hardware.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating another operation
in which the roll detector according to the first
embodiment detects rolling of the train.
5 FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
configuration of the train control system according to a
second embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an action of other
trains according to the second embodiment.
10 FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in
which the roll detector according to a third embodiment
detects rolling of the train.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when
the hub according to the third embodiment receives
15 locational information from the train.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in
which the roll detector according to a fourth embodiment
detects rolling of the train.
20 Description of Embodiments
[0010] A roll detector, a train control system, and a
roll detection method according to embodiments of the
present invention will now be described in detail with
reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention
25 is not limited to the embodiments.
[0011] First Embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
configuration of a train control system 4 according to a
first embodiment of the present invention. The train
30 control system 4 includes a train 1, a radio 2, and a hub
3.
[0012] During operation, the train 1 periodically
transmits its own locational information to the hub 3 via
6
the radio 2, and travels in accordance with a control
command received from the hub 3 via the radio 2. Also, the
train 1 performs train protection when detecting rolling of
itself while not in operation such as while being berthed
5 or detained. Rolling refers to a movement of a stopped
train due to the gradient of a track or the like without
using the power of the train. Train protection is to
notify a train of danger and to stop the train safely in
the event of a failure that requires stopping the train.
10 Note that in the first embodiment, the number of cars on
the train 1 is not limited. The train 1 may include one
car, that is, one car operating by itself.
[0013] The radio 2 is installed on the ground and relays
wireless communication between the train 1 and the hub 3.
15 The radio 2 transmits signals such as the locational
information received from the train 1 to the hub 3, and
transmits signals such as the control command received from
the hub 3 to the train 1. Note that although FIG. 1
illustrates an example where there is one radio 2, two or
20 more of the radios 2 may be connected to one hub 3.
[0014] The hub 3 is a ground apparatus installed on the
ground. The hub 3 acquires the locational information from
the train 1 and controls the operation of the train 1 such
as the course of the train 1. The hub 3 also controls the
25 interval between trains when a plurality of trains is
present within the jurisdiction of the hub 3.
[0015] The configuration of the train 1 will be
described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an
example of the configuration of the train 1 according to
30 the first embodiment. The train 1 includes an on-board
controller 11, a brake 12, and a roll detector 13. The
train 1 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes components related
to an operation of detecting rolling and train protection
7
after detecting rolling in the first embodiment, and the
description of general components is omitted. The on-board
controller 11 controls the action of the train 1 and
controls running and stopping of the train 1. The brake 12
5 decelerates or stops the train 1 under the control of the
on-board controller 11.
[0016] The roll detector 13 detects rolling of the train
1 while the train 1 is not in operation. On the train 1
that is in operation, the on-board controller 11 and the
10 brake 12 are active, but the roll detector 13 is inactive.
Moreover, on the train 1 that is not in operation, the roll
detector 13 is active, but the on-board controller 11 and
the brake 12 are inactive. With the components being
activated in such a manner, the train 1 can reduce or
15 prevent an increase in power consumption while not in
operation, as compared to a case where the on-board
controller 11 is active while the train 1 is not in
operation. However, when train protection is to be
performed while the train 1 is not in operation, the roll
20 detector 13 can start-up the on-board controller 11 and
allow the on-board controller 11 to control the train 1.
The roll detector 13 includes a roll sensor 14, a wireless
communicator 15, a battery 16, an acceleration sensor 17, a
geomagnetic sensor 18, a gyro sensor 19, an inclination
25 sensor 20, and a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver
21. Note that when the acceleration sensor 17, the
geomagnetic sensor 18, the gyro sensor 19, the inclination
sensor 20, and the GPS receiver 21 are not to be
distinguished from one another, they may be collectively or
30 individually referred to as sensors. The sensors detect a
movement of the train 1 while the train 1 is not in
operation with the on-board controller 11 being inactive.
[0017] The roll sensor 14 determines whether or not the
11
[0023]The roll sensor 14 determines whether or not the
train 1 has rolled on the basis of the result of detection
by each sensor (step S2). The roll sensor 14 for example
compares the result of detection by each sensor with a
5 corresponding threshold that is set for each sensor to
determine a movement of the train 1. The roll sensor 14
determines that the train 1 has moved, that is, has rolled,
while not in operation when the number, of the results of
detection by the sensors greater than or equal to the
10 corresponding thresholds, is larger than or equal to a
preset number. The roll sensor 14 determines that the
train 1 has not moved, that is, has not rolled, while not
in operation when the number, of the results of detection
by the sensors greater than or equal to the corresponding
15 thresholds, is smaller than a preset number. The roll
sensor 14 uses the results of detection by the plurality of
sensors to be able to prevent false detection of rolling
and improve the accuracy of detecting rolling.
[0024]The roll sensor 14 ends the processing if determined
20 that the train 1 has not rolled (No in step S2). If
determined that the train 1 has rolled (Yes in step S2),
the roll sensor 14 performs train protection to start-up
the on-board controller 11 and instruct the on-board
controller 11 to control the brake 12 and stop the train 1
25 (step S3). The on-board controller 11 is started-up by the
control of the roll sensor 14, controls the brake 12 in
accordance with the instruction by the roll sensor 14, and
stops the train 1. At this time, upon being started-up by
the control of the roll sensor 14, the on-board controller
30 11 raises the pantograph (not shown) and receives power
supply from the overhead wire. As a result, the train 1
can perform an action similar to that during operation
under the control of the on-board controller 11. Note that
12
on the train 1, the roll sensor 14 may perform control from
raising the pantograph (not shown) up to receiving power
supply from the overhead wire, and then start-up the onboard controller 11. The roll detector 13 of the first
5 embodiment is also applicable to a case where power is
supplied by the third rail system.
[0025]Moreover, as train protection, the roll sensor 14
causes the wireless communicator 15 to broadcast a
notification indicating that the train 1 has rolled (step
10 S4). Hereinafter, the notification indicating that the
train 1 has rolled may be referred to as a notification of
rolling. The roll sensor 14 may switch the order of step
S3 and step S4, or may execute step S3 and step S4 at the
same time. The roll detector 13 periodically repeats the
15 operation of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0026] Next, the operation of the hub 3 that receives
the notification of rolling from the train 1 will be
described. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another
example of the configuration of the train control system 4
20 according to the first embodiment. The train control
system 4 illustrated in FIG. 5 is obtained by adding a
second radio 2 and trains 5 and 6 to the train control
system 4 illustrated in FIG. 1. The trains 5 and 6 are
trains that are present within the jurisdiction of the hub
25 3. Each of the trains 5 and 6 may have a configuration
similar to that of the train 1, or need not include the
roll detector 13 as long as the trains 5 and 6 can travel
in accordance with a control command from the hub 3.
Similar to the train 1, the trains 5 and 6 may each include
30 one car, that is, one car operating by itself. The trains
5 and 6 are collectively referred to as other trains. FIG.
6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation when the hub 3
according to the first embodiment receives the notification
15
programmable gate array (FPGA), or a combination of those,
for example. The functions of the roll detector 13 may be
implemented individually or collectively by the processing
circuitry 93.
5 [0032]Note that the functions of the roll detector 13 may
be implemented partly by dedicated hardware and partly by
software or firmware. The processing circuitry can thus
implement the aforementioned functions by the dedicated
hardware, software, firmware, or a combination of these.
10 [0033]Next, a hardware configuration of the hub 3 will be
described. In the hub 3, the communication unit 32 is a
communication device that performs wired communication or
wireless communication with the radio 2. The control unit
31 is implemented by processing circuitry. The processing
15 circuitry has the configuration illustrated in FIG. 7 or 8
as with the processing circuitry included in the roll
detector 13.
[0034]According to the first embodiment described above,
when determining that the train 1 has rolled on the basis
20 of the results of detection by the sensors while the train
1 is not in operation, the roll detector 13 performs train
protection to stop the train 1, notify the hub 3 that the
train has rolled, and cause the other trains to stop by the
control of the hub 3. The on-board controller 11 is
25 stopped while the train 1 is berthed or detained and not in
operation, and when the roll detector 13 determines that
the train 1 has rolled, the roll detector 13 starts-up the
on-board controller 11 so that the on-board controller 11
performs the operation to stop the train 1. Therefore, the
30 roll detector 13 can reduce or prevent an increase in power
consumption of the train 1 while at the same time perform
train protection on the train 1 immediately and on the
other trains in operation when the train 1 equipped with

18
other trains has rolled from the content of the
notification of rolling (step S22). It is assumed that the
other trains are in operation with the on-board controllers
being active. Therefore, the other trains can immediately
perform the processing to stop upon receiving the
notification of rolling from the train 1. In the second
embodiment, the hub 3 also receives the notification of
rolling from the train 1 via the radio 2. Therefore, the
hub 3 need not generate and transmit the control command
for instructing the other trains within its jurisdiction to
stop. The hub 3 may generate and transmit the control
command for instructing the other trains within its
jurisdiction to stop when the range of jurisdiction is
wider than the communication area of the wireless
communicator 15 of the roll detector 13.
[0040]According to the second embodiment described above,
the other trains in the train control system 4 stop when
receiving the notification of rolling from the train 1. As
a result, the train control system 4 can obtain the effect
similar to that of the first embodiment, and the other
trains can stop faster than in the first embodiment.
[0041]Third Embodiment.
In a third embodiment, the train 1 periodically transmits
locational information to the hub 3 and performs train
protection when receiving, from the hub 3, a notification
indicating that the locational information is different
from the location at the time the train is not in
operation. Differences from the first embodiment will be
described.
[0042]The configurations of the train 1 and the hub 3 of
the third embodiment are similar to the configurations of
the train 1 and the hub 3 of the first embodiment. The
configuration of the train control system 4 of the third
21
absolute value of the difference is less than or equal to
the specified threshold, the control unit 31 determines
that the two pieces of the locational information are the
same (No in step S43), and ends the processing.
5 [0045] According to the third embodiment described
above, the roll detector 13 periodically transmits the
locational information to the hub 3 and makes the
determination about rolling on the basis of the
notification from the hub 3. The hub 3 performs the
10 comparison processing in the determination about rolling,
whereby the roll detector 13 can obtain the effect similar
to that of the first embodiment and can also reduce the
processing load and power consumption as compared with the
first embodiment.
15 [0046] Fourth Embodiment.
In the first embodiment, the roll detector 13 causes
the plurality of sensors to be active at the same time and
determines whether or not the train 1 has rolled on the
basis of the results of detection by the sensors. In a
20 fourth embodiment, the roll detector 13 activates one
sensor first and, if a result of detection obtained by the
one sensor indicates a movement of the train 1, activates
another sensor to acquire a result of detection from the
other sensors and determine whether or not the train 1 has
25 rolled. Differences from the first embodiment will be
described.
[0047] The configurations of the train 1 and the hub 3
of the fourth embodiment are similar to the configurations
of the train 1 and the hub 3 of the first embodiment. The
30 configuration of the train control system 4 of the fourth
embodiment is also similar to the configuration of the
train control system 4 of the first embodiment illustrated
in FIGS. 1 and 5. In the fourth embodiment, the operation
23
S4 in the flowchart of the first embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 4.
[0050]Note that the example of the flowchart illustrated in
FIG. 14 illustrates the case where the roll detector 13
5 increases the number of active sensors one by one, but the
number of sensors activated is not limited to this example.
For example, the roll detector 13 may first activate one
sensor and, if a result of detection is greater than or
equal to a threshold, may activate all the remaining
10 sensors that have not been activated. Alternatively, the
roll detector 13 may first activate a plurality of sensors
and, if each result of detection is greater than or equal
to a threshold, may further select a plurality of sensors
from the sensors that have not been activated and increase
15 the number of sensors to be activated. Thus, the roll
sensor 14 activates one or more sensors among the plurality
of sensors and, when acquiring from the one or more sensors
a result of detection indicating a movement of the train 1,
that is, a result of detection greater than or equal to the
20 threshold, activates a sensor that has not been activated
among the plurality of sensors to determine whether or not
the train 1 has rolled on the basis of a result of
detection by the sensor activated. The roll sensor 14 may,
for example, activate the acceleration sensor 17, the
25 geomagnetic sensor 18, and the gyro sensor 19 first and
then activate the GPS receiver 21 when the results of
detection by the sensors are all greater than or equal to
the thresholds.
[0051]In the fourth embodiment, the hub 3 and the other
30 trains perform the operations similar to that in the first
or second embodiment.
[0052]According to the fourth embodiment described above,
the roll detector 13 activates some of the sensors first
24
and, when the result of detection is greater than or equal
to the threshold, that is, the result of detection includes
the content indicating a movement, increases the number of
sensors to be activated to determine whether or not the
5 train 1 has rolled. As a result, the roll detector 13 can
obtain the effect similar to that of the first embodiment
and can also reduce power consumption as compared with the
first embodiment while preventing false detection of
rolling.
10 [0053]The configuration illustrated in the above embodiment
merely illustrates an example of the content of the present
invention, and can thus be combined with another known
technique or partially omitted and/or modified without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
15
Reference Signs List
[0054] 1, 5, 6 train; 2 radio; 3 hub; 4 train
control system; 11 on-board controller; 12 brake; 13
roll detector; 14 roll sensor; 15 wireless communicator;
20 16 battery; 17 acceleration sensor; 18 geomagnetic
sensor; 19 gyro sensor; 20 inclination sensor; 21 GPS
receiver; 31 control unit; 32 communication unit.
Amended Copy
25
We Claim:
1.A roll detector (13) mounted on a train (1), the
roll detector (13) comprising:
a sensor (17, 18, 19, 20, 21) to detect a movement
5 of the train (1) while the train (1) is not in
operation with an on-board controller (11) being
inactive, the on-board controller (11) controlling an
action of the train (1); and
a roll sensor (14) to determine whether or not the
10 train (1) has rolled on the basis of a result of the
detection by the sensor (17, 18, 19, 20, 21), and
perform train protection when determining that the has
rolled.
15 2.The roll detector (13) as claimed in claim 1,
wherein
the roll sensor (14) determines that the has
rolled when the result of the detection by the sensor
(17, 18, 19, 20, 21) indicates the movement of the
20 train (1).
3.The roll detector (13) as claimed in claim 1 or 2,
comprising
a wireless communicator (15), wherein
25 as the train protection, the roll sensor (14)
causes the wireless communicator (15) to broadcast a
notification indicating that the train (1) has rolled.
4.The roll detector (13) as claimed in claim 3,
30 wherein
when the roll sensor (14) receives an instruction
to stop the train (1) via the wireless communicator
(15) from a hub (3) that receives the notification, the
roll sensor (14) starts-up the on-board controller (11)
35 and instructs the on-board controller (11) to stop the
train (1).
Amended Copy
26
5.The roll detector (13) as claimed in claim 2,
comprising
a wireless communicator (15), wherein
5 as the train protection, the roll sensor (14)
transmits locational information of the train (1) from
the wireless communicator (15) to a hub (3) and, when
receiving a notification from the hub (3) that receives
the locational information via the wireless
10 communicator (15), starts-up the on-board controller
(11) to instruct the on-board controller (11) to stop
the train (1), the notification indicating that the
locational information of the train (1) transmitted is
different from locational information of the train (1)
15 at the time the train (1) is not in operation.
6.The roll detector (13) as claimed in any one of
claims 3 to 5, wherein
the wireless communicator (15) performs specified
20 low-power radio communication.
7.The roll detector (13) as claimed in any one of
claims 1 to 3, wherein
as the train protection, the roll sensor (14)
25 starts-up the on-board controller (11) and instructs
the on-board controller (11) to stop the train (1).
8.The roll detector (13) as claimed in any one of
claims 1 to 7, wherein
30 the roll detector (13) includes a plurality of the
sensors (17, 18, 19, 20, 21), and
the roll sensor (14) determines whether or not the
train (1) has rolled on the basis of results of
detection by the plurality of the sensors (17, 18, 19,
35 20, 21).
Amended Copy
27
9.The roll detector (13) as claimed in any one of
claims 1 to 7, wherein
the roll detector (13) includes a plurality of the
sensors (17, 18, 19, 20, 21), and
5 the roll sensor (14) activates one or more sensors
among the plurality of the sensors (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
and, when acquiring a result of detection indicating a
movement of the train (1) from the one or more sensors
(17, 18, 19, 20, 21), activates a sensor that is not
10 activated among the plurality of the sensors (17, 18,
19, 20, 21) to determine whether or not the train (1)
has rolled on the basis of a result of detection by the
sensor (17, 18, 19, 20, 21) activated.
15 10.The roll detector (13) as claimed in any one of
claims 1 to 9, wherein
the roll detector (13) is driven by a battery (16).
11.A train control system (4) comprising:
20 a roll detector (13) to determine whether or not a
train (1) has rolled on the basis of a result of
detection by a sensor (17, 18, 19, 20, 21) while the
train (1) is not in operation with an on-board
controller (11) being inactive, and perform train
25 protection when determining that the train (1) has
rolled, the sensor (17, 18, 19, 20, 21) detecting a
movement of the train (1), and the on-board controller
(11) controlling an action of the train (1); and
a hub (3) to control the operation of the train
30 (1), wherein
as the train protection, the roll detector (13)
broadcasts a notification indicating that the has
rolled,
the hub (3) instructs the roll detector (13) to
35 stop the train (1) when receiving the notification, and
the roll detector (13) starts-up the on-board
Amended Copy
28
controller (11) and instructs the on-board controller
(11) to stop the train (1), when receiving the
instruction to stop the train (1) from the hub (3).
