US 12,214,816 B2
System and method for building and managing a train consist using a phase array powered wireless gateway
Edward J. Mansfield, Blue Bell, PA (US)
Assigned to Amsted Rail Company, Inc., Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by Amsted Rail Company, Inc., Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Mar. 14, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/183,547.
Application 18/183,547 is a continuation of application No. 16/513,916, filed on Jul. 17, 2019, granted, now 11,628,870.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/699,368, filed on Jul. 17, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0278607 A1, Sep. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. B61L 25/02 (2006.01); B61L 15/00 (2006.01); G01S 3/04 (2006.01); G01S 19/13 (2010.01); H01Q 1/24 (2006.01); H01Q 1/32 (2006.01)
CPC B61L 25/025 (2013.01) [B61L 15/0018 (2013.01); B61L 15/0027 (2013.01); B61L 15/0081 (2013.01); B61L 25/028 (2013.01); G01S 3/043 (2013.01); G01S 19/13 (2013.01); H01Q 1/241 (2013.01); H01Q 1/3216 (2013.01); B61L 2205/04 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A phased array powered wireless gateway (“PWG”) device comprising:
a phased array configured to receive a plurality of received signals transmitted by two or more railcar-based communications management units (“CMUs”), and wherein each said railcar-based CMU is disposed on a respective railcar of a plurality of railcars;
a phase detector in communication with the phased array and configured to detect vector information from the plurality of received signals; and
a microprocessor that has a fixed position in a geographic area, is in communication with the phased array and the phase detector, and is configured to determine a location of each railcar-based CMU and to detect a direction of propagation of electromagnetic radiation emitted from each said railcar-based CMU, and determine an order of railcars in a train consist based on the directions of propagation which were detected.