Model Train Control System

• US 20150306512A1
• Filed: 07/06/2015
• Published: 10/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liontech Trains LLC
• Original Assignee: Lionel LLC
• Inventors: Kovach, Louis G. II, Young, Neil, Ricks, John T., Ricks, Mark E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,434,429 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/32 Acoustical or optical signalling devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/10 electrically driven
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/14 Arrangements for imitating locomotive features, e.g. whistling, signalling, puffing
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/16 Parts for model railway vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/24 Electric toy railways; Systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2019/246 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

A model train control system providing a more realistic modeling of the movement, sound, smoke, and lighting effects of a model train is disclosed. A number of dynamic inputs are used to control such effects. Novel features include providing a dynamic variable speed compensator, a dynamic engine load calculator, automatic dynamic momentum, an adjustable train brake, spectrum control, a velocity controller, pressure sensitive effects, a voice activated dispatcher system, a train location and information reporter network, two digit addressing, a traffic control system, accessory control, a model train Central Control Module, and removable memory modules.

Claims

1-72. -72. (canceled)

73. A model train control system comprising:

a remote control comprising;

a housing;

a touch-screen display coupled to said housing for permitting user control over various train features and for displaying train information;

a memory device for storing said train information;

a first processor disposed within said housing and being operatively coupled to said touch-screen display and said memory device, said first processor configured to generate commands to be transmitted in response to user interactions with said touch-screen display; and

at least one transceiver configured to communicate said commands via a wireless protocol; and

a model train comprising;

a receiver configured to receive said commands from said at least one transceiver; and

a second processor operatively coupled to said receiver;

said second processor configured to at least one of generate and modify features of said model train in response to said commands;

wherein said first processor is configured to download data from an external device and to store said data in said memory device, said data including at least said commands for said model train.

74. The model train control system of claim 73, wherein said external device is an external memory device, pluggable into said remote control.

75. The model train control system of claim 73, wherein said external device is a server, thereby allowing said first processor to download said data from said server via the Internet.

76. The model train control system of claim 73, wherein said features comprise at least speed and direction.

77. The model train control system of claim 73, wherein said train information comprises at least speed and direction.

78. The model train control system controller of claim 73, wherein said remote control further comprises a speaker, and said first processor is further configured to play a sound via said speaker in response to user interaction with a sound portion of said touch screen display.

79. The model train control system controller of claim 73, wherein said wireless protocol comprises a frequency associated with Wi-Fi.

80. The model train control system of claim 73, wherein said wireless protocol comprises a frequency associated with Bluetooth.

81. The model train control system of claim 75, wherein said first processor is further configured to download a remote control application from said server, said remote control application allowing said user to control said features of said model train.

82. A method for controlling a model train, comprising:

downloading by a first processor in a remote control data from a server via the Internet, said data comprising at least one command for said model train;

storing said data in a memory device;

receiving a user interaction with a touch-screen display;

sending by said first processor said at least one command to said model train via a wireless protocol in response to said user interaction with said touch-screen display;

controlling by a second processor in said model train at least one feature of said model train in response to said at least one command; and

displaying information on said model train on said touch-screen display, said information corresponding to said at least one feature.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein said step of downloading by a first processor data from a server via the Internet further comprises downloading a remote control application from said server, said remote control application allowing said user to control said at least one feature of said model train.

84. The method of claim 82, wherein said step of controlling by a second processor at least one feature of said model train in response to said at least one command further comprises controlling at least one of speed, direction, sound, brake, light, coupler, and smoke in response to said at least one command.

85. The method of claim 82, wherein said step of displaying information on said touch-screen display further comprises displaying at least one of speed, direction, lights, smoke, oil, and water on said touch-screen display.

86. The method of claim 82, further comprising the steps of (i) displaying information on a plurality of model trains to said user, and (ii) allowing said user to select said model train from said plurality of available model trains.

87. The method of claim 86, wherein said step of allowing said user to select said model train further comprises allowing said user to select one of a name and number associated with said model train.

88. The method of claim 82, further comprising the steps of (i) receiving at least one other user interaction with said touch-screen display, and (ii) using said first processor to play a train related sound via a speaker on said remote control in response to said at least one other user interaction.

89. The method of claim 82, wherein said wireless protocol comprises one of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

90. A model train control system comprising:

a remote control comprising;

a housing;

a touch-screen display coupled to said housing for permitting user control over train features and for displaying train information;

a memory device for storing said train information;

a first processor disposed within said housing and being operatively coupled to said touch-screen display and said memory device, said first processor configured to generate commands to be transmitted in response to user interactions with said touch-screen display; and

at least one transceiver configured to communicate said commands via a wireless protocol; and

a model train comprising a second processor configured to control features of said model train in response to said commands;

wherein said first processor is configured to download data from a server via the Internet and to store said data in said memory device, said data including at least said commands for said model train.

91. The model train control system of claim 90, wherein said model train further comprises a reception device configured to receive said commands from said at least one transceiver via said wireless protocol.

92. The model train control system of claim 90, further comprising a base station, said base station comprising (i) a reception device configured to receive said commands from said at least one transceiver via said wireless protocol and (ii) a transmission device configured to provide said commands to said model train.