ES2362069A1 - Device and electrocromic system for signaling. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

System and signaling device based on electrochromic materials for vehicles, preferably trains. The device comprises a series of elements of electrochromic material, which through a small electric current are excited and change color. By means of said color changes signals can be transmitted to a vehicle in its path near such devices. Reciprocally, a vehicle with an electrochromic device installed on board can also transmit signals to be read and processed to act in accordance with them. It is useful in railway applications since it allows a direct communication between train, central and other trains or even with the platform. It can be used for automation in the case of trains without driver. It is safe and allows, in case of anomalies in the operation, to warn of the problem of a fast form. It is also energy efficient. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Device and electrochromic system for signaling.

Technical sector

The invention belongs to the systems of signaling and control More specifically to those who rely on the use of electrochromic materials.

State of the art

It should be noted as background of this Invention the following documents:

FR 2672026 describes a control system of train speed and position only. Use markers to along the track, systems to detect markers and to process the signals, without referring to the medium used to said end

The present invention refers to the construction of markers and detectors, it also not only serves to control the position and speed of trains but to Multiple applications improving the prior art. It is also valid to maintain communication between trains and with the central, With an infinite number of different codes. It is also applicable in Security Matter

ES 0364955 describes a control system for avoid collisions between trains by detectors that measuring train position and speed (using the same mechanism that for elevator control) be able to stop it.

Instead, the present invention is not only about the problem of collisions but it is also able to send information of any kind, with infinite codes, both for regulate the position as for any other application that define

\hbox{tramo de la vía
(el conductor puede comunicarse con la central), etc.}

In relation to electrochromic materials and their possible applications, the use of them for railway control and signaling through color changes produced by subjecting intelligent paints to an electric current is unknown to date. This invention with respect to previous systems improves immediately the response causes effect and consumes less energy. In turn, this invention with respect to previous systems has greater versatility of transmitted information since current systems only inform whether to continue or slow down. The system proposed here, in addition to the previous functionalities, also allows information on the state of the road to be transmitted, including possible incidents at the next station, similarly it allows to automatically regulate the speed of the train in each section, including piloting without a driver, alerting the central control and other trains of possible incidents within a train or in a

 \ hbox {track section
(the driver can communicate with the exchange), etc.} 

ES 2164029 deals with possible applications of an electrochromic device in energy control electromagnetic reflected by the device or transmitted through of the device, for example in a rearview mirror or on a moon of A car.

It is not known to date, the application of These materials to convey messages.

Documents on these materials have been found About railway control:

ES 0189561 discloses system improvements automatic traffic safety networks trains and metropolitan. To maintain automatic train control heavy coils are used that act as switches making that when the trains are close together there is an induction that automatically brake the train engine to avoid collision.

The present invention also controls said collisions but without using large devices that produce a increase in energy consumption, already high. The invention therefore improves and optimizes this aspect.

Another reference is a school text superior of road engineers, who indicate how the modern railway signaling:

http://www.catedra-ffcc-caminos.com/prote/pdf/Apuntes Class FFCC / Se% C3% B1alizaci% C3% B3n JGonzalez
06.pdf

There the automatic control method is explained and modern security. This method is highly effective and allows a control against situations of reach between trains, overshoot of red signals, human failures and speed control and position.

It uses the sense of the electric current of the wiring to stop or allow the passage of trains at the rate of what Want the driver.

This system is useful for controls of movement or position but as has already been clarified in other cases, although it does not allow direct communication or send another kind of orders outside the term "forward" or "brake."

The system that is used today for the Railway communication for long-distance trains is the train-land system consisting of a series of telephones located along the road that allow telephoning the central to communicate incidents. This system is very rudimentary and requires that the train has to stop for communication (due to that is why the subway stops when there is an incident). What is proposed by the present invention exceeds these inconvenience

Description of the invention

In view of the limitations detected in the prior art, it would be desirable to have a system that allow broader, versatile and safer communication for this conveyance. However, you can also extend your employment in other situations and in other means of transport preferably guided by lanes.

Against normal beacons, the invention manages to enable direct communication between train, central and others trains and even with the platform. In addition, it allows automation (case trains without driver).

Avoid transmission problems inside tunnels, common in radiofrequency systems, since the waves They find it difficult to cross tunnels.

