Temperature control system for transmitter chip

1. A temperature control system for a transmitter chip in a consist, the temperature control system comprising:

a heater configured to provide heat to the transmitter chip;

at least one sensor configured to detect a temperature of the transmitter chip and generate a signal indicative of the detected temperature; and

a controller in communication with the heater and the sensor, the controller configured to:

receive the signal indicative of the detected temperature;

compare the detected temperature with at least one predetermined temperature;

selectively control the heater to provide heat to the transmitter chip based on the comparison, wherein selectively controlling the heater includes:

turning the heater on when the temperature of the transmitter chip falls below a first threshold temperature, and turning the heater off when the temperature of the transmitter chip rises above the first threshold temperature, and

selectively increasing an amount of heat emitted from the heater when the temperature of the transmitter chip falls below a second threshold temperature.

2. The temperature control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is further configured to detect at least one of an ambient temperature, a location of the consist, and a time of year.

3. The temperature control system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to turn the heater on when the ambient temperature falls below a threshold ambient temperature, and turn the heater off when the ambient temperature rises above the threshold ambient temperature.

4. The temperature control system of claim 3 , wherein the threshold ambient temperature is about −30 to −20 degrees Celsius.

5. The temperature control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is further configured to detect a transmission degradation of the transmitter chip.

6. The temperature control system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect data throughput at an access point of the consist, and the controller is configured to turn the heater on when the detected data throughput falls below a threshold level, and turn the heater off when the detected data throughput rises above the threshold level.

7. The temperature control system of claim 1 , wherein the first threshold temperature is about 0 to 10 degrees Celsius.

8. The temperature control system of claim 1 , wherein the second threshold temperature is about −10 to −5 degrees Celsius.

9. The temperature control system of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter chip is a microprocessor chip configured to perform network communications over an intra-consist electrical cable.

10. The temperature control system of claim 9 , wherein the transmitter chip provides a frequency range of between about 2 and 68 MHz.

11. A method of controlling temperature of a transmitter chip in a consist, the method comprising:

detecting a temperature of the transmitter chip;

comparing the detected temperature with at least one predetermined temperature; and

selectively heating the transmitter chip based on the comparison, wherein selectively heating the transmitter chip includes:

heating the transmitter chip when the detected temperature falls below a first threshold temperature, and not heating the transmitter chip when the detected temperature rises above the first threshold temperature, and

selectively increasing an amount of heat emitted to the transmitter chip when the temperature of the transmitter chip falls below a second threshold temperature.

12. The method of claim 11 , further including sensing an ambient temperature, wherein selectively heating the transmitter chip includes heating the transmitter chip when the sensed ambient temperature falls below a threshold temperature, and not heating the transmitter chip when the sensed ambient temperature rises above the threshold temperature.

13. The method of claim 11 , further including detecting data throughput at an access point associated with the consist, wherein selectively heating the transmitter chip includes heating the transmitter chip when the detected data throughput falls below a threshold level of data throughput, and not heating the transmitter chip when the detected data throughput rises above the threshold level of data throughput.