Interrogator-responder communication system

• US 4,912,471 A
• Filed: 11/03/1983
• Issued: 03/27/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitron Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitron Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Tyburski, Robert M., Shillady, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GREGORY, BERNARR E
• Application Number:
  US06/548,316
• Time in Patent Office: 2,336 Days
• Field of Search: 343/6.5 SS, 343/6.5 LC, 343/6.5 R, 343/6.8 R, 343/6.8 LC, 364/424, 364/424.01, 364/424.03, 364/424.04, 364/424.05, 364/424.11-426.05, 455/41, 455/49, 455/54, 342/42-45, 342/50, 342/51, 340/47, 340/52 R, 340/52 F, 340/298, 340/311.1, 340/505, 340/696, 340/825.44, 340/825.54, 340/825.55, 340/825.83, 340/825.86, 340/933, 340/935 , 340/938, 340/941, 340/988, 340/989, 246/7, 246/8, 246/13, 246/29 R, 246/30, 246/44, 246/62, 246/63 R, 246/11 R, 246/122 R, 246/124, 246/169 D, 246/178, 246/187 R, 246/193, 246/194
• US Class Current: 340/10.34
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/045 using reradiating tags
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/048 using programmable tags
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/758 using a signal generator powered by the interrogation signal

Abstract

An interrogator-responder communication system in which responders are carried by vehicles (such as railroad vehicles) travelling along a route and in which an interrogating station situated along the route operates each passing responder to recall data from a memory in the passing responder. In one embodiment, the responder is equipped to receive data transmitted from a transmit station and to store the received data, for later recall, in a non-volatile, electrically erasable read/write memory.

Claims

1. An interrogator-responder communication system comprising at least one interrogating station adapted to be located along a route taken by vehicles, and at least one passive responder having no power-producing source of its own, said interrogating station comprising (a) means for radiating a power signal to develop a power signal field located along said route and (b) further means for radiating at least one interrogating signal to develop an interrogating signal field located along said route in such a manner that the peak power level of said interrogating signal field lies behind the peak power level of said power signal field as viewed from a preselected direction of vehicle travel along said route, said responder being adapted to be carried by one of the vehicles intended for travel along said route such that said responder passes, in sequence through said power and interrogating signal fields upon travel of the responder-carrying vehicle along said route, said responder having (a) first means for receiving said power signal as the responder passes through said power signal field, (b) second means powered by energy derived from the received power signal for supplying an electrical information-bearing signal, and (c) third means for re-radiating said interrogating signal as the responder passes through said interrogating signal field and for modulating the interrogating signal with said information-bearing- signal to provide the re-radiated signal with a modulated signal component, and said interrogating station having receiver means for receiving and demodulating the re-radiation of said interrogating signal.

2. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 1 wherein the field developed by said power signal is a magnetic field, wherein said interrogating signal is an rf signal, and wherein the field developed by said interrogating signal is an electromagnetic field, said interrogating signal having a first preselected frequency and said power signal having a second preselected frequency which is lower than said first preselected frequency.

4. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 1 wherein the means for radiating said interrogating signal comprises an antenna, wherein the power level of said interrogating signal as measured at said antenna is below a predetermined value, wherein the frequency of said power signal lies in a predetermined frequency range below 450 kHz, and wherein said third means of said responder comprises an antenna for reflecting the interrogating signal, the reflections produced by the responder'"'"'s antenna being the only signal transmitted by said responder.

5. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 1 wherein said interrogating station includes additional means for radiating a further interrogating signal to develop a further interrogating signal field located along said route to provide a field arrangement in which the peak power level of said power signal field lies between the peak power levels of the interrogating signal fields developed by said further means and said additional means so that said responder will pass through one of the interrogating signal fields after it passes through said power signal field regardless of the direction of travel of said vehicle along said route.

6. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 5 wherein said third means of said responder comprises an antenna for reflecting said at least one interrogating signal and said further interrogating signal to return both signals to said interrogating station, wherein said receiver means of said interrogating station comprises a first receiver for receiving the reflection of said at least one interrogating station, a second receiver for receiving the reflection of said further interrogating signal, and means for electrically processing the received reflections of the two interrogating signals to indicate the direction in which the vehicle-carried responder is moving along said route.

7. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 1 wherein said vehicles are railroad vehicles, wherein said route is defined by a railroad track, and wherein said third means of said responder comprises an antenna for reflecting the interrogating signal to effect the re-radiation thereof, and modulating means for modulating the interrogating signal received at said antenna.

3. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in clam 1 wherein said vehicles are railroad vehicles, wherein said route is defined by a railroad track, wherein the field developed by said power signal is a magnetic field, wherein the field developed by said interrogating signal is an electromagnetic field, wherein said means for radiating said interrogating signal comprises an antenna, and wherein said means for radiating said power signal comprises a coil, said coil and said antenna lying between the rails of said track and being spaced apart from each other such that said responder first passes over said coil and then over said antenna for a preselected direction of travel along said track.

8. An interrogator-responder communication system comprising at least one interrogating station adapted to be located along a route taken by vehicles, and at least one passive responder having no power-producing source of its own, said interrogating station comprising (a) means for radiating a power signal to develop a power signal field located along said route and (b) further means for radiating at least one interrogating signal to develop an interrogating signal field located along said route in such a manner that the peak power level of said interrogating signal field lies behind the peak power level of said power signal field as viewed from a preselected direction of vehicle travel along said route, said responder being adapted to be carried by one of the vehicles intended for travel along said route such that said responder passes in sequence through said power and interrogating signal fields upon travel of the responder-carrying vehicle along said route, said responder having (a) first means for receiving said power signals as the responder passes through said power signal field, (b) second means powered by energy derived from the received power signal for supplying an electrical information-bearing signal, and (c) third means for re-radiating said interrogating signal as the responder passes through said interrogating signal field and for modulating the interrogating signal with said information-bearing signal to provide the re-radiated signal with a modulated signal component, and said interrogating station having receiver means for receiving and demodulating the re-radiation of said interrogating signal wherein said second means of said responder comprises an electrical power-consuming circuit, and wherein said responder further includes (a) fourth means for storing energy supplied by the received power signal to power said power-consuming circuit as the responder passes through said interrogating signal field in a region lying beyond the peak of said power signal field, (b) fifth means for sensing the presence of said power signal field as said responder passes through said power signal field, and (c) sixth means responsive to the sensing of said power signal field by said fifth means for preventing said circuit from consuming power as long as said fifth means continues to sense said power signal field.

9. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 8 wherein said power-consuming circuit includes

(a) an integrated circuit memory for storing the information which is supplied in said information-bearing signal, and

(b) means for addressing said memory to read out the stored information.

10. An interrogator-responder communication system comprising at least one interrogating station adapted to be located along a route taken by vehicles, and at least one passive responder having no power-producing source of its own, said interrogating station comprising (a) means for radiating a power signal to develop a power signal field located along said route and (b) further means for radiating at least one interrogating signal to develop an interrogating signal field located along said route in such a manner that the peak power level of said interrogating signal field lies behind the peak power level of said power signal field as viewed from a preselected direction of vehicle travel along said route, said responder being adapted to be carried by one of the vehicles intended for travel along said route such that said responder passes in sequence through said power and interrogating signal fields upon travel of the responder-carrying vehicle along said route, said responder having (a) first means for receiving said power signals as the responder passes through said power signal field, (b) second means powered by energy derived from the received power signal for supplying an electrical information-bearing signal, and (c) third means for re-radiating said interrogating signal as the responder passes through said interrogating signal field and for modulating the interrogating signal with said information-bearing signal to provide the re-radiated signal with a modulated signal component, and said interrogating station having receiver means for receiving and demodulating the re-radiation of said interrogating signal wherein said power and interrogating signal fields are spaced apart about a preselected db power level, wherein said second means for said responder comprises a power-consuming circuit, and wherein said responder further includes (a) means for electrically storing energy supplied by the received power signal, and (b) means for preventing said power-consuming circuit from consuming the stored energy as long as said responder is in the power signal field.

11. An interrogator-responder communication system comprising at least one interrogating station adapted to be located along a route taken by vehicles and having means for radiating a pair of first rf signals for developing a corresponding number of signal fields having their peak power levels spaced apart along said route, and at least one signal responder, said responder being adapted to be carried by one of the vehicles intended for travel along said route such that said responder passes seriatium through said fields upon travel of the responder-carrying vehicle along said route, said responder comprising means for returning an information-bearing signal to said station for reception thereby as the responder passes through one of said fields, but not the other.

12. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 11 wherein said station further includes means for electrically processing the received information-bearing signal to provide an indication of the direction in which the responder-carrying vehicle is travelling along said route, and wherein said means for returning said information-bearing signal comprises an antenna for reflecting said first signals, and means for modulating only one of the first signals with said information-bearing signal as said responder passes through the field developed by said one of said first signals to provide the reflection of said one of said first signals with a modulating signal component.

