Patent ID: 7810761
Filing Date: 2010-10-12
Classification: A63H

Abstract:
1. A system comprising: a sensor; a decoder for a model railroad stationary switch machine; and a toggle switch connected to said decoder and to the track switch and wherein the toggle switch has first, second and third positions; wherein the decoder connects to a stationary switch machine that changes positions of a track switch connected between a main track section and at least two diverging track sections, the decoder being connected to at least one of the diverging track sections and comprising a controller that is responsive to a command encoded in a square wave signal derived from a signal detected from a rail of at least one of the diverging track sections, and wherein the sensor is connected to at least one rail of said main track section to detect when a train occupies said main track section near said track switch so as to generate an output signal that is coupled to said decoder, wherein said controller responds to positions of said toggle switch such that when said toggle switch is in a first position or a second position, the controller allows said toggle switch to control said track switch and thus overrides the output signal produced by said sensor and when said toggle switch is in the third position, the controller does not respond to said toggle switch and instead responds to the output signal from said sensor, and wherein the controller determines which of several automatic switch control functions of the decoder are inhibited when the toggle switch is in the first position or second position.