Patent · US Expired

Radio communication system for use in tunnels

US6041216A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
8References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 7, 1998
Grant dateMar 21, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 7, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04B17/40
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A radio communications system is intended for use by trains in a tunnel. This system includes an antenna subsystem which incorporates a radiating coaxial cable disposed along the length of the tunnel and extending beyond the portals thereof, including surface coverage for transition. Plural bi-directional, in-line amplifiers are inserted along the length of the radiating coaxial cable at predetermined intervals for amplifying the RF signals carried by the radiating coaxial cable. A monitoring repeater and a control repeater are provided along with an interface for joining the two repeaters to the radiating coaxial cable. A monitoring subsystem includes an end-of-train device and a head-of-train device. A control subsystem includes the control encoder located in a lead locomotive for encoding control input signals for the lead locomotive, a control transmitter for transmitting the encoded control signal to other locomotives, and a control receiver located in each other locomotive for receiving the encoded control signal.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.