Abrégé

A method and apparatus is shown to allow expanded control capability for devices on and attached to a model railroad layout. Included is the capability for track section occupancy detection for one or more track sections, employing a switched impedance occupancy detection method, simultaneously allowing; transponding location and/or data feedback detection and intelligent power management, and/or autoreversing methods in the same device, and further providing for this encoded detection and power state information to be communicated to a layout control and monitoring system. Additional capability is to display on the local device or remote indicator lights and/or aural alarms any user selectable device state information by employing a recognizable and predefined indication pattern.

Classes IPC  ?

• G05D 1/00 - Commande de la position, du cap, de l'altitude ou de l'attitude des véhicules terrestres, aquatiques, aériens ou spatiaux, p.ex. pilote automatique
• A63H 19/00 - Trains miniatures
• A63H 19/24 - Trains électriques; Leurs systèmes
• A63H 19/14 - Dispositions pour imiter les traits caractéristiques des locomotives, p.ex. sifflets, signalisation, halètement

Abrégé

A method and apparatus is shown to allow expanded control capability of digital locomotives on model railroad layouts that also permit compatible speed and direction operation simultaneously for non-digital or conventional locomotives alongside. The improvements employ mixed-mode control encoding and decoding algorithms and methods that are expanded beyond the prior art for control mode changes used on model railroad layouts.

Classes IPC  ?

• B61L 7/00 - Commande à distance des dispositifs locaux de manœuvre pour aiguillages, signaux ou blocs d'arrêt