EP2825437A1

EP2825437A1 - On-board system for generating a positioning signal for a rail vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP2825437A1
Application number: EP13709373.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jacques Orion
Original assignee: Alstom Transport Technologies SAS
Current assignee: Alstom Transport Technologies SAS
Priority date: 2012-03-15
Filing date: 2013-03-05
Publication date: 2015-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-05
Also published as: CN106080666A; CN106080667A; SG11201405690QA; CN106080667B; CN106080666B; CN104302529A; SG10201607704YA; FR2988064A1; WO2013135533A1; FR2988064B1; US9663126B2; CN104302529B; EP2825437B1; IN2014DN07939A; KR20150002607A; KR102182528B1; US20150025716A1; CA2864625C; CA2864625A1

Abstract

This system (210) comprises: an antenna (20) comprising a first loop (22) and a second loop (24) having different radiation patterns, the first and second loops being such as to generate first and second currents (I1, I2) when the antenna passes over a beacon located on the track; and an electronic processing unit designed to generate a positioning signal from said first and second currents. The system is characterized in that, said unit being a first unit (230) for generating a first positioning signal (SL1), the system comprises a second unit (240) for generating a second positioning signal (SL2) from said first and second currents, and in that it comprises an arbitration means (250) able to generate a safe positioning signal (SLS) from said first and second positioning signals.

Description

On-board system for generating a locating signal of a railway vehicle

The subject of the invention is that of on-board systems for generating a signal for locating a railway vehicle of the type comprising:

an antenna comprising a first loop and a second loop having different respective radiation patterns, the first and second loops being respectively adapted to generate first and second currents when the antenna passes over a suitable beacon, located on the track in a known position; and,

an electronic processing chain designed to generate a location signal from said first and second currents.

The document EP 1 227 024 B1 discloses a system of the above type comprising an antenna intended to be carried aboard a train so as to cooperate with a beacon disposed on the track, the geometric center of the beacon having a known geographical position.

The antenna comprises two plane loops superimposed on each other in a substantially horizontal plane.

The first loop is simple. It consists of a metal wire forming a single turn, that is to say having no twist. This first loop has substantially the shape of an ellipse, the major axis is oriented in the longitudinal direction of movement of the train.

The second loop "8" consists of a wire forming a turn twisted on itself. The geometric center of the second loop, which is the point of intersection of the wire on itself, coincides with the geometric center of the first loop and constitutes the center of the antenna. The axis of symmetry of the second loop according to the large dimension thereof is oriented along the longitudinal axis of movement of the train.

During the movement of the train, the antenna passes over the beacon and passes through a magnetic field generated by it. This magnetic field induces a first electric current in the first loop and a second electric current in the second loop. When the induced currents are detectable, it is said that the antenna is in contact with the beacon.

The sign of the intensity of the current induced in a loop, also called the "phase" of this induced current, changes according to the position of the antenna with respect to the center of the beacon. Since the first and second loops have different shapes, they have different radiation patterns. As a result, the evolution of the phase of the first induced current is different from that of the phase of the second induced current.

The antenna is equipped with an electronic processing chain designed to follow the evolution of the amplitude of the first current with respect to a threshold value and the evolution of the difference between the phases of the first and second currents induced when the antenna is moved over the beacon. This chain generates at the output a location signal whose time of emission indicates the passage of the antenna center at the center of the center of the beacon.

The functional accuracy of the processing chain is such that the locating signal is emitted within +/- 2 cm from the center of the beacon.

The document PCT / FR2010 / 050607 broadens the teaching of the preceding document by proposing the use of an antenna comprising a third plane loop superimposed on the first and second single loops and "8". This third loop is made of a metal wire forming a turn having two twists. The two points of interlacing of the wire are arranged in the longitudinal direction of movement of the train. The midpoint between these two interleaving points is located longitudinally slightly forward (or backward) of the center of the antenna.

The radiation diagram of this third loop is specific to it.

The antenna is equipped with an electronic processing chain designed to follow the correlation between the evolution of the difference between the phases of the first and second currents, the evolution of the difference between the phases of the first and third currents, and revolution the difference between the phases of the second and third currents. This chain generates at the output a location signal whose time of emission indicates the passage of the antenna center at the center of the center of the beacon. The functional accuracy is also ± 2 cm from the center of the beacon. The advantage of this three-loop antenna lies in the increase of the contact volume of the antenna and the beacon, which makes it possible to relax the installation constraints of the beacon on the track and the antenna on the train.

The processing chain designed to perform this correlation and consequently generate a location signal has a functional accuracy of + 1-2 cm from the center of the beacon.

The location information of a railway vehicle on the network is important operating data. For the example of a metro, the location information makes it possible to know the precise position of a train relative to the platform of a station, to stop the train in front of the dock doors so that passengers can get off the train and get on.

If the location information is erroneous, the opening of the platform doors can be made while the doors of the train are not in front of the platform doors. This can have serious consequences in terms of safety for the passengers.

Other examples could be described showing that the location information is sensitive data.

However, the prior art does not take into account the possible failure of the processing chain in the generation of the location signal.

