Detection system and method for rail vehicle

Abstract

A detection system for a rail vehicle includes a control module, which has a sensor, input for receiving a signal from a sensor. The control module is configured to receive the signal and to output information responsive to the signal. In operation, the control module and a sensor are deployed on board the rail vehicle. The sensor is configured to generate the signal responsive to detecting a designated condition on board the rail vehicle. When the condition occurs, the sensor outputs the signal, which is received by the control module. Responsive to the signal, the control module outputs the information, such as communicating information of the signal content to another rail vehicle, or to an off board location. The designated condition may be unauthorized use of a handheld wireless device in a rail vehicle, or intruder entry into an unmanned rail vehicle.

1 . A detection system, comprising:
 a control module configured to be operably coupled on board a first rail vehicle, the control module comprising a device interface;   wherein the device interface includes a first sensor input for receiving a first signal from a first sensor relating to a first occupancy condition of the first rail vehicle;   wherein the device interface includes a second sensor input for receiving a second signal from a second sensor relating to a second occupancy condition of the first rail vehicle;   and wherein the control module is configured to at least one of: determine an occupancy status of the first rail vehicle based on the first and second signals, or communicate information of the first and second signals for determination of the occupancy status of the first rail vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is configured to receive a third signal indicative of unmanned operation of the first rail vehicle, and to enter a mode of operation of the control module for determining the occupancy status or communicating the information responsive to the third signal. 
     
     
         3 . The detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is configured to at least one of: communicate the occupancy status to a second rail vehicle; or communicate the information of the first and second signals to the second rail vehicle, for determination of the occupancy status of the first rail vehicle at the second rail vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The detection system of  claim 3 , wherein the control module is configured to communicate the occupancy status or the information to the second rail vehicle over a communication channel of a distributed power system of the first and second rail vehicles. 
     
     
         5 . The detection system of  claim 4 , wherein the control module is configured to: communicate a bit incorporating the first signal and the second signal reporting the occupancy status of the first rail vehicle to the second rail vehicle; or communicate a byte to the second rail vehicle, the byte incorporating the information of the first signal and the second signal. 
     
     
         6 . The detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is configured to communicate the occupancy status or the information responsive to the first signal indicating detection of an entryway of the first rail vehicle having been opened and the second signal indicating detection of a living being present in an interior of the first rail vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The detection system of  claim 1 , wherein: the control module is configured for operable coupling with an operator interface in the first rail vehicle; the control module is configured to detect a use of the operator interface that meets one or more designated criteria; and the control module is further configured to determine the occupancy status or communicate the information based on the use. 
     
     
         8 . The detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is configured, responsive to receiving the first and second signals, to generate a control signal for activating a camera in an interior of the first rail vehicle, and to receive picture information from the camera. 
     
     
         9 . The detection system of  claim 1 , wherein: the control module is configured for operable coupling with an operator interface in the first rail vehicle; and the control module is configured to disable the operator interface responsive to the occupancy status. 
     
     
         10 . A detection system, comprising:
 a control module on board a first rail vehicle, the control module comprising a device interface;   a first sensor connected to the device interface and configured to generate a first signal relating to a first occupancy condition of the first rail vehicle; and   a second sensor connected to the device interface and configured to generate a second signal relating to a second occupancy condition of the first rail vehicle;   wherein the control module is configured to receive the first and second signals and to at least one of:
 determine an occupancy status of the first rail vehicle based on the first and second signals, or 
 communicate information of the first and second signals for determination of the occupancy status of the first rail vehicle. 
   
     
     
         11 . The detection system of  claim 10 , wherein the control module is configured to at least one of: communicate the occupancy status to a second rail vehicle; or
 communicate the information of the first and second signals to the second rail vehicle, for determination of the occupancy status of the first rail vehicle at the second rail vehicle.   
     
     
         12 . The detection system of  claim 11 , wherein the control module is configured to communicate the occupancy status or the information to the second rail vehicle over a communication link of a distributed power system of the first and second rail vehicles. 
     
     
         13 . The detection system of  claim 12 , wherein the control module is configured to: communicate a bit incorporating the first signal and the second signal reporting the occupancy status of the first rail vehicle to the second rail vehicle; or communicate a byte to the second rail vehicle, the byte incorporating the information of the first signal and the second signal. 
     
     
         14 . The detection system of  claim 10 , wherein the first sensor is configured to generate the first signal responsive to an entryway of the first rail vehicle being opened, and wherein the second sensor is configured to generate the second signal responsive to detecting presence of a living being in an interior of the first rail vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The detection system of  claim 14 , wherein the first sensor is an entry ajar sensor operatively coupled to the entryway of the first rail vehicle, and the second sensor is one of a motion detection sensor in an interior of the first rail vehicle, a heat sensor in the interior, an operator control usage sensor in the interior, a gas constituent sensor in the interior, or a pressure sensor in the interior. 
     
     
         16 . The detection system of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a camera operably coupled to the control module and configured to capture picture information am interior of the first rail vehicle; 
 wherein the control module is configured to activate the camera to capture the picture information based on the occupancy status. 
 
     
     
         17 . The detection system of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the camera or the control module is configured to store the picture information and to time stamp the picture information. 
     
     
         18 . The detection system of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one of the camera or the control module is configured to control redundantly storing the picture information on a rail vehicle event recorder. 
     
     
         19 . The detection system of  claim 10 , wherein the control module is configured to disable an operator interface of the first rail vehicle responsive to the occupancy status. 
     
     
         20 . The detection system of  claim 10 , wherein the control module is configured to enter a mode of operation of the control module for determining the occupancy or communicating the information responsive to the first rail vehicle being controlled for unmanned operation. 
     
     
         21 . A detection system, comprising:
 a control module configured to be operably coupled on board a second rail vehicle, wherein the control module is configured to:
 receive information from a first rail vehicle over a communication channel linking the first rail vehicle and the second rail vehicle; and 
 generate a control signal based on the information, wherein the information is indicative of intruder entry into the first rail vehicle or allows the control module to determine the intruder entry into the first rail vehicle. 
   
     
     
         22 . The detection system of  claim 21 , further comprising an operator interface, wherein the control module is configured to communicate the control signal to the operator interface, and the operator interface is configured to display an operator alert of the intruder entry responsive to the control signal. 
     
     
         23 . The detection system of  claim 21 , wherein the communication channel is a communication channel of a distributed power system of the first and second rail vehicles. 
     
     
         24 . A detection system, comprising:
 a control module configured to be operably coupled on board a first locomotive, the control module comprising a device interface;   wherein the device interface includes a first sensor input for receiving a first signal from a first sensor relating to detecting a first designated condition in an operator cab of the first locomotive;   and wherein the control module is configured, responsive to receiving the first signal, to communicate information relating to the first signal to a second locomotive or to an off-board location.   
     
     
         25 . The detection system of  claim 24 , wherein the control module is configured to communicate the information responsive to the first signal being indicative of the first sensor detecting use of a handheld wireless device in the operator cab. 
     
     
         26 . The detection system of  claim 24 , wherein the device interface includes a second sensor input for receiving a second signal from a second sensor relating to detecting a second designated condition in the operator cab of the first locomotive;
 and wherein the control module is configured to communicate the information, the information relating to the first signal and the second signal, responsive to the first signal indicating detection of a first occupancy condition of the operator cab by the first sensor and the second signal indicating detection of a different, second occupancy condition of the operator cab by the second sensor.   
     
     
         27 . A detection system, comprising:
 a control module configured to be operably coupled on board a rail vehicle, the control module comprising a device interface;   wherein the device interface includes a sensor input for receiving a signal from a sensor;   and wherein the control module is further configured, responsive to the signal indicating use of a hand-held wireless communication device in the rail vehicle, to at least one of: store information relating to the signal on board the rail vehicle;   communicate the information to an off board recipient; or activate a device to prevent the wireless communications.   
     
     
         28 . The detection system of  claim 27 , wherein the control module is configured to store the information, communicate the information, or activate the device responsive to the signal indicating use of the hand-held wireless communication device in an area of the rail vehicle where using hand-held wireless devices for wireless communications is prohibited, said rail vehicle comprising a locomotive and said area comprising an operator cab of the locomotive. 
     
     
         29 . The detection system of  claim 27 , wherein the information relating to the signal comprises at least one of a time of day when the wireless communication device was used or a duration of how long the wireless communication device was used. 
     
     
         30 . A detection method comprising:
 receiving a first output from a first sensor on board the first rail vehicle;   receiving a second output from a second sensor on board the first rail vehicle; and   communicating an occupancy status determined based on the first output and the second output, or communicating information of the first output and the second output, wherein the occupancy status or information is communicated off-board the first rail vehicle.