Patent ID: 8013550

Claim:
A model train controller comprising: a housing; a plurality of control input devices coupled to the housing, the plurality of control input devices permitting user control over corresponding plural control features of the model train; a touch screen display coupled to the housing and for displaying information concerning at least one of the plural control features of the model train and for receiving user selections regarding the at least one control feature; a processor disposed within the housing and being operatively coupled to the plurality of control input devices and the touch screen display, the processor generating at least one model train command to be transmitted to the model train based at least in part on a user input received from either at least one of the plurality of control input devices or the touch screen display; and a transmitter for communicating the at least one model train command to the train; wherein, the at least one model train command causes performance of at least one of said plural control features of said train in a manner corresponding to the received user input; wherein the plurality of control input devices includes a linear slider biased in a neutral position, such that movement of the slider away from the neutral position in a first direction produces a first effect having a characteristic corresponding to the extent of movement in the first direction, and movement of the slider away from the neutral position in a second direction produces a second effect having a characteristic corresponding to the extent of movement in the second direction, wherein the first effect being different than the second effect.