Detection system and method for rail vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9694835-B2
Application number	US-201414549906-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2014
Priority date	Dec 30, 2011
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

A detection system for a rail vehicle includes a control module, which has a sensor input for receiving a signal from a sensor. The control module is configured to receive the signal and to output information responsive to the signal. In operation, the control module and a sensor are deployed on board the rail vehicle. The sensor is configured to generate the signal responsive to detecting a designated condition on board the rail vehicle. When the condition occurs, the sensor outputs the signal, which is received by the control module. Responsive to the signal, the control module outputs the information, such as communicating information of the signal content to another rail vehicle, or to an off board location. The designated condition may be unauthorized use of a handheld wireless device in a rail vehicle, or intruder entry into an unmanned rail vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A detection system, comprising:
a control module configured to be operably coupled on board a first rail vehicle, the control module comprising a device interface;
wherein the device interface includes a first sensor input for receiving a first signal from a first sensor relating to a first occupancy condition of the first rail vehicle;
wherein the device interface includes a second sensor input for receiving a second signal from a second sensor relating to a second occupancy condition of the first rail vehicle;
wherein the control module is configured to at least one of: determine an occupancy status of the first rail vehicle based on the first and second signals, or communicate information of the first and second signals for determination of the occupancy status of the first rail vehicle;
wherein the control module is configured to at least one of: communicate the occupancy status to a second rail vehicle over a communication channel of a distributed power system of the first and second rail vehicles; or communicate the information of the first and second signals to the second rail vehicle over the communication channel of the distributed power system, for determination of the occupancy status of the first rail vehicle at the second rail vehicle; and
wherein the control module is configured to communicate a single bit incorporating the first signal and the second signal reporting the occupancy status of the first rail vehicle to the second rail vehicle.

2. The detection system of claim 1 , wherein the control module is configured to receive a third signal indicative of unmanned operation of the first rail vehicle, and to enter a mode of operation of the control module for determining the occupancy status or communicating the information responsive to the third signal.

3. The detection system of claim 1 , wherein the control module is configured to communicate the occupancy status or the information responsive to the first signal indicating detection of an entryway of the first rail vehicle having been opened and the second signal indicating detection of a living being present in an interior of the first rail vehicle.

4. The detection system of claim 1 , wherein: the control module is configured for operable coupling with an operator interface in the first rail vehicle; the control module is configured to detect a use of the operator interface that meets one or more designated criteria; and the control module is further configured to determine the occupancy status or communicate the information based on the use.

5. The detection system of claim 1 , wherein the control module is configured, responsive to receiving the first and second signals, to generate a control signal for activating a camera in an interior of the first rail vehicle, and to receive picture information from the camera.

6. The detection system of claim 1 , wherein: the control module is configured for operable coupling with an operator interface in the first rail vehicle; and the control module is configured to disable the operator interface responsive to the occupancy status.

7. The detection system of claim 1 , wherein the distributed power system is configured for the second rail vehicle to control the first rail vehicle when the first rail vehicle is unmanned.

8. A detection system, comprising:
a control module on board a first rail vehicle, the control module comprising a device interface;
a first sensor connected to the device interface and configured to generate a first signal relating to a first occupancy condition of the first rail vehicle; and
a second sensor connected to the device interface and configured to generate a second signal relating to a second occupancy condition of the first rail vehicle;
wherein the control module is configured to receive the first and second signals and to at least one of:
determine an occupancy status of the first rail vehicle based on the first and second signals and communicate the occupancy status to a second rail vehicle over a communication link of a distributed power system of the first and second rail vehicles, or
communicate information of the first and second signals to the second rail vehicle over the communication link of the distributed power system for determination of the occupancy status of the first rail vehicle at the second rail vehicle; and

wherein the control module is configured to communicate a single bit incorporating the first signal and the second signal reporting the occupancy status of the first rail vehicle to the second rail vehicle.

9. The detection system of claim 8 , wherein the first sensor is configured to generate the first signal responsive to an entryway of the first rail vehicle being opened, and wherein the second sensor is configured to generate the second signal responsive to detecting presence of a living being in an interior of the first rail vehicle.

10. The detection system of claim 9 , wherein the first sensor is an entry ajar sensor operatively coupled to the entryway of the first rail vehicle, and the second sensor is one of a motion detection sensor in an interior of the first rail vehicle, a heat sensor in the interior, an operator control usage sensor in the interior, a gas constituent sensor in the interior, or a pressure sensor in the interior.

11. The detection system of claim 8 further comprising:
a camera operably coupled to the control module and configured to capture picture information of an interior of the first rail vehicle;
wherein the control module is configured to activate the camera to capture the picture information based on the occupancy status.

12. The detection system of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the camera or the control module is configured to store the picture information and to time stamp the picture information.

13. The detection system of claim 12 , wherein said at least one of the camera or the control module is configured to control redundantly storing the picture information on a rail vehicle event recorder.

14. The detection system of claim 8 , wherein the control module is configured to disable an operator interface of the first rail vehicle responsive to the occupancy status.

15. The detection system of claim 8 , wherein the control module is configured to enter a mode of operation of the control module for determining the occupancy or communicating the information responsive to the first rail vehicle being controlled for unmanned operation.

16. The detection system of claim 8 , wherein the distributed power system is configured for the second rail vehicle to control the first rail vehicle when the first rail vehicle is unmanned.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Cooper Jared Klineman
• Brand John William
• Bryant Robert Francis
• Dulmage Scott William
• Eldredge David Allen
• Foy Robert James
• Golden Samuel William
• Mcelroy John Welsh

Classifications

• B60R25/00

  Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles (locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00) · CPC title

• B61L15/0072

  On-board train data handling · CPC title

• B61L23/00 Primary

  Control, warning or like safety means along the route or between vehicles or trains · CPC title

• B61L15/0027

  Radio-based, e.g. using GSM-R · CPC title

• G08B13/00

  Burglar, theft or intruder alarms · CPC title