THALES CANADA INC. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150177706 | SAFETY ASSURANCE OF MULTIPLE REDUNDANT SYSTEMS - A system, method, and safety unit provide safety assurance for a multiple redundant system controlling a plant or complex. A unit active line (UAL) status indicates the presence of at least one redundant active unit within the system. A safety verification line (SVL) status verifies the powered down status of all redundant units not active within the system. A safety unit is associated with a vital supervision card (VSC) and vital power bus and the safety unit controls switchable connections from the vital power bus to the UAL and the SVL. Based on verification of UAL and SVL status, system control includes energizing the UAL. | 06-25-2015 |
20150175179 | WAYSIDE GUIDEWAY VEHICLE DETECTION AND SWITCH DEADLOCKING SYSTEM WITH A MULTIMODAL GUIDEWAY VEHICLE SENSOR - A multimodal guideway vehicle sensor includes a passive sensor, an active sensor and an unique identification (ID) sensor. The passive sensor is configured to receive and detect a first electromagnetic radiation from a guideway vehicle. The active sensor configured to transmit a second electromagnetic radiation and receive and detect the second electromagnetic radiation reflected from the guideway vehicle. The ID sensor that detects an ID associated with the guideway vehicle. The multimodal guideway vehicle sensor also includes a data fusion center that combines signals from the passive sensor, the active sensor and the ID sensor to produce guideway vehicle information about the guideway vehicle. | 06-25-2015 |
20150175178 | FUSION SENSOR ARRANGEMENT FOR GUIDEWAY MOUNTED VEHICLE AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME - A fusion sensor arrangement includes a first sensor configured to detect the presence of an object along a wayside of a guideway, wherein the first sensor is sensitive to a first electromagnetic spectrum. The fusion sensor arrangement further includes a second sensor configured to detect the presence of the object along the wayside of the guideway, wherein the second sensor is sensitive to a second electromagnetic spectrum different from the first electromagnetic spectrum. The fusion sensor arrangement further includes a data fusion center connected to the first sensor and to the second sensor, wherein the data fusion center is configured to receive first sensor information from the first sensor and second sensor information from the second sensor, and to resolve a conflict between the first sensor information and the second sensor information. | 06-25-2015 |
20150137799 | POWERLESS VEHICLE MOVEMENT DETECTOR - An apparatus that determines that a vehicle has moved comprises a shaft member, a pin configured to attach the shaft member to a backing plate via an opening in the shaft member that enables the shaft member to move in a direction along the length of the shaft member, to rotate about the pin, and to contact a surface external to the vehicle when the shaft member is in a first position. The apparatus also comprises a first alignment magnet that attracts the shaft member to the surface external to the vehicle and a first sensor that determines that the shaft member is in the first position. The apparatus further comprises a first holding magnet, a second holding magnet, and at least one sensor that indicates that the shaft member is in contact with the first holding magnet or the second holding magnet, each indicating a direction of movement. | 05-21-2015 |
20150051806 | VEHICLE-BASED POSITIONING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING USING THE SAME - A vehicle-based positioning system (VBPS) for a vehicle traversing a guideway, the VBPS includes an inertial navigation system (INS) on-board the vehicle, wherein the INS is configured to detect inertial parameters of the vehicle while the vehicle traverses the guideway, the detected inertial parameters including roll, pitch and yaw of the vehicle. The VBPS includes a guideway database, wherein the guideway database is configured to store inertial parameters of the guideway at a plurality of locations along the guideway, the stored inertial parameters include roll, pitch and yaw of the guideway. The VBPS further includes a vital on-board controller (VOBC), the VOBC is configured to determine a position of the vehicle based on a comparison of the detected inertial parameters with the stored inertial parameters. The VOBC is configured to limit comparison of the inertial parameters with the stored inertial parameters based on a latest checkpoint passed by the vehicle. | 02-19-2015 |
20140210595 | Guideway-guided vehicle detection based on RFID system - An apparatus for detecting the information about a guideway-guided vehicle having a masking component, the guideway-guided vehicle configured to follow a path of a guideway, comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, method of making, and use thereof are disclosed. The RFID system comprises a first RFID transponder for transmitting, across the path, first RFID transponder specific information. An RFID reader comprises a first antenna for receiving the first RFID transponder specific information. The first RFID transponder and the first antenna are fixed relative to the path and on opposite sides of the path. The RFID reader is configured to substantially continuously monitor the first transponder specific information. The presence of the masking component of the guideway-guided vehicle between the first RFID transponder and the first antenna masks the substantially continuous monitoring of the first RFID transponder specific information. | 07-31-2014 |
20140200741 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE IN A GUIDEWAY NETWORK - A control system for a vehicle in a guideway network including a centralized control system configured to generate a first set of instructions. The control system further includes at least one de-centralized control system configured to generate a second set of instructions. The control system further includes an on-board controller configured to receive the first set of instructions and the second set of instructions during a same time period. The on-board controller is configured to receive the first set of instructions using a first communication technique. The on-board controller is configured to receive the second set of instructions via a second communication technique diverse from the first communication technique. If a discrepancy exists, the on-board controller is configured to execute a least restrictive of the first or second set of instructions. The control system is capable of seamlessly transferring control between the two control systems. | 07-17-2014 |
20140183304 | TRAIN END AND TRAIN INTEGRITY CIRCUIT FOR TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEM - A train system that includes a plurality of train units including a first train unit and second train unit coupled together. Each first and second train unit includes a controller configured to detect a change in train configuration of the train units, and comprising a plurality of inputs; train integrity signal lines spanning each train unit and coupled with the controller at the plurality of inputs and configured to transmit signals between a front end and a rear end of the train system, the signals indicating a status of train integrity of the train system; and a plurality of relays in communication with the controller, and configured to indicate a coupling or non-coupling status of each train unit. | 07-03-2014 |
20140180509 | METHOD OF REMOVING SUSPECTED SECTION OF TRACK BACKGROUND - A method of removing a suspected section from a record includes obtaining an estimated distance between a communicating vehicle and a block boundary of a first block and a second block of a track. The suspected section is defined as a section of the first block between a communicating vehicle and a block boundary of the first block and the second block. An occupancy status of the second block is obtained. The suspected section is removed from the record after, for a predetermined time period, (a) the estimated distance remains less than a predetermined threshold distance and (b) the occupancy status of the second block remains a vacant state, the predetermined time period being a non-zero time period. | 06-26-2014 |
20140149594 | METHOD AND APPARATUS OF RESOURCE ALLOCATION OR RESOURCE RELEASE - A method of resource allocation by a resource controlling device includes receiving, from a sending device, a list of resource devices requested by a resource requesting device. Allocation of a first resource device on the list of resource devices is performed. A list of remaining resource devices is sent to a next resource controlling device if the first resource device on the list of resource devices is successfully allocated for the resource requesting device and the first resource device is not a last resource device on the list of resource devices. An allocation failure message is sent to the sending device if the first resource device on the list of resource devices is not successfully allocated for the resource requesting device. | 05-29-2014 |
20140138495 | RAILWAY SIGNALING SYSTEM WITH REDUNDANT CONTROLLERS - Disclosed is a method of controlling a load in a railway signaling system, the method comprising providing a first autonomous controller connectable to the load and a second autonomous controller which is redundant with the first controller such that there is no single point of failure; operating the first and second controllers in one of two modes. There is an on-line mode wherein both controllers provide power to the load to control the load such that current through the load is shared between the first and second controllers. There is an off-line mode wherein a single controller does not provide power to the load and the other controller continues to operate on-line to control the load, whereby control of the load is uninterrupted. | 05-22-2014 |
20140110400 | REMOVABLE HEATER FOR COMMUNICATION ANTENNA - A heater assembly including a foil heater having at least one slot. The heater assembly includes an insulating plate configured to electrically and thermally insulate the foil heater, the insulating plate having a central opening, at least one first mounting hole and at least one first fastening hole. The heater assembly includes a heat dissipation element configured to conduct heat from the foil heater to an exterior of the heater assembly, the heat dissipation element having at least one second mounting hole and at least one second fastening hole. The foil heater is between the insulating plate and the heat dissipation element. The at least one first mounting hole, the at least one slot and the at least one second mounting hole are aligned. The at least one first fastening hole, the at least one slot and the at least one second fastening hole are aligned. | 04-24-2014 |
20140109214 | SECURITY DEVICE BANK AND A SYSTEM INCLUDING THE AND SD SECURITY DEVICE BANK - In some embodiments, a system includes a trusted network, an untrusted network, on-board equipment on-board a moving object, one or more first security devices on-board the moving object and communicatively connecting the on-board equipment and the untrusted network, and a security device bank communicatively connecting the trusted network and the untrusted network. The security device bank includes a common bus or the local network and one or more second security devices connected to the common bus or the local network. | 04-17-2014 |
20140012439 | Train Detection System and Method of Detecting Train Movement and Location - A train detection system for detecting a train unit that includes a first transponder interrogator configured to generate one or more request signals for transmission, by a first antenna above a first track location, toward a first fixed transponder at the first track location; a second transponder interrogator configured to generate one or more request signals for transmission, by a second antenna above a second track location, toward a second fixed transponder at the second track location; and a controller communicably connected with the first and second transponder interrogators and configured to verify operation of the train detection system based on receipt of one or more message signals responsive to transmission of the one or more request signals from the first and second transponder interrogators. | 01-09-2014 |
20130325247 | AUTOMATIC AND VITAL DETERMINATION OF TRAIN LENGTH CONFIGURATION - A train system that includes a plurality of coupled train units. Each train unit includes a controller VOBC configured to independently determine the location of each VOBC, and a configuration of the train system by comprising a plurality of inputs, a plurality of train lines spanning each train unit and coupled with the controllers at the plurality of inputs and configured to transmit two communication signals between a front end and a rear end of the train system, and a plurality of sets of relay devices connected in series along the plurality of train lines, and each set of relay devices corresponding to each input of the plurality of inputs, and configured to transmit the two communication signals between the front end and the rear end of the train system. | 12-05-2013 |
20130177307 | VITAL DIGITAL INPUT - A digital input interface is provided which can be checked for its reliability. The configuration of the circuit on the input side allows a high impedance for a DC input signal and a low impedance for induced AC noise, naturally attenuating any AC induced noise while maintaining the DC input signal. The interface also provides a latent failure detection engine. The latent failure detection engine can open and close an optocoupler on the input side of the interface, which discharges and charges a capacitor on the input side. The time taken for the capacitor to recharge when the optocoupler is re-opened is used to determine if there has been any threshold decay in the interface. | 07-11-2013 |
20120323411 | CONTROL OF AUTOMATIC GUIDED VEHICLES WITHOUT WAYSIDE INTERLOCKING - A vehicle management system for automatic vehicles running on a guideway independent of wayside signals or interlocking devices includes intelligent on-board controllers on each vehicle for controlling operation of the vehicle. The on-board controllers communicate with each other as well as individual wayside devices and a data storage system to identify available assets needed to move along the guideway and to reserve these assets for their associated vehicle. | 12-20-2012 |
20110096854 | COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM UTILIZING ORTHOGONAL LINEAR FREQUENCY MODULATED WAVEFORMS - An orthogonal linear frequency modulation (OLFM) communications system where orthogonal sub-sweeps experience the same channel condition and subsequent SNR allowing for uniform power allocation and data modulation per sub-sweep and an efficient exchange of modulation parameters for more optimized communications. | 04-28-2011 |
20100303014 | PEER TO PEER WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A wireless communication system includes a plurality of headsets, each embodying a wireless transceiver, and wherein communication can be established between the headsets via the wireless transceivers over a network in which the headsets act as nodes. | 12-02-2010 |