System for, and method of, controlling the operation of toys

Abstract

Pads remotely control the operation of vehicles. In each pad, (a) at least a first control provides for the addressing of one of the vehicles, (b) second controls provide for the movement of the addressed vehicle and (c) third controls provide for the operation of members (e.g. pivotable bins) in the selected vehicle. Each pad provides a carrier signal, preferably common with the carrier signals from the other pads. Each pad modulates the carrier signal in accordance with the operation of the pad controls. The first control in each pad provides an address distinctive to the addressed vehicle and modulates the carrier signal in accordance with such address. Each pad sends the modulated carrier signals to the vehicles in a pseudo random pattern, different for each pad, with respect to time. Each vehicle demodulates the carrier signals to recover the address such vehicle. Each vehicle then provides a movement of such vehicle and an operation of the members in such vehicle in accordance with the modulations provided in the carrier signal by the operation of the second and third controls in the pad addressing such vehicle. Each vehicle is controlled by one of the pads for the time period that such pad sends control signals to such vehicle within a particular period of time from the last transmission of such control signals to such vehicle. Thereafter such vehicle can be addressed by such pad or by any other pad.