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:
May. 08, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 31, 1998
Robert C. Kull, Olney, MD (US);
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, Wilmerding, PA (US);
Abstract
A low power ECP trainline communication method is provided wherein power consumption by each freight car's on-board ECP transceiver is minimized such that it can be powered indefinitely by a standard locomotive battery. The low power communication method includes normally maintaining each car's ECP transceiver in a sleep mode until signaled by the locomotive master controller to wake it up. The wake-up command for the ECP transceiver can be sensitive to the length of the message sent by the MC. Alternative, or additional methods of identifying a wake-up message from the MC can include using the signal strength of the message and making the wake-up command sensitive to the ECP trainline power status. In the latter case, detection of zero trainline power is a signals to wake-up the ECP transceiver.