OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention refers to an on-track localization system for digitally controlled,
model electric vehicles, such as racing vehicles (slots), electric trains and similar
model vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] At present, toys which consist in model vehicles with road or track-guided movement
are known, racing vehicles (slots) and electric trains being the most well known.
[0003] These tracks or roads comprise a pair of metallic strips or continuous parallel electrodes
on which brushes or vehicle parts make contact and from which they dynamically take
the necessary electric power to drive a direct-current motor fitted to the vehicle,
and, in some cases, lighting.
[0004] In the case of slot vehicles, there are several tracks in parallel to allow overtaking,
the wheels of the vehicles driving along a support in the tracks that simulates a
road or speed-circuit, usually made from pieces that fit together. In this case, each
track comprises a groove flanked by both electrodes; in this groove, the brush-fitted
vehicle guide is inserted and slides along it.
[0005] Traditionally, variation in speed was obtained by changing the power voltage supplied
to the vehicle's motor by means of a user-operated rheostat. For this reason, a track
is needed for each vehicle, detracting competitiveness on the tracks having different
morphologies (inside, outside, slopes, etc).
[0006] Nowadays, this problem has been solved by means of digital control. This control
is based on supplying each vehicle with a decoding/regulating circuit capable of reading
individualized control signals sent by means of pulse modulation in the power supply
of the vehicles through the electrodes in the tracks, the power supply of which becomes
continuous in this case, equal to the nominal engine rate, and common to all tracks
and vehicles. The circuit decoding part for each vehicle interprets the commands that
the vehicle receives (speed level, switching on/off of lighting) and the regulating
part executes them, either regulating the voltage reaching the motor or switching
the lighting. Control signal individualization is carried out by giving a single code
to each vehicle in the commands, so that, out of all the commands emitted to the electrodes
for all the vehicles on the tracks, each vehicle is capable of discriminating its
own. This allows the traffic of all vehicles along all the tracks, enabling the choice
of the most suitable route and permitting track changes for overtaking by means of
suitable track-changing electromechanical devices.
[0007] The power supply and control signals are supplied by a micro-processed control console
to which the controls that the users operate are connected.
[0008] The track-changing electromechanical devices are the same as the traditional electric
train track changes or split-switches and are activated in the chosen direction on
each vehicle passing, according to the orders that the user gives from his control,
suitably processed and transformed into commands by the digital control, namely in
the console.
[0009] The digital control also comprises the fitting of a vehicle localization system to
synchronize certain events, such as the selection of a road or track change in one
direction or the other or the logging of a time (timing), with the passing of a specific
vehicle and not another one.
[0010] In slots, this localization system has been carried by means of a network of sensors
suitably distributed along the route. When a user generates a command for their vehicle
that needs external synchronization, for example a track change, the vehicle receives
the command and emits a signal that, on going past any sensor, is picked up by the
sensor, locating the vehicle and used by the control to synchronize the corresponding
action, for example track-change activation for that vehicle without affecting others.
[0011] The implementation of these sensors is nowadays based on mechanical and magneto-mechanical
systems, where a magnet is activated by a mechanical system activated on the vehicle
passing; or also by optical systems, where a photodiode detects the beam emitted by
another photodiode emitter fitted inside the vehicle.
[0012] In the first of these cases, there is considerable power loss both through mechanical
rubbing and the magnetic fields, whereas failures due to dirt in the photodiodes or
inadequate light conditions are caused in the second case.
[0013] These inconveniences are overcome by the use of the system referred to in this invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The invented system has an optimum embodiment to implement the effective localization
of digitally controlled model vehicles along the route they make, avoiding the disadvantages
described above.
[0015] To this end, a network of sensors adequately distributed along the tracks or roads
is fitted, with the special characteristic of each sensor comprising a short-length
conductor section that is inserted into an electrode. This section has the suitable
shape to match the profile of the electrode and is interconnected by means of a bridge
that inserts a resistance with a considerable ohmic value.
[0016] The invention likewise provides for the integration in each vehicle of a circuit
generating a signal suitable to be detected by the sensors. Such a circuit includes
a derivation, parallel to the normal charges (motor, lighting, decoding/regulating
circuit) of the vehicle.
[0017] The aforementioned derivation is fitted with a resistance of an ohmic value considerably
less than that of the previous resistance, but in turn considerably larger than the
resistance of the normal charges of the vehicle so as not to weaken the power capable
of being reached by them. Serial with this second resistance, the derivation includes
a switch controlled by the decoding/regulating circuit that the vehicle is equipped
with.
[0018] When the vehicle receives a signal requiring external synchronization, track change,
for example, its decoding/regulating circuit turns the derivation switch off. On the
vehicle passing the first sensor it finds, a voltage divider circuit comprising both
serial resistances is switched off. Given that the resistance value of the sensor
is considerably larger than that in the resistance of the signal-generating circuit
fitted to the vehicle, a voltage variation in the sensor is produced at that moment
that will trigger the signal of the vehicle passing the position of the sensor. This
signal is picked up by the digital control to synchronize the event, for example,
track-changing activation, or the logging of a time.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019]
Figure 1 shows a general view of a section of the circuit that implements the invented
system.
Figure 2 shows a detail of a vehicle that implements the invented system.
Figure 3 shows a detail of track change according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF A PRACTICAL EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The invented system comprises the insertion in the earth electrode 1, out of the
couple 1, 2 that make up the tracks 3 where a model racing vehicle (slot) runs and
gets its power, of a number of sensors 4 made up of short-length conductor sections
4a that are interconnected to the electrode 1 by means of bridges 6 fitted with a
resistance 7 with a considerably high ohmic value, so that, under normal conditions,
these sections have the same potential as the electrode 1. The sections 4a have the
same profile as that of the electrode itself to minimize rubbing or unbraiding of
the brushes, and in this example of the invention they are inserted into interrupts
fitted to the electrode, taking advantage of the bridge 6 to ensure electrical continuity
between its open ends 5a, 5b, as seen in figure 2.
[0021] By distributing the sensors 4 around interesting places along the tracks, before
track changes 10, or at the finishing line, for example, a detecting network will
have been configured capable of informing the digital control about the passing of
a specific vehicle from its position. The digital control includes a console 12 to
which the controls 22 of different users are connected, as well as the sensors 4 through
adapter circuits 13.
[0022] The invention also includes fitting each vehicle 14 with a circuit 15 prepared to
generate a suitable signal to be picked up by the sensors 4. Said circuit comprises
a derivation 16 parallel to the motor 17, lighting 18 and decoding/regulating circuit
19 of the vehicle. A resistance with an ohmic value considerably less than that in
the bridge resistance 7 is included at this derivation, as well as a serial switch
21 controlled by the circuit 19. When the user of a vehicle commands a specific action
using their control 22, track change in this example of the invention, the console,
by means of pulse modulation in the electrodes of the tracks, emits the corresponding
command, which includes the identification of the specific vehicle. The command is
interpreted by the decoding part of the circuit 19 and its regulating part turns the
switch 21 off. On the vehicle passing along the section 4a, the voltage divider circuit
comprising the serial resistances 7 and 20 closes, causing a variation in the normal
voltage of the section 4a, an event that is detected by the digital control through
the adapter circuit 13. This signal will be picked up by the digital control for the
synchronized activation of the track-changing electromechanical device 22, on the
vehicle going past.
[0023] The circuit 15 is completed with the insertion of a condenser 23 parallel to the
normal charges of the vehicle (motor, lighting, and circuit 19), a condenser that
stores power to supply these elements during the brief space of time elapsing during
the passing by of the sensor, where their voltage supply drops, a diode 24 preventing
the discharging of the condenser through the sensor.
[0024] Having sufficiently described the nature of the invention, as well as the way to
embody it in practice, it must be emphasized that the previously indicated layouts,
represented in the attached drawings, may be modified in details as long as they do
not alter the fundamental principle.
1. -On-track localization system for digitally-controlled, model electric vehicles, such
as racing vehicles, electric trains and similar; of the system-type comprising a number
of sensors suitably arranged on one or more tracks or roads along which several vehicles
are guided powered by an electrical engine supplied with constant voltage by two parallel
electrodes forming part of the track or road, whose movement is digitally controlled
according to user orders by injecting pulse modulation control signals into the power
supply including an identifier for each vehicle and orders to execute such as speed
or track changes, signals that are identified and discriminated from the rest, and
carried out in each vehicle by an inbuilt decoding/regulating circuit; the execution
of some of the aforementioned commands including the generation of a signal, on the
vehicle passing one of the sensors, to synchronize the execution of an action like
track-change activation or time-logging; characterized by each sensor comprising a short-length conductor section inserted into one of the
electrodes along the track to which it is interconnected through a bridge that integrates
a serial resistance with a high ohmic value; each vehicle is additionally fitted with
a synchronism signal generating circuit comprising a derivation parallel to the engine,
a decoding/regulating circuit and lighting where necessary, the aforementioned derivation
including a switch controlled by the decoding/regulating circuit serial with a resistance
having an ohmic value considerably less than that in the resistance of the bridge
of the sensor but considerably larger than that of other vehicle charges, in such
a way that, the switch being off according to the received code tone, when the vehicle
passes over the sensor, a voltage divider circuit is established according to which
a voltage variation is produced in the sensor that is interpreted as a localization
signal on the vehicle passing its position.
2. -System according to claim 1, characterized by fitting, in parallel with a vehicle decoding/regulating and lighting circuit, a condenser
capable of supplying power to these elements on the vehicle passing the sensor, as
well as a diode that prevents the discharging of the above-mentioned condenser through
the sensor.
3. -System according to claim 1, characterized by the conductor section that forms part of each sensor being inserted at a discontinuity
of the corresponding electrode in the track, implementing the electrical continuity
of the electrode in this area by means of the sensor interconnection bridge.