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:
Mar. 11, 2014
Filed:
Apr. 01, 2011
Kevin Nichter, Prospect, KY (US);
Kevin Nichter, Prospect, KY (US);
Siemens Rail Automation Corporation, Louisville, KY (US);
Abstract
A train equipped with an onboard system for determining its position and a track database for determining the positions of upcoming grade crossings sends activate after expiration messages to control wayside warning systems at the crossings to achieve a constant warning time while maintaining a safety margin that ensures the train can be stopped if the wayside systems do not respond correctly to the activate after expiration messages. The system may be used in place of existing track-based crossing warning system control circuits. Communications between the train may be radio-based, and may be direct between the train and wayside devices or may be routed through a central station, which may act as a relay or maintain a database. The train may control multiple crossings at one time, thereby eliminating the need for downstream adjacent crossing control.