Patent ID: 6513763
Filing Date: 2003-02-04
Classification: A63H

Abstract:
A method for providing voltage accurate mode-conversion for a model railroad decoder connected to a motor means and to layout tracks, comprising at least:a) providing said model railroad decoder, comprising at least: (i) an input-rectifying bridge means connected to two track pickup leads, (ii) a decoder controller logic means capable of at least executing control and detection algorithms based on voltage sample measurements, (iii) an H-bridge control means, controlled by said decoder controller logic means, with two output leads individually connected to two motor leads of said motor means, (iv) a track voltage sample connection means to provide track voltage samples to said decoder controller logic means, (v) a motor voltage sample link means to provide motor voltage samples to said decoder controller logic means, b) providing said motor means, c) providing a mode switch arrangement means with make-break electrical connections that selectively and individually connect each one of said two track leads to just one of said two motor leads of said motor means, whereby measuring of said track voltage samples and said motor voltage samples by said executing control and detection algorithms based on voltage sample measurements, allows said model railroad decoder to detect the connection configuration of said mode switch arrangement means and to not allow operation of said H-bridge control means if any of said two motor leads is connected directly to any of said two track leads, thus permitting accurate voltage mode-conversion on conventional energy track power and compatible operation coupled to other conventional locomotives.