13. An interrogator-responder communication system comprising at least one interrogating station adapted to be located along a route taken by vehicles, and at least one responder, said interrogating station comprising means for radiating a pair of first signals to develop a corresponding number of signal fields having their peak power levels spaced apart along said route, said responder being adapted to be carried by one of the vehicles intended for travel along said route so that said responder passes seriatium through fields as the responder-carrying vehicle travels in either direction along said route, said responder having (a) means for re-radiating said first signals and (b) means operated by said interrogating station for modulating one of said first signals with a data-bearing signal as the responder passes through the trailing one of said fields, but not the leading one of said fields as viewed from the direction of vehicle travel along said route and regardless of the direction in which the vehicle is travelling along said route, and said interrogating station having means for receiving the re-radiation of said first signals.

14. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 13 wherein said vehicles are railroad vehicles, wherein said route is defined by a railroad track, and wherein said means of said responder for re-radiating said first signals comprises a signal-reflecting antenna.

15. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 14 wherein said first signals are rf signals having a common frequency.

16. In a communication system, at least one station adapted to be stationarily located along said route taken by vehicles and comprising transmitter means for radiating an rf signal to develop an electromagnetic signal field along said route such that each vehicle reflects said signal as it passes through said field, further means for receiving the vehicle-produced reflection of said signal, means for electrically processing the received vehicle-produced reflection of said signal for signalling the presence of the vehicle, the improvement comprising, a plurality of signal responders each adapted to be carried by a different one of the vehicle'"'"'s intended for travel along said route, and each of said responders having means for reflecting said rf signal as it passes through said field and for modulating the reflected signal with an information-bearing signal, said further means of said interrogating station being situated to receive the responder-produced reflection of said rf signal in addition to the vehicle-produced reflection of said rf signal.

17. In an interrogator-responder communication system, at least one stationary interrogating station adapted to be located along a route taken by vehicles and having means for radiating at least one rf signal to develop a signal field along said route and a plurality of responders each adapted to be carried by a different vehicle intended for travel along said route, each of said responders being operated by said station to return an information-bearing signal to said station for reception thereby as it passes through said field, and said interrogating station comprising means for sensing and signalling the passage of each vehicle through said field regardless of whether the sensed vehicle is carrying one of said responders or not.

18. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 17 wherein said vehicles are railroad vehicles, wherein said route is defined by a railroad track, wherein each responder has means for reflecting the rf signal and for modulating it with the information-bearing signal such that the information-bearing signal is returned to the interrogating station as a modulating signal component of the reflected rf signal, wherein said sensing and signalling means of said interrogating station comprises a circuit which senses a reflection of the rf signal by each vehicle, and wherein said circuit forms a part of a receiver which receives both the vehicle-produced reflection and the responder-produced reflections of said rf signal.

19. In an interrogator-responder communication system comprising at least one interrogating station adapted to be located along a route taken by vehicles, and at least one signal responder adapted to be carried by one of the vehicles intended for travel along said route, said interrogating station comprising means for radiating at least one signal to develop a signal field along said route, said responder having signal-producing means operated by said station for producing a data-bearing signal and means for supplying the data-bearing signal to said station for reception thereby as the responder passes through said field, there being cooperating means in said responder and said station for enabling said station to sense and signal the passage of the responder through said field, the improvement comprising, wherein said station comprises means for electrically processing the data-bearing signal supplied by said responder to recover the data in said data-bearing signal, wherein said cooperating means comprises a signal-sensing circuit in said interrogation station for producing a first signal to indicate the passage of the responder through said field even through said signal producing means fails to produce said information bearing signal, means responsive to the failure of said electrical processing means to recover data for producing a second signal, and means responsive to the concomitant occurrence of said first and second signals for producing a third signal which indicates that the responder passing through said field is defective.

20. An interrogator-responder communication system comprising at least one interrogating station adapted to be located along a route taken by vehicles, and at least one signal responder adapted to be carried by one of the vehicles intended for travel along said route, said responder having antenna means providing for the transmission of an rf signal, first means operated by said station to supply a data signal containing preselected data, second means for supplying a further signal having a preselected characteristic even though said first means fails to supply said data signal, and third means for modulating said rf signal with said data signal and said further signal, said interrogating station having means for receiving and demodulating said rf signal to recover said data signal and said further signal, and means for sensing and signalling a condition in which said further signal is recovered but not the data signal to indicate that the responder is defective.

21. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 20 wherein said station has means for radiating said rf signal, wherein said antenna means reflects the transmitted rf signal such that the transmission of said rf signal from said responder is accomplished by reflecting the rf signal, wherein said first means of said responder includes an integrated circuit memory for storing said data and a circuit for reading out the stored data to produce said data signal.

22. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 20 wherein said interrogating signal comprises means for radiating said further signal, wherein said second means of said responder comprises means for receiving said further signal and means for conducting the received further signal to said third means for modulating the rf signal independently of said first means, said responder being of the passive type having no power-producing source of its own and being powered by the energy derived from said further signal.

23. An interrogator-responder communication system comprising at least one interrogating station adapted to be located along a route taken by vehicles, and a plurality of signal responders, each of said responders being adapted to be carried by a different one of the vehicles intended for travel along said route such that at least some, but not necessarily all of the vehicles travelling along said route carries one of said responders, each of said responders being interrogated by said station to return a data-bearing signal to said station for reception thereby as the vehicle-carried responder passes a given location along said route, and said interrogating station having means for (a) sensing and signalling the presence of each vehicle passing said location regardless of whether the passing vehicle is carrying one of the responders or not, (b) sensing and signalling the presence of each vehicle-carried responder which is operational to supply the data for the information-bearing signal as the responder passes said location to indicate that the passing responder is operational, and (c) sensing and signalling the presence of each responder which passes said location, but which is inoperative to supply said data to indicate that the passing responder is defective.

24. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 23 wherein said station including signal responsive means for producing a list in digital signal format wherein said list contains an item for each railroad vehicle passing said location, and wherein each item indicates the absence of a responder on the passing vehicle where the vehicle is not carrying one of said responders and, in the case where the vehicle is carrying one of said responders, whether or not the vehicle-carried responder was operative to return its data to said station upon being interrogated by said station.

25. The interrogator-responder communications system defined in claim 23 wherein each responder as means for transmitting an rf signal means for modulating the rf signal with said data-bearing signal, and means for modulating said rf signal with a further signal even under conditions where the responder is inoperative to provide the data for modulation of the rf signal, wherein said interrogating station has a receiver for receiving the rf signal, and wherein said means in said station comprises a first circuit for producing a separate signal for each vehicle passing said location regardless of whether the vehicle is carrying one of said responders or not, second circuit for producing a separate signal for each passing responder which is operative to modulate the rf signal with its data-bearing signal and its further signal, and a third circuit for producing a separate signal for each passing responder which is operative to modulate the rf signal with it further signal but not its data-bearing signal.

26. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 25 wherein said vehicles are railroad vehicles, wherein said route is a railroad track, and wherein said means in said station further comprises an electrical signal processing circuit responsive to the separate signals produced by said first, second and third circuits for producing a list in digital signal format, wherein the list contains a separate item for each passing vehicle for indicating the absence of a responder on the passing vehicle where the vehicle is not carrying one of said responders, the presence of an operational responder on the passing vehicle where one of the responders is carried on the vehicle and is operative to modulate the rf signal with its data, and the presence of a defective responder on the passing vehicle where one of the responders is carried on the vehicle but fails to modulate the rf signal with its data.

27. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 26 wherein said station includes a transmitter for radiating an interrogating signal to develop a signal field along said railroad track at said location such that each railroad vehicle and each of the vehicle-carried responders pass through said field, and wherein said responder has means for reflecting said interrogating signal, said rf signal being the reflection of said interrogating signal.

28. In an interrogator-responder communication system comprising at least one interrogating station adapted to be located along a route taken by vehicles and at least one signal responder adapted to be carried by one of the vehicles intended for travel along said route, said station having a circuit for transmitting at least one signal to and for receiving at least one signal from said responder, said responder being operated by said station to return an information-bearing signal to said station for reception thereby, and selectively actuatable testing means at said station for testing at least a portion of said circuit to determined whether or not said portion is in working order and wherein said station includes means for sensing the presence of a passing vehicle, and means for inhibiting selective actuation of said testing means in response to the sensing of a vehicle by said sensing means.

29. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 28 wherein said interrogating station is connected by at least one communication link to a remote station, and wherein said testing means is selectively actuatable by a signal originating from said remote station and transmitted over said communication link to said interrogating station.

30. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 29 wherein there are a plurality of said interrogating stations connected by said at least one communication link to said remote station actuates each said selectively actuable testing means at each said station to test the operability thereof and communicate the results to said remote station.

31. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 28 wherein said testing means comprises a signal-producing circuit for simulating a signal produced by said responder.

32. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 28 wherein said vehicles are railroad vehicles, and wherein said route is defined by a railroad track.

33. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 28 wherein the signal transmitted by said circuit is an rf signal, wherein said circuit has a transmitter for radiating said rf signal to develop a signal field along said route such that vehicles travelling along said route pass through said field, wherein said responder has means for reflecting said rf signal as the vehicle-carried responder passes through said field and means for modulating the rf signal with a data-bearing signal to provide the reflection of said rf signal with modulating signal component, wherein said circuit of said interrogating station includes a receiver for receiving and demodulating the modulated reflection of said rf signal to recover the data-bearing signal, wherein said testing means comprises signal-generating circuit means for producing a coded signal which simulates said data-bearing signal and which represents a preselected code, said signal generating circuit means being electrically connected to said transmitter to modulate said rf signal with said coded signal to provide for the radiation of the modulated rf signal, and said receiver having an antenna situated to receive the modulated rf signal such that the modulated rf signal is received and demodulated by said receiver to recover the coded signal, and the recovery of the coded signal by said receiver providing an indication that the transmitter and receiver are in working order.

34. A communication system comprising first and second units, one of said unit being adapted to be carried by a vehicle from movement relative to the other of said units, said first unit comprising means for generating a subcarrier signal of preselected frequency, means for producing a digital data signal representing data in binary form and having a binary it rate equal to a submultiple of the frequency of said subcarrier signal, means for modulating the subcarrier signal with said digital data signal, means for modulating an rf signal with the modulated subcarrier signal, and antenna means for transmitting the modulated rf signal, said second unit having means for receiving the modulated rf signal, and means for recovering the digital data signal from the modulated rf signal.

35. The communication system defined in claim 34 wherein said means for generating said subcarrier signal comprises an oscillator which operates asynchronously with respect to any signals transmitted by said second unit.

36. The communication system defined in claim 34 wherein said second unit is an interrogating station adapted to be located along a route taken by vehicles, wherein said first unit is adapted to be carried by one of said vehicles for movement past said station as the vehicle travels along said route, wherein said interrogating station comprises means for radiating an interrogating signal to develop a signal field along said route, and wherein the rf signal transmitted by said antenna means of said first unit is a reflection of said interrogating signal, which reflection occurs as the first unit travels through said field.

37. The communication system defined in claim 34 wherein said second unit comprises means for generating a clock signal from the recovered digital data signal.

38. The communication system defined in claim 37 wherein said digital data signal is a bi-phase signal having a bit rate equal to a submultiple of the frequency of said subcarrier signal.

39. A communication system comprising first and second units, one of said units being adapted to be carried by a vehicle for movement relative to the other of said units, said first unit comprising (a) integrated circuit memory means for storing data in binary bit form, (b) means for producing a subcarrier signal of preselected frequency, (c) means for frequency dividing said subcarrier signal to produce a first clock signal having a pulse repetition frequency that is a submultiple of the frequency of said subcarrier, (d) means operated by said clock signal for reading out the data stored in said memory means at a bit rate set by said first clock signal to provide an NRZ digital data signal, (e) means for converting said NRZ digital signal into a bi-phase digital signal having a bit rate set by said first clock signal, (f) means for modulating said subcarrier signal with said bi-phase digital signal, (g) means for modulating an rf signal with the modulated oscillator signal, and (h) antenna means for transmitting the modulated rf signal, said second unit comprising (a) first means for receiving the modulated rf signal, and for demodulating the received rf signal to recover the modulated subcarrier signal, and (b) second means for electrically processing the recovered subcarrier signal to reproduce said bi-phase signal and said NRZ signal and to generate a second clock signal from the recovered bi-phase signal.

40. The communication system defined in claim 39 wherein said second means of said second unit comprises a first circuit for producing a time reference signal slaved to and having the same frequency as the recovered subcarrier signal, a second circuit controlled by said time reference signal for recovering said bi-phase signal from the modulated subcarrier signal which is recovered by said first means, a third circuit for generating said second clock signal from the recovered bi-phase signal in such a manner that the bit rate of the second clock signal is slaved to the bit rate of the recovered bi-phase signal, and a fourth circuit clocked b said second clock signal for reproducing said NRZ digital signal from the recovered bi-phase signal.

41. The communication system defined in claim 39 wherein said second unit is an interrogating station situated along a route taken by vehicles, wherein said first unit is adapted to be carried by one of said vehicles, wherein said interrogating stating comprises means for radiating an rf interrogating signal to develop a signal field along said route, and wherein the rf signal transmitted by said antenna means of said first unit is a reflection of said interrogating signal, which reflection occurs as the first unit travels through said field.

