Remote control system for locomotive with address exchange capability

• US 6,975,927 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2002
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cattron North America, Inc. (Cattron Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Beltpack Corporation (Cattron Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Georgiev, Stephan P., Horst, Folkert, Szklar, Oleh, Mattar, Brigide
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US10/308,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20030083791A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/2, 701/19, 701/20, 246/167.R, 246/182.R, 246/187.R, 246/187.A, 246/122.R, 246/187.C, 188/107
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 17/00 Switching systems for classification yards
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/125 using short-range radio transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/127 for remote control of locomotives remote control of locomotives within a train consist B61C17/12

Abstract

A transmitter for remotely controlling a locomotive entity. The transmitter has a control entity capable of acquiring a plurality of states, including a linked state. The transmitter also has an interface in communication with the control entity for receiving an identifier of the locomotive entity via a communication link. The transmitter also has a proximity detector having a detection field, the proximity detector being in communication with the control entity to enable the control entity to switch to the linked state at least when the locomotive entity is in the detection field.

Claims

1. A transmitter for remotely controlling a locomotive entity, said transmitter comprising:

a) a control entity capable of acquiring a plurality of states, said plurality of states including a linked state in which said control entity generates commands for causing an action to be performed by the locomotive entity;

b) a first interface in communication with said control entity, said first interface being operative for receiving an identifier of the locomotive entity via a first communication link;

c) a second interface in communication with said control entity, said second interface being operative for transmitting a signal over a second communication link different from the first communication link, the second communication link being an RF communication link;

d) wherein when said control entity is in said linked state, the signal transmitted over said second communication link includes commands for causing the locomotive entity to perform one or more actions; and

e) wherein when said control entity is in a state other than said linked state, the signal transmitted over said second communication link includes an identifier of said transmitter.

2. A transmitter as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more actions to be performed by the locomotive entity includes accelerating.

3. A transmitter as defined in claim 2, wherein the one or more actions to be performed by the locomotive entity includes braking.

4. A transmitter as defined in claim 3, wherein said control entity includes a data storage for storing the identifier of the locomotive entity received via the first communication link.

5. A transmitter as defined in claim 4, wherein said data storage stores the identifier of said transmitter.

6. A transmitter as defined in claim 2, wherein the first communication link is a wireless link.

7. A transmitter as defined in claim 6, wherein the first communication link is selected from the group consisting of IR link, RF link and IC link.

8. A transmitter as defined in claim 2, wherein the first communication link is a wire based link.

9. A transmitter as defined in claim 2, wherein the state other than said linked state is a non-linked state in which said control entity is disabled from issuing acceleration commands to the locomotive entity.

10. A transmitter as defined in claim 2, wherein said control entity is enabled to switch to said linked state at least when the identifier of the locomotive entity has been received via the first communication link and when the identifier of said transmitter has been sent to the locomotive entity via the second communication link.

11. A transmitter for remotely controlling a locomotive entity, said transmitter comprising:

a) a control entity capable of acquiring a plurality of states, said plurality of states including a linked state in which said control entity issues commands for causing an action to be performed by the locomotive entity;

b) said control entity being capable of communicating with the locomotive entity via at least two communication links distinct from one another;

c) said control entity being enabled to switch from a state other than said linked state to said linked state at least when said control entity has received an identifier of the locomotive entity over a first communication link of the at least two communication links and has sent an identifier to the locomotive entity over a second communication link of the at least two communication links;

d) wherein when said control entity is in said linked state, said control entity transmits over said second communication link a signal including commands for causing the locomotive entity to perform one or more actions.

12. A transmitter as defined in claim 11, wherein the one or more actions to be performed by the locomotive entity includes accelerating.

13. A transmitter as defined in claim 12, wherein the one or more actions to be performed by the locomotive entity includes braking.

14. A transmitter as defined in claim 12, wherein said control entity includes a data storage for storing the identifier of the locomotive entity received over the first communication link of the at least two communication links.

15. A transmitter as defined in claim 14, wherein said data storage stores the identifier of said transmitter.

16. A transmitter as defined in claim 12, wherein one of the at least two communication links is a wireless link.

17. A transmitter as defined in claim 12, wherein the one of the at least two communication links is selected from the group consisting of IR link, RF link and IC link.

18. A transmitter as defined in claim 12, wherein one of the at least two communication links is a wire based link.

19. A transmitter as defined in claim 12, wherein the state other than said linked state is a non-linked state in which said control entity is disabled from issuing commands to the locomotive entity that cause the locomotive entity to accelerate.

