ON-TRAIN RAIL TRACK MONITORING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring a rail track, comprising:
- providing an imaging module on a passenger or freight train to capture video images of the rail track under the train in motion; and
automatically processing captured video images in a computer on the train to determine whether an irregularity is present on the rail track to adversely affect safety of the train.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic inspection system is provided for monitoring rail track for detecting and generating alerts for certain hazards to the operation of trains that may cause various safety concerns and even derailment. The monitoring is during normal railway service runs without interrupting the normal railway services. In one implementation, an imaging module is used on a passenger or freight train to capture video images of the rail track under the train in motion. In one implementation, the captured video images are automatically processed in a computer using a software module which is based on digital image processing techniques and algorithms to determine whether an irregularity is present on the rail track. In one implementation, video images containing detected irregularities on the rail track are transmitted to a control center for further analysis and possible alert.
116 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring a rail track, comprising:
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providing an imaging module on a passenger or freight train to capture video images of the rail track under the train in motion; and automatically processing captured video images in a computer on the train to determine whether an irregularity is present on the rail track to adversely affect safety of the train. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for monitoring a rail track, comprising:
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capturing video images from a moving passenger or freight train operating on the rail track during a regular service run of the train; automatically processing captured video images in a computer on the train to determine whether an irregularity is present on the rail track according to a set of predetermined irregularity criteria; and selecting video images that contain detected irregularities on the rail track for further analysis of each detected irregularity. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method for monitoring a rail track, comprising:
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capturing video images from a moving train operating on the rail track; and automatically processing captured video images using a digital motion detection algorithm to monitor an interface between a wheel of the train and the rail track. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method for monitoring a rail track, comprising:
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capturing video images from a moving train operating on the rail track; automatically processing captured video images using a digital image matching algorithm to compare the captured video images to stored images of irregularities of the rail track in a digital library to find a match; analyzing a matched video image to determine the nature of an irregularity; and generating an alert signal to alert an irregularity if a parameter of the irregularity exceeds a safety standard threshold.
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Specification