Model railroad control device

Abstract

To provide a model railway control device that enables the overall device to be made smaller by further reducing the number of parts, enables easier operation, and further reduces costs by consolidating many operations related to the model railway into one switch. [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 current from an external source, the direction of travel of the model railway vehicle 72, stopping and restarting the supply of current, and switching points 71a can each be performed by determining the ON and OFF times by operating a single switch 21.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a model railway control device for controlling various operations of a model railway vehicle running on a track by supplying electric current from an external source. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, model railroad vehicles have been driven by connecting a dedicated control device to metal rails via conductors to pass current, collecting electricity from the vehicle's metal wheels, and controlling the rotation speed of the motor mounted on the vehicle by varying the voltage or duty ratio of a pulse width signal, with a maximum of 12V DC as the main power source (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). Also, the direction of travel was determined by changing the polarity of the power source, and a single or multiple vehicles equipped with motors suited to these conditions were connected together, and lights such as headlights, taillights, and interior lights were turned on as needed.

[0003] These types of control devices for model railways are all designed to be stationary, installed on the floor or a desk for operation, and generally have functions only for operating vehicles; to operate things other than vehicles, such as switching points, a separate operating device must be added (see, for example, Patent Document 4). Also, some wireless control devices specialized for model railways have integrated switches for switching points in addition to operating vehicles, but each operation is performed with a separate switch.

[0004] Therefore, when both vehicle and point controls are required, there are many switches, such as operating levers and push buttons, which can be cumbersome and inconvenient to operate. The increased number of parts makes miniaturization difficult, operation inconvenient, and costs high. Here, switches for vehicle operation must have three positions: ON (forward), OFF (stop), and ON (reverse), which change the direction of travel of the vehicle. A function equivalent to OFF (stop) is particularly important from a safety perspective. Switches for switching points are generally lever-type switches with two positions, which are structurally bulky.

[0005] In view of the problems with control devices for model railways as described above, the present applicant has already proposed a control device that integrates switching operations so that the operation of switching the direction of travel of the vehicle and the points can be performed with a single switch (see, for example, Patent Document 5). With regard to vehicle operation, this control device narrows down the switching of the direction of travel to two, forward (positive) and reverse (negative), and adds points switching to this, consolidating each operation into two positions into a single switch, sharing the operation signal circuit, and 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 Application Laid-Open No. 2004-113522 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-217837 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-8638 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-236255 [Patent Document 5] Patent No. 6945412 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, in the above-mentioned conventional model railway control devices (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4), the increased number of parts as mentioned above hinders miniaturization, makes operation inconvenient, and increases costs. Furthermore, even in the model railway control device already proposed by the present applicant (see, for example, Patent Document 5), only the operation of switching the direction of the train and the points is consolidated into one switch, and there has been a demand for further reduction in the number of parts to make the device smaller, easier to operate, and less costly.

[0008] Furthermore, regardless of the model railroad control device, the operations related to emergency stop (power supply cutoff) in the event of an emergency (such as a short circuit), which is important from a safety perspective, and reset (power supply resumption) to release this emergency stop require separate operations. In particular, if a toggle or rotary switch is not used, separate switches must be provided just for emergency stop (power supply cutoff) and reset (power supply resumption), which further hinders miniaturization, makes operation inconvenient, and may increase costs.

[0009] The present invention was made in response to the problems of the conventional technology described above, and aims to provide a model railway control device that consolidates many of the operations related to the model railway into a single switch, thereby further reducing the number of parts and making it possible to make the entire device more compact, and making it possible to easily perform multiple operations with just one switch, thereby further reducing costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising: A model railway control device for controlling various operations of a model railway vehicle running on a track by supplying current from an external source, the various operations include at least changing the direction of travel of the model railroad vehicle, stopping the supply of current, and restarting the supply of current, and a switch is provided for instructing these various operations; By determining the ON and OFF times of the switch operation, When the switch is turned OFF after a first predetermined time has elapsed since the switch was turned ON, the direction of travel of the model railroad vehicle is changed, When the ON to OFF state occurs a specific number of times within the first predetermined time, the supply of the current is stopped, When the supply of the current is stopped and the ON state continues for a second predetermined time that exceeds the first predetermined time, the supply of the current is resumed. 、 The various operations include switching points on the track on which the model railroad vehicle runs, When the switch is turned ON by operation of the switch, and then turned OFF after a third predetermined time, which is longer than the first predetermined time but shorter than the second predetermined time, has elapsed, the point is switched.It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the model railway control device of the present invention, by consolidating many of the operations related to the model railway into one switch, it is possible to further reduce the number of parts and make the entire device smaller, and it is also possible to easily perform multiple operations with just one switch, which also allows for further cost reductions. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

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

[0013] Hereinafter, a representative embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 13 show one embodiment of the present invention. The model railway control device 1 according to this embodiment is a device for controlling various operations, including the running state, of a model railway vehicle 72 running on a track 71. The components, shapes, numerical values, etc. shown in the embodiment described below are all examples of the present invention and do not limit the present invention. Furthermore, the relative dimensional relationships and shapes of the components shown in each drawing may be subject to appropriate design changes and may differ from the actual ones. Note that detailed explanations of already well-known matters and redundant explanations of substantially identical configurations may be omitted as appropriate.

[0014] <Overview of the Model Railway Control Device 1> First, Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the internal circuitry of the model railway control device 1, and Fig. 2 shows an external view of the model railway control device 1 combined with a model railway vehicle 72 and a track 71. The configuration of the model railway control device 1 will be explained below in order based on Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the railway vehicle control device 1 (hereinafter also abbreviated as "controller 1") is connected to a power source 30 that supplies current to a model railway vehicle 72 (hereinafter also abbreviated as "vehicle 72"), and a track 71 on which the vehicle 72 runs.

[0015] <About Power Supply 30> The power supply 30 is external to the model railroad vehicle 72 and the control device 1 and supplies current to them. Since the standard for a typical model railroad vehicle 72 is set to output approximately 12 V (some models have up to 16 V), the power supply 30 of this embodiment supplies, for example, a 12 V 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, or the like, all of which supply, for example, 12 V DC.

[0016] Power supply 30 is connected via power supply conductor 11 to input terminal 32 (see FIG. 8) including a power jack on power supply board 31 inside control device 1, and noise removal and stabilization are performed by capacitor 33. Note that noise removal and current stabilization by capacitor 33 are not necessarily required due to improvements in AC adapter performance and the use of dry batteries, etc. Also, the current from power supply 30 is configured to pass through protection circuit 34 to ensure safety in case of an environment where a short circuit is likely to occur at the output to line 71 (described later) and in case of a malfunction within control device 1.

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

[0018] <About Track 71> As shown in FIG. 1, the control device 1 is connected to a vehicle track 71 via an output conductor 12, as described above. The track 71 is provided with a track connection portion 71b at an appropriate location for connecting the output end of the output conductor 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the track 71 is configured by arranging two metal rails in parallel on the left and right, and positive and negative currents are set to flow through the left and right rails, respectively. Because positive and negative electricity flow through the rails of the track 71 in this way, there is a risk of a short circuit if conductive metal or the like comes into contact with the track 71.

[0019] 2, point 71a (see FIG. 1) is provided midway along the track 71, which branches the track 71 into two directions. The specific configuration of point 71a is common and will not be described in detail here, but the control device 1 is configured to be able to perform point switching at point 71a by operating a switch that selects the direction of travel at point 71a using an electric current.

[0020] <About the 72 model train> The model railroad vehicle 72 is equipped with a 12V motor 73 (see FIG. 1) that matches the output of the power supply 30 described above. The motor 73 is an electric motor that is driven by direct current (DC). The output shaft of the motor 73 is connected to wheels via multiple gears (not shown). Therefore, when the motor 73 rotates, the rotational force is transmitted to the wheels via the gears, causing the model railroad vehicle 72 to move. Note that the vehicle 72 is not limited to a single vehicle, and multiple vehicles may 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 is then supplied to the motor 73 via the wheel frame, which is also made of metal. When current flows through the motor 73, the wheels rotate in either the forward or reverse direction, causing the vehicle 72 to move forward or backward. Here, by switching the polarity of the power source 30, i.e., the positive and negative polarities of the current flowing through the left and right rails, the vehicle 72 can be made to move forward or backward, or change its direction of travel. The vehicle 72 is also provided with lights 74 (see Figure 2) that can be turned on, such as headlights, taillights, and interior lights.

[0022] <About the Railway Model Control Device 1> 1, the model railway control device 1, which is 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, and display unit 3. Also, as mentioned above, the model railway control device 1 is connected to a power source 30, tracks 71, etc.

[0023] The control unit 52 controls various operations related to the model railway, such as the supply of current from the power source 30 and the switching of points 71a on the track 71, in addition to various operations of the vehicle 72, and is composed of, for example, a microcomputer. Specifically, the microcomputer here is composed of circuits whose main components include a processor (CPU), a non-volatile memory (ROM) that stores programs executed by the processor and various fixed data, and a volatile memory (RAM) that stores data temporarily required to execute the programs.

[0024] Representative functions of the control unit 52 include, for example, the ability to separately execute various operations such as switching the direction of travel of the vehicle 72, stopping and restarting the supply of current from the power source 30, and switching the points of the track 71 based on the determination of ON and OFF times by the operation of one 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 turning on and off the lights 74 of the vehicle 72. Note that the control unit 52 is controlled by PWM output to prevent heat dissipation from the vehicle control unit 53 and to enable the lights 74 of the vehicle 72 to be turned on even when the vehicle is stopped.

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

[0026] <<About 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 perform a plurality of operations, such as switching the direction of travel of the vehicle, with a single switch, and a switch 22 that adjusts the traveling speed of the vehicle 72. These switches 21 and 22 are arranged on the upper surface side of a case 1a (described later) of the control device 1, and are mounted on a switch board 20 (see FIG. 8) within the control device 1. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, a display unit 3 is arranged between the switches 21 and 22.

[0027] The single switch 21 is capable of single-handedly operating various operations such as switching the direction of travel of the vehicle 72, stopping and restarting the supply of current from the power source 30, and switching the points 71a of the track 71, and is, for example, a momentary button-type switch that turns ON only when pushed. The operation signal of the switch 21 is output to the control unit 52 of the control device 1 as described above, and in this embodiment, the following four operations are set to be executed separately based on the determination of the ON and OFF times in the control unit 52.

[0028] That is, when the switch 21 is operated to first turn ON and then turn OFF after a first predetermined time or more has elapsed, the traveling direction of the vehicle 72 is set to change. Here, the first predetermined time is a design item that can be set appropriately, specifically, for example, to 1.5 to 2 seconds, but is an arbitrary time shorter than the second predetermined time and the third predetermined time described below. Note that it is preferable that the traveling direction of the vehicle 72 be changed continuously.

[0029] Furthermore, when the switch 21 is operated to alternate between ON and OFF a specific number of times within the first predetermined time, the supply of current from the power source 30 is immediately stopped. Here, the specific number is a design factor that can be appropriately set to a number of times, specifically, two or more times. When the supply of current is stopped by operating the switch 21, the aforementioned change in direction of travel and other operations such as the point change, which will be described later, are disabled until the current supply stop is reset as described below.

[0030] Furthermore, when the switch 21 is operated to keep the current supply stopped and the ON state continues for a second predetermined time (approximately 5 seconds) that exceeds the first predetermined time, the current supply from the power supply 30 is set to resume (the current supply stop is reset). Specifically, the second predetermined time is a design item that can be set as appropriate, for example, to 5 seconds that is longer than the first predetermined time.

[0031] Furthermore, when switch 21 is operated to turn OFF after a third predetermined time, which is longer than the first predetermined time but shorter than the second predetermined time, has elapsed since the switch was turned ON, point 71a is set to switch. Here, the third predetermined time is a design factor that can be appropriately set, for example, to the interval between the first and second predetermined times, such as 3 seconds. It is also preferable that such switching of point 71a be made possible through continuous switching.

[0032] Fig. 3 is a timing chart showing waveforms of signals based on operation of switch 21. In Fig. 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. The evenly spaced t on the horizontal axis corresponds to, for example, 1.5 to 2.0 seconds, with one graduation of t (t x 1) corresponding to a first predetermined time, three graduations of t (t x 3) corresponding to a second predetermined time, and two graduations of t (t x 2) corresponding to a 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 times described above, no operations related to vehicle 72 and point 71a are executed. Also, as shown in the waveform of signal b, when switch 21 is turned ON and then turned OFF after the first predetermined time or more (and less than the third predetermined time) has elapsed, the traveling direction of vehicle 72 changes at that time ("change of direction" in FIG. 3). Note that the switching of the traveling direction of vehicle 72 may be set so that the traveling direction alternates continuously if, for example, switch 21 is turned ON immediately after turning OFF.

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

[0035] In this way, the operation of restarting the supply of current that was once stopped in an emergency by signal d by operating switch 21 ("reset" in Figure 3) requires that the ON state be maintained continuously for the second predetermined time while the supply of current is stopped, but thereafter, for example, it may be set to reset when the switch is turned OFF after the second predetermined time has elapsed, or to automatically reset when the ON state has been maintained continuously for the second predetermined time.

[0036] Furthermore, as shown in the waveform of signal e, when switch 21 is turned ON and then turned OFF after a third predetermined time has elapsed, which is longer than the first predetermined time but shorter than the second predetermined time, point 71a switches at that point ("point switching" in FIG. 3). Regarding such switching of point 71a, it may also be set so that point 71a switches alternately and continuously if, for example, switch is turned ON immediately after being turned OFF.

[0037] Next, the other switch 22 is used to adjust the running speed of the vehicle 72, and is made up of, for example, a volume (variable resistor) type switch that can be adjusted continuously by rotating it. By appropriately rotating switch 22, the control unit 52 or vehicle control unit 53 transforms the current from the power source 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, adjusting the running speed with switch 22 also includes stopping the vehicle (speed 0).

[0038] 6 and 7 each show modified examples of the operation unit 2 in the control device 1. In FIG. 6, instead of the volume (variable resistor) type switch 22 that adjusts the traveling speed of the vehicle 72, a lever type switch 23 shown in the figure is used as a switch that also adjusts the traveling speed. Also, in FIG. 7, instead of the button type switch 21 that instructs multiple operations, a toggle type switch 24 shown in the figure is used as a switch that also instructs multiple operations.

[0039] Furthermore, to further reduce the size of the switch 21, it is advisable to use a general tactile switch (not shown). A tactile switch is a momentary switch for minute currents that turns on only when pushed, which not only allows for a smaller component, but also reduces component costs. As such, 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] <<About display unit 3>> Next, we will explain the display unit 3 of the control device 1. In this embodiment, since the traveling direction of the vehicle 72 and the switching of the point 71a are consolidated into the operation of one switch 21, the display unit 3 made up of LEDs or the like is installed to display information so that the traveling direction of the vehicle 72 and the branching direction can be seen.

[0041] The display unit 3 is configured to receive signals sent from the control unit 52 and the vehicle control unit 53, and to display the control state of the vehicle 72, such as the direction of travel (forward / backward), stopping, acceleration, deceleration, etc., in a manner that allows each to be distinguished from the other by lighting or emitting colors of LEDs, etc. The lighting display by the display unit 3 also serves to confirm the supply of power from the power source 30.

[0042] <<Case 1a and component layout>> The components of the model railway control device 1 described above are housed inside a case 1a that forms the outer shell of the entire device, as shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 4, the case 1a is formed in a slightly horizontally elongated cube shape, and its top surface forms an operation panel 1b on which the switches 21, 22 and the display unit 3 are arranged. Also, as shown in Fig. 5, a power supply conductor penetration 11a is provided on one end surface of the case 1a for passing the power supply conductor 11 therethrough, and an output conductor penetration 12a is provided on the other side surface of the case 1a for passing the output conductor 12 therethrough.

[0043] Next, the arrangement of components within the case 1a of the control device 1 will be described with reference to Figures 8 to 10. In order to make it possible for the entire case 1a of the control device 1 to fit in the palm of the hand and to operate it with one hand, it is necessary to arrange the components taking into consideration the shape and role of each component, the operability of the parts that protrude outside the case 1a, wiring for efficient connections, and preventing short circuits. Furthermore, it is also necessary to give sufficient consideration to the orientation and fixing means of each component, and as a result, the components are arranged as shown in Figures 8 to 10.

[0044] Among the layout of the 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 must be designed to ensure sufficient durability even for a small board, considering the connection standards, the power plug typically attached to the connection part of the power supply lead 11, and the attachment and detachment of the output lead 12, as well as the large force applied when inserting and removing them. Therefore, the power supply board 31 is aligned with the dimensions inside the case 1a, and the contact surface between the power supply board 31 and the bottom surface of the case 1a is made flat when viewed from above. This allows for fixing with screws or the like, but adhesive tape or the like can also be used to ensure sufficient durability.

[0045] 9, control circuit board 51, which mounts control unit 52 and vehicle control unit 53, is arranged in the space created between switches 21, 22 and display unit 3, which are arranged in an optimal layout on operation panel 1b, which is the top surface of case 1a, and power supply circuit board 31 and switch circuit board 20. Control circuit board 51 is sized so that at least two sides of control circuit board 51 come into contact with the inside of case 1a, so that heat dissipation measures for the motor driver (transistor) that constitutes vehicle control unit 53 can also be taken.

[0046] Such a case 1a of the control device 1 provides sufficient heat dissipation measures for the control circuit board 51. Furthermore, depending on the upper limit of the current to be set and the performance of the components, if the control circuit 52 comes into contact with the case 1a or there is a small gap large enough for one or two sheets of paper to fit, a heat-conducting material and a metal plate may be used to further dissipate heat. With the above-described component layout, the case 1a is formed to a size and shape that fits in one hand, and each switch 21, 22 can be operated while holding it with one hand on the top surface of the case 1a. The specific size of the case 1a should be set to, for example, a total of approximately 12 cm in length, width, and height.

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

[0048] That is, as shown in Fig. 11, one switch 21 can be used to change the direction of travel of the vehicle 72 and to stop and restart the supply of current from the power source 30. Also, as shown in Fig. 12, the other switch 22 can be used to adjust the volume of the running speed of the vehicle 72. Here, in order to stop the running of the vehicle 72, in addition to using the one switch 21 to immediately stop the supply of current to bring about an emergency stop, it is also possible to stop the running of the vehicle 72 by operating the other switch 22, which changes the direction of finger movement but sets the running speed to 0.

[0049] An example of a situation where it is necessary to immediately and urgently stop the supply of current to the line 71 is when a short circuit occurs on the line 71. Regarding the stopping of the running of the vehicle 72, in addition to the manual operation of the switches 21 and 22 described above, the supply of current to the line 71 can also be stopped by, for example, setting a dead time by the control unit 52 or the vehicle control unit 53, or by cutting off the current by the protection circuit 34. Furthermore, the stop of the current supply can be reset and the current supply can be resumed by operating the same switch 21. Such control is executed by the control unit 52 or the vehicle control unit 53.

[0050] Furthermore, the direction of travel of the vehicle 72 can be changed by operating the switch 21 to switch the polarity of the power source 30, i.e., the positive and negative polarity of the current flowing through the left and right rails of the track 71, thereby easily causing the vehicle 72 to move forward or backward and change its direction of travel. Furthermore, the running speed of the vehicle 72 can be easily controlled by operating the other switch 22 to transform the current from the power source 30 and adjust the current flowing through the track 71, thereby making it possible to increase or decrease the running speed of the vehicle 72. These controls are also executed by the control unit 52 or the vehicle control unit 53.

[0051] The display unit 3 receives signals sent from the control unit 52 and the vehicle control unit 53, and displays the control state of the vehicle 72, such as the direction of travel (forward / reverse), stopping, acceleration, or deceleration, in a manner that allows them to be distinguished from one another by lighting or emitting colors of LEDs, etc. This allows the user of the control device 1 to easily grasp the state of various operations in the vehicle 72 by visually checking the display unit 3, regardless of the physical positions of the switches 21 and 22.

[0052] The case 1a of the control device 1 described above is sized and shaped to fit in one hand, and each switch 21, 22 can be operated while being held in one hand. Therefore, the control device 1 does not require installation on the floor or a desk, and can be easily used in outdoor event venues or environments where installation space is not available for conventional stationary control devices (for example, on a restaurant counter or in an event train), and even young users can easily control the vehicle 72.

