Optical Rollercoaster Trigger System for High-Speed Event Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rollercoaster trigger systems are too slow due to high start-up and processing times, which is a drawback for modern rollercoasters operating at high speeds.
Innovation Solution
A rollercoaster trigger system featuring a beacon plate with an aperture pattern and a sensor set that provides a fast data signal to the control unit, allowing for accurate and reliable event triggering independent of vehicle speed, with a negligible start-up time and reduced space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional switching elements with metal plates are used, then section changes can be detected, but the mounting space required is large and data transfer is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical metal plate switching elements with an optical system consisting of optical transmitters, receivers, and coded aperture patterns. This substitution eliminates the need for large physical mounting structures while enabling more compact and flexible data transmission mechanisms along the rollercoaster track.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from mechanical presence/absence of metal plates to optical detection of aperture patterns. By encoding information in the spatial arrangement and coding of apertures rather than physical plate positions, the system achieves higher data capacity in a more compact form factor.
2Reliability
If traditional trigger systems are used, then events can be controlled, but the start-up and processing time is too slow for high-speed rollercoasters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or electronic trigger systems with an optical detection system that uses receivers to detect coded aperture patterns. This optical system provides faster response times and negligible start-up delays, enabling reliable event control even at high rollercoaster speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-positions optical receivers at specific locations along the track and pre-codes aperture patterns to correspond with specific events. This preliminary arrangement eliminates processing delays by having the detection system ready and configured in advance, enabling immediate response when the rollercoaster vehicle passes the detection point.
3Loss of information
If multiple metal plates are arranged side by side, then more data can be transmitted, but the space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional linear arrangement of metal plates to a two-dimensional aperture pattern system. By encoding data in the spatial distribution and coding of apertures across a pattern rather than in a simple linear sequence, the system achieves higher information density in a compact area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the data encoding method from simple presence/absence signals to coded aperture patterns with multiple possible configurations. This allows multiple data bits to be transmitted through a single aperture pattern, increasing data capacity without requiring proportionally more physical space.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables fast response times and efficient data transfer, allowing for precise control of events such as passenger seat movements or show elements, even at high vehicle speeds, with improved reliability and compact design.
Implementation Method 1
The trigger system has an optical transmitter which emits a beam of light and an optical receiver for receiving the beam of light from the optical transmitter
Data Source
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Figure 5~8
AI summary
Rollercoaster trigger system (1) to output a data signal (ds) to a control unit (130) for triggering and controlling an event at a predetermined track position. A beacon plate (20) with a certain aperture pattern (21) and a sensor set is provided to send a trigger signal (ts) and a data signal (ds) to the control unit (130). The sensor set comprises a first and a second trigger sensor (xs1,xs6) which provide together the trigger signal (ts) to readout the data (D) of the beacon plate (20) when together simultaneously detecting a first and second trigger aperture (ta) of the aperture pattern (21). A read sensor (xs2, xs3, xs4, xs5) is provided for reading data (D) from the aperture pattern (21) by detecting a presence or absence of a read aperture (ra). The data signal (ds) is obtained by the control unit when the trigger signal (ts) is generated.