Positive train control system, apparatus and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A positive train control unit mountable on a train movable on a track way comprising:
- a plurality of different sensors selected from the group including a visual imager, an infrared imager, a radar, a doppler radar, a laser sensor, a laser ranging device, an acoustic sensor, and an acoustic ranging device, said plurality of different sensors having respective fields of view sensing in a predetermined forward looking direction along the track way from the train;
a locating device including a global positioning device, an inertial navigation device, or both a global positioning device and an inertial navigation device, that independently determines the location of said positive train control unit and represents the location as location data;
a processor to which said plurality of different sensors and said locating device are coupled for receiving the data sensed thereby, wherein said processor associates the data sensed by said plurality of different sensors with location data and with time data corresponding to a location and a time at which such data is acquired, whereby such data is geo-tagged and time-tagged to the location and time at which it is acquired;
a data receiver configured to receive data from a track monitor, or from a switch monitor, or from a wayside monitor, or from a combination thereof, and to couple that data to said processor;
said processor determining from the data sensed by said plurality of different sensors, from the location data, and/or from data received by said data receiver, the location, speed and direction of said positive train control unit relative to predetermined track way configuration data and a train routing order;
said processor determining from data sensed by said plurality of different sensors and from data received by said data receiver whether there is an anomaly the track way proximate forward in the direction of travel of said positive train control unit; and
(1) when said processor determines that the location, speed and/or direction of said positive train control unit differs from the location, speed and/or direction defined in the train routing order, or(2) when said processor determines that there is an anomaly in the track way forward of said positive train control unit, or(3) when said processor determines any combination of (1) and (2),then said processor communicates an alert to an alerting device or communicates a control signal to a train control to at least adjust the speed of the train on which said positive train control unit is mounted or both.
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Abstract
A positive train control may comprise a plurality of different sensors coupled to a processor that determines whether there is an anomaly of a track way, and if there is, provides an alert and/or a train control action. The plural sensors may include a visual imager, an infrared imager, a radar, a doppler radar, a laser sensor, a laser ranging device, an acoustic sensor, and/or an acoustic ranging device. Data from the plural sensors is geo-tagged and time tagged. Some embodiments of the train control employ track monitors, switch monitors and/or wayside monitors, and some employ locating devices such as GPS and inertial devices.
19 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A positive train control unit mountable on a train movable on a track way comprising:
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a plurality of different sensors selected from the group including a visual imager, an infrared imager, a radar, a doppler radar, a laser sensor, a laser ranging device, an acoustic sensor, and an acoustic ranging device, said plurality of different sensors having respective fields of view sensing in a predetermined forward looking direction along the track way from the train; a locating device including a global positioning device, an inertial navigation device, or both a global positioning device and an inertial navigation device, that independently determines the location of said positive train control unit and represents the location as location data; a processor to which said plurality of different sensors and said locating device are coupled for receiving the data sensed thereby, wherein said processor associates the data sensed by said plurality of different sensors with location data and with time data corresponding to a location and a time at which such data is acquired, whereby such data is geo-tagged and time-tagged to the location and time at which it is acquired; a data receiver configured to receive data from a track monitor, or from a switch monitor, or from a wayside monitor, or from a combination thereof, and to couple that data to said processor; said processor determining from the data sensed by said plurality of different sensors, from the location data, and/or from data received by said data receiver, the location, speed and direction of said positive train control unit relative to predetermined track way configuration data and a train routing order; said processor determining from data sensed by said plurality of different sensors and from data received by said data receiver whether there is an anomaly the track way proximate forward in the direction of travel of said positive train control unit; and (1) when said processor determines that the location, speed and/or direction of said positive train control unit differs from the location, speed and/or direction defined in the train routing order, or (2) when said processor determines that there is an anomaly in the track way forward of said positive train control unit, or (3) when said processor determines any combination of (1) and (2), then said processor communicates an alert to an alerting device or communicates a control signal to a train control to at least adjust the speed of the train on which said positive train control unit is mounted or both. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A positive train control unit for a track way comprising:
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a plurality of different sensors selected from the group including a visual imager, an infrared imager, a radar, a doppler radar, a laser sensor, a laser ranging device, an acoustic sensor, and an acoustic ranging device, said plurality of different sensors having respective fields of view sensing at least in a predetermined direction along the track way; a first device providing a representation of the location of said positive train control unit as location data; a processor to which said plurality of different sensors and said first device are coupled for receiving the data sensed thereby, wherein said processor associates the data sensed by said plurality of different sensors with location data and with time data corresponding to a location and a time at which such data is acquired, whereby such data is geo-tagged and time-tagged to the location and time at which it is acquired; a data receiver configured to receive data from a track monitor, or from a switch monitor, or from a wayside monitor, or from a combination thereof, and to couple that data to said processor; a communication device configured to communicate at least along the track way proximate said positive train control unit; said processor determining from the data sensed by said plurality of different sensors, from the location data, and/or from data received by said data receiver, the location of said positive train control unit relative to predetermined track way configuration data; said processor determining from data from the data sensed by said plurality of different sensors and/or from data received by said data receiver whether there is an anomaly the track way proximate said positive train control unit; and when said processor determines that there is an anomaly in the track way proximate said positive train control unit, then said processor causes said communication device to communicate an alert of an anomaly in the track way, whereby a train that is proximate said positive train control unit is alerted to such anomaly in the track way so that the speed of an approaching train can be adjusted. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A positive train control unit for a track way crossing comprising:
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a plurality of different sensors selected from the group including a visual imager, an infrared imager, a radar, a doppler radar, a laser sensor, a laser ranging device, an acoustic sensor, and an acoustic ranging device, said plurality of different sensors having respective fields of view sensing at least in a predetermined direction along the track way including a crossing thereof; a first device providing a representation of the location of said positive train control unit as location data; a processor to which said plurality of different sensors and said first device are coupled for receiving the data sensed thereby, wherein said processor associates the data sensed by said plurality of different sensors with location data and with time data corresponding to a location and a time at which such data is acquired, whereby such data is geo-tagged and time-tagged to the location and time at which it is acquired; a data receiver configured to receive data from a track monitor, or from a switch monitor, or from a wayside monitor, or from a combination thereof, and to couple that data to said processor; a communication device configured to communicate at least along the track way proximate said positive train control unit; said processor determining from the data sensed by said plurality of different sensors, from the location data, and from data received by said data receiver, the location of said positive train control unit relative to predetermined track way configuration data; said processor determining from the data sensed by said plurality of different sensors and from data received by said data receiver whether there is an anomaly in the track way proximate said positive train control unit; and when said processor determines that there is an anomaly in the track way and/or the crossing thereof proximate said positive train control unit, then said processor causes said communication device to communicate an alert of an anomaly in the track way and/or the crossing thereof, whereby a train that is proximate said positive train control unit is alerted to such anomaly in the track way and/or the crossing thereof so that the speed of an approaching train can be adjusted. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A positive train control method for a train movable on a track way comprising:
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receiving sensor data from a plurality of different sensors selected from the group including a visual imager, an infrared imager, a radar, a doppler radar, a laser sensor, a laser ranging device, an acoustic sensor, and an acoustic ranging device, the plurality of different sensors having respective fields of view sensing in a predetermined forward looking direction along the track way from the train; receiving location data from a locating device including a global positioning device, an inertial navigation device, or both a global positioning device and an inertial navigation device, that independently determines the location of the train; associating the sensor data received from the plurality of different sensors with location data and with time data corresponding to a location and a time at which such data is acquired, whereby such sensor data is geo-tagged and time-tagged to the location and time at which it is acquired; receiving data from a track monitor, or from a switch monitor, or from a wayside monitor, or from a combination thereof, when within range of such track monitor, switch monitor, wayside monitor, or combination thereof; determining from the sensor data sensed by the plurality of different sensors and from the location data, the location, speed and direction of the train relative to predetermined track way configuration data and a train routing order; determining from the sensor data sensed by the plurality of different sensors and from data received from such track monitor, switch monitor, wayside monitor, or combination thereof, whether there is an anomaly in the track way proximate forward in the direction of travel of the train; and (1) when determined that the location, speed and/or direction of the train differs from the location, speed and/or direction defined in the train routing order, or (2) when determined that there is an anomaly in the track way forward of the train, or (3) when any combination of (1) and (2) is determined, then communicating an alert to an alerting device or communicating a control signal for a train control or both. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A control unit for a right of way comprising:
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a plurality of different sensors selected from the group including a visual imager, an infrared imager, a radar, a doppler radar, a laser sensor, a laser ranging device, an acoustic sensor, and an acoustic ranging device, said plurality of different sensors having respective fields of view sensing at least in a predetermined direction along the right of way; a first device providing a representation of the location of said control unit as location data; a processor to which said plurality of different sensors and said first device are coupled for receiving the data sensed thereby, wherein said processor associates the data sensed by said plurality of different sensors with location data and with time data corresponding to a location and a time at which such data is acquired, whereby such data is geo-tagged and time-tagged to the location and time at which it is acquired; a data receiver configured to receive data from a wayside monitor and to couple that data to said processor; a communication device configured to communicate at least along the right of way proximate said control unit; said processor determining from the data sensed by said plurality of different sensors, from the location data, and from data received by said data receiver, the location of said control unit relative to predetermined right of way configuration data; said processor determining from the data sensed by said plurality of different sensors and from data received by said data receiver whether there is an anomaly in the right of way proximate said control unit; and when said processor determines that there is an anomaly in the right of way proximate said control unit, then said processor causes said communication device to communicate an alert of an anomaly in the right of way thereof, whereby an alert of such anomaly in the right of way is communicated by said control unit. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification