Model railway control device

Abstract

This railway model control device enables further miniaturization of the entire device by consolidating many operations related to railway models into a single switch, thereby reducing the number of parts, making operation easier, and further reducing costs. [Solution] In a model railway control device 1 for controlling various operations of a model railway vehicle 72 running on a track 71 by supplying an electric current from an external source, the switching of the direction of travel of the model railway vehicle 72, the stopping and restarting of the electric current supply, and the switching of the points 71a can each be performed by determining the ON and OFF time by operating a single switch 21.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a railway model control device for controlling various operations of a railway model vehicle that travels on a track by supplying current from the outside.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, the running of a railway model vehicle has been controlled by connecting a wire from a dedicated control device to a metal rail to supply current, collecting electricity from the metal wheels of the vehicle, and mainly using a power supply with a maximum of DC 12V or varying the duty ratio of a pulse width signal to control the rotational speed of a motor mounted on the vehicle (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). Also, the traveling direction is determined by changing the polarity of the power supply, and vehicles equipped with motors suitable for these conditions are connected individually or in multiple units, and lights such as headlamps, tail lamps, and interior lamps are lit as required.

[0003] All such railway model control devices are generally of a stationary type that is installed and operated on the floor or on a table, and typically have only the function of operating the vehicle. When performing operations other than the vehicle, such as point switching, it was necessary to add another operating device (see, for example, Patent Document 4). Also, in some wireless control devices specialized for railway models, switches for point switching operations are integrated with the vehicle operation, but each operation is performed using individual switches.

[0004] Therefore, when there are operations for both the vehicle and the points, there are many switches such as operation levers and push buttons, which can be troublesome and inconvenient to operate. In addition, miniaturization is difficult due to an increase in the number of parts, the operation is inconvenient, and the cost also increases. Here, for the switch related to the vehicle operation, three positions of ON forward (positive) · OFF stop · ON reverse (negative) for changing the traveling direction of the vehicle are essential, and in particular, the function corresponding to OFF stop is important in terms of safety. Also, for the switch related to point switching, a lever-type switch having two positions is common and is structurally bulky.

[0005] In light of the problems with the control devices for model railways described above, the applicant has already proposed a control device that integrates switching operations so that the direction of travel of the train and the switching of points can be performed with a single switch (see, for example, Patent Document 5). In this control device, the switching of the direction of travel of the train is narrowed down to two positions, forward (forward) and reverse (reverse), and point switching is added to this, and each operation is consolidated into two positions on a single switch, and the signal circuits for the operations are made common, and the switching is performed by determining the ON and OFF times of the signal when the switch is operated. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-113522 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2012-217837 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-8638 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-236255 [Patent Document 5] Patent No. 6945412 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] However, the conventional railway model control devices described above (see, for example, Patent Documents 1-4) had problems such as hindering miniaturization, being inconvenient to operate, and being costly due to the increased number of parts, as mentioned above. Furthermore, even with the railway model control device already proposed by the present applicant (see, for example, Patent Document 5), only the direction of travel of the train and the switching of points are consolidated into a single switch, and there was a desire for further miniaturization by reducing the number of parts, ease of operation, and cost reduction.

[0008] Furthermore, regardless of the control system used for model trains, emergency stops (power cut-off) in emergency situations (such as short circuits), which are crucial for safety, and resets (power restoration) to release this emergency stop required separate operations. In particular, if toggle or rotary switches were not used, separate switches had to be provided solely for emergency stops (power cut-off) and resets (power restoration), which further hindered miniaturization, made operation inconvenient, and potentially increased costs.

[0009] This invention addresses the problems of the conventional technology described above, and aims to provide a model railway control device that enables further miniaturization of the entire device by reducing the number of parts by consolidating many operations related to model railways into a single switch, allows multiple operations to be easily performed with just one switch, and further reduces costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] To achieve the aforementioned objectives, one aspect of the present invention is: In a railway model control device for controlling various operations of railway model vehicles running on tracks by supplying an electric current from an external source, The aforementioned various operations include at least switching the direction of travel of the model railway vehicle, stopping the supply of current, and restarting the supply of current, and a single switch is provided to instruct these various operations. Based on the determination of the ON and OFF times by operating the aforementioned switch, If the device is turned OFF after a predetermined time has elapsed since it was turned ON, the direction of travel of the model railway vehicle will be switched. If the ON / OFF state is interrupted a specific number of times within the first predetermined time, the supply of the current is stopped. The current supply is interrupted, and if the ON state continues for a second predetermined time exceeding the first predetermined time, the current supply is restarted. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the railway model control device of the present invention, by aggregating more operations related to the railway model into one switch, it is possible to further reduce the number of components and thus miniaturize the entire device, easily perform multiple operations with only one switch, and further reduce costs.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012] [Figure 1] It is a block diagram schematically showing the internal circuit of the railway model control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a perspective view showing the appearance of a state in which the railway model control device, the railway model vehicle, and the track according to an embodiment of the present invention are combined. [Figure 3] It is a timing chart showing the waveform of a signal based on the operation of one switch of the railway model control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a perspective view showing the appearance of the case of the railway model control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] It is a perspective view of the appearance of the case of the railway model control device according to an embodiment of the present invention as seen from an angle different from that in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view showing the appearance of a case including a modification example of one switch in the railway model control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] It is a perspective view showing the appearance of a case including another modification example of one switch different from that in FIG. 6 in the railway model control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] It is a plan view showing an example of the arrangement of components in the case of the railway model control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] It is a plan view showing an example of the arrangement of components on the control unit board in the case of the railway model control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] It is a perspective view showing an example of the arrangement of components on the power supply board in the case of the railway model control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11]It is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a case of a railway model control device according to an embodiment of the present invention is grasped and one switch is operated. [Figure 12] It is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a case of a railway model control device according to an embodiment of the present invention is grasped and the other switch is operated. [Figure 13] It is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a case of a railway model control device according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed on the floor and on a desk and each switch is operated.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, representative embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 13 show an embodiment of the present invention. The railway model control device 1 according to the present embodiment is a device for controlling various operations including the running state of a railway model vehicle 72 running on a track 71. The components, shapes, numerical values, etc. shown in the embodiments described below are all examples of the present invention and do not limit the present invention. Also, the relative dimensional relationships, shapes, etc. of the components shown in each figure can be appropriately changed in design and may be different from the actual ones. Note that detailed explanations of well-known matters and duplicate explanations for substantially the same configurations may be omitted as appropriate.

[0014] <Overview of the Railway Model Control Device First, in FIG. 1, the internal circuit of the railway model control device 1 is schematically shown, and in FIG. 2, the appearance of a state in which the railway model control device 1, the railway model vehicle 72, and the track 71 are combined is shown. Based on these FIGS. 1 and 2, the configuration of the railway model control device 1 will be sequentially described below. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a power source 30 for supplying current to a railway model vehicle 72 (hereinafter also abbreviated as "vehicle 72") and a track 71 for running the vehicle 72 are respectively connected to the railway vehicle control device 1 (hereinafter also abbreviated as "control device 1").

[0015] <Regarding the Power Source 30> The power supply 30 is located outside the model railway vehicle 72 and the control device 1 and supplies current to them. Since the specifications for typical model railway vehicle 72 are set to an output of approximately 12V (some are around 16V), the power supply 30 in this embodiment will supply, for example, a 12V current. Specifically, the power supply 30 may be, for example, an AC adapter connected to a commercial power source such as a household outlet, or a dry cell battery, storage battery, etc., but all of these will supply, for example, a 12V DC power supply.

[0016] The power supply 30 is connected via power supply wires 11 to input terminals 32 (see Figure 8), including a power jack, on the power supply board 31 inside the control device 1, and noise reduction and stabilization are performed by capacitors 33. However, with improvements in AC adapter performance or the use of dry cell batteries, noise reduction and current stabilization by capacitors 33 are not always necessary. Furthermore, the current from the power supply 30 is set to pass through a protection circuit 34 to ensure safety, considering that the output to the transmission line 71 (described later) is prone to short circuits and in case of malfunctions within the control device 1.

[0017] Furthermore, the current from the power supply 30 passes through the protection circuit 34, and a 12V current is supplied to control the vehicle 72 via the vehicle control output unit (output terminal) 36, while a current of 5V or less is supplied via the step-down circuit 35 to the control unit 52, which is an IC-controlled microcomputer described later, and to the input and output of signals in the control unit 52. Here, the 12V current for controlling the vehicle 72 is supplied to the track 71 described next, via the output wire 12, by controlling the vehicle control unit 53, which consists of a motor driver (e.g., a transistor), with signals from the control unit 52, which consists of an IC-controlled microcomputer.

