Single wire automatically navigated vehicle systems and methods for toy applications

A toy vehicle navigation system comprising:

• a single wire loop having one or more turns of wire;
• a source of alternating electric current coupled to the wire loop, the wire loop providing an alternating magnetic field in response to the alternating electric current;
• a plurality of toy vehicle manual controls coupled to the source of alternating current, each manual control having a manual steering control controlling the amplitude of the alternating current within a unique frequency band for the respective toy vehicle, and a manual speed control controlling the frequency of the alternating current within the unique frequency band for the respective toy vehicle;
• the plurality of toy vehicles each comprising;
• a pickup coil oriented on the vehicle to generate a coil signal responsive to the strength of the alternating magnetic field through the pickup coil;
• a propulsion system for propelling the toy vehicle along a surface at a speed responsive to the frequency of the coil signal within the unique frequency band associated with the respective toy vehicle;
• and,
• a toy vehicle steering system responsive to the amplitude of the coil signal within the unique frequency band associated with the respective toy vehicle to steer the toy vehicle along a path or lane, separated from the wire loop by a distance responsive to the amplitude of the coil signal within the unique frequency band associated with the respective toy vehicle.

A toy vehicle automatic navigation system comprising:

• a single wire loop having one or more turns of wire;
• a source of alternating electric current coupled to the wire loop, the wire loop providing an alternating magnetic field in response to the alternating electric current;
• a plurality of toy vehicle manual controls coupled to the source of alternating current, each manual control having a manual steering control and a manual speed control;
• an encoder/modulator coupled to the plurality of toy vehicle manual controls for encoding the plurality of steering control signals and the plurality of speed control signals as a serial data stream modulating the alternating electric current coupled to the wire loop;
• the plurality of toy vehicles each comprising;
• a pickup coil oriented on the vehicle to receive a coil signal responsive to the strength of the alternating magnetic field through the pickup coil;
• a demodulator/decoder demodulating the coil signal and detecting the speed control signal and the steering control signal for the respective toy vehicle;
• a propulsion system for propelling the toy vehicle along a surface at a speed responsive to the speed control signal for the respective toy vehicle;
• and,
• a toy vehicle steering system responsive to the steering control signal for the respective toy vehicle to steer the respective toy vehicle along a lane separated from the wire loop by a distance providing a coil signal corresponding to the steering control signal.