Device for locating a vehicle tied to a roadway

• US 8,067,933 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2006
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Rost, Jens, Schmid, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Hollington; Jermele M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chan; Emily Y
• Application Number:
  US12/307,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20090201012A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,972 Days
• Field of Search: 32420711-20726, 33/1.Q, 701/23, 180167-169
• US Class Current: 324/207.11
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/021 Measuring and recording of train speed
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/026 Relative localisation, e.g. using odometer

Abstract

A cost-effective system provides reliable location information for locating a vehicle tied to a guideway. Reference markers are mounted to the guideway and scanning devices are disposed in the vehicle and generate at least one output signal when they pass a reference marker. The scanning devices are formed from several individual sensors which are extended in the driving direction with an average scanning length equal to or greater than a distance between neighboring reference markers.

Claims

1. A system for locating a vehicle tied to a guideway, comprising:

a plurality of reference markers disposed on the guideway at a given spacing distance along the guideway;

a scanning device mounted to the vehicle and generating an output signal when said scanning device passes a reference marker as the vehicle travels along the guideway;

said scanning device having a plurality of individual sensors and extending in a direction of travel with an average scanning length, the average scanning length being equal to or greater than the given spacing distance between mutually adjacent said reference markers;

said individual sensors disposed next to one another being configured to generate output signals with mutually different signs as said individual sensors travel over a reference marker;

said individual sensors being disposed in two rows of sensors next to one another and extend in the direction of travel;

said two rows of sensors being disposed with an offset relative to one another in the direction of travel;

said offset being equal to half a dimension of said reference markers in the direction of travel; and

said scanning device being configured to continuously read said plurality of reference markers located along the guideway.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the average scanning length is a multiple of the given spacing distance between said reference markers.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said individual sensors are disposed one behind another in at least one row of sensors extending in the direction of travel.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said individual sensors of each row of sensors are connected to one another in such a way that a sum signal of the scanning means can be sensed.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said individual sensors that are arranged next to one another generate output signals with the same sign when they travel over a reference marker, and an individual sensor signal can be sensed by each individual sensor.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said reference markers are electrically conductive ties.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein said individual sensors are configured to operate on an eddy current basis.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said given spacing distance between said reference markers is greater than 1 m.