Module Heating Device

This invention relates to wireless communication means, more specifically, to radio communication between subscribers at least one of which is located in a vehicle, and can be used for the provision of trains, preferably passenger ones, with dedicated wireless emergency alarm and communication, including passenger train internal communication, and communication with remote subscribers.

Known is (RU Patent 49663) a ship ultra-short-band radio communication system comprising a group control unit, a connecting bus and antenna decoupling devices, wherein said communication system is in the form of multiple modules, i.e. an antenna module, a transmitter/receiver module and a group control unit, further wherein said antenna module comprises a transmitting antenna module, a receiving antenna module and a switched branching amplifier, said transmitter/receiver comprises a power amplifier, a radio receiving device and a driver, and said group control unit comprises an automated workstation, a network switch, a controlled switch, a data generation and processing module, a modem unit, a power unit, a central processor computing system and a connecting bus, further wherein said transmitting antenna module is connected to said controlled switch via said switched branching amplifier, said power amplifier and said driver, yet further wherein the control bus is connected to said receiving antenna module via said receiving antenna module, said data generation and processing module and said central processor computing system, the latter via said connection bus being connected to said communication system with said control system and said data generation and processing module which in turn is connected to said control bus and said connection bus via said modem unit.

Disadvantages of said known antenna module are its complex design and a nondirectional radio signal transmission and receiving pattern which may make communication unstable.

Known is (RU Patent 2210845) is an antenna module for the receipt of satellite system signals comprising an antenna unit with a basement, a dome and a receiving and amplifying unit located under said dome, wherein said antenna unit basement functioning as a shield is made from a electrically conducting material, and said dome functioning as a streamlined antenna cover is made from a dielectric radio permeable material, wherein said antenna unit basement is installed in a cup shaped cavity of a dielectric support electrically insulating said antenna unit basement from a tube shaped metallic support, further wherein outside the antenna unit installation section, said cup shaped cavity of said dielectric support has gully openings for water draining, the top portion of said tube shaped metallic support is connected to a protrusion in the bottom portion of said dielectric support, and said protrusion has a through opening for the installation of a first high frequency connector which is mounted on said antenna unit basement and is intended for the output of the signals received and amplified by said antenna unit and the supply of the internal power of said antenna module, said antenna unit is connected to an amplifying unit installed inside said tube shaped metallic support and intended for further amplifying the signals with its embedded amplifier and for the generation of the internal power of said antenna module to be supplied to the amplifiers of said antenna unit and said amplifying units via a direct voltage stabilizer, said amplifying unit comprises a second and a third high frequency connectors installed at the opposite ends of its electrically conducting case which is electrically insulated from said metallic tube shaped support, wherein said second high frequency connector is connected to said first high frequency connector, and said third high frequency connector is used for the connection of a high frequency coaxial cable intended for the output of the signals received and amplified by said antenna unit and the supply of external power from an external power source, further wherein, when the antenna module is on, said antenna unit basement, said amplifying unit case and the external conductors of all said high frequency connectors have the same electrical potential E ₀ (Earth), the inner conductor of said third high frequency connector has the electrical potential Ei (External Power), and the inner conductors of said first and second high frequency connectors have the electrical potential E ₂ (Internal Power), wherein Ej > E ₂ > E ₀ , E] - E ₀ = U _P , E ₂ - E ₀ = U _st , U _P is the external power and U _st = const is the internal power of said antenna module generated in said amplifying unit by said direct voltage stabilizer and intended for power supply to the amplifiers of said antenna unit and said amplifying unit.

Disadvantages of said antenna module are its complex design and a nondirectional radio signal transmission and receiving pattern which may make communication unstable. The object of the technical solution developed herein is to develop an antenna module design suitable for maintaining reliable external radio communication in passenger train cars and locomotive by providing stable communication, including voice communication, for train passengers and service personnel with remote locations, including the traffic control department and police offices.

It is suggested to achieve said object using the antenna module preferably used for passenger train satellite communication comprising an INMARSAT satellite system radio signal receipt and transmission antenna connected to a BGAN type INMARSAT antenna control system, an INMARSAT antenna pointing unit comprising at least one motor connected to the train power supply system and used for the automatic correction of INMARSAT antenna position, an electronic device unit connected to a DECT antenna module comprising a low-noise amplifier and a radio receipt/transmittance device, a GLONASS/GPS antenna with a GLONASS/GPS receiver for radio signal receipt from GLONASS and/or GPS navigation systems located inside or outside a car, wherein said antenna module is covered with a radio transparent sheath made from a weather resistant material, said INMARSAT antenna pointing unit comprises a protective sheath, at least two gyroscopic INMARSAT antenna position sensors connected to said INMARSAT antenna control system, at least one INMARSAT antenna pointing unit motor cooling radiator comprised in said antenna case, and an INMARSAT antenna heating device comprising a temperature control unit to which a thermal sensor, at least one INMARSAT antenna heating element and at least one gyroscopic sensor heating element in the form of a thin- film resistor are connected, wherein all the electric and electronic components of the module are capable of being connected to the passenger train power supply system and the INMARSAT antenna heating device comprises a 1 10/27 V converter installed at the antenna module input, further wherein all the voltage converter outputs are connected to the antenna module input, and ferrite chokes are installed between the converter inputs and the car power supply system, the passenger train safety control and communication system antenna module comprises a support carrying two DECT base stations covered with shielding sheaths and two electric heaters each of which is capable of heating one of said two DECT base stations at ambient temperatures of below zero degrees centigrade, said antenna module is covered with a radio permeable cap accommodating a thermal sensor capable of being connected to the central control system of the passenger train safety control and communication system, and said electric heaters are connected to the car power supply system.

The INMARSAT antenna control system can be in the form of a processor, a microprocessor or a controller. In some embodiments, the INMARSAT antenna pointing unit motor is connected to the train power supply system via an adapter.

Said objective can also be achieved by using an antenna module preferably comprised in the passenger train safety control and communication system, said antenna module comprising a support carrying two DECT base stations covered with shielding sheaths and two electric heaters each of which is capable of heating one of said two DECT base stations at ambient temperatures of below -20°C and a bracket on which two cross polarized antennas are installed each of which is connected to one of the DECT base stations via an HF cable, and a thermal sensor is mounted inside said antenna module on said cross polarized antenna mounting bracket, wherein said DECT base stations and said thermal sensor are capable of being connected to said passenger train safety control and communication system, and said electric heaters are capable of being connected to said power source located in said central control system, further wherein the entire antenna module is covered with a radio permeable cap. Said module may further comprise a GLONASS/GPS antenna capable of being connected to said central control system.

Said object can also be achieved by using said antenna modules coupled with a passenger train antenna module heating device provided herein. Said passenger train antenna module heating device comprises a voltage converter installed at the input of said antenna module, wherein the outputs of said voltage converter are connected to the input of said antenna module, and ferrite chokes are installed between the converter inputs and the car power supply system, the passenger train safety control and communication system antenna module comprises a support carrying two DECT base stations covered with shielding sheaths and two electric heaters each of which is capable of heating one of said two DECT base stations at ambient temperatures of below zero degrees centigrade, said antenna module is covered with a radio permeable cap accommodating a thermal sensor mounted inside said antenna module on said cross polarized antenna mounting bracket, wherein said thermal sensor is capable of being connected to said passenger train safety control and communication system, and said electric heaters are connected to the car power supply system. Said DECT based stations, said thermal sensor and said electric heaters can be installed on railway car or locomotive roof.

In the first embodiment of the antenna module provided herein, the INMARSAT system is used.

The Inmarsat International Mobile Satellite Organization is an intergovernmental commercial organization. INMARSAT owns and operates a global satellite communication network used by the international group of service providers offering the whole range of mobile communication in the air, onshore and offshore. System users are marine and river boats, rescue organizations and emergency ministries, transportation companies, airlines, air passengers and air traffic control bodies, governmental institution officers, civil defense departments and heads of states.

As described above, the passenger train satellite communication antenna module provided herein comprises an antenna for the receipt and transmission of radio signals via the INMARSAT satellite system connected to an INMARSAT antenna control system comprising an antenna pointing unit comprising at least one motor and an electronic device unit comprising a low noise amplifier and a radio receipt/transmission device. The use of said INMARSAT antenna provides for a reliable global satellite mobile communication system across the entire Earth surface where railway transportation means are available. Said INMARSAT antenna pointing system allows positioning the antenna in the optimum manner to receive the best radio signal in any point of the Earth surface. The INMARSAT antenna pointing unit is intended for the mechanical repositioning of said antenna in the space. Preferably, said INMARSAT antenna pointing unit comprises more than one electric motors connected either directly or via an adapter to the passenger train power supply system. Depending on the antenna module operation conditions (radio signal attenuation/gain or actual passenger train location coordinates), the INMARSAT antenna position in the space is corrected (preferably, in automatic mode using the electronic unit that controls the antenna pointing unit, said electronic unit preferably based on a microprocessor) in order to obtain the best radio signal. Precision antenna positioning is achieved using correction signals sent by the gyroscopic sensors installed in said antenna module to the INMARSAT antenna position control electronic unit. Furthermore, an electronic device unit is connected to said INMARSAT antenna for the generation of the transmitted signal, said electronic device unit comprising a low noise amplifier and a radio receipt/transmission device. Said low noise amplifier is capable of amplifying the signal to be transmitted before said signal is supplied to the radio receipt/transmission device the output of which is connected to the INMARSAT antenna. Furthermore, the antenna module provided herein comprises an antenna for the receipt of radio signals from GLONASS and/or GPS navigation systems. Said radio signals provide, on the one hand, for more precision INMARSAT antenna positioning and, on the other hand, for precision locating of the passenger train. Passenger train actual location data allow the traffic control center of any level to efficiently control railway traffic. As the antenna module design provided herein is suitable for operation in any weather and climate, it should comprise controlled devices for heating/cooling of the temperature sensitive module elements. For example, the antenna module comprises an INMARSAT antenna pointing system protective sheath, at least one INMARSAT antenna pointing system motor cooling radiator, and an INMARSAT antenna heating device comprising a temperature control unit to which a thermal sensor, at least one INMARSAT antenna heating element and at least one gyroscopic sensor heating element are connected. The additional protective sheath is primarily used for the distribution of the heat generated by the heating system to the antenna pointing system motor reduction gears and for the condensate and dust protection of said antenna pointing system motor reduction gears. The use of the thermal sensor in any embodiment that is capable of measuring the temperature inside the antenna module (and hence the temperature of all its design components) and is connected to the temperature control unit provides the optimum temperature for each design unit of the antenna module provided herein.

All the electric and electronic components of the module are capable of being connected to the passenger train power supply system. Said connection can be either via a system of connectors located on the antenna module case or via individual connections.

Because multiple train car installation options of the antenna module provided herein are available (preferably, in the command car), i.e. the main module components are installed inside the car with only the antennas being outside the car and covered with a radio permeable cap or the whole antenna module is outside the car, in the preferred embodiment the antenna module is covered with a protective sheath made at least partially from a weather resistant and radio permeable material.

