Rail Vehicle Locating via Waveguide Extension Sections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for locating rail vehicles along a rail line using waveguides and electromagnetic pulses are limited in accuracy and reliability, particularly due to variations in waveguide length and potential malfunctions, which can lead to errors in vehicle positioning and length measurement.
Innovation Solution
The method involves extending the waveguide along the rail line with sections of excess length, measuring the temporal backscatter pattern length, and using the additional time duration to generate error signals or calibrate the locating device, allowing for improved accuracy and detection of malfunctions by comparing measured and expected time periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the waveguide length is extended to cover the entire rail line, then the locating coverage is improved, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to accumulated length variations and potential malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide is divided into multiple sections along the rail line, with each section having a known reference length. By segmenting the continuous waveguide into discrete measurable units, the system can locate vehicles through any section while maintaining measurement precision through reference comparisons, thus resolving the contradiction between extensive coverage and accurate measurement.
2Measurement precision
If extension sections with excess length are added to the waveguide, then the calibration capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Extension sections with known excess lengths are pre-installed at specific locations along the waveguide. These sections serve as built-in calibration references that are prepared in advance, allowing the system to perform self-calibration without requiring external reference equipment, thereby improving calibration accuracy while adding only minimal structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The extension sections enable the locating device to calibrate itself using the known excess lengths as internal references. The system automatically detects and utilizes these reference sections to correct measurement drift, eliminating the need for external calibration equipment or manual adjustment, thus improving calibration capability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Reliability
If the additional time periods from extension sections are used for error detection, then the reliability is improved, but the measurement precision requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system measures the additional time periods introduced by extension sections and compares them against expected reference values. This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect malfunctions by identifying deviations from expected timing patterns, thereby improving reliability. The use of relative time measurements rather than absolute precision requirements makes the system more robust while maintaining effective error detection.
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
This approach enhances the accuracy of rail vehicle location and length measurement by using the additional time periods caused by extension sections to generate error signals or calibrate the device, thereby improving the reliability of the locating process and detecting potential malfunctions.
Implementation Method 1
Electromagnetic pulses are fed into the waveguide one after the other
Implementation Method 2
at least one backscatter pattern generated by vehicle-induced backscattering of the electromagnetic pulse is received
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to, among other things, a method for operating a locating device (10), which comprises a waveguide (50) laid along a track segment (100) in order to locate a rail vehicle (110) on the track segment (100), wherein in the method, electromagnetic pulses (Pin) are fed into the waveguide (50) in succession and backscattering patterns (Rm1-Rm3) produced by backscattering of the electromagnetic pulse (Pin) are received and evaluated for each emitted pulse. According to the invention, the waveguide (50) has at least one extension section (51-55) along the track segment (100), in which extension section the length of the waveguide (50) is longer than the section of the track segment (100) associated with said extension section (51-55) by an excess length, the backscattering pattern time length of the received backscattering pattern (Rm1-Rm3) is measured, the additional duration of the backscattering pattern (Rm1-Rm3) resulting from the passage through the extension section (51-55) in comparison with the backscattering pattern length before and after the extension section (51-55) is determined, and the additional duration is used to produce an error signal (F) or to calibrate the locating device (10).