MONITORING THE ELECTRICAL SIGNAL BETWEEN AN ETCS LINESIDE ELECTRICAL UNIT AND ITS TRACKSIDE BALISE IN A RAILWAY ENVIRONMENT

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the monitoring of an electrical signal in a cable between an electric unit and a balise in a railway installation, within the framework of the ETCS.

Background of the invention

[0002] The European Train Control System (ETCS) in level 1 involves a cable connection between an electrical unit, called a LEU for Lineside Electrical Unit, and a balise. This connection is used to transmit from track to train the status of the lateral signals like the traffic lights. This is part of an automatic track-to-train information transmission which is received by the on-board vital computer (EVC).

[0003] The electrical unit is connected to the traffic light. Each active light is detected by the electrical unit which sends to the balise thru a cable a telegram signal. This telegram is retransmitted by the balise to the train using an inductive coupling RF channel, called the interface 'A1'.

[0004] The cable interface between the LEU and the balise is generally called the interface 'C' and denoted by I/F C. The electrical signal transmitted by the C interface comprises two additively mixed signals called signal C6 and signal C1. Signal C6 is a sinusoidal signal at f=8.82 kHz. Signal C1 is a telegram signal. More specifically, signal C1 is a Manchester-like encoded differential data signal. Signal C1 comprises digital information. Signal C1 typically conveys 341 or 1023 bits that repeat cyclically without interruption at a data rate of 564.48 kbits/s. The signal C(t) in the cable is the additive mixing of both C1(t) and C6(t): C(t) = C1(t) + C6(t).

[0005] Document EP3067246 relates to a device and a method for monitoring the operability of a signal connection between the LEU and the balise. A problem of this known method is that it requires to inject a monitoring signal in the cable.

[0006] Document CN108132433B describes a monitoring board signal extracting circuit of an LEU. The extraction circuit is composed of a C-interface voltage interface, a C-interface current interface, a C-interface voltage processing circuit, and a C-interface current processing circuit.

[0007] Document DE19708518A1 describes a method of locating defect position in conductor circuits. The method involves introducing first and second electrical test signals into each end of the conducting circuit. The signals are picked up at two different points in the circuit with two signal detectors. A measurement signal is produced corresponding to the difference between the signals detected by the two detectors. The pick-up points for either or both detector are extended, so that the length of the section of conducting circuit between the two pick-up points is varied. Document EP 2 186 706 B1 discloses a method for monitoring an electrical signal in a cable between an electric unit and a balise in a railway installation.

Summary of the invention

[0008] An object of the present invention is to monitor and help for the maintenance of a railway installation.

[0009] Accordingly, the invention relates to a process for monitoring an electrical signal in a cable between an electric unit and a balise in a railway installation; the electrical signal comprising a first part and a second part, the first part comprising a first telegram signal and a first sinusoidal signal, the second part comprising a second telegram signal and a second sinusoidal signal; the process comprising the following steps:

• a bidirectional coupler, comprising a first port connected to the electric unit through the cable and a second port connected to the balise through the cable, extracts a copy of the first part of the electrical signal, which is a voltage as function of time and is obtained on a third port of the bidirectional coupler, and a copy of the second part of the electrical signal, which is another voltage as function of time and is obtained on a fourth port of the bidirectional coupler;
• a signal processing unit, connected to the third port and the fourth port of the bidirectional coupler, analyzes the copy of the first part and the copy of the second part to determine a process output related to the railway installation, based on at least one of:

  ∘ the first telegram signal,

  ∘ the first sinusoidal signal,

  ∘ the second telegram signal, or

  ∘ the second sinusoidal signal.

[0010] The invention copies of the telegram signal (C1) and the sinusoidal signal (C6) of the first and second parts of the electrical signal and uses any of them, or a combination of several of them, to generate a process output, which relates to the railway installation and thus indicates a possible problem in the railway installation. An alarm can be triggered if the process output is above a threshold or is different from reference data. There is thus no need of injecting any signal in the cable.

[0011] In order to extract the copies of the first and second parts of the electrical signal, the bidirectional coupler uses voltage measurements. It does not measure any current. Its outputs, at the third and fourth ports, are voltages as function of time.

[0012] Using information from both the telegram signal (from the first and/or second part of the electrical signal) and the sinusoidal signal (from the first and/or second part of the electrical signal) is not necessary within the frame of the invention, but it is preferred since it improves the monitoring.

[0013] Using information from both the first part (telegram and/or sinusoidal) and the second part (telegram and/or sinusoidal) is not necessary within the frame of the invention, but it is preferred since it improves the monitoring.

[0014] The relationship between the first part and the second part of the electrical signal reflects the condition of the circuit between the bidirectional coupler and the balise.

[0015] The process according to the invention is made to be run continuously. It can for example run continuously during one week.

[0016] One bidirectional coupler at a fixed location along the cable is sufficient to obtain the copies. There is no need of multiple probes on a cable. The bidirectional coupler is preferably not powered.

[0017] The electrical signal has a forward direction from the electric unit to the balise, and a reverse direction from the balise to the electric unit. The first part of the electrical signal may be considered as the power wave travelling from the electric unit to the balise. It may be called "forward signal" or "incident power wave". The second part of the electrical signal may be considered as the power wave travelling from the balise to the electric unit. It may be called "reverse signal" or "reflected power wave". The skilled person is familiar with the concept of power waves for example because of the article "Power Waves and the Scattering Matrix" from K. Kurokawa, published in IEEE transactions on microwave theory and techniques, Volume 13, Issue 2, 1965.