In the second embodiment, the antenna module provided herein comprises a grounded metallic (duralumin) support at least 4 mm thick, the optimum thickness being 10 mm, providing the required design strength, two DECT base stations covered with metallic (zinc plated steel) sheaths, two cross polarized antennas (Huber+Suhner's SPA 1900/85/8/0 DS) each of which comprises antenna systems oriented at +45° and -45° to a vertical line and arranged symmetrically to the middle line of the shield thus allowing the cross polarized antennas to operate in diversity reception mode without physically spacing the antennas, two electric heaters, a cross polarized antenna mounting bracket and a thermal sensor. Furthermore, said antenna module comprises a GLONASS/GPS antenna mounting device. The standard dimensions of the antenna module are 240x237x67 mm, weight approx. 10 kg. The outer surfaces of the DECT base stations carry the electric heaters. The DECT base stations are mounted directly on the metallic support and covered with metallic sheaths on the top to avoid HF noise. A GLONASS/GPS antenna can be magnet mounted on one of the DECT base station metallic sheaths. Furthermore, the metallic support carries said cross polarized antenna and thermal sensor mounting bracket. In turn, said cross polarized antenna mounting bracket carries said two cross polarized antennas and said thermal sensor. Each of the two DECT base stations is capable of being connected, at one side, to said passenger train safety control and communication system via two pairs (one cable per one DECT base station) and, at the other side, to one cross polarized antenna via two 10 cm long feeders. Said electric heaters are capable of being connected via the central control system to the thermal sensor. All the devices mounted on the antenna module metallic support are air-proof covered with a dielectric (plastic) sheath. All cables (from the DECT base stations, the heaters and the GPS antenna) are fed through three air-proof inputs provided in the antenna module metallic support, the GLONASS/GPS antenna is connected via an HF cable to the automatic communication and navigation system located in the command car. Preferably, said antenna module is installed on the passenger train command car roof (the standard assembly comprises two antenna modules per one command car).

The antenna module design provided herein can be used as follows.

At ambient temperatures of above -20°C, the antenna modules work without heating. At ambient temperatures of below -20°C, the thermal sensor activates the electric heaters via the central control system, and the electric heaters start heating the DECT base stations inside the antenna module. The DECT base stations are fed from the central control system via cables (twisted pairs). The same cables are used for controlling the DECT base stations from the central control system. The DECT base stations generate the DECT HF signal and transmit it via the cross polarized antennas to both the directions along the train. The cross polarized antennas are arranged in the antenna module such that cover the entire train not longer than 650 m with the DECT signal.

The use of this antenna module design provides for reliable DECT standard signal transmission and receipt under any ambient conditions the passenger train is exposed to.

To provide for antenna module operation at ambient temperatures of far below zero degrees centigrade, it is suggested to use the antenna module heating device described hereinabove.

The use of the device developed herein is based on the following design components. The metallic support allows reliably mounting all the antenna module design components, i.e. the two DECT base stations, the electric heaters, the antennas and the thermal sensor. The metallic sheaths covering the DECT base stations avoid HF noise that hinders the normal operation of said DECT base stations. The thermal sensor connected to the central control system and the electric heaters connected to the power source (preferably, to the car power supply system) via a voltage converter providing stable voltage supply to the electric heaters and via ferrite chokes reducing the effect of noise on DECT base station operation provide suitable operation conditions for the DECT base stations. The weather insensitive antenna module positioning capability even at temperatures of far below zero degrees centigrade achieved by heating the antenna module to the required temperature provides for reliable data transmission along the entire passenger train from the locomotive to the last car and for data transmission to a remote control center, e.g. via the satellite communication system. The radio permeable thermally insulating cap, on the one hand, provides for stable signal receipt/transmission along the passenger train and, on the other hand, guarantees the stationary position of the antennas relative to the passenger train movement direction regardless of wind loads or occasional mechanical impacts and maintains the required temperature of the antenna module.

The antenna module heating device provided herein can be used as follows.

At ambient temperatures of above -20°C, the antenna modules work without heating. At ambient temperatures of below -20°C, the thermal sensor activates the electric heaters via the central control system, and the electric heaters start heating the DECT base stations inside the antenna module. The voltage converter stabilizes the passenger car mains voltage at within 100 - 1 10 V, and the ferrite chokes reduce noise. The DECT base stations are fed from the central control system via cables (twisted pairs). The same cables are used for controlling the DECT base stations from the central control system.

The practice of operating the antenna module developed herein has proven the achievement of the claimed technical result, i.e. providing stable communication, including voice communication, for train passengers and service personnel with remote locations, including the traffic control department and police offices.