In particular, the invention has advantages when automation is done by optical signals. The operator does not is aware of the operation the machine is doing, without however with the present invention you are aware that you are receiving a signal At first glance he is able to appreciate the change color of the devices and even in case of system breakdown of the train, the driver would be able to get the information with a Simple hand reader.

The operation is based on signaling by a small electric current capable of exciting a material electrochromic by subjecting it to a color change. This generates a signal to the vehicle controller, be it a person or a computer.

The energy consumption by the system is very low. The means of communication between devices can be both by cable, radio frequency or other transmission mechanisms of data.

It has great versatility since it can be send a variety of signals: from the command center to one of trains, from each train to the command center or another train using a universal code. Another big difference is that it acts quickly, because these materials respond to speeds of milliseconds

The above results are achieved through of the technical characteristics defined in the claim Independent. Preferred embodiments are specified, in turn, in the dependent claims.

Description of the figures

Figure 1 shows an image of a code bars formed by four conduits (10) with ten cables (11) each one that is coated with electrochromic material (12) (or connected with elements formed of said material). For clarity only those illuminated wires corresponding to the code 1234.

Figure 2a shows a scheme of the system in perspective with a pair of markers (25, 27) and scanners (22, 24) respectively for the train (2) and for the track, a unit central (20) and an onboard processor (21) for the train.

Figure 2b shows the rear view of the train where you can see the distance of the road marking (27) and scanner vial (24) to the passage of the train (2).

Figure 3 shows a schematic section of the electrochromic device formed by a support plate (32), a transparent protector (33), where the cables are illustrated in two ducts only. For clarity a detail is shown enlarged of the same where its structure formed among others by a electrochromic paint layer (34), a conductive band (35) and a insulator (36).

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

An example of embodiment of the invention without limitation.

First, a general scheme of the installation must be carried out, then the most suitable range of options and options is selected from the most convenient a priori for the realization of the design and finally the details are outlined so that a feasible installation can be carried out without giving up her CARACTERISTICS. That is, the fact that a simple installation is intended to be achieved should not restrict its power by using less efficient scanners or less sensitive electrochromic materials.

Through a series of signaling scanners (23) of some electrochromic material located along the track or of a section thereof, information encoded in a barcode, so that the locomotive (2) can interpret said information and process it intelligently by notifying the machinist or even acting independently. It is also it is possible that the locomotive itself (2) can communicate with others trains or with the central (20) in a retroactive way. That is, the own train or the driver can send messages from your state or from incidents to the central (20) or other trains.

Preferably, the information using a simple small barcode (For example, a four-digit barcode is capable of transmit up to 10,000 different messages).

A possible implementation of the mechanism consists of installing four conduits throughout the railway network (10) with ten cables (11) for each of them, said conduits (10) will be linked to a central computer (20) that will be the responsible for transmitting the information and coding it, in such a way that with just one click we can transmit a code to anyone of the trains (2).

Said central computer (20), can also receive information from trains (2) to know their status, their position or any incident and therefore notify others trains to avoid collisions or accidents.

The design is very simple, which saves time of installation in addition to being able to correct faults quickly And simple.

Each of these four ducts (10) carries the information for one of the four digits of the barcode.

In each receiver, the ten wires (11) that make up each duct line up transversely and cover with some kind of electrochromic paint (electrochromic polymer like it can be polypyrrole) and are arranged together in the same plane to there are no light irregularities between bands (see figure 3).

A barcode is preferably used Discreet and multidimensional. This achieves that the system ignore the gaps or gaps between each bar (discrete) and also that each bar is a multiple of a certain fixed length that in this Case will be the thickness of the polymer fiber (multidimensional).

This way we can transmit the code "stop the train before 100 meters" which has as code numerical for example "1234" by lighting only one fiber of the first conduit, two of the second, three of the third and four of the fourth, as shown in figure 1.

The barcode changes color due to its properties and light, will be collected by omnidirectional scanner which is in the cabin.

The on-board scanner (22) will obtain the information, it will transmit it through a wiring to the computer of a train board (21) and will become a signal light-acoustic that will warn the driver or in a mechanical signal that will trigger the mechanisms of (in the example) Brake.

