Light Rail Vehicle Monitoring and Stop Bar Overrun System

• US 20130048795A1
• Filed: 08/03/2012
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STC Incorporated (STC)
• Original Assignee: STC Incorporated (STC)
• Inventors: Cross, Brad
• Granted Patent: US 8,783,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 246/122.R
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0027 Radio-based, e.g. using GSM-R
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0072 On-board train data handling
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2201/00 Control methods
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/02 Global system for mobile communication - railways [GSM-R]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/14 automatically operated
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/02 Indicating or recording positions or identities of vehicles or trains
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/10 Operations, e.g. scheduling or time tables
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/40 Handling position reports or trackside vehicle data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station

Abstract

A satellite positioning location based control and monitoring system for light rail transit systems which enables transit personnel to track vehicle positions, progress and non-vital signals as light rail vehicles travel through their routes while eliminating the capital and maintenance costs associated with embedded light rail transit monitoring systems.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring vehicle positions, progress and non-vital signals within a traffic grid, the method comprising:

having one or more vehicles within a traffic grid, each vehicle having its own schedule;

establishing one or more pre-defined detection zones within the traffic grid, each of the pre-defined detection zones having its own parameters and monitoring purpose; and

determining when the one or more vehicles within the traffic grid have violated the parameters of the one or more pre-defined detection zones.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameters of the one or more pre-defined detection zones can be modified to account for changing monitoring and tracking needs.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein information regarding pre-defined detection zone activity and progression of the one or more vehicles within the traffic grid is displayed in real-time at centrally-located monitors.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein information regarding traffic flow patterns and violations of the one or more pre-defined detection zones is reported and stored in a detailed log.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more pre-defined detection zones is an advanced detection zone, wherein the advanced detection zone is located prior to a stop on a vehicle'"'"'s route and, upon identifying a vehicle entering the advanced detection zone, a notification announcement is triggered.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more pre-defined detection zones is a stop bar overrun zone, wherein the stop bar overrun zone is located after a designated stop point on the vehicle'"'"'s route and, upon identifying a vehicle entering the stop bar overrun zone at an improper time, the vehicle'"'"'s violation is recorded.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more pre-defined detection zones is a gate-closure zone, wherein the gate closure zone is located prior to an intersection with a gate on a vehicle'"'"'s route and, upon identifying a vehicle entering the gate-closure zone, an instructional signal is sent to the upcoming gate to either open or close the gate prior to the vehicle'"'"'s arrival.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more pre-defined detection zones is a speed-governing zone, wherein the speed of a vehicle entering the speed-governing zone is detected and, if the speed is above a certain pre-defined velocity parameter, an instructional signal is sent to the operator of the vehicle to slow down the speed of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein when the speed of the vehicle is above the certain pre-defined velocity parameter when entering the speed-governing zone, a speed governor is activated to decrease the vehicle'"'"'s speed.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more pre-defined detection zones is a switch-track zone, wherein when the vehicle enters the zone an instructional signal is sent to switch an upcoming track on the vehicle'"'"'s route.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameters of each of the pre-defined detection zones are chosen from the group consisting of:

zone width, zone length, required vehicle speed and allowable heading variance.

12. A method for establishing a plurality of pre-defined detection zones within a traffic grid, the method consisting of:

recording a vehicle'"'"'s route within a traffic grid with general systems manager software;

opening the recorded vehicle'"'"'s route with the general systems manager software at a central control center;

selecting starting and ending points for one or more pre-defined detection zones on the vehicle'"'"'s route within the traffic grid;

assigning parameters for each of the selected pre-defined detection zones on the vehicle'"'"'s route within the traffic grid; and

assigning appropriate corrective actions for when a vehicle fails to meet the assigned parameters for each of the selected pre-defined detection zones on the vehicle'"'"'s route within the traffic grid.

13. A system for monitoring when a vehicle overruns a stop bar at an intersection within a traffic grid, the system comprising:

a pre-defined detection zone located in a traffic grid after a stop bar at an intersection;

wherein if a vehicle is detected within the pre-defined detection zone located in the traffic grid after the stop bar at an intersection when the stop bar is engaged, the system will determine that a violation has occurred;

wherein when the system determines that a violation has occurred an alert will be sent through a network to a central control system; and

wherein the central control system will record a log of the violation, the log including information chosen from the group consisting of;

date of occurrence, time of occurrence, vehicle identification number, stop bar signal state, train speed and global satellite positioning strength.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the system is configured to recognize and adapt to an inherent latency in the calculation and transfer of signals in the system.