Railway vehicle signal transmission system using PWM encoder

Abstract

The present invention relates to a railway vehicle signal transmission system using a PWM encoder, in which an analog signal generated from a master controller is converted into a PWM signal and transmitted to a vehicle control device and a monitoring system, so that a driver's master controller operation signal can be accurately transmitted, and in a case of occurrence of an abnormal signal, a signal failure, or the like, rapid recognition and response are possible. The railway vehicle signal transmission system comprises: the master controller which is installed in a cab of a railway vehicle, and outputs a corresponding analog command signal when a train driver operates a running controller and a reverser; the PWM encoder which receives the analog command signal, converts the received analog command signal into a PWM signal, and transmits the PWM signal to a subsequent stage; and the vehicle control device which receives the PWM signal from the PWM encoder and controls propulsion or braking of the vehicle.

Description

Signal transmission system for railway vehicles using PWM encoders

[0001] The present invention relates to a signal transmission system for a railway vehicle, and more particularly, to a signal transmission system for a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder that converts an analog signal generated from a main controller into a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal and transmits it to a vehicle control device and a monitoring system, thereby enabling accurate transmission of a driver's main controller operation signal and enabling rapid recognition and response in the event of an abnormal signal or signal failure.

[0002] Typically, a master controller is installed in the control console of a railway vehicle cab, which the driver operates to control the vehicle's speed, braking, forward movement, and reverse movement. The master controller consists of a drive controller, which controls the vehicle's speed and braking, and a reverser, which controls the vehicle's forward and reverse movement. When the driver operates the drive controller and reverser handles, the master controller transmits a corresponding analog signal to the railway vehicle's propulsion control unit, braking control unit, and vehicle monitoring system. For example, the master controller outputs the amount of rotation of the handle as a corresponding potential difference signal in the range of 0 to 4.5 V.

[0003] Typically, a railway vehicle has a driver's cab at the front and rear, with one or more power cars connected in the middle. The power cars are equipped with propulsion control and braking systems, which are powered by batteries or by power received from a current collector. The main controller is installed in the cab, and its control commands are transmitted via wiring connecting the cab to the power cars.

[0004] In this case, in the case of railway vehicles with many power cars connected, such as 10 cars, the distance from the driver's cab to the power cars is considerable, and a significant voltage drop occurs during the process of transmitting the command signal from the master controller through the wiring. As a result, even if the driver operates the P4 propulsion, the propulsion control unit often recognizes the signal as P3, which is a misrecognition phenomenon. In addition, when railway vehicles operate long distances, the analog signal output from the master controller is often poor due to factors such as impedance, and this phenomenon is also a cause of signal misrecognition.

[0005] Meanwhile, to prevent signal misrecognition, the output signal from the main controller must be compensated for the number of trains and changes in impedance, or the signal input from the propulsion control unit must be corrected and recognized. However, designing such compensation algorithms is extremely difficult. Furthermore, accidents such as train stops or unexpected slowdowns due to signal mismatches still occur.

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a signal transmission system for a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder that converts an analog signal generated from a daytime controller into a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal and transmits it to a vehicle control device and a monitoring system, thereby enabling accurate transmission of a driver's daytime controller operation signal and enabling rapid recognition and response in the event of an abnormal signal or signal failure.

[0007] A signal transmission system of a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a master controller installed in a driver's cab of a railway vehicle and outputting a corresponding analog command signal when an engineer operates a driving controller and a reverser; a PWM encoder receiving the analog command signal, converting the received analog command signal into a PWM signal, and transmitting the converted analog command signal to a subsequent stage; and a vehicle control device receiving the PWM signal from the PWM encoder to control propulsion or braking of the vehicle.

[0008] A signal transmission system for a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the PWM encoder further includes a digital input circuit unit that receives a P-mode signal indicating a propulsion mode from the main controller, and when the analog command signal does not indicate a value corresponding to the P-mode signal, generates a first fault signal and transmits it to a vehicle monitoring system.

[0009] A signal transmission system of a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder according to another embodiment of the present invention further includes a digital output circuit unit in which the PWM encoder reads a braking command corresponding to braking release and braking stages 1 to 7 from the analog command signal, generates a braking 3-line command composed of binary codes corresponding to the read braking command, and transmits the generated braking 3-line command to a braking control device of the vehicle control device.

[0010] A signal transmission system of a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder according to another embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the PWM encoder receives the output of the digital output circuit unit as a feedback through the digital input circuit unit, and when the braking 3-wire command input as feedback does not match the braking command, a second fault signal is generated and transmitted to the vehicle monitoring system.

[0011] A signal transmission system for a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder according to another embodiment of the present invention has a dual configuration of a first PWM encoding unit and a second PWM encoding unit, wherein the PWM encoders operate independently of each other and one of the PWM encoders is in a standby mode when the other is in an operating mode.

[0012] A signal transmission system for a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first PWM encoding unit and the second PWM encoding unit each independently include a power supply unit and a control unit.

[0013] A signal transmission system of a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises: a PWM output circuit section for outputting the PWM signal to the vehicle control device, a PWM feedback circuit section for receiving the output of the PWM output circuit section by feeding it back; and a PWM signal for determining whether or not an abnormality exists in the PWM signal fed back and transferring control to another PWM encoding section when an abnormality occurs.

[0014] In another embodiment of the present invention, a signal transmission system of a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder comprises: the first encoding unit and the second encoding unit exchange the PWM signals by feeding them back to each other; and the PWM signal abnormality determination unit, when it determines that there is an abnormality in both its own PWM feedback signal and the other party's PWM feedback signal, generates a blocking signal for forcibly blocking the output and transmits the blocking signal to a vehicle monitoring system.

[0015] According to the signal transmission system of a railway vehicle using the PWM encoder of the present invention, an analog signal generated from a main controller is converted into a PWM signal and transmitted to a vehicle control device and a monitoring system, thereby enabling the driver's main controller operation signal to be accurately transmitted and enabling the rapid recognition and response in the event of an abnormal signal or signal failure.

[0016] Figure 1 is a block diagram conceptually depicting a signal transmission system of a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder according to the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a state in which the signal transmission system of the present invention is applied to a railway vehicle.

[0018] Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating a dual power supply device applied to the present invention.

[0019] Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating a dual-control device applied to the present invention, and

[0020] Fig. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a dual-system configuration of a signal transmission system of a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder according to the present invention.

[0021] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, and it should be understood that all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention are included.

[0022] Parts having similar configurations and operations throughout the specification are designated by the same drawing reference numerals. The drawings attached to the present invention are provided for convenience of explanation, and their shapes and relative scales may be exaggerated or omitted.

[0023] In describing the embodiments in detail, redundant descriptions or descriptions of techniques obvious in the art have been omitted. Furthermore, when a part of the following description is said to "include" another component, this means that, unless otherwise specifically stated, the described component may include additional components.

[0024] Additionally, terms such as "part," "device," and "module" described in the specification mean a unit that processes at least one function or operation, which may be implemented through hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. Furthermore, when a part is said to be electrically connected to another part, this includes not only cases where they are directly connected, but also cases where they are connected with another component in between.

[0025] Terms that include ordinal numbers, such as "first" and "second," may be used to describe various components, but these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are used solely to distinguish one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, a second component could be referred to as a "first component," and similarly, a first component could be referred to as a "second component."

[0026] The signal transmission system of a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder of the present invention relates to an invention that, unlike a conventional signal transmission system that transmits an analog command signal from a master controller to a vehicle control device and a vehicle monitoring system, converts an analog command signal into a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal and relays it. At this time, the differences between the PWM encoder of the present invention and a conventional PWM generator in the railway vehicle field are as follows.

[0027] The PWM generator commonly used in railway vehicles is used to control the opening and closing of semiconductor switching elements in propulsion control devices, etc., and is a device that generates a control signal or a control amount, whereas the PWM encoder in the present invention encodes an analog signal (e.g., a braking signal, a propulsion signal, a reverse signal, a neutral signal, etc.) generated in a main controller and transmitted to a vehicle control device and monitoring system, and converts and transmits the driver's driving operation signal in the form of an accurate digital message.

[0028] Fig. 1 is a block diagram conceptually depicting a signal transmission system for a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a state in which the signal transmission system of the present invention is applied to a railway vehicle. With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the general configuration and concept of the signal transmission system of the present invention are described as follows.

[0029] Referring to Fig. 1, a signal transmission system of a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder of the present invention is configured to include a main controller (100), a PWM encoder (200), a vehicle monitoring system (300), and a vehicle control device (400, 500). The vehicle control device (400, 500) refers to a vehicle propulsion control device (400) and a braking control device (500).

[0030] As shown in Fig. 2, a driver's cab (610) is provided at the front and rear of the railway vehicle, and a driving controller (100) is installed in the driver's cab (610). The driving controller (100) is composed of a driving controller that controls the speed and braking of the vehicle, and a reverser that controls the forward and backward movement of the vehicle. As is commonly known, the driving controller (100) outputs a corresponding analog command signal when the driver operates the handle or lever of the driving controller and the reverser. For example, the analog command signal is a voltage signal in the range of 0 to 4.5 V. In addition, the driving controller (100) can also output a digital signal indicating a propulsion command (P mode signal).

[0031] Referring to FIG. 2, a vehicle monitoring system (300) is installed in the driver's cab (610). The vehicle monitoring system (300) is a device that monitors and controls in real time electrical equipment mounted on a railway vehicle, such as a power supply, a current collector, an auxiliary power supply, a VVVF (Variable Voltage Variable Frequency) control device, a circuit breaker, an air compressor, a storage battery, a propulsion control device, and a braking control device, and may include an analysis computing device, a monitor device for displaying a monitoring status to a locomotive driver, and a memory device for storing vehicle inspection and operation information. The vehicle monitoring system (300) may be a known monitoring system, such as a TCMS (Train Control and Monitoring System), a TGIS (Train General Information System), or a TIMS (Train Intelligent Monitoring System).

[0032] Referring to FIG. 2, a propulsion control device (400) and a braking control device (500) are installed in the first power car (620) and / or the second power car (630). The propulsion control device (400) is a device that controls propulsion and reverse movement of a railway vehicle according to propulsion commands (P1 to P4) generated by the main controller (100). The braking control device (500) is a device that performs braking release and first to seventh stage braking control according to braking commands (EB, B7 to B1) generated by the main controller (100). Here, the first power car (620) is a power car without a pantograph, and the second power car (630) means a power car equipped with a pantograph.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the present invention, an analog command signal output from a weekly controller (100) is converted into a PWM signal through a PWM encoder (200) and then transmitted to a vehicle monitoring system (300), a propulsion control device (400), and a braking control device (500).

[0034] Preferably, in the present invention, the PWM encoder (200) has a dual-system configuration of a first PWM encoding unit (210, 220) and a second PWM encoding unit (260, 270) that operate independently of each other and are in a standby mode when one of them is in an operating mode. An embodiment of the dual-system PWM encoder (200) will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a dual-system power supply device applicable to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a dual-system control device applicable to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a dual-system configuration of a signal transmission system of a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder according to the present invention.

[0036] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the first PWM encoding unit (210, 220) and the second PWM encoding unit (260, 270) are each independently provided with a power supply and a control unit. The first PWM encoding unit (210, 220) and the second PWM encoding unit (260, 270) apply the same hardware and software, and one control system has priority depending on the mounting position or preset control value.

[0037] The first PWM encoding unit (210, 220) is composed of a first power supply unit (210) and a first control unit (220). The first power supply unit (210) includes a first filter circuit unit (212), a first PWM power supply circuit unit (214), a first control power supply circuit unit (216), and a first main controller power supply circuit unit (218). The first control unit (220) includes a first AD conversion circuit unit (222), a first digital input circuit unit (224), a first digital output circuit unit (226), a first relay output circuit unit (228), a first solid state relay (230), a first PWM output circuit unit (232), a first PWM feedback circuit unit (234), and a first control unit (240). The first control unit (240) includes a first PWM signal abnormality determination unit (242) and a first failure determination unit (244).

