Patent Application
20160279532
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to model vehicles, or more particularly, to a system and method for monitoring and/or controlling a load disposed on a model vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
For millions of consumers, operating a model device, such as a model train, is a form of entertainment. However, for these consumers, much of the entertainment lies in the realism of the device. Thus, for model train enthusiasts, the model train should appear and operate as close to an actual train as possible. Thus, not only should the model train look like an actual train, but it should also function like an actual train.
In traditional model vehicles, realistic functionality has been achieved by generating realistic sounds, and synchronizing the sounds to particular actions. For example, a model train having a smoke stack may generate chuffing sounds as smoke is expelled (or puffed) from the smoke stack. By way of another example, Lionel™ has manufactured a model train that monitors and displays various train metrics. A processor within the train displays (e.g., via a remote control, a computing device (e.g., laptop, smart phone, etc.) operating a remote control application or program, etc.) various metrics, such as fuel level, etc. These metrics are then adjusted based on operating conditions of the train. Thus, even though the model train is electric, and contains no actual fuel, the processor calculates a fuel level (or changes thereto) based on certain operating characteristics, such as train speed, train load, etc. As the fuel level changes, a fuel level gauge (e.g., on the remote control, etc.) is accordingly updated, allowing a user to know when it is time to pull the train into a fuel station in order to “refuel.” Such features are described in greater detail in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 14/525,177 and 14/559,599, which are incorporated herein, in their entirety, by reference.
While providing a user with information regarding a metric provides a more realistic experience, it is limited in that the metric is fictional, and does not actually exist on the model vehicle. For example, while a processor can keep track of and display a fuel level for a model vehicle, there is no actual fuel in the model vehicle. This is because most model vehicles run on electricity.
Thus, in order to provide a more realistic experience, it would be advantageous to not only display a metric for a model vehicle, but also simulate the metric and changes thereto on the model vehicle. This would allow the user to not only view information on the metric (e.g., via a remote control, etc.), but to see evidence of the metric, including changes thereto, on the model vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the metric is a load (e.g., a coal load, etc.) disposed on and/or in the vehicle, and the system is configured to monitor the virtual load (e.g., as stored in a memory) and to synchronize the actual load (e.g., simulated coal load) to the virtual load by mechanically controlling the actual load.
The present invention provides a system and method for monitoring and controlling a load disposed at least partially within a model vehicle. Preferred embodiments of the present invention operate in accordance with a load car that includes a load, a motor, and a controller for operating the motor to raise and lower the load.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the model train system includes at least one coal load disposed at least partially within at least one coal car. For example, the model train system may include a model train track, a plurality of model train cars operating on the model train track, and a transceiver configured to communicate with a model train remote control. The plurality of model train cars may include a first car (e.g., an engine, etc.) and a second car (e.g., a coal car, etc.), where the first car is configured to communicate with the second car (e.g., via a wired connection, infrared, etc.) and/or the remote control via the transceiver.
The coal car may include a chassis and a coal load disposed at least partially within the chassis. In one embodiment, the chassis, which is configured to operate on the model train track, includes at least one cavity, and the coal load, which includes at least an upper surface and a lower surface, is at least partially disposed within the cavity. In accordance with this embodiment, the coal car also includes a motor, a controller, a line (e.g., rope, string, wire, cable, etc.), and at least one spring, where a first end of the line is connected to the motor (or a spool portion thereof), and a second end of the line is connected to the bottom of the coal load, and the controller is in communication with, and is configured to operate, the motor (e.g., in forward and reverse directions).
When the controller operates the motor in a first (or forward) direction, the motor pulls the coal load (via the line) in a downward direction. This can be accomplished by operating a gear within the motor over a gear track, which results in wrapping the line over a spool. When the controller operates the motor in a second (or reverse) direction, the motor allows the coal load to move in an upward direction. This is achieved by letting out (or releasing) the line, and allowing the spring(s) to move the coal load in an upward direction. In other words, by operating the motor in the second direction, the line is released from the spool (not shown), and the spring(s) bias the coal load in an upward direction.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the controller is configured to monitor at least one metric (e.g., a coal level, etc.) and to operate the motor so that the vertical position of the coal load is synchronized to the virtual coal level (e.g., as stored in memory and displayed to a user). For example, if the virtual coal level is full, then the coal load is moved (e.g., via the motor, springs, line, etc.) to an upper position. Alternatively, if the virtual coal level is empty (or relatively low), then the coal load is moved (e.g., via the motor, line, etc.) to a lower position.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the coal load includes a shell (e.g., a molded plastic shell, etc.), and at least one spring having a length that is greater than a length of the shell. By using a longer spring, the spring will project upward when it is attached to the shell, forcing the simulated coal to appear raised in the center. In one embodiment, the simulated coal comprises a rubber sheet that has been sprayed with a black, pebble-like material (e.g., a black-pebble like material that is attached to the rubber sheet via an adhesive, etc.). When the components are assembled, the spring will make the simulated coal appear “mounded,” as actual coal would appear after being dumped into a coal car.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the load car is configured to generate sounds that are associated with the increasing and/or decreasing of the load. In another embodiment, the coal car further include at least one safety mechanism to prevent the motor from moving the load beyond an upper and/or lower limit. The safety mechanism may include (i) at least one switch and/or (ii) a clutch. If the switch is triggered, indicating that the coal load has reached its upper or lower limit, the processor (not shown) may either turn the motor off, or engage the clutch, which allows the motor to operate without further moving the load.
