Patents Assigned to Thales Canada Inc.
  • Patent number: 11866080
    Abstract: A signal aspect enforcement method for a rail vehicle includes determining if vehicle position is unknown. The system determines if rail vehicle speed is less than a line-of-sight threshold speed. The system determines the grade of the rail. A worst-case braking distance of rail vehicle is calculated. The signal aspect is determined using a camera system and a beacon system. The system determines if the signal aspect determined by camera system is same as signal aspect determined by beacon system and, if so, determines the route of rail vehicle and speed limit of rail vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC
    Inventors: Alon Green, Walter Kinio
  • Patent number: 11852714
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium includes instructions to identify, based upon Doppler-speed determination from one or more radars, radar targets within a hitbox for determining a first stationary status of a vehicle based on tracking Doppler-speed radar targets in a hitbox region. The medium also includes instructions to identify, based upon the Doppler speed determination from the one or more radars, field-of-view (FOV) radar targets for determining a second stationary status based on a substantial number and a distribution of Doppler-speed determinations for the FOV radar targets. The medium also includes instructions to confirm, based on detecting a change in either of the first or the second stationary status of the vehicle, an acceleration sensed by an inertial measurement unit onboard the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Mohamed Helwa, Mohammad Sharif Siddiqui, Veronica Marin
  • Patent number: 11828307
    Abstract: A method and a system are disclosed for detecting, isolating and estimating a degradation of a corresponding component of an actuator controlled by an actuator command signal, the method comprising obtaining a control signal of the actuator; obtaining a signal indicative of a displacement of the actuator; computing an envelope of admissible values for the displacement of the actuator; determining if the displacement of the actuator is outside the computed envelope and in the case where the displacement of the actuator is outside the computed enveloped computing an estimation of each parameter and state of the actuator; identifying at least one corresponding parameter responsible for causing the actuator displacement to be outside the computer envelope and providing an indication of the at least one corresponding parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC.
    Inventor: Fabien Castang
  • Patent number: 11827255
    Abstract: A system for controlling a vehicle includes at least one vehicle network on board the vehicle, first and second controllers coupled to the at least one vehicle network and configured to communicate with each other via the at least one vehicle network, and first and second sensor sets coupled to the at least one vehicle network, and configured to communicate with any of the first and second controllers via the at least one vehicle network. Each of the first and second controllers is configured to, based on data output from any of the first and second sensor sets, control a movement of the vehicle independently of the other of the first and second controllers. The first sensor set is located at a first location on the vehicle, the second sensor set is located at a second location on the vehicle, and the second location is different from the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC
    Inventors: Alon Green, Dennis Yazhemsky, James Kevin Tobin
  • Patent number: 11774573
    Abstract: A system for determining a stationary state of a rail vehicle on a track includes a first radar mounted at an end of the rail vehicle and a second radar mounted at another end of the rail vehicle. A speed sensor is mounted on the rail vehicle. A series of fixed reflective track features are found along the track. A processing unit, communicably connected with the speed sensor, the first radar and the second radar receives data from the first radar and the second radar corresponding to the distance to the fixed reflective track features and determines the stationary state or low-speed condition of the rail vehicle and checks the state or condition by comparing it with an output of the speed sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Adam Le, Tyler Daoust, David Beach, Alon Green
  • Patent number: 11754702
    Abstract: A vehicle locator includes an on-board computer and a ground penetrating radar mounted on the vehicle that is communicably connected to the on-board computer. A reflective landmark is located at a known location along the path of the vehicle. The reflective landmark includes reflective elements arranged to encode data. The ground penetrating radar transmits signal energy and detects reflected signal energy reflected by the reflective landmark and communicates encoded data representative of the reflected signal energy to the on-board computer. The on-board computer decodes the encoded data and thereby determines the location of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC.
    Inventors: David Beach, Philip Christian, Alon Green
  • Patent number: 11753054
    Abstract: A method for determining rail vehicle location and identifying obstacles, which includes operations of transmitting, from at least two vehicle beacons on a first vehicle, a ranging signal to at least two external beacons; receiving, at the at least two vehicle beacons, a return signal from the at least two external beacons; and determining, based on the return signal from the at least two external beacons, a position of each of the external beacons with respect to the at least two vehicle beacons of the first vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC
    Inventors: Alon Green, Kevin Tobin, Marco De Thomasis
  • Patent number: 11713065
    Abstract: A method of communication-based train control system migration includes scanning a guideway to generate surveying data and processing surveying data to calculate a 3-D representation of the guideway. Appropriate locations are determined for the communication-based control devices on the guideway. Communication-based train control devices are installed in a guideway at the determined appropriate locations and vehicles are retrofitted with an autonomy platform. Testing of the control devices and retrofit vehicles is performed. A communication-based train control system is used to control the retrofit vehicles when they operate within the guideway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Walter Kinio, Rudy Rochefort, Alon Green
  • Patent number: 11619517
    Abstract: A method and system for determining an estimation of an anemometric parameter of an aircraft. The anemometric parameter including an angle of attack, a sideslip angle and a calibrated airspeed. The method including obtaining an indication of a secondary surface state of the aircraft; obtaining a position indication of a horizontal primary surface; obtaining a load applied estimation on a corresponding actuator using the position indication of the horizontal primary surface and the position of the corresponding actuator; accessing a lookup table with the indication of the secondary surface state of the aircraft, the load estimation applied on the corresponding actuator, and the position of the corresponding actuator; obtaining an estimation of the anemometric parameter associated with the horizontal primary surface; providing the estimation of the anemometric parameter associated with the horizontal primary surface and wherein the lookup table is generated during a learning phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Fabien Castang, Xavier Louis
  • Patent number: 11608097
