Computer control toy track system

Claim 2

In a toy track system wherein a plurality of cars move under the control of an operator, improved operator involvement apparatus, comprising: means attached to each of a plurality of cars on the track for uniquely identifying each car; means for sensing the passage and identity of each car having an identifying means; a keyboard means for providing keyboard signals; microprocessor means having input and output channels, said microprocessor means being responsive to said sensing means and said keyboard signals through said input channels; a plurality of light emitting diode means receiving signals from said microprocessor means through the output channels for indicating information to the operator; a speaker means receiving signals from said microprocessor means through the output channels for indicating information to the operator; a plurality of seven segment display elements receiving signals from said microprocessor means through the output channels for indicating information to the operator; and wherein said microprocessor means is programmed to scramble the order of the car identities stored in memory and display the new order sequentially upon a request from the keyboard.

Claim 3

In a toy track system wherein a plurality of cars move under the control of an operator, improved operator involvement apparatus, comprising: means attached to each of a plurality of cars on the track for uniquely identifying each car; means for sensing the passage and identity of each car having an identifying means; a keyboard means for providing keyboard signals; microprocessor means having input and output channels, said microprocessor means being responsive to said sensing means and said keyboard signals through said input channels; a plurality of light emitting diode means receiving signals from said microprocessor means through the output channels for indicating information to the operator; a speaker means receiving signals from said microprocessor means through the output channels for indicating information to the operator; a plurality of seven segment display elements receiving signals from said microprocessor means through the output the output channels for indicating information to the operator; and wherein said microprocessor means is programmed to receive a time block from said keyboard means, store it in memory, and generate a signal to indicate that time has run out when the microprocessor clock is started by a key on the keyboard means.

Claim 4

In a toy track system wherein a plurality of cars move under the control of an operator, improved operator involvement apparatus, comprising: means attached to each of a plurality of cars on the track for uniquely identifying each car; means for sensing the passage and identity of each car having an identifying means; a keyboard means for providing keyboard signals; microprocessor means having input and output channels, said microprocessor means being responsive to said sensing means and said keyboard signals through said input channels; a plurality of light emitting diode means receiving signals from said microprocessor means through the output channels for indicating information to the operator; a speaker means receiving signals from said microprocessor means through the output channels for indicating information to the operator; a plurality of seven segment display elements receiving signals from said microprocessor means through the output the output channels for indicating information to the operator; and wherein said microprocessor means is programmed to receive a time block from said keyboard means, store it in memory, and generate a signal to indicate that time has run out when the microprocessor clock is started by a key on the keyboard means.

Claim 5

In a toy track system wherein a plurality of cars move under the control of an operator, improved operator involvement apparatus, comprising: means attached to each of a plurality of cars on the track for uniquely identifying each car; means for sensing the passage and identity of each car having an identifying means; a keyboard means for providing keyboard signals; microprocessor means having input and output channels, said microprocessor means being responsive to said sensing means and said keyboard signals through said input channels; a plurality of light emitting diode means receiving signals from said microprocessor means through the output channels for indicating information to the operator; a speaker means receiving signals from said microprocessor means through the output channels for indicating information to the operator; a plurality of seven segment display elements receiving signals from said microprocessor means through the output channels for indicating information to the operator; and wherein said microprocessor means is programmed to indicate a sequence of car identities on the display elements in the order in which such cars are to be removed from the train, and determine the absence of each car from the train as indicated within the operator entered time schedule.

Claim 6

In a toy track system wherein a plurality of cars move under the control of an operator, improved operator involvement apparatus, comprising: means attached to each of a plurality of cars on the track for uniquely identifying each car; means for sensing the passage and identity of each car having an identifying means; a keyboard means for providing keyboard signals; microprocessor means having input and output channels, said microprocessor means being responsive to said sensing means and said keyboard signals through said input channels; a plurality of light emitting diode means receiving signals from said microprocessor means through the output channels for indicating information to the operator; a speaker means receiving signals from said microprocessor means through the output channels for indicating information to the operator; a plurality of seven segment display elements receiving signals from said microprocessor means through the output channels for indicating information to the operator; and wherein said microprocessor means is programmed to indicate a sequence of car identities on the display elements in the order in which such cars are to be removed from the train, and determine the absence of each car from the train as indicated within the operator entered time schedule.

Claim 7

In a toy track system wherein a plurality of cars move under the control of an operator, improved operator involvement apparatus, comprising: means attached to each of a plurality of cars on the track for uniquely identifying each car; means for sensing the passage and identity of each car having an identifying means; a keyboard means for providing keyboard signals; microprocessor means having input and output channels, said microprocessor means being responsive to said sensing means and said keyboard signals through said input channels; a plurality of light emitting diode means receiving signals from said microprocessor means through the output channels for indicating information to the operator; a speaker means receiving signals from said microprocessor means through the output channels for indicating information to the operator; a plurality of seven segment display elements receiving signals from said microprocessor means through the output channels for indicating information to the operator; and wherein said microprocessor means is programmed to indicate a sequence of car identities on the display elements in the order in which such cars are to be assembled into a train, and determine the correct assembly of the train in the sequence indicated within the operator entered time schedule.

Claim 8

In a toy track system wherein a plurality of cars move under the control of an operator, improved operator involvement apparatus, comprising: means attached to each of a plurality of cars on the track for uniquely identifying each car; means for sensing the passage and identity of each car having an identifying means; a keyboard means for providing keyboard signals; microprocessor means having input and output channels, said microprocessor means being responsive to said sensing means and said keyboard signals through said input channels; a plurality of light emitting diode means receiving signals from said microprocessor means through the output channels for indicating information to the operator; a speaker means receiving signals from said microprocessor means through the output channels for indicating information to the operator; a plurality of seven segment display elements receiving signals from said microprocessor means through the output channels for indicating information to the operator; and wherein said microprocessor means is programmed to indicate a sequence of car identities on the display elements in the order in which such cars are to be assembled into a train, and determine the correct assembly of the train in the sequence indicated within the operator entered time schedule.