[0018] <Regarding track 71> As shown in Figure 1, the control device 1 is connected to the vehicle track 71 via the output conductor 12, as described above. The track 71 is provided with track connection sections 71b at appropriate locations for connecting the output ends of the output conductor 12. As shown in Figure 2, the track 71 is composed of two metal rails placed parallel to each other, and the left and right rails are set to carry either a positive or negative current, respectively. Because positive and negative electricity flows through the rails of the track 71 in this way, there is a risk of a short circuit occurring if conductive metal or other material comes into contact with the track 71.

[0019] Furthermore, although not shown in Figure 2, track 71 is equipped with a point 71a (see Figure 1) that branches track 71 into two directions. The specific configuration of point 71a is common, so a detailed explanation will be omitted here, but the control device 1 is configured to also switch the point by operating the turnout that selects the direction of travel at point 71a with an electric current.

[0020] <About model railway vehicle #72> The model train car 72 is equipped with a 12V motor 73 (see Figure 1) that matches the output of the aforementioned power supply 30. Motor 73 is an electric motor driven by direct current (DC). Although not shown in the diagram, the output shaft of motor 73 is connected to the wheels via multiple gears. Therefore, when motor 73 rotates, the rotational force is transmitted to the wheels via the gears, causing the model train car 72 to move. Note that the train car 72 is not limited to one car; multiple cars can be connected together.

[0021] The current supplied to the track 71 via the control device 1 is transmitted to the metal wheels of the vehicle 72 and, via the metal wheel frame, powers the motor 73. The current flowing to the motor 73 causes the wheels to rotate in either the forward or reverse direction, moving the vehicle 72 forward or backward. By switching the polarity of the power supply 30, that is, the positive and negative of the current flowing through the left and right rails, the vehicle 72 can be moved forward or backward, and its direction of travel can be changed. The vehicle 72 is also equipped with lights 74 (see Figure 2) that can illuminate, including headlights, taillights, and interior lights.

[0022] <About the Railway Model Control Device 1> As shown in Figure 1, the railway model control device 1, which forms the core of the present invention, includes the control unit 52 and vehicle control unit 53, which are its main components, as well as the aforementioned vehicle control output unit 36, capacitor 33, protection circuit 34, step-down circuit 35, operation unit 2 including switches 21 and 22, display unit 3, etc. In addition, as mentioned above, the railway model control device 1 is connected to a power supply 30 and tracks 71, etc.

[0023] The control unit 52 controls various operations related to the model railway, including the operation of the vehicle 72, the supply of current from the power supply 30, and the switching of points 71a on the track 71. It is composed of, for example, a microcomputer. Specifically, the microcomputer consists of a processor (CPU), non-volatile memory (ROM) for storing programs executed by the processor and various fixed data, and volatile memory (RAM) for storing data temporarily needed to execute the program.

[0024] Typical functions of the control unit 52 include, for example, switching the direction of travel of the vehicle 72, stopping and restarting the supply of current from the power supply 30, and switching the points on the track 71, all of which are performed separately based on the ON and OFF time determination by operating a single switch 21, which will be described later. Other functions of the control unit 52 include, for example, adjusting the running speed of the vehicle 72 based on the operation of the other switch 22, and indicating the illumination of the vehicle 72's lights 74. The control unit 52 is controlled by PWM output in order to dissipate heat from the vehicle control unit 53 and to enable the vehicle 72's lights 74 to be illuminated even when the vehicle is stopped.

[0025] The vehicle control unit 53 is a motor driver that directly controls the speed and direction of travel of the vehicle 72, mainly based on signals from the control unit 52, and is composed of, for example, a transistor. As mentioned above, the current from the power supply 30 is noise-removed and stabilized by the capacitor 33, and then passes through the protection circuit 34. A 12V current is supplied to the vehicle 72 from the vehicle control unit 53 via the vehicle control output unit 36, and a current of 5V or less is supplied to the control unit 52 via the step-down circuit 35.

[0026] <<Regarding Operation Unit 2>> Next, the operation unit 2 of the control device 1 will be described. The operation unit 2 includes a switch 21 that can operate multiple operations, such as switching the direction of travel of the vehicle, with a single switch, and a switch 22 that adjusts the travel speed of the vehicle 72. These switches 21 and 22 are located on the upper side of the case 1a of the control device 1, which will be described later, and are mounted on a switch circuit board 20 (see Figure 8) inside the control device 1. Also, as shown in Figure 2, a display unit 3 is located between the switches 21 and 22.

[0027] Switch 21 is capable of controlling various operations, such as switching the direction of travel of the vehicle 72, stopping and restarting the supply of current from the power supply 30, and switching the points 71a on the track 71, all with just this one switch. For example, it consists of a momentary button-type switch that turns ON only when pushed. As described above, the operation signal of this switch 21 is output to the control unit 52 of the control device 1, and based on the ON and OFF time determination by the control unit 52, in this embodiment, the following four operations are set to be executed separately.

[0028] In other words, when the switch 21 is operated, if it is first turned ON and then turned OFF after a first predetermined time has elapsed, the direction of travel of the vehicle 72 is set to be switched. Here, the first predetermined time is a design item that can be appropriately determined, for example, 1.5 to 2 seconds, but it is any time that is shorter than the second predetermined time and the third predetermined time described later. It is preferable that the switching of the direction of travel of the vehicle 72 be made possible continuously.

[0029] Furthermore, the switch 21 is set to immediately stop supplying current from the power supply 30 if it is intermittently switched from ON to OFF a specific number of times within the first predetermined time period. Here, the specific number is a design item that can be appropriately determined as multiple times, for example, two or more times. When the current supply is stopped by operating the switch 21 in this manner, other operations such as the direction of travel switching described above, as well as point switching described later, are disabled until the current supply stop is reset, as described below.

[0030] Furthermore, when the current supply is stopped by operating switch 21, if the ON state is maintained for a second predetermined time (approximately 5 seconds) that exceeds the first predetermined time, the current supply from power supply 30 is restarted (the current supply stop is reset). Here, the second predetermined time is a design item that can be appropriately determined, for example, 5 seconds which is longer than the first predetermined time.

[0031] Furthermore, the switch 21 is set to switch off when it is turned OFF after a third predetermined time, which is longer than the first predetermined time and shorter than the second predetermined time, has elapsed since it was turned ON. Here, the third predetermined time is a design item that can be appropriately determined, for example, 3 seconds between the first predetermined time and the second predetermined time. It is also desirable that the switching of point 71a be made possible continuously.

[0032] Figure 3 is a timing chart showing the waveform of the signal based on the operation of switch 21. In Figure 3, signals a to e arranged along the vertical axis are examples of signals based on specific operations of switch 21, and the horizontal axis represents time. On the horizontal axis, equally spaced units of t correspond to, for example, 1.5 to 2.0 seconds, with one division of t (t × 1) corresponding to the first predetermined time, three divisions of t (t × 3) corresponding to the second predetermined time, and two divisions of t (t × 2) corresponding to the third predetermined time.

[0033] As shown in the waveform of signal a, even if switch 21 is turned ON or OFF at a timing unrelated to the first to third predetermined time periods mentioned above, no operations related to the vehicle 72 and point 71a will be performed. Also, as shown in the waveform of signal b, if switch 21 is turned OFF after the first predetermined time period has elapsed (but less than the third predetermined time period) after being turned ON, the direction of travel of the vehicle 72 will be switched at that point (indicated as "direction change" in Figure 3). Note that the direction of travel of the vehicle 72 may be set so that if it is turned ON immediately after being turned OFF, for example, the direction of travel will switch alternately and continuously.

[0034] Furthermore, as shown in the waveform of signal c, if the switch 21 is repeatedly switched from ON to OFF a specific number of times (for example, twice) within a first predetermined time, the supply of current from the power supply 30 is immediately stopped at that point (stopped). Then, as shown in the waveform of signal d, if the switch 21 is continuously turned ON for a second predetermined time that exceeds the first predetermined time while the supply of current has been stopped by signal c, the supply of current from the power supply 30 is restarted at that point (reset).

[0035] Thus, the operation to restart the supply of current that has been temporarily stopped by the signal d from the operation of switch 21 (referred to as "reset" in Figure 3) requires that the switch be kept ON for a second predetermined time while the current supply is stopped. However, after that, for example, the system may be set to reset when the switch is turned OFF after the second predetermined time has elapsed, or to automatically reset when the switch has been continuously ON for the second predetermined time.

[0036] Furthermore, as shown in the waveform of signal e, if the switch 21 is turned ON and then turned OFF after a third predetermined time has elapsed that is longer than the first predetermined time and shorter than the second predetermined time, point 71a will switch at that point (indicated as "point switching" in Figure 3). Even with this switching of point 71a, it is also possible to set it so that if the switch is turned ON immediately after being turned OFF, for example, the points 71a will switch alternately and continuously.

[0037] Next, the other switch 22 is for adjusting the running speed of the vehicle 72, and consists of, for example, a potentiometer (variable resistor) type switch that can be adjusted steplessly by rotation. By rotating the switch 22 as appropriate, the control unit 52 or the vehicle control unit 53 transforms the current from the power supply 30 and adjusts the current flowing through the track 71, thereby controlling the running speed of the vehicle 72 to be faster or slower. Here, the adjustment of the running speed by switch 22 also includes stopping the vehicle (speed 0).

[0038] Figures 6 and 7 show modified versions of the operation unit 2 in the control device 1, respectively. In Figure 6, instead of the volume (variable resistor) type switch 22 that adjusts the travel speed of the vehicle 72, the illustrated lever type switch 23 is used as a switch that also adjusts the travel speed. In Figure 7, instead of the button type switch 21 that instructs multiple operations, the illustrated toggle type switch 24 is used as a switch that also instructs multiple operations.

[0039] Furthermore, to further miniaturize the switch 21, it is advisable to use a general-purpose tact switch, although this is not shown in the diagram. A tact switch is a momentary switch for small currents that turns ON only when pushed, which not only allows for miniaturization of the component but also reduces component costs. Thus, the switch 21 is not limited to a specific type (structure) of switch, as long as it can achieve two positions, ON and OFF.

[0040] <<Regarding Display Unit 3>> Next, the display unit 3 of the control device 1 will be described. In this embodiment, since the direction of travel of the vehicle 72 and the switching of the points 71a are consolidated into the operation of a single switch 21, a display unit 3 consisting of LEDs or the like is installed to display information so that the direction of travel of the vehicle 72 and the branching direction can be seen.

[0041] The display unit 3 receives signals from the control unit 52 and the vehicle control unit 53, and is configured to display the control status of the vehicle 72, such as its direction of travel (forward / reverse), stopping, accelerating, and decelerating, in a way that allows them to be distinguished from each other by the illumination or color of LEDs or the like. The illumination by the display unit 3 also serves as confirmation that power is supplied from the power supply 30.

[0042] <<Regarding Case 1a and the arrangement of its components>> As shown in Figure 2, the components of the model railway control device 1 are housed inside a case 1a that forms the outer casing of the entire device. As shown in Figure 4, the case 1a is formed in the shape of a slightly elongated cube, and its top surface is an operation panel 1b on which the switches 21, 22 and the display unit 3 are arranged. Also, as shown in Figure 5, a power supply wire pass-through 11a for passing the power supply wire 11 is provided on one end face of the case 1a, and an output wire pass-through 12a for passing the output wire 12 is provided on the other side of the case 1a.

[0043] Next, the arrangement of components within the case 1a of the control device 1 will be explained with reference to Figures 8 to 10. In order for the entire case 1a of the control device 1 to fit in the palm of your hand and be operable with one hand, it is necessary to arrange each component considering its shape, function, the operability of any parts protruding from the case 1a, the wiring for efficient connection, and the prevention of short circuits. Furthermore, it is also necessary to give sufficient consideration to the orientation of each component and the means of fixing it, and as a result, the arrangement is configured as shown in Figures 8 to 10.

[0044] In terms of the arrangement of components, as shown in Figures 8 and 10, the input terminal 32 and vehicle control output unit (output terminal) 36 on the power supply board 31 require careful consideration of connection standards, the power plug commonly attached to the connection point of the power supply wire 11, and the attachment and detachment of the output wire 12. This requires securing sufficient space and addressing the significant force applied during insertion and removal, thus necessitating measures to ensure sufficient durability even on a small board. Therefore, the power supply board 31 is made to match the dimensions of the case 1a, and the contact surface between the power supply board 31 and the bottom surface of the case 1a, as viewed from above, is made flat. This allows for fixing with screws, but sufficient durability can also be ensured with adhesive tape or similar.

[0045] As shown in Figure 9, the control board 51, on which the control unit 52 and the vehicle control unit 53 are mounted, is positioned in the space between the switches 21 and 22 and the display unit 3, which are arranged in an optimal layout on the operation panel 1b, which is the top surface of the case 1a, and the power supply board 31 and the switch board 20. Here, the control board 51 is sized so that at least two sides of the control board 51 are in contact with the inside of the case 1a, in order to also provide heat dissipation measures for the motor driver (transistor) that makes up the vehicle control unit 53.

[0046] With this type of control device 1 case 1a, sufficient heat dissipation measures can be taken for the control unit board 51. Furthermore, depending on the upper limit of the current to be set and the performance of the components, if the control unit 52 is in contact with the case 1a, or if there is a small gap large enough to fit one or two sheets of paper, it may be configured to allow for further heat dissipation using thermal conductive material and a metal plate. With the above component layout, the case 1a is formed to be small and shaped to fit in one hand, and each switch 21, 22 can be operated while holding the top surface of the case 1a with one hand. The specific size of the case 1a should be set, for example, so that the sum of length x width x height is approximately 12 cm or less.

[0047] <Operation of the model railway control device 1> Next, the operation of the railway model control device 1 according to this embodiment will be explained. As shown in Figures 11 and 12, when the control device 1 is formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with a total length × width × height of approximately 12 cm or less, it can be held in one hand, and both the first switch 21 and the second switch 22 can be easily operated with just one hand.

[0048] Specifically, as shown in Figure 11, one switch 21 can be used to switch the direction of travel of the vehicle 72, stop the supply of current from the power supply 30, and restart the supply. Also, as shown in Figure 12, the other switch 22 can be used to adjust the travel speed of the vehicle 72. To stop the vehicle 72, the current supply can be immediately stopped using the one switch 21 for an emergency stop, or the travel speed can be set to 0 by operating the other switch 22, although the direction of finger movement will be different.

[0049] Situations requiring immediate emergency cessation of the current supply to track 71 include, for example, the interruption of a short circuit in track 71. In addition to the manual operation using the switches 21 and 22 described above, the current supply to track 71 can also be stopped by other means, such as setting a dead time by the control unit 52 or vehicle control unit 53, or by interrupting the current using the protection circuit 34. Furthermore, the current supply can be reset and resumed by operating the same switch 21. Such control is performed by the control unit 52 or vehicle control unit 53.

[0050] Furthermore, the direction of travel of the vehicle 72 can be easily changed by switching the polarity of the power supply 30, that is, the positive and negative polarity of the current flowing through the left and right rails of the track 71, using switch 21. In addition, the running speed of the vehicle 72 can be easily controlled by changing the speed of the vehicle 72 by changing the voltage of the current from the power supply 30 and adjusting the current flowing through the track 71 using the other switch 22. These controls are also performed by the control unit 52 or the vehicle control unit 53.

[0051] The display unit 3 receives signals from the control unit 52 and the vehicle control unit 53, and displays the control status of the vehicle 72, such as its direction of travel (forward / reverse), stopping, accelerating, or decelerating, using the illumination or color of LEDs, etc., so that they can be distinguished from each other. As a result, the user of the control device 1 can easily grasp the status of various operations in the vehicle 72 by visually checking the display unit 3, regardless of the physical position of each switch 21, 22.

[0052] The case 1a of the control device 1 described above is small and shaped to fit in one hand, and each switch 21, 22 can be operated while holding it in one hand. Therefore, the control device 1 does not require installation on the floor or table, and even young users can easily control the vehicle 72, even in outdoor event venues or environments where it is not possible to secure a place to install conventional stationary control devices (for example, restaurant counters or inside event trains).

[0053] This control device 1 makes it easier for younger users to operate without any deterioration in operability for typical adult users. Generally, model railway vehicles 72 are distinguished from toy railway vehicles, and because of their precise vehicle design and the fact that they run on tracks with electric current, manufacturers and sellers do not recommend them for younger children, such as elementary school students. However, in reality, they are increasingly being used with safety precautions taken under the supervision of adults.

[0054] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the case 1a of the control device 1 can be comfortably supported with one hand. However, to enhance the stability of gripping, improve safety by preventing drops during presentations, and fully utilize the advantages of being able to fit in one hand, hooks or the like for gripping some fingers may be provided, although these are not shown in the figures. Such hooks or the like do not necessarily need to be permanently fixed to the case 1a; they should be attached so that they can be attached and detached as needed.

[0055] Furthermore, when considering the use of this control device 1 in the aforementioned environment or when considering use by young users, it is conceivable that the vehicle 72 could easily derail from the track 71 at full speed close to its standard upper limit of 12V (~16V) and duty cycle of 100%. To eliminate such concerns and allow for enjoyment, it is conceivable to configure the control board 51 to include a switch 25 for changing (mainly lowering) the upper limit of the running speed, for example, as shown in Figure 9.

[0056] Of course, as shown in Figure 13, this control device 1 can be used without any inconvenience even when installed on the floor or on a desk, just like conventional stationary control devices. In particular, the miniaturization of case 1a allows for more space to be used for other tasks, and enables effective use of limited floor or desk space. Furthermore, the miniaturization and lightness of case 1a make it possible to install and use it not only on the floor or on a desk, but also on vertical walls, for example, using double-sided tape.

[0057] <Construction and Effects of the Invention> Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. The present invention derived from the embodiments described above will be described below.

[0058] First, the present invention relates to a railway model control device 1 for controlling various operations of a railway model vehicle 72 running on a track 71 by supplying an electric current from an external source, The aforementioned various operations include at least switching the direction of travel of the model railway vehicle 72, stopping the supply of current, and restarting the supply of current, and a single switch 21 is provided to instruct these various operations. Based on the determination of the ON and OFF times by operating the switch 21, If the device is turned OFF after a first predetermined time has elapsed since it was turned ON, the direction of travel of the model railway vehicle 72 will be switched. If the ON / OFF state is interrupted a specific number of times within the first predetermined time, the supply of the current is stopped. The current supply is interrupted, and if the ON state continues for a second predetermined time exceeding the first predetermined time, the current supply is restarted.

[0059] With this type of model railway control device 1, the switching of the direction of travel of the train 72 and the stopping and restarting of the supply of current from the power supply 30 can be performed by operating a single switch 21. This is because, by determining the ON and OFF times for each operation of a single switch 21, it is possible to set multiple control signals according to those ON and OFF times.

[0060] This eliminates the need for numerous switches such as operating levers and push buttons, reducing the number of switches and enabling a more compact overall design. Furthermore, reducing the number of components in the switch itself and its related parts lowers manufacturing costs. Additionally, multiple control operations are integrated into a single switch 21, and combined with its miniaturization, the switch 21 is easy to operate. Using a tactile switch as the switch 21 would allow for further miniaturization, cost reduction, and ease of operation.

[0061] Furthermore, in this invention, the various operations described above also include switching the points 71a on the track 71 on which the model railway vehicle 72 runs. The point 71a is characterized in that when the switch 21 is turned ON and then turned OFF after a third predetermined time, which is longer than the first predetermined time and shorter than the second predetermined time, has elapsed, the point 71a switches.

[0062] Thus, the control that is consolidated into the operation of a single switch 21 may include the switching of points on the track 71, which is closely related to the operation of the model railway vehicle 72 itself. This reduces the number of switches related to switching the points. In addition, this can also be applied to the switching of signal indications (light color) of a signal light (not shown) separately installed in the middle of the track 71, instead of, or in addition to, the switching operation of point 71a.

[0063] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that it is configured to allow the same operation when the same signal as the signal output by operating the switch 21 is input from an external source. As a result, even in operating devices such as remote controls that output signals from an external source, the control circuits for various operations are standardized, allowing them to process signals from the switch 21 in the same way and in parallel, making operation easy. Here, it is sufficient for the operating device that outputs signals from an external source and this control device 1 to transmit signals wirelessly in a non-contact manner; for example, radio waves or infrared rays can be used.