20. A transmitter for remotely controlling a locomotive entity, said transmitter comprising:

a) a control entity capable of acquiring a plurality of states, said plurality of states including a linked state in which said control entity generates commands for causing an action to be performed by the locomotive entity;

b) a first interface in communication with said control entity, said first interface being operative for sending an identifier of said transmitter to the locomotive entity via a first communication link;

c) a second interface in communication with said control entity, said second interface being operative for issuing a signal over a second communication link different from the first communication link, the second communication link being an RF communication link;

wherein when said control entity is in said linked state, the signal transmitted over said second communication link includes commands for causing the locomotive entity to perform one or more actions; and

wherein when said control entity is in a state other than said linked state, said second interface is operative for receiving via the second communication link an identifier of the locomotive entity.

21. A transmitter as defined in claim 20, wherein the one or more actions to perform by the locomotive entity is accelerating.

22. A transmitter as defined in claim 21, wherein the one or more actions to perform by the locomotive entity is braking.

23. A transmitter as defined in claim 22, wherein said control entity includes a data storage for storing the identifier of the locomotive entity received via the second communication link.

24. A transmitter as defined in claim 23, wherein said data storage stores the identifier of said transmitter.

25. A transmitter as defined in claim 21, wherein the first communication link is a wireless link.

26. A transmitter as defined in claim 21, wherein the first communication link is selected from the group consisting of IR link, RF link and IC link.

27. A transmitter as defined in claim 21, wherein the first communication link is a wire based link.

28. A transmitter as defined in claim 21, wherein the state other than said linked state is a non-linked state in which said control entity is disabled from generating commands for causing an action to be performed by the locomotive entity.

29. A transmitter as defined in claim 21, wherein said control entity is enabled to acquire said linked state at least when the identifier of the locomotive entity has been received via the second communication link and the identifier of said transmitter has been sent to the locomotive entity via the first communication link.

30. A transmitter for remotely controlling a locomotive entity, said transmitter comprising:

a) a control entity capable of acquiring a plurality of states, said plurality of states including a linked state in which said control entity is enabled to generate commands to a predetermined locomotive entity for causing an action to be performed by the predetermined locomotive entity;

b) means for communicating an identifier of the locomotive entity to said transmitter;

c) a proximity detector having a detection field, said proximity detector being in communication with said control entity to enable said control entity to switch from a state other than said linked state to said linked state at least when the predetermined locomotive entity is in said detection field; and

d) said proximity detector being distinct from said means for communicating.

31. A transmitter as defined in claim 30, wherein said proximity detector has a discrimination ability to distinguish between different locomotive entities.

32. A transmitter as defined in claim 31, wherein said proximity detector is adapted to disable said control entity to switch from a state other than said linked state to said linked state when the locomotive entity other than the predetermined locomotive entity is in said detection field.

33. A transmitter as defined in claim 32, wherein said means for communicating includes an RF communication link, said RF communication link conveying signals to the predetermined locomotive entity containing the commands generated by said control entity for causing an action to be performed by the predetermined locomotive entity.

34. A transmitter as defined in claim 32, wherein said means for communicating includes a communication link distinct from said RF communication link.

35. A transmitter as defined in claim 34, wherein said communication link distinct from said RF communication link is an IR communication link.

36. A transmitter as defined in claim 32, wherein said means for communicating is operative to establish an electronic communication with an entity different from the locomotive entity to obtain from the entity different from the locomotive entity the identifier of the locomotive entity.

37. A transmitter as defined in claim 32, wherein said control entity is enabled to switch from a state other than said linked state to said linked state at least when said control entity has sent an identifier of said transmitter unit to the predetermined locomotive entity via the communication link.

38. A transmitter as defined in claim 32, wherein the state other than said linked state is a non-linked state in which said control entity is disabled from issuing commands to the predetermined locomotive entity for causing the locomotive entity to accelerate.

39. A transmitter as defined in claim 32, wherein said control entity includes a data storage for storing the identifier of the predetermined locomotive.

40. A transmitter as defined in claim 32, wherein said control entity includes a data storage for storing the identifier of said transmitter.

41. A transmitter as defined in claim 32, wherein said proximity detector is capable to derive an identification code associated with a locomotive entity when the locomotive entity is in the detection field of said proximity detector.

42. A transmitter as defined in claim 41, wherein said control entity is operative to compare the identification code and the identifier of the locomotive entity entered via said means for communicating and enters the linked state at least when the identification code matches the identifier of the locomotive entity entered via said means for communicating.

43. A transmitter as defied in claim 32, wherein said proximity detector is wireless.

44. A transmitter as defined in claim 43, wherein said proximity detector is selected from the group consisting of IR detector, a detector based on inductive coupling, an RF interrogator and an optical based reader that can remotely read the unique code on the locomotive entity.

45. A transmitter as defined in claim 32, wherein said proximity detector is a wire based detector.