[0018] The bidirectional coupler is plugged on the cable in such a way that the cable coming from the electric unit is connected to its first port and the cable coming from the balise is connected to its second port. The bidirectional coupler is characterized by a coupling factor. It may be called "bidirectional RF coupler". The first port may also be called input port, and the second port may also be called output port. The third port (which may also be called coupled port, or forward coupled port) provides a copy of the first part of the electrical signal. It is the product of the multiplication of the incident power wave by the coupling factor of the bidirectional coupler. The fourth port (which may also be called isolated port, or reverse coupled port) provides a copy of the second part of the electrical signal. It is the product of the multiplication of the reflected power wave by the coupling factor of the bidirectional coupler. This is due to the intrinsic nature of the bidirectional coupler.

[0019] The copy of the first part of the electrical signal, as provided on the third port, is a voltage as function of time. It may be called "first extracted signal" or "first voltage". The copy of the second part of the electrical signal, as provided on the fourth port, is a voltage as function of time, different from the copy of the first part of the electrical signal. It may be called "second extracted signal" or "second voltage".

[0020] The electric unit may be called a "Lineside Electronic Unit" or LEU. It is generally part of the European Train Control System (ETCS).

[0021] The cable may be called an "Interface C". It preferably comprises a pair of conductors (for example copper) for the transmission of a differential electrical signal. The cable may have a constant characteristic impedance and behaves like a transmission line.

[0022] In some embodiments, the computer unit may include logic carry out by a processor, a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or the like, or any combinations thereof, and can include discrete digital or analog circuit elements or electronics, or combinations thereof.

[0023] A bidirectional coupler is an electronic device known by the skilled person. It has four ports: the input port, the output port, the forward coupled port, and the reverse coupled port. The signal passing from the input port to the output port is copied, as a voltage as function of time, at the forward coupled port. The signal passing from the output port to the input port is copied, as a voltage as function of time, at the reverse coupled port.

[0024] In an embodiment of the invention, the process output is based on a detection of an absence of at least one of:

• the first telegram signal,
• the first sinusoidal signal,
• the second telegram signal, or
• the second sinusoidal signal.

In practice, if the telegram signal is absent in the first part of the electrical signal, it is also absent in the second part (and the same for the sinusoidal signal). Anyway, the absence of any of these four signals in the cable indicates a problem in the railway installation. The process output preferably indicates said absence(s).

[0025] In an embodiment of the invention, the process output is based on a phase difference between the second telegram signal and the first telegram signal, and/or a phase difference between the second sinusoidal signal and the first sinusoidal signal. The phase difference of telegram signal or the sinusoidal signal provides information about the state of the cable, the electric unit and/or the balise.

[0026] In an embodiment of the invention, the process output is based on at least one of:

• an amplitude of the first telegram signal,
• an amplitude of the first sinusoidal signal,
• an amplitude of the second telegram signal, or
• an amplitude the second sinusoidal signal.

[0027] The amplitude provides information about the state of the cable, the electric unit and/or the balise. For example, an amplitude in the first part of the electrical signal at least ten times higher the amplitude in the second part of the electrical signal for the telegram and/or the sinusoidal signal typically indicates a normal state of the railway installation. An amplitude in the second part of the electrical signal higher than a tenth of the amplitude in the first part of the electrical signal for the telegram and/or the sinusoidal signal is an indication of a possible problem in the railway installation (an open or short for example). An increase in the amplitude for the second telegram and/or the second sinusoidal signal is an indication of a possible problem in the railway installation.

[0028] In an embodiment of the invention, the process output is based on at least one of:

• a data rate of bits of the first telegram signal,
• a frequency of the first sinusoidal signal,
• a data rate of bits of the second telegram signal, or
• a frequency of the second sinusoidal signal.

[0029] The reference value the data rate of the telegram signal of both the first and the second parts is 564.48 kbits/s. The reference value the frequency of the sinusoidal signal of both the first and the second parts is 8.82 kHz. A deviation of more than a threshold (for example 5%) with respect to the reference value is an indication of a possible problem in the railway installation.

[0030] In an embodiment of the invention, the process output is based on a digital content of the first telegram signal, and/or a digital content of the second telegram signal. The digital content means the sequence of bits (0 or 1) in the telegram signal in the first and/or the second part.

[0031] In an embodiment of the invention, the process output is based on a comparison with reference data to identify a problem in the railway installation.

[0032] In an embodiment of the invention, the process comprises a timestamping of the process output and a storage of the process output in a memory.

[0033] In an embodiment of the invention, the process comprises a transmission of the process output from an equipment located along the railway installation, and comprising the bidirectional coupler, and the signal processing unit to a remote receiver. The transmission can be done through Internet and/or can be wireless. The receiver can for example be in a portable device of a security operator, in a server, and/or in a facility of a railway company.

[0034] The invention also relates to a system according to claim 10 for monitoring for monitoring an electrical signal in a cable between an electric unit and a balise in a railway installation; the electrical signal comprising a first part and a second part, the first part comprising a first telegram signal and a first sinusoidal signal, the second part comprising a second telegram signal and a second sinusoidal signal; the system comprising:

• a bidirectional coupler, comprising a first port connected to the electric unit through the cable, a second port connected to the balise through the cable, a third port, and a fourth port; and
• a signal processing unit connected to the third port and the fourth port of the bidirectional coupler.

[0035] The bidirectional coupler is such that a copy of the first part of the electrical signal is provided at the third port and a copy of the second part of the electrical signal is provided at the fourth port.

[0036] The signal processing unit is configured to analyze the copy of the first part of the electrical signal and the copy of the second part of the electrical signal to determine a process output related to the railway installation, using at least one of : the first telegram signal, the first sinusoidal signal, the second telegram signal, or the second sinusoidal signal.

[0037] The system is preferably installed at a fixed location.

[0038] In an embodiment of the invention, the bidirectional coupler provides a galvanic isolation between the cable and the analyzer.

[0039] In an embodiment of the invention, the bidirectional coupler is unable to inject any signal in the cable.

[0040] In an embodiment of the invention, all the components of the bidirectional coupler are passive. The bidirectional coupler may comprise capacitors, resistors, inductors, transformers. The bidirectional coupler does not comprise any transistor or active device for example.

[0041] In an embodiment of the invention, the signal processing unit comprises at least one of the following:

• a combination of a low-pass filter configured to determine the first sinusoidal signal of the first part from the copy of the first part, and a signal slicer configured to slice the first sinusoidal signal;
• a combination of a high-pass filter configured to determine the first telegram signal from the copy of the first part, and a signal slicer configured to slice the first telegram signal;
• a combination of a low-pass filter configured to determine the second sinusoidal signal from the copy of the second part, and a signal slicer configured to slice the second sinusoidal signal; or
• a combination of a high-pass filter configured to determine the second telegram signal from the copy of the second part, and a signal slicer configured to slice the second telegram signal.

[0042] Each filter selects the desired part of the electrical signal and the subsequent slicer cleans it.

[0043] The invention also relates to an equipment located along a railway, comprising a system according to any embodiment, and the electric unit, the equipment being configured to be located along the railway installation

Brief description of the figures

[0044] For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a railway installation,
• Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a system according to an embodiment of the invention,
• Figure 3 is a very schematic representation of a bidirectional coupler that might be used in embodiments of the invention,
• Figure 4 is a flowchart of a process according to an embodiment of the invention,
• Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a bidirectional coupler that might be used in embodiments of the invention, and
• Figure 6 is a schematic representation of an analyzer that might be used in embodiments of the invention.

Description of the invention

[0045] The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto. The described functions are not limited by the described structures. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn on scale for illustrative purposes.

[0046] Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. The terms are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and the embodiments of the invention can operate in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

[0047] On the figures, identical or analogous elements may be referred by a same number.

[0048] Figure 1 illustrates a railway installation 9 comprising a railway 93, a lineside signaling device 98, a cable 90, an electric unit 91, and a balise 92.The cable 90 is located along the railway 93 and connects the electric unit 91 and the balise 92. The cable 90 is intended to be used, for example, in a European Train Control System (ETCS) level 1. The electric unit 91 is connected to the lineside signaling device 98, for example a traffic light. The balise 92 is able to transmit information to a train computer 95 (usually called EVC for European Vital Computer) in a train 94 on the railway 93.

[0049] A system 1 according to the invention is preferably located in an equipment 99 located along the railway installation 9, in a same housing as the electric unit 91.

[0050] Figure 2 illustrates a system 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The system 1 comprises at least one bidirectional coupler 20, each bidirectional coupler 20 being electrically and mechanically coupled one cable 90. In the embodiment of Figure 2, each bidirectional coupler 20 is part of a probe 200 electrically and mechanically coupled to two cables 90. The bidirectional coupler 20 may be called "Passive and Isolated Probe". The bidirectional coupler 20 is a pass thru device, and is intended not to disturb the transmission of the signal in the cable 90.

[0051] The system 1 also comprises a signal processing unit 80 comprising at least one analyzer 30, preferably connected to at least one bidirectional coupler 20 through a connection 29. In the embodiment of Figure 2, each analyzer 30 is connected to two probes 200. If the analyzer 30 is connected to several bidirectional couplers 20, the analysis performed by the analyzer 30 may be done using a cyclic multiplexing method.

[0052] The data transfer between the bidirectional coupler 20 and the analyzer 30 is preferably unidirectional: there is no data transferred from the analyzer 30 to the bidirectional coupler 20. The analyzer 30 is preferably an analog and digital electronic device.

[0053] The signal processing unit 80 also comprises at least one processing unit 40, preferably connected to at least one analyzer 30 through a connection (USB, serial connection or LAN/Ethernet). The processing unit 40 preferably comprises a computing unit 41 and a memory 42.

[0054] The system 1 may also comprise a transmission device 50, like a modem, connecting wirelessly the processing unit 40 to the Internet 60.

[0055] Figure 3 illustrates, very schematically, a bidirectional coupler 20. It comprises four ports. The third port 223 outputs a copy of the power wave entering the first port 121, i.e. a copy 21 of a first part 11 of the electrical signal 10. The fourth port 224 outputs a copy of the power wave entering the second port 222, i.e. a copy 22 of a second part 12 of the electrical signal 10. The signal processing unit 80 is connected to the third port 223 and the fourth port 224.

[0056] Figure 4 is a flowchart of a process 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. An electrical signal 10 is present in the cable 90 between the electric unit 91 and the balise 92. The electrical signal 10 comprises a first part 11 and a second part 12, the first part 11 comprising a first telegram signal 111 and a first sinusoidal signal 116, the second part 12 comprising a second telegram signal 121 and a second sinusoidal signal 126.

[0057] The bidirectional coupler 20 connected to the cable 90 extracts a copy 21 of the first part 11 and a copy 22 of the second part 12 and transfers them, as a bidirectional coupler output 25, to the analyzer 30.

[0058] Figure 5 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the bidirectional coupler 20 coupled to a cable 90 comprising two conductors 90a, 90b. The signal electrical 10 flows in the two conductors 90a, 90b between the electrical unit 91 and the balise 92, through the bidirectional coupler 20. The exemplary embodiment of the bidirectional coupler 20 comprises four transformers and two resistors:

• Tr1 is a N:1 transformer;

• Tr2 is a 1:N transformer;
• Tr3 and Tr4 are 1:1 transformers;
• R1 and R2 are resistors of equal value. The value of these resistors is preferably equal to the characteristic impedance of the cable 90 seen as a transmission line. Usually this value is set to 120 Ω.

[0059] For the bidirectional coupler 20 illustrated at Figure 5, which is called a Tandem Match RF Coupler, the coupling factor in dB is given by:

For N large enough, for example for N≥ 10, the coupling factor is roughly given by:

For N=10, the coupling factor is roughly 20 dB.

[0060] N may be equal to 10 for example. Tr3 and Tr4 provide galvanic isolation between the cable 90 and the analyzer 30. Preferably, the bidirectional coupler 20 only comprises passive electric components. Preferably, the bidirectional coupler 20 is not powered, except through the cable 90.

[0061] The connection 29 between the bidirectional coupler 20 and the analyzer 30 preferably comprises four conductors: two conductors 29a, 29b for the copy 21 of the first part 11 of the electrical signal 10, and two conductors 29c, 29d for the copy 22 of the second part 12 of the electrical signal 10. The bidirectional coupler 20 sends to the analyzer 30 the copy 21 of the first part 11 of the electrical signal 10C_FWD(t) and the copy 22 of the second part 12 of the electrical signal 10 C_REV(t), which are voltages as a function of the time.

[0062] Many other embodiments of the bidirectional coupler 20 are possible within the frame of the invention.

[0063] Referring back to the process of Figure 4, the signal processing unit 80 receives the copy 21 of the first part 11 and the copy 22 of the second part 12 and the analyzer 30 analyzes them to determine a measurement output 35. The analysis by the analyzer 30 preferably comprises the determination of at least one of:

• the first telegram signal 111,
• the first sinusoidal signal 116,
• the second telegram signal 121, or
• the second sinusoidal signal 126.

[0064] The measurement output 35 is based on one or several of these signals 111, 116, 121, 126. Preferably, one or several of these signals 111, 116, 121, 126 may be included or may form the measurement output 35.

[0065] Figure 6 shows a possible architecture of the analyzer 30. If the analyzer 30 is connected to several bidirectional couplers 20, the blocks (except blocks 230, 240) can be replicated. The analysis may comprise data analog filtering, signal reconditioning, analog envelope detection, digital decoding and data recording.

[0066] To determine the signals 111, 116, 121, 126:

• a low-pass filter 211 is applied on the copy 21 of the first part 11 to determine the first sinusoidal signal 116,
• a high-pass filter 212 is applied on the copy 21 of the first part 11 to determine the first telegram signal 111,
• a low-pass filter 221 is applied on the copy 22 of the second part 12 to determine the second sinusoidal signal 126, and
• a high-pass filter 222 is applied on the copy 22 of the second part 12 to determine the second telegram signal 111.

[0067] The low-pass filter 211 extracts the first sinusoidal signal 116 which is expected to be a pure sine wave at 8.82 kHz. The same holds for the second sinusoidal signal 126. The low-pass filters 211, 221 can be of any type. Their purpose is to reject the C1 signal which starts at 564.48 kHz. An example is a Butterworth low pass filter of order n=8 with 3dB cut-off frequency at 10 kHz.

[0068] The high-pass filter 212 removes the C6 and just extracts the first telegram signal 111. The same holds for the second telegram signal 121. Preferably the C6 rejection is more than 60 dB. An example is a Butterworth of order n=8 with 3dB cut-off frequency of 100 kHz.

[0069] The analyzer 30 may comprise four envelop detectors 213, 216, 223, 226. The envelop detectors 213, 223 are AC signal envelop detector configured to determine the amplitude of the C6 extracted component, i.e., the amplitude |V_fwd6| of the first sinusoidal signal 116 for 213 and the amplitude |V_rev6| the second sinusoidal signal 126 for 223. The envelop detectors 216, 226 are AC signal envelop detector configured to determine the amplitude of the C1 extracted component, i.e., the amplitude |V_fwd1| of the first telegram signal 111 for 216 and the amplitude |V_rev1| of the second telegram signal 121 for 226. The envelop detectors 213, 216, 223, 226 are preferably linear with respect to the input signal amplitude.

[0070] The analyzer 30 may comprise four signal slicers 214, 215, 224, 225. They are analog comparator-based signal reshaper. They are configured to convert an analog AC signal to a square signal at TTL/CMOS levels with rising/falling edges corresponding to the negative-to-positive and positive-to-negative transitions of the signal respectively. The signal slicers 214, 215, 224, 225 make possible to remove a possible DC offset and/or possible deformation of the signal. The output of the signal slicers 215, 225 (i.e. for C1) is Differential Bi-Phase Level (DBPL) coding.

[0071] The analyzer 30 may comprise four analog-to-digital converters 217, 218, 227, 228, which convert the analog signal between 0 and Vmax provided by the envelop detectors into a digital quantized representation to be processed by the FPGA 230 and the CPU 240. The four analog-to-digital converters 217, 218, 227, 228 have preferably a vertical resolution of at least 12 bits.

[0072] The analyzer 30 may comprise an FPGA 230.

[0073] The FPGA 230 may determine the frequency of the first sinusoidal signal 116 by measuring the frequency of the signal provided by the signal slicer 214. The FPGA 230 may determine the frequency of the second sinusoidal signal 126 by measuring the frequency of the signal provided by the signal slicer 224.

[0074] The FPGA 230 may determine, from the output of the signal slicers 214, 224 a phase difference ϕ6 between the second sinusoidal signal 126 and the first sinusoidal signal 116. The FPGA 230 may determine, from the output of the signal slicers 215, 225 a phase difference ϕ1 between the second telegram signal 121 and the first telegram signal 111.

[0075] The FPGA 230 may decode the output of the signal slicer 215 to extract the digital content of the telegram signal 111 of the first part 11. The FPGA 230 may decode the output of the signal slicer 225 to extract the digital content of the telegram signal 121 of the second part 11.

[0076] The FPGA 230 may determine, from the output of the signal slicers 215, the data rate of bits of the first telegram signal 111. The FPGA 230 may determine, from the output of the signal slicers 225, the data rate of bits of the second telegram signal 121.

[0077] The FPGA 230 may determine the analog level of any of the four signals 111, 116, 121, 126 after analog-to-digital conversion.

