FR2642324A1 - Remote control device for an electric toy installation on a circuit - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a remote control device for an electric toy installation on a circuit. Such an installation comprises at least one rail circuit 600 for guiding and supplying electrical energy for one or more motor coaches 610 as well as associated electronic means for transformation, regulation, control 310, 320 and for supply 330 to the circuit 600 of electrical energy suitable for the motor installed in the motor coach or coaches 610 respectively. The control device comprises: - a portable radio transmitter 81 sending out radiofrequency signals 15 which are different according to the choice of the user; - a fixed radio receiver 82 detecting the radiofrequency signals 15 which it transfers to electronic means 240 interpreting these signals in order to trigger the corresponding control means 310, 320, 345, 360.

Description

REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE
FOR AN ELECTRIC TOY INSTALLATION ON A CIRCUIT
The present invention relates to a
remote control device for an installation
electric toy on the track, for example trains and
automobile circuits. For the sake of convenience,
will be described more particularly in relation to a
electric train.

For the record, such an installation includes
usually a track circuit on which a
or several locomotives respectively towing
freight or passenger cars. Such circuits
are usually supplemented with accessories
integral part of the circuit, such as switches,
crossings, level crossings, or independent of
circuit proper, such as house lights or
other traffic lights. The track circuit is
generally used to channel energy
necessary for the locomotive that collects this
energy either through the wheels or through a
special wiper. So depending on the mounted electric motor
in the locomotive, this rail circuit is supplied with
direct or alternating voltage but in any case under
low power, therefore a transformer is provided for
lower the mains voltage, then the
regulate. Other electrical or electronic means
allow to adapt this lowered electrical power
to the characteristics of the locomotives but above all to
control the supply to the network to vary the direction of movement of the locomotives as well as their speed. For example, for locomotives comprising a DC motor, one can use a rheostat to modify the voltage applied to the circuits, therefore the speed of the locomotive and a changeover relay to change the polarity applied to the rail respectively therefore the direction of rotation of the locomotive engine.

 Among the accessories, some such as the signal lamps, operate in "all or nothing" mode, that is to say that they are or are not supplied. The means of against such accessories are then essentially constituted by simple switches. Other accessories, on the other hand, such as switches or level crossings, include an electromagnetic coil to switch from one state to another each time a short-duration pulse is received, it is therefore advisable to plan, from the voltage ak, smooth, of the separate control and supply circuits of these respective accessories.

 In addition to the attractiveness as a model of certain sophisticated models and more particularly for railroads, the major interest of these model train installations lies in the management of their proper functioning. Regular progress has thus been made in the control devices of these installations. I1 is currently possible, for example, to control from a single console, the different displacements of several locomotives simultaneously and to vary the state of the accessories encountered as and when. It is also now possible to order the majority of accessories by signal passing through the rail circuit making it possible to eliminate the old unsightly cable networks. We know computer means housed in the control consoles making it possible to manage movement sequences over time train complexes.

 It should however be noted that the majority of the progress recently made concerns control consoles and / or central counter consoles, where the user must be kept permanently: child or ferroviphile. This user can therefore only have a partial view of his network which can be annoying when making quick decisions but also, much more frequently, leads to a certain boredom after a short period. Conversely, a miniature train installation to be operated from several control stations poses other, more serious problems, due to the material impossibility of intervening on a console when one is currently located at opposite of the installation.

 The object of the present invention is a remote control device for an electric toy installation on a circuit usually comprising - at least one guide rail circuit and supply of electrical energy for one or more power cars as well as associated electronic means. transforming, regulating, counter and supplying the circuit with electrical energy adapted to the on-board engine in the locomotive (s) respectively, - if desired, one or more all-or-nothing accessories as well as associated electronic means of cctntrble and supplying these accessories with permanent electrical energy, - if desired, one or more accessories reacting to electrical pulses as well as associated electronic means for generating, controlling and supplying these accessories with electrical pulses.

 This device must develop the awakening of children and a new interest of enthusiasts, for example ferroviphiles by freeing them from their central console and allowing them to appreciate their installation from several different points of view. Obviously, such a device must be effective, that is to say have a sufficient range to allow a significant decline, be reliable and whatever the command issued. The device should not, however, force the user to have any contortions to aim at a particular point with his remote control. In addition, this device must not interfere with the environment, especially the electrical one, which would require complying with restrictive standards making the product difficult to sell to a wide audience. Finally and above all, like many other toys, the device according to the invention must be able to be manufactured at a very low cost.

 These aims are achieved thanks to a control device comprising - a portable radio transmitter transmitting different radio signals according to the user's choice, - a fixed radio receiver detecting the radio signals which it transfers to electronic means interpreting these signals to trigger the corresponding control means.

 Usefully, the radio transmitter emits radio signal only when the user chooses.

