Presence Detection System for Path Crossing

• US 20070274158A1
• Filed: 05/08/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensotech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sensotech, Inc.
• Inventors: Agam, Uri, Marcovecchio, Pino, Gal, Eli
• Granted Patent: US 7,715,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/96
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/041 Obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 29/30 Supervision, e.g. monitoring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/04 Indicating positive or negative direction of a linear movement or clockwise or anti-clockwise direction of a rotational movement
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/64 Devices characterised by the determination of the time taken to traverse a fixed distance
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/04 Systems determining presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/876 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S15/872 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1618 using ultrasonic detection means

Abstract

A presence detection system for level crossing or to detect a target at the intersection of any paths is described herein. The system comprises an ultrasound sensor array positioned at the intersection of the first and second paths for defining a detecting area thereon and for emitting a first trigger signal when the body is in the detecting area; and a controller coupled to the ultrasound sensor array for receiving the first trigger signal and for emitting an alarm signal indicative of the first trigger signal. The sensor array detects the presence of a target by creating acoustic virtual lines which form between emitter and receiver or transducer and reflectors and/or by deploying conical or parallel detecting beams and which can be used, for example to measure the distance between each sensor forming the array and the target. The sensor array can deploy beams or acoustic lines in several plans and therefore allow detecting penetration above the conventional railway crossing barriers. The system can eliminate false signals by measuring the target size and speed. The presence detection system also includes a junction control box for receiving unique trigger signals from the ultrasound sensors and for emitting an alarm signal to be displayed by a stop signal display or to be received by an onboard controller in a train.

Claims

1. A system for detecting the presence of a body at the intersection between first and second paths, the system comprising:

an ultrasound sensor array for defining a detecting zone at the intersection of the first and second paths and for emitting a first trigger signal when the body is in the detecting zone; and

a controller coupled to the ultrasound sensor array for receiving the first trigger signal and for emitting an alarm signal indicative of the first trigger signal.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the ultrasound sensor array includes a first sensor assembly that creates a first acoustic line over the intersection;

the first trigger signal being emitted when the first acoustic line is cut.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the first acoustic line intersects a direction defined by the first path.

4. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the sensor array includes at least one second sensor assembly that emits a first ultrasound floating cone towards a portion of the intersection;

the first trigger signal being further emitted when the body contacts the first ultrasound floating cone.

5. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein the at least one second sensor assembly includes a plurality of second sensor assemblies, each oriented towards a different portion of the intersection.

6. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein the at least one second sensor assembly includes an ultrasound sensor configured for operation in pulse mode whereby a wide pulse is emitted towards the portion of the intersection.

7. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the first acoustic line is positioned at a first location along the first path;

the ultrasound sensor array including a second sensor assembly that creates a second acoustic line which intersects the direction define by the first path at a second position along the first path;

the controller being further for determining the speed and direction of the body between the first and second acoustic lines by determining a time between a consecutive cutting of the first and second acoustic lines.

8. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the first sensor assembly includes an ultrasound transducer and an ultrasound reflector aligned with the ultrasound transducer so as to create the first acoustic line therewith;

the ultrasound transducer emitting the first trigger signal when the acoustic line is cut.

9. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the first sensor assembly includes an ultrasound emitter and an ultrasound receiver aligned with the ultrasound emitter so as to create the first acoustic line therewith;

one of the ultrasound emitter and receiver emitting the first trigger signal when the acoustic line is cut.

10. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the first sensor assembly is adjacent the second path on a first side thereof.

11. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the ultrasound sensor array further includes a second sensor assembly that creates a second acoustic line which intersect the direction defined by the first path and which is adjacent the second path on a second side thereof;

the first trigger signal being further emitted when the second acoustic line is cut.

12. A system as recited in claim 11, wherein the first and second acoustic lines are generally parallel to the second path.

13. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the first and second sensor assemblies further create third and fourth acoustic lines defining an x-shaped pattern between the first and second acoustic lines;

the first trigger signal being further emitted when any one of the third and fourth acoustic lines is cut.

14. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the first sensor assembly includes a first ultrasound emitter positioned on a first side of both the first and second paths and a first ultrasound receiver positioned on both the first side of the first path and on a second side of the first path;

the second sensor assembly includes a second ultrasound receiver positioned on both the second side of the first path and on a second side of the second path and a second ultrasound emitter positioned on both the second side of the first path and the first side of the second path;

both the first an second emitters being pivotable between the first and second receivers.

15. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the ultrasound sensor array includes a first sensor assembly that creates a series of acoustic lines defining the detecting zone;

the first trigger signal being emitted when any one of the acoustic lines is cut.

16. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein the acoustic lines cross the first path.

17. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein the acoustic lines are generally aligned and superimposed with the second path.

18. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein each of the acoustic lines is created by an ultrasound transducer and an ultrasound reflector aligned with the ultrasound transducer;

the ultrasound transducer emitting the first trigger signal when the acoustic line is cut.

19. A system as recited in claim 18, wherein at least one of the ultrasound transducer and reflector is mounted to a pivotable gate.

20. A system as recited in claim 18, wherein the ultrasound transducers and reflectors are positioned on a respective side of the first path.

21. A system as recited in claim 18, further comprising an additional reflector and two additional transducers for creating at least two additional acoustic lines between each of the two additional transducers and the reflector.

22. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein each of the acoustic lines is created by an ultrasound emitter and an ultrasound receiver aligned with the ultrasound emitter;

one of the ultrasound emitter and receiver emitting the first trigger signal when the acoustic line is cut.

23. A system as recited in claim 22, wherein at least one of the ultrasound emitter and receiver is mounted to a pivotable gate.

24. A system as recited in claim 22, wherein the ultrasound emitters and receivers are positioned on a respective side of the first path.

25. A system as recited in claim 15, further comprising a second sensor assembly that creates at least one ultrasound floating cone which further defines the detecting zone.

26. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein the acoustic lines are created by a plurality of ultrasound emitters and at least one ultrasound receiver;

each of the plurality of ultrasound emitters being aligned with one of the at least one ultrasound receivers, yielding an ultrasound sensor creating one of the acoustic lines and emitting the first trigger signal when the acoustic line is cut.

27. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein the acoustic lines are created by a plurality of ultrasound receivers and at least one ultrasound emitter;

each of the plurality of ultrasound receivers being aligned with one of the at least one ultrasound emitter, yielding an ultrasound sensor creating one of the acoustic lines and emitting the first trigger signal when the acoustic line is cut.

28. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor array includes at least one sensor assembly that emits a first ultrasound floating cone towards a portion of the intersection;

the first ultrasound floating cone defining at least part of the detecting zone;

the first trigger signal being emitted when the body is at least partially in the first ultrasound floating cone.

29. A system as recited in claim 28, wherein the at least one sensor assembly includes a plurality of sensor assemblies, each oriented towards a different portion of the intersection.

30. A system as recited in claim 28, wherein the at least one sensor assembly includes a first sensor located on a first side of the first path that emits a first ultrasound floating cone towards the second path and a second sensor located on a second side of the first path that emits a second ultrasound floating cone towards the second path.

31. A system as recited in claim 30, wherein the controller is configured to compute at least a first dimension of the body while it moves on said second path between the first and second ultrasound floating cones.

32. A system as recited in claim 28, wherein the at least one sensor assembly is movable relative to the intersection so as to modify the location of at least part of the detecting zone.

33. A system as recited in claim 28, wherein the at least one sensor assembly includes an ultrasound sensor configured for operation in pulse mode whereby a wide pulse is emitted towards the portion of the intersection.

34. A system as recited in claim 28, wherein the ultrasound sensor is mounted to the movable portion of a pivotable gate positioned across the first path adjacent the second path on a first side thereof so as to emit the first ultrasound floating cone towards a portion of the second path.

35. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor array includes at least one sensor assembly including an ultrasound transducer and a concave dish operatively assembled together so that an ultrasound beam characterized by a width is produced when the ultrasound transducer emits a primary beam towards the concave dish;

the at least one sensor assembly is oriented so as to emit the ultrasound beam towards the intersection;

the ultrasound beam being part of the detecting zone

36. A system as recited in claim 35, wherein the width of the ultrasound beam is selected so that the system does not detect the body if the body has a maximum dimension less than the width of the ultrasound beam.

37. A system as recited in claim 35, wherein the width of the ultrasound detecting beam is determined by at least one of i) a relative distance of the concave dish and the ultrasound transducer, ii) a size of the dish, and iii) an emission angle of the ultrasound transducer.

38. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the ultrasound sensor array includes a first sensor assembly which creates a first series of acoustic lines which define a first detecting plane within the detecting zone;

the first detecting plane defining a first angle with the first path;

the controller further determining a first dimension of the body along a direction defined by the first detecting plane.

39. A system as recited in claim 38, wherein the ultrasound sensor array further includes a second sensor assembly which creates a second series of acoustic lines which define a second detecting plane within the detecting zone;

the second detecting plane defining a second angle with the first path;

the controller further determining a second dimension of the body along a direction defined by the second detecting plane.

40. A system for detecting a body at level crossings where a plurality of roads intersect a railway track, the system comprising:

a plurality of systems as recited in claim 1, wherein for each, the first path defines one of the plurality of road, the second path defines the railway track and the controller is a junction control box having a unique junction address assigned thereto.

41. A system for detecting a body at a level crossing where a road intersects a railway track, the system comprising:

a system as recited in claim 1 wherein the road defines the first path and the railway track defines the second path.

42. A system as recited in claim 41, wherein the controller is a junction control box.

43. A system as recited in claim 42, further comprising at least one controllable stop display coupled to the junction control box for receiving therefrom at least one of the first trigger signal and the alarm signal and for displaying visual information accordingly.

44. A system as recited in claim 42, wherein the junction control box is configured for communication with a remote controller located on a train or in a monitoring center.

45. A system as recited in claim 44, wherein the junction control box includes a wireless device for communication with a compatible wireless device connected to the remote controller for sending at least one of the alarm signal and the trigger signal.

46. A system as recited in claim 44, at least one of the junction box controller and the at least one remote controller including means for calculating the probability of impact between the at least one train and a detected body at the intersection using a speed of the at least one train and a distance of the at least one train relatively to the ultrasound sensor array.

47. A system as recited in claim 46, wherein the means for calculating the probability of impact includes information indicative of weather conditions.

48. A system as recited in claim 46, wherein the distance of the at least one train is determined using a Global Positioning System.

49. A system as recited in claim 41, wherein the level crossing includes at least two pivotable gates which intersect the road on opposite sides of the railway track;

the ultrasound sensor array including at least one ultrasound sensor mounted to at least one of the two pivotable gates.

50. A system as recited in claim 49, wherein the at least one ultrasound sensor produces at least one of detecting acoustic lines and at least one floating cone between the at least two pivotable gates.

51. A sensor array for detecting the exceeding of a transversal position by a body along a path:

an ultrasound sensor assembly for creating an acoustic line over the path at the level of the transversal position along the path and for emitting a first signal when the acoustic line is cut.

52. A sensor array as recited in claim 51, wherein the ultrasound sensor assembly includes an ultrasound transducer positioned at the level of the transversal position along the path on a first side thereof and an ultrasound reflector aligned with the ultrasound transducer on the other side of the path so as to create the acoustic line therewith;

the ultrasound transducer emitting the first signal when the acoustic line is cut.

53. A sensor array as recited in claim 51, wherein the ultrasound sensor assembly includes an ultrasound emitter positioned at the level of the transversal position along the path on a first side thereof and an ultrasound receiver aligned with the ultrasound emitter on the other side of the path so as to create the acoustic line therewith;

one of the ultrasound emitter and receiver emitting the first signal when the acoustic line is cut.