US3579265A - Method and apparatus for transmitting information - Google Patents

Abstract

Method and apparatus for transmitting information between a track bound vehicle and a point on the track whereby the desired information is provided independent of the speed and direction of the travelling vehicle. The signal transmitter is coded according to the desired information, for example, the identifying number of the vehicle, by the selective positioning of a plurality of magnets within a matrix of positions, while the receiver is provided with a plurality of magnetically operated switches, for example, Reed-switches, one for each possible position of the magnet. The transmitter is also provided with an additional gate magnet which is positioned so that it can cooperate with one of a pair of additional magnetic switches provided in the receiver depending on the direction of travel of the vehicle. Actuation of either of these additional magnetic switches causes signals to be simultaneously emitted in parallel from each of the other magnetic switches closed in accordance with the transmitted coded signal. The output signals from the closed magnetic switches are fed to a code converter which, depending on which one of the additional magnetic switches was actuated, provides a binary coded output signal which either represents the actual detected numerical value or its compliment. The coded output signals are then either placed in an intermediate store and subsequently read or recorded, for example, by perforating a tape, or are directly recorded.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors Jozsef MandLsu;

Erno Csaszar, Budapest, Hungary [21] Appl. No. 728,183 [22] Filed May 10, 1968 [45] Patented May 18, 1971 [73] Assignee Fok-Gyem Finommechanikai Es Elektronikus Muszergyarto Budapest, Hungary [32] Priority May 10, 1967 [33] Hungary 31 1 Ma-1711 [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING INFORMATION 9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs. [52] US. Cl 235/6l.ll,

[51] Int. Cl 606k 7/08, B611 27/04 [50] Field ofSearch 235/6l 11, .114; 246/2, 30, 124, 2, 3, 4, 5; 340/1741, 146.3

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,877,718 3/1959 Mittag 340/146.3UX 3,168,268 2/1965 Bossart et al. 340/146.3UX 3,465,131 2/1969 Ten Eyck 235/6l.l1

Primary Examiner-Daryl W. Cook Attorney-Spencer and Kaye ABSTRACT: Method and apparatus for transmitting information between a track bound vehicle and a point on the track whereby the desired infonnation is provided independent of the speed and direction of the travelling vehicle. The signal transmitter is coded according to the desired information, for example, the identifying number of the vehicle, by the selective positioning of a plurality of magnets within a matrix of positions, while the receiver is provided with a plurality of magnetically operated switches, for example, Reed-switches, one for each possible position of the magnet. The transmitter is also provided with an additional gate magnet which is positioned so that it can cooperate with one of a pair of additional magnetic switches provided in the receiver depending on the direction of travel of the vehicle. Actuation of either of these additional magnetic switches causes signals to be simultaneously emitted in parallel from each of the other magnetic switches closed in accordance with the transmitted coded signal. The output signals from the closed magnetic switches are fed to a code converter which, depending on which one of the additional magnetic switches was actuated, provides a binary coded output signal which either represents the actual detected numerical value or its compliment. The coded output signals are then either placed in an intermediate store and subsequently read or recorded, for example, by perforating a tape, or are directly recorded.

Patented May 18,1971 3,579,265

6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS' 36a mqndaw Ema, C sszou' ATTORNEYS Patented May 18,- 19-71 XIII 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aso XII

Fig. 2 a

INVENIQRS WW0 Ernb' Csszr Patented May 18, 1971 3,579,265

6 Sheets-Sheet 4 56250,? M andnsu Erna Cs'szo'v BY 2 [lou C ATTORNEYS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING lNFORMATION The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for transmitting information between trackbound vehicles and the track when the vehicle passes any given point of the track.

In the domain of road traffic, the ever increasing traffic requires the transmission of information for different purposes between the vehicles and a given point of the track in order to permit the processing of this information according to a desired purpose.

One of these purposes is that, in order to facilitate the registration of the individual vehicles as well as to speed up such r,egistrations at the control stations, the numerical definition of the vehicle be read, recorded and stored. If this operation is introduced at several places in the traffic net-inclusive of the international trafficit will be easy to evaluate the traffic of the individual vehicles on the basis of the recordings.

The Kongress der lntemationalen Eisenbahn-Vereiningungen fUlC, AlCC/ has also dealt with this problem and for the solution of the above task worked out directives in the form of international proposals. The most important conditions of these directives are as follows:

a. the vehicle numbers should consist of l2 digits;

b. the faultless activity of the reading system should be secured within a speed range of to 160 km/h maximum;

c. the possibility of recognizing faulty signals (interfering signals) must be ensured;

d. the reading of the vehicle numbers must be secured in any direction and independently of the position of the vehicle on the track;

e. apart from the inspection to be carried out every 4 years of the device provided on the vehicle, no readjustment of the device should be required; furthermore, no signal transmitter containing any power source should be used on the vehicle;

f. the device should not interfere with the usual security and distant signalling installations or equipment;

g. the device should operate without fail under any lighting conditions, thus when exposed to direct sun light as well as in complete darkness;

h. the device should not interfere with the regulate operation of the vehicles, considering also the accessories of the vehicle and the car cover;

i. the stipulated safe readability of the device amounts to one single faulty vehicle number reading in 10,000 readings;

j. the device should work reliably between temperatures of 50 and +70 C., independent of the climatic conditions (snow, fog, humidity, vapor);

k. the storing of the read vehicle numbers is to be secured for up to lOO vehicle numbers.

To meet the aforesaid requirements, equipment of different types has been proposed and manufactured.

A known device developed for the aforesaid task solves the problem by the discontinuous transmission of signals by means of radiation of radio isotopes. This solution has, however, the drawback that the radio activity required per vehicle is of such high intensity that particular precautions must to be taken against radiation. In addition to the constant danger of radiation, this method also involves considerably costs.

For the above-said purpose, there are also devices known which are operated by microwaves or by ultrasonic reflection. From the view point of system technique, this solution appears, by all means, to be advantageous. However, the equipment to be used per vehicle involves an expenditure of such a magnitude that the general use of this system could hardly be taken into consideration.

Other devices, which are based upon the reaction to visible or infrared light are also known. These devices have the disadvantage, however, that they do not meet the international proposals, since no signal transmission can take place if vapor or any other optically interfering medium intervenes between the signal transmitter and the signal receiver.

Electromagnetic transmitter and receiver devices operation on the basis of static magnetic induction have also been developed. In a known device oscillatory circuits, which are tuned to corresponding resonance frequencies, are arranged on the vehicle and a heavy-duty transmission generator is provided at a given point of the railway track. When the vehicle passes, the resonant oscillatory circuit absorbs energy from the transmitter and this energy is transformed by a complicated current circuit arrangement in the receiver into an impulse and the signals thus obtained are processed further on for the purposes of informations. Though this device meets the international proposals, it requires investments of such magnitude that its use is disadvantageous.

There is also known a device for transmitting information, wherein permanent magnets are used as signal transmitters and wherein at the control station of the railway track inductive windings fed with radio frequency are arranged, which are dissyntonized by magnets passing along the winding, or in which voltages are induced. The change of the radio frequency taking place in this way, or the voltage induced, causes the information signal. These devices have the drawback that within the range of the zero speed no transmission of information takes place, or the transmission of information is not satisfactory, whereas at high speeds, in addition to the necessary information signals, interfering signals which exceed the infonnation signals are also produced. Another drawback lies in that the device is extremely complicated and comprises an expensive signal receiver. The signal transmitting part comprising 20 to 50 permanent magnets is, on the contrary, inexpensive and appears to offer a suitable solution.

The task of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the aforesaid solutions and to create a much more inexpensive device, in particular such a one which meets the international proposals in every respect as well as one which is more simple and of safe operation.

The invention relates thus to a process and a device for transmitting information between track-bound vehicles and the track when the vehicle passes a given point of the track and for processing the information, for example, for the identification of the vehicle number, wherein a magnetic signal receiver arranged in the track, or on the vehicle, is actuated by the magnetic field of a permanent magnet, forming a signal transmitter, coded in a desired way and arranged on the vehicle or in the track, and wherein the signals obtained are processed.

The set task is solved according to the invention in that the signals of the signal transmitter are simultaneously transmitted by Reed-switches sending a selective, constant standard signal independent of the speed and travel direction of the vehicle, which Reed-switches are actuated by functional gates according to the position of the vehicle, wherein by the actuation of the gates the information corresponding to the two possible positions of the vehicle is coded in the one position in the original sequence of the digit and numerical values of the information, and in the other position of the vehicle is coded in reverse sequence, parallel to a selected code, or the information is entered into the storing elements of an intermediary storage unit and the signals are read, fixed or shown, respectively, by a sequential reading unit, for example by a ring counter, or the signals are fixed directly after coding by means of a tape punching apparatus.

Simultaneously with the fixing of the signals of information it is possible to co-record a time signal and/or a signal identifying the specific point of the track, if this appears necessary.

