Vehicular data handling and control system
First Claim
1. In a vehicle data acquisition system, a speed determining circuit comprising:
- transducer means for generating a first pulse signal having a frequency corresponding to the speed of the vehicle;
means for translating the first pulse signal to a second pulse signal, wherein each pulse of the second pulse signal has a width equal to the period of the first pulse signal;
counting means having a first input thereof connected to a clock and a second input thereof connected to the output of the translating means, the counting means being enabled by the second pulse signal to count clock pulses;
means for connecting the counting means to a microprocessor, the latter performing a "table look-up" procedure for equating a count in the counting means to a corresponding vehicle speed; and
means connected to the counting means for detecting a full count therein which is indicative of a vehicle at rest.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An onboard unit consisting of a tape recorder, and associated data handling components utilized to provide records of vehicular operating information including speed, distance, power level, braking level, traction motor current and other control events. Each quantity is associated with an incremental distance and/or time which is fixed. In the case of a rail guided vehicle, location signals provided by ground mounted markers are also recorded. Summation of incremental distances as determined from each marker provides an exact location. A magnetic tape unit provides both data storage and operations instruction for a microprocessor based system, allowing convenient alteration or variations in unit function without internal modification. Each unit retains a unique non-volatile serial number which is transferred to each tape allowing convenient correlation of recorded tapes to onboard units.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. In a vehicle data acquisition system, a speed determining circuit comprising:
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transducer means for generating a first pulse signal having a frequency corresponding to the speed of the vehicle; means for translating the first pulse signal to a second pulse signal, wherein each pulse of the second pulse signal has a width equal to the period of the first pulse signal; counting means having a first input thereof connected to a clock and a second input thereof connected to the output of the translating means, the counting means being enabled by the second pulse signal to count clock pulses; means for connecting the counting means to a microprocessor, the latter performing a "table look-up" procedure for equating a count in the counting means to a corresponding vehicle speed; and means connected to the counting means for detecting a full count therein which is indicative of a vehicle at rest. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for acquiring locomotive operation data comprising the steps of:
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generating a first pulse signal having a frequency corresponding to the speed of a locomotive wheel; dividing the first pulse signal by two thereby obtaining a second pulse signal; counting clock pulses for an interval equal to the period of the second pulse signal; determining measurement data of locomotive speed as a function of a count of clock pulses between pulses of the second pulse signal; storing the measurement data; detecting a preselected count indicative of a locomotive at rest; and storing the occurrence of the rest. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification