JP2013136261A - Railroad signal system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a railroad signal system which highly-reliablly specifies a position of a train by using a radio ID tag.SOLUTION: A railroad signal system includes: a radio ID tag 102 installed along a railroad track; a database 104 which is recorded by correlating ID of the radio ID tag 102 with an installation position of the radio ID tag 102; and an ID reader which is loaded in a train and reads ID of the radio ID tag. The railroad signal system refers to the database 104 to specify a position of an own train when the ID reader reads the ID from the radio ID tag, and detects failure of the radio ID tag 102 based on the ID read from the radio ID rag 102 and information on the radio ID tag 102 recorded in the database 104.

Description

  The present invention relates to a railway signal system that controls a train using radio waves and that can identify the position of the train when the train is powered on.

  In a railway signal system that controls a train using radio, there are many systems in which the position of the train is calculated by the train itself and transmitted to the ground device by radio. The train passes through the ground elements installed on the ground such as transponders and ballis, recognizes the ground elements that have passed, and recognizes the position of the own train by referring to the database storing the positions of the ground elements installed in the train. To do.

  In fields other than railways, there are systems that use wireless ID tags as means for recognizing the position of an object. For example, when a sheet with a wireless ID tag is drawn on the floor and a wireless ID tag reader is moved on the sheet, a database in which the ID of the wireless ID tag read by the reader is stored is stored. The position can be recognized by making an inquiry. Alternatively, the wireless ID tag is installed at the cable wiring position, the wireless ID tag position is registered in the database, and the wireless ID tag is read at the time of cable wiring so that the cable can be wired at the correct position. Some systems prevent it.

  In such a position recognition system using a wireless ID tag, the creation of a database that associates the wireless ID tag with the position of the wireless ID tag is also automated. For a system using a sheet with the above wireless ID attached, the sheet with the wireless ID tag attached is passed through the machine, and the ID of the wireless ID tag attached to which position on the sheet is automatically recognized and the database stored. Creating. Regarding the creation of a database of cable wiring positions, a pressure-sensitive tablet is installed at the cable wiring position in advance. Recognized and registered in the database.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-95653 JP 2011-8306 A

Since ground elements such as transponders and ballis are expensive, it is expensive to install many of them. Therefore, it arrange | positions at a fixed interval or more. However, when the train is turned on, the train cannot specify the position of its own train unless it is stopped in a range where the train can communicate with the ground unit.
If the train cannot communicate with the ground unit when the power is turned on, it is necessary for the driver to drive the train to a position where it can communicate with the ground unit and specify the train position. A train whose position is not specified cannot be controlled by a signal system, and the driving safety cannot be guaranteed by the signal system. Therefore, it is impossible to prevent a driver's human error that occurs during traveling until the position is specified.

  On the other hand, in a position recognition system using a wireless ID tag that is lower in cost than the ground unit, a large number of wireless ID tags can be installed, so that the wireless ID tag can be arranged at a narrower interval than the ground unit. Therefore, the train can read the wireless ID tag when the power is turned on, and can easily identify its own train position.

  However, if the train position is misrecognized, collisions, derailments, etc. may occur. Therefore, if the wireless ID tag breaks down and the position of the train is misrecognized, the traveling safety of the train cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, in order to always be able to specify the train position when the power is turned on, it is necessary to construct a railway signal system that specifies the position of the train with high reliability using a wireless ID tag.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is mounted on a train, a wireless ID tag installed along a track, a database in which the ID of the wireless ID tag and the installation position of the wireless ID tag are recorded in association with each other, and An ID reading device that reads the ID of the wireless ID tag, and when the ID reading device reads the ID from the wireless ID tag, the database is queried to recognize the position of the own train and read from the wireless ID tag. An abnormality of the wireless ID tag is detected based on the ID and information of the wireless ID tag recorded in the database.

  As described above, in the railway signal system that controls the train using radio, it is possible to specify the position of the train with high reliability when the train is turned on, and to ensure the safety of the train after the power is turned on. .

The conceptual diagram which shows the outline | summary of the railway signal system in Example 1. FIG. The flowchart which shows the flow of a process when the train in Example 1 leads a radio | wireless ID tag. The conceptual diagram which shows the outline | summary of the railway signal system in Example 2. FIG.

  The embodiment described below will be briefly described.

