Railway braking and throttle guidance user interface
First Claim
1. A railway train user interface apparatus for a train speed control actuator selected from the group consisting of brake actuator, throttle actuator or combination of both, comprising:
- a visual display, including a suggested speed control actuator setting guide having;
an analog control actuator setting scale;
an analog suggested control actuator setting indicator aligned with and in relative motion with the control actuator setting scale, indicating a suggested control actuator setting for conforming the train with anticipatedan analog actual control actuator setting indicator aligned with and in relative motion with the control actuator setting scale, indicating an actual control actuator setting on the control actuator setting scale.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A user interface includes a visual display with suggested speed control throttle and/or brake settings display portion, a speedometer display portion and a distance to target guide portion. The display provides intuitive feedback information helpful for train operator decisions on how and when to change train speed control throttle and/or brake settings. In some embodiments of the present invention the interface suggests brake and/or throttle settings for reducing train speed. The distance to target guide portion includes an analog target display that grows in size as the train approaches a target point speed change or stop position. The speedometer includes analog speed scale, speed indicator needle and a suggested target speed indicator display portions.
36 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A railway train user interface apparatus for a train speed control actuator selected from the group consisting of brake actuator, throttle actuator or combination of both, comprising:
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a visual display, including a suggested speed control actuator setting guide having; an analog control actuator setting scale; an analog suggested control actuator setting indicator aligned with and in relative motion with the control actuator setting scale, indicating a suggested control actuator setting for conforming the train with anticipated an analog actual control actuator setting indicator aligned with and in relative motion with the control actuator setting scale, indicating an actual control actuator setting on the control actuator setting scale. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A railway train user interface apparatus, comprising:
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a visual display including a speedometer display having; an analog speed scale; an analog speed pointer aligned with and in relative motion with the speed scale, indicating actual an analog target speed indicator aligned with and in relative motion with the speed scale, indicating a specific suggested target operating speed for conforming the train to anticipated up-track speed restrictions; and
the speedometer display displays a suggested control setting band on the analog speed scale and which displays to the user a suggested control setting for brake control, throttle control or combination of both in a digital readout. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A railway train speed control system, comprising:
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an onboard control unit for controlling a railway train drive control and brake control units; a human machine interface coupled to the onboard control unit, having; throttle and brake controls actuated by a human operator; and a visual display including a speedometer display having; an analog speed scale; an analog speed pointer aligned with and in relative motion with the speed scale, indicating actual train speed on the speed scale; and an analog target speed indicator aligned with and in relative motion with the speed scale, indicating a specific suggested target operating speed for conforming the train to anticipated up-track speed restrictions; wherein a train operator actuates brake and throttle controls to align the analog speed pointer with the analog target speed indicator;
the speedometer display displays a suggested control setting band on the analog speed scale and which displays to the user a suggested control setting for brake control, throttle control or combination of both in a digital readout.- View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
wherein the permissible local speed range and overspeed range status indicators move relative to the speed scale in coordination with the target speed indicator in response to the anticipated up-track speed restrictions.
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17. The system of claim 14, wherein the visual display further comprises a throttle and brake controls suggested control setting guide, having:
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an analog control setting scale; an analog suggested control setting indicator indicating a suggested control, setting for conforming the train with the anticipated up-track speed restrictions; and an analog actual control setting indicator aligned with and in relative motion with the control setting scale, indicating actual control setting on the control setting scale.
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18. The system of claim 14, wherein the visual display further comprises a distance to railway target braking guide display, having:
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an analog distance scale, showing distance to a target point ahead of the train; and an analog target superimposed on the analog distance scale that increases in display size as actual distance between the train and the target decreases.
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19. A computer software storage medium apparatus, comprising:
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non-transient software stored in a non-volatile storage medium for operating a railway train human machine interface (HMI) visual display that is controlled by a processor coupled to a memory device, the HMI capable of retrieving and storing a copy of said software from said medium and causing said processor to execute said software to control the visual display by generating a visual display of a train speed control actuator selected from the group consisting of brake actuator, throttle actuator or combination of both, comprising; a visual display including a suggested speed control actuator setting guide, having; an analog control actuator setting scale; an analog suggested control actuator setting indicator aligned with and in relative motion with the control actuator setting scale, indicating a suggested control actuator setting for conforming the train with anticipated an analog actual control actuator setting indicator aligned with and in relative motion with the control actuator setting scale, indicating the actual control actuator setting on the control actuator setting scale; and
a recommended control setting band on the analog control actuator setting scale and having an outermost extreme edge of the band indicating an optimal recommended control setting for the brake actuator, the throttle actuator or combination of both. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification