Presence detection system for path crossing
First Claim
1. A system for detecting a presence of a body at an intersection between first and second paths, the system comprising:
- an ultrasound sensor array for defining a detecting zone at the intersection of the first and second paths and for emitting a first trigger signal when the body is in the detecting zone;
the ultrasound sensor array including a first sensor assembly that creates a first acoustic line over the intersection;
the first acoustic line intersecting a direction defined by the first path;
the first trigger signal being emitted when the first acoustic line is cut;
wherein the sensor array including at least one second sensor assembly that emits a first ultrasound floating cone towards a portion of the intersection;
the first trigger signal being further emitted when the body contacts the first ultrasound floating cone; and
a controller coupled to the ultrasound sensor array for receiving the first trigger signal and for emitting an alarm signal indicative of the first trigger signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A presence detection system for level crossing or to detect a target at the intersection of any paths is described herein. The system comprises an ultrasound sensor array positioned at the intersection of the first and second paths for defining a detecting area thereon and for emitting a first trigger signal when the body is in the detecting area; and a controller coupled to the ultrasound sensor array for receiving the first trigger signal and for emitting an alarm signal indicative of the first trigger signal. The sensor array detects the presence of a target by creating acoustic virtual lines which form between emitter and receiver or transducer and reflectors and/or by deploying conical or parallel detecting beams and which can be used, for example to measure the distance between each sensor forming the array and the target. The sensor array can deploy beams or acoustic lines in several plans and therefore allow detecting penetration above the conventional railway crossing barriers.
37 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A system for detecting a presence of a body at an intersection between first and second paths, the system comprising:
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an ultrasound sensor array for defining a detecting zone at the intersection of the first and second paths and for emitting a first trigger signal when the body is in the detecting zone;
the ultrasound sensor array including a first sensor assembly that creates a first acoustic line over the intersection;
the first acoustic line intersecting a direction defined by the first path;
the first trigger signal being emitted when the first acoustic line is cut;
wherein the sensor array including at least one second sensor assembly that emits a first ultrasound floating cone towards a portion of the intersection;
the first trigger signal being further emitted when the body contacts the first ultrasound floating cone; anda controller coupled to the ultrasound sensor array for receiving the first trigger signal and for emitting an alarm signal indicative of the first trigger signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 21, 22, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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4. A system for detecting a presence of a body at an intersection between first and second paths, the system comprising:
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an ultrasound sensor array for defining a detecting zone at the intersection of the first and second paths and for emitting a first trigger signal when the body is in the detecting zone;
the ultrasound sensor array including a first sensor assembly that creates a first acoustic line over the intersection at a first location along the first path and a second sensor assembly that creates a second acoustic line which intersects the direction defined by the first path at a second position along the first path; anda controller coupled to the ultrasound sensor array for receiving the first trigger signal and for emitting an alarm signal indicative of the first trigger signal;
the first trigger signal being emitted when the first acoustic line is cut;
the controller being further for determining the speed and direction of the body between the first and second acoustic lines by determining a time between a consecutive cutting of the first and second acoustic lines.
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11. A system for detecting a presence of a body at an intersection between first and second paths, the system comprising:
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an ultrasound sensor array for defining a detecting zone at the intersection of the first and second paths and for emitting a first trigger signal when the body is in the detecting zone;
the ultrasound sensor array including a first sensor assembly that creates a first acoustic line over the intersection;
the first trigger signal being emitted when the first acoustic line is cut;
the first sensor assembly being adjacent the second path on a first side thereof;
the first acoustic line intersecting a direction defined by the first path;
the ultrasound sensor array further including a second sensor assembly that creates a second acoustic line which intersect the direction defined by the first path and which is adjacent the second path on a second side thereof;
the first trigger signal being further emitted when the second acoustic line is cut;
the first and second acoustic lines being generally parallel to the second path;
the first and second sensor assemblies further creating third and fourth acoustic lines defining an x-shaped pattern between the first and second acoustic lines;
the first trigger signal being further emitted when any one of the third and fourth acoustic lines is cut;
wherein the first sensor assembly includes a first ultrasound emitter positioned on a first side of both the first and second paths and a first ultrasound receiver positioned on both the first side of the first path and on a second side of the first path;
the second sensor assembly including a second ultrasound receiver positioned on both the second side of the first path and on a second side of the second path and a second ultrasound emitter positioned on both the second side of the first path and the first side of the second path;
both the first and second emitters being pivotable between the first and second receivers; anda controller coupled to the ultrasound sensor array for receiving the first trigger signal and for emitting an alarm signal indicative of the first trigger signal.
