The TVMLifeCheck (TLC) enables full diagnose of TVM430 Systems. As the BaliseLifeCheck, it is a lab on wheels and can be embedded in test vehicles, as to automate maintenance, and enable predictive maintenance on the long run of installed TVM430 trackside systems. It is a moving laboratory, automating the balise maintenance for Infrastructure Managers. The TVMLifeCheck is able to produce extremely detailed signal quality information when it passes over a TVM track circuit or condensator. In the past, such signal quality information was not available. Contact us to receive in-depth information about the TVMLifeCheck product (info@ertmssolutions.com)

1. TVM Life Check – Technical Presentation2/9/2017 1
TVM Life Check [TLC] - A Technical Overview
Emmanuel Fernandes, Hardware Engineering

2. TVM Life Check – Technical Presentation2/9/2017 2
• TVM Life Check – Features
• Hardware Architecture
• Some Pictures
Agenda

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Goals:
- Offer an independent tool to test and measure TVM track circuits
- Modular approach in order to offer future expansions
- A tool entirely design and manufactured at ERTMS Solutions to be completely
independent from track circuits manufacturers (CSEE/ANSALDO)
TVM Life Check system is composed of the following six sub-systems:
1. TVM Life Check – Features
- TLC/ICC Module: to measure shunted track
circuits currents |Icc|
- TLC/ZT Module: to measure transversal
impedances
- TLC/EPI: to measure EPI loops (TVM-300)
- TLC/BSP: BSP loops measurement (TVM-430)
- TLC/ODO Module: odometry module (Wheel
Sensor/Doppler Radar, GPS-IMU)
- TLC-SYS Module: (SOFTWARE) control and
data analysis
- TLC-AMI/AMD: Alarms for corrective
maintenance [OPTION] Under development

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TLC/ICC: measurement of the track circuits shunted current by measuring the inductive
magnetic field radiated by the currents on the rails.
- Icc shunted current at the first axle (as in the picture):
Icc
(f=1700, 2300, 2000, 2600 Hz)
Icc
TVM/2G or TGV/PSB Sensors
1. TVM Life Check – Features

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TLC/ICC – Measurement Targets for preventive and corrective maintenance:
- Minimal Level: verify that |Icc| > 0.8 A on all active segments except JES/JIC (or any other
maintenance targets)
- Longitudinal crosstalk: verify that in the side segment |Icc| < 0.32 A (or any other maintenance
targets)
- Transversal crosstalk: check that on adjacent tracks |Icc| < 0.16 A (or any other maintenance
targets)
F1 = 1700 Hz F2 = 2300 Hz F1 = 1700 Hz F2 = 2300 Hz
F3 = 2000 Hz F4 = 2600 Hz F3 = 2000 Hz F4 = 2600 Hz
Longitudinal crosstalk: F1, F2 presence in side
segments on the same track
Transversal crosstalk: between two different tracks
1. TVM Life Check – Features

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Crosstalk illustration:
1. TVM Life Check – Features

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TLC/ICC : Measurement methodology
- Simultaneous measurements of the four frequencies 1700, 2000, 2300, 2600 Hz on
the same signal (on the same segment):
- Sampling time/measurement frequency: 1 ms (1 kSa/s)
1. TVM Life Check – Features

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TVLC/ZT: Transversal impedances measurements – Detection of the compensation
capacitors and JES elements.
Icc
Compensation capacitors
Measured Icc with capacitors every 80/100m
Icc on a non-compensated track
22 µF
1. TVM Life Check – Features

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Purpose:
- Detect the presence of any transversal impedance : capacitors and JES elements like DB, BU,
SVAC, SVPMM.
- [OPTION, under dev] Measuring the complex impedance Z of the transversal dipole  it is
possible then to distinguish the transversal dipole and detect in a precise way the nature of
the problem
22 µF
Track circuit transversal dipole Impedance at 25 kHz [W]
Compensation capacitor C=22 µF Z = -0.29i
Bloc d'Accord F1=1700 Hz (BUf1) Z = 6.42i
Bloc d'Accord F2=2300 Hz (BUf2) Z = -0.041i
SVPMM (Self Mise au Rail Structure Métalliques) Z = 51.8i
Zt
1. TVM Life Check – Features

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TLC/ZT: Methodology
1. Emission of a 25 kHz carrier 2. Reception of the 25 kHz after inductive coupling
ANT TX  Track  RX ANT
1. TVM Life Check – Features

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No transversal dipole present in-between the front and rear axles:
- In the eight-shaped RX antenna the EMF is zeroed due to the inverse loop windings
I1 @ 25 kHz
I2 @ 25 kHz
I1
I0 @ 25 kHz
I1
1. TVM Life Check – Features

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I1 ZtI2 @ 25 kHz
I1
I0 @ 25 kHz
Transversal dipole in the middle of the RX antenna:
- EMF appears in the left side of the RX antenna  unbalance at the eight-shaped loop
- Maximal unbalance when the dipole is in the middle of the RX antenna
Inductive magnetic field B is present here
Inductive magnetic field B is NOT
present here (or very week)
I1
1. TVM Life Check – Features

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- Measuring the unbalance
gives only the presence of
the transversal element.
- The analysis needs a human
intervention and some good
expertise to make a
diagnostic of the type of
failure (like in the IRIS train).
1. TVM Life Check – Features

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TLC/EPI: Measurement of the EPI (TVM-300) loops:
- The envelope (level of the signal) and the frequency of the loop carrier are
measured.
n° Hz
1 1318,4
2 1459,2
3 1600
4 1740,8
5 1881,6
6 2022,4
7 2163,2
8 2304
9 2444,8
10 2585,6
11 2726,4
12 2867,2
13 3008
14 3148,8
Central EPI sensor
CW carriers: Each
unique frequency
codes a message
(14 available)
F=2444,8 Hz 
track is clear
1. TVM Life Check – Features

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When signal is present (Signal Detection), the instantaneous frequency is measured.
- One precise measure of
the frequency
quality/stability of the CW
frequencies
- Possibility of detection of
frequency/phase stability
 this could have an
impact on the message
availability.
1. TVM Life Check – Features

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BSP demodulator/decoder architecture
- Detection of BSP signal (carrier detection)
- Measurement of the two components 62.5 kHz and125 kHz
- Demodulation and bit extraction (4807,7 bits/s) (Tbit = 208.0 µs)
1. TVM Life Check – Features

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TLC-ODO: Odometry Module
Two options are possible (requested by two different clients):
- A Wheel Speed Sensor sending +-90° phase shifted signals coding speed, distance and direction.
An odometry re-calibration is performed each time the train passes exactly over some EPI/BSP
loops (significant elements on the track at well known position)
- If no wheel sensors  A GPS/IMU (GPS + Inertial Measurement Unit).
In both cases: a position re-calibration using well known fixed elements in the track (EPI,BSP Loops,
Balises, etc..)
1. TVM Life Check – Features

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TLC/SYS: Control and Analysis module
Powerful PC workstation containing:
- the Command and Control Unit [CCU]
- Signal Processing Unit [SPU]
- Alarms Management Unit [AMU] [OPTION under dev]
Server (Workstation)
Visualization Software
1. TVM Life Check – Features

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TLC/AMI/AMD: Maintenance Alarm Module
[OPTION] Possibility of real-time transmission using:
- SMS
- 3G/4G TCP/IP connections
of detected alarms and values out of nominal values (depending on pre-defined
maintenance targets)
All alarm messages are geo-localized and timestamped
1. TVM Life Check – Features

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2. TVM Life Check – Hardware Architecture
Sub-systems installed in a 19” rack bay:
UPS
TLC - SYS
TLV ICC / TLC – EPI/BSP
TVMLC – ZT
Router
GPRS/3G/4G
TVMLC - ODO
TVM
SENSORS
EPI/BSP
SENSORS
ANT TX 25
kHz
ANT RX 25
kHz Speed
Sensors
CONSOLE
RACK 19’’
230 V AC / 1000W

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3. Some pictures
Measurement of ICC
shunted currents on the
track – Two adjacent
segments with 2000-2600
Hz frequencies

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3. Some pictures
Measurement when
passing over an electrical
joint (JES)

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3. Some pictures
A crossover: transversal
crosstalk in visible at the
switch

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3. Some pictures
Track circuit
instantaneous
frequency is also
evaluated

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3. Some pictures

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3. Some pictures

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TVM Life Check – Technical Presentation
3. Some pictures

28. TVM Life Check – Technical Presentation
Thank you for your attention!
www.ertmssolutions.com
2/9/201728