42. An interrogator-responder communication system comprising at least one interrogating station adapted to be located along a route taken by vehicles, and at least one signal responder adapted to be carried by one of the vehicles intended for travel along said route, said responder comprising oscillator means operating asynchronously of any signals transmitted by said station for producing an oscillator signal of preselected frequency, means for producing a digital data signal representing data in binary form and having a preselected bit rate, means for modulating the oscillator signal with said digital data signal, means for modulating an rf signal with the modulated oscillator signal, and antenna means for transmitting the modulated rf signal, said interrogating station having means for receiving the modulated rf signal as the responder-mounted vehicle travels past a given location along said route, means for recovering the digital data signal from the modulated rf signal, and means for generating a clock signal which is slaved to the bit rate of the recovered digital signal.

43. An interrogator-responder communication system comprising at least one interrogating station adapted to be located along a route taken by vehicles, and at least one signal responder adapted to be carried by one of the vehicles intended for travel along said route, said station having means for radiating at least one rf signal to develop a signal field along said route such that the vehicle-mounted responder passes through said field upon travel of the vehicle along said route, said responder having means for reflecting said signal as it passes through said filed, and said station having (a) means for receiving the reflection of said rf signal, and (b) means for decreasing the power level of the radiated rf signal as the power level of the received reflection increases.

44. In a responder adapted to be carried on a vehicle intended for travel along a certain route for establishing radio communication with a station situated along said route, integrated circuit memory means for storing data in binary bit form, oscillator means operating asynchronously of any signals transmitted by said station for producing an oscillator signal of preselected frequency, means for frequency dividing said oscillator signal to produce a clock signal having a pulse repetition frequency that is a submultiple of the frequency of said oscillator signal, means operated by said clock signal for reading out the data stored in said memory means at a bit rate set by said clock signal to provide an NRZ digital data signal, means for converting said NRZ digital signal into a bi-phase signal having a bit rate set by said clock signal, means for modulating said oscillator signal with said bi-phase signal, means for modulating an rf signal with the modulated oscillator signal.

45. An interrogator-responder communication system comprising at least one interrogator unit and at least one responder unit, one of said units being adapted to be carried by a vehicle for movement relative to the other of said units, said responder unit being operated by said interrogator unit to transmit a signal to said interrogator unit for reception thereby, said interrogator unit having an exciter coil for supplying power to said responder unit and a source for conducting current through the exciter coil, said responder unit having a receive coil adapted to magnetically couple with the exciter coil for receiving operating power, and said interrogator unit further including means for sensing an interruption or decrease in the level of current conducted through said exciter coil, and means for developing a further signal in response to the sensing of said interruption or said decrease by said sensing mean for signalling the occurrence of said interruption or decrease.

46. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 45 wherein said interrogator unit further comprises a circuit for transmitting rf signals to and receiving rf signals from said responder unit, selectively actuatable testing means for testing at least a portion of said circuit, and means for inhibiting operation of said testing means in the response to the occurrence of said further signal.

47. In an identification system wherein a plurality of objects to be identified are moved through a plurality of interrogation stations at various times, respectively, each said object having an identification device moved therewith through each said interrogation station, each said identification device having:

(1) an electronic memory for storing a data code unique to the object carrying said identification device, respectively,

(2) a reflecting antenna,

(3) means to modulate the impedance of said reflecting antenna in accordance with the data code stored in said electronic memory,

the improvement comprising,

(4) means for converting said data code from said electronic memory to a self-clocking data code signal,

(5) means for impressing said self-clocking data code onto a carrier signal, and

(6) means for coupling a modulated carrier signal to said (3) means to modulate the impedance of said reflecting antenna.

48. An interrogator-responder communication system comprising at least one interrogator unit and at least one responder unit, said interrogator unit comprising means for transmitting an rf signal, said responder unit having means for reflecting said rf signal and for providing the reflected signal With a modulating, data-bearing digital signal component, said interrogating unit having means for receiving the reflected signal and means for demodulating the received, reflected signal to recover said digital signal component, one of said units being adapted to be carried by a vehicle for movement relative to the other of said units such that in the course of the movement of said responder unit relative to said interrogating unit the responder unit passes through two or more quarter wavelength fields of the rf signal which is transmitted by said interrogating unit, said demodulating means have the capability of inverting the recovered data-bearing digital signal component due to the relative movement of the responder unit through said quarter wavelength fields, and a circuit having a data output and comprising sensing means for sensing the inversion of the recovered digital signal component, and further means responsive to the sensing of said inversion by said sensing means for supplying the recovered digital signal component to said data output in re-inverted form, whereby the phase of the recovered digital signal component will be correct at said data output.

49. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 48 wherein said responder unit is carried by said vehicle, wherein said interrogator unit is stationarily situated along a route taken by said vehicle, wherein said responder unit provides said digital signal component with a preselected bit code with prefixes the data bits in the digital signal component, and wherein said sensing means senses whether said code is in its non-inverted state or its inverted state, wherein said further means is effective to re-invert the recovered digital signal component if said sensing means senses that said code is in its inverted state, and wherein said circuit includes still further means for passing the recovered digital signal component to said data output without inverting it if said sensing means senses that said code is in its non-inverted state.

50. A communication system comprising an interrogating station adapted to be located along a route taken by vehicles for use with at least one signal responder which is carried by one of the vehicles intended for travel along said route where said responder is operated by said station to return a modulated rf signal having a data-representing digital signal component, said station comprising means for receiving said rf signal and for recovering said digital signal component from the received rf signal, and means for generating a digital clock signal from the recovered digital signal component, which clock signal is slaved to the bit rate of the recovered digital signal component.

51. An interrogator-responder communication system comprising at least one interrogating station adapted to be located along a route taken by vehicles, and at least one signal responder adapted to be carried by one of the vehicles intended for travel along said route, said station having means for transmitting at least one signal to said responder, and said responder having means operated by the interrogating station for transmitting a signal to said station for reception thereby, wherein each signal transmitted by said station and said responder has an intensity level below 50 microvolts per meter as measured at 30 meters from its transmit antenna.

52. An interrogator-responder communication system comprising at least one interrogating station adapted to be located along a route taken by vehicles, and at least one passive responder having no power producing source of its own and adapted t be carried by one of the vehicles intended for travel along said route, said responder comprising (a) a non-volatile electrically erasable, programmable integrated circuit memory, (b) means for receiving a first data-bearing signal containing selected data, means for recovering the data from the received data-bearing signal and means for storing the recovered data into said memory and electrically erasing any old data in the memory at the locations where the new data is stored, and (c) means operated by said station for recalling the stored data and providing for the transmission of the recalled data back to said station in the form of a second data-bearing signal, and said station having means for receiving the second data-bearing signal.

53. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 52 wherein said vehicles are railroad vehicles and wherein said route is defined by a railroad track.

54. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 52 wherein said memory comprises a NovRam.

55. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 52 wherein said memory comprises an E² PROM.

56. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 52 wherein said first signal is prefixed with a selected code, and wherein said means for storing the data in said memory includes a circuit for recognizing said code and for placing said memory in a write mode to store the incoming data upon recognizing said code.

57. The interrogator-responder communication system defined in claim 52 wherein said station comprises means for radiating an rf signal to develop a signal field along said route such that the vehicle-mounted responder passes through said field upon travel of the vehicle along said route, said responder having antenna means for reflecting said rf signal as it passes through said field, means for encoding said second data-bearing signal with a clock signal, and means for modulating the rf signal received at said antenna means with said second data-bearing signal encoded with a clock signal such that said second data-bearing signal is transmitted to said station in the form of a modulating signal component, said receiving means at said station providing for the reception and demodulation of the reflected rf signal to recover the second data-bearing signal and the clock signal therein, and means for electrically processing said second signal with said clock signal upon its recovery for retrieving the recalled data in digital signal format.

58. A passive responder having no power producing source of its own and adapted to be carried on a vehicle intended for travel along a route for establishing radio communication with a station situated along said route, said passive recorder comprising (a) an electrically erasable, read/write integrated circuit memory, (b) means for receiving a first data-bearing signal containing selected data, means for recovering the data from the received data-bearing signal and storing the recovered data in said memory and electrically erasing any old data in the memory at the locations where the new data is stored, (c) means for recalling the stored data, (d) means for transmitting the encoded recalled data back to said station in the form of a self-clocking second data-bearing signal.

59. The passive responder defined in claim 58 wherein said vehicles are railroad vehicles and wherein said route is defined by a railroad track.

60. The passive responder defined in claim 58 wherein said memory comprises a NovRam.

61. The passive responder defined in claim 58 wherein said memory comprises an E² PROM.

62. The passive responder defined in claim 58 wherein said first signal comprises a periodic signal modulated with a signal component containing said data, wherein said means for recovering the incoming data from the first signal upon its reception by the responder comprises a demodulator for demodulating the periodic signal, and wherein said responder further comprises a d.c. power supply circuit which derives power from said periodic signal to supply the responder'"'"'s operating power.

63. A passive responder having no power producing source of its own and adapted to be carried on a vehicle intended for travel along a certain route for establishing radio communication with a station situated along said route, said passive responder comprising circuit means for supplying a data-bearing signal for transmission to and reception by said station as the responder-carrying vehicle passes a given location along said route, a receive coil adapted to inductively couple with said power supply coil at said station for receiving power from said magnetic signal and to provide the operating power for said circuit means, and means electrically connected to said receive coil for limiting the voltage excursion across said receive coil.

