Wireless model railroad control system

Abstract

A control system for a model railroad includes a wireless transceiver circuit, associated with a model railroad device, and control software, operable upon a general purpose wireless smart device, comprising programming code for bidirectional wireless communication with the wireless transceiver circuit. The wireless transceiver circuit includes a control circuit, configured for controlling operation of the model railroad device, and a communication unit, configured for bidirectional communication between the wireless transceiver circuit and the general purpose wireless smart device. The control software is configured for allowing user commands entered via the general purpose wireless smart device to control operation of the control circuit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A control system for a model railroad, comprising:
 a wireless transceiver circuit, associated with a model railroad device, having a microprocessor and system memory and provided with programming code for controlling the model railroad device, and including
 a control circuit, configured for controlling operation of the model railroad device; and 
 a communication unit, configured for bidirectional communication between the wireless transceiver circuit and a general purpose wireless smart device; and 
   control software, operable upon the general purpose wireless smart device, comprising programming code for bidirectional wireless communication with the wireless transceiver circuit and for allowing user commands entered via the general purpose wireless smart device to control operation of the control circuit.   
     
     
         2 . A control system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the model railroad device is selected from the group consisting of a motor, a sound generating device, a light, a turnout, a crossing signal, and a railroad signal. 
     
     
         3 . A control system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the model railroad device is associated with at least one of a locomotive, a tender, a railroad car, a railroad track device and a model building. 
     
     
         4 . A control system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the model railroad device is a locomotive, and the control software is configured for controlling speed, direction and acceleration characteristics of the locomotive. 
     
     
         5 . A control system in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the communication unit is configured for transmitting operational data related to the locomotive to the general purpose wireless smart device. 
     
     
         6 . A control system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the control software is configured for allowing the general purpose wireless smart device to simultaneously and independently control multiple model railroad devices having a wireless transceiver circuit. 
     
     
         7 . A control system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the control software provides a graphical user interface for the general purpose wireless smart device, and is configured to receive user input via a touchscreen of the general purpose wireless smart device. 
     
     
         8 . A control system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the communication unit is configured to send and receive data with the general purpose wireless smart device using a simplified connectivity, low-energy wireless communication protocol. 
     
     
         9 . A control system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the control software further includes programming code for bidirectional wireless communication between the general purpose wireless smart device and a web-enabled device, whereby a remote user can control operation of the model railroad device via an Internet connection. 
     
     
         10 . A control system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an inertial measurement unit, associated with the wireless transceiver circuit, the inertial measurement unit including at least one of a multi-axis gyroscope, a multi-axis accelerometer, and a multi-axis digital compass, and configured to provide inertial measurement output signals to at least one of the control circuit and the communication unit. 
     
     
         11 . A method for wirelessly controlling a model railroad device, comprising:
 providing a model railroad device with a wireless transceiver circuit, the wireless transceiver circuit including
 a control circuit, configured for controlling operation of the model railroad device; and 
 a communication unit, configured for bidirectional communication between the wireless transceiver circuit and a general purpose wireless smart device; and 
   transmitting control signals, effective to control the control circuit, from a general purpose wireless smart device to the wireless transceiver circuit, the general purpose wireless smart device having control software comprising programming code for bidirectional wireless communication with the wireless transceiver circuit.   
     
     
         12 . A method in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein transmitting the control signals effective to control the control circuit comprises transmitting control signals for controlling at least one of a speed of a locomotive, a direction of a locomotive, a rate of acceleration of a locomotive, a sound, a light, a turnout and a signal. 
     
     
         13 . A method in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein providing the model railroad device with a wireless transceiver circuit comprises associating the wireless transceiver circuit with one of a locomotive, a tender, a railroad car, a building, a signal and a turnout. 
     
     
         14 . A method in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising transmitting the control signals from a web-enabled device to the general purpose wireless smart device, to allow control of the model railroad device by a remote user. 
     
     
         15 . A method in accordance with  claim 14 , further comprising transmitting control signals to the web-enabled device via the Internet. 
     
     
         16 . A method in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising transmitting signals from the wireless transceiver circuit to the general purpose wireless smart device, the signals being selected from the group consisting of speed of a rail vehicle, direction of a rail vehicle, location of a rail vehicle, directional orientation of a rail vehicle, track voltage level and an amount of current that a motor is drawing. 
     
     
         17 . A model railroad locomotive, comprising:
 a motor, configured to drive a set of locomotive wheels upon rails using electrical power transmitted through the rails; and   a wireless transceiver circuit, including
 a control circuit, configured for controlling the motor; and 
 a communication unit, configured for bidirectional communication between the wireless transceiver circuit and a general purpose wireless smart device; 
   the wireless transceiver circuit adapted for wireless communication with a general purpose wireless smart device having software comprising programming code for allowing user commands entered via the general purpose wireless smart device to control the control circuit.   
     
     
         18 . A model railroad locomotive in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the control circuit is configured for controlling at least a speed and direction of the locomotive. 
     
     
         19 . A model railroad locomotive in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the control circuit is configured for controlling a speed and direction of the locomotive, and is further configured for controlling at least one of a light, a sound device and a video camera disposed in the locomotive. 
     
     
         20 . A model railroad locomotive in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the communication unit is configured for transmitting operational data related to the locomotive to the general purpose wireless smart device.