[0053] The present control device 1 is easier to operate for younger users without any deterioration in operability for average adult users. Generally, model railroad cars 72 are distinguished from toy railroad cars, and because of their precise vehicle design and the fact that electric current is passed through the tracks to run the trains, manufacturers and sellers have set out age restrictions that do not recommend them for use by children of elementary school age or younger. However, the reality is that they are increasingly being used under the supervision of an adult with due consideration given to safety.

[0054] 11 and 12, the case 1a of the control device 1 can be supported comfortably in one hand, but to provide a more stable grip, increase safety in preventing the device from falling when used for presentations, etc., and fully utilize the benefits of being able to fit in one hand, hooks or the like (not shown) for hooking onto some of the fingers may be provided. Such hooks or the like do not necessarily need to be fixed integrally to the case 1a, but may be attached so that they can be attached and detached as needed.

[0055] Furthermore, assuming that the control device 1 is used in the above-mentioned environment or by a young user, it is conceivable that the vehicle 72 may easily derail from the track 71 at full speed, which is close to the standard upper limit of 12V (up to 16V) and a duty ratio of 100%. To eliminate such concerns and allow for enjoyment, it is conceivable to provide a switch 25 for changing (mainly lowering) the upper limit of the running speed in an appropriate position on the control circuit board 51, as shown in FIG.

[0056] Of course, as shown in Fig. 13, the present control device 1 can be installed on the floor or a desk, just like a conventional stationary control device, and can be used without any inconvenience. In particular, the compact size of the case 1a allows for more space to be secured for other tasks, and allows for effective use of limited floor or desk space. Furthermore, the compact and lightweight design of the case 1a makes it possible to install and use the device not only on the floor or a desk, but also on a vertical wall, for example, by using double-sided tape.

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

[0058] First, the present invention provides a model railway control device 1 for controlling various operations of a model railway vehicle 72 running on a track 71 by supplying current from an external source, The various operations include at least changing the direction of travel of the model railroad vehicle 72, stopping the supply of current, and restarting the supply of current, and a single switch 21 is provided for instructing these various operations; By determining the ON and OFF times of the switch 21, When the signal is turned OFF after a first predetermined time has elapsed since the signal was turned ON, the direction of travel of the model railroad vehicle 72 is changed, When the ON to OFF state occurs a specific number of times within the first predetermined time, the supply of the current is stopped, When the supply of the current is stopped and the ON state continues for a second predetermined time that exceeds the first predetermined time, the supply of the current is resumed.

[0059] With this model railroad control device 1, switching the direction of travel of the vehicle 72 and stopping and restarting the supply of current from the power source 30 can be accomplished by operating a single switch 21. This is because by determining the ON and OFF times for the operation of a single switch 21, it is possible to set signals related to multiple controls in accordance with the ON and OFF times.

[0060] This eliminates the need to arrange many switches such as operating levers and push buttons, reducing the number of switches and enabling a more compact overall configuration. Also, by reducing the number of switches and their associated parts, manufacturing costs can be reduced. Furthermore, operations related to multiple controls are consolidated into a single switch 21, and combined with the compact size, operation of the switch 21 becomes easier. Note that using a tactile switch as the switch 21 allows for further miniaturization, cost reduction, and easier operation.

[0061] In addition, in the present invention, the various operations include switching of points 71a of the track 71 on which the model railroad vehicle 72 runs, When the switch 21 is operated to turn it ON and then turn it 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 is switched.

[0062] In this way, the control that is consolidated into the operation of one switch 21 may also include the switching of points on the track 71 that is closely related to the operation of the model railroad car 72 itself. This also reduces the number of switches related to point switching. Note that instead of or in addition to the switching operation of points 71a, this can also be applied to switching the signal aspect (light color) of a signal (not shown) installed separately along the track 71.

[0063] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that the same operation can be performed when the same signal as that output by operating the switch 21 is input from the outside. As a result, control circuits for various operations can be shared even in operating devices such as remote controls that output signals from the outside, making it possible to process signals in the same way as and in parallel with signals from switch 21, facilitating operation. Here, signals can be transmitted wirelessly in a non-contact manner between the operating device that outputs signals from the outside and this control device 1, and radio waves or infrared rays, for example, can be used.