The device serving to carry out the process according to the invention has a magnetic signal transmitter coded by the position of permanent magnets, a code converter interconnected with the signal generator, a signal storage unit as well as a signal fixing and/or signal showing unit. The substance of the apparatus according to the invention is that a gate magnet is associated with the permanent magnets of the signal transmitter which controls a functional or logical gate in the receiver to simultaneously actuate a plurality of Reedswitches in the receiver to read and the transmitted information; that in the signal receiver, on the one hand a plurality of Reed-switches equal in number to all of the possible positions of the permanent magnets in the signal transmitter are provided and arranged such that they can be actuated by the permanent magnets, while on the other hand, additional Reedswitches are provided which cooperate with the with the position of the vehicle relative to the signal receiver and thus the particular Reed-switch actuated by the gate magnet, forms a coded output signal, in any desired code, which is either a direct representation or a reverse representation as regards both digit sequence and numerical value of the numerical value represented by the positions of the permanent magnets, and that the outputs of the coding unit either are connected to the inputs of a, known intermediary or buffer signal storage unit whose outputs are the inputs of a signal showing unit and/or a signal fixing unit, or that the outputs of the coding unit are connected directly to the input of a tape punching apparatus.

The device according to the invention for the identification of the vehicle number may be of such a design that the signal transmitter is provided on the undercarriage of the vehicle inside the vehicle profile and that the signal receiver is provided on a selected point of the railway track between the track lines of the vehicle wheels.

According to another embodiment of the device, the permanent magnets contained by the signal transmitter are arranged according to a code known per se.

The device according to the invention fitted with a coding apparatus operating with diodes may also be designed in such a manner that to the outputs of the coding unit there is coordinated on the one hand an output coding with a diode or coding just by the absence of a diode, and producing a S-unit code known per se, and on the other hand there is also another output coordinated which produces the complementary S-unit code of the code.

The device according to the invention may be of such a design that either a tape punching apparatus or an electronic signal storage unit known per se, for example an electronic computer is connected to the output of the intermediary signal storage unit.

The device according to the invention may be designed further in such a manner that the signal showing and/or signal fixing unit is provided with inlets connected to the outlets of a unit identifying the point of track and the point of time.

A great advantage of the device according to the invention lies in that it meets all conditions of the international proposals and is unique in this respect. The simplicity of the construction offers a high operational safety and the maintenance requires small effort only.

One embodiment given by way of example of the invention will be described hereunder with reference to a vehicle identifying device operating according to the vehicle number:

FIG. I shows the block diagram of the units of the device according to the invention, in schematic representation;

FIG. 2a shows, by way of example, a coded vehicle number, stating the digit values of the numerals;

FIG. 2b illustrates, from among the two possible positions which the vehicle may take up on the track, one position of the plane of the magnetic transmitting unit together with the permanent magnet arranged in said plane according to the code corresponding to the vehicle number in FIG. 2a

FIG. 2c shows the vehicle number that can be seen in FIG. 2a, in the other possible vehicle position coded by coding permanent magnets;

FIG. 2d shows the vehicle number read according to the code of FIG. 20, said number being reconverted in the coding unit connected to the signal receiver into the original number;

FIG. 3 shows the switch field arranged in the plane of the signal receiver, together with the corresponding designation of the columns and rows of the individual switches;

FIG. 4a shows, from among the matrices of the coding unit, matrix panel XII of the vehicle number XII corresponding to the highest digit value, whereas;

FIG. 4b, similar to FIG. 4a, shows the matrix I'. corresponding to the lowest vehicle number value I.

FIG. 5 is the schematic representation of the circuit'of the signal processing unit.

FIG. I shows the device according to the invention in a block diagram. Signal transmitter B is fastened to the supporting structure of vehicle A within the profile'lines at the undercarriage of the vehicle in the section between the two rails. It comprises a signal transmitter consisting of permanent magnets in which signal transmitter the permanent magnets are arranged in code according to the 12 digits of the vehicle number at a ratio to a gate magnet of a 1011 code.

Between the rails of a track is arranged the signal receiver C which comprises a switch field of Reed-switches which are actuated by the fields of the magnets of the signal transmitter B. When the vehicle A moves in either direction, the signal transmitter B moves also through signal receiver C in a parallel plane and simultaneously actuates in a certain position those magnet switches 20 (FIG. 3) which are arranged in the switch field of the signal receiver and which are just congruent to digit magnets 60 (FIGS. 2a and 2c in signal transmitter B.

The signal receiver C allows the information obtained in this manner to reach the code unit E. From this latter unit, the signals after code conversion, are fed to signal storing unit F, and from there to the signal fixing unit L, where a tape punching apparatus serves to record the information characterizing the vehicle number and the information coming from a coding unit I actuated by a clock generator K identifying the point of time and the point of track. In this manner the information corresponding to all 12 digits of the numbers of vehicle A is stored by signal storing unit F and fixed by signal fixing unit L. This process takes place on a tape or on cards corresponding to the CCITT proposals known from teletype techniques and used also with railways according to the ABC 5-uhit code.

