Patent · US Expired

Dual-protocol locomotive control system and method

US6322025A · kind A · utility

95Cited by
5References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 30, 1999
Grant dateNov 27, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 30, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB61L25/023
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An intra-train communication system includes a locomotive control unit (LCU) establishes a communications link between a lead unit and a remote unit which operate using different protocols and/or in different frequency bands. To accomplish this objective, the LCU automatically detects the type of lead unit and remote unit installed on the train. If the types are not the same, the LCU resolves any serial link protocol and arming differences that might exist in a manner virtually transparent to train operators. As a result, data is communicated between the lead and remote units in a way which requires less operator intervention and no software changes to the control computer of the head unit.

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