Control and motor arrangement for use in model train

• US 7,656,110 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2007
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lionel LLC
• Original Assignee: Lionel LLC
• Inventors: Grubba, Robert, Young, Neil P., Denen, Dennis J., Moreau, Gary L., Pierson, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Leykin; Rita
• Application Number:
  US11/877,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20080041267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 318/282, 318/466, 318/461, 318/286, 246/122.A, 246/122.R, 246/124, 246/473, 104/DIG.1, 340/500, 340/428, 340/444, 340/515, 388/806, 388/807, 388/815
• US Class Current: 318/282
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/02 Locomotives; Motor coaches
• 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 19/24 Electric toy railways; Systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 21/12 with stationary armatures and rotating magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 6/08 Arrangements for controlling the speed or torque of a single motor H02P6/10, H02P6/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 6/17 and for generating speed information

Abstract

A control and motor arrangement in accordance with the present invention includes a motor configured to generate a locomotive force for propelling the model train. The control and motor arrangement further includes a command control interface configured to receive commands from a command control unit wherein the commands correspond to a desired speed. The control and motor arrangement still further includes a plurality of detectors configured to detect speed information of the motor, and a process control arrangement configured to receive the speed information from the sensors. The process control arrangement is further configured and arranged to generate a plurality of motor control signals based on the speed information for controlling the speed of said motor. The control and motor arrangement yet still further includes a motor control arrangement configured to cause power to be applied to the motor at different times in response to the motor control signals.

Claims

1. A model train, comprising:

a train car including a wheeled carriage adapted to travel on a track;

a motor operatively coupled to the carriage to thereby cause the train car to travel along the track in at least one direction;

a sensor adapted to detect speed of the model train;

a remote control interface adapted to receive at least one user command;

a controller operatively coupled to the motor, the sensor and the remote control interface, the controller being responsive to the at least one user command in selecting a desired speed for the model train, the controller using the detected speed in a closed feedback loop to regulate an amount of power provided to the motor in order to propel the model train at the desired speed; and

a sound generator operatively coupled to the controller, the sound generator adapted to generate a selected sound effect in correspondence with the amount of power provided to the motor;

wherein the controller regulates the amount of power provided to the motor in order to simulate effects of inertia and the sound generator is adapted to generate the selected sound effect corresponding thereto.

2. The model train of claim 1, wherein the controller further includes a memory storing data to be accessed upon a loss of power to the model train.

3. The model train of claim 1, wherein the sensor is further adapted to detect a rotational speed of the motor, and the sound generator is further adapted to generate the selected sound effect in correspondence with the detected speed.

5. The model train of claim 1, wherein the sound generator is further adapted to generate the selected sound effect reflecting an increased load condition upon detection of an increased amount of power provided to the motor.

6. The model train of claim 1, wherein the sound generator is further adapted to generate the selected sound effect reflecting a decreased load condition upon detection of a decreased amount of power provided to the motor.

7. The model train of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to detect the model train traveling up a grade and the sound generator is adapted to generate the selected sound effect corresponding thereto.

8. The model train of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to detect the model train traveling down a grade and the sound generator is adapted to generate the selected sound effect corresponding thereto.

9. The model train of claim 1, wherein the at least one command designates the desired speed of the model train.

10. The model train of claim 1, wherein the at least one command designates a desired operating condition of the model train.

11. The model train of claim 1, wherein the at least one command designates a desired direction of travel of the model train.

12. The model train of claim 1, wherein the at least one command designates the selected sound effect.

13. The model train of claim 1, further comprising a power circuit operatively coupled to the track, the power circuit including a rectifier adapted to convert an AC voltage between respective track rails to a DC voltage supplied to at least one of the motor, the controller, and the sound generator.

14. The model train of claim 13, wherein the power circuit is adapted to determine the level of the AC voltage between the respective track rails.

15. The model train of claim 1, wherein the controller regulates the amount of power provided to the motor in order to simulate a desired acceleration rate and the sound generator is adapted to generate the selected sound effect corresponding thereto.

16. The model train of claim 1, wherein the controller regulates the amount of power provided to the motor in order to simulate a desired deceleration rate and the sound generator is adapted to generate the selected sound effect corresponding thereto.

17. The model train of claim 1, wherein the controller regulates the amount of power provided to the motor in order to maintain a constant speed of the model train.

18. The model train of claim 1, wherein the motor further comprises a DC motor.

19. The model train of claim 1, wherein the sensor further comprises an optical sensor.

20. The model train of claim 1, wherein the sensor further comprises at least one Hall effect detector.

21. The model train of claim 1, wherein the remote control interface further comprises a radio control interface.

4. A model train, comprising:

a train car including a wheeled carriage adapted to travel on a track;

a motor operatively coupled to the carriage to thereby cause the train car to travel along the track in at least one direction;

a sensor adapted to detect speed of the model train;

a remote control interface adapted to receive at least one user command;

a controller operatively coupled to the motor, the sensor and the remote control interface, the controller being responsive to the at least one user command in selecting a desired speed for the model train, the controller using the detected speed in a closed feedback loop to regulate an amount of power provided to the motor in order to propel the model train at the desired speed; and

a sound generator operatively coupled to the controller, the sound generator adapted to generate a selected sound effect in correspondence with the amount of power provided to the motor;

wherein the sensor is further adapted to detect a rotational position of the motor, and the sound generator is further adapted to generate the selected sound effect in correspondence with the rotational position.

