Model train control system

• US 9,937,431 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2015
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lionel LLC
• Original Assignee: Lionel LLC
• Inventors: Kovach, II, Louis G, Young, Neil, Ricks, John T, Ricks, Mark E
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nolan, Peter D
• Application Number:
  US14/791,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20150306515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• 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:

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 a server via the Internet and to store said data in said memory device, said data including at least a game;

wherein said user is allowed to play said game, said game comprising moving said model train around a model train track to achieve at least one predetermined task, said game being played against at least one of said first processor and at least one other user via the Internet.

2. The model train system of claim 1, wherein said features comprise at least speed and direction.

3. The model train system of claim 1, wherein said train information comprises at least an animated version of said model train.

4. The model train system of claim 3, wherein said train information further comprises an animated version of at least a portion of said model train track, said animated version of said model train being disposed on said animated version of said at least said portion of said model train track.

5. The model train system controller of claim 4, wherein said train information further comprises at least one virtual object.

6. The model train system controller of claim 5, said game further involving at least moving said animated version of said model train in relation to said at least one virtual object.

7. The model train system controller of claim 4, said game further involving at least moving said animated version of said virtual model train around said animated version of said at least said portion of said model train track.

8. The model train system of claim 7, wherein said first processor is further configured to download an application from said server, said application providing a graphical user interface (GUI), said GUI allowing said user to play said at least one game.

9. The model train system controller of claim 1, wherein said game further comprises determining an amount of time it takes said model train to move around said model train track to achieve said at least one predetermined task.

10. A method for displaying 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 model train object and a game;

storing said data in a memory device;

receiving a user interaction with a touch-screen display;

sending by said first processor 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 said at least one model train object on said touch-screen display, said at least one model train object comprising at least a virtual train corresponding to said model train;

wherein said game comprises moving said model train around a model train track to achieve at least one predetermined task, said game being played against at least one of said first processor and at least one other user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of downloading by a first processor data from a server via the Internet further comprises downloading a application from said server, said application allowing said user to move said virtual train around a virtual train track.

12. The method of claim 10, 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.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of displaying said at least one model train object on said touch-screen display further comprises displaying at least a portion of a virtual train track on said touch-screen display.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of downloading data from said server via the Internet further comprises downloading at least one other virtual object.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein playing said game involves said virtual train moving around said virtual train track.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said game is played against said first processor.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said game is played against at least one other user via the Internet.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein said game further comprises determining an amount of time it takes to achieve said at least one predetermined task.

19. A model train system comprising:

a remote control comprising;

a touch-screen display 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;

a model train track; and

a model train configured for propulsion around said model train track, said 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 train information and at least one game;

wherein said train information comprises at least a virtual train corresponding to said model train, a virtual train track corresponding to said model train track, and at least one virtual object; and

wherein said at least one game involves at least moving said model train around said model train track to perform at least one predetermined task, resulting in at least said virtual train being moved around said virtual train track, said at least one game involves performing said at least one predetermined task before a particular time, said particular time being one of a time provided by said first processor and a time achieved by at least one other user via the Internet.

20. The model train system of claim 19, wherein said at least one virtual object comprises at least one of virtual smoke, sparks, and a character.