[0078] The analyzer 30 may comprise a central processing unit (CPU) 240, which collects the data outputted by the FPGA 230 and prepare them for recording and transmission.

[0079] The analyzer 30 sends, preferably continuously, the measurement output 35 (both analog and digital) to the processing unit 40. A process output 55 may be determined by the processing unit 40 or may be formed by at least part of the measurement output 35.

[0080] The processing unit 40 may store in its memory 42 the measurement output 35 and/or process it further to determine the process output 55. The processing unit 40 may provide the process output 55 to the transmission device 50 (figure 2) for a transmission outside the equipment 99 (figure 22), to a remote receiver, for example to a server including a database.

[0081] The analyzer 30 and/or the processing unit 40 may also assess the actual presence, and thus the absence of at least one of the four signals 111, 116, 121, 126.

[0082] The signal processing unit 80 may determine phasor quantities for the four signals 111, 116, 121, 126 as follows:

[0083] The input voltages of the bidirectional coupler 20 illustrated at Figure 5 (between 90a and 90b on the side towards the electric unit 91, i.e. on the first port 121) may be determined as:

[0084] The relationship between the phasors V_fwd6,1 and V_rev6,1 reflects the condition of the circuit between the bidirectional coupler 20 and the balise 92:

• if the circuit is open:
  
  
• if the circuit is short:
  
  
• if the circuit is matched:
  
  

[0085] When circuit is matched, REV voltage is very small and almost zero (since N is considered as large usually greater than 10). In the terminology of bi-directional coupler, this corresponds to a circuit where all energy is transmitted to the load with no reflection (REV voltage is zero). When the circuit is open, the REV voltage is high and almost equal in magnitude, but reversed in phase (since N is usually larger than 10). When the circuit is shorted, the REV voltage is high and equal in magnitude and in phase with the FWD voltage. In other word, high REV voltages correspond to energy reflection and to open/short circuit conditions. Low and almost zero REV voltages correspond to well-matched circuits.

[0086] It is clear from these formulas how the amplitudes and/or phases can be used to measure voltages and currents at the output on the side of the electric unit 92, to detect open/short cable failures, and use this information to generate the process output 55 related to the railway installation 9.

[0087] The processing unit 40 may compare measured data (preferably the measurement output 35 or data extracted from it) with reference data 45 to detect deviation with expected nominal range or value and thus identify a problem in the railway installation 9. The reference data 45 comprise an expected value or an expected sequence, and for example if the comparison indicates a difference above a threshold, the process output 55 indicates which measured data may be problematic, preferably with the measured data and its expected value. For example, if the measured data is a sequence of bits provided by the digital content of the first telegram signal 111, it may be compared with an expected sequence (the reference data), and the process output 55 may indicate that the sequence is as expected or may indicate the measured sequence and the expected sequence.

[0088] The processing unit 40 may also determine a drift in at least one of the measured data of the measurement output 35.

[0089] The processing unit 40 may analyze the digital content of the first telegram signal 111 and/or the digital content of the second telegram signal 121 to detect, for example, the following problems:

(a) a no fleeting release of a zone,

(b) a non-permanent zone release,

(c) a problem in a lineside signaling device (for example a faulty lamp in a traffic light),

(d) a traffic light extinction,

(e) a non-working switch (forgotten after work on the railway for example),

(f) a problem in the control of the interlocking by the lineside signaling device,

(g) a problem in the detection of the train by the track circuits and/or the axle counters.

[0090] The process output 55 relates to the railway installation 99. The process output 55 may comprise a timestamp corresponding to the time when it was determined. The process output 55 may be a message, displayed on the equipment 99 and/or send by the transmission device 50 and/or stored in the memory 42. It can be an alarm message and/or a warning message for example. It may be sent only if the comparison with the reference data 45 indicates a deviation with respect to a nominal range.

[0091] The process output 55 contain information, for example explicit information, about at least one of the following:

• the absence of at least one of the four signals 111, 116, 121, 126,
• the phase difference ϕ1 and/or ϕ6,
• the amplitude of at least one of the four signals 111, 116, 121, 126,
• the data rate of bits of the first 111 or second 121 telegram signal,
• the frequency of the first 116 or second 126 sinusoidal signal ,
• the digital content of the first 111 or second 121 telegram signal,
• an open, short or matched condition, or
• one or several of the problems (a) to (g) indicated above.

[0092] In other words, the invention relates to the monitoring an electrical signal 10 in a cable 90 between an electric unit 91 and a balise 92 in a railway installation 9. The first part 11 and the second part 12 of the electrical signal 10 are copied, and their copies 21, 22 are analyzed to determine a process output 55 based on the telegram signal 111 of the first part 11, and/or the sinusoidal signal 116 of the first part 11, and/or, the telegram signal 121 of the second part 12, and/or the sinusoidal signal 126 of the second part 12.

[0093] Although the present invention has been described above with respect to particular embodiments, the invention is defined by the features of the independent claims only.

Claims

1. Process (100) for monitoring an electrical signal (10) in a cable (90) between an electric unit (91) and a balise (92) in a railway installation (9); the electrical signal (10) comprising a first part (11) and a second part (12), the first part (11) comprising a first telegram signal (111) and a first sinusoidal signal (116), the second part (12) comprising a second telegram signal (121) and a second sinusoidal signal (126); the process (100) comprising the following steps:

• a bidirectional coupler (20), comprising a first port (121) connected to the electric unit (91) through the cable (90) and a second port (222) connected to the balise (92) through the cable (90), extracts a copy (21) of the first part (11) of the electrical signal (10), which is a voltage as function of time and is obtained on a third port (223) of the bidirectional coupler (20), and a copy (22) of the second part (12) of the electrical signal (10), which is another voltage as function of time and is obtained on a fourth port (224) of the bidirectional coupler (20);

• a signal processing unit (80), connected to the third port (223) and the fourth port (224) of the bidirectional coupler (20), analyzes the copy (21) of the first part (11) and the copy (22) of the second part (12) to determine a process output (55) related to the railway installation (9), based on at least one of :

∘ the first telegram signal (111),

∘ the first sinusoidal signal (116),

∘ the second telegram signal (121), or

∘ the second sinusoidal signal (126).

