System and method for self powered wayside railway signaling and sensing
First Claim
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1. A railroad signaling system, comprising:
- a power scavenging module configured to convert an excitation of a rail into electrical power;
at least one sensor coupled to said power scavenging module and configured to detect a predetermined characteristic in relation to at least one selected from the group consisting of said rail, a train moving on said rail, an environment of said railroad signaling system, and combinations thereof; and
circuitry coupled to said at least one sensor and configured to receive a signal sent by said at least one sensor in relation to said predetermined characteristic and communicate data in relation to said predetermined characteristic.
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Abstract
System and method for self powered wayside railway signaling and sensing. The system includes a power scavenging module and a power utilizing module. The power scavenging module is configured to convert an excitation of a rail into electrical power. The power utilizing module is powered by the electrical power and is configured to detect a predetermined characteristic in relation to the rail, a train moving on the rail or an environment of the railroad and to communicate data in relation to the predetermined characteristic.
65 Citations
93 Claims
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1. A railroad signaling system, comprising:
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a power scavenging module configured to convert an excitation of a rail into electrical power;
at least one sensor coupled to said power scavenging module and configured to detect a predetermined characteristic in relation to at least one selected from the group consisting of said rail, a train moving on said rail, an environment of said railroad signaling system, and combinations thereof; and
circuitry coupled to said at least one sensor and configured to receive a signal sent by said at least one sensor in relation to said predetermined characteristic and communicate data in relation to said predetermined characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 49, 50)
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43. A railroad signaling system, comprising:
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a power scavenging module configured to convert an excitation of a rail into electrical power;
at least one sensor coupled to said power scavenging module and configured to detect a predetermined characteristic in relation to at least one selected from the group consisting of said rail, a train moving on said rail, an environment of said railroad signaling system, and combinations thereof; and
circuitry coupled to said at least one sensor and configured to receive a signal sent by said at least one sensor in relation to said predetermined characteristic and communicate data in relation to said predetermined characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47)
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51. A railroad signaling system, comprising:
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a power scavenging module configured to convert an excitation of a rail into electrical power;
at least one sensor coupled to said power scavenging module and configured to detect a predetermined characteristic in relation to at least one selected from the group consisting of said rail, a train moving on said rail, an environment of said railroad signaling system, and combinations thereof;
a signal conditioning module coupled to said at least one sensor and configured to condition a signal sent by said at least one sensor;
a controller coupled to said power scavenging module, said at least one sensor and said signal conditioning module and configured to control and coordinate activities of said power scavenging module, said at least one sensor and said signal conditioning module; and
an output module coupled to said controller and configured to receive a conditioned signal from said controller and to communicate data in relation to said predetermined characteristic detected by said at least one sensor, wherein said controller is further configured to control and coordinate activities of said output module.
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52. A system for generating local power on railroad, comprising:
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a power scavenging module configured to convert an excitation of a rail into electrical power; and
a power utilizing module powered by said electrical power.
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53. A method for railroad signaling, comprising:
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generating power from an excitation of a rail and using said power to energize at least one sensor;
sensing a predetermined characteristic in relation to at least one selected from the group consisting of said rail, a train moving on said rail, an environment of said railroad signaling using said power, and combinations thereof;
conditioning a signal generated based on said sensing of said predetermined characteristic; and
communicating data in relation to said predetermined characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85)
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86. A method for railroad signaling, comprising:
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generating power from an excitation of a rail and using said power to energize at least one sensor;
sensing a predetermined characteristic in relation to at least one selected from the group consisting of said rail, a train moving on said rail, an environment of said railroad signaling, and combinations thereof using said at least one sensor;
conditioning a signal generated based on said sensing of said predetermined characteristic; and
communicating data in relation to said predetermined characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92)
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93. A method for generating local power on railroad, comprising:
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generating power from an excitation of a rail; and
energizing a power utilizing module using said power.
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Specification