The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 19, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 31, 1998
Robert C Kull, Olney, MD (US);
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, Wilmerding, PA (US);
Abstract
An interface adaptor is provided between the locomotive MU cable and the ECP trainline permitting ECP data from the lead locomotive to be transmitted via the MU cable on trailing locomotives to a train of ECP cars. On the lead locomotive, the HEU Echelon interface is on a suitable line in the MU cable instead of the separate ECP trainline such the trailing locomotives do not require a separate ECP trainline. The adapter generally employs two transceivers configured as back-to-back repeaters to bridge ECP data between the locomotive MU cable and the ECP trainline. A DC--DC converter can be used to provide the ECP trainline voltage, either as 230 VDC or as a lower voltage. In lower voltage systems the converter may be replaced by a voltage regulator, or may be eliminated. In any case, an inductor is employed on the output to provide a high impedance to the overlay transceiver.