Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the information about a guideway-guided vehicle having a masking component, the guideway-guided vehicle configured to follow a path of a guideway, comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, method of making, and use thereof are disclosed. The RFID system comprises a first RFID transponder for transmitting, across the path, first RFID transponder specific information. An RFID reader comprises a first antenna for receiving the first RFID transponder specific information. The first RFID transponder and the first antenna are fixed relative to the path and on opposite sides of the path. The RFID reader is configured to substantially continuously monitor the first transponder specific information. The presence of the masking component of the guideway-guided vehicle between the first RFID transponder and the first antenna masks the substantially continuous monitoring of the first RFID transponder specific information.

Abstract: A system and method provide vital shutdown of a remote slave unit linked by a fiber optic connection to a local, checked redundant master unit with two paired computers. Each computer sends a life signal to an associated local vital supervision card (VSC) and copper to fiber converter (C/F converter) for transmission via fiber to a corresponding fiber to copper converter (F/C converter) on the slave unit, then to a corresponding remote VSC. Each local VSC controls power to a corresponding second local VSC-associated C/F converter, and each remote VSC controls power to a corresponding second remote VSC F/C converter. A VSC detecting an incorrect life signal signature removes power to the corresponding controlled converter and, optionally, to a respective local or remote I/O rack, thereby shutting down the slave unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling a load in a railway signaling system, the method comprising providing a first autonomous controller connectable to the load and a second autonomous controller which is redundant with the first controller such that there is no single point of failure; operating the first and second controllers in one of two modes. There is an on-line mode wherein both controllers provide power to the load to control the load such that current through the load is shared between the first and second controllers. There is an off-line mode wherein a single controller does not provide power to the load and the other controller continues to operate on-line to control the load, whereby control of the load is uninterrupted.

Abstract: A system and method provide vital shutdown of a remote slave unit linked by a fiber optic connection to a local, checked redundant master unit with two paired computers. Each computer sends a life signal to an associated local vital supervision card (VSC) and copper to fiber converter (C/F converter) for transmission via fiber to a corresponding fiber to copper converter (F/C converter) on the slave unit, then to a corresponding remote VSC. Each local VSC controls power to a corresponding second local VSC-associated C/F converter, and each remote VSC controls power to a corresponding second remote VSC F/C converter. A VSC detecting an incorrect life signal signature removes power to the corresponding controlled converter and, optionally, to a respective local or remote I/O rack, thereby shutting down the slave unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the information about a guideway-guided vehicle having a masking component, the guideway-guided vehicle configured to follow a path of a guideway, comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, method of making, and use thereof are disclosed. The RFID system comprises a first RFID transponder for transmitting, across the path, first RFID transponder specific information. An RFID reader comprises a first antenna for receiving the first RFID transponder specific information. The first RFID transponder and the first antenna are fixed relative to the path and on opposite sides of the path. The RFID reader is configured to substantially continuously monitor the first transponder specific information. The presence of the masking component of the guideway-guided vehicle between the first RFID transponder and the first antenna masks the substantially continuous monitoring of the first RFID transponder specific information.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling a load in a railway signaling system, the method comprising providing a first autonomous controller connectable to the load and a second autonomous controller which is redundant with the first controller such that there is no single point of failure; operating the first and second controllers in one of two modes. There is an on-line mode wherein both controllers provide power to the load to control the load such that current through the load is shared between the first and second controllers. There is an off-line mode wherein a single controller does not provide power to the load and the other controller continues to operate on-line to control the load, whereby control of the load is uninterrupted.

Abstract: Disclosed is a railway signaling system for controlling a load. In accordance with the teachings of this invention, the system comprises a first autonomous controller and a second autonomous controller which is redundant with the first controller, each controller connectable to the load such that there is no single point of failure. The first and second controllers operable in either an on-line mode wherein both power outputs provide power to the load or an off-line mode wherein a single power output does not provide power to the load. On-line controllers monitor current therethrough. When both controllers are on-line, the current between the two controller is imbalanced up to a threshold limit, if the threshold limit is exceeded by one controller, that controller will go off line, and if the first controller is off-line and the second controller is on-line, the second controller monitors output voltages of the off-line controller to ascertain that the output voltages are zero.