Sound recording and reproduction system for model train using integrated digital command control

Abstract

A system is provided for recording, storing and reproducing sound for playing back in an environment requiring simulated sounds, voices, and/or sound effects. Sounds are recorded on a chip and played back in an asynchronous manner from the chip as a result of activation of a switch or inertial movement within the system. A Hall-effect sensor, reed switch or momentary switch or the like may be implemented for enabling activation of the recorded sound from the chip for broadcasting. A compander compresses the sound on the chip and expands the compressed sound for playback. Employing the above system for audio storage, a sound, motor and special effects controller may be created for model train applications as well. The different functions of the sound unit are controlled through a discrete bi-polar digital command control signal using a unique address for each unit. A synchronous means of play back may also be employed when the system is used with the bi-polar signal using a sensor. In addition to the analog sound storage, the same concepts and ideas may be applied to a digital sound recording and play back device as well.

1. A sound reproducing system for a model train traveling on a plurality of rails that uses a amplified digital control signal for propulsion and control, the system comprising:
 a sound memory storing a plurality of sound effects at predetermined addresses;    a controller connected to the sound memory for recalling the sound effects of either one or a plurality of sound effects in a predetermined sequence or a random sequence;    a sound memory containing multiple samples that emulate a model locomotive at various speeds and work loads;    an integrated sound, motor and special effects controller controlled by a bi-polar digital signal, the motor and special effects controller re-producing the stored sounds contained in the model train; and    a digital packet triggering a sound effect for automatic playback of a sound effect.    
     
     
       2. The system according to  claim 1  wherein the model train has two rails for providing a digital signal and powering the sound effects of the model train, motor, and special effects system. 
     
     
       3. The system according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 an electrical power supply in the rail car or track side structure having a means for collecting the digital bi-polar signal from either of the two insulated tracks by a pick up on two insulated wheels or off of a digital buss line or overhead wire;    a full wave bridge rectifier with an input connected to a bi-polar digital signal with an output producing a DC voltage regardless of the phase of the bi-polar signal;    a regulated power supply connected to a full wave bridge rectifier supplying power to the sound reproducing system; and    a regulated power source for the audio amplifiers.    
     
     
       4. The system according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 means for simultaneously decoding a properly addressed digital control packet for control of the model locomotive's electric motor, control of the sound functions and on board special effects.    
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 a fixed external source of either AC or DC power and means for connecting a bi-polar digital signal to the sound unit;    means for filtering the low level signal noise in the reception of the bi-polar digital signal for power and control of the sound unit.    
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 means to synchronize sound effects through the use of a Hall effect sensor to trigger a plurality of speed sensitive sounds located in a model train locomotive or rail car based on a digital speed packet wherein the speed sensitive sounds are stored in the memory and include various samples that emulate different speeds and loads;    a controller that recalls the same plurality of synchronized sound effects at intervals appropriate to the speed of the locomotive depending on a digital command control speed packet wherein the same controller recalls a plurality of synchronized sound effects at intervals appropriate to the speed of the locomotive using a speed sync sensor and further wherein the controller recalls asynchronous sound effects from the same memory or from additional memories for sound on sound.    
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1  wherein the controller activates an automatic steam release sound effect upon sensing a zero speed packet with the correct address header and further activates an appropriate air compressor sound effect upon sensing the same zero speed packet and correct address header and still further activates lighting effects or other onboard special effects after receiving and decoding the properly addressed digital control packet. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a controller that will decode a three byte packet with an addressed header that matches the sound unit's discreet address in the range of 1 to 127 addresses for controlling a model train locomotive motor, sound effects and onboard special effects.    
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a controller that decodes a four byte packet with an address header that matches the sound units discreet address in the address range of 1 through 9999 for controlling a model train locomotive motor, sound effects and onboard special effects.    
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 means for synchronizing the sound effects to the driver's wheels through decoding a properly addressed digital speed packet that controls the speed of the model locomotive and determines which sound effect to synchronize with the speed of the locomotive using the same digital speed packet.    
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a Hall effect sensor to sense a change of speed of wheels of a steam locomotive to trigger the proper speed sound effect by mounting a magnet to the rear of a drive wheel to form a switch closure for synchronization of the sound effect to the digital speed control packet.    
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a micro-controller that decodes a predetermined addressed digital signal for control of sound effects, model train propulsion and on board special effects wherein the micro-controller is operatively connected to the analog sound storage of the sound effects wherein the analog sound storage has a predetermined set of sounds at specific addresses; and    a controller that is connected to special effects outputs that control lighting and other onboard effects.    
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12  wherein the micro-controller controls the volume of the plurality of sound effects contained in a rail car. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 12  wherein the micro-controller is configured for changing the break points to control a plurality of sound effects as related to the speed of a model locomotive, using either 14, 28 or 128 steps of speed control resolution using control variables. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 12  further comprising:
 means for changing the break points at which the digital speed packet triggers the related sound effects through end user accessible software on the micro-controller or as defined as configuration variables.    
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of digitized sounds that are controlled by the controller that receives a bi-polar digital signal.    
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 1  wherein the enabling means is an internally triggered Hall-effect sensor responding to a change in a magnetic field. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a magnet; and    a pendulum on which the magnet is suspended wherein motion causes the magnet to transpose resulting in a change in the magnetic field.    
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a microphone constructed and arranged to record the at least one additional characteristic sound on the sound module means.    
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 1  wherein the activation means is a magnetically responsive sensor constructed and arranged near a magnetic field, the magnetic field altered by a magnet. 
     
     
       21. A sound reproducing system for a model train traveling on a plurality of rails that uses an amplified digital control signal for propulsion and control, the system comprising:
   a sound unit;        a memory within the sound unit wherein the memory stores a plurality of sound effects at addresses wherein the sound effects contain multiple samples that emulate a train locomotive at various speeds and various work - loads wherein the memory has an analog wave form representing sound effects of a locomotive at the various speeds and the various work - loads or a digital representation of the analog wave form that represents a plurality of sound effects of a locomotive at the various speeds and the various work - loads wherein the sound effects simulate the various speeds and the various work - loads by comparing the on - off rate of a sensor to a digital speed packet; and        a controller connected to the memory for recalling at least one of the sound effects wherein the controller is controlled by a digital signal.     
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 21  wherein the sound effects are at pre- determined addresses.   
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 21  wherein the controller recalls a plurality of sound effects. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 23  wherein the plurality of sound effects are recalled in a predetermined sequence. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 23  wherein the plurality of sound effects are recalled in a random sequence. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 21  wherein the various conditions include various speeds. 
     
     
       27. The system of  claim 21  wherein the various conditions include various work- loads.   
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 21  wherein the memory includes a plurality of special effects stored therein and further wherein the model locomotive includes a motor wherein the controller controls the motor. 
     
     
       29. The system of  claim 21  wherein the digital signal is a bi- polar digital signal.   
     
     
       30. The system of  claim 21  wherein the digital signal is a digital packet wherein the digital packet triggers the sound effect. 
     
     
       31. The system of  claim 21  further comprising:
   an electrical power supply connected to at least one of the plurality of rails;        a pick - up means for collecting the digital signal; and        a full - wave bridge rectifier connected to the electrical power supply and further having an input for receiving the digital signal and an output wherein the output produces a DC voltage without regard to phase of the digital signal.     
     
     
       32. The system of  claim 21  wherein the memory includes a plurality of special effects stored therein and further wherein the model locomotive includes a motor and means for simultaneously decoding the digital signal for control of the sound effects, the motor and/or the special effects. 
     
     
       33. The system of  claim 21  further comprising:
   a fixed external source of electrical power;        means for connecting the digital signal to the sound memory; and        means for filtering the digital signal.     
     
