METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR UNIVERSAL INPUT OUTPUT FOR VEHICLE CONTROL

• US 20090037038A1
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Mitchell, Michael Scott, Mollet, Samuel Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,504,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/00 Methods, circuits, or devices for controlling the traction-motor speed of electrically-propelled vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

Methods and systems for controlling a vehicle are provided. The system includes a controller configured to generate output signals using input signals received from a plurality of different types of input devices wherein the controller is configured to operate at a predetermined logic level and a universal input module corresponding to each type of the plurality of different types of input devices. The universal input module is configured to receive an input signal from an associated input device of one of the different types, determine an operating range of the input device corresponding to one of the different types of input devices, and transmit an output to the controller at the predetermined logic level wherein the output corresponds to the received input scaled to the determined operating range.

Claims

1. A control system for a vehicle, said system comprising:

a controller configured to generate output signals using input signals received from a plurality of different types of input devices, said controller configured to operate at a predetermined logic level; and

a universal input module corresponding to each type of the plurality of different types of input devices, said universal input module is configured to;

receive an input signal from an associated input device of one of the different types;

determine an operating range of the input device corresponding to one of the different types of input devices; and

transmit an output to the controller at the predetermined logic level wherein the output corresponds to the received input scaled to the determined operating range.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a universal output module configure to:

determine an operating range of a controlled device;

receive a controller output corresponding to the controlled device; and

generate a module output using the controller output scaled to the determined operating range.

3. A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said universal output module comprises a programmable power supply.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said input devices comprise at least one of a battery, a trainline, a track signal, and a tachometer.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the different types of input devices comprises a nominal voltage type, an analog voltage signal type, a frequency modulated type, and a pulse type.

6. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said universal input module is configured to generate a threshold value for the received input signal scaled to the determined operating range.

7. A system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a global positioning satellite (GPS) system input to said controller, said controller configured to determine a territory of operation of the vehicle using the GPS input, said controller further configured to select an operating range for at least one universal output module using the determined territory.

8. A system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a data entry device configured to receive a manual input selecting a configuration stored in a memory of the controller wherein the configuration includes associated operating ranges for at least one universal output module.

9. A system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a data communication device configured to receive a configuration from off board the vehicle wherein the configuration includes associated operating ranges for at least one universal output module.

10. A method of controlling a vehicle, said method comprising:

receiving an input signal from an input device;

determining an operating range of the input signal and a type of the input device; and

generating an output signal corresponding to the received input signal that is scaled to a predetermined controller logic level.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein determining an operating range of the input signal and a type of the input device comprises receiving a configuration of the vehicle that includes the operating range of the input signal and the type of the input device.

12. A method in accordance with claim 10 further comprising:

receiving current location information for the vehicle;

determining a territory associated with the current location; and

selecting a configuration using the determined territory.

13. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said controller further comprises a universal output module, said method further comprising:

determining an operating range of a controlled device;

receiving a controller output corresponding to the controlled device; and

generating a module output using the controller output scaled to the determined operating range.

14. A method in accordance with claim 10 further comprising generating a threshold value for the received input signal scaled to the determined operating range.

15. A train locomotive comprising:

an engine;

a controller configured to control the operation of the locomotive, said controller further configured to generate output signals using input signals received from a plurality of different types of input devices, said controller configured to operate at a predetermined logic level; and

a universal input module corresponding to each type of the plurality of different types of input devices, said universal input module is configured to;

receive an input signal from an associated input device of one of the different types;

determine an operating range of the input device corresponding to one of the different types of input devices; and

transmit an output to the controller at the predetermined logic level wherein the output corresponds to the received input scaled to the determined operating range.

16. A locomotive in accordance with claim 15 further comprising a universal output module configure to:

determine an operating range of a controlled device;

receive a controller output corresponding to the controlled device; and

generate a module output using the controller output scaled to the determined operating range.

17. A locomotive in accordance with claim 15 wherein the different types of input devices comprises a nominal voltage type, an analog voltage signal type, a frequency modulated type, and a pulse type.

18. A locomotive in accordance with claim 15 wherein said universal input module is configured to generate a threshold value for the received input signal scaled to the determined operating range.

19. A locomotive in accordance with claim 15 further comprising a global positioning satellite (GPS) system input to said controller, said controller configured to determine a territory of operation of the vehicle using the GPS input, said controller further configured to select an operating range for at least one universal output module using the determined territory.

20. A locomotive in accordance with claim 15 further comprising at least one of a data entry device configured to receive a manual input selecting a configuration stored in a memory of the controller and a data communication device configured to receive a configuration from off board the vehicle wherein the configuration includes associated operating ranges for at least one universal output module.