Led light board for a model train system and related methods

Abstract

An LED light board for a model train system includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having a decoder and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted thereon. The decoder includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, where the processor is coupled to the plurality of LEDs and is configured to control the plurality of LEDs. The decoder is configured to receive a a digital command control (DCC) signal comprising a plurality of configuration variables from a DCC hand controller via a model train track and to store the plurality of configuration variables in the memory. The processor is configured to read the plurality of configuration variables stored in the memory to control the plurality of LEDs. The LED light board also includes an accelerometer coupled to the decoder and is configured to turn the plurality of LEDs on and off in response to sensing movement.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An LED light board for a model train system comprising:
 a printed circuit board (PCB) having a decoder and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted thereon;   the decoder comprising,
 a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the processor coupled to the plurality of LEDs and configured to control the plurality of LEDs; 
   wherein the decoder is configured to receive a digital command control (DCC) signal comprising a plurality of configuration variables from a DCC hand controller via a model train track and to store the plurality of configuration variables in the memory.   
     
     
         2 . The LED light board of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to read the plurality of configuration variables stored in the memory to control the plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         3 . The LED light board of  claim 2 , wherein the memory comprises non-volatile memory configured to store software for operating the decoder and to store the plurality of configuration variables. 
     
     
         4 . The LED light board of  claim 3 , further comprising an accelerometer coupled to the decoder and configured to turn the plurality of LEDs on and off in response to sensing movement. 
     
     
         5 . The LED light board of  claim 3 , further comprising a switching power circuit configured to receiver power from the model train track and to regulate power to the processor and the plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         6 . The LED light board of  claim 3 , the decoder further comprising a solid state magnetic switch coupled to the memory and configured to reset the memory to factory settings. 
     
     
         7 . The LED light board of  claim 5 , the decoder further comprising further a plurality of capacitors coupled to the switching power supply and configured to be enabled only when the LEDs are on to provide uninterrupted power to the plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         8 . The LED light board of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of LEDs comprise a first row and a second row of LEDS mounted to the PCB. 
     
     
         9 . The LED light board of  claim 3 , wherein a first configuration variable of the plurality of configuration variables corresponds to a brightness of the plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         10 . The LED light board of  claim 9 , the decoder further comprising a plurality of auxiliary LEDs coupled to the processor and configured to be controlled separately from the plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         11 . The LED light board of  claim 10 , wherein the decoder is assigned a unique address by the DCC controller in order to program the decoder to receive and store only the plurality of configuration variables corresponding to the unique address. 
     
     
         12 . An LED light board for a model train system comprising:
 a digital command control (DCC) hand controller;   a model train car having a plurality of wheels configured to roll along a model train track, the model train track configured to transmit power and signals to the model train car as the plurality of wheels contact the model train track; and   a decoder and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted within the model train car, the decoder configured to receive a DCC signal comprising a plurality of configuration variables from the DCC hand controller via the model train track and to store the plurality of configuration variables.   
     
     
         13 . The LED light board of  claim 12 , wherein the decoder is configured to read the plurality of configuration variables to control the plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         14 . The LED light board of  claim 13 , wherein the decoder further comprises an accelerometer configured to turn the plurality of LEDs on and off in response to sensing movement, and a switching power circuit configured to receiver power from the model train track and to regulate power to the decoder and the plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         15 . The LED light board of  claim 14 , the decoder further comprising further a plurality of capacitors coupled to the switching power supply and configured to be enabled only when the LEDs are on to provide uninterrupted power to the plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         16 . The LED light board of  claim 15 , wherein the decoder is assigned a unique address by the DCC controller in order to program the decoder to receive and store only the plurality of configuration variables corresponding to the unique address. 
     
     
         17 . A method to control an LED light board of a model train, the LED light board comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) and having a decoder and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted thereon, the decoder comprises a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the processor is coupled to the plurality of LEDs and is configured to control the plurality of LEDs, the method comprising:
 receiving a digital command control (DCC) signal comprising a plurality of configuration variables from a DCC hand controller via the model train track; and   storing the plurality of configuration variables in the memory.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising turning the plurality of LEDS on and off in response to an accelerometer coupled to the processor sensing movement. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising regulating power to the decoder and the plurality of LEDs received from a model trail track using a switching power circuit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising assigning a unique address to the decoder using the DCC controller in order to program the decoder to receive and store only the plurality of configuration variables corresponding to the unique address.