The invention therefore aims to overcome this problem, in particular by proposing a security system for generating a location signal, in which a malfunction in the generation of the location signal is identifiable, so that the location signal generated is reliable, that is, consistent with the level of security

SIL 4 defined by IEC 61508.

To this end, the subject of the invention is an on-board system for generating a locating signal of a railway vehicle of the aforementioned type, characterized in that, said chain being a first chain designed to generate a first location signal, the system comprises a second electronic processing chain adapted to generate a second location signal from said first and second currents, and in that the system further comprises an arbitration means capable of generating a safe location signal according to said first and second location signals.

According to particular embodiments, the system comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken separately or in any technically possible combination:

said first and second chains are independent of one another;

said first and second chains are identical to each other;

the arbitration means selects, as a safe location signal, the signal arrived temporally second among the first and second location signals transmitted temporally first by each of the first and second chains;

the arbitration means takes as input a distance delivered by an odometric system equipping said vehicle, and the arbitration means selects the signal arrived temporally second if it arrives at a point which is at a distance from the point of emission signal emitted temporally the first lower than a reference distance, in particular equal to 5 cm; the antenna comprises a third loop whose radiation pattern is different from that of the second loop and that of the first loop, said safe positioning signal making it possible to locate the vehicle with respect to the known position of the beacon with an accuracy of -21 + 7 cm;

the system comprises a third electronic processing chain designed to generate a third location signal from said first and second currents, said arbitration means being designed to select, as a safe location signal, the location signal transmitted temporally second among the first, second and third location signals transmitted temporally first by each of the first, second and third chains;

the arbitration means is designed to determine, for each of the channels, a "before" duration separating the start of detection time of the beacon and the time of emission of the location signal transmitted temporally first by the channel considered , and an "after" duration separating the time of emission of the location signal transmitted temporally first by the channel considered and the end time of detection of the beacon, and the arbitration means comprises a means capable of identifying the failure of a string if the ratio of the "before" duration to the "after" duration is outside a predetermined interval around the unit value;

the first channel comprises a first analog part and a first digital part, the second channel comprises, as second analog part, said first analog part of the first channel, and a second digital part independent of said first digital part of the first. chain;

the second digital part of the second string is identical to the first digital part of the first string;

the arbitration means selects, as a safe location signal, the location signal arrived temporally second among said first and second location signals transmitted temporally first by each of the first and second chains, provided that the duration separating the emission of the location signals transmitted temporally first by each of the chains is less than a reference period, in particular equal to 1, 5 με;

the antenna comprising a third loop whose radiation pattern is different from that of the second loop and that of the first loop, said safe positioning signal makes it possible to locate the vehicle with respect to the known position of the beacon with an accuracy of +/- 5 cm, preferably +/- 2 cm; and

- each string having an analog part and a digital part, the system comprises a test means designed to apply a reference current to an input of an analog portion and for analyzing digitized current signals generated at the output of said analog portion or other analog portion;

- the system complies with the SIL 4 safety level.

The invention also relates to a railway vehicle comprising such an on-board system for generating a location signal.

Finally, a subject of the invention is a method for generating a signal for locating a railway vehicle, comprising the steps of:

generating first and second currents during the passage of an antenna over a suitable beacon, said antenna being on board the vehicle and comprising a first loop and a second loop having respective different radiation diagrams, said beacon being located on the track in a known position;

generating a location signal from said first and second currents; characterized in that, said location signal being a first location signal transmitted by a first process line of the first and second streams, the method comprises:

generating a second location signal from said first and second currents by means of a second processing chain; and,

generating a safe location signal according to said first and second location signals.

According to particular embodiments, the method comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken separately or in any technically possible combination:

- The generation of a safe location signal consists in selecting, as a safe location signal, the location signal arrived temporally second among the first and second location signals transmitted temporally first by each of the first and second processing lines, provided that the distance separating the location signal arriving temporally second, from the location signal arrived temporally first, is less than a predetermined reference distance;

the method comprises the step of generating a third location signal from said first and second currents by means of a third processing line; and generating a safe location signal comprises selecting, as a safe location signal, the location signal arrived temporally second among the location signals transmitted temporally first by each of the three processing chains respectively; the first channel comprising a first analog part and a first digital part, the second channel including, as second analog part, said first analog part of the first channel, and a second digital part independent of said first digital part of the first part; chain, the generation of a safe location signal consists in selecting, as a safe location signal, the location signal arrived temporally second among the location signals transmitted temporally first by each of the two processing chains, provided that the duration between the sending times of the first and second signals is less than a predetermined reference time; and

- The method further comprises the verification of at least one additional condition for detecting a failure of the common analog portion to the first and second processing lines.

The invention and its advantages will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a first embodiment of an on-board system for generating a location signal;

FIG. 2 represents several graphs illustrating the operation of a first arbitration algorithm implemented by the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 represents a second embodiment of an on-board system for generating a location signal;

FIG. 4 represents several graphs illustrating the operation of a second arbitration algorithm implemented by the system of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5A and 5B show several graphs illustrating the determination of a report for detecting failures in the system of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 represents a third embodiment of an on-board system for generating a location signal; and,

FIG. 7 represents several graphs illustrating the operation of a third arbitration algorithm implemented by the system of FIG. 6.

FIRST EMBODIMENT

Figures 1 and 2 relate to a first embodiment of a system for generating a locating signal of a railway vehicle for equipped a vehicle such as a train, a subway or a tram. The system 10 according to this first embodiment comprises an antenna 20, two electronic processing chains, respectively 30 and 40, and an arbitration means 50.

The antenna 20, like the antenna of the prior art described above, comprises two loops having different radiation patterns: a first simple loop 22 able to deliver a first induced current 11, and a second loop "8" 24 adapted to deliver a second induced current 12.

The system includes a first electronic processing chain 30 adapted to deliver a first location signal SL1 from the first and second induced currents 11, 12 input to it.

The first chain 30 is identical to that used in the prior art.

The first channel 30 has an analog part 60 and a digital part

70.

The analog part 60 comprises a first analog circuit 61 for shaping the first induced current 11 and a second analog circuit 62 for shaping the second induced current 12.

The first circuit 61, designed for generating a first digitized current C1 from the first induced current 11, successively comprises a filter 63, for filtering the induced current 11 at the output of the corresponding loop; an amplifier 65 for amplifying the filtered current; and an analog / digital converter 67 for digitizing the amplified current and generating, at the output, a digitized current C1.

The second circuit 62, designed for generating a second digitized current C2 from the second induced current 12, is identical to the first circuit. It successively comprises a filter 64, an amplifier 66 and an analog / digital converter 68.

The digital part 70 of the first processing chain, designed to generate the first location signal SL1 from the first and second digitized currents C1, C2 which are applied to it as input. The digital bet 70 comprises successively a phase comparator, a filter, a hysteresis threshold comparator and a unit for generating a location signal.

The phase comparator 71 compares the phases of the first and second digitized currents C1, C2 which are applied to it as input, and outputs a phase difference signal SD whose value is +1 when the phases of the first and second digitized currents are identical, and -1 when these phases are opposite.

The filter 72 inputs the phase difference signal SD and outputs a filtered phase difference signal SDF with a value in the interval [-1, 1]. The filter has the function of performing a time average, over a predefined time window, of the phase difference signal SD.

The hysteresis threshold comparator 73 takes the filtered phase difference signal SDF as input and compares it with a band of forbidden values. The threshold comparator outputs a state signal SE which goes from 0 to 1 when the filtered phase difference signal SDF passes above the highest value of this band; and from 1 to 0 when the filtered phase difference signal SDF falls below the smallest value of this band.

Finally, the location signal generating unit 74 takes the first digitized current signal C1 and the state signal SE as input and generates the location signal SL.

The unit 74 comprises a threshold comparator able to compare the level of the current C1 with a reference level and to generate a binary signal of unit value as soon as the current C1 exceeds the reference level. The unit 74 also includes a logic element designed to generate a location signal SL as soon as the signals emitted by the threshold comparator of the unit 74 and the hysteresis threshold comparator 73 are both equal to unity. The location signal SL emitted takes for example the form of a pulse of value equal to unity.

The system 10 includes a second electronic processing chain 40 of the first and second induced currents 11, 12 to generate a second location signal SL2.

The second chain 40 is independent of the first processing chain 30.

The second chain 40 is identical to the first processing line 30. It comprises circuits and electronic components identical to those of the first processing line. This is the reason why, in Figure 1, the identical elements between the first chain and the second chain are identified by the same reference numerals.

The system 10 includes an arbitration module 50 designed to output an SLS security location signal. This module takes as input the first and second location signals SL1, SL2 respectively generated at the output of the first and second chains 30, 40, as well as a distance datum d traveled from a reference point delivered by an odometric system equipping the vehicle. .

More precisely, the arbitration module implements a first algorithm consisting of selecting, as the location signal in SLS security, the location signal arrived temporally second among the first and second location signals SL1, SL2 transmitted temporally in first by each of the first and second processing chains 30, 40, provided that the distance D separating the location signal arrived temporally second, the location signal arrived temporally first, is less than a predetermined reference distance OD.

The reference distance OD is preferably 5 cm.

Even if the components used in the two chains 30 and 40 are identical, each of the first and second chains has its own sensitivity and its own signal-to-noise ratio.

Since the generation, by a chain, of a location signal SL is associated with a phase change of the second induced current 12, that is to say the cancellation of the intensity of this current, the difference of sensitivity between the two chains 30 and 40 results in a distance traveled by the vehicle between the transmission times of the first and second location signals SL1, SL2.

Considering that the speed of the vehicle is substantially constant when the antenna is in contact with the beacon, this distance corresponds to a time difference between the transmission times of the first and second location signals SL1, SL2. It should be noted that this time difference can not be limited because, the slower the vehicle speed, the greater the time difference between the transmission instants of the first and second location signals.

In normal operation, each chain 30, 40 provides a location signal with a functional accuracy of +/- 2 cm from the center of the beacon.

Since the localization signal is emitted when there is a variation of the phase difference caused by a variation of the phase of the intensity induced in the second "8" loop of the antenna, the functional accuracy is exclusively due to the signal-to-noise ratio of the processing chain of this induced intensity.

But, in case of failure of one of the two chains, and as it is not possible to identify the chain that is failing, we do not know what is the signal of location to be taken into account among the first and second location signals issued.

Thus, the simple fact of duplicating the processing chain, that is to say, to provide redundancy in the generation of the location signal, does not make it possible to locate the vehicle with respect to the center of the beacon with certainty. that is to say, safe.

The railway vehicles are, in a manner known per se, equipped with an odometric system which comprises a voice wheel mounted on an axle and whose movement makes it possible to determine the distance traveled by the vehicle from a reference point situated along the road. way. To detect the faulty chain and limit the impact of this fault on the location function, according to this first embodiment, the vehicle odometry is used in order to provide the arbitration module 50 with distance data enabling said module determining the distance traveled by the vehicle between the transmission times of the location signals SL1 and SL2 transmitted temporally first by each of the two chains.

Figure 2 combines several graphs illustrating the behavior of the first algorithm in different normal situations and failure of one of the processing chains, in this case the second processing chain 40.

On these graphs, d1 represents the point at which the first processing chain 30 transmits for the first time a first location signal SL1; d2 represents the point at which the second processing chain 40 transmits for the first time a second location signal SL2; and d0 represents the point which is remote from the temporally transmitted signal first of the reference distance D0.

The graph G1 represents the spatial interval within which the antenna is in contact with the beacon. The geometric center of the beacon is identified by reference C.

The graph G2 illustrates a normal operation of the system. On this graph, the locating signal arrived temporally first is the first signal SL1 and the locating signal arrived temporally second is the second signal SL2. The second signal SL2 is sent in d2 before the point d0. Thus, the module 50 selects the second signal SL2 as the location signal in SLS security. In the figures, the selected signal has been circled as a safe location signal by the selection module. It is found that the point d2 is within an interval [-2 cm; + 7 cm] around point C.

For the following graphs, the second string 40 is faulty. However, this has no consequence because a safety location signal SLS is delivered by the system 10. This safe location signal is acceptable in the sense that it allows a correct location of the vehicle relative to the beacon in the system. interval [-2 cm; + 7cm] around point C.

The graph G3 represents the case where the second location signal SL2 arrives too late with respect to the intrinsic functional precision of a chain, that is to say +/- 2 cm with respect to the point C. It is nevertheless selected in as a safe location signal SLS by the arbitration module 50, since the point d2 is less than 5 cm from the point d1. The graph G4 represents the case where the second location signal SL2 arrives too early in relation to the intrinsic functional precision of a chain. In this case, the signal transmitted temporally first is the second signal SL2. The first signal SL1 arrived temporally second, is then selected as safe location signal SLS by the arbitration module 50, since the point dj_ is less than 5 cm from the point d2.

The graph G5 represents the case where the second location signal SL2 is emitted several times, the first time too early compared to the intrinsic functional accuracy of a chain. In this case, the temporally transmitted first signal is the second signal. The first signal SL1 which has arrived temporally second is then selected as a safety signal SLS by the arbitration module 50, since the point d1 is less than 5 cm from the point d2.

For the following graphs, the second string 40 is faulty. This failure is identifiable so that no SLS security location signal is issued by the system.

The graph G6 represents the case where the second location signal SL2 arrives too late with respect to the intrinsic functional precision of a chain. Although the second signal is the second temporally transmitted signal, no safe location signal is emitted by the arbitration module, since the point d2 is beyond the point d remote from dj. 5 cm.

The graph G7 represents the case where the second location signal SL2 arrives too early with respect to the intrinsic functional precision of a chain. Although the first signal SL1 arrived temporally second, no safe location signal is emitted by the arbitration module, since the point d1 is beyond the point d distant 5 cm from point d2.

Finally, the graph G8 represents the case where the second location signal SL2 arrives several times, the first time too early compared to the intrinsic functional accuracy of a chain. The first signal SL1 yet arrived temporally second is not selected as a safety signal SLS by the arbitration module 50, because the point dl is beyond the point d distant 5 cm from point d2.

The graph G9 represents the case where the second chain 40 delivers no second location signal SL2. No safety location signal SLS is then issued by the arbitration module 50.

Thus, by implementing the first algorithm, the system 10 generates a safe location signal for locating the vehicle with an accuracy of [- 2 cm; +7 cm] with respect to the center C of the beacon with SIL 4 level reliability.

However, this accuracy is not ensured when the axle on which the sound wheel of the odometry system is mounted is a driving axle and / or braked. The sliding, traction or braking, this wheel axle generate an uncertainty on the distance actually traveled by the vehicle between the times of emission of the first and second location signals.

The following two embodiments of the system advantageously make it possible to respond to this problem by proposing systems that do not need the distance data delivered by the odometry to generate a location signal in safety.

SECOND EMBODIMENT

Figures 3, 4 and 5 relate to a second embodiment of the system.

An element of FIG. 3 which is identical to an element of FIG. 1 is designated in FIG. 3 by the reference numeral used in FIG. 1 to denote this corresponding element.

As shown in Figure 3, the system 1 10 according to this second embodiment comprises an antenna 20 having first and second loops, respectively simple 22 and "8", 24, according to the prior art.

The system comprises, in addition to first and second processing lines 30 and 40, identical to those of the first embodiment, a third electronic processing chain 80 of the first and second induced currents 11 and 12, respectively by the first and second loops. of the antenna, to generate a third location signal SL3.

The third processing chain 80 is independent of the first and second chains 30 and 40.

The third processing chain 80 is identical to the first and the second chain. In particular, the circuits and components of the third processing chain are identical to those of the first and second chains. For this reason, the reference numerals used to designate the components of the first and second strings have been taken over to designate the corresponding components of the third strand.

The system 1 10 comprises an arbitration module 150 designed to generate a safety location signal SLS from, only, first, second and third location signals SL1, SL2 and SL3 respectively transmitted by each of the three channels 30, 40 and 80.

The second algorithm implemented by the arbitration module consists in selecting, as a location signal in SLS security, the location signal arrived temporally second among the location signals SL1, SL2, SL3 sent temporally first by each of the three processing chains 30, 40, 80 respectively.

As in the first embodiment, this second algorithm relies on the fact that a properly functioning chain provides a + 1-2 cm location signal from the center C of the beacon, this being guaranteed by the different radiation patterns of the beacons. loops 22 and 24 of the antenna.

FIG. 4 brings together several graphs illustrating the behavior of the second algorithm implemented by the module 150.

On these graphs, d1 represents the point at which the first processing chain 30 transmits for the first time a first location signal SL1; d2 represents the point at which the second processing chain 40 transmits for the first time a second location signal SL2; and d3 represents the point at which the third processing chain 80 transmits for the first time a third location signal SL3.

The graph F1 represents the spatial interval within which the antenna detects the beacon. The geometric center of the beacon is identified by reference C.

The graph F2 illustrates a normal operation of the system 1 1 0. On this graph, the first signal SL1 arrives temporally first, the second signal SL2 arrives temporally second and the third signal SL3 arrives temporally third. The module 150 selects, as the location of the signal in SLS security, the second signal SL2.

For the following graphs, the second string 40 is faulty. However, this has no consequence because a safe location signal is delivered by the system 1 10. This safe location signal is acceptable in the sense that it allows a correct location within the tolerance range of +/- 2 cm from center C of the beacon.

The graph F3 represents the case where the second signal SL2 arrives too late with respect to the intrinsic functional accuracy of +/- 2 cm with respect to the point C. The module 150 then selects the third location signal SL3 which is the temporally arrived signal. Secondly. Point d3 is less than 2 cm from point C.

The graph F4 represents the case where the second signal SL2 arrives too early with respect to the intrinsic functional accuracy. The module 1 50 then selects the first signal SL1 which is the signal arrived temporally second. The point dj. is less than 2 cm from point C. The graph F5 represents the case where the second signal SL2 is emitted several times, the first time too early compared to the intrinsic functional accuracy of +/- 2 cm with respect to the point C. The first signal SL1 is then selected as signal in SLS security by the arbitration module 150, because it is actually the location signal arrived temporally second among the location signals issued temporally first by each of the three channels. Point c is less than 2 cm from point C.

The graph F6 represents the case where the second channel 40 delivers no second location signal. However, the module 150 selects the third signal SL3 as a location signal in SLS security, because it is the signal emitted temporally second. Point d3 is less than 2 cm from point C.

Once the location with respect to the point C has been carried out, it is necessary to identify if a chain is faulty in order to guarantee the respect of the level of security SIL4. The present method has a fault tolerance of only one of the three chains, so it relies on the identification of a latent failure.

In particular, failures "too late" (graph F3) or "too early" can be detected as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. The distance "before" Adi is defined as the distance between the start point of contact with the beacon (transmission of the signal SA) and the transmission point di of a location signal SLi by the ith chain, and the distance "after" Bdi, as the distance between the sending point di of the location signal SLi and the end point B contact with the beacon (SB signal emission).

In contrast to normal operation (FIG. 5A), in faulty operation (FIG. 5B), the faulty chain exhibits a strong dissymmetry between the "forward" Adi and "after" Bdi distances, whereas the other two channels that function correctly have more or less great symmetry between these two distances.

This assumes that the speed of the train is stabilized on the beacon. This represents a majority of cases given the inertia of a train and the small size of a beacon (about 50 cm).

Advantageously, the module 150 comprises a failure detection means 151 capable of calculating a magnitude relative to the asymmetry from the safety location signal SLS, the start signals SA and the end of the contact SB with the beacon and the signal signals. location SLi emitted temporally first by each of the strings. This means 151 generates an identification signal Sid of the faulty chain as soon as the ratio of the distances "before" Adi and "back" Bdi of the chain corresponding is for example out of a predefined interval around the unit value, preferably [0.8; 1, 2].

THIRD EMBODIMENT

Figures 6 and 7 relate to a third embodiment of the system.

An element of FIG. 6 which is identical to an element of FIG. 1 is designated in FIG. 6 by the reference numeral used in FIG. 1 to denote this corresponding element.

As shown in FIG. 6, the system 210 according to this third embodiment comprises an antenna 20 comprising two loops, respectively simple 22 and "8", 24.

The system comprises a first chain 230 and a second chain 240 of treatment.

The first channel 230 has an analog portion 260 and a first digital portion 270.

