AUTOMATIC VEHICLE GUIDANCE PROTECTION SYSTEM

• US 20100300788A1
• Filed: 07/07/2007
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ultra Global Limited
• Original Assignee: Ultra Global Limited
• Inventors: Edwards, Keith, Lear, Mervyn, Ross-Martin, Torquil, Cox, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,386,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/167
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/04 Automatic systems, e.g. controlled by train; Change-over to manual control
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/225 using separate conductors along the route
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0265 using buried wires
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 2201/0212 Driverless passenger transport vehicle

Abstract

An automated vehicle protection system is provided comprising a guideway (20), a vehicle (10), a guideway loop antenna (21), and transponders (41a, 41b), mounted on the vehicle (10). Means (24, 25) are provided, couple to the guideway loop antenna (21), for receiving a signal from the vehicle (10) and generating an inhibit signal in order to inhibit vehicle movement in a section of the guideway (20). The inhibit signal may be passed to a circuit associated with another guideway loop antenna (22, 23) to control transmission of a signal from this other guideway loop antenna (22, 23).

Claims

1. An automated vehicle protection system comprising:

a guideway for guiding a vehicle along a path;

a vehicle to be guided along the path;

a first guideway loop antenna for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the vehicle; and

a transponder mounted on the vehicle for receiving a signal from the guideway loop antenna and transmitting a response to the guideway loop antenna.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein means is provided, coupled to the first guideway loop antenna, for causing the antenna to transmit a sinusoidal radio signal.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein means is provided in the vehicle for receiving a sinusoidal radio frequency signal from the first guideway loop antenna and automatically transmitting a response thereto.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein means is provided coupled to the first guideway loop antenna for receiving a signal from the vehicle and selectively generating an inhibit signal in response thereto, to inhibit vehicle movement in a section of the guideway.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the inhibit signal is passed to a circuit associated with a second guideway loop antenna to control transmission of a signal from the second guideway loop antenna.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the first and second guideway loop antennae are elongate and extend along first and second adjacent sections of the guideway.

7. A system according to claim 1, further comprising code transmit means associated with the guideway loop antenna for selectively transmitting a code to the vehicle depending on the presence or absence of an inhibit signal from an adjacent guideway section.

9. A system according to claim 1, further comprising code receiving means for receiving a code from a guideway loop antenna and control means to cause the vehicle to move along its guideway dependent on a code received.

8. (canceled)

10. An automated vehicle protection system comprising:

a guideway for guiding a vehicle along a path;

a first guideway loop antenna for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the vehicle; and

means coupled to the first guideway loop antenna for receiving a signal from the vehicle generated by the vehicle in response to a signal transmitted by the first guideway loop antenna and generating an inhibit signal in response thereto, to inhibit vehicle movement in a section of the guideway.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the inhibit signal is passed to a circuit associated with a second guideway loop antenna to control transmission of a signal from the second guideway loop antenna.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the first and second guideway loop antennae are elongate and extend along first and second adjacent sections of the guideway.

13. A system according to claim 10, further comprising code transmit means associated with the guideway loop antenna for selectively transmitting a code to the vehicle depending on the presence or absence of an inhibit signal from an adjacent guideway section.

14. A system according to claim 11 wherein the first and second guideway loop antennae are part of a first antennae series arrangement, the system further comprising a second antennae series arrangement distinct from the first antennae series arrangement, the second antennae series arrangement comprising a third guideway loop antenna and a fourth guideway loop antenna, wherein the third guideway loop antenna is for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the vehicle, and the system further comprising:

means coupled to the third guideway loop antenna for receiving a signal from the vehicle generated by the vehicle in response to a signal transmitted by the third guideway loop antenna and generating a second signal in response thereto, to inhibit vehicle movement in a section of the guideway, and wherein the second inhibit signal is passed to a second circuit associated with the fourth guideway loop antenna to control transmission of a signal from the fourth guideway loop antenna.

15. A system according to claim 14 wherein in use the first antennae series arrangement is an active arrangement and the second antennae series arrangement is a standby arrangement that can be activated if a failure of the second antennae arrangement is detected.

16. A system according to claim 14 wherein the first and second antennae series arrangement are operational at the same time.

17. A system according to claim 14 wherein the third guideway loop antenna overlaps the first and second guideway loop antennae.

18. An automated vehicle protection system comprising:

a guideway for guiding a vehicle along a path;

a first guideway loop antenna for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the vehicle; and

means coupled to the first guideway loop antenna for receiving a signal from the vehicle and generating an inhibit signal in response thereto, to inhibit vehicle movement in a section of the guideway, wherein the inhibit signal is passed to a circuit associated with a second guideway loop antenna to control transmission of a signal from the second guideway loop antenna.