Systems and methods for redundant vehicle detection at highway-rail grade crossings
IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0103625
(2011-05-09)
|
등록번호 |
US-8596587
(2013-12-03)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
9 |
초록
▼
A method for sensing objects within a rail grade crossing island is described. The method includes transmitting a radar signal into the island from each of a plurality of radar devices such that each portion of the island is monitored by at least two of the radar devices, detecting if an object is i
A method for sensing objects within a rail grade crossing island is described. The method includes transmitting a radar signal into the island from each of a plurality of radar devices such that each portion of the island is monitored by at least two of the radar devices, detecting if an object is in the island based on received signals corresponding to the transmissions associated with at least one of the radar devices, and operating a gate control device associated with the rail grade crossing based on the detections.
대표청구항
▼
1. A method for sensing objects within a rail grade crossing island, said method comprising: transmitting a radar signal into the rail grade crossing island from each of a plurality of radar devices such that each portion of the rail grade crossing island is monitored by at least two of the radar de
1. A method for sensing objects within a rail grade crossing island, said method comprising: transmitting a radar signal into the rail grade crossing island from each of a plurality of radar devices such that each portion of the rail grade crossing island is monitored by at least two of the radar devices;detecting an object in the rail grade crossing island based on received signals corresponding to the transmissions associated with a first one of the at least two radar devices;verifying whether a second one of the at least two radar devices also detected that the object is in the rail grade crossing island based on received signals corresponding to the transmissions associated with the second one of the at least two radar devices;providing an indication of system degradation if the detection of the object by the first one of the at least two radar devices deviates from the detection of the object by the second one of the at least two radar devices beyond a defined threshold; andoperating a gate control device associated with the rail grade crossing based on the detection of the object in the rail grade crossing island. 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein operating the gate control device comprises opening an exit gate that allows the object to leave the rail grade crossing island. 3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising mounting the radar devices on a mast associated with crossing gates for the rail grade crossing island. 4. The method according to claim 1 wherein transmitting a radar signal into the rail grade crossing island from each of a plurality of radar devices comprises transmitting a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) from each of the plurality of radar devices. 5. The method according to claim 1 wherein detecting an object in the rail grade crossing island comprises compensating the received signals for detection of vehicles from different physical perspectives. 6. The method according to claim 1 wherein detecting an object comprises logically ORing the detection of the object by the first a one of the at least two radar devices and the second one of the at least two radar devices. 7. A crossing gate control system for a rail grade crossing island including vehicle traffic lanes, the system comprising: at least two radar sensors comprising a plurality of radar devices therein, said at least two radar sensors respectively positioned such that each portion of the rail grade crossing island is monitored by at least two of the radar devices;a processing device configured to receive signals from the at least two radar sensors; anda railroad equipment interface communicatively coupled to said processing device and further coupled to one or more relays for operation of crossing gates associated with the rail grade crossing island, said railroad equipment interface operable to receive signals from said processing device related to operation of the one or more relays to forestall or reverse an exit crossing gate descent based on a detection of an object in the rail grade crossing island by one or more of the at least two radar sensors;wherein each of said at least two radar sensors comprises a detection footprint that spans all of the vehicle lanes of the crossing island. 8. The crossing gate control system according to claim 7 wherein each of said at least two radar sensors defines a detection zone established within a detection footprint for a vehicle traffic lane associated with a respective exit gate, each of said at least two radar sensors comprising a similar detection zone so that detection events associated with said at least two radar sensors may be compared to one another. 9. The crossing gate control system according to claim 7 wherein each of said at least two radar sensors is mounted atop a respective entrance gate mast pole. 10. A method of operating a radar sensor-based rail grade crossing island including a plurality of radar sensors respectively having a plurality of radar devices, entrance gates and exit gates, the method comprising: detecting a train approaching the rail grade crossing island;lowering the entrance gates to the rail grade crossing island, based on a speed of the train approaching the rail grade crossing island and a distance of the train approaching the rail grade crossing island from the rail grade crossing island;monitoring data from the plurality of radar sensors, after the entrance gates have been lowered to determine if any objects are within the rail grade crossing island by comparing co-incident detection signals from at least two of the radar devices;if objects are detected by the radar sensors, delay lowering the exit gates until the radar sensors indicate an absence of objects within the rail grade crossing island; andif, after a predetermined time, the radar sensors indicate one or more objects are still within the rail grade crossing island, communicate an existence of the one or more objects to railroad personnel. 