1846results about "Railway traffic control systems" patented technology

A rail communication system includes: a communication management device capable of being communicatively coupled with a conductive pathway that extends along a track; and an on-board communication device capable of being coupled with a rail vehicle that travels along the track and with the conductive pathway, the communication management device and the on-board communication device configured to communicate a data signal between each other through the conductive pathway, where the data signal includes network data. A method for communicating with rail vehicles includes: coupling a vehicle management device with a conductive pathway that extends alongside a track; and coupling an on-board communication device disposed on a rail vehicle that travels along the track with the conductive pathway; where the communication management device and the on-board communication device communicate a data signal that includes network data through the conductive pathway.

A cellular radio network system and method for communicating with at least one vehicle-based mobile gateway terminal is provided. The at least one mobile gateway terminal is configured to communicate a network service for one or more user mobile terminals on-board the vehicle. A plurality of network cells provide cellular radio network coverage along a route of the vehicle. Each network cell is dedicated for communication with the at least one vehicle-based mobile gateway terminal so as to allow communication between the at least one vehicle-based mobile gateway terminal and a core network of the cellular radio network.

A train control system includes positioning systems at the end of the train and at the front of the train, allowing the conductor or engineer to unambiguously determine that no cars of the train have become detached. The positioning system at the end of the train is also used to verify that the entire train has cleared a block. This information can be relayed to a dispatcher, thereby eliminating the need for trackside sensing equipment. A control unit prevents the train from moving without an authorization that includes the train's current position.

A method and system for tracking a rail car having an on-board communication system including a location determining system and a transceiver for receiving and transmitting rail car data. The communication system including a processor responsive to an executable program for enabling operation of the transceiver to transmit rail car data during a reporting event and having a memory for storing data and instructions. The processor memory includes a remotely addressable software database accessible by the executable program for establishing a reporting event in response to at least one of a selected time, a change in geographical location, an extended time in a geographical location, an approach to a specified geographical location, a coupling/decoupling of the rail car with a particular locomotive and a command to report. The rail car includes an AEI reader attached to the rail car for reading AEI tags on other rail vehicles passing by the reader, the reader being in communication with the rail car message system for transmitting data indicating at least a location of the other rail vehicles.

A collision warning and avoidance system which comprising an integrated on-board Train Navigation Unit (3) and a GPS Interface Subsystem to locate a train. The system includes a GPS (2) location signal, at least one fixed transponder station (31) and a calibrated, rectified transponder identification subsystem for scanning the track based transponders for override of train controls in the event of a collision risk and further comprising a database of all transponders, their location and the track ID on which they are located. Data and information are computer processed and analysed in neural networks in one train to identify, rank, and evaluate collision hazards.

Railcar monitoring utilizes instrumented, flexible pads supported within the truck pedestal jaws on the bearing adapters. The pads contain sensors for monitoring temperature pressure, shifting loads, truck hunting and the like and have circuitry for processing information received from the sensors and for processing and reporting departures of performance variables to a remote source. The system cyclically activates polling each pad on a car and communicates signals of critical departures and car identity to a remote source.

A safety system for providing early warning notifications to an authorized track worker performing official duties along a rail road network is disclosed herein. The safety system determines the position of the authorized worker and determines an estimated time to collision between the authorized track worker and an approaching rail vehicle. The result of the safety system is that the track worker has enough time and sufficiently accurate warning that will enable the track worker to move to a point of safety so as to remain unharmed by the approaching rail vehicle.

A system for supervising and controlling the movement of a railway vehicle is provided, wherein a plurality of wayside controller units are each distributed to a plurality of wayside controller locations by a multi-access carrier, such as a fiber LAN or IEEE 802.3 Ethernet, for instance, such that supervisory and control operations may be communicated between each of the wayside controller units with a multi-access protocol on the multi-access carrier. The present invention replaces the use of a serial-link protocol for point-to-point communication with a multi-access protocol on a multi-access carrier. In a preferred embodiment, a computer-based control system may be connected through the multi-access carrier, so that communication is achieved solely with multi-access protocols. Related art Centralized traffic control (CTC) functions may be eliminated from a global services (GS) block of the central office (CO) and implemented as Distributed Traffic Control functions that are distributed to the wayside controller units.

The invention discloses a CBTC (communication-based train control) system based on train-train communication. The CBTC system comprises an intelligent train monitoring ITS system, an object controller, a train management platform TMC, a data communication system DCS and an intelligent vehicle-mounted controller IVOC arranged on every train. The CBTC system disclosed in the invention can reduce the ground device and cancel the ground ATP, interlocking and other devices; the IVOC can autonomously calculate the movement license and plan the driving path through information interaction with the IVOC, OC and ITS systems of front and back trains; the ITS system can automatically generate the train running control information based on the site condition to lighten the work load of an operation dispatcher, and promote the operation efficiency and service level, and send to the IVOC; The TMC acquires the limiting-velocity information of the line and sends to every train on the line, thus the safe protection of the train is realized.

A train integrity network system comprises bogie units which monitor critical parameters relating to the condition of bogie components and the rail track they are travelling on, an onboard server which controls the bogie units and a wireless network which enables communication between the server and the bogie units. Each bogie unit is powered by an electrical generator which utilises the rotation of the bogie wheels and has a processor which compares the critical parameters against defined standards in order to issue alerts to the train driver. The wireless network utilises master/slave base band role switching, has store-and-forward nodes which convey quasi real time data to the server and utilises frequency hopping modes.

A model train and layout control system based on on-board sound and locomotive modules, new signaling methods, bi-directional communication, environmental sound, turnout control, train location methods, computer interaction and accessory control, by adding components to existing technology. AC power signal waveforms are variously altered to convey digital command words.

A system for monitoring operation of a railcar having one or more sensing units, mounted on the railcar, for monitoring operating parameters and or conditions of the railcar, and a communication management unit, in wireless communication with the sensing units, wherein the system can make a determination of an alarm condition based on data collected the sensing units. A temperature sensor device for use in such a system is also provided.

To emulate the 3D visual acuity of an individual track-walker, matched pairs of cameras (which simulate our human eyes) are mounted on a moving vehicle above the tracks. The cameras are mounted both transversely and longitudinally, to create 3D images in two orthogonal orientations, which helps to eliminate visual voids. The location and orientation of each pair of cameras is determined by its specific task, in the present case: (i) to examine each left or right rail for anomalies (two pairs), and (ii) to examine every tie for damage (at least one pair). The camera pairs enable measurements such as defect depth and track width variations. The images are compressed in real time for local storage or high-speed transmission for remote display. The basic arrangement of cameras can be amplified or modified as necessary to circumstances.

The invention provides a CTCS (China train control system)-3 train operation control system, comprising ground equipment and vehicle-mounted equipment. The ground equipment comprises a section control system, a wireless blocking center and a ground wireless communication module, wherein the section control system is used for acquiring and sending track occupancy information and route state information; the wireless blocking center is used for generating train operation permission information and receiving train operation data; and the ground wireless communication module is used for generating ground wireless data and sending the train operation data to the wireless blocking center. The vehicle-mounted equipment comprises a vehicle-mounted wireless communication module and a safety control module, wherein the vehicle-mounted wireless communication module is used for receiving the train operation permission information, generating train wireless data and sending the data in a wireless way; and the safety control module is used for controlling train operation according to the train operation permission information and sending train data. By adopting the CTCS-3 train operation control system provided by the invention, automatic control on train operation is realized.

A method for training an operator to control a powered system is disclosed including operating the powered system with an autonomous controller, and informing an operator of a change in operation of the powered system as the change in operation occurs. A system and a computer software code are also disclosed for training the operator to control the powered system.

A method is provided for detecting broken rail, unintentionally misaligned turnouts, and track occupancy ahead of or behind a railway vehicle traveling on a railroad track. Shunts extend between the rails at intervals along the railroad track. Each shunt has electrical signal transmission characteristics differing from those of adjacent shunts. A test unit on the railway vehicle induces a test signal in a first rail to create a track circuit in which the test signal propagates along the first rail, through at least one of the shunts, returns to the railway vehicle along the second rail, and through the wheels and axle of the railway vehicle. The test signal has electrical properties selected to interact with at least one of the shunts. The received test signal on the second rail is analyzed to identify predetermined conditions concerning the status of the railroad track.

An energy management system and method for a vehicle system operate the vehicle system according to a current trip plan as the vehicle system travels along a route during a trip. The current trip plan designates operational settings of the vehicle system. The system and method also revise the current trip plan into a revised trip plan responsive to current, actual operation of the vehicle system differing from the current trip plan by at least a designated threshold amount. The revised trip plan designates operational settings of the vehicle system and includes an initial designated operational setting that matches the current, actual operation of the vehicle system.

A communication network is described. The network includes communication media and a plurality of network nodes coupled by the communication media. Each of the plurality of network nodes includes a first communication channel and a second communication channel. The first communication channel includes a first physical layer transceiver (PHY device) and the second communication channel includes a second PHY device. The plurality of network nodes are coupled in a dual ring-type topology.

The invention discloses a train tracing running method implemented without secondary railway testing equipment and a communication based train control (CBTC) system. The method comprises the following steps that in the train running process, a vehicle on board controller (VOBC) of a train checks whether an object controller (OC) waiting to set up communication connection exists or not in the front of a present running line; if the OC waiting to set up communication connection exists, a communication setting request is sent to the OC; the state of a present jurisdiction is checked after the OC receives the communication setting request; if the OC confirms that the present jurisdiction is in a normal communication state, responses to identification (ID) information of all communication trains in the jurisdiction of the OC are sent to the train; the VOBC can recognize the ID information of a front train adjacent to the present train according to the ID information of all the communication trains; the VOBC sets up communications with the adjacent front train according to the ID information of the adjacent front train and obtains running state information of the adjacent front train; and according to the running state information of the adjacent front train and the running state information of the present train, movement authority (MA) in the jurisdiction of the OC is obtained so as to trace running of the front train. Efficiency of railway transportation can be improved greatly by means of the train tracing running method.

System, method and program for sensing and controlling spacing between railroad trains. A first train broadcasts its identity and current time of day to an RFID mounted adjacent to a railroad track approximately when the first train reaches the RFID. In response, the RFID records the identity of the first train and the time of day approximately when the first train reached the RFID. The first train proceeds past the RFID. Subsequently, a second train on the railroad track reaches the RFID and reads from the RFID the identification of the first train and the time of day approximately when the first train reached the RFID. Based on a comparison to the time of day approximately when the first train reached the RFID as read from the RFID to a time of day approximately when the second train reached the RFID, a determination is made as to a time-spacing between the first and second trains. If the time-spacing is below a threshold, an operator of the second train may be alerted.

The invention discloses a train stopping control method and system. The method comprises the following steps: adjusting the speed of a train to arrive at a station to a station entrance speed which is obtained by an automatic train protection curve and an in-station limit speed; when the train arrives at the station, determining the current distance between the train and an operation parking spot according to a received pulse signal sent by positioning synchronization points preset on a track; calculating a recommending speed corresponding to the current distance through a train control algorithm according to the current distance between the train and the operation parking spot, and adjusting the current speed of the train; and exerting a recommended brake gear on the train to reduce the speed and stop the train when the train passes through the last positioning locating synchronization point. According to the technical scheme provided by the invention, the influence caused by low speed measurement resolution is reduced; and the train can accurately stop in the station under various speed measurement resolutions.

The present invention discloses a calculation method of movement authority for communications-based train control system, comprising: handling a route information for a train, and determining a searching range of the train according to the route information; initializing the limit of movement authority with the end position of the searching range; searching for static obstacles within the searching range, and successively determining whether each static obstacle meets the safety requirements for train operating, if not, setting the position of the last static obstacle within the searching range as the limit of the movement authority; if so, modifying the limit of movement authority as the end of route having been matched; searching for dynamic obstacles within the searching range, and determining whether there is a train, if so, modifying the end of movement authority as the beginning point of the track section where the train is occupying; if there is no dynamic obstacle within the searching range, modifying the final end is of movement authority as the position of the last static obstacle within the searching range. In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to increase line capacity and improve traffic fluidity for rail transit.

The invention provides a vehicle working condition online monitoring system for a rail transit, and belongs to the technical field of rail transits. The monitoring system provided by the invention comprises a vehicle working condition data acquisition module, a composite sensor, a vehicle-mounted working condition information preprocessor, a driver information display system, a regional information processor, a ground center information processor and a network communication transmission system; and the fault region of a vehicle can be divided into a primary level, a regional level and a central level, and the state data can be sent to the ground through the network communication transmission system, so that the fault of the primary level is analyzed and processed through the correspondingvehicle-mounted working condition information preprocessor, the fault of the regional level is analyzed and processed through the regional information processor of the corresponding ground, and the fault of the central level is analyzed and processed through the ground center information processor of the corresponding ground. Therefore, different fault types can be timely and effectively solved at the most proper places, networking and intelligence of the monitoring system are realized, and running reliability and safety of the rail transit can be finally improved.