     
       34. The system of  claim 21  further comprising:
   a speed sync sensor in the controller wherein the controller recalls a plurality of speed sensitive sounds to emulate a speed of the train locomotive based on a speed of the model train wherein the speed sync sensor synchronizes the speed sensitive sounds with the speed of the model train.     
     
     
       35. The system of  claim 21  wherein the controller recalls the sound effects in an asynchronous or synchronous manner. 
     
     
       36. The system of  claim 21  further comprising:
   a second memory for storing the plurality of sound effects.     
     
     
       37. The system of  claim 21  further comprising:
   a discrete address in the range of  1  to  127  contained within the sound unit wherein the digital signal includes a three byte packet wherein the three byte packet includes an address header that matches the discrete address.     
     
     
       38. The system of  claim 21  further comprising:
   a discrete address in the range of  1  to  9999  contained within contained within the sound unit wherein the digital signal includes a four byte packet wherein the four byte packet includes an address header that matches the discrete address.     
     
     
       39. The system of  claim 21  further comprising:
   wheels on the model locomotive;        a digital packet within the digital signal for controlling a speed of the model locomotive; and        means for synchronizing the plurality of sound effects to the wheels of the model locomotive wherein the synchronization means decodes the digital packet and further wherein the synchronization means determines which sound effect to synchronize with the speed of the model locomotive using the digital packet.     
     
     
       40. The system of  claim 21  wherein the memory includes a plurality of special effects stored therein and further wherein the model locomotive includes a motor and further wherein the model locomotive includes a micro- controller that decodes a digital signal for control of the sound effects, the motor and/or the special effects.   
     
     
       41. The system of  claim 21  wherein the memory includes a plurality of special effects stored therein wherein the special effects include a lighting special effect and further wherein the controller controls the special effects. 
     
     
       42. The system of  claim 40  wherein the plurality of sound effects has a volume controlled by the micro- controller.   
     
     
       43. The system of  claim 40  wherein the sound effects are divisible by  14 ,  28  or  128  speed steps controlled by the micro- controller.   
     
     
       44. The system of  claim 40  wherein the micro- controller is programmed to control the sound effects.   
     
     
       45. The system of  claim 21  wherein the sound effects are digitized. 
     
     
       46. The system of  claim 21  further comprising:
   a microphone on the sound unit for recording an additional sound effect.     
     
     
       47. The system of  claim 21  further comprising:
   an activation means for activating the sound effect wherein the activation means is a magnetically responsive sensor.     
     
     
       48. The system of  claim 21  further comprising:
   means for controlling a variable filter network wherein the variable filter network suppresses audible noise.     
     
     
       49. The system of  claim 21  wherein the sound effects include a sample that emulates a train locomotive at multiple speeds. 
     
     
       50. The system of  claim 21  wherein the stored sound effects are analog. 
     
     
       51. The system of  claim 21  wherein the controller is an integrated sound, motor, and special effects controller. 
     
     
       52. The system of  claim 21  wherein the controller is controlled by a bi- polar digital signal.   
     
     
       53. The system of  claim 21  wherein the controller recalls the sound effects of either one or a plurality of sound effects in a predetermined sequence or a random sequence by means of a bi- polar digital signal.   
     
     
       54. The system of  claim 21  wherein the sound effects are replicating momentum effects using steam or diesel sound effects. 
     
     
       55. The system of  claim 21  further comprising:
   a first circuit board having a plug; and        a second circuit board having a socket wherein the plug of the first circuit board connects to the socket of the second circuit board.     
     
     
       56. The system of  claim 21  further comprising:
   a controllable filter network reducing vibrations in a motor.     
     
     
       57. The system of  claim 21  wherein a sound unit, with a register fixed in firmware or programmable for control variables wherein the control variables are one of acceleration, deceleration, start voltages, motor response curves, momentum sound effects, load factor sound effects, coasting sound effects, means to synchronize or de- synchronize sound effects to the rotation of wheels and control of a filter network for motor noise snubbing.