Patents by Inventor Marc W. Cygnus
Marc W. Cygnus has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20230192164Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for train operation control and enforcement. A vehicle mounted system for train control may include a vehicle mounted data radio mounted on a railway vehicle and a vehicle mounted controller. The vehicle mounted controller may be connected to the vehicle mounted data radio. The vehicle mounted data radio may be in wireless communication with a wayside reporting station, which may be in communication with a signal control point that is associated with a safety point that is further associated with an interlocking, and the vehicle mounted data radio may be configured to receive signal state status information from the wayside reporting station. The vehicle mounted controller may be configured to determine a distance between the railway vehicle and the safety point. The vehicle mounted data radio may be an ultra-wide band (UWB) radio.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2023Publication date: June 22, 2023Inventors: Richard C. Carlson, Kurt A. Gunther, Marc W. Cygnus
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Publication number: 20190300033Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for train operation control and enforcement. A train control system for controlling operations of a train may include a train-mounted control unit deployed in the train, and a plurality of fixed control nodes deployed on or in close proximity to a track traversed by the train. Each of the train-mounted control unit and fixed control nodes includes a corresponding communication subsystem that includes transponders and communication circuits, configured for communicating signals. The train-mounted control unit is configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from the plurality of fixed control nodes, with the signals including ultra-wideband (UWB) signals and with at least some of the signals carrying data pertinent to controlling operations of the train; and to determine control information relating to controlling operations of the train based on received UWB signals originating from one or more fixed control nodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2019Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventors: Richard C. Carlson, Kurt A. Gunther, Marc W. Cygnus
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Publication number: 20180362058Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for rail vehicle signal enforcement and separation control. A vehicle-mounted system for managing operation compliance of a vehicle may include a communication subsystem that includes one or more transponders and one or more communication circuits, configured for communicating signals, and a processing subsystem, that includes at least one processor. The communication subsystem may be configured to communicate signals with one or more fixed reporting stations, with the signals including ultra-wideband (UWB) signals, and with at least some of the signals carrying data pertinent to evaluating vehicle operation compliance. The processing subsystem may be configured to evaluate vehicle operation compliance based on information obtained from at least one signal communicated with at least one reporting station. The processing subsystem may determine a rule for evaluating compliance of the vehicle, and may monitor operation of the vehicle to evaluate compliance with the rule.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2018Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventors: Richard C. Carlson, Kurt A. Gunther, Marc W. Cygnus
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Patent number: 9731738Abstract: A system for vehicle management includes a control signal interface subsystem and a vehicle-mounted subsystem. Each of these subsystems includes an ultra-wideband (UWB) communications component. The subsystems communicate with each other through the UWB components. The vehicle mounted subsystem interfaces with a braking system of the vehicle. The vehicle mounted subsystem determines the distance between it and the control signal interface subsystem based on the time-of-flight of at least one communication between the subsystems. The vehicle-mounted subsystem can cause the braking system of the vehicle to activate if the distance between the vehicle-mounted subsystem and the control signal interface subsystem is less than a threshold.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2015Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: METROM RAIL, LLCInventors: Richard C. Carlson, Kurt A. Gunther, Marc W. Cygnus
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Publication number: 20150329130Abstract: A system for vehicle management includes a control signal interface subsystem and a vehicle-mounted subsystem. Each of these subsystems includes an ultra-wideband (UWB) communications component. The subsystems communicate with each other through the UWB components. The vehicle mounted subsystem interfaces with a braking system of the vehicle. The vehicle mounted subsystem determines the distance between it and the control signal interface subsystem based on the time-of-flight of at least one communication between the subsystems. The vehicle-mounted subsystem can cause the braking system of the vehicle to activate if the distance between the vehicle-mounted subsystem and the control signal interface subsystem is less than a threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2015Publication date: November 19, 2015Inventors: Richard C. Carlson, Kurt A. Gunther, Marc W. Cygnus
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Patent number: 9043131Abstract: A collision avoidance system (CAS) is described that includes one or more sensor technologies, including, for example, an Ultra Wideband (UWB) sensing technology. The collision avoidance system is designed to reliably track the location and speed of vehicles and the distance between vehicles over a wide variety of track and terrain. The collision avoidance system may utilize information from a variety of sensor technologies to determine whether one or more vehicles violate speed and/or separation criteria, and may generate a warning.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2014Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Metrom Rail, LLCInventors: Richard C. Carlson, Kurt A. Gunther, Marc W. Cygnus