The information fixed on the punched tape is transmitted by means of Telex transmitter G in the form of signals corresponding to the perforation, to the central electronic computer H, where the processing of the data takes place. The device is fed with current from feeding source D.

FIG. 2a shows car number 246, 307, 591, 853, used by way of example. The digit values of the number were denoted by Roman numerals in such a manner that the first digit of on the left side is coordinated with the digit value XII as the highest digit value, and the last digit on the right side is coordinated with I as the lowest digit value.

FIG. 2b shows the signal transmitter B including a plurality of pennanent magnets 60, coded according to the vehicle number taken by way of example in FIG. 2a, arranged in rows and columns. The rows I-XII correspond to the digital values of the numeral, columns 30l3l0 designate the absolute values of the numerals coordinated with the digit values arranged in rows I-XII. In the row XIII and the coordinated column 300 is the gate magnet 50. At the distances in relation to gate magnet 50 all digit magnets 60 of signal transmitter B are shown coded according to the code of 10:1. The vehicle A may travel in travelling direction 70 either forward or backward. Numeral 2 which according to FIG. 20 has the highest digit value of the vehicle number is coded in the signal transmitter B shown in FIG. 2b in such a manner that digit magnet 60 has been placed into column 303 of row XII and this position in relation to gate magnet 50 ensures in an ambiguous way the information corresponding to numeral 2.

The axes forming the north-south direction of the digit magnet are vertical to the plane of signal transmitter B.

The signal transmitter B arranged on vehicle A may show in relation to signal receiver C also a position turned by I The actuation taking place in this position will be described hereinafter in detail in the course of disclosing the actuation of the device.

The signal receiver C is arranged between the rails. The

construction thereof is shown in FIG. 3. The switch field comprising-as stated before-Reed-relays, has rows I'-XII' and columns 30I'3l0, these columns corresponding to the absolute values of the vehicle numbers in such a manner that for example in FIG. 2a the digit 2 coordinated with digit value XII on the left side corresponds in switch field of FIG. 3 to magnet switch 20' in the intersection of vehicle number digit value row XII and of column 303. In column 311 of vehicle number digit value row XIII there is arranged a Reed-switch K, and in column 300' of vehicle number digit value row XIV there is a Reed-switch K Each of these Reed-swithces K and K actuates a gating stage. One of these Reed-switches K, and K achieves congruence during travel, in both possible vehicle or actuations with gate magnet 50 fastened to vehicle A as shown in FIG. 2b. One pole or terminal of each of Reedswitches K and I-i forms a common pole 150 with one pole of each of the magnet switches 20 of the switch field. The other pole of Reed-switch K, which has not been mentioned, is connected to the negative pole of the feed current source D and the positive pole to the not-mentioned other pole of the Reedswitch K The poles of positive and negative voltage of current source D are to be interpreted in comparison with the base voltage of the device.

The transmission of information between the signal transmitter B and the signal receiver C takes place only if gate magnet 50 is congruent either to Reed-switch K or with Reedswitch K Thus the switches K and K determine not only the relative forward direction of travel or orientation direction of the transmitter with respectto the receiver but also when the transmitter and the receiver are in registry.

In both cases digit magnets 60 of signal transmitter B are congruent with the corresponding magnet switches 20 of receiver C, so that the information pertinent to all 12 digits passes simultaneously from signal transmitter B into signal receiver c.

The other poles or terminals of the magnet switches 20 of the switch field shown in FIG. 3 are connected in rowed grouping, for example in the vehicle number digit value row I, with poles 200-209 and these are connected with the input poles 200-209' of the of the coding matrix I" (see FIG. 4b pertinent to vehicle number digit row 1'. Similarly, in vehicle number digit row XII the terminals of the switches 20 are connected with poles 100-109, and these in turn are connected with the input poles 100'-109' of coding matrix XII pertinent to vehicle number digit row XII (see FIG. 4a

In the coding unit B, one coding matrix I"XII" is provided for each individual vehicle number digit row I-Xll in the signal receiving unit. The input terminals of each matrix, e.g., terminals 200'-209 of matrix I" shown in FIG. 4b, are coordinated with two sets of output terminals or poles, eg, the output poles 11-15 and 11'-15, according to the ABC 5-unit code. One group of these output terminals, i.e., the terminals 11-15, is connected to the input terminals 200'-209' via aplurality of diodes 80, which are all arranged in the same current carrying direction in a manner to provide the desired 5-unit code representing the numerical value of the input signal at the output tenninals 11-15 when positive voltage input signals are applied to the input terminals 200'209'. The other group of output terminals, i.e., the terminals 11'- -l5' are connected to the input terminals 200'209 via diodes 90 which are all arranged in the opposite or blocking direction, in a manner to provide 5unit coded digits at the output terminals 11'l5' which represent the compliment of the above-mentioned numerical value when negative input signals are applied to the input terminals 200'-209'.

