SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A SYSTEM HAVING A RAIL, A STATIONARY UNIT, RAIL-GUIDED MOBILE PARTS, AND A SLOTTED HOLLOW WAVEGUIDE

Abstract

In a system and method for operating a system having a rail, a stationary unit, rail-guided mobile parts, and a slotted hollow waveguide, either a first one of the mobile parts or the stationary unit functions as a transmitter, and a second one of the mobile parts functions as a receiver. The transmitter is configured for the simultaneous transmission of an electromagnetic signal and an acoustic signal, e.g., at a first instant. The receiver, which is set apart from the transmitter, is configured to detect the arrival of the electromagnetic signal at a second instant and to detect the arrival of the acoustic signal at a third instant. The second mobile part has an evaluation unit which is configured to determine the distance between the transmitter and the receiver based on the acquired second and third instants.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. A system, comprising: a rail; a stationary unit; rail-guided mobile parts; and a slotted hollow waveguide; wherein the stationary part or a first one of the mobile parts is arranged as a transmitter adapted to simultaneously transmit an electromagnetic signal and an acoustic signal at a first instant; wherein a second one of the mobile parts is arranged as a receiver set apart from the transmitter by a distance and adapted to detect arrival of the electromagnetic signal at a second instant and to detect arrival of the acoustic signal at a third instant; and wherein the second mobile part includes an evaluation unit adapted determine the distance between the transmitter and the receiver based on the second instant and the third instant.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to determine the distance between the transmitter and the receiver based on the relationship:
S=(t2−t1)/(1/v−1/c). S representing the distance between the transmitter and the receiver, t1 representing the second instant, t2 representing the third instant, v representing the speed of sound, and c representing the speed of light.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to determine the distance between the transmitter and the receiver based on the relationship:
S=(t2−t1)*v. S representing the distance between the transmitter and the receiver, t1 representing the second instant, t2 representing the third instant, and v representing the speed of sound.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein a cavity of the slotted hollow waveguide covers a larger region in a first transverse direction to a rail direction than a slot of the slotted hollow waveguide.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the first transverse direction is aligned perpendicular to a second transverse direction that extends centrally through the slot.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein an antenna of the stationary unit is set apart from the slot in the first transverse direction and/or a coupling device of the stationary unit adapted for sound waves is set apart from the slot counter to the first transverse direction.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the antenna is arranged in a first relief cut of the cavity.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the coupling device is arranged in a second relief cut of the cavity.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the second relief cut is set apart from the first relief cut.

21. The system according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the mobile parts includes an antenna and a coupling device adapted for sound waves, both a region covered by the antenna in the first transverse direction and a region covered by the coupling device in the first transverse direction are encompassed by a region covered by the slot in the first transverse direction.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the antenna projects into or is arranged inside the cavity of the slotted hollow waveguide and/or the coupling device projects into or is arranged inside the cavity of the slotted hollow waveguide.

23. The system according to claim 15, wherein each mobile part includes an antenna and a coupling device adapted for sound waves, both a region covered by the antenna in the first transverse direction and a region covered by the coupling device in the first transverse direction are encompassed by a region covered by the slot in the first transverse direction.

24. The system according to claim 12, wherein the slotted hollow waveguide is arranged as an aluminum continuously cast profiled part.

25. The system according to claim 12, wherein the slotted hollow waveguide includes a web or collar region as a boundary of a slot of the slotted hollow waveguide, the web or collar region projecting from both sides of the slot in a direction of the mobile part.

26. The system according to claim 12, wherein an antenna and a coupling device of the mobile part project through the web or the collar region and/or a holding device that holds the antenna and the coupling device of the mobile part projects through the web or the collar region.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein the holding device is formed of a single piece or multiple pieces.

28. The system according to claim 12, wherein an antenna and a coupling, adapted for acoustic signals, of the transmitter is electrically connected to a transceiver, which is connected to a modem, and the modem is connected to the evaluation unit.

29. A system, comprising: a stationary unit; rail-guided mobile parts; and a slotted hollow waveguide; wherein the stationary part or a first one of the mobile parts is arranged as a transmitter adapted to simultaneously transmit an electromagnetic signal and an acoustic signal at a first instant; wherein a second one of the mobile parts is arranged as a receiver set apart from the transmitter by a distance and adapted to detect arrival of the electromagnetic signal at a second instant and to detect arrival of the acoustic signal at a third instant; and wherein the second mobile part includes an evaluation unit adapted determine the distance between the transmitter and the receiver based on the second instant and the third instant.

30. A method for operating a system that includes a rail, a stationary unit, rail-guided mobile parts, and a slotted hollow waveguide, the stationary part or a first one of the mobile parts arranged as a transmitter, a second one of the mobile parts arranged as a receiver, comprising: starting simultaneous transmission, at a first instant, by the transmitter, an electromagnetic signal and an acoustic signal; determining, by the receiver, an instant of arrival of the electromagnetic signal and an instant of arrival of the acoustic signal; and determining a distance between the transmitter and the receiver based on the instant of arrival of the electromagnetic signal and the instant of arrival of the acoustic signal.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the distance is determined by an evaluation unit of the second mobile part.

32. The method according to claim 30, further comprising controlling the determined distance to a predefined setpoint value for the distance.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the controlling of the determined distance to the predefined setpoint value for the distance by includes setting a speed of the mobile part.

34. The method according to claim 32, wherein the setpoint value is predefined proportionally to a square of a moving average of detected speed of the mobile part and/or proportionally to a low-pass-filtered value of the detected speed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] In FIG. 1, the data transmission between a stationary unit 11 and mobile parts 10 functioning as rail vehicles is schematically illustrated.

[0022] In FIG. 2, a coupling unit 29 of stationary unit 11 is schematically illustrated, coupling unit 30 of a first one of mobile parts 10 and slotted hollow conductor 21, which functions as transmission channel 12, being schematically illustrated in an oblique view.

[0023] In FIG. 3, in contrast to FIG. 2, instead of stationary unit 11, hollow wave-coupling unit 30 of a second one of mobile parts 10 is schematically illustrated.

[0024] In FIG. 4, the signal characteristics of a unit 11 functioning as a transmitter or of a mobile part 10 functioning as a transmitter are schematically illustrated.

[0025] In FIG. 5, the signal characteristics of a unit 11 functioning as a receiver or of a mobile part 10 functioning as a transmitter are schematically illustrated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] As schematically illustrated in the Figures, the system according to an example embodiment of the present invention has a slotted hollow conductor 21 which functions as a transmission channel 12.

[0027] Mobile parts 10 are arranged as a rail vehicle, e.g., for a monorail suspension rail. Slotted hollow conductor 21 is installed in parallel with a rail in the system, e.g., in one piece with the rail.

[0028] Slotted hollow conductor 21 is arranged as an aluminum continuous casting profiled part. The slotted hollow conductor has a cavity whose width transversely to the rail direction, e.g., transversely to the slot direction, i.e., transversely to the drawing direction of the continuous casting profile, is greater than the slot width of the slot of the slotted hollow waveguide 21.

[0029] Because of the broader configuration of the cavity transversely to the rail direction, a relief cut is produced in which an antenna 22 of stationary unit 11 may be positioned on the first side, and a coupling device 24 for sound waves, e.g., an ultrasonic transmitter, may be placed on the other side.

[0030] That is to say, the region covered by the slot in this transverse direction is situated between the region covered by antenna 22 and the region covered by coupling device 24.

[0031] Antenna 22 is connected to a transceiver 23 so that data are able to be transmitted or received. Transceiver 23 is connected to a modem 27 for a data transmission and the identification of received data telegrams, the modem being connected to an evaluation unit 28.

[0032] Electromagnetic waves are therefore able to be received with the aid of antenna 22 and the received signals are able to be evaluated.

[0033] In the same manner, coupling device 24 for sound waves is connected to a transceiver 25, which is connected to modem 27 via a filter and signal-amplification unit 26.

[0034] As a result, coupling unit 29 of stationary unit 11 is operable such that a sound signal and an electromagnetic signal are able to be emitted simultaneously, e.g., by antenna 22 or by coupling unit 24.

[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 2, mobile part 10 has a coupling unit 30 whose antenna 32 is configured to receive the wave transmitted by stationary unit 11, e.g., its antenna 22, and propagating inside the cavity of slotted hollow waveguide 21. The signals received by antenna 32 are conveyed to a transceiver 38, which is connected via a modem 37 to an evaluation unit 39 of mobile part 10.

[0036] As also antenna 32, a coupling device 34 for sound waves is connected to a transceiver 35, which is connected to modem 37 via a filter and signal-amplification unit 36 for a data transmission and identification of received data telegrams to evaluation unit 39.

[0037] As a result, mobile part 10 is able to receive the signals emitted by stationary unit 11, the sound wave being detected at a later instant than the electromagnetic wave.

[0038] Based on the time difference acquired in this manner, the distance between stationary unit 11 and mobile part 10 is determined in evaluation unit 39.

[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the stationary unit simultaneously emits electromagnetic signal SE and acoustic signal SA, i.e., sound signal, at instant t0, the electromagnetic signal SE being modulated and thus also used for the data transmission.

[0040] As illustrated in FIG. 5, mobile part 10 detects electromagnetic signal SE at instant t1 and subsequently the transmitted data. Acoustic signal SA is detected only at later instant t2.

[0041] Distance S between stationary unit 11 and mobile part 10 is determined from the difference between these two times, according to the relationship S=(t2−t1)/(1/v−1/c), v being the speed of sound and c being the speed of light.

[0042] In further exemplary embodiments, distance S is determined in a close approximation according to the relationship S=(t2−t1)*v.

[0043] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the distance between two mobile parts can also be determined. To do so, a first one of mobile parts 10 simultaneously emits electromagnetic signal SE and sound signal SA at instant t0 and the evaluation unit of second mobile part 10 determines the distance between the transmitter and the receiver based on acquired instants t1 and t2. At instant t1, the receiver detects the arrival of electromagnetic signal SE, and at instant t2, the receiver detects the arrival of acoustic signal SA.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0044] 10 mobile part

[0045] 11 stationary unit

[0046] 12 transmission channel

[0047] 21 slotted hollow conductor

[0048] 22 antenna

[0049] 23 transceiver for electromagnetic waves

[0050] 24 coupling device for sound waves

[0051] 25 acoustic transceiver

[0052] 26 filter and signal-amplification unit

[0053] 27 modem for a data transmission and identification of received data telegrams

[0054] 28 evaluation unit

[0055] 29 coupling unit

[0056] 30 coupling unit

[0057] 31 propagation directions for sound waves and electromagnetic waves

[0058] 32 antenna

[0059] 34 coupling device for sound waves

[0060] 35 transceiver

[0061] 36 filter and signal-amplification unit

[0062] 37 modem for a data transmission and identification of received data telegrams

[0063] 38 transceiver

[0064] 39 evaluation unit

[0065] X0 reference position of stationary unit 11

[0066] X1 first position, e.g., a first mobile part

[0067] X2 second position, e.g., of a second mobile part