The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 29, 2005
Filed:
Apr. 01, 2002
Tetsuo Ishida, Tokyo, JP;
Tetsuo Ishida, Tokyo, JP;
Konami Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A plurality of guide lines are provided on a lower traveling field. A first detector is provided with each self-propelled member to detect at least one of the guide lines optically or magnetically. A second detector is provided with each self-propelled member to output a displacement signal which indicates a displaced distance from a predetermined position. A travel controller is provided with each self-propelled member, and performs a feedback control such that the self-propelled member travels on the lower traveling field while tracing the at least one guide line. A plurality of miniature members, each associated with one self-propelled member are placed on a upper traveling field extending above the lower traveling field. The miniature members travel thereon in accordance with the traveling of the self-propelled members through magnetic force. A central controller collectively monitors the displacement signal of each self-propelled member to recognize relative position relationship among the self-propelled members, and issues at least a speed changing instruction and a path-switching instruction for each self-propelled member, based on the relative position relationship. The travel controller of each self-propelled member changes a traveling speed thereof according to the speed changing instruction, and switches a traveling path thereof from the traced guide line to another guide line, according to the path-switching instruction.