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US 12,116,030 B2Granted
Methods and systems for monitoring a transportation path with acoustic or vibration sensing
AssigneeInternational Electronic Machines Corp.
InventorsZahid F. Mian, Frederick A. Prahl
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems for monitoring and detecting various events or anomalies of interest on or along an object of interest, such as a transportation path, road, or railway, are presented. Data regarding the detected events can be collected near its source and transmitted to a data collection or processing object for analysis or storage. These events may include, but not limited to, rock falls, wheel or tire flat spots, or other acoustic or vibration generating events at or near the object of interest.
Claims20
A system for monitoring a transportation path, the system comprising:
- first fiber optic fiber extending along at least a portion of a targeted transportation path;
- a second fiber optic fiber extending along at least the portion of the targeted transportation path, wherein the second fiber optic fiber is spaced from the first fiber optic fiber by a known distance, each fiber optic fiber having a plurality of imperfections;
- an interrogator operatively connected to the first and second fiber optic fibers, the interrogator configured to detect reflections from the plurality of imperfections in each fiber optic fiber;
- a processor operatively connected to the interrogator, wherein the processor is configured to:
- receive signals from the interrogator corresponding to the detected reflections;
- associate variations in the received signals with signals generated by an anomaly along the transportation path;
- determine a location of the anomaly by measuring phase differences corresponding to the variations in the received signals detected on both the first and second fiber optic fibers;
- and
- depending upon the anomaly, execute one of a plurality of protocols.
6 more elements
A method for monitoring a transportation path, the method comprising:
- detecting reflections from a plurality of imperfections in a first and fiber optic fiber extending along at least a portion of a targeted transportation path, and a second fiber optic fiber extending along at least the portion of the targeted transportation path, wherein the second fiber optic fiber is spaced from the first fiber optic fiber by a known distance;
- generating electrical signals corresponding to the detected reflections;
- analyzing the generated electrical signals to extract at least one feature of the generated signals;
- comparing the at least one feature to a plurality of features and recognizing the at least one feature as a signal generated by one of a plurality of anomalies;
- determining a location of the anomaly by measuring phase differences corresponding to the variations in the received signals detected on both the first and second fiber optic fibers;
- and
- based upon the one of the plurality of anomalies, executing at least one protocol.
4 more elements
A system for monitoring a railroad track, the system comprising:
- a first fiber optic fiber extending along at least a portion of the railroad track;
- a second fiber optic fiber extending along at least the portion of the railroad track, wherein the second fiber optic fiber is spaced from the first fiber optic fiber by a known distance, each fiber optic fiber having a plurality of imperfections;
- a plurality of receiving units operatively connected to the first and second fiber optic fibers, wherein each of the plurality of receiving units is configured to detect reflections from at least a portion of the plurality of imperfections in each fiber optic fiber;
- a computer system including at least one processor, wherein the computer system is operatively connected to the plurality of receiving units, and wherein the computer system is configured to:
- receive signals from the plurality of receiving units corresponding to the detected reflections;
- associate variations in the received signals with signals generated by an anomaly along the railroad track;
- determine a location of the anomaly by measuring phase differences corresponding to the variations in the received signals detected on both the first and second fiber optic fibers by at least one of the plurality of receiving units;
- and
- depending upon the anomaly, execute one of a plurality of protocols.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.