Model railroad detection equipment
First Claim
1. A method of forming an apparatus for detecting and identifying a transponder device connected to a model railroad layout, comprising the steps of:
- providing said transponder device (11) connected to said model railroad layout (4), including the steps of providing a transponder current generating means (70) for creating a unique sequence of transponder current pulses with controlled magnitudes and durations, and providing a transponder timing generator means (71) that controls said transponder current generating means (70) in response to predetermined time periods;
providing a transponder detector connected to said model railroad layout, including the steps of providing an arrangement of a current sensing means (5) for sensing the magnitudes and polarity of said unique sequence of transponder current pulses, a conditioning means (6) for conditioning output of said current sensing means (5), and a decision threshold logic means (7) for determining a current direction and a pulse period of an output of said conditioning means (6), and providing a decoding logic means (9) for deciding a valid transponder detection event when an output of said decision threshold logic means (7) is detected as having characteristics of said unique sequence of said transponder current pulses, and said current direction matches the direction of a reference load current; and
configuring the transponder detector to detect valid transponder current pulses and reject invalid current echoes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
New techniques are presented for detection methods employed in the control, automation and operation of scale Model railroad layouts that permit new types of capabilities to be incorporated into the railroad. The invention allows reliable detection of transponder devices on a model railroad layout using conveniently low values of transponder current pulses. Processing of the detected current pulse timing and direction characteristics and then comparing these with the expected or reference current direction for the layout section allows us to reject echo pulses caused by common impedances in the layout wiring. This method overcomes the pulse echoes that have caused the failure of previous attempts to reduce this technology to practice. Allowing additional acknowledgment pulses synchronized to any transponder address sent can further enhance Transponding technology. This provides extra communication capabilities that are not limited by the rate or timing of addresses sent to any particular transponder device.
78 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of forming an apparatus for detecting and identifying a transponder device connected to a model railroad layout, comprising the steps of:
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providing said transponder device (11) connected to said model railroad layout (4), including the steps of providing a transponder current generating means (70) for creating a unique sequence of transponder current pulses with controlled magnitudes and durations, and providing a transponder timing generator means (71) that controls said transponder current generating means (70) in response to predetermined time periods;
providing a transponder detector connected to said model railroad layout, including the steps of providing an arrangement of a current sensing means (5) for sensing the magnitudes and polarity of said unique sequence of transponder current pulses, a conditioning means (6) for conditioning output of said current sensing means (5), and a decision threshold logic means (7) for determining a current direction and a pulse period of an output of said conditioning means (6), and providing a decoding logic means (9) for deciding a valid transponder detection event when an output of said decision threshold logic means (7) is detected as having characteristics of said unique sequence of said transponder current pulses, and said current direction matches the direction of a reference load current; and
configuring the transponder detector to detect valid transponder current pulses and reject invalid current echoes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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7. A method of forming an apparatus for detecting an information source connected to a transponder device connected to a model railroad layout, comprising the steps of:
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providing said information source (72) connected to said transponder device (11) connected to said model railroad layout (4), including the steps of providing a transponder current generating means (70) for generating transponder current pulses, providing a transponder timing generator means (71) controlling said transponder current generating means (70) in response to said information source (72) and predetermined time periods unrelated to transponder device address; and
providing a transponder detector means connected to said model railroad layout, including the steps of providing a current sensing means (5), and providing a transponder decoding means (9) for detecting said information source (72) at said predetermined periods unrelated to transponder device address. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification