CA2891978A1 - Data communication system, railway system comprising such a communication system and related communication method - Google Patents
Data communication system, railway system comprising such a communication system and related communication method Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2891978A1 CA2891978A1 CA2891978A CA2891978A CA2891978A1 CA 2891978 A1 CA2891978 A1 CA 2891978A1 CA 2891978 A CA2891978 A CA 2891978A CA 2891978 A CA2891978 A CA 2891978A CA 2891978 A1 CA2891978 A1 CA 2891978A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- antenna
- electric conductor
- transceiver
- radio
- communication system
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 64
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 10
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 191
- 230000001902 propagating effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 32
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 27
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000001131 transforming effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04B—TRANSMISSION
- H04B5/00—Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
- H04B5/20—Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems characterised by the transmission technique; characterised by the transmission medium
- H04B5/28—Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems characterised by the transmission technique; characterised by the transmission medium using the near field of leaky cables, e.g. of leaky coaxial cables
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
- H01Q1/27—Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies
- H01Q1/32—Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B61—RAILWAYS
- B61L—GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
- B61L3/00—Devices along the route for controlling devices on the vehicle or train, e.g. to release brake or to operate a warning signal
- B61L3/16—Continuous control along the route
- B61L3/22—Continuous control along the route using magnetic or electrostatic induction; using electromagnetic radiation
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B61—RAILWAYS
- B61L—GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
- B61L3/00—Devices along the route for controlling devices on the vehicle or train, e.g. to release brake or to operate a warning signal
- B61L3/16—Continuous control along the route
- B61L3/22—Continuous control along the route using magnetic or electrostatic induction; using electromagnetic radiation
- B61L3/225—Continuous control along the route using magnetic or electrostatic induction; using electromagnetic radiation using separate conductors along the route
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
- H01Q1/44—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna, e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspect
- H01Q1/46—Electric supply lines or communication lines
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q13/00—Waveguide horns or mouths; Slot antennas; Leaky-waveguide antennas; Equivalent structures causing radiation along the transmission path of a guided wave
- H01Q13/08—Radiating ends of two-conductor microwave transmission lines, e.g. of coaxial lines, of microstrip lines
- H01Q13/085—Slot-line radiating ends
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q13/00—Waveguide horns or mouths; Slot antennas; Leaky-waveguide antennas; Equivalent structures causing radiation along the transmission path of a guided wave
- H01Q13/20—Non-resonant leaky-waveguide or transmission-line antennas; Equivalent structures causing radiation along the transmission path of a guided wave
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04B—TRANSMISSION
- H04B1/00—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
- H04B1/38—Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
- H04B1/3822—Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving specially adapted for use in vehicles
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Near-Field Transmission Systems (AREA)
Abstract
The data communication system (16) according to the invention comprises: - a first transceiver module (30) for transmitting data in the form of a radio signal, - a first radio antenna (32), connected to the first module (30) and positioned near an electric conductor (20), the first antenna (32) being configured to transmit, respectively to receive, the radio signal in the form of surface radio waves propagating along the electric conductor (20), - a second radio antenna (34), and - a second data transceiver module (36), connected to the second antenna (34) and configured for exchanging data with the first transceiver module (30). The second antenna (34) is positioned away from the electric conductor (20), and is configured to receive waves radiated from said electric conductor (20), respectively to transmit radio waves, some being designed to propagate along the electric conductor (20) in the form of surface waves.
Description
Data communication system, railway system comprising such a communication system and related communication method The invention relates to a data communication system comprising a first transceiver module for sending-receiving data in the form of a radio signal and a first radio transceiver antenna, connected to the first transceiver module and able to be positioned near an electric conductor, the first transceiver antenna being configured to transmit, respectively to receive, the radio signal in the form of surface radio waves propagating along the electric conductor. The data communication system further comprises a second radio transceiver antenna, and a second data transceiver module, configured for exchanging data with the first transceiver module, the second transceiver module being connected to the second antenna.
The invention also relates to a railway system, comprising an electric railway network comprising at least one catenary system, each catenary system comprising an electric conductor, at least one railway vehicle designed to move along the railway track, and one such data communication system.
The invention also relates to a method for communicating data in the form of a radio signal within one such data communication system.
The invention relates to the field of radio communications, for which the radio signal is at least partially transmitted in the form of surface waves propagating along the electric conductor.
Such systems and data communication method, coupled to an electric grid, are known from document WO 2006/050331A2. The electric grid comprises a plurality of electric conductors electrically connected to one another, each conductor being positioned between two maintaining elements of the conductor, and each containing element being secured to a vertical mast.
The data communication system comprises a transmission antenna fastened to a support element and positioned near the electric conductor to transmit a radio signal coupling in the form of surface waves along the electric conductor. The data communication system also comprises several pairs of relay antennas, each pair of relay antennas comprising a receiving antenna configured to receive surface waves propagating along a first electric conductor and a transmission antenna connected to the corresponding receiver antenna and configured to retransmit said radio signal in the form of surface waves designed to propagate along a second electric conductor. The data communication system further comprises a receiver antenna configured to receive the radio signal transmitted by the transmission antenna at one end of the electric grid
The invention also relates to a railway system, comprising an electric railway network comprising at least one catenary system, each catenary system comprising an electric conductor, at least one railway vehicle designed to move along the railway track, and one such data communication system.
The invention also relates to a method for communicating data in the form of a radio signal within one such data communication system.
The invention relates to the field of radio communications, for which the radio signal is at least partially transmitted in the form of surface waves propagating along the electric conductor.
Such systems and data communication method, coupled to an electric grid, are known from document WO 2006/050331A2. The electric grid comprises a plurality of electric conductors electrically connected to one another, each conductor being positioned between two maintaining elements of the conductor, and each containing element being secured to a vertical mast.
The data communication system comprises a transmission antenna fastened to a support element and positioned near the electric conductor to transmit a radio signal coupling in the form of surface waves along the electric conductor. The data communication system also comprises several pairs of relay antennas, each pair of relay antennas comprising a receiving antenna configured to receive surface waves propagating along a first electric conductor and a transmission antenna connected to the corresponding receiver antenna and configured to retransmit said radio signal in the form of surface waves designed to propagate along a second electric conductor. The data communication system further comprises a receiver antenna configured to receive the radio signal transmitted by the transmission antenna at one end of the electric grid
2 situated opposite the transmission antenna. The reception antenna is also positioned near a corresponding electric conductor and is configured to receive the signal in the form of surface waves propagating along the electric conductors of the grid. The receiving antenna situated at the end of the grid is further connected to a central communication device via traditional radio communication means.
When the user wishes to connect to the data communication system, for example to transmit data, he approaches a mast of the electric grid and sends said data to a transmission antenna fastened to a maintaining element via a first radio transceiver contained in an electronic apparatus at his disposal and a second radio transceiver connected to the transmission antenna. The first part of the data transmission is then done in the form of radio waves transmitted between the first transceiver and the second transceiver, and the subsequent part of the data transmission is done via the transmission of surface waves along the different electric conductors of said grid.
In other words, the user locally connects to an antenna and radio means, then the data are sent along electric conductors in the form of surface waves.
However, such a data communication system is not always very practical for the user, since the latter is required to connect locally to one of the transmission antennas situated near an electric conductor.
The aim of the invention is therefore to propose a data communication system making it possible to facilitate the transmission of data via that system, while using electric conductors to perform that transmission at least partially in the form of surface waves propagating along the electric conductors of the electric grid.
To that end, the invention relates to a data communication system of the aforementioned type, in which the second transceiver antenna is designed to be positioned away from the electric conductor, preferably at a distance greater than 50 cm from said electric conductor, the second antenna being configured to receive radio waves which, among the surface radio waves transmitted by the first antenna, are radiated away from the electric conductor and directly from said electric conductor, respectively configured to transmit radio waves, some of the waves transmitted by the second antenna being designed to propagate along the electric conductor in the form of radio surface waves.
According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the data communication system comprises one or more of the following features, considered alone or according to all technically possible combinations:
- only the first transceiver antenna is designed to be positioned near the electric conductor, preferably less than 20 cm from the electric conductor;
When the user wishes to connect to the data communication system, for example to transmit data, he approaches a mast of the electric grid and sends said data to a transmission antenna fastened to a maintaining element via a first radio transceiver contained in an electronic apparatus at his disposal and a second radio transceiver connected to the transmission antenna. The first part of the data transmission is then done in the form of radio waves transmitted between the first transceiver and the second transceiver, and the subsequent part of the data transmission is done via the transmission of surface waves along the different electric conductors of said grid.
In other words, the user locally connects to an antenna and radio means, then the data are sent along electric conductors in the form of surface waves.
However, such a data communication system is not always very practical for the user, since the latter is required to connect locally to one of the transmission antennas situated near an electric conductor.
The aim of the invention is therefore to propose a data communication system making it possible to facilitate the transmission of data via that system, while using electric conductors to perform that transmission at least partially in the form of surface waves propagating along the electric conductors of the electric grid.
To that end, the invention relates to a data communication system of the aforementioned type, in which the second transceiver antenna is designed to be positioned away from the electric conductor, preferably at a distance greater than 50 cm from said electric conductor, the second antenna being configured to receive radio waves which, among the surface radio waves transmitted by the first antenna, are radiated away from the electric conductor and directly from said electric conductor, respectively configured to transmit radio waves, some of the waves transmitted by the second antenna being designed to propagate along the electric conductor in the form of radio surface waves.
According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the data communication system comprises one or more of the following features, considered alone or according to all technically possible combinations:
- only the first transceiver antenna is designed to be positioned near the electric conductor, preferably less than 20 cm from the electric conductor;
3 - the system further comprises at least one pair of relay antennas, each pair of relay antennas comprising a first transceiver relay antenna configured to receive, respectively to retransmit, surface waves propagating along a first electric conductor and a second transceiver relay antenna, the second relay antenna being connected to the first corresponding relay antenna of the pair of antennas and being configured to retransmit, respectively to receive, surface waves propagating along a second electric conductor, the surface waves along the first conductor corresponding to the surface waves along the second electric conductor;
- the system further comprises the electric conductor designed to be traveled by an electric current, and the first transceiver antenna is positioned near the electric conductor, preferably substantially less than 20 cm from the electric conductor;
- the electric conductor is an electric conductor of a catenary system of a railway network;
- the distance between the electric conductor and the second transceiver antenna is substantially comprised between 50 cm and 150 cm, preferably substantially comprised between 50 cm and 100 cm;
- the electric conductor extends in a longitudinal direction, the first transceiver antenna is stationary relative to the electric conductor, and the second transceiver antenna is movable relative to the electric conductor in the longitudinal direction;
- each antenna configured to transmit or receive a radio signal in the form of surface waves propagating along a corresponding conductor comprises two active elements, configured for being positioned along the electric conductor and on either side of said conductor;
- the active elements have an identical shape, and are designed to be positioned symmetrically relative to a vertical plane containing the conductor;
- the active elements each have a curved profile along a vertical plane parallel to the electric conductor, the curved profile preferably being concave relative to the electric conductor;
- the second transceiver antenna is a directional antenna, and is designed to be pointed toward the electric conductor.
The invention also relates to a railway system comprising an electric railway network comprising at least one catenary system, each catenary system comprising an electric conductor, at least one railway vehicle designed to move along the railway network, and a data communication system, wherein the data communication system is as defined above.
,
- the system further comprises the electric conductor designed to be traveled by an electric current, and the first transceiver antenna is positioned near the electric conductor, preferably substantially less than 20 cm from the electric conductor;
- the electric conductor is an electric conductor of a catenary system of a railway network;
- the distance between the electric conductor and the second transceiver antenna is substantially comprised between 50 cm and 150 cm, preferably substantially comprised between 50 cm and 100 cm;
- the electric conductor extends in a longitudinal direction, the first transceiver antenna is stationary relative to the electric conductor, and the second transceiver antenna is movable relative to the electric conductor in the longitudinal direction;
- each antenna configured to transmit or receive a radio signal in the form of surface waves propagating along a corresponding conductor comprises two active elements, configured for being positioned along the electric conductor and on either side of said conductor;
- the active elements have an identical shape, and are designed to be positioned symmetrically relative to a vertical plane containing the conductor;
- the active elements each have a curved profile along a vertical plane parallel to the electric conductor, the curved profile preferably being concave relative to the electric conductor;
- the second transceiver antenna is a directional antenna, and is designed to be pointed toward the electric conductor.
The invention also relates to a railway system comprising an electric railway network comprising at least one catenary system, each catenary system comprising an electric conductor, at least one railway vehicle designed to move along the railway network, and a data communication system, wherein the data communication system is as defined above.
,
4 According to another advantageous aspect, the railway system comprises the following feature:
- the first transceiver antenna is configured to transmit, respectively to receive, the radio signal in the form of surface waves propagating along the conductor of the corresponding catenary system, and at least one railway vehicle comprises the second radio transceiver antenna and the second data transceiver module, the second transceiver module being connected to the second antenna and configured for exchanging data with the first transceiver module.
The invention also relates to a method for communicating data in the form of a radio signal within a data communication system, the data communication system comprising a first data transceiver module, a first radio transceiver antenna connected to the first transceiver module, the first transceiver antenna being positioned near the electric conductor, a second radio transceiver antenna and a second data transceiver module connected to the second antenna, the method comprising the following steps:
- transmitting the radio signal, via one module among the first module and the second module and via one antenna among the first antenna and the second antenna, - transmitting the radio signal in the form of surface waves propagating along the electric conductor, and - receiving said radio signal, via the other antenna from among the first antenna and the second antenna and via the other module from among the first module and the second module, wherein the radio signal associated with the second antenna is received in the form of waves which, among the transmitted surface waves, are radiated away from the electric conductor and directly from said electric conductor, respectively transmitted in the form of radio waves, some of the waves transmitted by the second antenna being designed to propagate along the electric conductor in the form of radio surface waves, the second antenna being positioned away from the electric conductor, preferably at a distance greater than 50 cm from said electric conductor.
These features and advantages of the invention will appear upon reading the following description, provided solely as a non-limiting example, and done in reference to the appended drawings, in which:
- figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a railway system according to a first embodiment, the railway system comprising an electric railway network, a railway vehicle designed to move along the railway network, and a data communication system, the data communication system in particular comprising a first transceiver antenna positioned near an electric conductor of the network and configured to transmit, respectively to receive, a radio signal in the form of surface waves propagating along the electric conductors of said network;
- figure 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the first antenna of figure 1;
- the first transceiver antenna is configured to transmit, respectively to receive, the radio signal in the form of surface waves propagating along the conductor of the corresponding catenary system, and at least one railway vehicle comprises the second radio transceiver antenna and the second data transceiver module, the second transceiver module being connected to the second antenna and configured for exchanging data with the first transceiver module.
