Model train control system

• US 8,154,227 B1
• Filed: 07/22/2005
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Liontech Trains LLC
• Original Assignee: Liontech Trains LLC
• Inventors: Young, Neil, Kovach, Louis G. II, Ricks, Mark E., Ricks, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Benson, Walter
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chan, Kawing
• Application Number:
  US11/187,709
• Time in Patent Office: 2,454 Days
• Field of Search: 318/255, 318/268
• US Class Current: 318/255
• 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. A model train system comprising:

at least a first model train car connected, at least indirectly, to at least a second model train car;

a transceiver located inside at least one of the first and second model train cars receiving a braking command from a first input device on a model train remote control unit;

a motor located inside the first model train car moving at least the first and second model train cars on a model train track at a speed, wherein the speed is based at least in part on a target speed set by a user via a second input device on the model train remote control unit;

at least one mechanical brake located on the second model train car, wherein the braking command simultaneously triggers (i) the at least one mechanical brake to restrict movement of at least one wheel of the second model train car and (ii) the motor to reduce the speed that the first and second model train cars are moving on the model train track,

wherein at least one of sound, smoke and lighting effects are produced in response to said braking command, and both the first and second input devices can be manipulated by the user to trigger the motor to reduce the speed that the first and second model train cars are moving on the model train track.

2. The model train system of claim 1, further comprising a model train controller (i) receiving a first input identifying said target speed of said model train car, (ii) receiving a second input identifying a load of said model train car, and (iii) using at least said first and second input to determine said speed of said model train car, wherein said speed is different from, and within a specified percentage of, said target speed in order to mimic a full size train with a corresponding load.

3. The model train system of claim 2, wherein said model train controller is located on said model train car.

4. The model train system of claim 2, wherein said second input device comprises a user throttle control that is used to set said target speed.

5. The model train system of claim 2, further comprising a force sensing module that is used to identify said load of said model train car.

6. The model train system of claim 2, further comprising an incline sensor that is used to identify said load of said model train car.

7. The model train system of claim 2, further comprising an effects module varying one of smoke, sound and light in accordance with momentum of said model train car.

8. A model train system comprising:

a first model train car connected, at least indirectly, to at least a second model train car;

a transceiver located inside said first model train car receiving a braking command from a first input device on a model train remote control unit;

a motor located inside said first model train car moving at least said first and second model train cars on a model train track at a speed, wherein said speed is based at least in part on a target speed set by a user via a second input device on said model train remote control unit; and

at least one brake located on said second model train car, wherein said braking command simultaneously triggers (i) said at least one brake to increase drag on at least one wheel of said second model train car and (ii) said motor to reduce said speed,

wherein at least one of sound, smoke and lighting effects are produced in response to said braking command, and both said first and second input devices can be used to reduce said speed of said motor.

9. The model train system of claim 8, further comprising a model train controller (i) receiving a first input identifying said target speed of said first model train car, (ii) receiving a second input identifying a load of said first model train car, and (iii) using at least said first and second inputs to determine said speed of said first model train car, wherein said speed varies in relation to said load and is maintained substantially within a predetermined percentage of said target speed.

10. The model train system of claim 9, wherein said model train controller is located on said first model train car.

11. The model train system of claim 9, wherein said second input device comprises a user throttle control that is used to set said target speed.

12. The model train system of claim 9, further comprising a force sensing module that is used to identify said load of said first model train car.

13. The model train system of claim 9, further comprising an incline sensor that is used to identify said load of said first model train car.

14. The model train system of claim 9, further comprising an effects module configured to vary one of smoke, sound and light in accordance with momentum of said first model train car.

15. The model train system of claim 9, wherein said model train controller further (i) receives a third input identifying a current speed of said first model train car and (ii) transmits a command to operate said first model train car at said speed if said current speed varies from said target speed by more than said predetermined percentage after said target speed has been achieved by said first model train car.

16. A model train system comprising:

a first model train car connected, at least indirectly, to at least a second model train car;

a transceiver located inside at least one of said first and second model train cars configured to receive a braking command from a first input device on a model train remote control unit;

a motor located inside said first model train car moving at least said first and second model train cars on a model train track at a speed, wherein said speed is based at least in part on a target speed set by a user via a second input device on said model train remote control unit; and

at least one brake located on at least one of said first and second model train cars, wherein said braking command simultaneously triggers (i) said at least one brake to increase drag on at least one wheel, thereby restricting movement of said at least one wheel, and (ii) said motor to reduce said speed,

wherein at least one of sound, smoke and lighting effects are produced in response to said braking command, and said first and second input device can be manipulated by said user to trigger said motor to reduce said speed.

17. The model train system of claim 16, further comprising a model train controller (i) receiving a first input identifying said target speed of at least said first model train car, (ii) receiving a second input identifying a load of at least said first model train car, (iii) receiving a third input identifying a current speed of at least said first model train car;

(iv) using at least said first, second and third inputs to determine said speed of said first model train car, and (v) transmitting a command to drive at least said first model train car at said speed if said current speed varies from said target speed by more than a predetermined percentage after said target speed has been achieved by at least said first model train car.