Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7659834?dq=5,241,671
Timestamp: 2013-12-11 16:26:32
Document Index: 526812007

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 10', 'art 11', 'art 12', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 6', 'art 7', 'art 8', 'art 9', 'art 1', 'art 10', 'art 11', 'art 12', 'art 9']

Patent US7659834 - Direct wireless polling of model trains - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Advanced Patent Search | Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA method and apparatus for designating a particular model vehicle for a command function without punching in the ID of the model vehicle. A remote control device is positioned near one of the model vehicles. A limited field transmission occurs between the model vehicle and the remote control device....http://www.google.com/patents/US7659834?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7659834 - Direct wireless polling of model trainsPublication numberUS7659834 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/723,430Publication dateFeb 9, 2010Filing dateNov 25, 2003Priority dateNov 25, 2003Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS8068005, US20050110653, US20100148938Publication number10723430, 723430, US 7659834 B2, US 7659834B2, US-B2-7659834, US7659834 B2, US7659834B2InventorsNeil Percibal Young, G. Kovach II LouisOriginal AssigneeLiontech Trains LlcExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (47), Non-Patent Citations (32), Referenced by (1), Classifications (17), Legal Events (6) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetDirect wireless polling of model trainsUS 7659834 B2Abstract A method and apparatus for designating a particular model vehicle for a command function without punching in the ID of the model vehicle. A remote control device is positioned near one of the model vehicles. A limited field transmission occurs between the model vehicle and the remote control device. The device may be a train engine transmitting its train ID periodically via an infrared (IR) transmission. The remote near the train automatically receives the IR transmission of the train ID, so that the next press of a command button will automatically go to that train ID without needing to punch in the ID number.
said processor being configured to send a command to said first model vehicle, over said first communication channel, using said ID received by said transmission, in response to a user input. Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Copending application Ser. No. 10/346,558, filed Jan. 16, 2003, describes a model train control system including sensors by the train tracks to detect the ID of passing trains.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to controlling model vehicles, and in particular to methods for obtaining the ID of model trains.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a method and apparatus for designating a particular model vehicle for a command function without punching in the ID of the model vehicle. The remote control device is positioned near one of the model vehicles. A limited field transmission occurs between the model vehicle and the remote control device. Data is then transmitted between the model vehicle and the remote control device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a drawing of an example layout of a train track system which could be used with the present invention.
A three position manual switch 104 is provided. In a first mode, the switch indicates on a line 106 that the train is to start in the forward direction. When in a second position, a signal on a line 108 indicates that the train is to start in the reverse direction. When the switch is in-between the two lines, in a �lock� mode, the microcontroller knows to start the train in the last direction it was in.
The same switch 104 can perform a second function. When a control command is received by the microcontroller, it knows to use the position of switch 104 to indicate either a �run� mode when the switch is in position 106, or a �program� mode when the switch is in the position on line 108.
In another embodiment, a display 238 is provided. In this embodiment, when the remote is pointed at a particular train, the ID would be received from the train, and the processor inside the remote will display the train ID number, as well as an alpha display indicating that it is a train, and not an accessory. Other displays could be used for accessories, such as an alpha display of the word �switch� with the switch number. Thus, the user is given visual confirmation that the appropriate train accessory has been selected, and can then directly activate one of the other buttons, such as bell button 220, directional button 222, etc.
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