Method for querying a measurement value

• US 8,400,327 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Hein, Gerd, Kuderewski, Georg, Schneider, Egid, Niemann, Thorsten
• Primary Examiner(s): JEANGLAUDE, JEAN BRUNER
• Application Number:
  US12/449,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20100058829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,875 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.07, 340/942
• US Class Current: 340/870.07
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/50 using a mobile data collecting device, e.g. walk by or drive by
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A method for querying a measurement value, wherein the measurement value is converted into a modulation signal that influences the reflective properties of a sensor antenna. A signal is emitted via a query device, wherein the signal is returned in an altered fashion by the sensor antenna and then received again by the query device. The measurement value is determined from the altered signal received. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, a plurality of measurement values are detected by sensors and the query device is moved past a plurality of sensor antennas in a vehicle or by a person. Thus, a plurality of sensors detect measurement values on a railroad line, for example. The vehicle is, for example, a rail vehicle traveling on the track of the railroad line.

Claims

1. A method for checking a measured value, the measured value being converted to a modulation signal which influences a reflection characteristic of a sensor antenna, a signal being transmitted by a checking device, the signal being sent back with a change by the sensor antenna and the signal again being received by way of the checking device, the measured value being determined from the received changed signal, wherein a plurality of measured values are detectable by sensors and the checking device being movable past a plurality of sensor antennas, the method comprising:

using a plurality of sensor antennas to detect a plurality of measured values of checking devices, located on a railroad line, which are part of a power supply installation of the railroad line, the checking devices each being located in a rail vehicle which moves along a track of the railroad line, wherein the sensors detect electric current from the track installation of a direct-current railroad to the ground.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring the operational capability of electrical insulation between rails and the ground of the railroad line.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensors monitor voltage flashover protection devices located between the track installation and the ground.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensors detect the wear of an overhead wire.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein an identity of a sensor antenna is identified by an RFID tag connected to the sensor antenna.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an identity of a sensor antenna is identified by an RFID tag connected to the sensor antenna.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the checking device is connected to a memory for storage and subsequent reading of the received changed signals.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein an identity of a sensor antenna is identified by an RFID tag connected to the sensor antenna.