The structure of each of matrices I '-XII" is the same.

As shown in FIG. 5, the output poles of matrices I"-XII" are connected to the individual input poles of signal storing elements 40 of the electronic signal storing units 26-30, in a manner whereby the input poles of each individual signal storing element 40 are connected to the output of matrices having two different digit value (for example to the output poles 11- -15 and 11'-l5 and 121-125 and 121125' of matrices l" and XII".

The output poles 121-125 of matrix XII" corresponding to the highest digit values are connected to one of the inputs of signal storing elements 40 of signal storing unit 29, pertinent to the highest digit values, whereas the other output poles 121'-125' of the same matrix XII are'connected to the storing elements 40 of storing unit 26, pertinent to the lowest digit value. One of output poles 11-15 of matrix I" corresponding to the lowest digit value is connected to the inputs of storing elements 40 of the signal storing unit 26 corresponding to the lowest digit value, whereas the output poles 11-15' of the same matrix I" are connected to the signal storing elements 40 of the signal storing unit 29, corresponding to the highest digit value. The one type of outputs of the matrices corresponding to a digit value numeral which is by one, two, etc. smaller than the highest digit value numeral are connected to one type of the inputs of the corresponding signal storing elements 40 of the pertinent storing unit which are by one, two, etc. smaller than the highest digit value numeral, whereas the other output of the same matrix are connected to the other inputs of signal storing unit being by one, two, etc. higher than the highest digit value numeral. The output poles of signal storing element 40 are connected to the inputs of signal forming stages 23, whereas these latter as well as the outputs of the numeral change signal transmitter 31, of the line lifting signal transmitter 32 and of vehicle reverse switch 33 are connected to the input of the individual gates of OR gate unit 35. In FIG. 5, only signal storing units 26-29 of vehicle number digit value rows l and II as well as XI and XII are shown. The storing units not shown in the FIG. are indicated by dotted lines 30.

The individual numeral character output 61-65 of the OR gate unit 35 are connected to input poles 41-45 of the unit 36 for reproducing the signal, for example a tape perforating machine.

The combined inputs of one signal storing unit 26-30 each, of numeral change signal transmitter 31, of lie line lifting signal transmitter 32, and of vehicle reverse switch 33 are connected to one output each of ring counter 37 in such a manner that the one input of numeral change transmitter 31 is connected to the output 24 of the flip-flop of the unit indicating the basic condition of ring counter 37, and the corresponding output poles which are by one, two, etc. digits higher, are connected to a common input of the storing units of those units which have a digit value being by one, two, etc. lower than the highest value. The output pole 22 denoting the last but one output of ring counter 37 is connected to the common input of the line lift signal transmitter 32, whereas the output pole 21 denoting the last output of the ring counter 37 is connected to the common input of carriage reverse signal generator 33; the outputs from generators 32 and 33, as well as that from generator 31 serving to control the subsequent Telex systems. The output pole 38 denoting the basic condition of ring counter 37 is connected to one of the inputs of signal storing element 52 which actuates the input of ring counter 37 by means of a gate pulse, whereas the output of signal forming stage 51 for the starting signal is connected to the other input of the same signal storing element 52. The input of this signal forming stage 51 is connected to the common pole of magnetic switch 20 of the signal receiver C. The output pole 38 indicating the operative condition of unit 36 for reproducing the signal, is connected to the input of gate circuit 53 which controls the ring counter 37, whereas the output of signal storing element 52 is connected to the input of the same gate circuit 53, which is actuated by the gate pulse, and to the output of gate circuit 53 is connected the control input 46 of ring counter 37, as well as to the input of signal-forming circuit 54 which actuates the unit 36 which reproduces the signal. The output of the signal-forming circuit 54 is connected to the starting input of the signal-reproducing unit 47.

The device according to the invention works in the following manner:

In the signal transmitter arranged on vehicle A the number corresponding to the vehicle number, that is the number 246, 307, 591, 853 is coded in relation to gate magnet 50 according to the code of 1011 by numerical magnets 60 corresponding to the rows and columns. When the vehicle A is rolling on the track, the track transmitter B moves in a plane above and parallel to the signal receiver. Assuming first such a position of the vehicle on the track that gate magnet 50 is congruent with Reed-switch K then when vehicle A passes above signal receiver C, in the congruent position of the gate magnet 50 with the starting Reed-switch K the numeral magnets 60 will switch-on the magnet switches in the signal receiver C congruent therewith and the switch K will switch the positive voltage of supply voltage source D to the common pole I50 of the all magnet switches 20, as well as to the input of the signalforming stage 51. The switched-on magnet switches 20 permit a positive voltage be applied to one input of each of the matrix circuits I-XII". Hereby, the output 1W2 of the magnet switch 20 will switch a positive voltage into the vehicle number digit value row XII in column 303' corresponding to the highest digit value, or inlet pole T02 of matrix XII", whereas the output 203 of the magnet switch 20 in column 3% vehicle number digit value row I, corresponding to the lowest digit value, will switch onto inlet pole 203' of matrix I a positive voltage. The diodes 80 arranged in the conducting direction causes outlet poles l23l24l of matrix Xll" and thus the third and fourth signal storing elements 40 of signal storing unit 29 corresponding to the highest digit value, change state and store the signals in this manner. The diodes 80 arranged in matrix I" in the conducting direction similarly flip over outlet poles I2, l3, l4, 15 of matrix I", the second, third, etc. signal elements 40 of signal storing unit 26, corresponding to the smallest digit value, and thus store the signal in this manner. Also the remaining signals read in the signal receiver, are fed through matrices II"XI" to the signal storing elements 40 of the corresponding signal storing unit 40, and thus also stored in this manner.

After gate magnets 50 passed over Reed-switch K-, the latter interrupts the positive voltage lying on common pole K50. l-Iereupon, the signal forming stage 51 flips the signal storing element 52 over and gate circuit 53 becomes conductive. A signal arrives at the inlet of gate circuit 53 from pole 48 indicating the state ready for operation, said signal, flowing through this gate circuit 53, is fed to control inlet pole 46 of ring counter 37 as well as to the inlet of the starting signal producing, signal-forming circuit 54. Ring counter 37 continues to flip or change its state from the basic position, under the action of the arriving signal, and outlet 24 sends a signal for selection to the reading inlet of row lift signal transmitter 3i, and sends an information signal from the outlet of these latter circuit through the numeral characteristic outlet 63 of OR gate unit 35 to inlet 43 of the signal reproducing unit 36. Simultaneously therewith, a starting impulse arrives at the starting inlet, which impulse is given by signal forming circuit 54 performs the starting. Upon appearance of this signal as well as of the information signal appearing at the same time, the signal reproducing unit 36 perforates on the tape the signal having the character corresponding to the numeral key, according to the S-unit code ABC for the subsequent Telex system. In this way, a perforating process was ended and the signal indicating the preparedness becomes again effective on pole 48, indicating this state, and through the inlet of gate circuit 53, moves ring counter 37 by one step ahead causing a signal to be applied to the line connected to the common inlet of signal storing unit 29. The signal on the line 25 will cause the two signal storing elements 40 which were flipped by the signals from the coding matrix to be flipped back to their original condition and provide, via numerical units 6364 of the OR gate unit 35, information signals at the inputs 43 and 44 of unit 36. The common effect of the starting impulse and of the information signal, results in the signal signifying the first number 2 of the vehicle number being punched into the tape. The selective process, which in respect of the remaining numbers takes place in a similar way, will be ended by the appearance of ring counter 37 in its basic position, whereby the signal arriving from outlet pole 38 flips the signal storing element 52 controlling the circuit 53 back to its original state so that its output signal blocks gate circuit 53. Before the following vehicle arrives above the signal receiver C, the selecting process is already achieved and the signal storing unit is ready for receiving new information.

As a second case, it is assumed that vehicle A, in contrast to the first case, is on the track in a position turned by I so that gate magnet 50 is congruent not to Reed-switch K but to Reed-switch K,. In this case, signal transmission takes place between signal transmitter B and receiver C in the same manner. However, instead of the original originally coded vehicle numbers 246, 307, 591, 853 stated in FIG. 2a, the control field, illustrated in FIG. 3, will read the numbers 641,804, 296, 357, shown in FIG. 2d. In this FIG, the first number shown at the left-hand end of the row corresponds to numeral XII, having the highest digit value, and the last number shown at the right-hand end corresponds to numeral I, having the lowest digit value. In this case, Reed-switch K, switches to common pole 150 of magnet switch 20 a voltage which is negative with respect to the base (support) voltage of the device. The numeral XII corresponding to the digit value row with the highest digit value, is switched over to magnet switch 20 which is in column 307' (see FIG. 3), which switch 20 superimposes a negative voltage on input 106' of matrix XII, and, via diodes 96], which are conductive as to the direction of the negative voltage, causes negative signals to appear at outputs I22, I23, H24, I25 (see FIG. 4a These negative output signals are fed to the control inputs of signal storing elements 40 of the corresponding signal storing unit 26, causing the second, third, fourth and fifth signal storing elements 40 to flip or change their state signal in this fashion (see FIG. 5). In the digit value of signal receiver C corresponding to the lowest digit value row of vehicle no. I, magnet switch 20, being in column 308, also switches on, permits a negative voltage to arrive at the input pole 207 of matrix I" via the output 207 of magnet switch 20, and via diodes at output poles l3 and 14. These negative output signals cause the third and fourth storing elements 40 of signal storing unit 29 corresponding to the highest digit value to change their state and store the numeral in this fashion (see FIG. 5). The numerals of the vehicle numbers corresponding to the remaining digit values are stored in the same manner as stated above via the output of ring counter 37 of in the aforestated manner, the recorded information is read from signal storing units 26 to 30, the numeral change is read from numeral change transmitter 31 the line lift signal is read from line lift transmitter 32 and the carriage return signal of the typewriter is read from the carriage return signal generator 33, and are conducted to the input poles of the unit 36 for recording the signal.

The device according to the present invention may also be of such configuration that output poles 11 to I5 and 11 to I5, or I21 to I25 and I21 to of coding unit E are directly connected to the control input of units, which actuate the perforating punches of a marginal punching arrangement (with transistor circuits, for example).

According to the further embodiment of the present invention, the electronic or mechanical signal storing unit of signal storing member 36 may comprise a calculator or a punch card signal storing arrangement.

The device according to the present invention may also be of such configuration that there is connected to the input of signal storing unit F and to signal fixing unit L the output of unit I, coding point of time and point of track, so that simultaneously with the transmitted information, there is processed also information identifying the point of time and the point of track.

According to the present invention, the coding is carried out in coding unit E by means of diodes or by absence of diodes, in a manner known per se.

Iclaim:

I. In a method of transmitting information between a trackbound vehicle and a given location along the track as the vehicle passes said location and for processing said information to identify the vehicle number, wherein the information is transmitted by means of the magnetic fields of permanent magnets arranged according to a desired code in a transmitter and detected by a receiver as the transmitter is moved relative to the receiver when the vehicle passes the given point on the track, the improvement comprising:

detecting said magnetic field signals by means of magnetically operated switches;

determining the instant when the transmitter and the receiver are in registry with one another and the relative forward direction of travel of the transmitter with respect to the receiver;

at said instant of alignment, simultaneously causing all of the switches actuated by the detected magnetic field signals to emit constant value signals which are independent of the speed and direction of movement of the vehicle and which correspond to the transmitted signals;

coding the thus emitted constant value signals according to a desired code to provide coded output signals, which, depending on the determined relative forward direction of travel on of the transmitter with respect to the receiver, either represents the transmitted information with its original sequence of digits and numerical values or represents the transmitted information with the reverse sequence of digits having complimentary numerical values; and

storing the said coded output signals representative of the transmitted information.

2. A method according to claim I, wherein the said stored coded signals are recorded, and wherein simultaneously with the recording of the said coded signals representative of the transmitted information, a time signal and/or a track point identification signal is additionally recorded.

3. A system for determining the identifying number of a vehicle as it passes a predetem'iined point comprising in combination;

a system for transmitting information, and in particular and an identifying number, between a track-bound vehicle and a given location along the trackas the vehicle passes said given location comprising in combination:

a transmitter and a receiver, one of which is located on said vehicle and the other of which is located at said given location;

said transmitter including a plurality of permanent magnets selectively positioned in rows and columns according to a desired code to represent the information to'be transmitted;

said receiver including a plurality of switches which are responsive to the magnetic fields from said permanent magnets, said switches being correspondingly arranged in rows and columns with one switch being provided for each possible position of a magnet in said transmitter;

means, including a gate magnet provided in said transmitter l0 and a pair of additional switches provided in said receiver and responsive to the magnetic field of said gate magnet, for determining when said transmitter and said receiver are in registry and the relative forward direction of travel of said transmitter wt respect to said receiver; means responsive to the instantaneous actuation of either of said additional switches, indicating that registry exists, for causing the ones of said plurality of switches which are actuated by the magnetic fields of the respectively positioned permanent magnets in the transmitter to simultaneously provide constant value output signals coded according to the transmitted information; coding means responsive to the said output signals form said switches and to the particular one of said additional switches which is actuated for providing output signals, coded according to a desired binary type code, which represent the digits of the transmitted data with either their original sequence and numerical values or in the reverse sequence with complimentary numerical values; and, signal storing means connected to the output of said coding means. 4. A system according to claim 3 sewing to identify the vehicle number, characterized in that the signal transmitter is provided on the undercarriage of the vehicle within the outline of the vehicle and that the signal receiver is provided at said selected point along the railway track between the rail lines of the vehicle wheels.

5. A system according to claim 3, characterized in that said pennanent magnets in said signal transmitter are arranged according to a code of I01] which is known per se.

6. A system according to claim 3 wherein said coding means comprises at least one diode matrix having two of output leads, one of said sets of output leads providing providing a binary type coded output signal representing the numerical value of the input signal to the matrix and the other of said sets of output leads providing a binary type coded output signal representing the complimentary numericalvalue of the input signal to the matrix.

7. A system according to claim 3, wherein said signal storage unit has inputs connected with the outputs of a unit identifying the point of track and time.

8. A system according to claim 3 wherein said signal storing means comprises an intermediary signal storage unit having a signal recording unit connected to the output thereof.

9. A system according to claim 8 wherein said signal recording unit is a tape punch.

Claims (9)

1. In a method of transmitting information between a track-bound vehicle and a given location along the track as the vehicle passes said location and for processing said information to identify the vehicle number, wherein the information is transmitted by means of the magnetic fields of permanent magnets arranged according to a desired code in a transmitter and detected by a receiver as the transmitter is moved relative to the receiver when the vehicle passes the given point on the track, the improvement comprising: detecting said magnetic field signals by means of magnetically operated switches; determining the instant when the transmitter and the receiver are in registry with one another and the relative forward direction of travel of the transmitter with respect to the receiver; at said instant of alignment, simultaneously causing all of the switches actuated by the detected magnetic field signals to emit constant value signals which are independent of the speed and direction of movement of the vehicle and which correspond to the transmitted signals; coding the thus emitted constant value signals according to a desired code to provide coded output signals, which, depending on the determined relative forward direction of travel on of the transmitter with respect to the receiver, either represents the transmitted information with its original sequence of digits and numerical values or represents the transmitted information with the reverse sequence of digits having complimentary numerical values; and storing the said coded output signals representative of the transmitted information.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the said stored coded signals are recorded, and wherein simultaneously with the recording of the said coded signals representative of the transmitted information, a time signal and/or a track point identification signal is additionally recorded.

3. A system for determining the identifying number of a vehicle as it passes a predetermined point comprising in combination; a system for transmitting information, and in particular and an identifying number, between a track-bound vehicle and a given location along the track as the vehicle passes said given location comprising in combination: a transmitter and a receiver, one of which is located on said vehicle and the other of which is located at said given location; said transmitter including a plurality of permanent magnets selectively positioned in rows and columns according to a desired code to represent the information to be transmitted; said receiver including a plurality of switches which are responsive to the magnetic fields from said permanent magnets, said switches being correspondingly arranged in rows and columns with One switch being provided for each possible position of a magnet in said transmitter; means, including a gate magnet provided in said transmitter and a pair of additional switches provided in said receiver and responsive to the magnetic field of said gate magnet, for determining when said transmitter and said receiver are in registry and the relative forward direction of travel of said transmitter wt respect to said receiver; means responsive to the instantaneous actuation of either of said additional switches, indicating that registry exists, for causing the ones of said plurality of switches which are actuated by the magnetic fields of the respectively positioned permanent magnets in the transmitter to simultaneously provide constant value output signals coded according to the transmitted information; coding means responsive to the said output signals form said switches and to the particular one of said additional switches which is actuated for providing output signals, coded according to a desired binary type code, which represent the digits of the transmitted data with either their original sequence and numerical values or in the reverse sequence with complimentary numerical values; and, signal storing means connected to the output of said coding means.

4. A system according to claim 3 serving to identify the vehicle number, characterized in that the signal transmitter is provided on the undercarriage of the vehicle within the outline of the vehicle and that the signal receiver is provided at said selected point along the railway track between the rail lines of the vehicle wheels.

5. A system according to claim 3, characterized in that said permanent magnets in said signal transmitter are arranged according to a code of 10:1 which is known per se.

6. A system according to claim 3 wherein said coding means comprises at least one diode matrix having two sets of output leads, one of said sets of output leads providing providing a binary type coded output signal representing the numerical value of the input signal to the matrix and the other of said sets of output leads providing a binary type coded output signal representing the complimentary numerical value of the input signal to the matrix.

7. A system according to claim 3, wherein said signal storage unit has inputs connected with the outputs of a unit identifying the point of track and time.

8. A system according to claim 3 wherein said signal storing means comprises an intermediary signal storage unit having a signal recording unit connected to the output thereof.

9. A system according to claim 8 wherein said signal recording unit is a tape punch.

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