Vehicle data recorder employing data compression

• US 3,864,731 A
• Filed: 07/16/1973
• Issued: 02/04/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mark IV Transportation Products Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bernard E. Callahan
• Inventors: Callahan, Bernard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Canney, Vincent P.
• Application Number:
  US05/379,371
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 360/5,6,137 346/33,3,17,25
• US Class Current: 360/5
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0875 using magnetic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An axle pickup generates signals each time a vehicle travels a predetermined distance. Means are provided for measuring distance travelled as well as measuring changes in vehicle speed. If the speed has varied between sequential signals, or if particular events are detected during sequential signals, a tape recorder is actuated to record these occurrences. If there is no speed change and no events occur, the recorder is not actuated thus effecting data compression.

Claims

1. A vehicle data recorder comprising:

means connected to at least one wheel that is connected to the vehicle for generating signals corresponding to distance travelled by the vehicle;

means connected to the signal generating means for counting the signals;

means connected to the counter for periodically detecting a preselected count corresponding to a particular distance travelled by the vehicle;

clock means connected to the output of the detecting means for produciing the clock pulse of predetermined width upon detection of the preselected count;

comparator means enabled by the clock means for an interval sufficient to receive data from the counting means, corresponding to the present vehicle speed;

storing means for storing speed data from a previous clock cycle;

means connecting storing means to the comparator means for determining whether a change in speed occurred;

means connecting the output of the storing means to means for recording speed data when a print function exists;

second counting means connected to the clock means for counting accumulated clock pulses corresponding to accumulated distance travelled; and

means connecting the output of the second counting means to the recording means for recording accumulated distance travelled by the vehicle when a print function exists.

2. The subject matter of claim 1 together with means for sensing the occurrence of preselected events in the vehicle;

means connecting the sensing means to second storing means for storing event data from the sensing means;

means responding to the occurrence of an event for enabling the recording means; and

means connecting the second storing means to the recording means for recording the data when the recording means is enabled.

3. The subject matter of claim 2 wherein the responding means comprises:

an OR gate havings its inputs connected to respective print functions and event data for generating an output from the gate;

an AND gate connected at its inputs to the OR gate output and the clock means for generating a signal upon their coincidence;

a write clock enabled in response to the signal;

means connecting the output of the write clock to drive means in the recording means for advancing a recording medium in response to enablement of the write clock. whereby the recording medium does not advance if a print function or events have not occurred as the vehicle travels, thus causing data compression on the medium.

4. The subject matter of claim 3 together with third counting means connected to the output of the second counting means for generating a print function after a preselected number of cycles of the clock means which is fed to the OR gate.

5. The subject matter as defined in claim 1 wherein the signal generating means is an axle pickup.

6. The subject matter as set forth in claim 1 wherein the recording means comprises a magnetic tape recorder having multichannel heads for accepting respective inputs.

7. The subject matter as defined in claim 4 wherein the signal generating means is an axle pickup, and further wherein, the recording means comprises a magnetic tape recorder having multi-channel heads for accepting respective inputs.

8. The subject matter of claim 1 together with means for sensing the occurrence of preselected events in the vehicle;

means connecting the output of the sensing means to a plurality of data input lines;

GATE means connected to the plurality of data input lines, the gate means being enabled upon the occurrence of at least a single data input;

clock means connected at its input to the gate means and at its output to drive means of the recorder for actuating the operation thereof upon the occurrence of at least a single data input;

storage means for storing the data present at the input lines of the gate means; and

means for connecting the clock means to the storage means for shifting the data from the storage means to the tape, via the recorder;

whereby no tape is consumed unless data on at least one data input line occurs.

9. The subject matter of claim 8 wherein the drive means causes stepping actuation of the tape recorder for achieving stepping incrementing of the tape during sequential cycles of data recording.