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Publication number: 20150060608Abstract: A system for vehicle management includes a control signal interface subsystem and a vehicle-mounted subsystem. Each of these subsystems includes an ultra-wideband (UWB) communications component. The subsystems communicate with each other through the UWB components. The vehicle mounted subsystem interfaces with a braking system of the vehicle. The vehicle mounted subsystem determines the distance between it and the control signal interface subsystem based on the time-of-flight of at least one communication between the subsystems. The vehicle-mounted subsystem can cause the braking system of the vehicle to activate if the distance between the vehicle-mounted subsystem and the control signal interface subsystem is less than a threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Inventors: Richard C. Carlson, Kurt A. Gunther, Marc W. Cygnus
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Publication number: 20140346285Abstract: A rail line sensing and safety system adapted to reliably sense the presence, and optionally the direction and speed, of vehicles traveling on a rail line, and when a vehicle is sensed, to indicate whether a safety device, such as crossing gates, lights, bells, etc., should be activated. The system comprises at least one detection module typically mounted on a rail, at least one remote module typically located near a detection module, and at least one control module typically located near a safety device. In operation, a detection module senses a vehicle traveling on a rail line and sends signals to a remote module. The remote module then processes signals received from the detection module and transmits signals to the control module. The control module then directs, either directly or indirectly as a backup or supplement to an existing sensing and safety system, whether a safety device should be activated.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2014Publication date: November 27, 2014Applicant: Metrom Rail, LLCInventors: Richard C. Carlson, Peter Strezev, Kurt A. Gunther, Marc W. Cygnus
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Patent number: 8812227Abstract: A collision avoidance system (CAS) is described that includes one or more sensor technologies, including, for example, an Ultra Wideband (UWB) sensing technology. The collision avoidance system is designed to reliably track the location and speed of vehicles and the distance between vehicles over a wide variety of track and terrain. The collision avoidance system may utilize information from a variety of sensor technologies to determine whether one or more vehicles violate speed and/or separation criteria, and may generate a warning.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2012Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Metrom Rail, LLCInventors: Richard C. Carlson, Kurt A. Gunther, Marc W. Cygnus
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Publication number: 20140229096Abstract: A collision avoidance system (CAS) is described that includes one or more sensor technologies, including, for example, an Ultra Wideband (UWB) sensing technology. The collision avoidance system is designed to reliably track the location and speed of vehicles and the distance between vehicles over a wide variety of track and terrain. The collision avoidance system may utilize information from a variety of sensor technologies to determine whether one or more vehicles violate speed and/or separation criteria, and may generate a warning.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: Metrom Rail, LLCInventors: Richard C. Carlson, Kurt A. Gunther, Marc W. Cygnus
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Patent number: 8752797Abstract: A rail line sensing and safety system adapted to reliably sense the presence, and optionally the direction and speed, of vehicles traveling on a rail line, and when a vehicle is sensed, to indicate whether a safety device, such as crossing gates, lights, bells, etc., should be activated. The system comprises at least one detection module typically mounted on a rail, at least one remote module typically located near a detection module, and at least one control module typically located near a safety device. In operation, a detection module senses a vehicle traveling on a rail line and sends signals to a remote module. The remote module then processes signals received from the detection module and transmits signals to the control module. The control module then directs, either directly or indirectly as a backup or supplement to an existing sensing and safety system, whether a safety device should be activated.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2011Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Metrom Rail, LLCInventors: Richard C. Carlson, Peter Strezev, Kurt A. Gunther, Marc W. Cygnus
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Publication number: 20120296562Abstract: A collision avoidance system (CAS) is described that includes one or more sensor technologies, including, for example, an Ultra Wideband (UWB) sensing technology. The collision avoidance system is designed to reliably track the location and speed of vehicles and the distance between vehicles over a wide variety of track and terrain. The collision avoidance system may utilize information from a variety of sensor technologies to determine whether one or more vehicles violate speed and/or separation criteria, and may generate a warning.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2012Publication date: November 22, 2012Inventors: Richard C. Carlson, Kurt A. Gunther, Marc W. Cygnus
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Publication number: 20120138752Abstract: A rail line sensing and safety system adapted to reliably sense the presence, and optionally the direction and speed, of vehicles traveling on a rail line, and when a vehicle is sensed, to indicate whether a safety device, such as crossing gates, lights, bells, etc., should be activated. The system comprises at least one detection module typically mounted on a rail, at least one remote module typically located near a detection module, and at least one control module typically located near a safety device. In operation, a detection module senses a vehicle traveling on a rail line and sends signals to a remote module. The remote module then processes signals received from the detection module and transmits signals to the control module. The control module then directs, either directly or indirectly as a backup or supplement to an existing sensing and safety system, whether a safety device should be activated.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2011Publication date: June 7, 2012Inventors: Richard C. Carlson, Peter Strezev, Kurt A. Gunther, Marc W. Cygnus