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US 10,766,512 B2Granted
Wireless train management system
AssigneeArup Ventures Limited
InventorKenneth Garmson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A train control system comprising a track switch controller; RFID tags located at first and second track switches coupled via a length of track that store characteristics of train sets as they pass the track switches, and RFID tag readers located on the train sets, connected to a network. The train sets write data to the RFID tags such that the data is read by RFID tag readers of subsequent trains; and the data stored in the RFID tags is overwritten with new data each time a train set passes by the RFID tags.
Claims19
A train control system comprising:
- a train set including at least one railway car;
- a track switch controller;
- at least one first set of two track points located along a first track switch section;
- at least one second set of two track points located along a second track switch section coupled via a track section to the first track switch section;
- at least one RFID tag having no preprogrammed data and which is located at each of the at least one first set of two track points configured to store dynamic and static characteristics of the train set as it passes the at least one first set of two track points, wherein the dynamic characteristics stored on the at least on RFID tag are configured to be updated at the at least one first set of two track points, according to characteristics of the train set passing by the at least one first set of two track points;
- the at least one RFID tag having no preprogrammed data and which is located at each of the at least one first set of two track points and the at least one second set of two track points, the at least one RFID tag being configured to store dynamic and static characteristics of the train set as it passes the at least one second set of the at least two track switches;
- a directional antenna coupled to the at least one railway car of the train set and configured to acquire a unique identifier (UID) of the at least one RFID tag;
- and
- at least one RFID tag reader located on the at least one railway car connected to a network,
- wherein the at least one railway car writes data to the at least one RFID tag such that the data is read by the at least one RFID tag reader of a following railway car, and
- wherein the data of the at least one RFID tag is overwritten with new data each time at least one railway car passes by the at least one first set of two track points and as it passes by the at least one second set of the two track points.
8 more elements
A method of assembling a train system from train cars having RFID tag readers located in a storage yard, the method comprising:
- receiving, via a central controller system or engine, a train yard data word from each of the train cars upon entry into the storage yard;
- identifying, via the central controller system or engine and from the train yard data word, a track orientation of each of the train cars and a position of each of the train cars in a current train set configuration;
- reading, via the central controller system or engine, the RFID tag readers of each of the train cars;
- assigning, via the central controller system or engine, a train car identifier to each of the train cars;
- routing and parking, via the central controller system or engine communicating with type 2 RFID tag sets located at track points converging at a track switch, each of the train cars;
- and
- in response to a determination that the current train set configuration is to be broken up into the train cars,
- routing or re-routing, via the central controller system or engine, the current train set configuration to a break up point within the storage yard;
- and
- configurating, via the central controller system or engine, a new train set configuration from the train cars within the storage yard by:
- orienting or re-orienting the train cars;
- positioning the train cars to a proper position for the new train set configuration;
- and
- coupling the train cars together to form the new train set configuration.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.