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16. A system for detecting a presence of a body at an intersection between first and second paths, the system comprising:
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an ultrasound sensor array for defining a detecting zone at the intersection of the first and second paths and for emitting a first trigger signal when the body is in the detecting zone;
the ultrasound sensor array including a first sensor assembly that creates a series of acoustic lines defining the detecting zone;
each of the acoustic lines being created by an ultrasound transducer and an ultrasound reflector aligned with the ultrasound transducer;
the ultrasound transducer emitting the first trigger signal when any one of the acoustic lines is cut;
at least one of the ultrasound transducer and reflector is mounted to a pivotable gate; anda controller coupled to the ultrasound sensor array for receiving the first trigger signal and for emitting an alarm signal indicative of the first trigger signal.
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19. A system for detecting a presence of a body at an intersection between first and second paths, the system comprising:
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an ultrasound sensor array for defining a detecting zone at the intersection of the first and second paths and for emitting a first trigger signal when the body is in the detecting zone;
the ultrasound sensor array including a first sensor assembly that creates a series of acoustic lines defining the detecting zone;
the first trigger signal being emitted when any one of the acoustic lines is cut;
each of the acoustic lines being created by an ultrasound emitter and an ultrasound receiver aligned with the ultrasound emitter;
one of the ultrasound emitter and receiver emitting the first trigger signal when the acoustic line is cut;
at least one of the ultrasound emitter and receiver being mounted to a pivotable gate; anda controller coupled to the ultrasound sensor array for receiving the first trigger signal and for emitting an alarm signal indicative of the first trigger signal.
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20. A system for detecting a presence of a body at an intersection between first and second paths, the system comprising:
- an ultrasound sensor array for defining a detecting zone at the intersection of the first and second paths and for emitting a first trigger signal when the body is in the detecting zone;
the ultrasound sensor array including a first sensor assembly that creates a series of acoustic lines defining the detecting zone;
the first trigger signal being emitted when any one of the acoustic lines is cut;
further comprising a second sensor assembly that creates at least one ultrasound floating cone which further defines the detecting zone; anda controller coupled to the ultrasound sensor array for receiving the first trigger signal and for emitting an alarm signal indicative of the first trigger signal.
- an ultrasound sensor array for defining a detecting zone at the intersection of the first and second paths and for emitting a first trigger signal when the body is in the detecting zone;
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23. A system for detecting a presence of a body at an intersection between first and second paths, the system comprising:
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an ultrasound sensor array for defining a detecting zone at the intersection of the first and second paths and for emitting a first trigger signal when the body is in the detecting zone;
the sensor array including at least one sensor assembly that emits a first ultrasound floating cone towards a portion of the intersection;
the first ultrasound floating cone defining at least part of the detecting zone;
the first trigger signal being emitted when the body is at least partially in the first ultrasound floating cone; anda controller coupled to the ultrasound sensor array for receiving the first trigger signal and for emitting an alarm signal indicative of the first trigger signal. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 27, 28)
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26. A system for detecting a presence of a body at an intersection between first and second paths, the system comprising:
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an ultrasound sensor array for defining a detecting zone at the intersection of the first and second paths and for emitting a first trigger signal when the body is in the detecting zone;
the at least one sensor assembly including a first sensor located on a first side of the first path that emits a first ultrasound floating cone towards the second path and a second sensor located on a second side of the first path that emits a second ultrasound floating cone towards the second path;
the first and second ultrasound floating cones defining at least part of the detecting zone;
the first trigger signal being emitted when the body is at least partially in one of the first and second ultrasound floating cones; anda controller coupled to the ultrasound sensor array for receiving the first trigger signal and for emitting an alarm signal indicative of the first trigger signal;
the controller being configured to compute at least a first dimension of the body while it moves on said second path between the first and second ultrasound floating cones.
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29. A system for detecting a presence of a body at an intersection between first and second paths, the system comprising:
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an ultrasound sensor array for defining a detecting zone at the intersection of the first and second paths and for emitting a first trigger signal when the body is in the detecting zone;
the sensor array including at least one sensor assembly that emits a first ultrasound floating cone towards a portion of the intersection;
the first ultrasound floating cone defining at least part of the detecting zone;
the first trigger signal being emitted when the body is at least partially in the first ultrasound floating cone;
the ultrasound sensor is mounted to the movable portion of a pivotable gate positioned across the first path adjacent the second path on a first side thereof so as to emit the first ultrasound floating cone towards a portion of the second path; anda controller coupled to the ultrasound sensor array for receiving the first trigger signal and for emitting an alarm signal indicative of the first trigger signal.
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30. A system for detecting a presence of a body at an intersection between first and second paths, the system comprising:
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an ultrasound sensor array for defining a detecting zone at the intersection of the first and second paths and for emitting a first trigger signal when the body is in the detecting zone;
the sensor array including at least one sensor assembly having an ultrasound transducer and a concave dish operatively assembled together so that an ultrasound beam characterized by a width is produced when the ultrasound transducer emits a primary beam towards the concave dish;
the at least one sensor assembly is oriented so as to emit the ultrasound beam towards the intersection;
the ultrasound beam being part of the detecting zone;
the width of the ultrasound beam is selected so that the system does not detect the body if the body has a maximum dimension less than the width of the ultrasound beam; anda controller coupled to the ultrasound sensor array for receiving the first trigger signal and for emitting an alarm signal indicative of the first trigger signal.
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31. A system for detecting a presence of a body at the intersection between first and second paths, the system comprising:
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an ultrasound sensor array for defining a detecting zone at the intersection of the first and second paths and for emitting a first trigger signal when the body is in the detecting zone;
the ultrasound sensor array including a first sensor assembly which creates a first series of acoustic lines which define a first detecting plane within the detecting zone;
the first detecting plane defining a first angle with the first path; anda controller coupled to the ultrasound sensor array for receiving the first trigger signal and for emitting an alarm signal indicative of the first trigger signal;
the controller further determining a first dimension of the body along a direction defined by the first detecting plane. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A system for detecting a body at level crossings where a plurality of roads intersects a railway track, the system comprising:
- a plurality of detectors for detecting a presence of the body at the intersection between the roads and the railway track, each detector including an ultrasound sensor array for defining a detecting zone at an intersection of one the roads and the railway track and for emitting a first trigger signal when the body is in the detecting zone; and
a junction control box having a unique junction address assigned thereto coupled to the ultrasound sensor array for receiving the first trigger signal and for emitting an alarm signal indicative of the first trigger signal.
- a plurality of detectors for detecting a presence of the body at the intersection between the roads and the railway track, each detector including an ultrasound sensor array for defining a detecting zone at an intersection of one the roads and the railway track and for emitting a first trigger signal when the body is in the detecting zone; and
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39. A system for detecting a body at a level crossing where a road intersects a railway track, the system comprising:
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an ultrasound sensor array for defining a detecting zone at the intersection of the road and the railway track and for emitting a first trigger signal when the body is in the detecting zone; and a junction control box coupled to the ultrasound sensor array for receiving the first trigger signal and for emitting an alarm signal indicative of the first trigger signal;
the junction control box being configured for communication with a remote controller located on a train or in a monitoring center;
at least one of the junction box and the at least one remote controller including means for calculating the probability of impact between the at least one train and a detected body at the intersection using a speed of the at least one train and a distance of the at least one train relatively to the ultrasound sensor array. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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42. A system for detecting a body at a level crossing where a road intersects a railway track, the system comprising:
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an ultrasound sensor array for defining a detecting zone at the intersection of the road and railway track and for emitting a first trigger signal when the body is in the detecting zone; and a controller coupled to the ultrasound sensor array for receiving the first trigger signal and for emitting an alarm signal indicative of the first trigger signal;
the level crossing including at least two pivotable gates which intersect the road on opposite sides of the railway track;
the ultrasound sensor array including at least one ultrasound sensor mounted to at least one of the two pivotable gates. - View Dependent Claims (43)
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Specification