Implementation of Microcontrolers in Railway Automatic Traffic

Control Systems

Margarita Georgieva, Ivan Nenov

Todor Kableshkov University of Transport
158 Geo Milev Street, Sofia 1574, Bulgaria
E-mail: margarita_georgieva@abv.bg ; ivan_nenov33@abv.bg

Abstract: Most railway administrations have been implementing unified microprocessor systems
and structural modules in the railway automatic devices in order to reduce the material
consumption and operational costs. These systems do not have electromagnetic relays and other
electromechanic devices, which allows introducing a distance control and setting the technical
parameters of the objects controlled. In that aspect microcontrollers can be used as structural
modules of microprocessor receiving-and-transmitting devices and the devices of electromagnetic
compatibility. The paper examines the possibilities of implementing microcontrollers with the
control on the decentralized units of the automatic traffic control. The case particularly presented
is of using microcontrollers as part of an interlocking system for control on traffic lights, the
serviceability of the railroad, counters of axles, etc. It is shown that this new innovative technology
will increase the reliability of safety systems in railway transport.

1. INTRODUCTION microprocessor station system for lamps and traffic

To increase the efficiency of operation and
provide the traffic safety, modern railway transport
employs automation of the train traffic control
processes more and more widely.
A number of railway administrations have been
implementing microprocessor-unified schemes and
structural modules to reduce the operational costs for
the railway automatic units and systems. These
systems are characterized by the lack of
electromagnetic relays and other electromagnetic
units and allow introducing distance control,
equipment diagnostics and distance change and
setting of the technical parameters of the objects
controlled.
The Microcontrollers are the main element of
these systems. They can be used as a structural
module of the microprocessor receiving and
transmitting units and in the devices for
electromagnetic compatibility and for protecting the
signaling information systems in the electrified
railway sections.
2. APPLYING MICROCONTROLLERS
As examples of applying microcontrollers, they
can be examined as a component of the equipment
of a microprocessor system for auto blocking, of a
lights control, for control on the condition and
serviceability of the railroad, control on the units of
switching-over, etc Fig.1 shows a road configuration
where it is possible to use microcontrollers. The
situation with the connection between the neck of a
station (with a station interlocking) and the between-
two-stations section with a automatic blocking has
been chosen
The first application examined in this paper is an
AC track circuit without insulating joints. It is
suggested to study track circuits with a
heterogeneous road receiver that operate at
frequency Δf = 6÷12Hz and can be used in sections
without physical or electric insulating joints. For the
purpose four signaling frequencies located between
the harmonics of the traction current nf50 ÷ (n+1)
f50 and two frequencies of difference Δf1 and Δf2
as it is shown in Fig. 2
FIII – FI = FIV – FII = Δf1 (1)
FIV – FIII = FII – FI = Δf2 (2)
Δf1 = 2,5 Δf2 (3)
Δf1 = 7,813 Hz
Δf2 = 3,125Hz (4)

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Fig.1 Structure-scheme to road configuration.
Structure scheme is designed in view of
requirements for work frequency automatic block
system with the heterodyne checking insulates
butting where road receiver works at of the
difference frequency Δf = 6÷12Hz and provides fail
safe claims for safe work, when failure somebody
of elements.
Fig. 2 A signal frequencies.
To implement the idea proposed above for using
the frequencies mentioned, a block scheme has been
worked out and shown in Fig.3.
As it can be seen in Fig. 3, with the successive
connection of track circuits, four frequencies
(fI,fII,,fIII fIV )repeated in every three sections are
used. The signal damping is enough and its not will
appear to interference effects.The difference
frequencies Δf1 and Δf2 are repeated in every two
sections. These frequencies are obtained from
different combinations of fI ÷ fIV and it’s not making
disturbing effects as well.
For the operation of „n” track circuits, no matter
if they are successively located (between stations) or
in a certain configuration (station interlocking), it is
necessity to use four road receivers of Δf1 and Δf2.
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The operation of generators and receivers in two
neighboring track circuits is synchronized with the
help of microcontrollers thus implementing the
control on the condition and trouble-free state of the
related track circuit.
Software for the management of controllers has
been developed. It is used to regulate the cycle of
checking the road sections so that to remember the
constant information about the track signal level and
to register the change in order to receive the
information about the track circuit operation in
normal and shunt modes.
For the track circuits at stations applied software
has been created according to the configuration of
the track development at the station. Laboratory
studies for optimizing the parameters of receiver-
transmitter and for determining the cycle for a
function of the number of road sections controlled
have been carried out.
The control type Simatic S7-300 is used as a
controller that meets the requirements for operation
of high responsibility.
The block diagram of the implementation of an
unlimited track circuit in Fig. 3 can be examined as a
basis of creating a frequency auto-blocking system
between stations with which road signals are not
used.
The standard road transformers for coordinating
the input impedances of the corresponding track and
receiving-and-transmitting equipment are mounted
in the place of separating between two block
sections. The equipment of creating blocking
dependencies and control on the minimal safety
distance between two trains running one after the
other on the railroad is located in block centers
chosen (at stations). Using microcontrollers, the
arrangement of equipment at stations and the
synchronization of the receiving and transmitting
units between stations and at stations allow making a
configuration of a united system of traffic automatic
control
The station PC and the auto-blocking receiver-
trans The information about the train situation, the
indications of the station traffic lights, the
arrangement of switches, the voltage values in the
track circuit and the trouble-free condition of the
equipment in the signal points is transmitted from
the section between stations and the station sites.
The data received can be displayed on the displayer
of the station PC.
The station PC and the auto-blocking receiver-
transmitters are united in a specialized computer
network. Each component of the network is
connected with two neighboring signal points by
28th Int. Spring Seminar on Electronics Technology
successive ports, modems and conducting line. A
message formulated by each of the network
components is translated to the inputs of all the rest
components. Each component of the network has its
unique address. The microcontroller in of the station
receiver-transmitter (PPM) with a given period sends
a combination of two binary words, a special code of
the marker and address of one of the network
components, to the network. The marker marks the
end of the current session of the information
exchange and the beginning of the new one. Such a
message is accepted by the corresponding (in
address) component as an invitation of sending a
message in the network. In the process of its
functioning, the station receiver-transmitter
successively chooses the addresses of all
components in the network: from the nearest to the
most remote one.
This procedure is repeated in a cyclic way. When
establishing the connection with the corresponding
address, the station controller sends a message
(managing effect) that enters the inputs of all
components but only the information of the
component with the set-up address is received and
processed.
Fig. 3 Structure-scheme.
The microcontroller controls the indications of
the traffic lights in compliance with the code
combination accepted; checks the lamp filament
completeness, formulates code combinations for the
controlling modules of station interlocking.
Analogues to the successive connection with the
separate components (signal points) of auto-
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A microcontroller is included in the structural
scheme of “Control” module of the receiver-
transmitter. This microcontroller is connected to the
operative memory storage, the scheme of control on
the condition of objects and the interface to the other
modules and modems of linking to the line of
connection of the network components.
As an example, the microcontroller operation
with performing the function of control on the
condition of track circuits (its own and neighboring)
can be examined as follows: The information about
the value of the voltage in the track circuits and code
combination accepted enters the signal processor
microcontroller. The microcontroller checks the
correspondence between the information and control
symbols of the code combination received from the
neighboring track circuits. The decision on the
neighboring track-circuit non-occupation is made if
the voltage in its output is bigger than the threshold
of the actuation of the corresponding control
receiver.
blocking, the microcontrollers in the receiving-and-
transmitting equipment at stations can be used for
successive switching on of control on switching-
over units, station track circuits and station traffic
lights. At that, it is possible to use only one set (real
equipment) to control and manage dozens of objects
such as switching-over units and tracks, included in
28th Int. Spring Seminar on Electronics Technology
compound station routes regulating the pass of The replacement of the relay equipment with
movable train objects along a certain rule with microcontrollers and microprocessor systems will
keeping to all requirements of traffic safety. contribute to centralize location of the traffic control
equipment and reduction of operational costs and of
The examined examples of applying electric power consumption also increase the
microcontrollers show that they can be used equipment reliability.
successfully in the modern devices and systems of
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