A more complete understanding of a system and method for monitoring and/or controlling a load disposed on a model train will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages and objects thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings, which will first be described briefly.
The present invention provides a system and method for monitoring and controlling a load disposed at least partially within a model vehicle. In the detailed description that follows, like element numerals are used to describe like elements illustrated in one or more figures. It should be appreciated that while the present invention is described herein in terms of a model train system that includes a coal car, the invention is not so limited. For example, the invention could be used to monitor and/or control any load (e.g., water, fuel, etc.) in any model vehicle (e.g., model boat, helicopter, etc.).
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the model train system includes at least one coal load disposed at least partially within at least one coal car. For example, as shown in
As shown in
When the controller 250 operates the motor 240 in a first (or forward) direction, the motor pulls the coal load 220 (via the line 280) in a downward direction. This can be accomplished by operating a gear within the motor 240 over a gear track, which results in wrapping the line 280 over a spool. When the controller 250 operates the motor 240 in a second (or reverse) direction, the motor allows the coal load 220 to move in an upward direction. This is achieved by letting out (or releasing) the line 280, and allowing the spring(s) (230a, 230b) to move the coal load 230 in an upward direction. In other words, by operating the motor in the second direction, the line 280 is released from the spool (not shown), and the spring(s) (230a, 230b) bias the coal load 220 in an upward direction.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the controller 250 is configured to monitor at least one metric (e.g., a coal level, etc.) (discussed further below) and to operate the motor 240 so that the vertical position of the coal load is synchronized to the virtual coal level (e.g., as stored in memory and displayed to a user). For example, if the virtual coal level is full, then the coal load is moved (e.g., via the motor, springs, line, etc.) to an upper position, as shown in
It should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the coal car shown in
One embodiment of the coal load 520 is shown in
Additional features of the present invention can be seen in
The coal car may further include at least one safety mechanism to prevent the motor 640 from moving the load 620 beyond an upper and/or lower limit. In one embodiment of the present invention, the safety mechanism includes at least one switch 690, which indicates (e.g., to the processor) that the load 620 has reached its limit. In another embodiment of the present invention, the motor 640 may also (or alternately) include a clutch (not shown) that allows the motor 640 to operate without moving the line 680. For example, if the switch 690 is triggered, indicating that the coal load 620 has reached its upper or lower limit, the processor (not shown) may merely turn the motor 640 off, or engage the clutch (not shown), which allows the motor 640 to operate without further moving the line 680. It should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to features shown in
As discussed in the related U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 14/525,177 and 14/559,599, a processor is used to monitor at least one metric of the model vehicle. First of all, while the metric described herein is a coal level, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not so limited, and monitoring of other metrics, such as water level, temperature, oil level, gasoline level, etc., is within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Second, because the metric is simulated (since the model vehicle does not consume coal, water, etc.), the coal level will be referred to herein as a “virtual” coal level. Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a first processor (e.g., in the engine, etc.) is configured to monitor the virtual coal level of the model train, and a second processor (e.g., in the coal car, etc.) is configured to operate the motor based on the virtual coal level. In an alternate embodiment, a single processor is used to both monitor the virtual coal level and operate the motor.
To enhance the realism of the model vehicle, at least one metric (as monitored) can be displayed to the user via a display. The display may be part of the model train's remote control, which may be a traditional, dedicated remote control, a model train remote control program operating on a computer (e.g., PC, laptop, tablet, etc.), or a model train remote control application operating on a smart phone (e.g., Apple IPhone™, Samsung Galaxy™, etc.). In either two embodiment, the remote control device is configured to communicate with the model train via a transceiver (see
As shown in
A second processor 805c located in the coal car 805 receives the new coal level via a transceiver or a receiver 805d. If the new coal level is less than the old coal level, then the coal load is moved in a downward direction. Alternatively, if the new coal level is greater than the old coal level, then the coal load is moved in an upward direction. In a preferred embodiment, the vertical position of the coal load is synchronized to the virtual coal level. Thus, if the virtual coal level goes down by 10%, then (at substantially the same time) the coal load is lowered by roughly 10%. Similarly, if the coal level is increased to its maximum level (e.g., during refill), then the coal load is moved to its maximum upward position. As discussed above, at least one switch 805b may be used to prevent the load from exceeding its upper and/or lower limits.
In theory, if the coal load and the virtual coal level are synchronized to start with, and change synchronously, then they should always remain in sync. However, to ensure synchronization, the method may be configured to synchronize the coal load to the virtual coal level when the load is at an upper/lower limit and/or the metric is at a maximum/minimum level. For example, at step 1022 it is determined whether an upper/lower limit and/or maximum/minimum level is reached. If, the answer is NO, the method stops at step 1026. If, however, the answer is YES, the vertical position of the load is synchronized to the level of the metric at step 1024, ending the method at step 1026. For example, if the coal level is refilled (i.e., the coal level is full or at its maximum level), then the motor is operated to move the coal load to its upper limit. Similarly, if the coal level is empty (i.e., the coal level is at its minimum level), then the motor is operated to move the coal load to its tower limit. This way synchronization can be ensured at least when the virtual coal level is full and/or empty. It should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the method illustrated in
Having thus described several embodiments of a system and method for monitoring and/or controlling a load disposed on a model vehicle, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain advantages of the system and method have been achieved. It should also be appreciated that various modifications, adaptations, and alternative embodiments thereof may be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention. The invention is solely defined by the following claims.