    Abstract: A system comprises a set of sensors on a first end of a vehicle having the first end and a second end, and a controller. The sensors are configured to generate corresponding sensor data based on a detected object along a direction of movement of the vehicle. The controller is configured to compare a time at which the first sensor detected the object with a time at which the second sensor detected the object to identify the first end or the second end as a leading end of the vehicle, and to calculate a position of the leading end of the vehicle based on the sensor data generated by one or more of the first sensor or the second sensor. The controller is also configured to generate a map of the plurality of objects based on the sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC
    Inventors: Alon Green, Walter Kinio, Peter Timmermans
  • Patent number: 11603122
    Abstract: An SIL 4 over-speed protection device for a rail vehicle includes a first logical unit configured to be connected to a first power source, a first speed sensor and a first vital supervision circuit and a second logical unit configured to be connected to a second power source, a second speed sensor and a second vital supervision circuit. The first logical unit is configured to determine if the second logical unit is functioning properly and the second logical unit is configured to determine if the first logical unit is functioning properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC
    Inventors: Abe Kanner, Walter Kinio, Rudy Rochefort, Firth Whitwam
  • Patent number: 11560163
    Abstract: A vehicle-position monitoring system includes liquid-capacitive inclinometer sensor, configured to provide a measurement of grade (?grade) of a surface over which a vehicle travels, and an accelerometer to measure acceleration of the vehicle along a principal axis (ax) of the vehicle along the surface. Direct measurement of the grade (?grade) provides a position-tracking system with accurate information to extract acceleration due to motoring and braking (aMB) from acceleration experienced along the principal axis and track vehicle position without regard to wheel diameter calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC
    Inventors: Alon Green, Marco De-Thomasis
  • Patent number: 11536825
    Abstract: The vehicle odometry and motion direction system and method is described. The vehicle odometry and motion direction system and method determines if the first ground speed data is acceptable. Ground speed data is calculated for all targets within a radar's field of view and targets ground speed data is processed to determine second ground speed data. The vehicle odometry and motion direction system and method determines trusted ground speed data using first ground speed data and second ground speed data and adjusts the trusted ground speed data due to errors in radar Doppler speed data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC
    Inventors: Alon Green, Marco De Thomasis
  • Patent number: 11493927
    Abstract: A self-learning vehicle control system, the control system including: a controller configured to receive one or more of the following inputs: actual propulsion effort command; actual braking effort command; requested speed command; change in the requested speed command; change in the requested acceleration command; measured vehicle location; measured vehicle 3-D speed; measured vehicle 3-D acceleration; and measured vehicle 3-D angular speed; and one or more position determination sensors communicably connected with the controller; one or more 3-D speed determination sensors communicably connected with the controller; one or more 3-D acceleration determination sensors communicably connected with the controller; one or more 3-D angular speed determination sensors communicably connected with the controller; and an output device communicably connected with the controller and for providing requested speed and acceleration commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: THALES CANADA, INC.
    Inventors: Alon Green, Dennis Yazhemsky
  • Patent number: 11467191
    Abstract: A circuit for controlling an input current, the circuit includes a first input port configured to receive the input current. A current detector detects an input current value of the input current and generates a control signal indicative of the input current value. A first output port outputs an output current to a load. A second output port receives the output current from the load. A control circuit provides a low-impedance path in parallel with the load in response to the control signal indicating the input current value is below a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC
    Inventors: Abe Kanner, Serge Kniazev, Peter Spasopoulos, Carl Schwellnus
  • Patent number: 11465660
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, methods, and software for train control and tracking using multi sensors, SSD/QR signs, and/or RF reflectors are disclosed, which enable determination of train location on a guideway, train movement authority, train length, and coupler status of each vehicle (married pair) and the consist (integrity) of the train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Alon Green, Walter Kinio, Firth Whitwam
  • Patent number: 11422962
    Abstract: A method of common controller area network (CAN) bus traffic supervision on a system having a common CAN bus, a first CAN chip and a second CAN chip, the first CAN chip and the second CAN chip are coupled together with the common CAN bus, the method includes comparing a first CAN frame received from the first CAN chip to a second CAN frame received from the second CAN chip within a CAN comparison period, and detecting a failure of at least the first CAN chip or the second CAN chip. Detecting the failure of at least the first CAN chip or the second CAN chip includes determining that the first CAN frame is not identical to the second CAN frame within the CAN comparison period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Alon Green, Abe Kanner, Mihai Lungu
  • Patent number: 11415432
    Abstract: A standalone odometry device includes an accelerometer and/or gyroscope configured to be mounted on a wheel or axle of a vehicle. A controller in communication with the accelerometer and/or gyroscope is configured to receive data from the accelerometer and/or gyroscope. The controller processes the data to determine one or more of the speed, wheel rotation direction, accumulated distance travelled, stationary status, acceleration, deceleration, wheel diameter, and grade of surface on which the wheel is in contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Marco De-Thomasis, Alon Green
  • Patent number: 11254338
    Abstract: A system comprises a first sensor on a first end of a vehicle and an on-board controller coupled to the first sensor. The first sensor is configured to detect a radio frequency (RF) signature of a marker along a guideway. The first sensor is a radar detection device. The on-board controller is configured to determine a first position of the vehicle on the guideway or a first distance from the position of the vehicle to a stopping location along the guideway based on at least the RF signature received from the first sensor. The marker is a metasurface plate comprising a first diffused element, a first retroreflector element, a first absorbing element and a second diffused element between the first retroreflector element and the first absorbing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Alon Green, Walter Kinio, Peter Timmermans
  • Patent number: RE49043
    Abstract: A safety communication scheme for a safety-critical system which includes two or more higher level units that have voting capabilities and one or two sets of lower level units that do not have voting capabilities, involves using one channel between the high and low level units for safety and two channels for redundancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Carl Schwellnus, Martin Krieger