Mars unit lamp driver

• US 20040178736A1
• Filed: 12/04/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lionel LLC
• Original Assignee: Lionel LLC
• Inventors: Pierson, Martin D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,081,829 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/77
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/20 Illuminating arrangements

Abstract

An apparatus for a model toy train includes a circuit configured to supply an output signal to energize at least one stationary light to simulate a light having movement like a mars unit light display.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a model toy including a model toy train car operating on a model track to simulate movement of a mars unit light display, comprising:

a circuitry configured to supply an output signal to energize at least one stationary light to simulate a light having movement.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

the circuitry comprising a processor having;

an input for receiving a first signal;

at least one output for supplying the processor output signal; and

wherein the processor output signal is indicative of the first signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first signal is a serial communication signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first signal further provides an instruction to the circuitry selected from the group consisting of:

on, off, and react to DC offset.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

the circuitry output signal being provided as a pulse width modulation signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

the circuitry further configured to supply the output signal based upon inputs indicative of operating conditions of the model toy.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the operating conditions are any condition selected from the group consisting of:

forward, reverse, and speed.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the operating conditions are any condition selected from the group consisting of:

forward, reverse, speed, and neutral.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a connector further including a pin for transmitting the first signal during operation of the model toy; and

the circuitry in communication with the connector to receive the first signal during operation of the model toy.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

at least one user control box in electrical communication with the connector, the user control box for converting an AC signal from a wall socket to at least supply a model toy voltage signal to the model toy track and the connector; and

the connector having a second pin for transmitting the model toy voltage signal to the circuitry.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the user control box converts an AC signal from a wall socket to supply a DC offset to the AC model toy voltage, in response to a user input.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the user control box further includes a user input device selected from the group consisting of:

a button on the control box for receiving the user input, and a remote control for receiving the user input and transmitting the input to the control box.

13. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

the processor having;

a serial communication signal pre-programmed into the processor; and

at least one output for supplying the processor output signal wherein the processor output signal is indicative of the serial communication signal;

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuitry is configured to supply an output signal to energize at least one light at least intermittently with varying brightness to simulate a light having movement.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:

the circuitry comprising a processor; and

at least one lamp controller in electrical communication with the processor to receive the processor output signal and convert the processor output signal to provide a lamp controller output signal sufficient to energize at least one light.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

a lamp display including at least one stationary light in electrical communication to receive the lamp controller output signal, wherein the processor output signal and resulting lamp controller output signal energize at least one light with visably varying brightness to simulate a light having movement.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a lamp display including at least one stationary light in electrical communication to receive the lamp controller output signal, wherein the processor output signal and resulting lamp controller output signal energize at least one light with varying brightness to simulate a light having movement; and

a fiber optic conductor having a base connected to the stationary light and an end that visibly emits light from the stationary light with visably varying brightness to simulate a light having movement.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuitry is configured to supply a processor output signal to sequentially energize at least intermittently a first set of lights and a second set of lights to simulate a light having movement wherein the first set includes one or more lights and the second set includes one or more lights.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the output signal is supplied to energize at least one light with visably varying brightness to simulate a light having movement.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the second set includes at least one light adjacent the first set of lights.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the second set further includes at least one light included in the first set.

22. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

at least one lamp controller in electrical communication with the circuitry to receive the output signal and convert the output signal to provide a lamp controller output signal sufficient to energize a light.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:

a lamp display including a plurality of stationary lights each in electrical communication to receive a lamp controller output current, wherein the processor output signal and resulting lamp controller output signal sequentially energize a first set of lights and a second set of lights to simulate a light having movement wherein the first set includes one or more lights and the second set includes one or more lights.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the plurality of lights are fixedly mounted in a pattern selected from the group consisting of:

a circle configuration, and a figure-eight configuration.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising:

a lamp display including a plurality of stationary lights each in electrical communication to receive a lamp controller output current, wherein the processor output signal and resulting lamp controller output signal sequentially energize a first set of lights and a second set of lights to simulate a light having movement wherein the first set includes one or more lights and the second set includes one or more lights; and

a fiber optic conductor corresponding to an individual light of the plurality of lights, each fiber optic conductor having a base connected to an individual light and an end that visibly emits light with varying brightness to simulate a light having movement.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the ends of the fiber optic conductors are fixedly mounted in a pattern selected from the group consisting of:

a circle configuration, and a figure-eight configuration.