Also the road mechanisms will have their own scanner (24) and each train its own barcode electrochromic as signaling device (25).

Apart from this design, an interface facilitates a comfortable working environment for the controller and also have in the database all possible codes and be able to send the signal.

This interface is also implemented in the train computers so that you can interrelate the information that we receive and that we send with the actions of machinist and automatic control system.

A series of devices must be placed vials (23) that include a signaling pair (27) and scanner (24) along the track near one of the sides of the train (2) (for example the right side), each device (23) must be located a sufficient distance so that it does not collide with the train / vehicle (2) due to some type of swing that may describe your trajectory but close enough for you to can read the code (fig. 2)

In turn, these scanner sets - road marking (23) must be arranged every certain distance on the track depending on the speed of the train (2) (it must not be the same speed for a metropolitan train as for a high train speed).

To allow the flow of information in both directions, both along the track and on the train, there must be electrochromic devices with barcode and readers barcodes

The scanning of on-board scanners (22) of bars should be high enough for them to read to high speed with a frequency of the order of 100 kHz will be Enough and can be easily achieved.

The on-board scanner (22) must be attached to a computer (21) that collects and processes the signals and that in turn Have command in the train mechanisms.

The road marker (27) of the track must be interconnected with the control center (20) and with the others circuit devices each with a small microprocessor. These devices (scanner-signaling pairs) which are found in other sections of the same route, allow them to can notify other trains that are in front of or behind an incident determined by a universal code.

Preferably, electrochromic materials they must be protected from moisture and external aggressions by a layer of transparent material (33).

References

10

Ducts where channels 11 are packaged corresponding to each digit of the code

eleven

Channels of electrochromic material that light up

12

Electrochromic elements

2

Train

twenty

Central Unit

twenty-one

Boarding Process Unit on train 2

22

On-board scanner

2. 3

scanner set - road marking

24

Road scanner

25

Onboard train electrochromic signaling device 2

27

Road electrochromic signaling device

32

Support plate

33

Transparent protector

3. 4

Electrochromic Paint Layer

35

Conductive band

36

Insulating

37

Illuminated band.

Industrial application

The main industrial application consists of control, safety and automation of trains or guided vehicles by lanes. With this system you can easily communicate the central and the driver and even the central can give an order or appropriate control of the device in case of incident.

Valid for metropolitan networks, national and International

Other possible applications can be found as safety in mines to avoid accidents due to flammable gases or toxic, preventing the person from entering an area with high concentrations of some gas.

Claims (9)

1. Electrochromic signaling device (27.25) for vehicles characterized in that it comprises: - a plurality of cables (11) connected electrically with electrochromic elements (12), configured to selectively transmit an electric current to each element electrochromic according to an activation signal, said electric current capable of producing a color change of the activated electrochromic element; - a support (32) configured to accommodate in a same plane electrochromic elements (12), with said support comprising a transparent surface (33) configured to allow light transmission and to protect the elements electrochromic 2. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that electrochromic elements (12) are arranged parallel, alternating with insulating elements (36). Device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the support (32) is configured to group the electrochromic elements (12) into groups (10). 4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrochromic elements comprise a plurality of layers of electrochromic material thickness and variable separation. 5. Electrochromic signaling system for vehicles characterized by comprising: - a scanner (22) of a configured vehicle (2) to obtain readings of light signals; - a process unit (21) of a vehicle (2), coupled with said scanner (22) and configured to decode light signal information, - at least one electrochromic device of road marking (27) according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, said electrochromic device (27) located at a distance from the path of the vehicle (2) so that with the passage of the vehicle (2) allows reading through the scanner (22) of the emitted light signal. 6. System according to claim 5, wherein the process unit (21) is configured to act on the vehicle control systems (2) according to the information from the electrochromic road signaling device (27). 7. System according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the process unit (21) is coupled with a configured interface to display the decoded information of the devices electrochromic road signs (27). 8. System according to any one of the claims 5 to 7, wherein the information coding emitted by electrochromic road signaling devices (27) is done through a central unit (21) that governs the electric current supplied to said devices electrochromic (27) through a connection wiring (11). 9. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also comprises as an indicator of the vehicle (2) an electrochromatic on-board signaling device (25) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, configured to emit light signals that can be read by a road scanner (24).