[0064] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that the change of the traveling direction is disabled except when the model railroad vehicle 72 is stopped or at a speed close to stopping. According to the present invention, because it has become easier to change the direction of travel of vehicle 72 and the point 71a, there is a risk that incorrect operation or intentional continuous switching operations may cause damage to the motor 73 of vehicle 72 and parts of point 71a (such as the coil spring of the switch).To eliminate such concerns, the direction of travel of vehicle 72 is controlled so that it cannot be changed except when the vehicle is stopped or at a speed close to stopping.

[0065] Furthermore, in the present invention, the case 1a forming the outer shell of the model railway control device 1 is formed to a size and shape that can be held 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] This not only enables the aforementioned aggregation of switches 21, but also makes it possible to further reduce the overall size of case 1a by optimizing the layout of the components constituting control device 1 within case 1a as described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. Therefore, switch 21 can be operated even more easily even when holding control device 1 in one hand without having to place it on the floor or a desk.

[0067] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention also includes modifications and additions that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention. For example, the model railroad control device 1 can be later combined with a model railroad vehicle 72 and track 71 that a user already owns, or it may be manufactured and sold as a model railroad kit that combines the model railroad control device 1 with the model railroad vehicle 72 and track 71 from the beginning.

[0068] Furthermore, the controls integrated into the operation of one switch 21 are basically four operations: switching the direction of travel of the model railroad vehicle 72, stopping and restarting the supply of current from the power source 30, and switching the point 71a, but of these, switching the point 71a is not essential and may be omitted. Furthermore, the control of other operations related to the model railroad vehicle 72 may also be configured to be integrated into the operation of one switch 21.

[0069] Furthermore, the model railroad control device 1 does not originally have to be a dedicated control device for the model railroad cars 72, but may be configured by modifying a control device that wirelessly controls a toy railroad car with a built-in dry cell battery via radio or infrared communication, as shown in Patent No. 6941532 already proposed by the present applicant. In this way, the device used to wirelessly control the toy railroad car can be used as is, without having to be discarded when the user moves away from the toy railroad car, and the model railroad car can be controlled wirelessly in a manner comparable to that of an existing control device and can be enjoyed wirelessly. [Industrial Applicability]

[0070] The present invention can be widely applied as a model railway control device for a wide range of users, regardless of age, to enjoy model railway vehicles. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1...Train model control device 1a…Case 1b...Operation panel 2...Operation unit 20...Switch board 21...One switch 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 terminal 33...Capacitor 34…Protection circuit 35...Step-down circuit 36...Vehicle control output section 51...Controller board 52...Control unit 53...Vehicle control unit 71...Railway 71a...Point 72...Model train 73...Motor 74...Light

Claims

1. A model railway control device for controlling various operations of a model railway vehicle running on a track by supplying current from an external source, the various operations include at least changing the direction of travel of the model railroad vehicle, stopping the supply of current, and restarting the supply of current, and a switch is provided for instructing these various operations; By determining the ON and OFF times of the switch operation, When the switch is turned OFF after a first predetermined time has elapsed since the switch was turned ON, the direction of travel of the model railroad vehicle is changed, When the ON to OFF cycle occurs a specific number of times within the first predetermined time, the supply of the current is stopped, When the supply of the current is stopped and the ON state continues for a second predetermined time period that exceeds the first predetermined time period, the supply of the current is resumed; The various operations include switching points on the track on which the model railroad vehicle runs, When the switch is turned ON by operation and then turned OFF after a third predetermined time period that is longer than the first predetermined time period and shorter than the second predetermined time period has elapsed, the points are switched.

2. 2. A model railway control device according to claim 1, wherein the control device is configured so that the same operation can be performed when the same signal as the signal output by the operation of the switch is input from an external device.

3. 2. The model railroad control device according to claim 1, wherein said control device is set so that said direction of travel cannot be changed except when said model railroad vehicle is at a stop or a speed close to a stop.

4. The case forming the outer shell of the model railroad control device is formed to a size and shape that can be held in one hand, 2. The model railroad control device according to claim 1, wherein the switch can be operated while being held in one hand on the outer wall of the case.

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