Cattron Intellectual Property Corporation

Canac Inc.

Andre Brousseau

Oleh Szklar

Luc Ethier

Folkert Horst

Horst Folkert

A method and an apparatus for remotely controlling locomotives in a railway environment using radio frequency signals are provided. A remote operator programming unit (OPP) is used to set address information in the transmitter unit via a communication channel such as an infrared link. The use of the operator programming unit allows eliminating the need to open the casing of the transmitter during programming thereby reducing the probability of damaging the electrical components of the transmitter.

Method and apparatus for assigning addresses to components in a control system

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for remotely controlling device, more particularly to a system and method for controlling locomotives in a railway environment using radio frequency signals. This invention makes use of a remote operator programming unit (OPP) to set address information in the transmitter unit via a communication channel such as an infrared link. The use of the operator programming unit allows eliminating the need to open the casing of the transmitter during programming thereby reducing the probability of damaging the electrical components of the transmitter. The invention also allows assigning a unique address to a transmitter/receiver pair in a remote control system. The invention further provides an apparatus for remotely programming a transmitter unit.

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for remotely controlling devices, more particularly to a system and method for controlling locomotives in a railway environment using radio frequency signals. This invention makes use of equalized pseudo-random transmission intervals obtained using a random number generator to regulate the times at which the signals are sent from a transmitter to a receiver. The use of these randomly generated transmission intervals allows eliminating the requirement of having an operator manage these intervals for transmitters in simultaneous operation. The invention also provides communication systems operating concurrently with substantially uniform response times by constraining the values of the transmission intervals to lie within a given range.

Method and apparatus for automatic repetition rate assignment in a remote control system

A system of controller modules allowing to remotely control a train having a first locomotive and a second locomotive separated from one another by at least one car is provided. The system of controller modules comprises a first controller module associated to the first locomotive and a second controller module associated to the second locomotive. One of said controller modules has a lead operational status and the other has a trail operational status. The controller module having the lead operational status receives a master control signal for signaling the train to move in a desired direction and releases in response to the master control signal a first local command signal. The first local command signal is operative to cause displacement of the locomotive associated with the controller module having the lead operational status. The controller module having a lead operational status is further operative to transmit to the controller module having a trail operational status a local control signal derived from the master control signal. The controller module having the trail operational status is responsive to the local control signal to generate a second command signal operative to cause displacement of the locomotive associated to the controller module having a trail operational status. The movement of the locomotive associated with the controller module having the lead operational status and the movement of the locomotive associated with the controller module having the trail operational status is such as to cause displacement of the train in the desired direction.

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Chateauguay, Canada

Andre Brousseau