Driving and controlling method for biomimetic fish and a biomimetic fish

Abstract

An aquatic toy that is a biomimetic fish with a watertight body portion. The body portion contains a battery electrically connected via a controller to at least one coil. The coil is positioned relative to a magnet and the coil can be caused to oscillate by virtue of a controller defined alternating current passing through the coil. The oscillation of the coil causes movement of a tail fin that is engaged to said watertight body to cause the fish to move forward through a body of water.

Claims

1. An aquatic toy comprising: a hermetic body; and a tail assembly pivotally dependent from the hermetic body about a pivot region, and comprising: i. a drive shaft projecting into the hermetic body, and ii. a propeller aft of the hermetic body and rigidly connected to the drive shaft and capable of drive shaft driven side to side oscillatory motion about the pivot region, said hermetic body carrying a. a battery, b. a first magnet secured internally of the hermetic body to one side of the drive shaft, c. a second magnet secured internally of the hermetic body to the opposite side of the drive shaft, d. a coil secured to the drive shaft internally of the hermetic body, the coil energizable by a current from said battery, e. a controller to control the current to oscillate the drive shaft between any of two positions selected from i. a central position between the first magnet and second magnet, ii. a first position proximate more to the first magnet than to the second magnet, and iii. a second position proximate more to the second magnet than to the first magnet.

2. An aquatic toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the the hermetic body is configured to be buoyant in water.

3. An aquatic toy as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the current is able to be alternated to create different polarities in the coil to move the coil and associated drive shaft between the first, second and central positions.

4. An aquatic toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the propeller is a fin.

5. An aquatic toy as claimed in claim 4 wherein the propeller is engaged to the body in a manner to allow it to make a swishing like oscillatory motion relative to the body as a result of the movement of the drive shaft.

6. An aquatic toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein said buoyant body defines an enclosure, and wherein said propeller is fixed at or towards one end of the drive shaft, and said coil is engaged at or towards the other end of the drive shaft and inside said enclosure, wherein between said ends, said drive shaft passes into said body in a sealed manner.

7. An aquatic toy as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pivoting region is on the boundary of the enclosure.

8. An aquatic toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein one or both of the first or second magnets is presented with its polarity oriented towards the coil in a manner to make said magnet attract said coil when said coil is energized with a current, such that said drive shaft is moved in one direction.

9. An aquatic toy as claimed in claim 8 wherein when said coil is energized with a reversed current said coil is repelled by said magnet, such that said drive shaft is moved in an opposite direction.

10. An aquatic toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first magnet and/or second magnet is presented with polarity oriented towards the coil in a manner to make one magnet generate an attraction force and the other magnet generate a pushing force on the drive shaft when the coil is energized.

11. An aquatic toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein a pair of coils are secured to said body and a magnet is carried by said drive shaft, and an attraction force and a pushing force will be generated between each of said pair of coils and said magnet when the pair of coils are energized by an alternating current.

12. An aquatic toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein an activation circuit is provided to activate the energization of the coil, the activation circuit selected from one of (a) a vibration switch and (b) moisture sensor and (c) terminals of a circuit or switching circuit that complete an electrical circuit via water in which said aquatic toy may be placed.

13. An aquatic toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the propeller is in the shape of a fish tail and the buoyant body is in the shape of a fish body.

14. An aquatic toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central position is when the propeller lines up with an elongate axis of the toy.

15. An aquatic toy as claimed in claim 14, wherein the coil is disposed such that the coil's central axis is perpendicular to the elongate axis of the toy.

16. An aquatic toy as claimed in claim 15, wherein the magnets are disposed such that the magnets central axis is collinear with the coil's central axis.

17. An aquatic toy as claimed in claim 16, wherein the coil is annular.

18. An aquatic toy as claimed in claim 17, wherein the magnets are circular.

19. An aquatic toy as claimed in claim 15, wherein the coil, or part of a bracket that supports the coil, or the drive shaft, contacts the magnet or associated internal side of the body when in the first or second position.

20. An aquatic toy as claimed in claim 19, wherein drive shaft is prevented from movement by contact with a stop at the left and/or second position.

21. An aquatic toy as claimed in claim 20, wherein the stops are fixed or integral with the internal sides of the body.

22. An aquatic toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnets are shaped to fit within the coil.

23. An aquatic toy comprising a hermetic body with an elongate axis; and a tail assembly, the assembly comprising a drive shaft extending from inside the hermetic body, and into a propeller outside of the hermetic body in a manner to be able to pivot relative to the hermetic body, and move in a side to side motion relative to the hermetic body, said hermetic body carrying a. a battery, b. a first magnet secured internally of the hermetic body to one side of the drive shaft, c. a second magnet secured internally of the hermetic body to the opposite side of the drive shaft, d. a coil secured to the drive shaft internally of the hermetic body, the coil energizable by a current from said battery, e. a controller to control the current to oscillate the drive shaft and propeller between any of two positions corresponding to: i. a first turning mode where the toy is propelled in a first direction at an angle off the elongate axis, ii. a second turning mode where the toy is propelled in a second direction at an angle off the elongate axis symmetrically opposite to the first direction, and iii. a forward mode where the toy is propelled in a fore direction parallel the elongate axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiment.

