Methods and means for monitoring events in vehicles
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring events in a vehicle, comprising:
- the step of producing electrical outputs representative of events in the vehicle;
the step of comparing characteristics of one event with characteristics of other events accumulated over a given period of time and determining departures of a given extent from the other characteristics as an indication of a significant event; and
the step of sending a warning in response to the indication;
the step of producing electrical outputs includes producing outputs representative of acceleration characteristics during an impact with an accelerometer system mounted on said vehicle; and
the step of comparing and determining includes comparing acceleration characteristics of one impact with accumulated acceleration characteristics of other impacts and determining departures of a given extent from other characteristics as a failure indication.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Events in a vehicle are monitored by producing electrical outputs representative of events in the vehicle, comparing characteristics of one event with characteristics of other events accumulated over a given period of time and determining departures of a given extent from the other characteristics as an indication of a significant event, and sending a warning in response to the indication, particularly with the position of the vehicle determined by a global position indicator on the vehicle. In an embodiment a microcomputer responds to the outputs of an accelerometer system mounted on a railroad car by comparing acceleration characteristics of one impact with accumulated acceleration characteristics of other impacts and determining departures of a given extent from other characteristics as a failure indication, signalling a warning in response to the indication.
69 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring events in a vehicle, comprising:
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the step of producing electrical outputs representative of events in the vehicle; the step of comparing characteristics of one event with characteristics of other events accumulated over a given period of time and determining departures of a given extent from the other characteristics as an indication of a significant event; and the step of sending a warning in response to the indication; the step of producing electrical outputs includes producing outputs representative of acceleration characteristics during an impact with an accelerometer system mounted on said vehicle; and the step of comparing and determining includes comparing acceleration characteristics of one impact with accumulated acceleration characteristics of other impacts and determining departures of a given extent from other characteristics as a failure indication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for monitoring events in a vehicle, comprising:
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an electrical output generator for producing outputs representative of events in the vehicle; means for comparing characteristics of one event with characteristics of other events accumulated over a given period of time and determining departures of a given extent from the other characteristics as an indication of a significant event; and a warning signaller responsive to the indication; the electrical output generator includes an accelerometer arrangement mounted on the vehicle and the outputs are representative of acceleration characteristics during an impact; and the means for comparing and determining includes means for comparing acceleration characteristics of one impact with accumulated acceleration characteristics of other impacts and determining departures of a given extent from other characteristics as a failure indication. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification