Sensor synchronization apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. A system for inspecting railway track infrastructure at high speed and high resolution, the system comprising:
- a power source;
a light emitting apparatus powered by the power source for emitting light energy toward a railway track bed;
a data storage apparatus;
a first sensor directed to a first viewing area for sensing reflected light that was emitted from the light emitting apparatus and acquiring three dimensional elevation and intensity data of the railway track bed to be stored in the data storage apparatus;
a second sensor directly adjacent to the first sensor and directed to the first viewing area for sensing reflected light that was emitted from the light emitting apparatus and acquiring three dimensional elevation and intensity data of the railway track bed to be stored in the data storage apparatus;
a high resolution distance measuring encoder for providing longitudinal sample pulse distance data; and
at least one processor in communication with the data storage apparatus, the first sensor, the second sensor, and the distance measuring encoder wherein the at least one processor is configured for sequencing the timing of operation for the first sensor and the second sensor in a cascading, repeating manner such that the first sensor is triggered for operation while the second sensor is on standby and the second sensor is triggered for operation while the first sensor is on standby, and wherein data gathered by the first sensor and the second sensor are combined to generate a higher resolution resultant three dimensional elevation and intensity data of the railway track bed than if only one or two sensors were used.
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Abstract
A system and method for inspecting a railway track bed using a plurality of sensors that are synchronized for rapid interrogation of a railway track bed while the sensors are in motion at a high rate of speed.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A system for inspecting railway track infrastructure at high speed and high resolution, the system comprising:
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a power source; a light emitting apparatus powered by the power source for emitting light energy toward a railway track bed; a data storage apparatus; a first sensor directed to a first viewing area for sensing reflected light that was emitted from the light emitting apparatus and acquiring three dimensional elevation and intensity data of the railway track bed to be stored in the data storage apparatus; a second sensor directly adjacent to the first sensor and directed to the first viewing area for sensing reflected light that was emitted from the light emitting apparatus and acquiring three dimensional elevation and intensity data of the railway track bed to be stored in the data storage apparatus; a high resolution distance measuring encoder for providing longitudinal sample pulse distance data; and at least one processor in communication with the data storage apparatus, the first sensor, the second sensor, and the distance measuring encoder wherein the at least one processor is configured for sequencing the timing of operation for the first sensor and the second sensor in a cascading, repeating manner such that the first sensor is triggered for operation while the second sensor is on standby and the second sensor is triggered for operation while the first sensor is on standby, and wherein data gathered by the first sensor and the second sensor are combined to generate a higher resolution resultant three dimensional elevation and intensity data of the railway track bed than if only one or two sensors were used. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of inspecting railway track infrastructure at high speed and high resolution using a synchronization processor, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. emitting light from a light source toward a railway track bed; b. receiving longitudinal sample pulse data from a high resolution distance measuring encoder; c. receiving maximum sensor sampling rate data; d. receiving maximum survey speed data; e. sequencing the timing for activation of a first sensor and a second sensor directed to the same viewing area in a repeating pattern based on the received longitudinal sample pulse distance data, the received maximum sensor sampling rate data, and the received maximum survey speed data so that the first sensor is activated during time periods when the second sensor is on standby and the first sensor is on standby during time periods when the second sensor is activated and wherein the first sensor is directly adjacent to the second sensor; f. detecting light reflected from the railway track bed using the first sensor while the first sensor is activated; and g. detecting light reflected from the railway track bed using the second sensor while the second sensor is activated. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification