Light emission power control apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9950720-B2
Application number	US-201715453087-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2017
Priority date	Jan 19, 2015
Publication date	Apr 24, 2018
Grant date	Apr 24, 2018

Abstract

A system and method for adjusting light emitter output for a railway track inspection system based on data feedback from one or more sensors.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for inspecting a railway track, the system comprising:
a power source;
a light emitting apparatus powered by the power source for emitting light energy toward a railway track;
at least one sensor for sensing reflected light emitted from the light emitting apparatus and acquiring three dimensional data of the railway track; and
a processor in communication with the at least one sensor wherein the processor includes an algorithm for adjusting the power of the light emitting apparatus, the algorithm comprising the steps of:
a. analyzing the three dimensional data from the at least one sensor; and
b. adjusting a light emitter control output value based at least in part on the analyzed three dimensional data; and
a controller in communication with the processor wherein the controller is configured to control the light intensity of the light emitting apparatus in response to the light emitter control output value.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a data storage apparatus in communication with the processor for storing the acquired three dimensional data.

3. A method of inspecting a railway track bed using a light source with real time adjustable light emission, the method comprising the steps of:
a. emitting light from a light source toward a railway track bed;
b. detecting light reflected from the railway track bed using at least one sensor;
c. measuring surface elevation of the railway track bed and light intensity of the reflected light based on the detected light to provide elevation and intensity data;
d. analyzing the elevation and intensity data;
e. adjusting a light emitter control output value based on the analyzed elevation and intensity data; and
f. controlling the light intensity of the light source in response to the adjusted light emitter control output value.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the analyzing step further includes analyzing the elevation and intensity data for elevation zero value errors, out-of-range errors and intensity distribution.

5. A method of inspecting a railway track bed using a light source with real time adjustable light emission, the method comprising the steps of:
a. emitting light from a light source toward a railway track bed;
b. sensing light reflected from the railway track bed;
c. determining railway track bed surface conditions based on the sensed light reflected from the railway track bed; and
d. adjusting the intensity of light emitted from the light source based on the railway track bed surface conditions.

Assignees

• Tetra Tech

Inventors

• Mesher Darel

Classifications

• B61K9/08

  Measuring installations for surveying permanent way · CPC title

• G01B11/303

  using photoelectric detection means · CPC title

• B61K9/00

  Railway vehicle profile gauges; Detecting or indicating overheating of components; Apparatus on locomotives or cars to indicate bad track sections; General design of track recording vehicles · CPC title

• B61L23/04 Primary

  for monitoring the mechanical state of the route · CPC title

• H05B37/0227

  Electricity · mapped topic