Control, sound, and operating system for model trains

• US 20050023416A1
• Filed: 06/21/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mike's Train House Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mike's Train House Incorporated
• Inventors: Long, Scott B., Seitz, Forrest S., Krebiehl, David L., Sasaki, Stanley K., Wolf, Michael Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,210,656 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 246/167.R
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/14 Arrangements for imitating locomotive features, e.g. whistling, signalling, puffing
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/18 Car coupling or uncoupling mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/24 Electric toy railways; Systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/32 Switches or points; Operating means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/28 Soap-bubble toys; Smoke toys blowing smoke rings A24F13/30

Abstract

A model train operating, sound and control system that provides a user with increased operating realism. A novel remote control communication capability between the user and the model trains. This feature is accomplished by using a handheld remote control on which various commands may be entered, and a Track Interface Unit that retrieves and processes the commands. The Track Interface Unit converts the commands to modulated signals in the form of data bit sequences (preferably spread spectrum signals) which are sent down the track rails. The model train picks up the modulated signals, retrieves the entered command, and executes it through use of a processor and associated control and driver circuitry. A speed control circuit located inside the model train that is capable of continuously monitoring the operating speed of the train and making adjustments to a motor drive circuit, as well as a novel smoke unit. Circuitry for connecting the Track Interface Unit to an external source, such as a computer, CD player, or other sound source, and have real-time sounds stream down the model train tracks for playing through the speakers located in the model train.

Claims

1. -91. (Cancelled)

92. A model train comprising:

a processor that receives user commands to (1) play existing sound files and (2) save new sound files;

memory means for storing said existing sound files and saving said new sound files; and

a sound system circuit for playing back said sound files;

the processor retrieving said sound files from said memory means for playback on said sound system and commanding said memory means to save said new sound files.

93. The model train of claim 92 wherein said processor and said memory means are physically located on the same integrated circuit chip.

94. A sound system for model trains comprising:

an external sound source for providing sounds; and

a track interface unit coupled to said external sound source that receives sounds from said external sound source and outputs said sounds in digital signal format for playback through a model train located on a train track layout coupled to said track interface unit.

95. The sound system of claim 94 wherein the external sound source is a computer.

96. The sound system of claim 94 wherein the external sound source is a microphone.

97. The sound system of claim 94 wherein the external sound source is a CD player, cassette player, MP3 player, DVD player, mini-disc player or memory stick.

98. A model train comprising:

a processor that receives digital signals representing sounds, processes said signals, and generates output sound signals; and

a sound system circuit coupled to said processor that receives and plays said output sound signals.

99. The model train of claim 98, wherein said sounds are music from an external music source.

100. The model train of claim 98, wherein said sounds are human voice-generated.

101. The model train of claim 98 wherein said processor comprises a digital-to-analog converter for converting said digital signals to said output sound signals in the form of analog signals.

102. The model train of claim 98 wherein said sound system circuit comprises a speaker and a digital-to-analog converter for converting said output sound signals to analog signals for playing through said speaker.

103. The model train of claims 98 or 101 wherein said sound system circuit comprises an amplifier and a speaker for amplifying said output sound signals and playing through said speaker.

104. The model train of claim 99, wherein said external music source is a computer.

105. The model train of claim 99, wherein said external music source is a CD player, cassette player, MP3 player, DVD player, mini-disc player or memory stick.

106. A sound system for model trains comprising:

an external sound source for providing sounds;

a track interface unit coupled to said external sound source for receiving said sounds; and

a train track layout coupled to said track interface unit;

wherein the track interface unit converts the sounds into a modulated signal and outputs the modulated signal to the train track layout.

107. The sound system of claim 106 further comprising a model train on the train track layout capable of receiving the modulated signal from the train track layout and processing the modulated signal in order to retrieve the sounds and play them through a speaker located on the model train.

108. The sound system of claims 106 or 107, wherein the external source is any one of a CD player, cassette tape player, MP3 player, DVD player, mini-disc player, or memory stick.