[0038] The second PWM encoding unit (260, 270) is composed of a second power supply unit (260) and a second control unit (270). The second power supply unit (260) includes a second filter circuit unit (262), a second PWM power supply circuit unit (264), a second control power supply circuit unit (266), and a second main controller power supply circuit unit (268). The second control unit (270) includes a second AD conversion circuit unit (272), a second digital input circuit unit (274), a second digital output circuit unit (276), a second relay output circuit unit (278), a second solid-state relay (280), a second PWM output circuit unit (282), a first PWM feedback circuit unit (284), and a second control unit (290). The second control unit (240) includes a second PWM signal abnormality determination unit (292) and a second failure determination unit (294).

[0039] In the following description, components that perform the same function in the first PWM encoding unit (210, 220) and the second PWM encoding unit (260, 270) are described together, and components that need to be functionally described separately are described separately.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 3, each power supply (210, 260) constituting the dual system is installed on a different first-level power board and second-level power board. The filter circuit (212, 262) receives DC 100 V power and removes noise components contained in the power. The PWM power supply circuit (214, 264) steps down DC 100 V power to DC 24 V power for generating a PWM waveform and supplies it to the first-level control board and the second-level control board, respectively. The control power supply circuit (216, 266) steps down DC 100 V power to DC 5 V power, which is an IC operating power, and supplies it to the first-level control board and the second-level control board, respectively. The main controller power supply circuit (218, 268) supplies DC 5 V power as power to the main controller (100).

[0041] Referring to Fig. 4, the AD conversion circuit (222, 272) converts the analog command signal output from the main controller (100) into a digital signal. The converted digital signal is transmitted to the control unit (240, 290).

[0042] The control unit (240, 290) may include a central processing unit (CPU) and a logic circuit. Referring to FIG. 5, the control unit (240, 290) converts an analog command signal into a pulse width modulated PWM signal and outputs it, and the PWM output circuit unit (232, 282) switches a DC 24 V power supply using a relay according to a command from the control unit (240, 290) and transmits a PWM waveform to the propulsion / braking system (600).

[0043] The digital input circuit (224, 274) receives a P-mode signal indicating the propulsion mode from the main controller (100). In addition, the digital input circuit (224, 274) receives input by feeding back the output of the digital output circuit (226, 276). The digital output circuit (226, 276) is a means for transmitting a three-wire command related to braking to the braking control device (500).

[0044] When one of the first PWM encoding units (210, 220) and the second PWM encoding units (260, 270) operates, the control unit (240, 290) determines whether the analog command signal received from the main controller (100) is one of a braking signal, a propulsion signal, a reverse signal, and a neutral signal, and the gear ratio. At this time, the control unit (240, 290) determines whether the signal is in P mode (a signal indicating a propulsion state) from a signal input through the digital input circuit unit (224, 274). The fault determination unit (244, 294) of the control unit (240, 290) generates a first fault signal when the analog command signal does not indicate a value corresponding to the P mode signal (for example, when the analog command signal indicates a reverse or braking signal, but a P mode signal is input). And the generated first fault signal is transmitted to the vehicle monitoring system (300) through the relay output circuit (228, 278).

[0045] In addition, the control unit (240, 290) reads the braking command corresponding to braking release (EB) and braking stage 1 to stage 7 (B1 to B7) from the analog command signal, and generates a braking 3-wire command composed of binary code corresponding to the read braking command. The generated braking 3-wire command is transmitted to the braking control device (500) through the relay output circuit unit (228, 278). In the dual system configuration of the PWM encoder (200), any one of the control units (240, 290) transmits a PWM signal to the braking control device (500) through the PWM output circuit unit (232, 282), and additionally transmits the braking 3-wire command composed of binary code through the relay output circuit unit (228, 278), thereby enabling the braking command to be safely processed.

[0046] Furthermore, the fault judgment unit (244, 294) of the control unit (240, 290) receives the output of the digital output circuit unit (226, 276) as a feedback through the digital input circuit unit (224, 274) as shown in FIG. 4, and generates a second fault signal when the braking 3-wire command input as feedback does not match the braking command recognized from the analog command signal. Then, the generated second fault signal is transmitted to the vehicle monitoring system (300) through the relay output circuit unit (228, 278). Therefore, the phenomenon of signal misrecognition in relation to vehicle braking can be prevented more reliably.

