MOBILE PHONE BUTTONS CONTROL UNIT AND METHOD FOR WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROLLED TOY
Technical Field The present invention relates to a wireless control unit for a toy, and more particularly, to a mobile phone buttons control unit for a wireless remote controlled toy that controls the toy using the buttons of a mobile phone and a control method for the wireless remote controlled toy with the mobile phone buttons control unit.
Background Art
In conventional practice, substantially large-sized transmission controllers are additionally required to control toys such as wireless controlled mini toy cars, and so on. Moreover, dry batteries or chargers should be used as the power source of the transmission controllers or the driving power source of the wireless controlled mini toy cars.
So as to make the wireless controlled mini toy cars operate, that is to say, the large-sized transmission controllers have to be carried with the toy cars, which causes many inconveniences in use. Furthermore, spare batteries have to be prepared for preventing the transmission controllers or toys from stopping, or it should be checked whether the chargers of the toys are fully filled before the toys operate.
Disclosure of Invention To solve the above-described problems, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a mobile phone buttons control unit and method for a wireless remote controlled toy that controls the toy using the buttons of a mobile phone and makes use of the power of the mobile phone as the power of a transmission controller for the toy and the charging supply power of a charger for the toy, such that the mobile phone carries out its inherent communication function, while controlling the operation of the toy.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile phone buttons control unit for a wireless remote controlled toy that includes: a connector for connecting to mobile phone lower data and power input/output ports to carry out a communication with a mobile phone; a microcontroller for controlling the whole operation of the control unit; a radio frequency (RF) module part for transmitting a radio remote signal; a charging part for charging the wireless remote controlled toy by using a mobile phone battery; a display for displaying the charged state of the wireless remote controlled toy; an antenna connecting part to which an antenna is connected; and charging terminals connected to a charger for the wireless remote controlled toy.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile phone buttons control method for a wireless remote controlled toy that includes the steps of: connecting a mobile phone buttons control unit to a mobile phone and if a button '0' is first recognized, advancing to a function button designation mode where functions of moving forward, rearward, forward- left, forward-right, rearward-left, and rearward-right are designated to six buttons of the mobile phone; pressing the button '0' and then pressing the six buttons to be used in the order of moving forward, rearward, forward-left, forward-right, rearward-left, and rearward-right; controlling the wireless remote controlled toy
by using the values of the six buttons designated; and if another buttons are to be designated, separating the mobile phone buttons control unit from the mobile phone for connecting to the mobile phone again and pressing the button '0' to designate another six buttons of the mobile phone.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Further objects and advantages of the invention can be more fully
understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a view showing a configuration of a mobile phone buttons control unit according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functions of the mobile phone buttons control unit according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a view showing signal lines used for a communication between a mobile phone and the control unit; and
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing steps in which commands for controlling the buttons of the mobile phone are designated in an automatic order.
Best mode for Carrying Out the Invention Now, an explanation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be given with reference to accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a view showing a configuration of a mobile phone buttons control unit according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, a mobile phone buttons control unit 100 for a wireless remote controlled toy according to the present invention includes a connector 101
for connecting to mobile phone lower data and power input/output ports to carry out a communication with a mobile phone, a microcontroller 102 for controlling the whole operation of the control unit; an RF module part 103 for transmitting a radio remote signal, a charging part 104 for charging the wireless remote controlled toy by using a mobile phone battery, a display 105 for displaying the charged state of the wireless remote controlled toy, an antenna connecting part 106 to which an antenna is connected, and charging terminals 107 connected to the charger for the wireless remote controlled toy.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functions of the mobile phone buttons control unit according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a view showing the signal lines used for a communication between the mobile phone and the control unit.
As shown in FIG. 2, if a mobile phone buttons control unit 200 is connected to mobile phone lower data and power input/output ports by means of a connector 201, it starts to operate with the power of the mobile phone, and a mobile phone communication part 212 of a microcontroller 202 transmits commands for controlling the buttons of the mobile phone to the mobile phone.
The connector 201 makes use of the signal lines for power, grounding, and data communication in the signal lines 208, as shown in FIG. 3, for the purpose of carrying out the communication with the mobile phone.
The mobile phone receives the commands from the control unit 200 and transmits activated button signals to the control unit 200 through the connector 201. The commands for controlling the buttons of the mobile phone are determined upon an automatic designation order, and then, the determined order is stored in a button value storing part 213.
If the buttons of the mobile phone are pressed after the commands for controlling the buttons of the mobile phone are designated, the commands corresponding to the buttons are recognized by an RF communication control part 214 such that processed remote controlled data is transmitted to an RF module 203. Thus, the control unit 200 transmits the remote controlled data through the antenna connected to an antenna connecting part 206.
Charging of the toy is carried out by connecting the toy to the charging terminals 207 connected to the charging module 204, and if the charging is completed, a charging sensor 211 outputs the charged state to a liquid emitting diode (LED) display 205.
A voltage adjusting part 209 is adapted to supply an appropriate voltage to the charging sensor 211 and an RF power applying unit 210 for RF output.
Since the buttons of the mobile phone have differently set values according to the kinds of the mobile phones, the present invention has a function of setting respective button functions by mobile phones.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing steps in which the commands for controlling the buttons of the mobile phone are designated in an automatic order.
According to a mobile phone buttons control method for a wireless remote controlled toy according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, a mobile phone buttons control unit is connected to a mobile phone, and if a button '0' is first recognized, the mobile phone buttons control unit advances to a function button designation mode where functions of moving forward 'F', rearward 'R', forward-left ςF_L', forward-right 'F_R', rearward-left 'R_L\ and rearward-right 'R_R' are set to six buttons of the mobile phone. Next, the button '0' is first pressed and the six buttons to be used in the
order of moving forward, rearward, forward-left, forward-right, rearward-left, and rearward-right are then pressed by a user.
The values of the six buttons selected by the user are stored in a memory under the control of a microcontroller, and after that, the button designation mode is released. In this case, the values of the six buttons selected by the user are valid until power is turned off.
Thus, the wireless remote controlled toy is controlled by using the values of the six buttons designated. If another buttons are to be designated, the mobile phone buttons control unit is separated from the mobile phone for connecting to the mobile phone again and the button '0' is first pressed to designate another six buttons on the mobile phone.
To recognize the button values that are differently set every mobile phone, the button values are designated according to the automatic button designation order and stored before using the toy.
Industrial applicability
As set forth in the foregoing, a mobile phone buttons control unit and method for a wireless remote controlled toy that makes use of a mobile phone as a means that supplies power and a transmitting controller, such that there is no need for having an additional large transmitting controller or dry batteries and charger for power supply, which makes the toy carried in a convenient manner and also prevents the consumption of batteries, thereby avoiding the environmental pollution and resulting in the saving of resources.
While the present invention has been described with reference to a few specific embodiments, the description is illustrative of the invention and is not to
be construed as limiting the invention. Various modifications may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.