109. The sound system of claims 106 or 107, wherein the external source is a computer.

110. The sound system of claim 109, wherein the sounds are downloaded from the Internet.

111. The sound system of claim 106, wherein the modulated signal has a wide bandwidth.

112. The sound system of claims 106 or 107, wherein the modulated signal is a spread spectrum signal.

113. The sound system of claims 106 or 107, wherein the external source is a microphone.

114. The sound system of claims 106 or 107, wherein the modulated signal is an FM signal.

115. The sound system of claim 114, wherein the external source is any one of a CD player, cassette tape player, MP3 player, DVD player, mini-disc player, or memory stick.

116. The sound system of claim 114, wherein the external source is a computer.

117. The sound system of claims 114 or 116, wherein the sounds are downloaded from the Internet.

118. A model train sound recording system comprising:

a train track layout;

an external sound source;

a track interface unit coupled to the external sound source and to the train track layout; and

a model train on the train track layout comprising a processor, memory, and sound system circuit;

whereby the track interface unit receives sounds from the external sound source and sends the sounds down rails of the train track layout, where the sounds are received by the model train'"'"'s processor and stored in the memory for playback through the sound system circuit.

119. The model train sound recording system of claim 118, wherein the external sound source is any one of a CD player, tape cassette player, mini-disc player, MP3 player, DVD player or memory stick.

120. The model train sound recording system of claim 118, wherein the external sound source is a computer.

121. The model train sound recording system of claim 120, wherein the sounds are downloaded from the Internet.

122. A model train sound recording system comprising:

an external sound source; and

a track interface unit for receiving sounds from the external sound source and storing the sounds in a memory located in the track interface unit.

123. The model train sound recording system of claim 122, further comprising a train track layout coupled to the track interface unit and a model train on the train track layout, wherein the sounds stored in the memory are retrieved by a processor in the track interface unit and sent down rails of the train track layout, the sounds being received by the model train and played through a sound system circuit located in the model train.

124. The model train sound recording system of claims 122 or 123, wherein the external sound source is any one of a CD player, tape cassette player, mini-disc player, MP3 player, DVD player or memory stick.

125. The model train sound recording system of claims 122 or 123, wherein the external sound source is a computer.

126. The model train sound recording system of claim 125, wherein the sounds are downloaded from the Internet.

127. A model train sound system comprising:

a train track layout;

a remote control unit that outputs a Doppler effect command;

a track interface unit coupled to said train track layout that receives said Doppler effect command and converts it to a modulated signal which is outputted to said train track layout; and

a model train on said train track layout capable of playing train sounds, said model train picking up said modulated signal from said train track layout and retrieving the Doppler effect command from said modulated signal, such that the model train plays one or more train sounds that simulate the Doppler effect.

128. The model train sound system of claim 127, wherein the Doppler effect simulation is based on a fixed distance travelled by the model train around said train track layout.

129. The model train sound system of claim 128, wherein said fixed distance is set by entering (1) a start Doppler loop command and (2) a stop Doppler loop command on said remote control unit, whereby the distance travelled by the model train on the train track layout during the interval between said start Doppler loop command and said stop Doppler loop command is the fixed distance.

130. A sound system for model trains comprising:

an external sound source for providing sounds;

a track interface unit coupled to said external sound source for receiving said sounds; and

a train track layout coupled to said track interface unit;

wherein the track interface unit provides the sounds to the train track layout.

131. The sound system of claim 130 further comprising a model train on the train track layout capable of receiving the sounds from the train track layout and playing the sounds through a speaker located on the model train.

132. The sound system of claims 130 or 131, wherein the external source is any one of a CD player, cassette tape player, MP3 player, DVD player, mini-disc player, or memory stick.

133. The sound system of claims 130 or 131, wherein the external source is a computer.

134. The sound system of claim 133, wherein the sounds are downloaded from the Internet.

135. The sound system of claims 130 or 131, wherein the external source is a microphone.