Remote control system implementing haptic technology for controlling a railway vehicle

• US 8,290,646 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2009
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hetronic International, Inc. (Methode Electronics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Hetronic International, Inc. (Methode Electronics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ecton, Mark, Rempe, Torsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Malhotra, Sanjeev
• Application Number:
  US12/464,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20090248223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 340/407.1, 345/60, 345/156, 345/161, 345/173, 345/184, 345/626, 345/701, 348/211.99, 381/333, 382/115, 246/28.R, 246/121, 180/65.2, 105/35
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/127 for remote control of locomotives remote control of locomotives within a train consist B61C17/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a remote control system for controlling a railway vehicle. The remote control system including a remote control device provided with haptic technology for transmitting signals to a first controller module. The first controller is mounted to the railway vehicle and controls and monitors the functions of the railway vehicle. The first controller module also relays information to the remote control device. The remote control system can also include a portable safety switch allowing any individual in proximity to the railway vehicle to send a stop signal to the first controller module to stop the railway vehicle if any unsafe conditions exist.

Claims

1. A remote control system for controlling a railway vehicle, the railway vehicle having a throttle for providing tractive power to the railway vehicle to propel the railway vehicle and a brake system for providing braking power to the railway vehicle, the remote control system comprising:

a remote control device for transmitting signals, the remote control device provided with a haptic technology;

wherein the haptic technology is at least one programmable rotary control;

wherein the haptic technology is at least one joystick control;

a first controller module connected to the railway vehicle and in communication with the remote control device, the first controller module monitoring a set of predetermined functions of the railway vehicle and receiving commands from the remote control device to control the set of predetermined functions of the railway vehicle, the first controller module providing real time information to the remote control device; and

a tilt recognition device to provide a warning signal to the remote control device when the remote control device is tilted a predetermined amount from a substantially level position.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote control device is further provided with a large video display to display the real time information of the railway vehicle, the large video display is a type of video display selected from the group consisting of a cathode ray tube, a bistable display, an electronic paper, an electrophoretic display, a nixie tube display, an electroluminescent display, a plasma display panel, a light-emitting diode, a liquid crystal display, a vacuum fluorescent display, a high performance addressing display, a thin-film transistor display, an organic light-emitting diode display, a surface-conduction electron-emitter display, and a laser tv display.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the large video display has a diagonal length that is greater than about 2.5 inches.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the haptic technology is at least one touch screen.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the large video display has a touchscreen;

the touchscreen providing executable command options for the railway vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote control device further includes biometric verification technology.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the biometric verification technology is provided to verify a user'"'"'s fingerprint.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a camera in communication with the remote control device wherein the camera can be positioned in a preselected location by a user.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the camera can provide images selected from the group consisting of still images and video images.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote control device is further provided with touch sensor technology.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote control device is further provided at least one handle having touch sensor technology for detecting when a user is contacting the at least one handle.

12. A method for controlling a railway vehicle, the railway vehicle having a throttle for providing tractive power to the railway vehicle to propel the railway vehicle and a brake system for providing braking power to the railway vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a remote control device, the remote control device provided with a haptic technology;

wherein the haptic technology is at least one programmable rotary control;

wherein the haptic technology is at least one joystick control;

providing a first controller module connected to the railway vehicle and in communication with the remote control device;

transmitting a command signal from the remote control device to the first controller module;

receiving commands from the remote control device to control a set of predetermined functions of the railway vehicle;

monitoring the set of predetermined functions of the railway vehicle via the first controller module;

providing real time information to the remote control device from the first controller module;

displaying the real time information on the remote control device; and

a tilt recognition device to provide a warning signal to the remote control device when the remote control device is tilted a predetermined amount from a substantially level position.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the remote control device is further provided with a large video display to display the real time information of the railway vehicle, the large video display is a type of video display selected from the group consisting of a cathode ray tube, a bistable display, an electronic paper, an electrophoretic display, a nixie tube display, an electroluminescent display, a plasma display panel, a light-emitting diode, a liquid crystal display, a vacuum fluorescent display, a high performance addressing display, a thin-film transistor display, an organic light-emitting diode display, a surface-conduction electron-emitter display, and a laser tv display.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the large video display has a diagonal length that is greater than about 2.5 inches.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the haptic technology is at least one touch screen.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the large video display has a touchscreen;

the touchscreen providing executable command options for the railway vehicle.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the remote control device further includes biometric verification technology.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the biometric verification technology is provided to verify a user'"'"'s fingerprint.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising a camera in communication with the remote control device wherein the camera can be positioned in a preselected location by a user.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the camera can provide images selected from the group consisting of still images and video images.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein the remote control device is further provided with touch sensor technology.

22. The method of claim 12 wherein the remote control device is further provided at least one handle having touch sensor technology for detecting when a user is contacting the at least one handle.