  A low-cost wireless ID tag is installed along the track. At this time, it is installed close to the wireless ID tag so that the train ID reader can read at least one wireless ID tag at an arbitrary position on the track. A train for measuring the position of the wireless ID tag whose position is specified by the child is run, and a DB that associates the position of the wireless ID tag and the wireless ID tag is created. Here, by arranging the wireless ID tags close to each other so that the communicable areas of the wireless ID tags contact or overlap, at least one wireless ID tag can always be read by the train ID reader. .

  In normal business, the train is controlled by a wireless train control system. Here, in the wireless train control system, the train itself calculates the position of the train using a speed generator or the like, and the calculated traveling position information of the own train is transmitted to the ground device over a wide area. And in the ground device, the stop position and upper limit speed of each train are calculated based on the travel position information received from a plurality of trains, and information on the stop position and upper limit speed is sent to each train using wide area wireless communication. There are many systems to send. The train passes through the ground elements installed on the ground such as transponders, ballis, etc., recognizes the ground elements that have passed, and inquires the database that stores the position of the ground elements mounted on the train. Check the calculated own train position. When starting such a radio train control system (when turning on the power of the radio train control system), the business train reads the radio ID tag and refers to the DB to identify the train position. When there is no inconsistency in the location information. Inconsistency means that the order of wireless ID tags is reversed, the read wireless ID tag is not registered in the DB, the corresponding wireless ID tag cannot be read in the place where the wireless ID tag should be on the DB, etc. This is an event caused by a failure of the wireless ID tag.

  The business train that has detected the mismatch of the wireless ID tag notifies the fact, and the worker who has received the notification repairs or replaces the wireless ID tag.

  By constructing such a railway signal system, in the railway signal system that controls the train using radio, the position of the train can be identified with high reliability when the train is turned on, and the running safety of the train after the power is turned on A system that secures safety is realized with an inexpensive configuration. Furthermore, by quickly detecting, repairing, and exchanging a malfunctioning wireless ID tag, it is possible to avoid errors in position recognition due to the malfunction of the wireless ID tag, and to ensure the safety of train traveling. .

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a concept of a railway signal system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The wireless ID tag 102 is arranged along the railroad track, the train 101 is equipped with an ID reading device that reads the ID of the wireless ID tag 102, and the ground device 103 associates the ID of the wireless ID tag with the installation position. The database 104 recorded in the above is mounted.

  In FIG. 1, the position of the train 101 is basically determined based on the ID of the wireless ID tag that the train 101 reads the wireless ID tag 102 by using an ID reader, queries the database 104, and Knowing the position of the wireless ID tag, the train position is recognized. The wireless ID tag may be any device that can transmit a unique ID that does not overlap in the line section in a contactless manner, and various devices such as RFID can be used. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to a specific type of the wireless ID tag 102. The database 104 may be any database as long as the ID of the wireless ID tag 102 and the position of the wireless ID tag can be recorded in association with each other, and various general-purpose databases can be used. The type is not limited.

  First, the flow of processing when creating the database 104 in which the ID of the wireless ID tag 102 installed in the ground device 103 and the position of the wireless ID tag 102 are recorded will be described.

  After laying the wireless ID tag 102 along the track, the train 101 that has already recognized the correct position is prepared. As a method for recognizing the correct position, a conventional ground element such as a tonsponder or a varis may be used, or a GPS or the like can be used. The present invention is not limited to a specific position recognizing means. When the train 101 is run and the wireless ID tag is read, the ID of the read wireless ID tag and the position of the train 101 at that time are stored in the database 104. At this time, the train 101 has a temporary database, and when the train 101 travels, it is stored in the database in the train 101. After the travel is finished, the contents of the database in the train 101 are stored. It may be reflected in the database 104 installed in the ground device, or transmitted to the ground device 103 every time the train 101 reads the wireless ID tag 102 and stored in the database 104 in real time. Good.

  The flow of processing when specifying the train position during the next normal operation will be described.

  After the train 101 is turned on, the train 101 leads a wireless ID tag 102 laid along the track, and records the ID of the wireless ID tag 102 installed on the ground device 103 and the position of the wireless ID tag 102. And knows the position of the lead wireless ID tag based on the ID of the lead wireless ID tag, and recognizes the position of the own train. Thereafter, when the train travels, the train speed is detected using a speed generator, etc., and the detected speed is integrated to calculate the travel distance of the train and update the train position. On the other hand, when the wireless ID tag 102 is read during traveling, the ID of the read wireless ID tag 102 is referred to the database 104 in the same manner as when the power is turned on, and the position of the read wireless ID tag 102 is known. Update your train position. At that time, the own train position is updated in consideration of the distance traveled by the train during the elapsed time from reading the wireless ID tag 102 to knowing the position of the wireless ID tag 102 from the database 104.