[0064] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that the direction of travel cannot be switched except when the model railway vehicle 72 is stopped or at a speed close to a stop. According to the present invention, while the operation of switching the direction of travel of the vehicle 72 and the point 71a has become easier, there is a risk that erroneous operation or intentional continuous switching operations may cause damage to the motor 73 of the vehicle 72 or to parts of the point 71a (such as the coil spring of the turnout). To resolve these concerns, the switching of the direction of travel of the vehicle 72 is controlled so that it cannot be switched except when stopped or at a speed close to stopping.

[0065] Furthermore, in this invention, the case 1a forming the outer casing of the railway model control device 1 is formed to be small and shaped to fit in one hand. The switch 21 is characterized in that it can be operated while being held in one hand on the outer wall of the case 1a.

[0066] As a result, in addition to the aforementioned consolidation of the switches 21, the arrangement of each component constituting the control device 1 within the case 1a has been optimized, as explained with reference to Figures 8 and 9, making it possible to further miniaturize the overall shape of the case 1a. Therefore, the switches 21 can be operated even more easily, even when the control device 1 is held in one hand without having to be placed on the floor or a desk.

[0067] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and any changes or additions that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are also included. For example, the model railway control device 1 can be later combined with model railway vehicles 72 and tracks 71 that the user already owns, but it may also be manufactured and sold as a model railway kit that combines the model railway control device 1, model railway vehicles 72 and tracks 71 from the beginning.

[0068] Furthermore, the control consolidated into the operation of a single switch 21 basically consists of four operations: switching the direction of travel of the model railway vehicle 72, stopping and restarting the supply of current from the power supply 30, and switching the points 71a. However, switching the points 71a is not mandatory and may be omitted. Moreover, the control of other operations related to the model railway vehicle 72 may also be configured to be consolidated into the operation of a single switch 21.

[0069] Furthermore, the model railway control device 1 is not originally a dedicated control device for model railway vehicles 72. For example, as shown in Patent No. 6941532 already proposed by the applicant, it may be constructed by modifying a control device that wirelessly controls a toy railway with a built-in dry cell battery via wireless communication or infrared communication. This allows the equipment used to wirelessly control the toy railway to be reused without being discarded after it is no longer used as a toy railway, and enables the operation of model railway vehicles to be enjoyed wirelessly, just as well as with existing control devices. [Industrial applicability]

[0070] This invention can be widely applied as a railway model control device for enjoying railway model vehicles, targeting a wide range of users regardless of age. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0071] 1…Railway model control device 1a…Case 1b... Control panel 2...Operation unit 20… Circuit board for switches 21... Switch 1 22...Other switches 3...Display section 11…Power lead wire 11a…Power supply wire penetration part 12...Output lead wire 12a... Output conductor penetration part 30...Power supply 31... Power supply board 32…Input terminals 33…Capacitor 34…Protection circuit 35... Step-down circuit 36... Vehicle control output unit 51... Control board 52... Control Unit 53... Vehicle Control Unit 71...Railway 71a... points 72…Model railway vehicles 73...motor 74...Light

Claims

1. In a railway model control device for controlling various operations of railway model vehicles running on tracks by supplying an electric current from an external source, The aforementioned various operations include at least switching the direction of travel of the model railway vehicle, stopping the supply of current, and restarting the supply of current, and a single switch is provided to instruct these various operations. Based on the determination of the ON and OFF times by operating the aforementioned switch, If the system is turned OFF after a first predetermined time has elapsed since it was turned ON, the direction of travel of the model railway vehicle will be switched. If the ON / OFF state is interrupted a specific number of times within the first predetermined time, the supply of the current is stopped. A railway model control device characterized in that, when the current supply is stopped, and the ON state is maintained for a second predetermined time exceeding the first predetermined time, the current supply is restarted.

2. The aforementioned operations include switching the points on the tracks on which the model railway vehicle runs. The railway model control device according to claim 1, characterized in that when the switch is turned ON by operation of the switch, and a third predetermined time, which is longer than the first predetermined time and shorter than the second predetermined time, has elapsed before the switch is turned OFF, the point is switched.

3. The railway model control device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is configured to allow the same operation when the same signal as the signal output by operating the aforementioned switch is input from an external source.

4. The railway model control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the direction of travel cannot be switched except when the railway model vehicle is stopped or at a speed close to a stop.

5. The case forming the outer casing of the aforementioned model railway control device is formed to be small and shaped to fit in one hand. The railway model control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the switch can be operated while being held in one hand on the outer wall of the case.

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