B61L2207/02

System and method for railroad smart flasher lamps
11943852 · 2024-03-26 · ·

A smart lamp system and method for monitoring a status of LEDs. The system can provide LED status monitoring using a logic controller communicating with at least one strip of LEDs. The system can utilize the logic controller to assign a unique identifier (ID) to the at least one strip of LEDs based on a physical position of a plurality of dual-inline package (DIP) switches incorporated within a smart lamp housing. The system can provide a hardware architecture to interface the logic controller with a power-line communication (PLC) transceiver. The system can establish a communication protocol between the PLC transceiver and a PLC receiver to efficiently communicate the statuses of the LEDs. The logic controller can generate a payload including a binary representation of the unique ID of the smart lamp and the statuses of the LEDs and transmit the payload to the PLC transceiver.

Use of artificial intelligence to detect defects in trains and method to use
11891098 · 2024-02-06 ·

It is imperative that the integrity of a train and its railcars be maintained. A defective part or parts on a train may cause the derailment of the train and its railcars. A derailment often causes serious personal and property damage. The use of artificial intelligence that has been applied to this system will detect possible flaws or defects in the railroad car. A portal through which the train will pass houses cameras and a means of illumination to take high resolution images of the train through the portal. This information is then stored on a software platform. It has a feature which can include a human in the loop process that verifies the accuracy of the information. The solution also transmits detected defect images and information to a remote location for analysis.

SYSTEM AND METHOD TO ENSURE SIGNAL LIGHT INTEGRITY AND VIEWABILITY

A system and method is proposed to ensure detection of signal light integrity and viewability. The system includes a wireless network of signal light monitors attached unobtrusively to the sun visors on each signal light for which monitoring is required. Each signal light monitor includes diverse sensors which detect signal light integrity and viewability. The detection sensors are simultaneously active to detect signal light intensity, color intensity and viewability. The information obtained from the sensors is transmitted wirelessly to a base signal light monitor. The base signal light monitor communicates this information over a mesh network to an edge processor. The network is self-healing and ensures data integrity using a pre-calculated communication link if a communication link between base signal light monitors is lost or broken. The edge processor is capable of image and condition analysis on the detection data and communicates events to an enterprise network for action.

LED SHIELDING AND MONITORING SYSTEM AND WAYSIDE LED SIGNALS
20190329802 · 2019-10-31 ·

A light emitting diode (LED) shielding and monitoring system includes multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs) (12, 14, 82, 92), multiple optical detectors (20, 84, 94) for detecting a light output of the plurality of LEDs (12, 14, 82, 92), and a LED shield (30, 110) with multiple compartments (38, 114) for receiving the multiple optical detectors (20, 84, 94). The LED shield (30, 110) is configured such that each compartment (38, 114) receives an optical detector (20, 84, 94), and wherein each compartment (38, 114) is configured such that the optical detector (20, 84, 94) within the compartment (38, 114) detects the light output of a LED (12, 14, 82, 92) of the multiple LEDs (12, 14, 82, 92) without detecting light output other than the light output of the LED (12, 14, 82, 92). Further, wayside LED signals including a LED shielding and monitoring system are provided.

OPTICAL SYSTEM FOR A LED SIGNAL AND WAYSIDE LED SIGNAL
20190329803 · 2019-10-31 ·

An optical system (100) for a light emitting diode (LED) signal includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) (12, 14), a plurality of optical lenses (20, 40, 60, 80) for diverging and collimating light generated by the plurality of LEDs (12, 14), wherein the plurality of LEDs (12, 14) and the plurality of optical lenses (20, 40, 60, 80) are sequentially arranged in an axial direction, and wherein the plurality of optical lenses (20, 40, 60, 80) are configured such that by altering an axial position of one of the optical lenses (20, 40, 60, 80) from a first defined axial position to a second defined axial position, a final angular light distribution of the optical system (100) is variable.

Train derailer placement warning device
10427698 · 2019-10-01 · ·

A derail placement warning system for a railway derailer that automatically generates an alert to inform railway personnel (or others) of the placement of the derailer on a rail of the railway such that the derailer will derail rail traffic over the derailer. The warning system has an electronic circuit with an electric power source, an electronic switch and an electronic alert, and is configured for the switch to automatically activate and turn ON the alert when the derailing component of the derailer is positioned atop a railway rail. The alert comprises one or more of an audible component, a tactile sensation, an olfactory component, a visible light emission, and an electronic transmission.

RAILWAY CROSSING AND SIGNALING SYSTEM AND METHOD
20190283788 · 2019-09-19 ·

What is disclosed is a system and method of providing notice to traffic on a roadway that a railway vehicle traveling on a railway is approaching an intersection between the railway and the roadway. The system uses road modules and/or light strips embedded in or on the surface of the railway. A processor is configured to cause the road modules and/or light strips to illuminate and/or flash. The processor is configured to send the signal to the road module(s) and/or light strip(s) in response to a signal from a transmitter and/or sensor that a railway vehicle is approaching the intersection.

Barrier gate arm with recessed light housing
10364950 · 2019-07-30 ·

A vehicle barrier gate arm is pivotable upward and downward. The gate arm has an exterior wall having at least one channel extending along the length of the gate arm. The channel includes a recessed light housing containing a light system such as an LED light strip or a light rope. The channel is defined by two opposing, parallel channel walls and a backwall. Each channel wall has a retaining fin extending perpendicularly therefrom into the channel, thereby forming an aperture for the light housing. The light housing is situated between the retaining fins and the backwall. A visor channel extends from the retaining fins to the exterior wall of the gate arm. The visor channel provides a stronger contrast between illuminated and non-illuminated light systems within the light housing, allowing an observer to better determine whether the LED lights strips, which often act as signals, are activated or are not activated.

Lamp driver card to control lighting of a lamp load or a LED on a wayside of a railway system

A lamp driver card to control lighting of a lamp load located on a wayside of a railway system is provided. The lamp driver card comprises a light source controller module including at least one channel having a semiconductor switch or a relay to receive power on a copper cable sized at a selected gauge size from a power source to turn ON or OFF the lamp load. The light source controller module is configured to support a multi-voltage rating range operation extended from a limited voltage to an extended operating voltage and a current rating to light the lamp load such that the light source controller module is compatible with relatively higher DC/AC voltages. The copper cable is sized at the selected gauge size of a first size to a second size based on a selected voltage rating of a first voltage system or a second multi-voltage ranges system.

Light Signal

A light signal, in particular for rail-bound traffic routes, includes a light source, an optical system and a control device for adjusting an emission characteristic. In order to improve the way optical parameters, in particular regarding brightness, phantom light and path geometry can be adjusted, the control device is configured to adjust the transmission properties of at least one smart glass element disposed in the luminous or light flux.