying toy as per  claim 1  wherein the I/R sensors are replaced by one single sensor as described in patent application Ser. No. 12/843,889 of Jul. 27, 2010. 
     
     
         4 . Light controlled flying toy as per  claim 1  or  claim 2  or  claim 3  wherein the remote controller is configured to send additional encoded movement commands, and wherein the MCU on the flying toy is configured to decode such additional commands and execute them in addition to the commands of  claim 1  or  claim 2 . 
     
     
         5 . Light controlled vehicle comprising of a vehicle running on the ground or on the wall, and a remote controller; wherein the remote controller emits a modulated saw-tooth infra-red (‘I/R’) light beam that creates an I/R light spot on the ground or on the wall it points to; and wherein the vehicle comprises of at least 2 motors driving at least 2 wheels with motors' speeds controlled each by an independent binary PWM signal; at least 2 directional infra-red (‘I/R’) sensors positioned at least in the front of the vehicle pointing outwards; a microcontroller (‘MCU’) which is configured to compare the relative I/R light intensities as received from the I/R light spot by the different sensors, to determine accordingly the angle between the orientation of the vehicle and the direction of the I/R light spot, and to send changing PWM signals to the motors causing the vehicle to move in specific patterns and speeds in relations to the light spot, such could be to approach or avoid the light spot, increase or decrease speed, as well as more complex movement patterns. 
     
     
         6 . Light controlled vehicle as per  claim 5  wherein the vehicle comprises of additional sensors, such as but not limited to gyro and tilt sensors; and the MCU is configured to control the motors in patterns which take into account the additional inputs from the sensors. 
     
     
         7 . Light controlled vehicle as per  claim 5  or  claim 6 , wherein the remote controller is configured to send additional encoded movement commands and the MCU on the vehicle is configured to decode such additional commands and execute them as well by causing same or additional motors to move in respect of such commands.