The invention also relates to a method for communicating data in the form of a radio signal within a data communication system, the data communication system comprising a first data transceiver module, a first radio transceiver antenna connected to the first transceiver module, the first transceiver antenna being positioned near the electric conductor, a second radio transceiver antenna and a second data transceiver module connected to the second antenna, the method comprising the following steps:
- transmitting the radio signal, via one module among the first module and the second module and via one antenna among the first antenna and the second antenna, - transmitting the radio signal in the form of surface waves propagating along the electric conductor, and - receiving said radio signal, via the other antenna from among the first antenna and the second antenna and via the other module from among the first module and the second module, wherein the radio signal associated with the second antenna is received in the form of waves which, among the transmitted surface waves, are radiated away from the electric conductor and directly from said electric conductor, respectively transmitted in the form of radio waves, some of the waves transmitted by the second antenna being designed to propagate along the electric conductor in the form of radio surface waves, the second antenna being positioned away from the electric conductor, preferably at a distance greater than 50 cm from said electric conductor.
These features and advantages of the invention will appear upon reading the following description, provided solely as a non-limiting example, and done in reference to the appended drawings, in which:
- figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a railway system according to a first embodiment, the railway system comprising an electric railway network, a railway vehicle designed to move along the railway network, and a data communication system, the data communication system in particular comprising a first transceiver antenna positioned near an electric conductor of the network and configured to transmit, respectively to receive, a radio signal in the form of surface waves propagating along the electric conductors of said network;
- figure 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the first antenna of figure 1;
5 -figure 3 is a flowchart of a data communication method according to the invention;
- figure 4 is a view similar to that of figure 1 according to a second embodiment of the invention; and - figure 5 is a view similar to that of figure 2 according to the second embodiment of the invention.
In figure 1, a railway system 10 comprises an electric railway network 12, a plurality of railway vehicles 14 and a data communication system 16. A single railway vehicle 14 is shown in figure 1 in order to simplify the drawings, and each rail vehicle 14 is designed to move along the railway network 12.
The electric railway network 12 comprises at least one catenary system 18, each catenary system 18 comprising a plurality of electric conductors 20, the electric conductors 20 being connected to each other to ensure continuity of the transmission of an electric current through them.
The electric railway network 12 also comprises elements 22 for maintaining electric conductors 20 of the catenary system 18, as well as vertical masts 24 to which the maintaining elements 22 are fastened. The vertical masts 24 then make it possible to position the electric conductors 20 at a predetermined height relative to the ground on which rails 26 are fastened for travel of the railway vehicles 14.
Each railway vehicle 14 is known per se, and is suitable for traveling on the rails 26 along the electric railway network 12. The railway vehicles 14 can use any type of power supply, i.e., external, of the catenary electric power supply type or an additional rail, for example, or internal, for instance of the diesel type.
In the example illustrated in figure 1, each railway vehicle 14 is suitable for being electrically powered via the electric conductor 20 corresponding to the catenary system 18. Each railway vehicle 14 for example comprises pantographs 28, each being configured to be in contact with a corresponding electric conductor 20.
The data communication system 16 comprises a first transceiver module 30 for transmitting data in the form of a radio signal and a first radio transceiver antenna 32, connected to the first transceiver module 30 and positioned near the electric conductor 20.
The first transceiver antenna 32 is configured to transmit, respectively to receive, the radio
- figure 4 is a view similar to that of figure 1 according to a second embodiment of the invention; and - figure 5 is a view similar to that of figure 2 according to the second embodiment of the invention.
In figure 1, a railway system 10 comprises an electric railway network 12, a plurality of railway vehicles 14 and a data communication system 16. A single railway vehicle 14 is shown in figure 1 in order to simplify the drawings, and each rail vehicle 14 is designed to move along the railway network 12.
The electric railway network 12 comprises at least one catenary system 18, each catenary system 18 comprising a plurality of electric conductors 20, the electric conductors 20 being connected to each other to ensure continuity of the transmission of an electric current through them.
The electric railway network 12 also comprises elements 22 for maintaining electric conductors 20 of the catenary system 18, as well as vertical masts 24 to which the maintaining elements 22 are fastened. The vertical masts 24 then make it possible to position the electric conductors 20 at a predetermined height relative to the ground on which rails 26 are fastened for travel of the railway vehicles 14.
Each railway vehicle 14 is known per se, and is suitable for traveling on the rails 26 along the electric railway network 12. The railway vehicles 14 can use any type of power supply, i.e., external, of the catenary electric power supply type or an additional rail, for example, or internal, for instance of the diesel type.
In the example illustrated in figure 1, each railway vehicle 14 is suitable for being electrically powered via the electric conductor 20 corresponding to the catenary system 18. Each railway vehicle 14 for example comprises pantographs 28, each being configured to be in contact with a corresponding electric conductor 20.
The data communication system 16 comprises a first transceiver module 30 for transmitting data in the form of a radio signal and a first radio transceiver antenna 32, connected to the first transceiver module 30 and positioned near the electric conductor 20.
The first transceiver antenna 32 is configured to transmit, respectively to receive, the radio
6 signal in the form of surface waves propagating along the corresponding electric conductor 20.
The data communication system 16 also comprises a second radio transceiver antenna 34 and a second data transceiver module 36, configured for exchanging data with the first transceiver module 30. The second transceiver module 36 is connected to the second transceiver antenna 34.
In the example of figure 1, the railway vehicle 14 comprises the second radio transceiver antenna 34 and the second transceiver module 36, the second transceiver module 36 being connected to the second antenna 34 and configured for receiving data transmitted by the first transceiver module 30.
The electric conductors 20 also belong to the data communication system 16, the electric conductors 20 participating in the transmission of data in the form of a radio signal, serving as a propagation support for the surface waves transmitted, respectively received, by the first antenna 32.
Each electric conductor 20 extends in a longitudinal direction X, as shown in figure 2.
The first transceiver module 30 is known per se, and is configured for converting the data to be transmitted into an electric signal sent to the first antenna 32, or converting the electric signal received from the first antenna 32 into data, respectively.
The first antenna 32 is then configured for transforming the electric signal received from the first transceiver module 30 into a radio signal transmitted in the form of surface waves along the corresponding electric conductor 20, or transforming a radio signal received in the form of surface waves along the corresponding electric conductor 20 into an electric signal transmitted to the first transceiver module 30, respectively.
The first antenna 32 is positioned close enough to the electric conductor 20 to allow a propagation of the surface waves along the electric conductor 20, and in general to have good coupling with the electric conductor 20. The first antenna 32 is for example positioned less than 50 cm from the corresponding electric conductor 20, preferably less than 20 cm from said conductor 20.
The first antenna 32 is for example stationary relative to the corresponding electric conductor 20. In other words, the position of the first antenna 32 is unchanged relative to that of the corresponding electric conductor 20, in particular relative to the position of the maintaining elements 22.
In the first embodiment described, only the first transceiver antenna 32 is positioned near the corresponding electric conductor 20, as shown in figure 1.
In other , ,
The data communication system 16 also comprises a second radio transceiver antenna 34 and a second data transceiver module 36, configured for exchanging data with the first transceiver module 30. The second transceiver module 36 is connected to the second transceiver antenna 34.
In the example of figure 1, the railway vehicle 14 comprises the second radio transceiver antenna 34 and the second transceiver module 36, the second transceiver module 36 being connected to the second antenna 34 and configured for receiving data transmitted by the first transceiver module 30.
The electric conductors 20 also belong to the data communication system 16, the electric conductors 20 participating in the transmission of data in the form of a radio signal, serving as a propagation support for the surface waves transmitted, respectively received, by the first antenna 32.
Each electric conductor 20 extends in a longitudinal direction X, as shown in figure 2.
The first transceiver module 30 is known per se, and is configured for converting the data to be transmitted into an electric signal sent to the first antenna 32, or converting the electric signal received from the first antenna 32 into data, respectively.
The first antenna 32 is then configured for transforming the electric signal received from the first transceiver module 30 into a radio signal transmitted in the form of surface waves along the corresponding electric conductor 20, or transforming a radio signal received in the form of surface waves along the corresponding electric conductor 20 into an electric signal transmitted to the first transceiver module 30, respectively.
The first antenna 32 is positioned close enough to the electric conductor 20 to allow a propagation of the surface waves along the electric conductor 20, and in general to have good coupling with the electric conductor 20. The first antenna 32 is for example positioned less than 50 cm from the corresponding electric conductor 20, preferably less than 20 cm from said conductor 20.
The first antenna 32 is for example stationary relative to the corresponding electric conductor 20. In other words, the position of the first antenna 32 is unchanged relative to that of the corresponding electric conductor 20, in particular relative to the position of the maintaining elements 22.
In the first embodiment described, only the first transceiver antenna 32 is positioned near the corresponding electric conductor 20, as shown in figure 1.
In other , ,
7 words, the only antenna positioned near the electric conductor 20 is the first antenna 32, the latter preferably being situated less than 50 cm from said electric conductor 20.
The first antenna 32 comprises two active elements 40 positioned along the corresponding electric conductor 20, and on either side of said conductor 20, as shown in figure 2.
The first antenna 32 is secured to the mast 24 or, in an alternative that is not shown, a maintaining element 22, and the first transceiver module 30 is for example positioned near the base of the mast 24 associated with that maintaining element 22.
According to the invention, the second transceiver antenna 34 is positioned away from the electric conductors 20, preferably at a distance greater than 0.5 m from the closest electric conductor 20, as shown in figure 1. Additionally, the second transceiver antenna 34 is, for example, situated at a distance smaller than 1.5 m from the closest electric conductor 20.
The second transceiver antenna 34 is further configured to capture waves that, among the surface waves transmitted along the electric conductor 20, are next radiated away from the electric conductor 20 and directly therefrom, respectively configured to transmit radio waves, some of the radio waves transmitted by the second antenna 34 being designed to propagate along the electric conductor 20 in the form of radio surface waves.
The second transceiver antenna 34 that is configured to capture waves radiated away from the corresponding electric conductor 20, or configured to transmit waves to the corresponding electric conductor 20, respectively, is for example a dipolar antenna, or a quarter wave antenna, or a slot antenna.
Alternatively, the second antenna 34 is a directional antenna, i.e., focused, such as a helical aerial, a patch antenna or a horn antenna. The second antenna 34 is then preferably designed to be pointed toward the electric conductor 20, still more preferably oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to that of the electric conductor 20.
The second antenna 34 is for example movable relative to the electric conductor 20 in the longitudinal direction X. In other words, the position of the second antenna 34 varies in the longitudinal direction X relative to that of the electric conductor 20, in particular relative to the position of the maintaining elements 22.
The second transceiver module 36 is known per se, and makes it possible to convert an electric signal received from the second antenna 34 to which it is connected into corresponding data, or to convert data into an electric signal transmitted to the second antenna 34, respectively, thereby making it possible to exchange data with the first transceiver module 30.
, ,
The first antenna 32 comprises two active elements 40 positioned along the corresponding electric conductor 20, and on either side of said conductor 20, as shown in figure 2.
The first antenna 32 is secured to the mast 24 or, in an alternative that is not shown, a maintaining element 22, and the first transceiver module 30 is for example positioned near the base of the mast 24 associated with that maintaining element 22.
According to the invention, the second transceiver antenna 34 is positioned away from the electric conductors 20, preferably at a distance greater than 0.5 m from the closest electric conductor 20, as shown in figure 1. Additionally, the second transceiver antenna 34 is, for example, situated at a distance smaller than 1.5 m from the closest electric conductor 20.
The second transceiver antenna 34 is further configured to capture waves that, among the surface waves transmitted along the electric conductor 20, are next radiated away from the electric conductor 20 and directly therefrom, respectively configured to transmit radio waves, some of the radio waves transmitted by the second antenna 34 being designed to propagate along the electric conductor 20 in the form of radio surface waves.
The second transceiver antenna 34 that is configured to capture waves radiated away from the corresponding electric conductor 20, or configured to transmit waves to the corresponding electric conductor 20, respectively, is for example a dipolar antenna, or a quarter wave antenna, or a slot antenna.
Alternatively, the second antenna 34 is a directional antenna, i.e., focused, such as a helical aerial, a patch antenna or a horn antenna. The second antenna 34 is then preferably designed to be pointed toward the electric conductor 20, still more preferably oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to that of the electric conductor 20.
The second antenna 34 is for example movable relative to the electric conductor 20 in the longitudinal direction X. In other words, the position of the second antenna 34 varies in the longitudinal direction X relative to that of the electric conductor 20, in particular relative to the position of the maintaining elements 22.
The second transceiver module 36 is known per se, and makes it possible to convert an electric signal received from the second antenna 34 to which it is connected into corresponding data, or to convert data into an electric signal transmitted to the second antenna 34, respectively, thereby making it possible to exchange data with the first transceiver module 30.
, ,
8 In figure 2, the active elements 40 are preferably identical in form, and positioned symmetrically relative to a vertical plane P containing the corresponding electric conductor 20.
Each active element 40 comprises a first end 42 and a second end 44 in the longitudinal direction X. Each active element 40 has a length L between the first and second ends 42, 44 in the longitudinal direction X. The length L is for example comprised between 5 cm and 30 cm, preferably equal to 20 cm, those lengths depending on the selected frequency.
Each active element 40 has a height H in a vertical direction Z perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. The height H is for example comprised between 5 cm and 30 cm, preferably equal to 30 cm.
Each active element 40 preferably has a profile curved along a vertical plane parallel to the electric conductor 20, i.e., along a plane containing the longitudinal X and vertical Z directions, as shown in figure 2. The curved profile of each active element 40 is preferably concave relative to the electric conductor 20.
A space W is present between the active elements 40 of a same antenna, the space being defined in a transverse direction Y perpendicular to the vertical plane containing the longitudinal X and vertical Z directions. The space W is for example comprised between 0.5 cm and 10 cm. The space W has a variable value between the first and second ends 42, 44, to provide an unbroken transition from the power supply impedance at the first end 42, for example equal to 50 ohms, to the propagation impedance at the second end 44, for example equal to 377 ohms.
Each active element 40 then preferably has an elongated shape in the longitudinal direction X, while having a profile curved along the vertical plane parallel to the electric conductor 20.
This particular shape of each of the active elements 40 makes it possible to have the first end 42 of the active element fastened to a corresponding maintaining element 22, while having the second end 44 of the active element positioned at an altitude in the vertical direction Z substantially equal to the altitude of the electric conductor 20, due to the curved profile of each active element 40.
Each active element 40 also makes it possible, due to its elongated shape in the longitudinal direction X, to facilitate the coupling with surface waves along the electric conductor 20 both in transmission and reception.
The set of the two active elements 40 of the first antenna 32 further has a generally conical shape from the first ends 42 of the active elements toward the second
Each active element 40 comprises a first end 42 and a second end 44 in the longitudinal direction X. Each active element 40 has a length L between the first and second ends 42, 44 in the longitudinal direction X. The length L is for example comprised between 5 cm and 30 cm, preferably equal to 20 cm, those lengths depending on the selected frequency.
Each active element 40 has a height H in a vertical direction Z perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. The height H is for example comprised between 5 cm and 30 cm, preferably equal to 30 cm.
Each active element 40 preferably has a profile curved along a vertical plane parallel to the electric conductor 20, i.e., along a plane containing the longitudinal X and vertical Z directions, as shown in figure 2. The curved profile of each active element 40 is preferably concave relative to the electric conductor 20.
A space W is present between the active elements 40 of a same antenna, the space being defined in a transverse direction Y perpendicular to the vertical plane containing the longitudinal X and vertical Z directions. The space W is for example comprised between 0.5 cm and 10 cm. The space W has a variable value between the first and second ends 42, 44, to provide an unbroken transition from the power supply impedance at the first end 42, for example equal to 50 ohms, to the propagation impedance at the second end 44, for example equal to 377 ohms.
