WAYSIDE GUIDEWAY VEHICLE DETECTION AND SWITCH DEADLOCKING SYSTEM WITH A MULTIMODAL GUIDEWAY VEHICLE SENSOR

• US 20150175179A1
• Filed: 12/20/2013
• Published: 06/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ground Transportation Systems Canada Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Thales Canada Incorporated (Thales SA)
• Inventors: WHITWAM, Firth, GREEN, Alon
• Granted Patent: US 9,499,185 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 19/06 Interlocking devices having electrical operation
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 21/06 Vehicle-on-line indication; Monitoring locking and release of the route
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/04 Indicating or recording train identities
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/045 using reradiating tags
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/048 using programmable tags

Abstract

A multimodal guideway vehicle sensor includes a passive sensor, an active sensor and an unique identification (ID) sensor. The passive sensor is configured to receive and detect a first electromagnetic radiation from a guideway vehicle. The active sensor configured to transmit a second electromagnetic radiation and receive and detect the second electromagnetic radiation reflected from the guideway vehicle. The ID sensor that detects an ID associated with the guideway vehicle. The multimodal guideway vehicle sensor also includes a data fusion center that combines signals from the passive sensor, the active sensor and the ID sensor to produce guideway vehicle information about the guideway vehicle.

Claims

1. A multimodal guideway vehicle sensor, comprising:

a passive sensor configured to receive and detect a first electromagnetic radiation from a guideway vehicle;

an active sensor configured to transmit a second electromagnetic radiation and receive and detect the second electromagnetic radiation reflected from the guideway vehicle;

an unique identification code (ID) sensor that detects an ID associated with the guideway vehicle; and

a data fusion center that combines signals from the passive sensor, the active sensor and the ID sensor to produce guideway vehicle information about the guideway vehicle.

2. The multimodal guideway vehicle sensor of claim 1, wherein the first electromagnetic radiation is in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

3. The multimodal guideway vehicle sensor of claim 1, wherein the first electromagnetic radiation is in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

4. The multimodal guideway vehicle sensor of claim 1, wherein the second electromagnetic radiation is coherent light in the visible or infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum emitted by the active sensor.

5. The multimodal guideway vehicle sensor of claim 1, wherein the second electromagnetic radiation is radar waves in the microwave portion or radio portion of the electromagnetic spectrum emitted by the active sensor.

6. The multimodal guideway vehicle sensor of claim 1, wherein the unique ID associated with the guideway vehicle is represented in a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

7. The multimodal guideway vehicle sensor of claim 1, wherein the unique ID associated with the guideway vehicle is represented in a pattern of metal objects.

8. The multimodal guideway vehicle sensor of claim 1, wherein the unique ID associated with the guideway vehicle is represented in a license plate.

9. The multimodal guideway vehicle sensor of claim 1, wherein the guideway vehicle information about the guideway vehicle includes at least one of:

guideway vehicle type, guideway vehicle ID, guideway vehicle position, guideway vehicle speed, guideway vehicle travel direction, an elevation angle to the guideway vehicle, a heading angle of the guideway vehicle, and a video image of at least a portion of the guideway vehicle.

10. A guideway vehicle detection system, comprising:

a wayside device;

a multimodal guideway vehicle sensor electrically coupled to the wayside device, the multimodal guideway vehicle sensor including a passive sensor configured to receive and detect a first electromagnetic radiation from a guideway vehicle, an active sensor configured to transmit a second electromagnetic radiation and receive and detect the second electromagnetic radiation reflected from the guideway vehicle, and an unique identification code (ID) sensor that detects an ID associated with the guideway vehicle.

11. The guideway vehicle detection system of claim 10, wherein the wayside device is positioned adjacent to an end point of a switch area having a guideway switch.

12. The guideway vehicle detection system of claim 11, wherein data from the multimodal guideway vehicle sensor causes the guideway switch to be deadlocked.

13. The guideway vehicle detection system of claim 12, wherein the multimodal guideway vehicle sensor is mounted onto the wayside device.

14. The guideway vehicle detection system of claim 10, wherein the multimodal guideway vehicle sensor is positioned adjacent to a platform having platform doors.

16. The guideway vehicle detection system of claim 10, wherein the multimodal guideway vehicle sensor is positioned adjacent to one of an end point of a transition area.

15. The guideway vehicle detection system of claim 15, wherein data from the multimodal guideway vehicle sensor causes the platform doors to be one of opened or closed.

17. A method for operating a guideway vehicle detection system having a multimodal guideway vehicle sensor having a passive sensor for detecting a guideway vehicle and producing sensor data, an active sensor for detecting a guideway vehicle and producing sensor data and an identification sensor for identifying a guideway vehicle and producing sensor data, comprising:

receiving sensor data from passive sensor, the active sensor and the identification sensor;

detecting a first guideway vehicle with at least one of the passive sensor, the active sensor and the identification sensor;

failing to detect the first guideway vehicle with one of the passive sensor, the active sensor and the identification sensor;

reducing a maximum amount of time for the multimodal guideway vehicle sensor to detect a second guideway vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

deadlocking a switch in a switch area if the first guideway vehicle is approaching or occupying the switch area.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the guideway vehicle is a train.

unlocking a switch in a switch area if the first guideway vehicle is receding from and outside the switch area.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the guideway vehicle is a train.