2. Process according to claim 1, wherein the process output (55) is based on a detection of an absence of at least one of:

• the first telegram signal (111),

• the first sinusoidal signal (116),

• the second telegram signal (121), or

• the second sinusoidal signal (126).

3. Process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the process output (55) is based on:

• a phase difference (ϕ1) between the second telegram signal (121) and the first telegram signal (111), and/or

• a phase difference (ϕ6) between the second sinusoidal signal (126) and the first sinusoidal signal (116).

4. Process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the process output (55) is based on at least one of :

• an amplitude (|V_fwd1|) of the first telegram signal (111),

• an amplitude (|V_fwd6|) of the first sinusoidal signal (116),

• an amplitude (|V_rev1|) of the second telegram signal (121), or

• an amplitude (|V_rev6|) the second sinusoidal signal (126).

5. Process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the process output (55) is based on at least one of:

• a data rate of bits of the first telegram signal (111),

• a frequency of the first sinusoidal signal (116),

• a data rate of bits of the second telegram signal (121), or

• a frequency of the second sinusoidal signal (126).

6. Process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the process output (55) is based on:

• a digital content of the first telegram signal (111), and/or

• a digital content of the second telegram signal (121).

7. Process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the process output (55) is based on a comparison with reference data (45) to identify a problem in the railway installation (9).

8. Process according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a timestamping of the process output (55) and a storage of the process output (55) in a memory (42).

9. Process according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a transmission of the process output (55) from an equipment (99) located along the railway installation (9) and comprising the bidirectional coupler (20), and the signal processing unit (80) to a remote receiver.

10. System (1) for monitoring for monitoring an electrical signal (10) in a cable (90) between an electric unit (91) and a balise (92) in a railway installation (9); the electrical signal (10) comprising a first part (11) and a second part (12), the first part (11) comprising a first telegram signal (111) and a first sinusoidal signal (116), the second part (12) comprising a second telegram signal (121) and a second sinusoidal signal (126); the system (1) comprising:

• a bidirectional coupler (20), comprising a first port (121) connected to the electric unit (91) through the cable (90), a second port (222) connected to the balise (92) through the cable (90), a third port (223), and a fourth port (224); the bidirectional coupler (20) being configured so that a copy (21) of the first part (11) of the electrical signal (10) is provided at the third port (223) and a copy (22) of the second part (12) of the electrical signal (10) is provided at the fourth port (224); and

• a signal processing unit (80), connected to the third port (223) and the fourth port (224) of the bidirectional coupler (20); the signal processing unit (80) being configured to analyze the copy (21) of the first part (11) and the copy (22) of the second part (12) to determine a process output (55) related to the railway installation (9), using at least one of:

- the first telegram signal (111),

- the first sinusoidal signal (116),

- the second telegram signal (121), or

- the second sinusoidal signal (126).

11. System according to claim 10, wherein the bidirectional coupler (20) provides a galvanic isolation between the cable (90) and the signal processing unit (80).

12. System according to any of claims 10 to 11, wherein the bidirectional coupler (20) is unable to inject any signal in the cable (90).

13. System according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein all the components of the bidirectional coupler (20) are passive.

14. System according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the signal processing unit (80) comprises at least one of the following:

• a combination of:

o a low-pass filter (211, 221), and

o a signal slicer (214, 224);

• a combination of:

o a high-pass filter (212, 222), and

o a signal slicer (215, 225).

15. Equipment (99) located along a railway (93), comprising a system according to any of claims 10 to 14, and the electric unit (91).

Ansprüche

1. Prozess (100) zum Überwachen eines elektrischen Signals (10) in einem Kabel (90) zwischen einer elektrischen Einheit (91) und einer Balise (92) in einer Bahnanlage (9); wobei das elektrische Signal (10) einen ersten Teil (11) und einen zweiten Teil (12) umfasst, wobei der erste Teil (11) ein erstes Telegrammsignal (111) und ein erstes Sinussignal (116) umfasst, der zweite Teil (12) ein zweites Telegrammsignal (121) und ein zweites Sinussignal (126) umfasst; wobei der Prozess (100) die folgenden Schritte umfasst:

- einen bidirektionalen Koppler (20), umfassend einen ersten Anschluss (121), der über das Kabel (90) mit der elektrischen Einheit (91) verbunden ist, und einen zweiten Anschluss (222), der über das Kabel (90) mit der Balise (92) verbunden ist, extrahiert eine Kopie (21) des ersten Teils (11) des elektrischen Signals (10), die eine Spannung in Abhängigkeit von Zeit ist und an einem dritten Anschluss (223) des bidirektionalen Kopplers (20) erhalten wird, und eine Kopie (22) des zweiten Teils (12) des elektrischen Signals (10), die eine andere Spannung in Abhängigkeit von Zeit ist und an einem vierten Anschluss (224) des bidirektionalen Kopplers (20) erhalten wird;

- eine Signalverarbeitungseinheit (80), die mit dem dritten Anschluss (223) und dem vierten Anschluss (224) des bidirektionalen Kopplers (20) verbunden ist, analysiert die Kopie (21) des ersten Teils (11) und die Kopie (22) des zweiten Teils (12), um eine Prozessausgabe (55) in Bezug auf die Bahnanlage (9) basierend auf mindestens einem zu bestimmen von:

- dem ersten Telegrammsignal (111),

- dem ersten Sinussignal (116),

- dem zweiten Telegrammsignal (121), oder

- dem zweiten Sinussignal (126).

