Patent Publication Number: US-2022236379-A1

Title: Sensor Device for Vehicles

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a sensor device for vehicles, including rail, automotive, trucking, coaches (buses), shipping, ferries and the like. The sensor array can be mounted in a number of ways, including for example, as a roof fitting, a front-mounted forward-looking fitting, or as a bumper bar type fitting. The sensor device assists the driver of the vehicle to make decisions. 
     (2) Description of Related Art 
     Most transportation fleets consist of existing vehicles that are designed to be operated by humans. A problem with humans for example, is that they are limited as to where they can drive, how far or for how long they can drive, and they are easily distracted. Any operating incidents require an investigation of the impact to the vehicle and an interview with the driver. There are video sensors which can record footage of journeys so that incidents can be replayed. However, those sensors cannot stop incidents from occurring. 
     The object of the invention is to provide a sensor device which can be retrofitted to existing transportation vehicles to provide increased situational awareness to the driver who can then act to mitigate the developing situation, for example by braking hard to a stop. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, there is a provided a sensor device for vehicles, the system comprising:
         (a) an electronic navigation sensor;   (b) a multi-spectral data sensor;   (c) a router for receiving data from each sensor;   (d) a communications device connected to the router for communicating data;   (e) software for a computer processor programmed to:
           i. correlate data from the sensors with data from a master data sequence file;   ii. make inferences based on sensor data about an event; and   iii. communicate alarms as programmed; and   
           (f) an environmentally protective encasement for the sensor device.       

     The encasement preferably includes a visor hood to protect the encasement from solar radiation. More preferably, the encasement has an outwardly facing glass panel to increase strength and deflect objects. It is also preferred that the sloping glass panel has glass inserts adapted for the spectrum of each sensor. Glass inserts can be made with various chemical coatings to reflect some wavelengths of light and absorb other wavelengths. As a non-limiting example, an infrared glass insert placed over an infrared camera can be adapted to absorb infrared wavelengths of approximately 700 nanometers (nm)-1 millimeter (mm). Whereas the wavelength range of light visible to the human eye is approximately 400-700 nm. The encasement preferably keeps a record of when the sensor device has been opened. 
     Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sensor device according to an embodiment of the present invention on top of a freight locomotive. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the sensor device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the sensor device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a conceptual representation of the operational components of the sensor device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a right side view of the sensor device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a left side view of the sensor device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the sensor device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a rear view of the sensor device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the sensor device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of the sensor device of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a sensor device  10  on the front of a locomotive  12 , although the sensor device  10  can be used on any form of vehicle. The sensor device  10  is used to assist the driver of the locomotive  12  to make driving decisions. 
     A close-up view of the sensor device  10  is shown in  FIG. 2  and an exploded view of its components is shown in  FIG. 3 . The sensor device  10  has an encasement  14  and a sensor array. The sensor array comprises a first RGB camera  16 , a lidar detector  18 , a telephoto lens camera  20 , an infra-red camera  22  and a second RGB camera  24 . 
     The encasement  14  provides a substantial contribution to the working of the invention because it allows a sensor system to be economically and quickly retrofitted to an existing locomotive, rather than having to entirely replace the existing locomotive with a new locomotive at great expense. In other words, it is cheaper to give a train eyes than a new head. 
     The lidar detector  18  measures distances by illuminating a target with laser light and measuring the reflection with a sensor. Differences in laser return times and wavelengths can then be used to make digital  3 D representations of the target. 
     The two RGB cameras  16  and  24  provide the sensor device  10  with stereoscopic vision. This enables the sensor device  10  to perceive distance and angle. It also enables the sensor device  10  to appreciate the centre line of the locomotive  10 . For example, if there is a post along side the track of the locomotive  12 , the stereoscopic cameras  16  and  24  can calculate the distance and location of that post from the locomotive  12 . 
     The encasement  14  has a glass shield  26  which protects the sensor array from wind, rain and debris. The glass shield  26  is sloped outwardly to increase its deflection ability and strength. The glass shield  26  has a gallium arsenide insert  28  that enables infrared wavelengths of light to penetrate the glass shield  26  and be detected by the infra-red camera  22 . The encasement  14  has a visor hood  30  that deflects solar radiation. The sensor device  10  also has two antennas  32  and  34  that receive GPS signals for location processing. 
     Each antenna housing contains an inertial navigation sensor (INS). The INS is a navigation device that uses motion sensors (accelerometers) and rotation sensors (gyroscopes) to continuously calculate by dead reckoning the position, orientation, and velocity (direction and speed of movement) of a moving object without the need for continuous external references. The GPS signal is used as an external refence to the INS processor which is why they are in the same mounting. If GPS is lost (e.g., in a tunnel), then the INS acts by dead reckoning through the tunnel until a reference GPS signal becomes available again. INS loses accuracy over time and does need an external reference to be continuously reset in case a GPS outage occurs. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, the sensor device  10  may also include a barometric altimeter, magnetic sensors (magnetometers), and/or speed measuring devices. 
     Data from the sensor array and antennas is transmitted through a router (namely, a Power over Ethernet switch) to a computer processor  36  that is located in an equipment rack (not shown) within the locomotive  12 . The sensor device  10  may have a radio communications antenna (not shown) for transmitting data to remote third parties. 
     The computer processor  36  is programmed to receive data from the sensor array, store real time data from the sensor array, and store a master data sequence file of data previously collected from the sensors. The computer processor  36  has software which is programmed to correlate data from the sensor array with data from the master data sequence file, make inferences based on data about an event, and communicate alarms as programmed. 
     The master data sequence file comprises processed data extracted from previous runs from all locomotives operating on that particular track. The data is processed data. It is not video. Artefacts are extracted from previous runs are sorted as a sequence of objects, events and conditions. The computer processor  36  is looking for the differences between what artifacts the sensors are sensing and what was recorded in the master data sequence file. The computer processor  36  is programmed to look for particular differences between the incoming data and the master data sequence file which may indicate an alarm condition. This may include, for example, an unexpected item such as a cow or a car on the track ahead. The alarm can include a warning for the driver to apply the brakes on the locomotive  12 . 
     The alarms can also be relayed electronically via the communications device to remote third parties so that they are aware of the event which could also present danger to them or the wider network. For example, a sensor device could make a rail network aware of cows on a particular section of track. 
     Each access panel of the sensor device  10  may have a sensor switch which is capable of detecting when the access panel has been opened or removed as an intrusion alarm. This detection helps to prevent tampering by a third party. An alarm may also be activated to a remote third party via the communications device. These alarms will not be activated to a driver as the device is not accessible to an intruder while the train is operating. 
     In the present specification and claims (if any), the word ‘comprising’ and its derivatives including ‘comprises’ and ‘comprise’ include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers. 
     The appearance of the phrases ‘in one embodiment’ or ‘in an embodiment’ in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations. 
     In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.