Each active element 40 then preferably has an elongated shape in the longitudinal direction X, while having a profile curved along the vertical plane parallel to the electric conductor 20.
This particular shape of each of the active elements 40 makes it possible to have the first end 42 of the active element fastened to a corresponding maintaining element 22, while having the second end 44 of the active element positioned at an altitude in the vertical direction Z substantially equal to the altitude of the electric conductor 20, due to the curved profile of each active element 40.
Each active element 40 also makes it possible, due to its elongated shape in the longitudinal direction X, to facilitate the coupling with surface waves along the electric conductor 20 both in transmission and reception.
The set of the two active elements 40 of the first antenna 32 further has a generally conical shape from the first ends 42 of the active elements toward the second
9 ends 44, which makes it possible to further facilitate the propagation of the surface waves along the electric conductor 20.
Each active element 40 is for example made from an electrically conductive element that is initially planar and has a thickness E for example comprised between 0.5 cm and 3 cm, preferably equal to 1 cm. Each electrically conductive element, which is initially planar, is next curved in order to obtain the curved profile of the active elements 40.
The operation of the data communication system 16 according to the invention will now be described using figures 3, showing a flowchart of a communication method according to the invention. For simplification reasons, in the rest of the description, the downlink path conventionally corresponds to the path from the first module 30 to the second module 36, and is described first, then the uplink path will be described next.
Conventionally and similarly, the uplink path corresponds to the path from the second module 36 to the first module 30, the data communication system 16 being completely reciprocal.
For the downlink path, during the initial step 100, a radio signal is transmitted via the first transceiver module 30 coupled to the first antenna 32, in the form of surface waves propagating along the corresponding electric conductor 20, the first antenna 32 being positioned near the electric conductor 20.
The radio signal then propagates during step 110 in the form of surface waves along the electric conductor 20, and from the first antenna 32. During this transmission step 110, as the waves propagate on the surface of the electric conductor 20, some of those waves are gradually radiated further and further away from the electric conductor 20 and directly from said electric conductor 20.
The second transceiver antenna 34 is then able, during step 120, to receive said waves radiated away from the electric conductor 20, the second antenna 34 being positioned away from said electric conductor 20 and configured to capture those radiated waves.
During that reception step 120, the radio signal received by the second antenna 34 is then sent to the second transceiver module 36 to be converted into an electric signal delivered to the output of the second transceiver module 36. The data transmitted by the first transceiver module 30 and the first antenna 32 are thus directly received inside the railway vehicle 14 by means of the second transceiver module 36 coupled to the second antenna 34.
For the uplink path, during the transmission step 100, a radio signal is transmitted via the second transceiver module 36 coupled to the second antenna 34, in the form of radio waves, some of the waves transmitted by the second antenna 34 being designed to propagate in the form of radio surface waves along the corresponding electric conductor 20.
The radio signal then propagates during step 110 in the form of surface waves 5 along the electric conductor 20, and toward the first antenna 32. During this transmission step 110, the waves propagate on the surface of the electric conductor 20 toward the first antenna 32.
The first antenna 32 is then able, during the reception step 120, to receive said surface waves propagating along the electric conductor 20, the first antenna 32 being
Each active element 40 is for example made from an electrically conductive element that is initially planar and has a thickness E for example comprised between 0.5 cm and 3 cm, preferably equal to 1 cm. Each electrically conductive element, which is initially planar, is next curved in order to obtain the curved profile of the active elements 40.
The operation of the data communication system 16 according to the invention will now be described using figures 3, showing a flowchart of a communication method according to the invention. For simplification reasons, in the rest of the description, the downlink path conventionally corresponds to the path from the first module 30 to the second module 36, and is described first, then the uplink path will be described next.
Conventionally and similarly, the uplink path corresponds to the path from the second module 36 to the first module 30, the data communication system 16 being completely reciprocal.
For the downlink path, during the initial step 100, a radio signal is transmitted via the first transceiver module 30 coupled to the first antenna 32, in the form of surface waves propagating along the corresponding electric conductor 20, the first antenna 32 being positioned near the electric conductor 20.
The radio signal then propagates during step 110 in the form of surface waves along the electric conductor 20, and from the first antenna 32. During this transmission step 110, as the waves propagate on the surface of the electric conductor 20, some of those waves are gradually radiated further and further away from the electric conductor 20 and directly from said electric conductor 20.
The second transceiver antenna 34 is then able, during step 120, to receive said waves radiated away from the electric conductor 20, the second antenna 34 being positioned away from said electric conductor 20 and configured to capture those radiated waves.
During that reception step 120, the radio signal received by the second antenna 34 is then sent to the second transceiver module 36 to be converted into an electric signal delivered to the output of the second transceiver module 36. The data transmitted by the first transceiver module 30 and the first antenna 32 are thus directly received inside the railway vehicle 14 by means of the second transceiver module 36 coupled to the second antenna 34.
For the uplink path, during the transmission step 100, a radio signal is transmitted via the second transceiver module 36 coupled to the second antenna 34, in the form of radio waves, some of the waves transmitted by the second antenna 34 being designed to propagate in the form of radio surface waves along the corresponding electric conductor 20.
The radio signal then propagates during step 110 in the form of surface waves 5 along the electric conductor 20, and toward the first antenna 32. During this transmission step 110, the waves propagate on the surface of the electric conductor 20 toward the first antenna 32.
The first antenna 32 is then able, during the reception step 120, to receive said surface waves propagating along the electric conductor 20, the first antenna 32 being
10 positioned near said electric conductor 20 and configured to capture those surface waves.
During this reception step 120, the radio signal received by the first antenna 32 is then transmitted to the first transceiver module 30 to be converted into an electric signal delivered at the output of the first transceiver module 30. The data transmitted by the second transceiver module 36 and the second antenna 34 are thus received by the first transceiver module 30 connected to the first antenna 32.
This then makes it possible to facilitate the communication of the data while retaining, on part of the path between the first transceiver module 30 and the second transceiver module 36, the transmission of radio waves in the form of surface waves along the electric conductor 20. This then makes it possible to obtain a significant range for the transmission of the radio signal, while facilitating the reception of the data inside the railway vehicle 14, or the transmission of data from the inside of the railway vehicle 14, respectively.
Unlike the data communication system of the state of the art, the data communication system 16 according to the invention does not require the user to connect locally via a radio means to a transceiver antenna for surface waves situated near a mast of the electric railway network. The data communication system 16 according to the invention thus facilitates the reception, respectively the transmission, of data at all points of the electric conductor 20.
At the railway vehicle, the data communication system 16 allows the use of traditional antennas, the second transceiver antenna 34 for example being of the omnidirectional type.
Alternatively, in order to obtain better performance, the second transceiver antenna 34 is preferably directional, or focused, pointing toward the electric conductor 20.
Positioning the second transceiver antenna 34 away from the electric conductors 20, preferably at a distance greater than 50 cm from the closest electric conductor 20, further makes it possible to have a safety distance between the railway vehicle 14 and the
During this reception step 120, the radio signal received by the first antenna 32 is then transmitted to the first transceiver module 30 to be converted into an electric signal delivered at the output of the first transceiver module 30. The data transmitted by the second transceiver module 36 and the second antenna 34 are thus received by the first transceiver module 30 connected to the first antenna 32.
This then makes it possible to facilitate the communication of the data while retaining, on part of the path between the first transceiver module 30 and the second transceiver module 36, the transmission of radio waves in the form of surface waves along the electric conductor 20. This then makes it possible to obtain a significant range for the transmission of the radio signal, while facilitating the reception of the data inside the railway vehicle 14, or the transmission of data from the inside of the railway vehicle 14, respectively.