2. Prozess nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Prozessausgabe (55) auf einem Erkennen einer Abwesenheit von mindestens einem basiert von:

- dem ersten Telegrammsignal (111),

- dem ersten Sinussignal (116),

- dem zweiten Telegrammsignal (121), oder

- dem zweiten Sinussignal (126).

3. Prozess nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Prozessausgabe (55) basiert auf:

- einer Phasendifferenz (ϕ1) zwischen dem zweiten Telegrammsignal (121) und dem ersten Telegrammsignal (111), und/oder

- einer Phasendifferenz (ϕ6) zwischen dem zweiten Sinussignal (126) und dem ersten Sinussignal (116).

4. Prozess nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Prozessausgabe (55) auf mindestens einem basiert von:

- einer Amplitude (|V_fwd1|) des ersten Telegrammsignals (111),

- einer Amplitude (|V_fwd6|) des ersten Sinussignals (116),

- einer Amplitude (|V_Rev1|) des zweiten Telegrammsignals (121), oder

- einer Amplitude (|V_Rev6|) des zweiten Sinussignals (126).

5. Prozess nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Prozessausgabe (55) auf mindestens einem basiert von:

- einer Datenrate von Bits des ersten Telegrammsignals (111),

- einer Frequenz des ersten Sinussignals (116),

- einer Datenrate von Bits des zweiten Telegrammsignals (121), oder

- einer Frequenz des zweiten Sinussignals (126).

6. Prozess nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Prozessausgabe (55) basiert auf:

- einem digitalen Inhalt des ersten Telegrammsignals (111), und/oder

- einem digitalen Inhalt des zweiten Telegrammsignals (121).

7. Prozess nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Prozessausgabe (55) auf einem Vergleich mit Referenzdaten (45) basiert, um ein Problem in der Bahnanlage (9) zu identifizieren.

8. Prozess nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, umfassend einen Zeitstempel der Prozessausgabe (55) und eine Speicherung der Prozessausgabe (55) in einem Speicher (42).

9. Prozess nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, umfassend eine Übertragung der Prozessausgabe (55) von einer Ausrüstung (99), die sich entlang der Bahnanlage (9) befindet und umfassend den bidirektionalen Koppler (20) und die Signalverarbeitungseinheit (80) an einen entfernten Empfänger.

10. System (1) zum Überwachen zum Überwachen eines elektrischen Signals (10) in einem Kabel (90) zwischen einer elektrischen Einheit (91) und einer Balise (92) in einer Bahnanlage (9); wobei das elektrische Signal (10) einen ersten Teil (11) und einen zweiten Teil (12) umfasst, wobei der erste Teil (11) ein erstes Telegrammsignal (111) und ein erstes Sinussignal (116) umfasst, der zweite Teil (12) ein zweites Telegrammsignal (121) und ein zweites Sinussignal (126) umfasst; wobei das System (1) umfasst:

- einen bidirektionalen Koppler (20), umfassend einen ersten Anschluss (121), der über das Kabel (90) mit der elektrischen Einheit (91) verbunden ist, einen zweiten Anschluss (222), der über das Kabel (90) mit der Balise (92) verbunden ist, einen dritten Anschluss (223) und einen vierten Anschluss (224); wobei der bidirektionale Koppler (20) konfiguriert ist, sodass eine Kopie (21) des ersten Teils (11) des elektrischen Signals (10) am dritten Anschluss (223) bereitgestellt wird, und eine Kopie (22) des zweiten Teils (12) des elektrischen Signals (10) am vierten Anschluss (224) bereitgestellt wird; und

- eine Signalverarbeitungseinheit (80), die mit dem dritten Anschluss (223) und dem vierten Anschluss (224) des bidirektionalen Kopplers (20) verbunden ist; wobei die Signalverarbeitungseinheit (80) konfiguriert ist, um die Kopie (21) des ersten Teils (11) und die Kopie (22) des zweiten Teils (12) zu analysieren, um eine Prozessausgabe (55) in Bezug auf die Bahnanlage (9) unter Verwendung von mindestens einem zu bestimmen von:

- dem ersten Telegrammsignal (111),

- dem ersten Sinussignal (116),

- dem zweiten Telegrammsignal (121), oder

- dem zweiten Sinussignal (126).

11. System nach Anspruch 10, wobei der bidirektionale Koppler (20) eine galvanische Isolierung zwischen dem Kabel (90) und der Signalverarbeitungseinheit (80) bereitstellt.

12. System nach einem der Ansprüche 10 bis 11, wobei der bidirektionale Koppler (20) nicht in der Lage ist, ein Signal in das Kabel (90) einzuspeisen.

13. System nach einem der Ansprüche 10 bis 12, wobei alle Komponenten des bidirektionalen Kopplers (20) passiv sind.

14. System nach einem der Ansprüche 10 bis 13, wobei die Signalverarbeitungseinheit (80) mindestens einen von Folgendem umfasst:

- eine Kombination aus:

- einem Tiefpassfilter (211,221) und

- einem Signal-Slicer (214, 224);

- eine Kombination aus:

- einem Hochpassfilter (212, 222), und

- einem Signal-Slicer (215, 225).

15. Ausrüstung (99), die sich entlang einer Bahn (93) befindet, umfassend ein System nach einem der Ansprüche 10 bis 14 und die elektrische Einheit (91).

