This invention relates to the field of communication and control systems. It is particularly applicable to a method and apparatus for assigning machine addresses to computer or electronically controlled devices, and may be used to assign machine addresses to a control system using radio communication to transmit commands between a master controller and a slave controller.
Under a first broad aspect, the invention provides a transmitter for remotely controlling a locomotive entity. The transmitter has a control entity capable of acquiring a plurality of states that include a linked state in which the control entity generates commands for causing an action to be performed by the locomotive. The transmitter also has a first interface for receiving an identifier of the locomotive entity via a first communication link and a second interface for transmitting a signal over a second communication link different from the first communication link, the second communication link being an RF communication link. When the control entity is in the linked state, the signal transmitted over the second communication link includes commands to the locomotive entity for causing the locomotive entity to perform one or more actions. When the control entity is in a state other than the linked state, the signal transmitted over the second communication link including an identifier of the transmitter.
Under a second broad aspect, the invention provides a transmitter for remotely controlling a locomotive entity. The transmitter has a control entity capable of acquiring a plurality of states including a linked state. The control entity is capable of communicating with the locomotive entity via at least two communication links distinct from one another. The control entity is enabled to switch to the linked state at least when the control entity has received an identifier of the locomotive entity over one of the at least two communication links and has sent an identifier to the locomotive entity over another of the at least two communication links.
Under a third broad aspect, the invention provides a transmitter for remotely controlling a locomotive entity in which is mounted a slave controller. The transmitter has a control entity capable of acquiring a plurality of states including a linked state. The transmitter has a first interface for sending an identifier of the transmitter to the slave controller via a first communication link. The transmitter also has a second interface for transmitting a signal over a second communication link different from the first communication link, the second communication link being an RF communication link. When the control entity is in the linked state, the signal transmitted over the second communication link including commands to the slave controller for causing the locomotive entity to perform one or more actions. When the control entity is in a state other than the linked state, the communication link receiving via the second communication link and the second interface an identifier of the slave controller.
Under a fourth broad aspect, the invention further provides a transmitter for remotely controlling a locomotive entity. The transmitter has a control entity capable of acquiring a plurality of states, including a linked state. The transmitter also has an interface in communication with the control entity for receiving an identifier of the locomotive entity via a communication link. The transmitter also has a proximity detector having a detection field, the proximity detector being in communication with the control entity to enable the control entity to switch to the linked state at least when the locomotive entity is in the detection field.
A detailed description of examples of implementation of the present invention is provided herein below with reference to the following drawings, in which:
In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for purposes of illustration and as an aid to understanding, and are not intended to be a definition of the limits of the invention.
The transmitter 12 includes a user interface 18. The operator communicates with the transmitter via the user interface 18. Stated, otherwise, the operator enters commands to be implemented by the locomotive entity via the user interface 18 and if the transmitter is designed to send information back to the operator such information is sent via the user interface 18. Implementation examples of the user interface 18 include manually operated switches, keyboard, touch sensitive screen, pointing devices, voice recognition, an audio input, an audio output and video output among others.
The transmitter 12 includes a control entity 20. The control entity 20 provides the main controlling function of the transmitter 12. The control entity 20 can be implemented in hardware, in software or as a combination of hardware and software. The transmitter 12 further includes a first interface 22 via which the transmitter 12 communicates with the locomotive entity over a first communication channel 24. The first communication channel 24 can be either wireless or wire based (here “wire” also includes an optical fiber). Examples in the wireless category include a Radio Frequency (RF) communication channel, an Infrared (IR) communication channel, and a communication channel based on Inductive Coupling (IC). The communication channel 22 uses any suitable protocol to allow data to be sent between the transmitter 12 and the locomotive entity.
The transmitter 12 further includes a second interface 26 via which the transmitter 12 communicates with the locomotive entity over a second communication channel 28. The second communication channel 28 is an RF communication channel.
Communication paths connect the user interface 18, the first interface 22 and the second interface 26 to the control entity 20 to allow internal signals to be exchanged between those components.
The control entity 20 can acquire a plurality of states. One of these states is the linked state. The linked state is a condition or mode during which the control entity 20 is “aware” or “recognizes” the locomotive entity that it controls. During that state, the control entity 20 will be sending commands to the locomotive entity that it recognizes. The linked state is the normal state of operation of the transmitter 12. In addition to the linked state, control entity 20 has a non-linked state. The non-linked state is a state during which control entity 20 cannot issue commands to a locomotive entity. It should be expressly noted that the control entity 20 could have more than two states, without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Conditions must be met to authorize the switching from a state other than the linked state to the linked state. Assume for the purpose of this example that the control entity 20 is in the non-linked state. One of the conditions to enable the switching is for the control entity 20 to “learn” which locomotive entity it will be controlling.
In the example of implementation shown at
Alternatively, the identifier of the transmitter 12 can be sent out via the first communication link 24 and the identifier of the locomotive entity received via the second communication link 28.
The completion of such a “learning process” is a necessary condition to allow the control entity 20 to switch to the linked state. It should be expressly noted that such condition need not be the only condition and other conditions may be necessary or desired depending on the specific application. Accordingly, the invention encompasses embodiments where the completion of the “learning process” is but one condition in a set of several conditions that must be met in order for the switch to be authorized.
Once the switch to the linked state has been completed, the control entity 20 issues commands, based on the inputs made by the operator via the user interface 18, that are converted into necessary signals sent over the second communication link 28. In this state, if the first communication link 24 is wire based, such wire would be disconnected to allow the necessary freedom of movement of the operator beside the locomotive entity.
In
In the embodiment shown at
Optionally, the transmitter 32 is provided with some means for communicating the identifier of the transmitter 32 to the locomotive entity. Those means may include any one or a combination of the examples above.
The proximity detector 34 has a detection field 36 and it is designed to sense the locomotive entity when that locomotive entity is within the detection field 36. The presence of the locomotive entity in the detection field 36 is a condition necessary to allow the control entity 20 to switch to the linked state.
In a first optional embodiment, the locomotive entity includes a module adapted to be detected by the proximity detector. In such an embodiment, when the module is within the detection field 36, the exchange of identifiers between the locomotive entity and the transmitter 32 is allowed. For example, the presence of the module within the detection field 36 is a condition for allowing the locomotive entity to transmit the locomotive identifier and for the transmitter 32 to accept the locomotive identifier over transmission link 28. In a non-limiting example, the presence of the module within the detection field 36 is a condition for allowing the transmitter 32 to transmit the transmitter identifier and for the locomotive entity to accept the transmitter identifier over transmission link 28.
In another optional embodiment, the proximity detector 34 not only senses that a locomotive entity is present in the detection field 36 but it can also discriminate between different locomotive entities such as to allow the control entity 20 to internally verify that the locomotive entity with which it will link is the same that is within the detection field 36. This feature provides a safety benefit and reduces the possibility of linking with the wrong locomotive entity.
Examples of proximity detectors 34 with discrimination capability include, but are not limited to:
1) Wireless Based:
When the proximity detector 34 senses the presence of a locomotive entity in the detection field 36, it passes the unique code gathered during the sensing to the control entity 20 that determines if it matches the identifier of the locomotive entity entered. If they match a switch to the linked state can take place. Here “match” is used in a broad sense to indicate that the control entity 20 determines that the identifier and the unique code are associated with the same locomotive entity. As such the identifier and the unique code do not need to be identical.
Another optional condition that could be set to allow the control entity 20 to switch to the linked state includes sending the identifier of the transmitter to the locomotive entity. This can be accomplished via the communication link 28 or via the communication link 24, if the transmitter 32 is provided with such communication link 24.
Although the proximity detector 34 is shown in
Although various embodiments have been illustrated, this was for the purpose of describing, but not limiting, the invention. Various modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art and are within the scope of this invention, which is defined more particularly by the attached claims.
This application is a continuation-in-part of: Pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/281,464 filed Mar. 30, 1999;Pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/163,199 filed Jun. 4, 2002 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/281,464 filed Mar. 30, 1999; andPending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/163,227 filed Jun. 4, 2002 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/281,464 filed Mar. 30, 1999. The contents of the above noted documents are hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3639755 | Wrege | Feb 1972 | A |
4245347 | Hutton et al. | Jan 1981 | A |
4264954 | Briggs et al. | Apr 1981 | A |
4529980 | Liotine et al. | Jul 1985 | A |
4553723 | Nichols et al. | Nov 1985 | A |
4582280 | Nichols et al. | Apr 1986 | A |
4687258 | Astley | Aug 1987 | A |
4912463 | Li | Mar 1990 | A |
5039038 | Nichols et al. | Aug 1991 | A |
5122948 | Zapolin | Jun 1992 | A |
5495520 | Kojima | Feb 1996 | A |
5511749 | Horst et al. | Apr 1996 | A |
5533695 | Heggestad et al. | Jul 1996 | A |
5570284 | Roselli et al. | Oct 1996 | A |
5681015 | Kull | Oct 1997 | A |
5685507 | Horst et al. | Nov 1997 | A |
5729210 | Kiriyama | Mar 1998 | A |
5746261 | Bowling | May 1998 | A |
5815823 | Engle | Sep 1998 | A |
5884146 | Simmons | Mar 1999 | A |
6218961 | Gross et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6314345 | Coombes | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6400281 | Darby et al. | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6449536 | Brousseau et al. | Sep 2002 | B1 |
6456674 | Horst et al. | Sep 2002 | B1 |
6466847 | Horst | Oct 2002 | B1 |
6470245 | Proulx | Oct 2002 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
36 18 464 | Dec 1987 | DE |
42 42 231 | Jun 1994 | DE |
326 630 | Aug 1989 | EP |
704 590 | Apr 1996 | EP |
WO 9636953 | Nov 1996 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20030083791 A1 | May 2003 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 09281464 | Mar 1999 | US |
Child | 10163199 | US | |
Parent | 10308240 | US | |
Child | 10163199 | US | |
Parent | 10163227 | US | |
Child | 10163199 | US | |
Parent | 09281464 | US | |
Child | 10163227 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 09281464 | Mar 1999 | US |
Child | 10308242 | US | |
Parent | 10163199 | Jun 2002 | US |
Child | 09281464 | US |