The second chain 240 comprises, as second analog part, the analog portion 260 of the first chain 230, and a second digital portion 370 independent of the digital portion 270 of the first chain 230.

In other words, the system 210 includes an analog portion 260 common to the first and second strings 230 and 240, a first digital portion 270 specifically associated with the first string 230 and a second digital portion 370 specifically associated with the second string 240.

The first and second digital portions are synchronized with each other by a matched synchronization means 280 which outputs the same clock signal to the components 67, 68, 230 and 240.

The circuits and components of the analog portion 260 are identical to those shown in FIG.

The circuits and components of the first and second digital portions 270, 370 are identical to each other and to those shown in FIG. The reference figures have been reused accordingly.

The system 210 includes an arbitration module 250 designed to generate a safe location signal SLS from, only, the first and second location signals SL1, SL2 respectively transmitted by each of the two chains 230 and 240.

A third algorithm, implemented by the arbitration module 250, consists of selecting, as the location signal in SLS security, the location signal. arrived temporally second among the location signals SL1, SL2 sent temporally first by each of the two processing chains 230 and 240, provided that the duration between the transmission times of the first and second signals SL1 and SL2 is less than one reference period T0. This reference period TO is for example 1 με. This represents 0.1 mm at 500 km / h.

As in the first embodiment, this algorithm relies on the fact that a properly functioning chain provides a locational signal within +/- 2 cm from the center C of the beacon, this being guaranteed by the radiation patterns of the loops of the beacon. the antenna.

This third algorithm is based on the fact that the time difference between the instants of emission of a localization signal by two independent chains from one another depends in fact exclusively on the gain and the signal / noise ratio of the analog part of each of these two chains.

Therefore, by using an analog part common to both channels and performing a synchronous processing in the digital parts, the time between the transmission instants of the two location signals respectively from each of the two chains is limited.

The synchronization time between the two digital portions realized by the synchronization means 280 defines the reference duration T0.

Figure 7 brings together several graphs illustrating the behavior of the third algorithm implemented by the module 250.

On these graphs, d1 represents the point at which the first processing chain 230 transmits for the first time a first location signal SL1; d2 represents the point at which the second processing chain 240 transmits for the first time a second location signal SL2.

The graph E1 represents the spatial interval within which the antenna detects the beacon. The geometric center of the beacon is identified by reference C.

The graph E2 illustrates a normal operation of the system 210. On this graph, the first signal SL1 arrives temporally first, the second signal SL2 arrives temporally second. The time between the first and second location signals is less than the reference time T0. The module 250 selects the second signal SL2 as the safety location signal SLS.

For the following graphs, the second string 240 is faulty. No safety location signal SLS is then issued by the system 210.

The graph E3 represents the case where the second signal SL2 arrives too late with respect to the intrinsic functional accuracy of +/- 2 cm with respect to the point C. time between the first and second location signals SL1 and SL2 is greater than the reference duration TO. The module 250 then selects none of the location signals.

The graph E4 represents the case where the second signal SL2 arrives too early with respect to the intrinsic functional accuracy. The duration separating the first and second location signals SL1 and SL2 is greater than the reference duration TO. The module 250 then selects none of the location signals.

The graph E5 represents the case where the second location signal SL2 is emitted several times, the first time too early compared to the intrinsic functional accuracy. The duration separating the first and second location signals SL1 and SL2 is greater than the reference duration TO. The module 250 then selects none of the location signals.

The graph E6 represents the case where the second channel 240 delivers no second location signal. The module 250 emits no location signal in safety.

VARIANT OF REALIZATION (ANTENNA 3 BUCKLES)

Alternatively, the first, second and third embodiments are suitable for operation with an antenna having three loops having different radiation patterns from each other, such as the antenna described in PCT / FR2010 / 050607. Those skilled in the art will know how to adapt the analog part of a processing chain so that it generates a location signal which takes into account the phases of the first, second and third currents induced in each of these three loops. In particular, the signal delivered by the third loop of the antenna makes it possible to avoid having to compare the signal delivered by the first loop with respect to a threshold as is realized in the variants of the system where the antenna has two loops. . STUDY OF POSSIBLE FAILURES

A detailed analysis of the possible failures of the system has been carried out, in order to estimate the probability of the emission of a location signal in erroneous security, with a view to the homologation of the system.

These possible failures are of three types: according to a first type of failure, the loss of the generation of a digitized current Ci at the output of the ith analog circuit results in the application of a Gaussian white noise at the input of the digital part of the string.

according to a second type of failure, the loss of the generation of a digitized current Ci at the output of the ith analog circuit results in a crosstalk, the ith circuit copying the digitized current Ck generated by another circuit. The currents Ci and Ck applied at the input of the digital part of the chain are then strongly correlated.

according to a third type of failure, a systematic delay introduced by an analog circuit into the generation of the corresponding digitized current Ci.

To deal with these possible failures, in a first alternative of the system, it comprises a test means (not shown in the figures) designed to eliminate these possible failures of the analog part.

The test means is adapted to periodically perform a test consisting in applying, at the input of each circuit, a reference current NRef in place of the current I1 induced in the corresponding loop. This test then consists in analyzing, at the output of each circuit, the amplitude and the delay of the corresponding digitized current CiRef.