64. A communication responder adapted to be operated by an interrogating station and comprising a non-volatile random access read/write memory having a multiplicity of data storage locations each represented by a different address, first means for receiving a signal having a data signal component and a selected address signal component and for recovering the data and address components from said signal, second means for storing the recovered data in said memory at just those addresses determined by said address component, said first means being effective to receive a further signal having a read signal component and a further address signal component and to recover said read component and said further address component from said further signal, and said second means being responsive to said read component and said further address component for reading out the data stored in said memory at just those addresses determined by said further address component, and means providing for the transmission of the read-out data, said address components being selected to provide for the write-in of data just at selected addresses in said memory and the read-out of data stored just at selected addresses in said memory.

65. A communication responder adapted to be operated by an interrogating station and comprising memory means for storing first data in binary form, means for reading out the data stored in said memory means, means for monitoring an external parameter to produce second data, means for serially transmitting said first and second data without storing said second data in said memory means, and means for inhibiting the simultaneous transmission of said first and second data.

66. An interrogator-responder communication system comprising at least one interrogating station adapted to be located along a railroad track taken by railroad vehicles, and at least one passive responder having no power-producing source of its own, said interrogating station comprising (a) means for radiating a power signal to develop a power signal field located along said track and (b) further means for radiating at least one interrogating signal to develop an interrogating signal field located along said track, said responder being adapted to be carried by one of the railroad vehicles intended for travel along said track such that said responder passes through said power and interrogating signal fields upon travel of the responder-carrying vehicle along said track, said responder having (a) first means for receiving said power signal as the responder passes through said power signal field, (b) second means powered by energy derived from the received power signal for supplying an electrical information-bearing signal, and (c) third means for re-radiating said interrogating signal as the responder passes through said interrogating signal field and for modulating the interrogating signal with said information-bearing signal to provide the re-radiated signal with a modulating signal component, and said interrogating station having receiver means for receiving and demodulating the re-radiation of said interrogating signal, said means for radiating said interrogating signal comprising a first element, said means for radiating said power signal comprising a second element, and said first and second elements lying between the rails of said track.

67. A method for conveying data by a vehicle which is intended for travel along one or more routes and which is equipped with or carries a responder having a non-volatile, electrically erasable read/write integrated circuit memory for storing data in binary bit form, said method comprising the steps of supplying selected data to said responder and writing the supplied data into said memory at a first place along one of said routes to electrically store the data in said memory, thereafter moving said vehicle along one or more of said routes to a second place remote from said first place, operating said responder at said second place to recall the data stored in said memory, thereafter changing the data stored in said memory at a selected place by supplying new data to said responder and writing the new data into said memory as well as electrically erasing at least a portion of the old data in the memory, thereafter moving the vehicle along one or more of the routes to a further place, and operating the responder at said further place to recall the data then stored in said memory.

68. The method defined in claim 67 wherein said vehicle is a freight-transporting railroad vehicle, wherein said routes are railroad tracks, wherein the data written into the memory comprising waybill information which pertains to the particular shipment being hauled by said railroad vehicle at the time, and wherein waybill information written into the memory is changed each time a new shipment is placed on the railroad vehicle so that the stored waybill information corresponds to the shipment being hauled by the railroad vehicle.

69. The method defined in claim 68 wherein the waybill information is supplied to said responder by incorporating it into a data-bearing signal and by transmitting the data-bearing signal through space for reception by the responder.

70. A method for conveying data by a vehicle which is intended for travel along one or more routes and which is equipped with or carries a responder having a random access read/write sensory containing a multiplicity of data storage locations each represented by a different address, said method comprising the steps of storing first data in said memory at at least one selected, known address, storing second data in said memory at another selected, know address, thereafter moving said vehicle along one or more of said routes to a preselected place, transmitting a first signal to said responder while said vehicle is enroute to said place to recall just said first data but not said second data from said memory and transmitting the recalled data to a station along one of the routes taken by the vehicle, thereafter transmitting a second signal to said responder upon arrival of the vehicle at said place to recall said second data, and transmitting the recalled second data to a further station.

71. The method defined in claim 70 wherein said vehicle is a railroad vehicle, and wherein said routes are railroad tracks, the steps of addressing said memory to store new data in said memory in place of said second data after said second data has been recalled and without erasing said first data, thereafter moving the railroad vehicle along one or more of said routes to a further place, recalling the new data from the memory at said further place, and transmitting the recalled new data to a station.