# US 10,479,381 B2 · System and method for controlling a level crossing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,381 B2 - Document ID: US10479381B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/466,071 - Filed: 2017-03-22 - Published: 2018-09-27 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-22 - Assignees: Alstom Transport Technologies - Applicants: Alstom Transport Technologies - Inventors: Jeffrey Fries; William Shields - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479381B2 ## CPC - B61L 23/005: {Automatic control or safety means for points for operator-less railway, e.g. transportation systems} - B61L 23/041: {Obstacle detection} - B61L 29/22: electrically - B61L 29/226: {using track-circuits, closed or short-circuited by train or using isolated rail-sections} - B61L 29/28: electrically operated - B61L 29/30: Supervision, e.g. monitoring arrangements - G08C 17/02: using a radio link - G08C 2201/91: Remote control based on location and proximity - B61L: GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC (brakes or auxiliary equipment B61H, B61K; point or crossing construction E01B) - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) ## Abstract A system for controlling a level crossing comprising one or more transceivers located in proximity of a level crossing area on a first side of a railway track; one or more corresponding passive reflective targets located in proximity of the level crossing area on a second side opposite to the first side where each transceiver is located; a control unit connected to each transceiver; wherein each target receives RF signals coming from each transceiver and sends back corresponding reflected signals; each transceiver is arranged to elaborate said reflected signals so as to calculate predetermined parameters values; the control unit acquires said parameters values from each transceiver and elaborates them so as to detect the presence of a train in an area around the level crossing area and, in case of presence of said train, to send a warning message and/or close bars of the level crossing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for controlling a level crossing comprising: one or more transceivers located in proximity of a level crossing area on a first side of a railway track; one or more corresponding passive reflective targets located in proximity of the level crossing area on a second side of the railway track opposite to the first side where each transceiver is located; and a control unit connected to each transceiver; wherein each target is arranged to receive Radio Frequency signals (RF signals) coming from each transceiver and to send back corresponding reflected signals; each transceiver is arranged to elaborate said reflected signals so as to calculate predetermined parameters values; the control unit is arranged to acquire said parameters values from each transceiver and to elaborate them so as to detect the presence of a train in an area around the level crossing area and, in case of presence of said train, to send a warning message and/or close bars of the level crossing, wherein said parameters value include, for each transceiver: a first angle defined by a horizontal line extending between the transceiver and its corresponding directly opposite target and a horizontal line extending parallel to the railway track in the level crossing area; and a second angle defined by a horizontal line extending between the transceiver and its corresponding diagonally opposite target and the horizontal line extending parallel to the railway track in the level crossing area. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein said parameters value further comprise a first distance between each transceiver and a corresponding directly opposite target and a second distance between each transceiver and a corresponding diagonally opposite target. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is arranged to compare the parameters values with predetermined thresholds and, if these values are out of ranges defined by said thresholds, to consider that the presence of a train is detected. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein each transceiver modulates a dynamic code with safety (CRC) on the RF signal transmitted towards each target, and validates the received RF signal reflected from the target only when the received RF signal contains an expected checking data. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the acquisition of the parameters values from each transceiver is only activated when the control unit receives from the approaching train a corresponding activation signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each target is arranged to reflect a signal whose magnitude is related the size of the target itself. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each target and each transceiver are of radar type. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises two transceivers located in proximity of the level crossing area on a first side of the railway track and two targets located in proximity of the level crossing area on a second side of the railway track opposite to the first side where the transceivers are located. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein transceivers are located each on a respective different side of a road crossing the railway track in the level crossing area and targets are also located each on a respective different side of the road. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method for controlling a level crossing comprising the steps of: providing a system for controlling a level crossing according to claim 1 in correspondence of a level crossing between a railway track and a road; sending a respective RF signal from each transceiver towards both targets; receiving at each transceiver respective reflected signals coming from each target; elaborating these signals so as to calculate predetermined parameters values; sending back said parameters values to the control unit; comparing these parameter values with predefined thresholds to identify the presence of a train on the railway track in an area surrounding the level crossing area; and sending a warning message and/or closing bars of the level crossing in case the comparison of the step of comparing these parameter values identifies the presence of said train.