Revendications

1. Procédé (100) de surveillance d'un signal électrique (10) dans un câble (90) entre une unité électrique (91) et une balise (92) dans une installation ferroviaire (9) ; le signal électrique (10) comprend une première partie (11) et une deuxième partie (12), la première partie (11) comprenant un premier signal de télégramme (111) et un premier signal sinusoïdal (116), la deuxième partie (12) comprenant un deuxième signal de télégramme (121) et un deuxième signal sinusoïdal (126) ; le procédé (100) comprenant les étapes suivantes :

• un coupleur bidirectionnel (20), comprenant un premier port (121) connecté à l'unité électrique (91) à travers le câble (90) et un deuxième port (222) connecté à la balise (92) à travers le câble (90), extrait une copie (21) de la première partie (11) du signal électrique (10), qui est une tension en fonction du temps et est obtenue sur un troisième port (223) du coupleur bidirectionnel (20), et une copie (22) de la deuxième partie (12) du signal électrique (10), qui est une autre tension en fonction du temps et est obtenue sur un quatrième port (224) du coupleur bidirectionnel (20);

• une unité de traitement de signaux (80), connectée au troisième port (223) et au quatrième port (224) du coupleur bidirectionnel (20), analyse la copie (21) de la première partie (11) et la copie (22) de la deuxième partie (12) pour déterminer une sortie de procédé (55) liée à l'installation ferroviaire (9), sur la base d'au moins l'un des éléments suivants :

∘ le premier signal de télégramme (111),

∘ le premier signal sinusoïdal (116),

∘ le deuxième signal de télégramme (121), ou

∘ le deuxième signal sinusoïdal (126).

2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la sortie de procédé (55) est basée sur la détection d'une absence d'au moins un des éléments suivants :

• le premier signal de télégramme (111),

• le premier signal sinusoïdal (116),

• le deuxième signal de télégramme (121), ou

• le deuxième signal sinusoïdal (126).

3. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la sortie de procédé (55) est basé sur :

• une différence de phase (ϕ1) entre le deuxième signal de télégramme (121) et le premier signal de télégramme (111), et/ou

• une différence de phase (ϕ6) entre le deuxième signal sinusoïdal (126) et le premier signal sinusoïdal (116).

4. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la sortie de procédé (55) est basé sur au moins l'un des éléments suivants :

• une amplitude (|V_fwd1|) du premier signal de télégramme (111),

• une amplitude (|V_fwd6|) du premier signal sinusoïdal (116),

• une amplitude (|V_rev1|) du deuxième signal de télégramme (121), ou

• une amplitude (|V_rev6|) du deuxième signal sinusoïdal (126).

5. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la sortie de procédé (55) est basé sur au moins l'un des éléments suivants :

• un débit de données de bits du premier signal de télégramme (111),

• une fréquence du premier signal sinusoïdal (116),

• un débit de données de bits du deuxième signal de télégramme (121), ou

• une fréquence du deuxième signal sinusoïdal (126).

6. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la sortie de procédé (55) est basé sur :

• un contenu numérique du premier signal de télégramme (111), et/ou

• un contenu numérique du deuxième signal de télégramme (121).

7. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la sortie de procédé (55) est basée sur une comparaison avec des données de référence (45) pour identifier un problème dans l'installation ferroviaire (9).

8. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant un horodatage de la sortie de procédé (55) et un stockage de la sortie de procédé (55) dans une mémoire (42).

9. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant une transmission de la sortie de procédé (55) à partir d'un équipement (99) situé le long de l'installation ferroviaire (9) et comprenant le coupleur bidirectionnel (20) et l'unité de traitement de signaux (80) vers un récepteur distant.

10. Système (1) de surveillance pour surveiller un signal électrique (10) dans un câble (90) entre une unité électrique (91) et une balise (92) dans une installation ferroviaire (9) ; le signal électrique (10) comprend une première partie (11) et une deuxième partie (12), la première partie (11) comprenant un premier signal de télégramme (111) et un premier signal sinusoïdal (116), la deuxième partie (12) comprenant un deuxième signal de télégramme (121) et un deuxième signal sinusoïdal (126) ; le système (1) comprend :

• un coupleur bidirectionnel (20), comprenant un premier port (121) connecté à l'unité électrique (91) par le câble (90), un deuxième port (222) connecté à la balise (92) à travers le câble (90), un troisième port (223), et un quatrième port (224) ; le coupleur bidirectionnel (20) étant configuré pour qu'une copie (21) de la première partie (11) du signal électrique (10) soit fournie au troisième port (223) et qu'une copie (22) de la deuxième partie (12) du signal électrique (10) soit fournie au quatrième port (224) ; et

• une unité de traitement de signaux (80), connectée au troisième port (223) et au quatrième port (224) du coupleur bidirectionnel (20) ; l'unité de traitement de signaux (80) est configurée pour analyser la copie (21) de la première partie (11) et la copie (22) de la deuxième partie (12) afin de déterminer une sortie de procédé (55) liée à l'installation ferroviaire (9), en utilisant au moins l'un des éléments suivants :

∘ le premier signal de télégramme (111),

∘ le premier signal sinusoïdal (116),

∘ le deuxième signal de télégramme (121), ou

∘ le deuxième signal sinusoïdal (126).

11. Système selon la revendication 10, dans lequel le coupleur bidirectionnel (20) assure une isolation galvanique entre le câble (90) et l'unité de traitement de signaux (80).

12. Système selon l'une des revendications 10 à 11, dans lequel le coupleur bidirectionnel (20) est incapable d'injecter un signal dans le câble (90).

13. Système selon l'une des revendications 10 à 12, dans lequel tous les composants du coupleur bidirectionnel (20) sont passifs.

14. Système selon l'une des revendications 10 à 13, dans lequel l'unité de traitement de signaux (80) comprend au moins l'un des éléments suivants :

• une combinaison de :

∘ un filtre passe-bas (211, 221), et

∘ un trancheur de signaux (214, 224) ;

• une combinaison de :

∘ un filtre passe-haut (212, 222), et

∘ un trancheur de signaux (215, 225).

15. Equipement (99) situé le long d'une voie ferrée (93), comprenant un système selon l'une quelconque des revendications 10 à 14, et l'unité électrique (91).

Drawing