  During normal operation, failure detection of the wireless ID tag 102 is also performed. Specifically, as a result of reading the wireless ID tag 102 and making an inquiry to the database 104, it was obtained by making an inquiry to the database 104 in comparison with the traveling position of the own train updated using a speed generator or the like. When there is a contradiction in the position information, for example, it is recognized by the traveling direction of the train generated by the traveling position of the own train updated using a speed generator, the ID read by the ID reader, and the database. When the traveling direction of the train is in the opposite direction, or when the train 101 becomes a position where the train 101 cannot go, such as a different number from the traveling position of the own train updated using a speed generator or the like, or If the position is far beyond the position recognition error assumed from the position recognized by the train 101, it is determined that the read wireless ID tag 102 has failed. In addition, as a result of referring to the database 104, if the ID is not found, it is determined that the wireless ID tag 102 has failed. Further, when the database 104 is inquired, the wireless ID tag 102 that has not been referred to the database 104 is in the database 104 between the wireless ID tag 102 and the wireless ID tag 102 previously inquired. In this case, the wireless ID tag 102 that has not been inquired cannot be read, so that it is determined that it is out of order. However, when the train speed is high, even the normal wireless ID tag 102 may not be able to read, so the train speed detected using a speed generator or the like is predetermined according to the performance of the wireless ID tag reader. In the speed region higher than the value, the wireless ID tag 102 that could not be read may not be determined as a failure. That is, if the speed is equal to or lower than the predetermined speed, the wireless ID tag 102 that could not be read is determined to be faulty.

  In operation, the wireless ID tag is installed closer to the communication distance of the wireless ID tag so that the plurality of wireless ID tags 102 can be read at the same time in places where the train 101 is routinely turned on. May be. When one of the plurality of wireless ID tags 102 is out of order by reading the plurality of wireless ID tags 102 and inquiring to the database 104 when power is turned on, there is a contradiction with the stored information in the database 104. Therefore, it is possible to determine a failure of the wireless ID tag before running the train.

  When there is the wireless ID tag 102 determined to be out of order, the wireless ID tag 102 is displayed on the screen of the ground device 103 or the train 101 to notify the operator or driver. The wireless ID tag 102 determined to have a failure is promptly repaired and replaced, and the soundness of the wireless ID tag is maintained.

  As described above, the railway signal system is configured, and the position of the wireless ID tag 102 laid along the track is automatically made into a database so that a train for diagnosing the wireless ID tag can be run or a failure diagnosis can be performed. Without adding the above work, it is possible to detect a failure of the wireless ID tag 102 during normal operation only by running a business vehicle of normal business, and to repair and replace the failed wireless ID tag 102 promptly. The soundness of the wireless ID tag 102 is maintained, and highly reliable train position recognition is possible.

FIG. 2 shows a processing flow when the train 101 in normal operation leads the wireless ID tag 102 in this embodiment. In step 201 to step 212 in FIG. 2, the soundness of the wireless ID tag 102 is maintained, and the position recognition of the train 101 is made highly reliable.
Step 201:
The ID is read from the wireless ID tag 102. Proceed to step 202.
Step 202:
The database 104 is inquired about the position of the read wireless ID tag 102. Proceed to step 203.
Step 203:
As a result of referring to the database 104, it is confirmed whether there is data of the wireless ID tag. If yes, go to Step 206; if not, go to Step 204.
Step 204:
If there is no data in the database, it can be determined that the wireless ID tag 102 is out of order. The failure information is output and the process proceeds to step 205.
Step 205:
Since the wireless ID tag 102 is out of order, it cannot be used for specifying the train position, and the process ends.
Step 206:
The database is searched, and it is confirmed whether another wireless ID tag 102 is located between the position of the wireless ID tag 102 inquired last time and the position of the wireless ID tag 102. If yes, go to Step 207, otherwise go to Step 208.
Step 207:
This means that the radio ID tag 102 that should have been read could not be read, so the radio ID tag 102 that should be in the middle is determined to be faulty, and fault information is output. Proceed to step 208.
Step 208:
The position information of the wireless ID tag 102 obtained from the database 104 is compared with the position recognition of the train 101 to confirm whether there is any contradiction. As a specific example in which there is a contradiction, an assumed position recognition error of the train 101 is a position in a direction opposite to the traveling direction of the train 101, or a position where the train 101 cannot go. For example, the position is greatly exceeded. If there is a contradiction, the process proceeds to step 209.
Step 209:
If there is a contradiction in the position of the wireless ID tag 102, it can be determined that the wireless ID tag 102 is out of order. The failure information is output and the process proceeds to step 210.
Step 210:
Since the wireless ID tag 102 is out of order, it cannot be used for specifying the train position, and the process ends.
Step 211:
Since the wireless ID tag can be determined to be normal, the train position is specified according to the position information of the database 104. If the train 101 is stopped, the position of the wireless ID tag 102 becomes the position of the train 101 as it is. In the case of traveling, the train position is specified in consideration of the distance traveled from the time when the wireless ID tag 102 is read until the position information is obtained from the database 104. When the train position is specified, the process is finished.