However, the periodic realization of a test has two disadvantages:

for a failure of the third type, the delay can be significant only on a narrow frequency band which would not be detectable by the test because of the nature of the first and second reference currents injected;

the contact with the beacon can be altered if a test is performed while the antenna passes above the beacon and preventing the taking into account of the currents li generated by the antennas.

For these reasons, a second alternative of the system is to block the transmission of the location signal in SLS security generated, when one or more additional conditions are not verified.

To eliminate failures of the first type, an additional condition is to ignore the filtered phase difference signal SDF when it is in a predefined interval centered on the value 0.

Indeed, if, for example, the second digitized stream C2 corresponds to a Gaussian white noise, its phase varies rapidly with respect to that of the first digitized current C1, so that the phase difference SD1 or SD2 is often as -1 as + 1. Thus, the temporal average of the phase difference between the first and second digitized currents performed by the filter 72 is close to the value 0.

It is shown that the limits of this interval depend not only on the level of security that one wishes to achieve (10 ^{~ 9} for the SIL 4 level), but also on the sampling frequency of the filter 72 used. The values of the band of forbidden values of the hysteresis threshold comparator 73 are adapted accordingly.

For example, in the case of the third embodiment in its two-loop variant (FIG. 6), no safe location signal is transmitted by the module 250 when the filtered phase difference signal SDF1 or SDF2 is included. between -0.56 and +0.56 for a frequency of about 13 MHz, and between -0.28 and +0.28 for a frequency of about 55 MHz.

By rejecting situations in which the filtered phase difference signal SDF1 or SDF2 is close to the value 0, failures of the first type are discarded.

Failures of the second type, for variants of the system where the antenna 10 has two loops, are immediately detected. Indeed, they lead to a filtered phase difference signal SDF1 or SDF2 equal to unity and this throughout the contact of the antenna with the beacon. The comparator 73 does not identify any variation of this signal, it emits no signal. In this way, the failures of the second type are discarded.

Failures of the second type (an analog circuit reproduces the strongest signal among the signals generated by the other two analog circuits, or reproduces the two signals generated by the other two analog circuits) can affect the variants of the system where the antenna comprises three loops. To avoid this type of failure, the arbitration module is adapted to implement an additional constraint consisting, after leaving the contact with the tag, to verify that has actually been observed a sequence characteristic of the phase differences between the different pairs of currents induced. Otherwise, the safety location signal transmitted while the antenna was in contact with the tag, will be invalidated.

However, to avoid this type of failure and to avoid having to perform the verification of a stress after the passage of the antenna above the tag, this verification can be made several seconds after the passage of the center of the antenna above the center of the beacon especially in the case where the speed of the train is low, it is better to check the constraint according to which the currents of the first and third loops of the antenna have less than 20dB d This difference can be made when the center of the antenna is directly above the center of the beacon. In case of positive verification, the safe location signal is issued.

Finally, the study of the causes of the third type of failure shows that:

the amplifier 65, 66 can only delay a signal by a few microseconds, which leads to a location error of a few millimeters acceptable, given the intrinsic functional accuracy of +/- 2 cm with respect to the center of the beacon; the analog / digital converter 67, 68 can not delay a signal beyond a few clock cycles, ie less than a microsecond;

the filter 63, 64 can alone delay the signal significantly.

But, it is shown that a detrimental delay given the intrinsic functional accuracy, for example a delay of the order of 350 με corresponds to a distance of 5 cm at 500 km / h, can only be introduced by a filter presenting a particular structure, characterized by an extremely narrow bandwidth. Such bandwidth requires the use of inductors and / or capacitors whose impedance is either very important or very low. It then suffices, in the upstream design phase of the filter 63, 64 to avoid these large or weak impedances, to ensure a sufficiently low delay and thereby reject, by construction, failures of the third type.

In conclusion, the proposed invention allows:

- to obtain a location information with a high level of security, respecting the SIL 4 level;

to obtain a precision of this location signal in safety of +/- 2 cm with a two-loop antenna and + 1-2 cm with an antenna comprising three loops;

- No longer use odometry to obtain a location signal in safety SIL4, and thus better adapt to distributed traction (wheel slip and slip giving false odometry values);

to detect a latent failure of one of the chains.

Claims

1. System (10; 1 10; 210) for generating a locating signal of a railway vehicle, of the type comprising:

an antenna (20) comprising a first loop (22) and a second loop

(24) having respective respective radiation patterns, the first and second loops being respectively adapted to generate first and second currents (11, 12) during the passage of the antenna over a suitable beacon located on the track in a known position; and,

an electronic processing chain designed to generate a location signal from said first and second currents,

characterized in that, said chain being a first chain (30; 130; 230) adapted to generate a first location signal (SL1), the system (10; 1; 10; 210) comprises a second electronic process chain (40; 140; 240) adapted to generate a second locator signal (SL2) from said first and second currents, and in that the system further comprises arbitration means (50; 150;

250) for generating a safe location signal (SLS) based on said first and second location signals.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that said first and second chains (30, 40; 130, 140) are independent of one another.

3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that said first and second chains (30, 40; 130, 140) are identical to each other.