5 12.The train control system (4) as claimed in claim
11, wherein
when receiving the notification, the hub (3)
transmits a control command to another train (5, 6)
whose operation is controlled by the hub (3), the
10 control command instructing the other train (5, 6) to
stop.
13.The train control system (4) as claimed in claim
11, wherein
15 the roll detector (13) transmits the notification
to another train (5, 6) whose operation is controlled
by the hub (3).
14.A train control system (4) comprising:
20 a roll detector (13) to determine whether or not a
train (1) has rolled on the basis of a result of
detection by a sensor (17, 18, 19, 20, 21) while the
train (1) is not in operation with an on-board
controller (11) being inactive, and perform train
25 protection when determining that the train (1) has
rolled, the sensor (17, 18, 19, 20, 21) detecting a
movement of the train (1), and the on-board controller
(11) controlling an action of the train (1); and
a hub (3) to control the operation of the train
30 (1), wherein
as the train protection, the roll detector (13)
starts-up the on-board controller (11) to instruct the
on-board controller (11) to stop the train (1), and
broadcasts a notification indicating that the train (1)
35 has rolled.
Amended Copy
29
15.A roll detection method by a roll detector (13)
mounted on a train (1), the method comprising:
a first step in which a roll sensor (14)
determines whether or not the train (1) has rolled on
5 the basis of a result of detection by a sensor (17, 18,
19, 20, 21) while the train (1) is not in operation
with an on-board controller (11) being inactive, the
sensor (17, 18, 19, 20, 21) detecting a movement of the
train (1), and the on-board controller (11) controlling
10 an action of the train (1); and
a second step in which the roll sensor (14)
performs train protection when determining that the
train (1) has rolled.
15 16.The roll detection method as claimed in claim 15,
wherein
in the second step, the roll sensor (14)
determines that the train (1) has rolled when the
result of the detection by the sensor (17, 18, 19, 20,
20 21) indicates the movement of the train (1) while the
train (1) is not in operation.
17.The roll detection method as claimed in claim 15
or 16, wherein
in the second step, as the train protection, the
25 roll sensor (14) causes a wireless communicator (15) to
broadcast a notification indicating that the train (1)
has rolled.
18.The roll detection method as claimed in any one
30 of claims 15 to 17, wherein
in the second step, as the train protection, the
roll sensor (14) starts-up the on-board controller (11)
and instructs the on-board controller (11) to stop the
train (1).
35
19.A roll detection method by a train control
system (4), the method comprising:
a first step in which a roll
determines whether or not a train
basis of a result of detection by a sensor
5 20, 21) while the train
on-board controller
a notification ind
as train protection when determining that the train
has rolled, the sensor
10 movement of the train
(11) controlling an action of the train
a second step in which a
roll detector (13)
the notification; and
15 a third step in which the roll
starts-up the on
the on-board controller
when receiving the instruction to stop the train
from the hub (3)
20
20.The roll detection method
comprising
a fourth step in which, when receiving the
notification, the
25 to another train
the hub (3), the control command instructing the other
train (5,6) to stop.
21.The roll detection method
comprising
30 a fourth step in which the roll
transmits the notification to another train
operation is controlled by the
Dated this 05th
35
(ANSHUL SUNILKUMAR SAURASTRI)
Amended Copy
30
, the method comprising:
a first step in which a roll detector
determines whether or not a train (1) has rolled
basis of a result of detection by a sensor (17, 18, 19,
while the train (1) is not in operation with an
controller (11) being inactive, and broadcasts
a notification indicating that the train (1)
as train protection when determining that the train
, the sensor (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
movement of the train (1), and the on-board
controlling an action of the train (1);
ond step in which a hub (3) instructs the
(13) to stop the train (1) when receiving
the notification; and
a third step in which the roll detector
the on-board controller (11) and instructs
controller (11) to stop the train
when receiving the instruction to stop the train
hub (3).
20.The roll detection method as claimed in
a fourth step in which, when receiving the
notification, the hub (3) transmits a control command
to another train (1) whose operation is controlled by
, the control command instructing the other
to stop.
21.The roll detection method as claimed in
a fourth step in which the roll detector
transmits the notification to another train
operation is controlled by the hub (3).