A method to determine the position of a locomotive (100) by having a first device (306) measuring the electromotive force from a propelling motor (105) and calculating the speed; combined with detection of fixed reference points by measuring of the magnetic field generated by permanent magnets (106) at known positions. At regular intervals this information is passed to a second device (108). By use of a pattern recognition algorithm the second device estimates the position and operates the locomotive according to location-based behavior. The first device characterized by having a magnetic field sensor (302) integrated on an ordinary model railroad decoder, which already supports motor measurement and packet transmission. The second device characterized by having a data packet receiver (403) and an Ethernet interface (405) for communication with a command station (109). A microcontroller (402) utilizes a parameterized representation of the model railroad layout to determine the position of the locomotive. From the position proper behavior is determined and corresponding speed commands are sent to the command station. Other methods and embodiments are described and shown.

A method to determine the position of a locomotive (100) by having a first device (306) measuring the electromotive force from a propelling motor (105) and calculating the speed; combined with detection of fixed reference points by measuring of the magnetic field generated by permanent magnets (106) at known positions. At regular intervals this information is passed to a second device (108). By use of a pattern recognition algorithm the second device estimates the position and operates the locomotive according to location-based behavior. The first device characterized by having a magnetic field sensor (302) integrated on an ordinary model railroad decoder, which already supports motor measurement and packet transmission. The second device characterized by having a data packet receiver (403) and an Ethernet interface (405) for communication with a command station (109). A microcontroller (402) utilizes a parameterized representation of the model railroad layout to determine the position of the locomotive. From the position proper behavior is determined and corresponding speed commands are sent to the command station. Other methods and embodiments are described and shown.

A system for use with an analog DC model train, the system includes a base unit to electronically communicate with a track of the analog DC model train, the base unit having a receiver; one or more microcontrollers; a potentiometer; a digital stepper motor connected to the digital stepper motor and to provide torque to turn the potentiometer; a controller to communicate wirelessly with the receiver, the controller having a control to send a command the base unit to set a first numerical value associated with a position of the digital stepper motor; the first numerical value can be retrieved by the base unit based on commands from the controller to set the position of the digital stepper motor.

A system for use with an analog DC model train, the system includes a base unit to electronically communicate with a track of the analog DC model train, the base unit having a receiver; one or more microcontrollers; a potentiometer; a digital stepper motor connected to the digital stepper motor and to provide torque to turn the potentiometer; a controller to communicate wirelessly with the receiver, the controller having a control to send a command the base unit to set a first numerical value associated with a position of the digital stepper motor; the first numerical value can be retrieved by the base unit based on commands from the controller to set the position of the digital stepper motor.

A system and method is provided for using load data to control a feature in a model vehicle. In one embodiment of the present invention, a model vehicle includes a controller in communication with a remote control, a motor module, a smoke module, a sound module, and a memory device. While the model vehicle is operated under test conditions, calibration data is collected and stored in the memory device. While the model vehicle is operated under normal conditions, the controller receives a speed step instruction from the remote control and instructs the motor module to operate the motor at a corresponding speed. The data used to propel the model vehicle at the corresponding speed it then provided to the controller, where it is compared to the calibration data to identify a delta therebetween. The delta is then used by the controller to control, for example, the smoke and sound modules.

A system and method is provided for using load data to control a feature in a model vehicle. In one embodiment of the present invention, a model vehicle includes a controller in communication with a remote control, a motor module, a smoke module, a sound module, and a memory device. While the model vehicle is operated under test conditions, calibration data is collected and stored in the memory device. While the model vehicle is operated under normal conditions, the controller receives a speed step instruction from the remote control and instructs the motor module to operate the motor at a corresponding speed. The data used to propel the model vehicle at the corresponding speed it then provided to the controller, where it is compared to the calibration data to identify a delta therebetween. The delta is then used by the controller to control, for example, the smoke and sound modules.

To suppress unintended rapid acceleration of a vehicle and the like while suppressing a wire length of a feeding system in the entire layout in section-divided feed using pulse width modulation. A clock generation unit included in a feeding device generates an internal clock having a phase aligned based on a reset signal supplied from a higher-level device that controls a vehicle speed of the vehicle, the reset signal being commonly supplied to another feeding device. A pulse width modulation unit counts the internal clock, and generates a pulse having a pulse width (duty ratio) according to an instruction of the vehicle speed from the higher-level device based on the count value. A driver supplies a pulsed drive voltage having the duty ratio, to which the pulse width modulation has been applied by the pulse width modulation unit, to a section allocated to the driver.

To suppress unintended rapid acceleration of a vehicle and the like while suppressing a wire length of a feeding system in the entire layout in section-divided feed using pulse width modulation. A clock generation unit included in a feeding device generates an internal clock having a phase aligned based on a reset signal supplied from a higher-level device that controls a vehicle speed of the vehicle, the reset signal being commonly supplied to another feeding device. A pulse width modulation unit counts the internal clock, and generates a pulse having a pulse width (duty ratio) according to an instruction of the vehicle speed from the higher-level device based on the count value. A driver supplies a pulsed drive voltage having the duty ratio, to which the pulse width modulation has been applied by the pulse width modulation unit, to a section allocated to the driver.

The present invention discloses a system and method for recognizing objects placed together using capacitance sensors in conjunction with the RFID technology. A structure that is made with a material of high dielectric constant and a RFID tag that comprises a unique identification code (UID) of an object is embedded with the object. With the objects recognized, the spatial structure or the spatial distribution formed by them is derived and corresponding sensory feedbacks are provided by the system.

The present invention discloses a system and method for recognizing objects placed together using capacitance sensors in conjunction with the RFID technology. A structure that is made with a material of high dielectric constant and a RFID tag that comprises a unique identification code (UID) of an object is embedded with the object. With the objects recognized, the spatial structure or the spatial distribution formed by them is derived and corresponding sensory feedbacks are provided by the system.