ROUTE FEATURE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- at least one application device configured to be at least one of conductively or inductively coupled with at least one of a first conductive track or a second conductive track of a route being traveled by a vehicle;
a control unit configured to control supply of electric current from a power source to the at least one application device to electrically inject at least one examination signal into the conductive tracks via the at least one application device;
at least one processor configured to be disposed onboard the vehicle, the at least one processor configured tomonitor one or more electrical characteristics of at least one of the first or second conductive tracks in response to the at least one examination signal being injected into the conductive tracks; and
identify a construction feature of the route based on an examination of the one or more electrical characteristics, the construction feature corresponding to a man-made aspect of the route.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes at least one application device, a control unit, and at least one processor. The at least one application device is conductively or inductively coupled with at least one of a first conductive track or a second conductive track. The control unit is configured to control supply of electric current from a power source to the at least one application device to electrically inject at least one examination signal into the conductive tracks. The at least one processor is configured to monitor the one or more electrical characteristics of at least one of the first or second conductive tracks, and to identify a construction feature of the route based on the one or more electrical characteristics, wherein the construction feature corresponds to a man-made aspect of the route.
16 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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at least one application device configured to be at least one of conductively or inductively coupled with at least one of a first conductive track or a second conductive track of a route being traveled by a vehicle; a control unit configured to control supply of electric current from a power source to the at least one application device to electrically inject at least one examination signal into the conductive tracks via the at least one application device; at least one processor configured to be disposed onboard the vehicle, the at least one processor configured to monitor one or more electrical characteristics of at least one of the first or second conductive tracks in response to the at least one examination signal being injected into the conductive tracks; and identify a construction feature of the route based on an examination of the one or more electrical characteristics, the construction feature corresponding to a man-made aspect of the route. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system comprising:
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a first application device and a second application device configured to be at least one of conductively or inductively coupled with at least one of a first conductive track or a second conductive track of a route being traveled by a vehicle; a control unit configured to control supply of electric current from a power source to the first and second application devices to electrically inject a first examination signal via the first application device and a second examination signal via the second application device into the conductive tracks, wherein the first and second examination signals include respective unique identifiers; at least one processor configured to be disposed onboard the vehicle, the at least one processor configured to monitor one or more electrical characteristics of at least one of the first or second conductive tracks in response to the first and second examination signals being injected into the conductive tracks; identify a construction feature of the route based on an examination of the one or more electrical characteristics, wherein the construction feature corresponding to at least one of a switch, a diamond crossing, or a bridge; determine a location of the vehicle based on the construction feature; and control at least one device onboard the vehicle based on the location that is determined.
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11. A method comprising:
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injecting, via at least one application device disposed upon a vehicle, at least one examination signal into at least one of first or second conductive tracks of a route being traveled by the vehicle; monitoring, via at least one detection device disposed upon the vehicle, one or more electrical characteristics of at least one of the first or second conductive tracks in response to the at least one examination signal being injected into the at least one of the first or second conductive tracks; and identifying a construction feature of the route based on the one or more electrical characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification