Visibility control system and method for locomotive

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9561806-B2
Application number	US-201514630935-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 25, 2015
Priority date	Feb 25, 2015
Publication date	Feb 7, 2017
Grant date	Feb 7, 2017

Abstract

A vision control system for controlling a vision of a glass surface of a locomotive. The vision control system includes a sensing module for detecting at least one parameter related to the glass surface. The sensing module includes a moisture sensing device configured to detect a presence of moisture on the glass surface and a photo sensor configured to detect an opacity of the glass surface. The vision control system also includes a cleaning system configured to perform a cleaning operation on the glass surface. The vision control system further includes a controller communicably coupled to the sensing module and the cleaning system. The controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of the at least one parameter related to the glass surface from the sensing module and communicate with the cleaning system to control the cleaning operation based on the received signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A visibility control system for controlling a visibility from the inside of a locomotive to the outside through a glass surface of the locomotive, the visibility control system comprising:
a sensing module for detecting and generating a parameter signal indicative of at least one parameter related to the glass surface, the sensing module comprising:
a moisture sensing device configured to detect a presence of moisture on the glass surface; and
a photo sensor configured to detect an opacity of the glass surface;

a cleaning system configured to perform a cleaning operation on the glass surface;
a user interface located remotely from the locomotive and comprising a user input configured to allow a user to enter an activate cleaning system signal, and a display configured to display the at least one parameter related to the glass surface in response to the parameter signal; and
a controller communicably coupled to the sensing module, the cleaning system, and the user interface the controller configured to:
receive the parameter signal from the sensing module;
send the parameter signal to the user interface;
receive the activate cleaning signal from the user interface; and
in response to the activate cleaning signal, communicate with the cleaning system to control the cleaning operation based on the received activate cleaning system signal.

2. The visibility control system of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning system comprises at least one of:
a wiper assembly configured to at least partly remove the moisture on the glass surface;
a defogger system configured to at least partly remove the fog on the glass surface; and
a washer fluid system configured to apply a washer fluid to the glass surface.

3. The visibility control system of claim 2 , wherein the activate cleaning signal includes an activate wiper assembly signal, and the controller is configured to activate the wiper assembly upon receiving, the activate wiper assembly signal from the user interface.

4. The visibility control system of claim 2 , wherein the activate cleaning signal includes an activate defogger system signal, and the controller is configured to activate the defogger system upon receiving the activate defogger system signal from the user interface.

5. The visibility control system of claim 2 , wherein the activate cleaning signal includes an activate washer fluid system signal, and the controller is configured to activate the washer fluid system upon receiving the activate washer fluid system signal from the user interface.

6. The visibility control system of claim 1 , wherein the locomotive is an unattended locomotive.

7. The visibility control system of claim 1 , wherein the glass surface is a windshield of the locomotive.

8. The visibility control system of claim 1 , wherein:
the user input is configured to allow a user to enter a deactivate cleaning system signal; and
the controller is configured to communicate with the cleaning system to deactivate the cleaning operation based on the received deactivate cleaning system signal.

9. A method of controlling a visibility of a glass surface of a locomotive, the method comprising:
detecting at least one parameter of the glass surface, the at least one parameter comprising at least one of an opacity of the glass surface, a presence of moisture on the glass surface and a presence of fog on the glass surface;
generating a parameter signal indicative of the at least one parameter of the glass surface;
receiving the parameter signal with a user interface remote from the locomotive;
displaying the at least one parameter of the glass surface on a display of the user interface;
generating an activate cleaning system signal with the user interface in response to a user input to the user interface
receiving the activate cleaning system signal with the controller; and
controlling a cleaning operation of a cleaning system of the locomotive with the controller based on the received activate cleaning system signal to clean the glass surface.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the locomotive is an unattended locomotive.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the glass surface is a windshield of the locomotive.

12. The method of controlling visibility of claim 9 , wherein controlling a cleaning operation of a cleaning system of the locomotive with the controller based on the received activate cleaning system signal to clean the glass surface includes activating a wiper assembly.

13. The method of controlling visibility of claim 9 , wherein controlling a cleaning operation of a cleaning system of the locomotive with the controller based on the received activate cleaning system signal to clean the glass surface includes activating a defogger system.

14. The method of controlling visibility of claim 9 , wherein controlling a cleaning operation of a cleaning system of the locomotive with the controller based on the received activate cleaning system signal to clean the glass surface includes activating a washer fluid system.

Assignees

• Electro Motive Diesel Inc

Inventors

• Melas Dennis
• Traylor Isaac

Classifications

• B60S1/0818

  including control systems responsive to external conditions, e.g. by detection of moisture, dirt or the like · CPC title

• B61D25/00 Primary

  Window arrangements peculiar to rail vehicles (vehicle window arrangements in general B60J; cleaning vehicle windows B60S; heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas H05B3/84) · CPC title

• B60S1/485

  including control systems responsive to external conditions, e.g. by detection of moisture, dirt or the like · CPC title

• B60S1/023

  including defroster or demisting means · CPC title

• B61L15/0081

  On-board diagnosis or maintenance · CPC title