Unlike the data communication system of the state of the art, the data communication system 16 according to the invention does not require the user to connect locally via a radio means to a transceiver antenna for surface waves situated near a mast of the electric railway network. The data communication system 16 according to the invention thus facilitates the reception, respectively the transmission, of data at all points of the electric conductor 20.
At the railway vehicle, the data communication system 16 allows the use of traditional antennas, the second transceiver antenna 34 for example being of the omnidirectional type.
Alternatively, in order to obtain better performance, the second transceiver antenna 34 is preferably directional, or focused, pointing toward the electric conductor 20.
Positioning the second transceiver antenna 34 away from the electric conductors 20, preferably at a distance greater than 50 cm from the closest electric conductor 20, further makes it possible to have a safety distance between the railway vehicle 14 and the
11 electric conductor 20, when the second transceiver antenna 34 is fastened to the railway vehicle 14.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention, in which the elements identical to those of the first embodiment, previously described, are identified by identical references, and are not described again.
According to this second embodiment, the data communication system 16 further comprises at least one pair 200 of relay antennas, each pair of relay antennas comprising a first transceiver relay antenna 202 configured to receive, respectively to retransmit, surface waves propagating along a first electric conductor 20A and a second transceiver relay antenna 204. The second transceiver relay antenna 204 is connected to the corresponding first transceiver relay antenna 202 of said pair of antennas 200, and is configured to retransmit, respectively to receive, surface waves propagating along a second electric conductor 20B, the surface waves along the first conductor 20A
corresponding to the surface waves along the second electric conductor 20B.
For each pair of relay antennas 200, the first transceiver relay antenna 202 and the second transceiver relay antenna 204 each have a form similar to that of the first transceiver antenna 32.
The first relay reception antenna 202 and the second transceiver relay antenna 204 for example are in the form of the first antenna 32 previously described with respect to figure 2, and then each comprise the two active elements 40, as shown in figure 5.
In the example of figure 4, the first transceiver antenna 32 and the first relay antenna 202 are each positioned at one end of the first electric conductor 20A
while extending globally in the longitudinal direction X and being oriented in opposite directions.
The second relay antenna 204, coupled to the first relay antenna 202 situated near the first electric conductor 20A, is situated near the second electric conductor 20B, while being oriented in the same direction as the first transceiver antenna 32, while also extending globally in the longitudinal direction X.
The pair of relay antennas 200 then makes it possible to retransmit the surface waves initially propagating along the first conductor 20A toward the second electric conductor 20B, and conversely to retransmit the surface waves propagating initially along the second electric conductor 20B toward the first conductor 20A.
For the downlink path, the first relay antenna 202 is able to capture the surface waves propagating along the first conductor 20A, then the second relay antenna 204 that is coupled to the first relay antenna 202 is able to retransmit that same radio signal in the form of surface waves propagating along the second electric conductor 20B.
,
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention, in which the elements identical to those of the first embodiment, previously described, are identified by identical references, and are not described again.
According to this second embodiment, the data communication system 16 further comprises at least one pair 200 of relay antennas, each pair of relay antennas comprising a first transceiver relay antenna 202 configured to receive, respectively to retransmit, surface waves propagating along a first electric conductor 20A and a second transceiver relay antenna 204. The second transceiver relay antenna 204 is connected to the corresponding first transceiver relay antenna 202 of said pair of antennas 200, and is configured to retransmit, respectively to receive, surface waves propagating along a second electric conductor 20B, the surface waves along the first conductor 20A
corresponding to the surface waves along the second electric conductor 20B.
For each pair of relay antennas 200, the first transceiver relay antenna 202 and the second transceiver relay antenna 204 each have a form similar to that of the first transceiver antenna 32.
The first relay reception antenna 202 and the second transceiver relay antenna 204 for example are in the form of the first antenna 32 previously described with respect to figure 2, and then each comprise the two active elements 40, as shown in figure 5.
In the example of figure 4, the first transceiver antenna 32 and the first relay antenna 202 are each positioned at one end of the first electric conductor 20A
while extending globally in the longitudinal direction X and being oriented in opposite directions.
The second relay antenna 204, coupled to the first relay antenna 202 situated near the first electric conductor 20A, is situated near the second electric conductor 20B, while being oriented in the same direction as the first transceiver antenna 32, while also extending globally in the longitudinal direction X.
The pair of relay antennas 200 then makes it possible to retransmit the surface waves initially propagating along the first conductor 20A toward the second electric conductor 20B, and conversely to retransmit the surface waves propagating initially along the second electric conductor 20B toward the first conductor 20A.
For the downlink path, the first relay antenna 202 is able to capture the surface waves propagating along the first conductor 20A, then the second relay antenna 204 that is coupled to the first relay antenna 202 is able to retransmit that same radio signal in the form of surface waves propagating along the second electric conductor 20B.
,
12 Conversely, for the uplink path, the second relay antenna 204 is able to capture the surface waves propagating along the second conductor 20B, then the first relay antenna 202 that is coupled to the second relay antenna 204 is able to retransmit that same radio signal in the form of surface waves propagating along the first electric conductor 20A, to the first transceiver antenna 32.
The relay antennas 202, 204 are also called retransmission antennas, or repeater antennas, those antennas 202, 204 making it possible to repeat, along the second conductor 20B, the radio signal initially propagating along the first conductor 20A in the form of surface waves, and reciprocally along the first conductor 20A, the radio signal propagating initially along the second conductor 20B in the form of surface waves.
Each pair of relay antennas 200 then makes it possible to further increase the propagation distance of the radio signal along the electric conductors 20A, 20B, i.e., to generally increase the transmission range of the radio signal via that data communication system 16.
Each pair of relay antennas 200 is secured to at least one maintaining element 22, and is preferably positioned near a mast of the electric railway network 12.
The operation of the data communication system 16 according to this second embodiment is then similar to that of the data communication system 16 according to the first embodiment.
For the downlink path, the transmission of the radio signal is always done via the first transceiver antenna 32 associated with the first transceiver module 30, and the final reception of the data is always done via the second transceiver antenna 34 coupled to the second transceiver module 36, with the second transceiver module 34 positioned away from the various electric conductors 20A, 20B.
Reciprocally, for the uplink path, the transmission of the radio signal is done via the second transceiver antenna 34 associated with the second transceiver module 36, and the final reception of data is done via the first transceiver antenna 32 coupled to the first transceiver module 30.
According to this second embodiment, the transmission step 110 further comprises a retransmission of the surface waves from one electric conductor 20A to the other electric conductor 20B by means of a pair of corresponding relay antennas 200, each pair of relay antennas 200 making it possible to propagate the surface waves from one electric conductor to the other.
The advantages of this second embodiment comprise the advantages of the first embodiment previously described.
,
The relay antennas 202, 204 are also called retransmission antennas, or repeater antennas, those antennas 202, 204 making it possible to repeat, along the second conductor 20B, the radio signal initially propagating along the first conductor 20A in the form of surface waves, and reciprocally along the first conductor 20A, the radio signal propagating initially along the second conductor 20B in the form of surface waves.
Each pair of relay antennas 200 then makes it possible to further increase the propagation distance of the radio signal along the electric conductors 20A, 20B, i.e., to generally increase the transmission range of the radio signal via that data communication system 16.
Each pair of relay antennas 200 is secured to at least one maintaining element 22, and is preferably positioned near a mast of the electric railway network 12.
The operation of the data communication system 16 according to this second embodiment is then similar to that of the data communication system 16 according to the first embodiment.
For the downlink path, the transmission of the radio signal is always done via the first transceiver antenna 32 associated with the first transceiver module 30, and the final reception of the data is always done via the second transceiver antenna 34 coupled to the second transceiver module 36, with the second transceiver module 34 positioned away from the various electric conductors 20A, 20B.