22. A model train set, comprising:

a train track layout;

a transformer operatively coupled to the train track layout to supply electrical power thereto;

a remote control unit adapted to communicate at least one user command; and

a train car including a wheeled carriage adapted to travel on the train track layout, the train car further comprising;

a motor operatively coupled to the carriage to thereby cause the train car to travel along the track in at least one direction;

a sensor adapted to detect speed of the model train;

a remote control interface adapted to receive the at least one user command from the remote control unit;

a controller operatively coupled to the motor, the sensor and the remote control interface, the controller being responsive to the at least one user command in selecting a desired speed for the model train, the controller using the detected speed in a closed feedback loop to regulate an amount of power provided to the motor in order to propel the model train at the desired speed; and

a sound generator operatively coupled to the controller, the sound generator adapted to generate a selected sound effect in correspondence with the amount of power provided to the motor;

wherein the controller regulates the amount of power provided to the motor in order to simulate effects of inertia and the sound generator id adapted to generate the selected sound effects corresponding thereto.

23. The model train set of claim 22, wherein the controller further includes a memory storing data to be accessed upon a loss of power to the model train.

24. The model train set of claim 23, wherein the sensor is further adapted to detect a rotational speed of the motor, and the sound generator is further adapted to generate the selected sound effect in correspondence with the rotational speed.

26. The model train set of claim 22, wherein the sound generator is further adapted to generate the selected sound effect reflecting an increased load condition upon detection of an increased amount of power provided to the motor.

27. The model train set of claim 22, wherein the sound generator is further adapted to generate the selected sound effect reflecting a decreased load condition upon detection of a decreased amount of power provided to the motor.

28. The model train set of claim 22, wherein the controller is adapted to detect the model train traveling up a grade and the sound generator is adapted to generate the selected sound effect corresponding thereto.

29. The model train set of claim 22, wherein the controller is adapted to detect the model train traveling down a grade and the sound generator is adapted to generate the selected sound effect corresponding thereto.

30. The model train set of claim 22, wherein the at least one command designates the desired speed of the model train.

31. The model train set of claim 22, wherein the at least one command designates a desired operating condition of the model train.

32. The model train set of claim 22, wherein the at least one command designates a desired direction of travel of the model train.

33. The model train set of claim 22, wherein the at least one command designates the selected sound effect.

34. The model train set of claim 22, wherein the electrical power applied by the transformer further comprises an AC voltage, and the train car further comprises a power circuit operatively coupled to the track, the power circuit including a rectifier adapted to convert an AC voltage between respective track rails to a DC voltage supplied to at least one of the motor, the controller, and the sound generator.

35. The model train of claim 34, wherein the power circuit is adapted to determine the level of the AC voltage between the respective track rails.

36. The model train of claim 22, wherein the controller regulates the amount of power provided to the motor in order to simulate a desired acceleration rate and the sound generator is adapted to generate the selected sound effect corresponding thereto.

37. The model train of claim 22, wherein the controller regulates the amount of power provided to the motor in order to simulate a desired deceleration rate and the sound generator is adapted to generate the selected sound effect corresponding thereto.

38. The model train of claim 22, wherein the controller regulates the amount of power provided to the motor in order to maintain a constant speed of the model train.

39. The model train of claim 22, wherein the motor further comprises a DC motor.

40. The model train of claim 22, wherein the sensor further comprises an optical sensor.

41. The model train of claim 22, wherein the sensor further comprises at least one Hall effect detector.

42. The model train of claim 22, wherein the remote control interface further comprises a radio control interface.

25. A model train set, comprising:

a train track layout;

a transformer operatively coupled to the train track layout to supply electrical power thereto;

a remote control unit adapted to communicate at least one user command; and

a train car including a wheeled carriage adapted to travel on the train track layout, the train car further comprising;

a motor operatively coupled to the carriage to thereby cause the train car to travel along the track in at least one direction;

a sensor adapted to detect speed of the model train;

a remote control interface adapted to receive the at least one user command from the remote control unit;

a controller operatively coupled to the motor, the sensor and the remote control interface, the controller being responsive to the at least one user command in selecting a desired speed for the model train, the controller using the detected speed in a closed feedback loon to regulate an amount of power provided to the motor in order to propel the model train at the desired speed; and

a sound generator operatively coupled to the controller, the sound generator adapted to generate a selected sound effect in correspondence with the amount of power provided to the motor;

wherein the sensor is further adapted to detect a rotational position of the motor, and the sound generator is further adapted to generate the selected sound effect in correspondence with the rotational position.