The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 27, 2011
Filed:
Sep. 08, 2008
Jon F. Zahornacky, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Steven Edward Ziemba, Grosse Pointe Park, MI (US);
Neil P. Young, Woodside, CA (US);
Bruce R. Koball, Berkely, CA (US);
Jon F. Zahornacky, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Steven Edward Ziemba, Grosse Pointe Park, MI (US);
Neil P. Young, Woodside, CA (US);
Bruce R. Koball, Berkely, CA (US);
Lionel L.L.C., Chesterfield, MI (US);
Abstract
A system and method is provided for substantially synchronizing sound and smoke in a model train or other model vehicle. In one embodiment of the present invention, a sensor is configured to send a signal periodically to a smoke generating device and a controller, wherein the signal is used by the smoke generating device to produce a particular quantity of smoke. The controller is then configured to receive a signal from a motor, wherein the signal includes information that can be used to identify a rotational position of the motor, or a rotational position of an axle in communication with the motor. The controller then uses the signal from the sensor and the signal from the motor to estimate a transmission lime of a next signal from the sensor, wherein the next signal is used by the smoke generating device to produce a next production of smoke.