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the external structure of an embodiment of the aquatic toy of the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of FIG. 1 without one side of its shell body.

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the transverse section of the tail in FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a charging seat cover for use with the aquatic toy of the invention.

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the coil bracket of the tail of the aquatic toy of the invention.

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the optical structure of the indicators of the embodiment of the invention.

(8) FIG. 7 is an illustration of an alternative coil and magnet configuration that may be used to oscillate the tail of the aquatic toy of the invention.

(9) FIG. 8 is an illustration of yet another alternative coil and magnet configuration that may be used to oscillate the tail of the aquatic toy of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, the aquatic toy of the present invention is a biomimetic fish. The fish comprises of a body assembly 1 and a propeller, preferably in the form of a fish tail assembly 2. The fish tail assembly 2 is engaged or integrally formed with the body assembly 1. The fish is of a buoyant configuration.

(11) Tail Movement

(12) The fish tail assembly 2 comprises a fish tail 21 that can make a swishing oscillatory like motion relative to the body and thereby propel the fish through the water. The body is preferably made from a rigid plastic and the tail 21 from a more flexible plastic. However, alternative appropriate materials may be used.

(13) In the preferred embodiment the body assembly 1 comprises a left shell body 11 and a right shell body 13. The fish tail assembly 2 is pivotally or floatingly disposed from the body assembly. The fish tail assembly 2 may gain support of both the left shell body 11 and right shell body 13, and a sealing ring 24 and a support bracket 23. A tail shaft 22 of the fish tail assembly 2 has an inner end and an outer end. The inner end penetrates through a central hole of the sealing ring 24. The outer end of the tail shaft 22 carries the fish tail 21.

(14) A coil and magnet arrangement is preferably disposed in the body assembly 1. The coil can be energized to cause the tail to oscillate.

(15) In one form the coil and magnet arrangement may be presented in a manner where two magnets 12 and one coil 26 are present in the body assembly 1. However, in other forms there may be one magnet and one coil, see FIG. 8, or one magnet and two coils, see FIG. 7.

(16) In use, when the coil or coils are energized magnetic poles are induced in the coil or coils and these magnetic poles interact with the magnetic poles of the magnet or magnets.

(17) In the preferred form of the aquatic toy, the inner end of the tail shaft 22 carries the coil 26. The inner end of the tail shaft extends into a hole 251 of a coil bracket 25, and a coil 26 is fixed in the central hole 252 of the coil bracket 25.

(18) In the preferred configuration the body assembly carries two magnets 12. These two magnets 12 are respectively secured each on an inner side of each right and left side shells 11, 13. Therefore, a magnet 12 sits of each side of the coil when it is in a central location. Preferably the opposite surfaces of the two magnets are of the same polarity, and the coil is disposed such that the coils central axis is perpendicular to the central horizontal axis through the aquatic toy fish. In use, when the coil is energized the magnetic poles formed in the coil, cause the coil to be are attracted to one of the magnets and repelled by the other of the magnets.

(19) In other embodiments the magnet and coil configuration may be different, but have the same effect. For example, in FIG. 8, when an alternating current to applied to the coil 226, an alternating magnetic pole is induced in the coil, that interacts with the single magnets 212 pole, causing the shaft 222 and tail 221 to move. Similarly, in FIG. 7, when an alternating current is applied to each of the coils 326, 327 the magnetic poles induced in the coils interact with the poles of the magnet and cause the magnet and thus the shaft 322 to move.

(20) In the preferred configuration of FIG. 3, a drive control circuit 3 is disposed in the body assembly 1. When the drive control circuit 3 supplies electric current to the coil 26 the magnetic field induced in the coil 26 interacts with the magnetic field produced by both magnets 12. This creates an attraction force at one side of the coil 26 and a pushing force at the other side of the coil 26. This causes the coil 26 and bracket 25 to pivot or lean towards one or other magnet 12, causing the tail shaft 22 to swing in the opposite direction to the movement of the coil and bracket. When the current direction is changed, the force directions are changed accordingly and the tail shaft 22 is moved in the opposite direction. Thus with consecutive changes in the current in the coil 26 and changing of the magnetic poles in the coil, the tail shaft is causes to swing in an oscillatory manner. The swinging of the tail causes the tail 21 to propel the body assembly 1 forward.

(21) Additionally, in the preferred form of the aquatic toy, an activation circuit is provided for the toy. The activation circuit is associated with the drive control circuit and is provided to activate the energization of the coil(s). The activation circuit may be selected from one of (a) a vibration switch and (b) moisture sensor or (c) terminals of a circuit or switching circuit that complete an electrical circuit via water in which said aquatic toy may be placed.

(22) Turning Movement

(23) A deflecting force will be produced when the fish goes forward if the fish tail is at a certain angle to the fish body. This will cause the fish to turn. Different durations of swing of the fish tail on opposite sides of the fish centerline will cause a non-symmetric deflecting force and the fish can turn accordingly. Thus the fish's moving direction can be changed by altering the forward-direction and backward-direction current pulses in the coil 26, which is supplied by the drive control circuit 3. The altering of the current pulses may be by way of duration, amplitude or by applying an offset sine wave current pulse to the coil or coils.

(24) Drive Control Circuit

(25) In the preferred form the drive control circuit 3 comprises a PCB 31, a vibration switch 32 and LED indicator lights 34 and 35. The indicator lights 34, 35 are capable of showing a status of activation of the fish or charging of the fish respectively. The drive control circuit is powered by a battery 17.

(26) The vibration switch 32 consists of a central post 321 and a vibration spring 322. When vibration of the fish body is transmitted to the spring, the spring starts to swing and will contact with the central post when the swing exceeds a certain amplitude. Accordingly an electric signal is generated to activate the drive control circuit.

(27) In some forms of the invention, the drive control circuit 3 may include an infrared receiving tube 33. The infrared receiving tube 33 is capable of receiving a transmitted remote control signal from a transmitter outside the fish. In response to the transmitted signal, the control circuit will execute a corresponding operation according to the received signal.

(28) Referring to FIG. 6, the operation of the indicator lights 34, 35 will be described. When the drive circuit is in operation, the LED indicator light 34 is lit up. Alternatively, when the fish is charging, a different LED indicator light 35 is lit up. Light from each of these hits the incident surface 141 and then the reflector 14. Light can be reflected by two reflecting surfaces 142 to be emitted to both sides of the fish out through the fish eyes 143, 144.

(29) Up and Down Movement

(30) The fish body is internally provided with an additional coil 15, and at least one additional magnet 16 (however, more than one magnet may be used), that is attached to the battery 17 that powers the drive control circuit 3. A magnetic field generated by the coil when the coil 15 is supplied with an electric current (from the drive control circuit), interacts with the magnet 16 to create an attraction force or a pushing force to drive the battery 17 to move. When the battery moves forward the center of gravity of the fish shifts forward simultaneously, such that a downward component force is produced to drive the fish downwards while the fish tail 2 is operating. When the magnet 16 drives the battery 17 to move backward, the center of gravity of the fish shifts backward simultaneously, effectively lifting the fish head, such that there will be an upward component force to drive the fish upwards while the fish tail 2 is operating.

(31) An alternative method of changing the center of gravity of the fish is to fix a magnet 16 and allow a coil to be movable, such that the coil drives the battery or any other counterweight member to move. The movable counterweight member cannot be made of magnetic material such as iron or the like; otherwise an attraction force will be produced between the movable member and the magnet that would interfere with the correct action of the coil.

(32) Alternatively the fish's center of gravity can be adjusted in a right-left direction using either of the above methods but when the above mechanisms are arranged transversely. Again, alternatively, the fish's centre of gravity can be adjusted in a forward-backward direction when either of the above mechanisms are arranged vertically.

(33) Charging

(34) The battery 17 is capable of being charged through a port in the fish shell. A Micro-USB plug or other suitable charging plug can be inserted into a charge socket 19 by opening a waterproof cover 18 on the fish shell.

(35) In particular, the charging system of the drive control circuit 3 may be designed to be charged via a USB power supply, so that a charger with a Micro-UBS charging head can be used in charging. Because numerous cell phones use such chargers, a special charger may not need to be supplied with the fish; therefore, cost savings can be made.

(36) However, other plug and socket arrangements for charging as are known in the art may be used with the aquatic toy fish of the present invention.

(37) The charging cover 18 is shown in FIG. 4. The charging cover comprises a post 183, plug 184 and base 181, that when the charging cover 18 is closed over the port 19, is inserted into port 19. The cover 18 is made of a plastics material and each of the post 183 and plug 184 as well as the base 181 fit into the shell of the fish body, so as to cause a watertight seal of the charging port area of the aquatic toy.

(38) Remote Control

(39) As detailed above the aquatic toy of the present invention may utilise infrared remote control. However, radio remote control could also be used, or a computer and a cell phone may alternatively be used for controlling the fish if a Bluetooth receiver or WIFI receiver is disposed in the fish body. Furthermore, in some embodiments if the fish body was internally provided with sensors capable of sensing acoustic-optic variation or touch and a microprocessor capable of processing the sensing signals, autonomous control can be realized.

(40) Advantages

(41) As such the biomimetic fish of the present invention can realistically simulate forward movement, turning and up-down traverse. It can be operated flexibly and conveniently and may be controlled by various drive circuit programs or by remote control.

(42) It is an advantage for the present invention to have simple structure and well-designed dynamic system. The biomimetic fish can be flexibly driven and its center of gravity can be adjusted by interacting variable magnetic fields in the coil with fixed magnetic field of a magnet.

(43) The biomimetic fish of the present invention realistically simulates motions of fish in nature; a user can conveniently conduct the functions, such as moving forward, turning left and right, diving and floating and the like, by means of several control ways. The present invention has high flexibility and strong reliability and is capable of supporting remote control and self-programming control.

(44) As described by the embodiment of the invention, methods for driving and controlling other biomimetic fish having the same or similar structure of the invention are seen to fall within the scope of the invention.