A method of forming an integrated circuit (IC) includes forming a first and second plurality of spacers on a substrate, wherein the substrate includes a silicon layer, and wherein the first plurality of spacers have a thickness that is different from a thickness of the second plurality of spacers; and etching the silicon layer in the substrate using the first and second plurality of spacers as a mask, wherein the etched silicon layer forms a first plurality and a second plurality of fin field effect transistor (FINFET) channel regions, and wherein the first plurality of FINFET channel regions each have a respective thickness that corresponds to the thickness of the first plurality of spacers, and wherein the second plurality of FINFET channel regions each have a respective thickness that corresponds to the thickness of the second plurality of spacers.

The invention discloses a vehicle monitoring system based on Beidou system. The invention is characterized in that the system is composed of a Beidou ground monitoring centre, a Beidou navigating and locating satellite and a Beidou vehicle-mounted system, wherein the Beidou navigating and locating satellite is dependent on current satellite system built by Beidou network system. The Beidou vehicle-mounted system comprises a Beidou terminal and a train network. The train network is a current TCMS system, wherein the TCMS system comprises a vehicle dragging sub-system, a vehicle braking sub-system, a vehicle signal sub-system and a vehicle broadcasting sub-system. The TCMS system is communicated with a Beidou terminal via an RS232 interface to provide vehicle state information to the Beidou terminal on one hand, and to receive Beidou navigating and locating information, time service information and control instruction from the ground monitoring centre on the other hand so as to control the operation of the vehicle. The Beidou terminal is communicated with the locating satellite. The locating satellite is used for transmitting the locating information and vehicle state information to the ground monitoring centre. The centre is used for transmitting the information to all ground monitoring terminals so that the operated vehicle can be monitored and all operated vehicles can be monitored and controlled.

A remote control device includes a controller having one or more processors configured to generate a control signal for remotely controlling operation of a vehicle. The remote control device also can include a cellular modem configured to wirelessly communicate a cellular signal with a communication device disposed onboard the vehicle and a wireless modem configured to wirelessly communicate a non-cellular signal with the communication device disposed onboard the vehicle. One or more of the cellular signal or the non-cellular signal represents the control signal generated by the controller in order to remotely control the operation of the vehicle.

A system includes one or more processors configured to obtain operating parameters of a subsystem of a vehicle that is configured to travel along a route during a trip. The one or more processors are configured to generate a digital twin of the subsystem based on the operating parameters, and to receive simulated performance data generated by execution of the digital twin with a designated model of the subsystem. The one or more processors are further configured to obtain field performance data of the subsystem monitored by sensors onboard the vehicle during the trip, and to determine a performance composite index of the subsystem of the vehicle based on a variance between the simulated performance data and the field performance data. The one or more processors are also configured to control the vehicle during the trip or a subsequent trip based on the performance composite index.

There is provided a system for managing information comprising a network, a hand-held mobile device, and a central server computer. The network is established between the central server computer and the hand-held mobile device to communicate computer readable information between the central server computer and the hand-held mobile device. In an embodiment, the computer-readable information is human interface information related to operation of a train.

A hazardous event alert system for a train includes a sensor, a communication device, a positioning system, and a computer. The sensor is positioned on or associated with the train and configured to sense or monitor at least one parameter or condition. The computer is programmed or configured to determine that a hazardous event occurred based at least partially on data generated by the at least one sensor, determine or receive the location or position of the at least a portion of the train from the at least one positioning system, generate a hazardous event notification based at least partially on the at least one condition and the location or position of the at least a portion of the train, and communicate the hazardous event notification to at least one of a back office system and at least one remote server associated with at least one specified entity.

Reference markers are attached to rails and/or other dynamically moving components of railroad tracks, and/or located at fixed and stationary positions adjacent to the track. When images of railway rolling stock are obtained, the reference marker(s) appear in the image. Accordingly, measurements of various aspects and parameters of various components of the railway rolling stock can be obtained at high precision and/or accuracy relative to the railroad track component to which the reference marker is attached and/or relative to the stationary position. The reference markers allow one or more images, obtained at some intervening time interval, to be accurately and precisely aligned relative to the reference marker(s) regardless of the dynamic motion of the railroad track component(s) and/or of the rolling stock that occurred as the images were captured. The reference markers can include optical, thermal or other indicia. The indicia have known dimensions and/or known distances from an image capture device.