Led scene controller for a model train system and related methods

Abstract

An LED scene controller for a model train system includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having a decoder and a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) ports mounted thereon, and a plurality of special effects components with each coupled to a respective LED port. The decoder includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, where the processor is coupled to the plurality of LED ports. The decoder is configured to receive a digital command control (DCC) signal comprising a plurality of configuration variables from a DCC hand controller and to store the plurality of configuration variables in the memory. The processor is configured to read the plurality of configuration variables to control the plurality of special effects components coupled to the plurality of LED ports. The decoder is configured to automatically switch to an animation mode when no DCC signal is detected.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An LED scene controller for a model train system comprising:
 a printed circuit board (PCB) having a decoder and a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) ports mounted thereon; and   a plurality of LEDs with each LED coupled to a respective LED port of the plurality of LED ports;   the decoder comprising,
 a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the processor coupled to the plurality of LED ports; 
   wherein the decoder is configured to receive a digital command control (DCC) signal comprising a plurality of configuration variables and to store the plurality of configuration variables in the memory.   
     
     
         2 . The LED scene controller 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 coupled to the plurality of LED ports. 
     
     
         3 . The LED scene controller 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 scene controller of  claim 3 , further comprising a special effects component coupled to one of the plurality of LED ports and the processor configured to control the special effects component. 
     
     
         5 . The LED scene controller of  claim 3 , the decoder further comprising a switching power circuit configured to regulate power to the processor and the plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         6 . The LED scene controller of  claim 3 , 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. 
     
     
         7 . The LED scene controller of  claim 3 , wherein a first configuration value of the plurality of configuration variables corresponds to a brightness of the LED coupled to the respective LED port. 
     
     
         8 . The LED scene controller of  claim 6 , wherein the decoder is configured to automatically switch to an animation mode when no DCC signal is detected. 
     
     
         9 . The LED scene controller of  claim 8 , further comprising a keypad configured to generate a DCC signal comprising the plurality of configurable variables to control the plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         10 . The LED scene controller of  claim 5 , wherein the switching power circuit is configured to receive power from the model train track or an auxiliary power source. 
     
     
         11 . An LED scene controller for a model train system comprising:
 a digital command control (DCC) hand controller;   a model building; and   a decoder having a processor coupled to a memory and a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) ports, the decoder placed within the model building and configured to receive a digital command control (DCC) signal comprising a plurality of configuration variables from the DCC hand controller and to store the plurality of configuration variables in the memory.   
     
     
         12 . The LED scene controller of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of special effects components with each special effect component coupled to a respective LED port of the plurality of LED ports. 
     
     
         13 . The LED scene controller of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to read the plurality of configuration variables stored in the memory to control the plurality of special effects components coupled to the plurality of LED ports. 
     
     
         14 . The LED scene controller of  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of resistors coupled to the plurality of LED ports and configured to adjust a voltage per LED port. 
     
     
         15 . The LED scene controller of  claim 14 , the decoder further comprising a switching power circuit configured to regulate power to the processor and the plurality of special effects components. 
     
     
         16 . The LED scene controller 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 . The LED scene controller of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the special effects components comprises an LED, and a first configuration value of the plurality of configuration variables corresponds to a brightness of the LED coupled to the respective LED port. 
     
     
         18 . A method to control an LED scene controller for a model train system, the LED scene controller comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) and having a decoder and a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) ports mounted thereon coupled to a plurality of LEDs, the decoder comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the processor is coupled to the plurality of LED ports, the method comprising:
 receiving a digital command control (DCC) signal comprising a plurality of configuration variables; and   storing the plurality of configuration variables in the memory.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising switching to an animation mode when no DCC signal is detected. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising assigning a unique address to the decoder 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.