US Patent:
20020045975, Apr 18, 2002
Inventors:
Gary Carr - Fairfax VA, US
Brian Mee - Manassas VA, US
J. Kesler - Silver Spring MD, US
Boris Nejikovsky - Vienna VA, US
International Classification:
B61L003/00
Abstract:
The multi-sensor route detector system preferably consists of at least four sensors (three rail detectors and a truck angle detector), sensor power supplies, signal conditioning for the output of the sensors, and a computer performing pattern matching and logic functions to positively identify track features of interest. The system is not a stand-alone navigation system, but will interface with the rest of the vehicle navigation system and provide data over an interface. This data will include notification of passage of turnouts, whether or not the route changed through the turnout and possibly the type of turnout (i.e., number 6 left). From external sensors, the multi-sensor route detector will obtain a signal such as block distance pulse indicating distance traveled along the track. The best estimate of the vehicle position will also be sent to the multi-sensor route detector. Based on the present position, the multi-sensor route detector will access the appropriate turnout data from its internal database.