11. The method according to claim 10 wherein communicating the existence of the one or more objects to railroad personnel comprises at least one of providing a log file for examination by the railroad personnel, providing a communication to railroad personnel via a public cellular telephone network, providing a communication to railroad personnel via at least one of a local area computer network and a wide area computer network, and providing a communication to railroad personnel via a dedicated railroad communications network. 12. The method according to claim 10 wherein monitoring data from the plurality of radar sensors comprises establishing a detection zone for each radar device within each radar sensor, at least one radar device within each radar sensor associated with each detection zone. 13. A method for verifying operability of a plurality of radar sensors deployed for monitoring a portion of a rail grade crossing, said method comprising: comparing co-incident detection signals from the plurality of radar sensors; andproviding a notification if the plurality of radars do not detect the same objects in a programmable percentage of co-incident detections. 14. The method according to claim 13 wherein providing a notification comprises alerting railroad maintenance personnel to the possible degradation of detection capability of at least one of the radar sensors. 15. The method according to claim 13 wherein providing a notification comprises at least one of: providing a log file for examination by personnel;providing a communication to personnel via a public cellular telephone network;providing a communication to personnel via at least one of a local area computer network and a wide area computer network; andproviding a communication to personnel via a dedicated railroad communications network. 16. The method according to claim 13 wherein comparing co-incident detection signals comprises comparing signals from the plurality of radars monitoring a detection zone within the rail grade crossing. 17. The method according to claim 13 wherein comparing co-incident detection signals comprises compensating the co-incident detection signals based on different physical perspectives of each radar sensor. 18. The method according to claim 13 wherein each radar sensor includes a plurality of radar devices, and wherein comparing co-incident detection signals from the plurality of radar sensors comprises monitoring each portion of the rail grade crossing with at least one radar device from each radar sensor. 19. A method of operating a radar sensor-based rail grade crossing island including a plurality of radar sensors respectively having a plurality of radar devices, entrance gates and exit gates, the method comprising: establishing a detection zone for each radar device within each radar sensor, at least one radar device within each radar sensor associated with each detection zone;detecting a train approaching the rail grade crossing island;lowering the entrance gates to the rail grade crossing island, based on a speed of the train approaching the rail grade crossing island and a distance of the train approaching the rail grade crossing island from the rail grade crossing island;monitoring data from the plurality of radar sensors, after the entrance gates have been lowered to determine if any objects are within the rail grade crossing island;if objects are detected by the radar sensors, delay lowering the exit gates until the radar sensors indicate an absence of objects within the rail grade crossing island; andif, after a predetermined time, the radar sensors indicate one or more objects are still within the rail grade crossing island, communicate an existence of the one or more objects to railroad personnel. 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein monitoring data from the plurality of radar sensors comprises comparing co-incident detection signals from at least two of the radar devices.
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (9)
-
Thomas N. Hilleary, Highway grade crossing vehicle violation detector.
-
Hilleary, Thomas N., Highway railroad crossing vehicle detection methods and systems.
-
Pieralli,Moreno; Torassa,Paolo; Zadeh,Masoud M., Microwave detection system and method.
-
Pieralli,Moreno, Microwave detection system and method for detecting intrusion to an off-limits zone.
-
Agam, Uri; Gal, Eli; Marcovecchio, Pino, Presence detection system for path crossing.
-
Welk James E.,CAX, Railway crossing collision avoidance system.
-
Pieralli, Moreno, System and method for detecting obstacles within the area of a railroad grade crossing using a phase modulated microwave signal.
-
Arnold, David V.; Giles, Bradley C.; Harris, Logan C.; Jarrett, Bryan R.; Karlinsey, Thomas W.; Waite, Jonathan L., Systems and methods for configuring intersection detection zones.
-
Brodeur ; Sr. Ronald E. ; Bader Clifford J. ; DeRenzi Charles S. ; Mullin Eugene, Vehicle presence detection system.
이 특허를 인용한 특허 (3)
-
Bürgin, Thomas, Barrier system.
-
Artan, Yusuf; Paul, Peter, Side window detection in near-infrared images utilizing machine learning.
-
Steffen, II, Michael; Fries, Jeffrey Michael; Weingartner, Aric Albert; Shields, William; Boyd, Sherri, Systems and methods for controlling warnings at vehicle crossings.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.