Patent US6340139B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6340139B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Highway grade crossing vehicle violation detector
Assignee: LABARGE-OCS Inc
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Filing: 2000-06-01
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Granted: 2002-01-22
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Expires: 2020-06-01
Abstract
Abstract In one embodiment, the present invention is an alarm monitor for a railroad grade crossing, the grade crossing having an island activation relay that is activated in response to an approaching train, the alarm monitor including a micropower impulse radar (MIR) responsive to pedestrians and motor vehicles in a prohibited area of the crossing island during activations of the island activation relay; and a processor configured to generate a warning signal when the MIR detects a pedestrian or a motor vehicle in the prohibited area during an activation of the island activation relay.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas N. Hilleary
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:25
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61L; B61L29/00; B61L29/08; B61L29/24; B61L29/28; B61L29/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
An alarm monitor for a railroad grade crossing, the grade crossing including a crossing island and having an island activation relay that is activated in response to an approaching train, said alarm monitor comprising: a micropower impulse radar (MIR) responsive to pedestrians and motor vehicles in a prohibited area of the crossing island during activations of the island activation relay; a processor configured to generate a warning signal when the MIR detects a pedestrian or a motor vehicle in the prohibited area during an activation of the island activation relay; and a counter configured to count detections of pedestrians and vehicles within the pedestrian area while the island activation relay is activated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
An alarm monitor for a railroad grade crossing, the grade crossing including a crossing island and having an island activation relay that is activated in response to an approaching train, said alarm monitor comprising: a micropower impulse radar (MIR) responsive to pedestrians and motor vehicles in a prohibited area of the crossing island during activations of the island activation relay; a processor configured to generate a warning signal when the MIR detects a pedestrian or a motor vehicle in the prohibited area during an activation of the island activation relay; and a counter configured to count detections of pedestrians and vehicles within the pedestrian area while the island activation relay is activated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An alarm monitor in accordance with claim 1 wherein the MIR has a detection range of no more than about 30 feet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
An alarm monitor in accordance with claim 1 wherein the grade crossing has a gate having a gate arm activated by the island activation relay, and the MIR is mounted on the gate arm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An alarm monitor in accordance with claim 1 wherein the grade crossing has a gate, and the MIR is mounted on the gate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
An alarm monitor in accordance with claim 1 wherein the grade crossing has a flasher including a mast, and the MIR is mounted on the flasher mast.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An alarm monitor in accordance with claim 1 wherein the grade crossing includes a cantilever over lanes of crossing highway traffic, and the MIR is mounted on the cantilever.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
96 words
An alarm monitor in accordance with claim 1 and having a plurality of MIRs, including at least one central MIR responsive to pedestrians and motor vehicles within a central region of the prohibited area and at least one outer MIR responsive to pedestrians within a crossing region of the prohibited area, and wherein said processor is responsive to said plurality of MIRs to generate a warning signal in response to said at least one central MIR detecting the pedestrian or the motor vehicle only after said outer MIR has detected the pedestrian or the motor vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A alarm monitor in accordance with claim 1 wherein the grade crossing comprises a signaling bungalow, and said processor is mounted within the signaling bungalow.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An alarm monitor in accordance with claim 8 wherein the MIR is mounted outside the bungalow and communicates with said processor via a hardwired connection.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An alarm monitor in accordance with claim 8 further configured to transmit detection signals from said MIR to said processor using spread spectrum modulation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
An alarm system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said transmission is via radio.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
An alarm system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said transmission is via wire.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
76 words
An alarm system in accordance with claim 10 wherein the grade crossing includes field wiring and a flash relay configured to generate a flash signal voltage over the field wiring, and said system being configured to transmit detection signals from said MIR to said processor using spread spectrum modulation comprises said system being configured to transmit detection signals from said MIR over the field wiring during flash portions of a duty cycle of the flash relay.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for monitoring alarms at a railroad grade crossing having an island activation relay that is activated in response to an approaching train, comprising the steps of: detecting reflections from a boundary of a prohibited area of the grade crossing using a microwave impulse radar (MIR) during activations of the island activation relay upon approach of a train; generating a warning signal when the MIR detects a pedestrian or a motor vehicle in the prohibited area on the condition that the island activation relay has been activated; and counting detections of pedestrians and motor vehicles in the prohibited area while the island activation relay has been activated.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for monitoring alarms at a railroad grade crossing having an island activation relay that is activated in response to an approaching train, comprising the steps of: detecting reflections from a boundary of a prohibited area of the grade crossing using a microwave impulse radar (MIR) during activations of the island activation relay upon approach of a train; generating a warning signal when the MIR detects a pedestrian or a motor vehicle in the prohibited area on the condition that the island activation relay has been activated; and counting detections of pedestrians and motor vehicles in the prohibited area while the island activation relay has been activated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 further comprising the step of mounting the MIR on a gate arm of the grade crossing, so that, when the gate arm is lowered, the MIR is directed at a boundary of the prohibited area.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 further comprising the step of transmitting a spread spectrum modulated detection signal from the MIR to a processor that generates the warning signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein the spread spectrum modulated detection signal is transmitted via field wiring during flash portions of a duty cycle of a flash relay generating a flash signal voltage over the field wiring.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for monitoring alarms at a railroad grade crossing having an island activation relay that is activated in response to an approaching train, comprising the steps of: detecting reflections from a boundary of a prohibited area of the grade crossing using a microwave impulse radar (MIR) during activations of the island activation relay upon approach of a train; generating a warning signal when the MIR detects a pedestrian or a motor vehicle in the prohibited area on the condition that the island activation relay has been activated; and separately detecting pedestrians and vehicles in a central region of the prohibited area, and of conditioning generation of the warning signal upon first detecting a pedestrian or vehicle crossing a boundary of the prohibited region and next detecting a pedestrian or vehicle entering the central region of the prohibited area.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for monitoring alarms at a railroad grade crossing having an island activation relay that is activated in response to an approaching train, comprising the steps of: detecting reflections from a boundary of a prohibited area of the grade crossing using a microwave impulse radar (MIR) during activations of the island activation relay upon approach of a train; generating a warning signal when the MIR detects a pedestrian or a motor vehicle in the prohibited area on the condition that the island activation relay has been activated; and separately detecting pedestrians and vehicles in a central region of the prohibited area, and of conditioning generation of the warning signal upon first detecting a pedestrian or vehicle crossing a boundary of the prohibited region and next detecting a pedestrian or vehicle entering the central region of the prohibited area.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-01-21 | 2005-07-23 | 2006-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-01-21 | 2009-07-23 | 2010-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-01-21 | 2013-07-23 | 2014-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |