Model train control system

• US 9,937,430 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2014
• 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:
  US14/525,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20150108285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 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 controller comprising:

a housing;

at least one input device coupled to the housing;

a display coupled to the housing and for displaying information on a status of a model train;

a processor disposed within the housing and being operatively coupled to the at least one input device and the display, the processor generating at least one model train command to be transmitted to the model train in response to a user interacting with said at least one input device; and

at least one transmitting/receiving device for communicating the at least one model train command to the model train and for receiving feedback data from said model train;

wherein said at least one model train command comprises a throttle command and causes said model train to traverse a model train track, said feedback data comprises data that is stored on said model train and pertains to said status of said model train, and said processor is configured to receive said feedback data and to use said feedback data to display said information on said status of said model train on said display;

wherein said model train track includes at least one device configured to receive said feedback data from said model train and to provide said feedback data to said model train controller.

2. The model train controller of claim 1, wherein said feedback data comprises at least one of a name and a number of said model train.

3. The model train controller of claim 1, wherein said feedback data comprises data on water status of said model train.

4. The model train controller of claim 1, wherein said feedback data comprises data regarding laboring of said model train.

5. The model train controller of claim 1, wherein said at least one device is configured to provide said feedback data to said model train controller via a wireless communication module.

6. The model train controller of claim 5, wherein said at least one model train command is transmitted to said model train via said wireless communication module.

7. The model train controller of claim 1, wherein said feedback data comprises a current speed of said model train.

8. The model train controller of claim 1, wherein said feedback data comprises data on at least one of a light, a sound and a smoke of said model train.

9. The model train controller of claim 1, wherein said feedback data comprises a location of said model train on said model train track.

10. The model train controller of claim 1, wherein said feedback data comprises data on a road that said model train is on.

11. The model train controller of claim 1, wherein said feedback data comprises data on an odometer of said model train.

12. The model train controller of claim 11, further comprising said model train, a processor disposed within said model train, and a motor disposed within said model train, wherein said processor disposed within said model train is configured to use rotational information of said motor to calculate said odometer of said model train.

13. The model train controller of claim 1, wherein said processor is further configured to download an application from the Internet, said application allowing a user to transmit said throttle command and to view said feedback data.

14. The model train controller of claim 1, wherein said device is configured to receive said feedback data from said model train via an infrared (IR) signal.

15. The model train controller of claim 1, wherein said input device comprises a touchscreen over said display, said touchscreen being interacted with to address at least a portion of said status of said model train.

16. A method for controlling a model train, comprising:

receiving an input from a user;

using said input to generate at least one model train command;

transmitting said at least one model train command from a remote control to a model train, said at least one model train command instructing said model train to traverse over a model train track;

storing data concerning said model train on a memory device disposed within said model train;

transmitting said data from said model train to said remote control via at least one device affixed to said model train track, said at least one device being configured to receive said data from said model train and to provide said data to said model train controller; and

using said data to display on a display device disposed within said remote control information on said status of said model train.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of status of said model train comprises data on water in said model train.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of transmitting said data from said at least one device to said model train controller further comprises using a module to transmit said data wirelessly to said model train controller.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said a status of said model train further comprises at least one of a current speed and a maximum speed of said model train.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said status of said model train comprises data on a road.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of status of said model train comprises an odometer of said model train.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising using at least rotational information of a motor disposed within said model train to calculate said odometer of said model train.

23. A model train system comprising:

a model train controller, comprising;

at least one input device;

a display for displaying information on a model train;

a processor operatively coupled to the at least one input device and the display, the processor generating at least one model train command to be transmitted to the model train in response to a user interacting with said at least one input device; and

at least one transmitting/receiving device for communicating the at least one model train command to the model train and for receiving feedback data from said model train;

a model train track, comprising;

at least one infrared (IR) device configured to receive said information from said model train, said information being provided to said model train controller via a wireless control module;

wherein said at least one model train command comprises a throttle command and causes said model train to traverse a model train track, said feedback data comprises data that is stored on said model train and pertains to an odometer of said model train, and said processor is configured to receive said feedback data and to use said feedback data to display said information on said odometer of said model train on said display.