Reciprocally, for the uplink path, the transmission of the radio signal is done via the second transceiver antenna 34 associated with the second transceiver module 36, and the final reception of data is done via the first transceiver antenna 32 coupled to the first transceiver module 30.
According to this second embodiment, the transmission step 110 further comprises a retransmission of the surface waves from one electric conductor 20A to the other electric conductor 20B by means of a pair of corresponding relay antennas 200, each pair of relay antennas 200 making it possible to propagate the surface waves from one electric conductor to the other.
The advantages of this second embodiment comprise the advantages of the first embodiment previously described.
,
13 The data communication system 16 according to this second embodiment further makes it possible to increase the transmission range of the data in the form of radio signals, by the pairs of relay antennas 200 capable of ensuring continuity in the propagation of the surface waves along the electric conductors despite the passage from the first conductor 20A to the second conductor 20B. This effect is in particular obtained when the electric conductors 20 are part of the catenary system 18 of the electric railway network.
One can thus see that the data communication system 16 according to the invention makes it possible to have a large distance between the first transceiver antenna 32 and the second transceiver antenna 34, typically a distance greater than 1 km, while improving the ease of communication of the data, the second transceiver antenna 34 for example being fastened to a railway vehicle 14, while being coupled to the second transceiver module 36 positioned inside said railway vehicle.
This then makes it possible to receive the data inside the railway vehicle 14, including when it is in motion along the electric railway network 12.
One can thus see that the data communication system 16 according to the invention makes it possible to have a large distance between the first transceiver antenna 32 and the second transceiver antenna 34, typically a distance greater than 1 km, while improving the ease of communication of the data, the second transceiver antenna 34 for example being fastened to a railway vehicle 14, while being coupled to the second transceiver module 36 positioned inside said railway vehicle.
This then makes it possible to receive the data inside the railway vehicle 14, including when it is in motion along the electric railway network 12.
Claims (14)
1.- A data communication system (16), comprising:
- a first transceiver module (30) for transmitting data in the form of a radio signal, - a first radio transceiver antenna (32), connected to the first transceiver module (30) and able to be positioned near an electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B), the first transceiver antenna (32) being configured to transmit, respectively to receive, the radio signal in the form of surface radio waves propagating along the electric conductor (20;
20A, 20B), - a second radio transceiver antenna (34), and - a second data transceiver module (36), configured for exchanging data with the first transceiver module (30), the second transceiver module (36) being connected to the second antenna (34), characterized in that the second transceiver antenna (34) is designed to be positioned away from the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B), preferably at a distance greater than 50 cm from said electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B);
the second antenna (34) being configured to receive radio waves which, among the surface radio waves transmitted by the first antenna (32), are radiated away from the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B) and directly from said electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B), the second transceiver antenna (34) being configured to emit radio waves, some of the radio waves transmitted by the second antenna (34) being designed to propagate along the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B) in the form of radio surface waves, and in that each antenna (32; 202, 204) is configured to transmit or receive a radio signal in the form of surface waves propagating along a corresponding conductor comprises two active elements (40), configured for being positioned along the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B) and on either side of said conductor (20; 20A, 20B).
- a first transceiver module (30) for transmitting data in the form of a radio signal, - a first radio transceiver antenna (32), connected to the first transceiver module (30) and able to be positioned near an electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B), the first transceiver antenna (32) being configured to transmit, respectively to receive, the radio signal in the form of surface radio waves propagating along the electric conductor (20;
20A, 20B), - a second radio transceiver antenna (34), and - a second data transceiver module (36), configured for exchanging data with the first transceiver module (30), the second transceiver module (36) being connected to the second antenna (34), characterized in that the second transceiver antenna (34) is designed to be positioned away from the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B), preferably at a distance greater than 50 cm from said electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B);
the second antenna (34) being configured to receive radio waves which, among the surface radio waves transmitted by the first antenna (32), are radiated away from the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B) and directly from said electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B), the second transceiver antenna (34) being configured to emit radio waves, some of the radio waves transmitted by the second antenna (34) being designed to propagate along the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B) in the form of radio surface waves, and in that each antenna (32; 202, 204) is configured to transmit or receive a radio signal in the form of surface waves propagating along a corresponding conductor comprises two active elements (40), configured for being positioned along the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B) and on either side of said conductor (20; 20A, 20B).
2.- The data communication system (16) according to claim 1, wherein only the first transceiver antenna (32) is designed to be positioned near the electric conductor (20).
3.- The data communication system (16) according to claim 1, wherein the system (16) further comprises at least one pair (200) of relay antennas (202, 204), each pair of relay antennas (200) comprising a first transceiver relay antenna (202) configured to receive, respectively to retransmit, surface waves propagating along a first electric conductor (20A) and a second transceiver relay antenna (204), the second relay antenna (204) being connected to the first corresponding relay antenna (202) of the pair of antennas and being configured to retransmit, respectively to receive, surface waves propagating along a second electric conductor (20B), the surface waves along the first conductor (20A) corresponding to the surface waves along the second electric conductor (20B).
4.- The data communication system (16) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the system (16) further comprises the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B) designed to be traveled by an electric current, and the first transceiver antenna is positioned near the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B).
5.- The data communication system (16) according to claim 4, wherein the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B) is an electric conductor of a catenary system (18) of a railway network (12).
6.- The data communication system (16) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the distance between the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B) and the second transceiver antenna (34) is substantially comprised between 50 cm and 150 cm.
7.- The data communication system (16) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B) extends in a longitudinal direction (X), and wherein the first transceiver antenna (32) is stationary relative to the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B), and the second transceiver antenna (34) is movable relative to the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B) in the longitudinal direction (X).
8.- The data communication system (16) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the active elements (40) have an identical shape, and are designed to be positioned symmetrically relative to a vertical plane (P) containing the conductor (20; 20A, 20B).
9.- The data communication system (16) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the active elements (40) each have a curved profile along a vertical plane parallel to the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B), the curved profile preferably being concave relative to the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B).
10.- The data communication system (16) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the second transceiver antenna (34) is a directional antenna, and is designed to be pointed toward the electric conductor (20).
11.- The data communication system (16) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first transceiver antenna (32) is positioned substantially less than 20 cm from the electric conductor (20, 20A, 20B).
12.- A railway system (10), comprising:
- an electric railway network (12) comprising at least one catenary system (18), each catenary system (18) comprising an electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B), at least one railway vehicle (14) designed to move along the railway network (12), and - a data communication system (16), characterized in that the data communication system (16) is according to any one of claims 1 to 11.
- an electric railway network (12) comprising at least one catenary system (18), each catenary system (18) comprising an electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B), at least one railway vehicle (14) designed to move along the railway network (12), and - a data communication system (16), characterized in that the data communication system (16) is according to any one of claims 1 to 11.
13.- The railway (10) according to claim 12, wherein the first transceiver antenna (32) is configured to transmit, respectively to receive, the radio signal in the form of surface waves propagating along the conductor of the corresponding catenary system, and wherein at least one railway vehicle (14) comprises the second radio transceiver antenna (34) and the second data transceiver module (36), the second transceiver module (36) being connected to the second antenna (34) and configured for exchanging data with the first transceiver module (30).
