Communications: electrical – Vehicle position indication – At remote location
Patent
1998-05-27
2000-03-14
Lee, Benjamin C.
Communications: electrical
Vehicle position indication
At remote location
340906, 340988, 340928, 701217, 701220, G08G 1123
Patent
active
060378816
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is a U.S. National Stage application of International application No. PCT/CH96/00419 filed Nov. 27, 1996, which claims priority of Swiss Patent Application No. 3385/95, filed on Nov. 29, 1995.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and device for continuously locating vehicles. A computer is connected to a path data measuring unit that emits a measured value w corresponding to a distance covered. The computer is further connected to a path data memory, in which the route to be traveled, the position of bus stops, and the distances between stops are stored.
In order to guarantee a smooth functioning of medium-sized and large traffic operations, in particular in local public transportation (OPNV), modem computer-controlled operational control systems (RBL) are used, as described in "Modem Operational Control Systems on the Basis of Data Radio Networks," by Dr. J. Gehrig in "Verkehr und Technik," special edition, Issue 12, Erich Schmidt Verlag, Berlin, 1992. The communication between the system units of a modem operational control system shown in FIG. 1: the control headquarters (LST), the vehicles LB as well as local control devices, for example for influencing traffic signals LSA, which control the flow of traffic, normally takes place via radio in real time. The transfer of data from point to point, for example from stationary points along the route to the vehicles LB, often takes place via an infra-red connection. To control the peripheral system units LB, LSA, XP, XT and for the cyclical collection of the immediate operating data, digital telegrams are used, which are transformed into analogue signals (modulation)and broadcast over at least one data channel. To optimize the functions within the control system, relevant local specific information is called up and analyzed, preferably by the control headquarters LST. Knowledge of the exact position of each vehicle LB is of importance not only for the control headquarters LST, but also for the computer systems placed in the vehicles LB. A locating system which delivers precise data concerning the location of the vehicle LB is the prerequisite for a specific local delivery of information about passengers, the control of traffic signals LSA, as well as the calculation of schedule deviations. For instance, if two public buses (for example LB30 and LB299) are approaching an intersection, a computer positioned at that intersection, which determines which bus LB would reach the intersection first, could control the traffic signal LSA in such a way that both buses LB30 and LB299 can cross the intersection with as little delay as possible. Further, the vehicle position could be used as an input quantity for controlling the ticket machines in the individual vehicles LB.
By means of satellites or beacons, the position of a vehicle LB can be ascertained in a known fashion with minimal error deviations. These locating systems are, however, expensive and do not always satisfy the requirements placed on them. For example, the radio connection between moving vehicles LB to the satellite can occasionally be interrupted. Beacons, which would have to be present in large numbers, can only deliver exact position data at certain points.
Further, a device is known by which measured path data are corrected by means of data corresponding to a street map in a manner described in the following. The determination of the distance traveled takes place by means of an on-board computer, preferably by measuring the revolutions of a wheel with a known diameter. Over longer distances, greater deviations between the distance measured and the distance actually traveled can arise due to indications of slippage, changes in wheel diameter, or through veering or passing maneuvers. Therefore, the measured distance must be corrected regularly. For this purpose, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each bus stop H is, in the data memory, assigned a target stopping position s as well as
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Bornhauser Hans-Peter
Fitze Ernst
Gfeller Andreas
Hani-Prolectronh AG
Lee Benjamin C.
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