Control, sound, and operating system for model trains

• US 6,619,594 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2002
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mike's Train House Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mike's Train House Incorporated
• Inventors: Sasaki, Stanley K., Long, Scott B., Seitz, Forrest S., Krebiehl, David L., Wolf, Michael Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Mark T.
• Application Number:
  US10/237,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20030006346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 246/167.R, 246/182.R, 246/182.C, 246/186, 246/187.R, 246/187.A, 246/196, 104/295, 105/61, 318/727, 318/729, 318/767, 318/798, 318/806
• US Class Current: 246/187.00A
• 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. A speed control circuit on-board a model train which receives commands in the form of data bit sequences, comprising:

a motor;

a motor drive circuit for controlling the motor'"'"'s speed;

a speed sensor for sensing a current speed of the model train; and

a processor, which receives one of said commands corresponding to a desired speed of said train, coupled to the speed sensor for comparing the current speed to the desired speed, and for controlling the motor drive circuit so that the motor'"'"'s speed is adjusted to match the desired speed.

2. The speed control circuit of claim 1, wherein the speed of the model train is maintained at substantially the desired speed regardless of changes in the model train'"'"'s work load.

3. A speed control circuit on-board a model train which receives commands in the form of data bit sequences, comprising:

a motor;

means for adjusting the motor'"'"'s speed;

means for sensing a current speed of the model train; and

a processor, which receives one of said commands corresponding to a desired speed of said train, for comparing the current speed to the desired speed and for controlling the means for adjusting so that the motor'"'"'s speed substantially matches the desired speed.

4. The speed control circuit of claim 3 further comprising means for sensing load conditions of the model train, whereby said processor takes the load conditions into account when controlling the means for adjusting.

5. A model train which receives commands in the form of data bit sequences, comprising:

a processor which receives one of said commands corresponding to a desired speed of said train;

a motor control circuit; and

a speed control circuit that monitors the train'"'"'s speed and provides information to the processor concerning a current speed of the train, such that the processor compares the current speed of the train to the desired speed and outputs a command to a motor control circuit to drive the train to run at the desired speed.

6. The model train of claim 5 wherein the processor commands the motor driving means to increase the speed of the train as the train moves uphill and to decrease the speed of the train as the train moves downhill in order to maintain the train at the desired speed.

7. The model train of claim 5 wherein the speed control circuit continuously monitors the speed of the train.

8. The model train of claim 5 whereby the processor commands the motor control circuit to increase the speed of the train due to increased load conditions on the train.

9. The model train of claim 5 whereby the processor commands the motor control circuit to increase the speed of the train as the train moves uphill.

10. The model train of claim 5 whereby the processor commands the motor control circuit to decrease the speed of the train as the train moves downhill.

11. The model train of claim 5 whereby the processor commands the motor control circuit to decrease the speed of the train due to decreased load conditions on the train.

12. The model train of claim 5 wherein the model train'"'"'s speed is controllable in 1 scale mile-per-hour increments.

13. The model train of claim 5 wherein the processor commands the motor control circuit to increase the speed of the train when load conditions on the train increase, and to decrease the speed of the train when load conditions on the train decrease in order to maintain the train at the desired speed.

14. The model train of claim 5 wherein the processor commands the motor control circuit to increase the speed of the train as the train moves uphill and to decrease the speed of the train as the train moves downhill in order to maintain the train at the desired speed.

15. A model train which receives commands in the form of data bit sequences, comprising:

a processor which receives one of said commands corresponding to a desired speed of said train, means for sensing the model train'"'"'s current speed, a motor, and means for driving the motor, the processor receiving information concerning the model train'"'"'s current speed and commanding the motor driving means to adjust the train'"'"'s current speed to match the desired speed.

16. The model train of claim 15 wherein the means for sensing continuously monitors the speed of the train.

17. The model train of claim 15 whereby the processor commands the motor driving means to increase the speed of the train due to increased load conditions on the train.

18. The model train of claim 15 whereby the processor commands the motor driving means to increase the speed of the train as the train moves uphill.

19. The model train of claim 15 whereby the processor commands the motor driving means to decrease the speed of the train as the train moves downhill.

20. The model train of claim 15 whereby the processor commands the motor driving means to decrease the speed of the train due to increased load conditions on the train.

21. The model train of claim 15 wherein the model train'"'"'s speed is controllable in 1 scale mile-per-hour increments.

22. The model train of claim 15 wherein the processor commands the motor driving means to increase the speed of the train when load conditions on the train increase, and to decrease the speed of the train when load conditions on the train decrease in order to maintain the train at the desired speed.