DCC decoder for model railroad

• US 6,320,346 B1
• Filed: 08/11/2000
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Atlas Model Railroad Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Atlas Model Railroad Incorporated
• Inventors: Graf, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Nappi, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, TYRONE W
• Application Number:
  US09/637,852
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 318/39, 318/587, 318/588, 318/589, 318/590, 318/34, 104/301, 246/187, 246/167
• US Class Current: 318/580
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/24 Electric toy railways; Systems therefor

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling a model railroad locomotive includes a Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder and a power switch. The power switch selectively connects the railroad locomotive'"'"'s motor to either the decoder or directly to an energy source, such as the tracks, but not both the decoder and the energy source simultaneously. When the motor is connected directly to the energy source, rather than through the decoder, the model railroad locomotive speed and direction is determined by the magnitude and polarity of the voltage applied. The motor may alternatively be powered through the decoder by actuating the power switch. The decoder receives electrical energy as an input, and converts the energy to deliver as an output a variable electric motor drive power source. In addition to receiving energy as an input, the decoder also receives electrical signals representative of an operator'"'"'s control instructions. These control signals are used by the decoder to effect both speed and direction control of the locomotive relatively independently of the magnitude and polarity of the decoder electrical energy input. A plurality of DCC locomotives may each be individually controlled independently of the others upon a common track, or the power switches of each locomotive may be actuated to enable simultaneous analog control of a plurality of the locomotives by a single controller.

Claims

1. An electrically powered dual control locomotive which offers compatibility with both digital and analog model railroad control systems, and which may therefore be operated under either analog or DCC control, and which may further be directly connected to an analog locomotive for operation in tandem upon an analog track without damaging either said analog locomotive or said dual control locomotive, comprising:

a coupler which receives electrical power and control signals from a power and control source;

decoder which receives said control signals and said electrical power from said coupler and converts said electrical power, responsive to said control signals, into a variable electric motor drive source;

an electric motor adapted to convert both of said electrical power and said variable electric motor drive source into mechanical energy; and

a switch for selectively electrically connecting said electric motor to said electrical power from said coupler in a first configuration and for selectively connecting said electric motor to said variable electric motor drive source in a second configuration.

2. The electrically powered dual control locomotive of claim 1 wherein said switch further comprises a mechanically repositioned connector of conductive material and said switch has a linear, Ohmic voltage drop.

3. The electrically powered dual control locomotive of claim 2 wherein said mechanically repositioned connector further comprises a jumper.

4. The electrically powered dual control locomotive of claim 2 wherein said mechanically repositioned connector further comprises an electrical contactor.

5. The electrically powered dual control locomotive of claim 4 wherein said switch further comprises a DIP switch.

6. The electrically powered dual control locomotive of claim 1 wherein said switch further comprises an electronic switch.

7. The electrically powered dual control locomotive of claim 1 wherein said power and control source further comprises said analog track.

8. The electrically powered dual control locomotive of claim 1 wherein said decoder further converts said electrical power, responsive to said control signals, into an auxiliary power source for components auxiliary to said dual control locomotive.

9. The electrically powered dual control locomotive of claim 8 wherein said auxiliary components further comprise a light.

10. In combination, a Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder having electronic circuitry for receiving and evaluating various digital commands and responsive thereto modifying an input power source to produce a modified power source, an electric motor for converting a motor electrical input supply into mechanical energy, and a power switch for selectively coupling either said decoder or said input power source through an electrical contactor to said motor electrical input supply, said electrical contactor having fixed electrical resistance and a voltage drop therethrough which is linearly related to a current passing therethrough.

11. The combination decoder, motor and switch of claim 10 further comprising a micro-controller having an MCU input for receiving said various digital commands, program instructions to evaluate said various digital commands, and an MCU output for outputting an MCU output signal responsive to said program instructions.

12. The combination decoder, motor and switch of claim 11 wherein said program instructions produce an MCU output which, when selectively coupled through said power switch to said motor electrical input supply, will emulate an acceleration of a loaded full-sized train.

13. The combination decoder, motor and switch of claim 11 further comprising an H-bridge for modifying said input power source responsive to said MCU output.

14. The combination decoder, motor and switch of claim 10 wherein said power switch further comprises an electro-mechanical switch.

15. The combination decoder, motor and switch of claim 14 wherein said power switch further comprises an electrical jumper.

16. An electric model railroad having an electrically energized track and an analog locomotive which traverses said track and receives electrical power therefrom, said power effecting speed and direction control of said analog locomotive, wherein the improvement comprises a dual-powered locomotive physically attached to said analog locomotive and forming a train therewith, said dual-powered locomotive having an analog power input from said track, a decoder for receiving and converting digital command control signals into a variable motor drive signal, a motor for driving said locomotive having an electrical energy input, and a switch selectively applying said analog power input in a first switching state to said electrical energy input and selectively applying said variable motor drive signal to said electrical energy input in a second state.

17. The electric model railroad of claim 16 wherein said decoder further comprises a micro-controller having both circuitry and programming instructions.

18. The electric model railroad of claim 17 wherein said programming instructions emulate acceleration characteristics of a full scale locomotive within said dual-powered locomotive.

19. The electric model railroad of claim 16 wherein said switch further comprises a mechanical contactor.

20. The electric model railroad of claim 19 wherein said mechanical contactor further comprises a jumper.