 Preferably, a radio signal emitted by the radio transmitter can essentially consist of a series of similar words which are composed of a sequence of presence or absence of identical pulses according to the code associated with the choice of the user.

 According to an advantageous embodiment, the radio transmitter comprises a microprocessor including at least means for storing different preset codes and a central unit associating a signal generated by a switch toggled by the user expressing his choice at an address storage means containing the corresponding code which is then applied to a modulator to code the transmitted signal.

 As will be understood, the device according to claim is very particularly advantageous when the antenna of the radio receiver is a rail of the circuit.

 According to another advantageous characteristic of embodiment, the electronic means interpreting a signal comprise a microprocessor including at least means for storing the different preset codes and a central unit comparing a signal received from the radio receiver with the different codes stored in the means of storage to recognize and activate the corresponding control means.

 The device according to the invention will be particularly inexpensive to manufacture if the microprocessors are respectively produced in a single topography of semiconductor.

 An advantageous method of controlling the central unit of the electronic means interpreting a signal consists in that, at a signal corresponding to a choice of acceleration, the central unit supplies an additional output door thus discretely increasing the voltage of control at the output of the means for controlling the supply of electrical energy to the circuit, until the supply of all the exit doors.

 An additional advantageous method for controlling the central unit of the electronic means interpreting a signal consists in that, at a signal corresponding to a choice of deceleration, the unit centers the - cuts the supply to an additional exit door thus reducing in a way discreet the control voltage of the counter means of the electrical power supply of the circuit - tests if the last output door associated with the control means of the circuit power supply is closed - if the previous test is positive, commands the tilting reversing means causing a stop, with possible delay, then a change of direction of the locomotive.

 The invention will be better understood on reading the description below of an embodiment applied to an electric train, taken in a non-limiting manner and illustrated by the single appended figure representing a block diagram of the device.

 In the lower part of this figure is shown schematically a portion of rail circuit 600 on which a power train runs, in this case a locomotive 610. If it were a car circuit, the powerplant would be the automobile itself.

 In this portion of the circuit are included two accessories reacting to electrical pulses 630, namely a level crossing and a switch. This portion of the circuit also includes an "all or nothing" type accessory, in this case a signaling light 620. This miniature train installation is supplied in a conventional manner by a block 84.

However, the control means of this block 84 are controlled by a microprocessor 240 receiving information from a radio receiver 82. On the left side of the figure is schematically illustrated a radio transmitter 81.

 The power supply unit 84 comprises, for example, means for transforming the electrical sector power constituted in the present case of a transformer 510 lowering the voltage to around 18 V and a rectifier bridge 500 delivering the same voltage ma-is in direct current. A first power supply circuit of the rail circuit comprises a digitally controlled modulator 310 delivering to the output s a direct voltage between 0 and 14 V depending on the control voltage present at the input i. This supply voltage is then applied to an inverter relay 320 modifying or not the polarity depending on the signal applied to its input door i '. The DC supply voltage is finally applied to the rail circuit 600 through a limiter circuit 330 protecting the previous circuit when the rails are short-circuited or against any other dangerous external disturbance.

 The power supply 84 includes a second circuit specially designed for accessories 630 reacting to electrical pulses. This circuit includes a pulse generator which in this case can be a capacitor 342, the positive terminal of which is connected to the rectifier 500 through a resistor 340 of fairly high value. This same positive terminal of the capacitor is on the other hand connected to as many switches 345 as accessories to be controlled. These switches can be, for example, transistors 345 saturated or in the off state depending on the voltage present on their bases. The output of these switches 345 is connected to the respective accessories through protection and limitation circuits 350. As will be understood, if one of the switches is closed, the capacitor discharges by a pulse in the accessory while the high value resistor 340 temporarily disconnects this circuit from the general DC power supply 500. Once the switch is reopened, this capacitor recharges through this resistor 340.

 The power supply unit 84 finally comprises a last circuit comprising a protective resistor 346 in series with a switch 360, in this case a transistor, and a limiting circuit 370. It is easily understood that, when the switch 360 is closed , a voltage of 14 V at the output of the resistor 346 is supplied to the signal light 620.

 The action microprocessor 240 receives information from the radio receiver 82 on the one hand. Five outputs 250 of the microprocessor 240 are respectively connected to five identical resistors. The outputs of these five resistors are connected to a sixth output and to the control terminal i of the modulator 310. A seventh output is connected to the input terminal i 'of the inverter 20. Three other outputs are respectively connected to the terminals switch (base) for switches (transistors) 345,360.

 The receiver 82 operates in so-called "super-reaction" mode. The antenna 200 can be a telescopic antenna. Advantageously, this antenna 200b can also be the rail plus of the rail circuit 600. The antenna is connected to a mixer 220 receiving on the other hand an interference frequency from a tuning oscillator 210. The frequency resulting intermediate is corrected then amplified in circuit 230 before being analyzed in circuit 235. In this circuit 235, a digital signal in series is translated in parallel before being applied in electronic means of buffer for transfer in the microprocessor 240.

 The radio transmitter 81 comprises a battery 5 supplying on the one hand a microprocessor 10 and on the other hand an oscillator 20. The output of the oscillator 20 is applied to a modulation transistor 30 whose output is connected to an antenna 40 and possibly to a low consumption lamp called "LED" 50. The microprocessor 10 is on the one hand connected at the input to several buttons including in particular a "+", "-" button and four numbered buttons " 1 "-" 4 ". This microprocessor 10 comprises on the one hand a memory 12 and a central unit 11, the latter applying a result to the control terminal of the transistor 30.

 As described above, the remote control device operates as follows.

 When the user presses one of the "+", "-", "l" - "4" buttons, a voltage specific to these buttons appears at the input of the microprocessor 10 and its central unit 11. The value of this voltage is an indication for the central unit 11 of an address of the memory 12 in which it must look for a particular code. This code is immediately applied to the control member of the modulator 30, in this case the base of a transistor. A radio signal 15 is then transmitted by the antenna 40.

 This electrical signal consists of a series of identical pulses generated by the oscillator 20 whose presence or absence over time is controlled by the modulator 30 under control of the code applied by the microprocessor 10. Given in fact of the small number of keys (six in this case, to characterize), the coding can be simplified and require only five electric pulses joined in a word. By way of nonlimiting example, the word corresponding to the "+" key can be composed of three successive presences of impulses, an absence of impulse and a last presence- of impulse. This word is repeated by l the radio transmitter as long as the user presses the corresponding button on the radio transmitter. Given the speed of generation of radio waves by the radio transmitter in relation to the movement of a finger, even a very brief one, on the key, it is obvious that a series of similar words will be systematically emitted and not just one single word. This phenomenon is essentially due to the frequency of the oscillator which was deliberately chosen to be particularly high for considerations of standards and interference with other permanent radioelectric emissions. For example, this transmission frequency is much higher than 110 MHz constituting the upper-limit of radio transmissions in "frequency modulation". Finally, it should be noted that the power applied in the antenna is low on the order 0.5 mW ensuring great battery savings 5, thereby limiting possible interference outside the building while ensuring sufficient emission for the receiver 2. A low-consumption LED 50 lamp connected to the antenna 40 is used to check that the transmitter is working properly.

 The radioelectric emission 15 is received in the antenna constituted either by one of the rails 200b, the positive of the circuit 600 or a particular antenna 200.

This received signal is applied to the mixer 220 where it is interfered with a tuning signal generated by the oscillator 210. At the output of the mixer 220 appears a new signal of lower frequency which is detected and then reconstituted in the circuit 230 before transfer to the analysis circuit 235. In this circuit 235, information known as "in series" over time is accumulated then transferred in parallel in a buffer memory allowing the whole word to be reconstructed, therefore the code of the key of the radio transmitter pressed.

 The code is subsequently read by the central unit 244 which then compares it to the preset codes previously recorded in storage means such as ROM 242. If no code corresponds to the word received the central unit 244 concludes with the presence of a parasite and rejects it, that is, it waits for a new reception. If, on the contrary, the word received resembles one of the predetermined codes, the central unit 244 concludes that such or such other key of the radio transmitter is pressed. I1 can then act according to the user's orders.

 If one of the buttons "1" - "4" is pressed, the central unit of the microprocessor 240 applies a saturation pulse to the terminal so as to be linked to the control element of the corresponding switch 345 or 360 . The associated accessory is then tilted in the usual way.

 If the central unit 244 understands that the "+" key is pressed, it switches to the positive state the next output 250 of those which are already. This increases by a discrete value the control voltage appearing at door i of the modulator 310 which therefore increases by a notch the voltage applied to the rail network therefore the speed of the locomotive. If after a latency time fixed at 8/10 of a second for example, the word corresponding to the "+" key is still present at the input of the microprocessor 240, the latter understands that it must continue the acceleration and switches the next door 250 until all six doors are in state 1. This latency has been set so that full acceleration of the locomotive is achieved in five seconds.

 Conversely, if the microprocessor 240 establishes that the "-" key is pressed, it returns the last door 250 toggled to state 0. In addition, the microprocessor tests whether this last door toggled is not as the first of the series corresponding to a zero speed le. In this case, the persistence of the word corresponding to the "-" key at the input of the microprocessor 240 means that a reversal of the direction of movement of the locomotive must be carried out and the corresponding door at the input i 'of the changeover relay 320 is itself changed.