4. System (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the arbitration means (50) selects, as a safe location signal (SLS), the temporally arrived signal second among the first and second signals of localization (SL1, SL2) transmitted temporally first by each of the first and second chains (30, 40).

5. System (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the arbitration means (50) takes as input a distance (d) delivered by an odometric system equipping said vehicle, and in that the arbitration means ( 50) selects the temporally arrived signal secondly if it arrives at a point which is at a distance from the point transmission of the signal emitted temporally the first lower to a reference distance (OD), in particular equal to 5 cm.

6. System according to claim 5, characterized in that, the antenna comprising a third loop whose radiation pattern is different from that of the second loop and the one of the first loop, said safe location signal (SLS). to locate the vehicle relative to the known position of the beacon with an accuracy of -21 + 7 cm.

7. System (1 1 0) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a third electronic processing chain (80) adapted to generate a third location signal (SL3) from said first and second currents (11, 12), and in that said arbitration means (150) is adapted to select, as a safe location signal (SLS), the location signal issued temporally second among the first, second and third location signals (SL1, SL2, SL3) transmitted temporally first by each of the first, second and third channels (30, 40, 80).

8. System according to claim 7, characterized in that the arbitration means (1 50) is designed to determine, for each of the chains (30, 40, 50), a duration "before" separating the start time of detecting the beacon (A) and the time of transmission of the location signal (SL1, SL2, SL3) transmitted temporally first by the channel considered, and an "after" duration separating the instant of emission of the signal of localization (SL1, SL2, SL3) transmitted temporally first by the chain in question and the end of detection of the beacon (B), and in that the arbitration means (250) comprises a means (151) of its own identifying the failure of a chain if the ratio of the "before" duration to the "after" time is outside a predetermined interval around the unit value.

9. System (210) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first chain (230) comprises a first analog part (260) and a first digital part (270), in that the second chain (240) comprises, in as an analog second part, said first analog part of the first string, and a second digital part (370) independent of said first digital part of the first string.

10. System (210) according to claim 9, characterized in that the second digital portion (370) of the second chain (240) is identical to the first digital portion (270) of the first chain (230).

1 1. System (210) according to claim 9 or claim 10, characterized in that the arbitration means (250) selects, as a safe localization signal (SLS), the location signal arrived temporally second among said first and second location signals (SL1, SL2) transmitted temporally first by each of the first and second channels (230, 240), provided that the time between the transmission of the location signals transmitted temporally first by each of the channels is less than at a reference time (T0), in particular equal to 1, 5 με.

12. System (1 10; 210) according to any one of claims 7 to 1 1, characterized in that the antenna comprising a third loop whose radiation pattern is different from that of the second loop and that of the first loop, said safe locating signal (SLS) makes it possible to locate the vehicle with respect to the known position of the beacon with an accuracy of +/- 5 cm, preferably +/- 2 cm.

13. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, each chain comprising an analog part and a digital part, the system comprises a test means designed to apply a reference current to an input of an analog part. and for analyzing digitized current signals generated at the output of said analog portion or other analog portion.

14. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it complies with the security level SIL 4.

15. Railway vehicle comprising an on-board system for generating a location signal, characterized in that said system is a system (10, 1 10, 210) according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

A method of generating a locating signal of a railway vehicle, comprising the steps of:

generating first and second currents (11, 12) during the passage of an antenna over a suitable beacon, said antenna being on board the vehicle and comprising a first loop and a second loop having diagrams of respective different radiation, said beacon being located on the track in a known position;

generating a location signal from said first and second currents; characterized in that, said location signal being a first location signal (SL1) transmitted by a first process line (30, 130, 230) of the first and second streams, the method comprises:

generating a second location signal (SL2) from said first and second currents (11, 12) by means of a second processing chain (40, 140, 240); and,

generating a safe location signal (SLS) according to said first and second location signals (SL1, SL2).

17. - Method according to claim 16, characterized in that the generation of a safe location signal consists in selecting, as a safe location signal, the location signal arrived temporally second among the first and second signals. locating device temporally transmitted first by each of the first and second processing chains, provided that the distance separating the locating signal arrived temporally second, from the locating signal arrived temporally first, is less than a reference distance (D0) predetermined.

18. - Method according to claim 16, characterized in that it comprises the step of generating a third location signal (SL3) from said first and second currents (11, 12) by means of a third channel of treatment (80); and in that the generation of a safe location signal (SLS) consists in selecting, as a safe location signal, the location signal arrived secondarily time among the location signals (SL1, SL2, SL3) issued temporally first by each of the three processing chains (30, 40, 80) respectively.

19. - Method according to claim 16, characterized in that the first chain (230) comprising a first analog part (260) and a first digital part (270), the second chain (240) comprising, as second part analog, said first analog portion of the first channel, and a second digital portion (370) independent of said first digital portion of the first channel, generating a safe location signal comprises selecting, as a location signal in security (SLS), the location signal arrived temporally second among the location signals (SL1, SL2) transmitted temporally firstly by each of the two processing chains (230, 240), provided that the duration between the transmission times of the first and second signals is less than a predetermined reference time (T0).

20. The method of claim 19, characterized in that the method further comprises the verification of at least one additional condition for detecting a failure of the analog part (260) common to the first and second processing chains ( 230, 240).