[0047] The first control unit (240) of the first PWM encoding unit has a first PWM signal abnormality determination unit (242). The first PWM encoding unit has a first PWM feedback circuit unit (234) that receives a PWM signal by feeding it back from the first PWM output circuit unit (232). If the first PWM signal by feeding it back (the signal fed back by the first PWM encoding unit itself) does not match the analog command signal, the first PWM signal abnormality determination unit (242) transfers the signal transmission control right to the second PWM encoding unit and switches to standby mode.

[0048] The second control unit (290) of the second PWM encoding unit has a second PWM signal abnormality determination unit (292). The second PWM encoding unit has a second PWM feedback circuit unit (284) that receives a PWM signal by feeding it back from the second PWM output circuit unit (282). If the second PWM signal by feeding it back (the signal fed back by the second PWM encoding unit itself) does not match the analog command signal, the second PWM signal abnormality determination unit (292) transfers the signal transmission control right back to the first PWM encoding unit and switches to standby mode.

[0049] At this time, the first PWM feedback circuit unit (234) receives the second PWM signal from the second control board, and the second PWM feedback circuit unit (284) receives the first PWM signal from the first control board. That is, the first control unit (240) and the second control unit (290) exchange each other's PWM signals. When the first PWM signal abnormality determination unit (242) and the second PWM signal abnormality determination unit (292) determine that there is an abnormality in both their own PWM feedback signal and the other party's PWM feedback signal, they generate a blocking signal forcibly blocking the output and transmit the blocking signal to the vehicle monitoring system (300).

[0050] The invention disclosed above is capable of various modifications without detracting from the fundamental concept. In other words, the above embodiments should be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the appended claims, not the aforementioned embodiments. Any replacement of elements defined in the appended claims with equivalents should be deemed within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A master controller installed in the driver's cab of a railway vehicle and outputting a corresponding analog command signal when the driver operates the driving controller and reverser; A PWM encoder that receives the analog command signal and converts the received analog command signal into a PWM signal and transmits it to the subsequent stage; and A vehicle control device that receives the PWM signal from the PWM encoder and controls the propulsion or braking of the vehicle. A signal transmission system for a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder including:

2. In paragraph 1, The above PWM encoder further includes a digital input circuit section for receiving a P mode signal indicating a propulsion mode from the above weekly controller, A signal transmission system for a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder that generates a first fault signal and transmits it to a vehicle monitoring system when the above analog command signal does not indicate a value corresponding to the above P mode signal.

3. In paragraph 2, The above PWM encoder reads a braking command corresponding to braking release and braking stages 1 to 7 from the analog command signal, and generates a braking 3-line command composed of binary code corresponding to the read braking command. A signal transmission system for a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder, further comprising a digital output circuit section for transmitting the generated three-wire braking command to a braking control device of the vehicle control device.

4. In paragraph 3, A signal transmission system for a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder, wherein the PWM encoder receives the output of the digital output circuit section as feedback through the digital input circuit section, and generates a second fault signal and transmits it to the vehicle monitoring system when the braking 3-wire command input as feedback does not match the braking command.

5. In paragraph 1, A signal transmission system for a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder having a dual configuration of a first PWM encoding unit and a second PWM encoding unit, wherein the above PWM encoders operate independently of each other and when one of the PWM encoders is in an operating mode, the other is in a standby mode.

6. In paragraph 5, A signal transmission system for a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder, wherein the first PWM encoding unit and the second PWM encoding unit each independently include a power supply unit and a control unit.

7. In paragraph 6, A signal transmission system for a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder, wherein the first PWM encoding unit and the second PWM encoding unit each include a PWM output circuit unit that outputs the PWM signal to the vehicle control device, a PWM feedback circuit unit that receives the output of the PWM output circuit unit as feedback, and a PWM signal abnormality determination unit that determines whether the PWM signal input through feedback is abnormal and transfers control to another PWM encoding unit when an abnormality occurs.

8. In paragraph 7, A signal transmission system for a railway vehicle using a PWM encoder, wherein the first encoding unit and the second encoding unit exchange the PWM signals by feeding them back to each other, and the PWM signal abnormality determination unit generates a blocking signal for forcibly blocking output and transmits the blocking signal to a vehicle monitoring system when it determines that there is an abnormality in both its own PWM feedback signal and the other party's PWM feedback signal.

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