It should be noted that the simultaneous pressing of the "+" and "-" keys corresponds to a particular code generating a series of characteristic words subsequently interpreted in the microprocessor 240 as an emergency stop,
As we have seen, this remote control device allows a user to move around all around his model train iTlstallatioli while continuing to transmit orders to the central power supply described in block 84 above. Besides the convenience in decision-making due to a better vision of a local situation, this device arouses above all the interest of many people who can now appreciate and admire their complex installation in every detail. now the realization of installations no longer confined to a single room, but which can spill over into an entire apartment or outside, all the more increasing the pleasure.

 As can be seen from reading this presentation, the frequency of transmission and reception of the radio transmission is fixed simultaneously by the oscillator 20 of the portable transmitter 81 and the ocillator 210 in the receiver 82. It is possible to provide, by a device comprising two junctions. the choice between four distinct transmission frequencies. it then suffices to modify, for example with a screwdriver, the frequency of the oscillator 210 to again tune the receiver 82 with the transmitter 81. However, taking into account the very high frequencies involved, it is possible to have a clear distinction between two neighboring frequencies. In other words, it is entirely feasible to have two neighboring control devices. However, it remains obvious that the rail circuits 600 will have to be independent.

 Furthermore, we realize that the functions performed by the microprocessors 10 and 240 respectively are rather simple since it is a question of recognizing an input signal to apply a new code to the output and vice versa, In this in a particular case, it may be advantageous to no longer use programmable microprocessors but simple semiconductor topographies whose logic is fixed once and for all. This use of semiconductor topographies allows a remarkable reduction in the production costs of the device, implying only a small increase in the general cost of a base boot (power supply 84, rails making up circuit 600, a locomotive more three wagons) while the interest brought by this new device is considerable.

 Many improvements can be made to this device in the context of this invention

Claims (9)

 (310,320,345,360).  trigger the corresponding counter means  electronics (240) interpreting these signals to  radioelectric (15) that it transfers to means  - a fixed radio receiver (82) detecting the signals  the user,  different radio-electrics (15) according to the choice of  - a portable radio transmitter (81) transmitting signals  understands  characterized in that the control device  in electrical impulse,  control (345) and supply (350) of these accessories  associated generation electronics (340,342),  to electrical impulses as well as means  - if desired, one or more accessories (630) reacting  permanent electrical energy accessories,  control (360) and supply (346,360) of these  nothing "(620) and associated electronic means  - if desired, one or more accessories of the "all or  the motor cars (610) respectively,  electrical energy adapted to the engine on board the  (310,320), and supply (330) of the circuit (600) in  partners in transformation, regulation, control  power cars (610) as well as electronic means  supply of electrical energy for one or more  - at least one guide rail circuit (600) and  installation of electric toy on circuit including  CLAIMS 1. Remote control device for a 2. Device according to claim 1.  the user.  radio signal (15) only when a choice of  characterized in that the radio transmitter (81) does not transmit 3. Device according to claim 1,  characterized in that a radio signal (15) transmitted  by the radio transmitter (81) essentially consists  of a series of similar words which are composed of a  following the presence or absence of identical pulses  according to the code associated with the user's choice. 4. Device according to claim 3,  characterized in that the radio transmitter (81) includes a  microprocessor (10) including at least means for  storage (11) of different preset codes and a unit  central (244) associating a signal generated by a  switch ("1" - "4", "+", "-") toggled by  the user expressing his choice to an address of  storage means (12) containing the corresponding code  which is then applied to a modulator (30) to code the  signal sent (15). 5. - Device according to claim 1  characterized in that the antenna (200b) of the radio receiver  (82) is a rail of the circuit (600). 6. Device according to claim 1,  characterized in that the electronic means  interpreting a s-ignal include a microprocessor  (240) including at least storage means (242) of  different preset codes and a central unit (244)  comparing a signal received from the radio receiver (82) with the  different codes memorized in the storage means  (242) to recognize and activate the means of  corresponding control (310,320,345,360). 7. Device according to one of claims 4 or  6, characterized in that the microprocessors (10,240)  are respectively produced in a single topography of  semiconductor. 8. Process for controlling the central unit (244)  electronic means interpreting a signal according to the  claim 6, characterized in that at a signal  corresponding to a choice of acceleration, the central unit  (244) feeds an additional exit door (250)  thus discreetly increasing the tension of  control at the output of the control means (310) of  the supply of electrical energy to the circuit (600), and  until feeding all the doors (250) of  exit. 9. Process for controlling the central unit (244)  according to claim 6, characterized in that, at a  signal corresponding to a choice of deceleration, the unit  central (244)  - cuts the power supply to an additional door (250)  thus discreetly reducing the tension of  control of the power control means (310)  in electrical energy of the circuit (600)  - tests whether the last exit door (250) associated with  circuit power control means is  closed  - if the previous test is positive, order the  tilting of the reversing means (320) causing a stop, with possible delay, then a change of direction of the powerplant.