Sensor arrangement for a railway system

Abstract

A sensor arrangement for a railway system is provided. The sensor arrangement may include a plurality of sensors, each sensor having a coil. The sensors may be arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement, each sensor may have a sensing range within which the respective sensor is configured to detect movement of electrically conductive material, and for each position along a sensing distance within the two-dimensional arrangement, the sensor arrangement may include at least two sensors of the plurality of sensors whose sensing range extends over the respective position.

1 . A sensor arrangement for a railway system, the sensor arrangement comprising:
 a plurality of sensors, each sensor comprising a coil,   wherein:   the plurality of sensors are arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement;   each sensor has a sensing range within which the respective sensor is configured to detect movement of electrically conductive material; and   for each position along a sensing distance within the two-dimensional arrangement, the sensor arrangement comprises at least two sensors of the plurality of sensors whose sensing range extends over the respective position.   
     
     
         2 . The sensor arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor arrangement comprises at least one first evaluation channel and at least one second evaluation channel, and wherein some sensors of the plurality of sensors are connected with the first evaluation channel, and other sensors of the plurality of sensors are connected with the second evaluation channel. 
     
     
         3 . The sensor arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein the some sensors connected with the first evaluation channel and the other sensors connected with the second evaluation channel are arranged alternatingly along the sensing distance. 
     
     
         4 . The sensor arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein for each position along the sensing distance within the two-dimensional arrangement, the sensor arrangement comprises at least two sensors that are connected with the first evaluation channel and whose sensing range extends over the respective position. 
     
     
         5 . The sensor arrangement according to  claim 2   4 , wherein for each position along the sensing distance within the two-dimensional arrangement, the sensor arrangement comprises at least two sensors that are connected with the second evaluation channel and whose sensing range extends over the respective position. 
     
     
         6 . The sensor arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the two-dimensional arrangement comprises at least one first row of sensors and at least one second row of sensors. 
     
     
         7 . The sensor arrangement according to  claim 6 , wherein at least one sensor of the first row has a first sensing range along the sensing distance, and at least one sensor of the second row has a second sensing range along the sensing distance, and wherein the first sensing range and the second sensing range partially overlap. 
     
     
         8 . The sensor arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor arrangement comprises an evaluation unit that is configured to receive signals detected by the plurality of sensors. 
     
     
         9 . The sensor arrangement according to  claim 8 , wherein the evaluation unit is configured to determine a spatial position of moving electrically conductive material along the sensing distance from the signals received from the plurality of sensors. 
     
     
         10 . The sensor arrangement according to  claim 9 , wherein the evaluation unit is configured to differentiate between at least two different spatial positions of the electrically conductive material along the sensing distance. 
     
     
         11 . The sensor arrangement according to  claim 9 , wherein the evaluation unit comprises an output, and the evaluation unit is configured to provide the determined spatial position at the output. 
     
     
         12 . The sensor arrangement according to  claim 8 , wherein the evaluation unit is configured to determine a spatial position of at least a segment of a movable railway element of the railway system along the sensing distance, and wherein the movable railway element comprises electrically conductive material. 
     
     
         13 . The sensor arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a rail claw that is connectable to a rail of the railway system. 
     
     
         14 . The sensor arrangement according to  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of sensors are mechanically connected with the rail claw. 
     
     
         15 . The sensor arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors are configured to be arranged spaced apart from a movable railway element of the railway system.