14.- A method for communicating data in the form of a radio signal within a data communication system (16), the data communication system (16) comprising a first data transceiver module (30), a first radio transceiver antenna (32) connected to the first transceiver module (30), the first transceiver antenna (32) being positioned near the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B), a second radio transceiver antenna (34) and a second data transceiver module (36) connected to the second antenna (34), the method comprising the following steps:
- transmitting (100) the radio signal, via one module among the first module (30) and the second module (36) and via one antenna among the first antenna (32) and the second antenna (34), - transmitting (110) the radio signal in the form of surface waves propagating along the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B), and - receiving (120) said radio signal, via the other antenna from among the first antenna (32) and the second antenna (34) and via the other module from among the first module (30) and the second module (36), characterized in that the radio signal associated with the second antenna (34) is received in the form of waves which, among the transmitted surface waves, are radiated away from the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B) and directly from said electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B), respectively transmitted in the form of radio waves, some of the waves transmitted by the second antenna (34) being designed to propagate along the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B) in the form of radio surface waves, the second antenna (34) being positioned away from the electric conductor (20;
20A, 20B), and each antenna (32; 202, 204) configured to transmit or receive a radio signal in the form of surface waves propagating along a corresponding conductor comprises two active elements (40), configured for being positioned along the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B) and on either side of said conductor (20; 20A, 20B).
- transmitting (100) the radio signal, via one module among the first module (30) and the second module (36) and via one antenna among the first antenna (32) and the second antenna (34), - transmitting (110) the radio signal in the form of surface waves propagating along the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B), and - receiving (120) said radio signal, via the other antenna from among the first antenna (32) and the second antenna (34) and via the other module from among the first module (30) and the second module (36), characterized in that the radio signal associated with the second antenna (34) is received in the form of waves which, among the transmitted surface waves, are radiated away from the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B) and directly from said electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B), respectively transmitted in the form of radio waves, some of the waves transmitted by the second antenna (34) being designed to propagate along the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B) in the form of radio surface waves, the second antenna (34) being positioned away from the electric conductor (20;
20A, 20B), and each antenna (32; 202, 204) configured to transmit or receive a radio signal in the form of surface waves propagating along a corresponding conductor comprises two active elements (40), configured for being positioned along the electric conductor (20; 20A, 20B) and on either side of said conductor (20; 20A, 20B).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR1454892A FR3021826B1 (en) | 2014-05-28 | 2014-05-28 | DATA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, RAILWAY SYSTEM COMPRISING SUCH A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED COMMUNICATION METHOD |
FR1454892 | 2014-05-28 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
CA2891978A1 true CA2891978A1 (en) | 2015-11-28 |
CA2891978C CA2891978C (en) | 2023-09-19 |
Family
ID=51518957
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
CA2891978A Active CA2891978C (en) | 2014-05-28 | 2015-05-14 | Data communication system, railway system comprising such a communication system and related communication method |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2950457B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN105141336B (en) |
BR (1) | BR102015012252B8 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2891978C (en) |
ES (1) | ES2683598T3 (en) |
FR (1) | FR3021826B1 (en) |
HK (1) | HK1212827A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN109617571B (en) * | 2018-11-16 | 2021-10-22 | 中兴通讯股份有限公司 | Signal processing device and method for realizing signal scheduling |
Family Cites Families (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3290626A (en) * | 1964-12-28 | 1966-12-06 | Hafner Theodore | Surface wave transmission |
US3590383A (en) * | 1967-10-16 | 1971-06-29 | Sumitomo Electric Industries | Train communications system involving fluid signal shielding means |
CN101065917A (en) * | 2004-10-28 | 2007-10-31 | 科里多系统公司 | Distributed antenna system using overhead power lines |
CN1686742A (en) * | 2005-04-30 | 2005-10-26 | 郑小飞 | Railway train operation ground-to-vehicle radio safe ty monitoring system |
CN200994144Y (en) * | 2006-12-12 | 2007-12-19 | 深圳市国电科技通信有限公司 | Train data communication repeating device |
US8237617B1 (en) * | 2009-09-21 | 2012-08-07 | Sprint Communications Company L.P. | Surface wave antenna mountable on existing conductive structures |
US8159385B2 (en) * | 2010-02-04 | 2012-04-17 | Sensis Corporation | Conductive line communication apparatus and conductive line radar system and method |
CN102104410A (en) * | 2011-01-18 | 2011-06-22 | 京信通信系统(中国)有限公司 | High-speed railway microwave communication network |
-
2014
- 2014-05-28 FR FR1454892A patent/FR3021826B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2015
- 2015-05-14 CA CA2891978A patent/CA2891978C/en active Active
- 2015-05-27 BR BR102015012252A patent/BR102015012252B8/en active IP Right Grant
- 2015-05-28 CN CN201510283556.0A patent/CN105141336B/en active Active
- 2015-05-28 ES ES15169565.7T patent/ES2683598T3/en active Active
- 2015-05-28 EP EP15169565.7A patent/EP2950457B1/en active Active
-
2016
- 2016-01-21 HK HK16100621.9A patent/HK1212827A1/en unknown
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
BR102015012252A2 (en) | 2016-10-11 |
EP2950457B1 (en) | 2018-05-16 |
FR3021826A1 (en) | 2015-12-04 |
HK1212827A1 (en) | 2016-06-17 |
BR102015012252B8 (en) | 2022-08-02 |
BR102015012252B1 (en) | 2022-06-28 |
CN105141336B (en) | 2018-12-25 |
CN105141336A (en) | 2015-12-09 |
ES2683598T3 (en) | 2018-09-27 |
EP2950457A1 (en) | 2015-12-02 |
FR3021826B1 (en) | 2017-12-01 |
CA2891978C (en) | 2023-09-19 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US7826794B2 (en) | Distributed underwater electromagnetic communication system | |
CN106602226B (en) | Antenna device, vehicle having antenna device, and method of controlling antenna device | |
US10074895B2 (en) | Collective antenna device | |
US8669903B2 (en) | Dual frequency band communication antenna assembly having an inverted F radiating element | |
US20220140889A1 (en) | Mimo communication system for vehicles | |
JPH10178314A (en) | Neutralizing device for intercoupling antennas | |
KR101709074B1 (en) | Antenna and vehicle having the same | |
CN105680169A (en) | Double-frequency dipole antenna | |
CN106486743B (en) | Antenna and vehicle including the same | |
JP5662247B2 (en) | Antenna device | |
CN104900984A (en) | Antenna device, wearable device and method for setting antenna device | |
KR20230007308A (en) | Antenna systems mounted on vehicles | |
CA2891978C (en) | Data communication system, railway system comprising such a communication system and related communication method | |
KR102661301B1 (en) | Antenna system mounted on vehicle | |
CN109473768B (en) | Wireless device antenna | |
CN103187634B (en) | A kind of mimo antenna being made up of multiple beam antennas | |
CN205545262U (en) | Antenna and basic station | |
JP4918702B2 (en) | Human-mounted antenna device, earphone antenna, and portable terminal | |
CN206451815U (en) | A kind of boat-carrying communication in moving | |
JP2022007725A (en) | Transmitting/receiving apparatus and transmitting/receiving method | |
EP2885879B1 (en) | Communication equipment based on leaky coaxial cable | |
US9559420B2 (en) | Antenna system with interlocking loops and vehicle comprising such an antenna system | |
RU2537798C1 (en) | Multiband radio communication repeater on captive balloon | |
WO2022050187A1 (en) | Wireless communication system | |
US20230253997A1 (en) | Millimiter-wave antenna system for radiomobile communications in vehicles |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
EEER | Examination request |
Effective date: 20200414 |
|
EEER | Examination request |
Effective date: 20200414 |
|
EEER | Examination request |
Effective date: 20200414 |
|
EEER | Examination request |
Effective date: 20200414 |
|
EEER | Examination request |
Effective date: 20200414 |
|
EEER | Examination request |
Effective date: 20200414 |
|
EEER | Examination request |
Effective date: 20200414 |
|
EEER | Examination request |
Effective date: 20200414 |
|
EEER | Examination request |
Effective date: 20200414 |