  By implementing the processing when the wireless ID tag is read during normal operation as described above, the wireless ID tag 102 can be operated without running a special train for fault diagnosis or working by a maintenance worker. Failure can be detected, the wireless ID tag 102 can be kept sound, and the position of the train 101 can be recognized with high reliability.

  FIG. 3 shows the concept of the railway signal system in the second embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, the database 104 is installed only in the ground device 103, but an on-board database 301 is installed in the train 101 as shown in FIG.

  The train 101 is downloaded from the database 104 to the on-board database 301 when the power is turned on or handled by the driver. In the first embodiment, the train 101 makes an inquiry to the database 104 when the wireless ID tag 102 is read. In the present embodiment, the train 101 makes an inquiry to the on-board database 301. The other processes are the same as those in the first embodiment.

101 Train 102 Wireless ID tag 103 Ground device 104 Database 301 Car database

Claims (9)

A wireless ID tag installed along the track,
A database recorded in association with the ID of the wireless ID tag and the installation position of the wireless ID tag;
An ID reader mounted on a train and reading the ID of the wireless ID tag,
The wireless ID tag is arranged in close proximity so that the ID reader can read the ID of at least one wireless ID tag at any position on the track,
When the ID reading device reads an ID from the wireless ID tag, the database is inquired to recognize the position of the own train, and the ID read from the wireless ID tag and the wireless ID tag recorded in the database A railway signal system for detecting an abnormality of a wireless ID tag based on information.   The railway signal system according to claim 1, wherein the database is installed in a ground device.   The railway signal system according to claim 1, wherein the database is installed in the train. The train updates the traveling position of its own train using a speed generator,
When the ID reader reads the ID of the wireless ID tag, the installation position of the wireless ID tag on the database is compared with the updated traveling position of the train, and the position on the database indicates the speed generator. The railway signal system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a failure of the wireless ID tag is determined when a direction opposite to a moving direction of the train obtained by using the train is used. The train updates the traveling position of its own train using a speed generator,
When the ID reading device reads the ID of the wireless ID tag, the installation position of the wireless ID tag on the database is compared with the updated traveling position of the train, and the position on the database is the speed generator. 5. The railway signal system according to claim 1, wherein a failure of the wireless ID tag is determined when the train cannot be reached from a travel position obtained by using the train. The train updates the traveling position of its own train using a speed generator,
When the ID reading device reads the ID of the wireless ID tag, the installation position of the wireless ID tag on the database is compared with the traveling position of the updated train, and the position on the database is updated. 6. The wireless ID tag is determined to be faulty when the position is beyond a position recognition error assumed for the train from the travel position. Railway signal system.   2. When the ID reading device reads an ID of the wireless ID tag, it is determined that the wireless ID tag is faulty if there is no ID of the wireless ID tag read on the database. The railway signal system according to claim 6.   When the ID reader reads the ID of the wireless ID tag, between the installation position of the wireless ID tag on the database and the installation position of the wireless ID tag read by the ID reader before that, The railway signal system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein when another wireless ID tag is recorded, it is determined that the wireless ID tag in the middle is faulty. The train includes a speed generator that detects a traveling speed of the own train,
When the ID reader reads the ID of the wireless ID tag, between the installation position of the wireless ID tag on the database and the installation position of the wireless ID tag read by the ID reader before that, If the other wireless ID tag is recorded, and the traveling speed of the own train detected by the speed generator is equal to or lower than a certain speed, it is determined that the wireless ID tag is in the middle. The railway signal system according to claim 8.