Patent GB-1023754-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to identification systems and devices therefor
IPC: B61L25/04
Filed: 1964-04-08
Abstract: 1,023,754. Track apparatus. PHILIPS ELECTRONIC & ASSOCIATED INDUSTRIES April 8, 1964 [April 11, 1963], No. 14487/64. Heading B7N. [Also in Division H4] In a system for identifying objects which are movable relative to a sensing device, each object (e.g. a rail truck) carries at least one information element which transmits a signal to the sensing device indicative of the particular object and the sensing device comprises a radiator which produces a radiation field having zero intensity in a particular plane, each information element comprising means for receiving this radiation field and strongly attenuating the transmission of the indicative signal when the radiation field is being received. In the simplest described embodiment, Fig. 1, the sensing device TC comprises an amplifier V having two inputs fed in opposition by two vertical magnetic dipole antennµ R1 and R2 and its output fed to a similar antenna T placed midway between the antenna R1 and R2. There is thus normally no coupling between the input and output of the amplifier and the amplifier is stable. Each object TR carries a plurality of information elements K1-Kn comprising a tuned circuit, tuned to a specific frequency, such that when a particular element approaches antennµ R1, T and R2, the difference in the distances of the element from antenna R1 and R2 produces an output from the amplifier which is fed back to antenna T such that the output of the amplifier oscillates at the frequency of the element, which frequency can be identified by a bank of tuned filters FF. The sensing device also comprises two vertical magnetic dipoles A1 and A2 fed by generator GA with signals of equal frequency and amplitude but with opposite phases, such that the resulting radiation field has a plane of zero intensity MV at right angles to the direction of travel of the object and the plane of the information elements. Each information element comprises means whereby reception of the signal from dipoles A1 and A2 causes severe damping of the associated tuned circuit. One type of information element is illustrated in Fig. 3 (not shown), and comprises a first tuned circuit L1/C1 tuned to the indicative frequency and a second tuned circuit L2/C2 tuned to the frequency of the signal from dipoles A1 and A2. The two tuned circuits are coupled by a diode G1, such that energization of the second tuned circuit by reception of the signal from dipoles A1 and A2 renders the diode conductive and puts a very low damping resistance across the first tuned circuit. A second type of information element is illustrated in Fig. 4 (not shown), and comprises a first tuned circuit L3/C3 as before directly connected to the second tuned circuit L4/C4 with the diodes shunting one or both of the inductors of the tuned circuits. The operation of the system is therefore such that the output of the amplifier only oscillates at the indicative frequency when the particular information element is substantially on the plane MV. In a second embodiment, Fig. 6 (not shown), the plane MV is caused to follow the object as it moves in front of the sensing device and to scan the information elements in rapid succession. In addition to the antennµ R1, T, R2, A1 and A2 two further dipoles B1 and B2, possibly coincident with A1 and A2, fed in antiphase from generator GB, and a horizontal receiving dipole BR are provided. A simple tuned circuit K L  is provided on the object, tuned to the frequency of generator GB. The position of the zero intensity plane of the field produced by dipoles B1 and B2 is varied by a modulator MB changing the relative amplitudes of the signals fed to the two dipoles. The phase and amplitude of the signal received by tuned circuit K2 and reflected thereby to be received by antenna BR depends on the position of circuit K L  relative to the zero intensity plane. The received signal is compared in phase-sensitive detector FG with the output of generator GB, to produce a signal which is fed to control modulator MB, such that the zero intensity plane seeks and follows element K2. The output of detector FG is also fed to a modulator MA determining the ratio of the amplitudes of the antiphase signals fed to antennµ A1 and A2, such that the zero plane of the radiation field produced by these antennµ follows the information element K1. The signal received by antenna BR as the object approaches line MV first increases to a maximum due to the inverse square increase of the induction field with lessening distance, and then decreases to zero due to the decreasing angle subtended by the element K2 with respect to the line of antenna BR. As the element K L  crosses line MV and moves further away therefrom the signal increases to a maximum and then starts to decrease. The thus varying output of amplifier VB is detected at DG and fed to a pulse shaper PS which changes its state on a certain threshold being reached, and so produces a first pulse starting when the received signal first reaches the threshold and finishing when the received signal falls below the threshold, and a second pulse when the element K L  has passed line MV and the received signal again reaches the threshold, and finishing when the received signal falls below it. The two pulse signals are fed to a differentiator DF and pulse divider PD to produce a third pulse starting with the finish of the first pulse and finishing with the finish of the second pulse. The start of the third pulse causes the generation of a sweep signal in flip/flop MF, which is fed to modulator MA via adder MC such that the zero plane of the field produced by antennµ A1 and A2 sweeps across the object, rapidly scanning the elements K1 . . . K n  to produce corresponding frequency signals at the output of amplifier V. The start of the third pulse also opens gate MP to let the output of amplifier V through to filters FF. The sweep signal may be such that the elements are scanned several times. In a third embodiment, Fig. 7, not shown, being a variation on the embodiment of Fig. 6, the elements K1 ... K n  and K L  are arranged in a vertical column; all the antennµ are arranged horizontally parallel to the path of the object and antennµ A1 and A2 are spaced vertically so that they can scan the elements. Antennµ B 1  and B2 are dispensed with and receiving antenna BR becomes two horizontal spaced antennµ giving a signal indicating when the object is opposite the sensing device and starting the vertical scanning of the information elements. The information elements may be made inoperative by the radiated field by detuning or by means of a threshold device comprising an electronic switch such as a transistor or diode.