Component vehicle

• US 8,185,264 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nomad Spectrum Limited (Alstom SA)
• Original Assignee: Nomad Spectrum Limited (Alstom SA)
• Inventors: Carroll, Caleb
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olsen, Lin B
• Application Number:
  US12/809,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20110046826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 701/19
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0027 Radio-based, e.g. using GSM-R
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0036 Conductor-based, e.g. using CAN-Bus, train-line or optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0054 Train integrity supervision, e.g. end-of-train [EOT] devices

Abstract

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for determining whether first and second components of a vehicle are physically coupled together, the method comprising: transmitting a first signal from the first component of the vehicle; receiving a second signal from the second component of the vehicle; processing the second signal to determine whether the first and second components of the vehicle are coupled.

Claims

1. A method for determining whether to establish a wireless connection between adjacent first and second components of a vehicle, the method comprising:

wirelessly transmitting a first signal from the first component of the vehicle;

wirelessly receiving a second signal from the second component of the vehicle;

processing the first and second signals to determine a distance between the adjacent first and second components of the vehicle;

determining whether the first and second components of the vehicle are physically coupled or uncoupled based upon the determined distance; and

establishing a wireless connection between the first and second components of the vehicle, if but only if the first and second components of the vehicle are coupled;

wherein said wireless connection is prevented when the first and second components are determined to be uncoupled based upon the determined distance.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a train.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second signal is a reflection of the first signal.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein determining whether the first and second components of the vehicle are coupled or uncoupled comprises:

comparing the determined distance with a predetermined distance, wherein said predetermined distance is a maximum separation between the first and second components when coupled; and

determining that the first and second components are physically coupled if the determined distance is less than the predetermined distance.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said maximum separation is greater than an average separation that takes into account relative movements between the first and second components.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a plurality of first signals;

receiving a plurality of second signals; and

processing the plurality of second signals to determine whether the first and second components of the vehicle are physically coupled.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first signal is an ultrasound signal.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless connection is only established when the vehicle components are adjacent to one another, and when one end of the first component is opposite to and facing one end of the second component.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium carrying a computer program to carry out the method of claim 1.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said vehicle is a moving vehicle.

11. A device for determining whether to establish a wireless connection between first and second components of a vehicle, the device comprising:

a memory storing processor readable instructions; and

a processor configured to read and execute instructions stored in the memory;

wherein

the processor readable instructions comprise instructions controlling the processor to carry out the method of claim 1.

12. Apparatus arranged to determine whether to establish a wireless connection between first and second components of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting a first signal from the first component of the vehicle;

a receiver for wirelessly receiving a second signal from the second component of the vehicle;

a processing arrangement for processing the first and second signals to determine a maximum distance between the first and second components of the vehicle, and to determine whether the first and second components of the vehicle are physically coupled or uncoupled based upon the determined maximum distance;

and a wireless connection arrangement for establishing a wireless connection between the first and second components of the vehicle, if but only if the first and second components of the vehicle are coupled.