Communication method in movable body operating system

• US 5,886,619 A
• Filed: 04/16/1997
• Issued: 03/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Mabuchi, Mitsuhiro, Takasan, Masaki, Odachi, Yasuharu
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US08/834,367
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.01, 340/310.06, 340/310.07, 104/88.03, 104/88.04, 104/295, 104/297, 191/33 R, 191/29 R, 191/45 R, 191/50, 246/3, 246/4
• US Class Current: 370/276
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/18 using electric current passing between devices along the route and devices on the vehicle or train
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

In an operating system for a movable body that runs on a guide rail, a communication method is described that establishes communications between the movable body and an operation control unit for controlling running of the movable body. Power lines on which electric power is transmitted are laid on the guide rail. The movable body is runnable upon reception of the electric power from the power lines. The method includes the steps of (a) generating a communication signal in either the movable body or the operation control unit; (b) superimposing the communication signal on electric power to be transmitted on the power lines; (c) receiving the electric power with the superimposed communication signal at the other of the movable body or the operation control unit; and (d) acquiring the communication signal from the received electric power.

Claims

1. In an operating system for a movable body that runs on a guide rail, a communication method for establishing communications between said movable body and an operation control unit for controlling running of said movable body, power lines on which electric power is transmitted being laid on said guide rail, said movable body having a reception antenna and a transmission antenna, both in proximity to said power lines, and being runnable upon reception of said electric power from said power lines, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a communication signal in said movable body;

(b) superimposing said communication signal on electric power transmitted on said power lines using said transmission antenna;

(c) receiving electric power with superimposed communication signal at said movable body from said operation control unit using said reception antenna; and

(d) acquiring said communication signal from said received electric power.

2. In an operating system for a movable body that runs on a guide rail, a communication method for establishing communications between said movable body and an operation control unit for controlling running of said movable body wherein said operation control unit has a reception antenna, and a transmission antenna, both in proximity to power lines laid on said guide rail on which electric power is transmitted, said movable body being runnable upon reception of said electric power from said power lines, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a communication signal in said operation control unit;

(b) superimposing a communication signal from said operation control unit on electric power transmitted on said power lines using said transmission antenna;

(c) receiving electric power with superimposed communication signal from said movable body unit using said reception antenna; and

(d) acquiring said communication signal from said received electric power.

3. In an operating system for a movable body that runs on a guide rail, a communication method for establishing communications between said movable body and an operation control unit for controlling running of said movable body, power lines on which electric power is transmitted being laid on said guide rail, said movable body having an induction coil arranged in the vicinity of said power lines for receiving electric power transmitted on said power lines and generating induced electromotive force according to said electric power, said movable body being runnable upon reception of said electric power from said power lines, said movable body also having a reception antenna and a transmission antenna both arranged in the vicinity of said power lines, wherein said power lines include a single AC line having an upper line and a lower line laid in parallel along said guide rail, and wherein said reception antenna and said transmission antenna are located between said upper line and said lower line.

said method comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a communication signal in one of said movable body and said operation control unit;

(b) superimposing said communication signal on electric power transmitted on said power lines;

(c) receiving said electric power with said superimposed communication signal at the other one of said movable body and said operation control unit; and

(d) acquiring said communication signal from said received electric power.

4. In an operating system for a movable body which runs on a guide rail, a communication method for establishing communications between said movable body and an operation control unit for controlling running of said movable body, trolley lines on which electric power is transmitted being laid on said guide rail, said movable body having a collector ring contactable with said trolley lines to said receive electric power, said operation control unit having a first reception antenna and a first transmission antenna, both in proximity to said trolley lines, said movable body having a second reception antenna and a second transmission antenna, both in proximity to said trolley lines, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a first communication signal in said operation control unit;

(b) superimposing said first communication signal on electric power to be transmitted on said trolley lines using said first transmission antenna;

(c) receiving said electric power with said superimposed first communication signal at said movable body using said second reception antenna;

(d) acquiring said first communication signal from said received electric power;

(e) generating a second communication signal in said movable body;

(f) superimposing said second communication signal on electric power to be transmitted on said trolley lines using said second transmission antenna;

(g) receiving said electric power with said superimposed second communication signal at said operation control unit using said first reception antenna; and

(h) acquiring said second communication signal from said received power.

5. In an operating system for a movable body which runs on a guide rail, a communication method for establishing communications between said movable body and an operation control unit for controlling running of said movable body, AC lines on which electric power is transmitted being laid on said guide rail, said movable body having an induction coil, arranged in the vicinity of said AC lines, for receiving electric power transmitted on said AC lines and for generating induced electromotive force according to said electric power, said operation control unit having a first reception antenna and a first transmission antenna, both in proximity to said AC lines, said movable body having a second reception antenna and a second transmission antenna, both in proximity to said AC lines, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a first communication signal in said operation control unit;

(b) superimposing said first communication signal on electric power to be transmitted on said AC lines using said first transmission antenna;

(c) receiving said electric power with said superimposed first communication signal at said movable body using said second reception antenna;

(d) acquiring said first communication signal from said received electric power;

(e) generating a second communication signal in said movable body;

(f) superimposing said second communication signal on electric power to be transmitted on said AC lines using said second transmission antenna;

(g) receiving said electric power with said superimposed second communication signal at said operation control unit using said first reception antenna; and

(h) acquiring said second communication signal from said received power.

6. A movable body operating system comprising:

a guide rail;

a movable body runnable on said guide rail;

trolley lines laid along said guide rail, electric power being transmitted on said trolley lines, said movable body having a collector ring contactable said trolley lines to receive said electric power therefrom and a drive motor driven by said electric power; and

an operation control unit for generating a digital instruction signal for said movable body, said operation control unit including;

a first modem for converting said digital instruction signal to an analog communication signal, and

a control transmission antenna connected to said first modem and located in the vicinity of said trolley lines, said control transmission antenna being used for receiving said analog communication signal from said first modem and superimposing said analog communication signal on electric power to be transmitted on said trolley lines,

wherein said movable body includes;

a mobile reception antenna, located in the vicinity of said trolley lines, for receiving electric power on which said analog communication signal transmitted on said trolley lines is superimposed,

a second modem, connected to said mobile reception antenna, for receiving said received electric power from said mobile reception antenna and extracting said analog communication signal from said electric power to generate said digital instruction signal, and

an operation controller, connected to said second modem, for receiving said digital instruction signal from said second modem and controlling driving of said drive motor in accordance with said digital instruction signal.

7. The movable body operating system according to claim 6, wherein said operation controller generates a digital signal indicating an operational status of said movable body, wherein said second modem receives said digital signal from said operation controller and converts said digital signal to an analog communication signal;

wherein said movable body further includes a movable transmission antenna, connected to said second modem and located in the vicinity of said trolley lines, said mobile transmission antenna being used for receiving said analog communication signal from said second modem and superimposing said analog communication signal on electric power to be transmitted on said trolley lines;

wherein said operation control unit further includes a control reception antenna, connected to said first modem and located in the vicinity of said trolley lines, said control reception antenna being used for receiving electric power on which said analog communication signal transmitted on said trolley lines is superimposed; and

wherein said first modem receives received electric power from said control reception antenna, extracts said analog communication signal from said electric power and generates said digital signal indicating said operational status of said movable body.

8. A movable body operating system comprising:

a guide rail;

a movable body runnable on said guide rail;

AC lines laid along said guide rail, electric power being transmitted on said AC lines, said movable body having an induction coil, arranged in the vicinity of said AC lines, for receiving electric power transmitted on said AC lines and for generating induced electromotive force according to said electric power, wherein said movable body has a drive motor driven by said induced electromotive force; and

an operation control unit for generating a digital instruction signal for said movable body, said operation control unit including;

a first modem for converting said digital instruction signal to an analog communication signal, and

a control transmission antenna connected to said first modem and located in the vicinity of said AC lines, said control transmission antenna being used for receiving said analog communication signal from said first modem and superimposing said analog communication signal on electric power to be transmitted on said AC lines,

wherein said movable body includes;

a mobile reception antenna, located in the vicinity of said AC lines, for receiving electric power on which said analog communication signal transmitted on said AC lines is superimposed,

a second modem, connected to said mobile reception antenna, for receiving said received electric power from said mobile reception antenna and extracting said analog communication signal from said electric power to generate said digital instruction signal, and

an operation controller, connected to said second modem, for receiving said digital instruction signal from said second modem and controlling driving of said drive motor in accordance with said digital instruction signal.

9. The movable body operating system according to claim 8, wherein said operation controller generates a digital signal indicating an operational status of said movable body, wherein said second modem receives said digital signal from said operation controller and converts said digital signal to an analog communication signal;

wherein said movable body further includes a movable transmission antenna, connected to said second modem and located in the vicinity of said AC lines, said mobile transmission antenna being used for receiving said analog communication signal from said second modem and superimposing said analog communication signal on electric power to be transmitted on said AC lines;

wherein said operation control unit further includes a control reception antenna, connected to said first modem and located in the vicinity of said AC lines, said control reception antenna being used for receiving electric power on which said analog communication signal transmitted on said AC lines is superimposed; and

wherein said first modem receives received electric power from said control reception antenna, extracts said analog communication signal from said electric power and generates said digital signal indicating said operational status of said movable body.