DE102021117117A1 - Multisensor interface system and method for generating an output signal for building technology - Google Patents

Abstract

A multisensor interface system 1 for building technology is proposed, comprising a computer unit C and at least one first and one second sensor θ, φ connected to the computer unit C and two interfaces connected to the computer unit C. For the purpose of providing a multi-interface sensor system 1 for building technology, which allows an event to be detected with high accuracy and reliability on the basis of information and data from different sources, for example relating to the question of which rooms R have a high risk of infection to map this event in the form of an output signal A and at the same time has a universal infrastructure that enables use in different applications, the multi-interface sensor system 1 has a first interface α, a cloud interface for providing cloud data I and a second interface β, a data interface Provision of static data D, where the first sensor θ is a physical sensor for acquiring physical sensor data T, which is provided via a third interface γ, and the second sensor φ is a software-based sensor for acquiring soft ware-based sensor data M, which are provided via a fourth interface δ, wherein the computer unit C generates an electrical/electronic output signal A based on the collected data.

Description

The invention relates to a multi-sensor interface system for building technology. The invention also relates to a method for generating an output signal in a computer unit for building technology.

Multisensor interface systems, also called multisensors for short, for building technology are known, for example, from https://www.steinel.deldelLights-Sensors/Applications/Themen/Multisensor-Aerosol/. Such multi-sensor interface systems allow a continuous analysis of the room air, which is aimed at improving the ability to concentrate and learn as well as the well-being of the people in the building or room. Recently, determining a potential risk of infection has also played an increasingly important role. With this previously known multisensor, CO2, temperature and humidity are measured by physical sensors and communicated via interfaces to a computing unit, where they are converted into an output signal, here: for displaying an infection risk.

However, such a previously known multi-sensor interface system, which is based exclusively on the evaluation of physical sensors, does not allow optimal accuracy and reliability to determine an event to be detected and to provide the output signal corresponding thereto. In addition, due to the specific built-in physical sensors, such a multi-sensor interface system is generally only geared towards one or a few similar applications, so that different multi-sensor interface systems are required for different applications.

Proceeding from this discussed prior art, the object of the invention is to provide a multi-interface sensor system for building technology that allows an event to be detected on the basis of information and data from different sources, for example relating to the question of which rooms have a high risk of infection, with high accuracy and reliability and to map this event in the form of an output signal and at the same time has a universal infrastructure that enables it to be used in different applications.

This object is achieved by a generic multi-sensor interface system mentioned at the outset, in which the first interface includes a cloud interface for providing cloud data, the second interface includes a data interface for providing static data, the first sensor is a physical sensor for detecting physical Sensor data that is provided via a third interface, and wherein the second sensor comprises a software-based sensor for acquiring software-based sensor data that is provided via a fourth interface, the computing unit based on the collected data generates an electrical/electronic output signal.

An output signal within the meaning of the invention can be an electrical/electronic output signal or a data signal.

The core idea of the invention is to symbiotically aggregate different data and information to generate an electrical/electronic output signal, with the incoming data and information going far beyond purely physical sensor data recorded by one or more physical sensors in order to achieve the best possible accuracy and To achieve reliability for the detection of certain events.

For this purpose, the multi-sensor interface system according to the invention has a first interface, a cloud interface for providing cloud data. Such cloud data can, for example, be provided by an institution for disease surveillance and disease prevention, as was the case, for example, with the German Robert Koch Institute in the context of the Covid 19 pandemic. Such cloud data include, for example, worldwide, nationwide and/or local infection numbers. Likewise, specific earthquake data can also be made available as cloud data via the first interface of the computer unit generating the output signal for other applications, for example sending a warning notice for earthquakes with the recommendation to evacuate the building. In addition, weather data or movement profile data, for example, can be recorded through the cloud interface, which contribute to the most reliable and precise possible identification of an event and to the corresponding generation of an electrical/electronic output signal.

In addition to a cloud interface for providing cloud data, the multi-sensor interface system according to the invention for building technology also includes a second interface, a data interface for providing static data. Such data can be, for example, the height of the room, the installation height of the multi-sensor interface system, the use of the room, the type of ventilation, the floor area of the room, the existence of a mask requirement or the location, for example the district. This data is made accessible to the computer unit for generating an electrical/electronic output signal via a data interface, which, for example, queries the data from a data memory, and thus represents a second source of data or information.

In addition, the multi-sensor interface system according to the invention has a first sensor, a physical sensor, for acquiring physical sensor data, which is provided via a third interface of the computer unit. Such a physical sensor is, for example, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a CO2 sensor, a VOC sensor, a brightness sensor or a vibration sensor.

The data aggregation in the multi-sensor interface system for building technology according to the invention is completed in that the second sensor includes a software-based sensor for acquiring software-based sensor data that is provided via a fourth interface. A software-based sensor can be changed or exchanged with regard to the measuring principle on which it is based. Beyond the sensor data collection, the pre-processing and abstraction of the sensor events and data can be modified. Several sensor values can be combined and further processed into a new sensor value. An example of a software-based sensor is a radio module that can receive radio signals, with the presence of mobile devices being detected via specific radio signals, in particular Bluetooth packets, using appropriate software. Such radio signals are particularly preferably signals from applications that relate to infection contacts, for example a corona warning application. Additional information can also be generated by indicators for the reception performance on a packet basis (RSSI). In this way, indicators relating to the whereabouts of the signal transmitters or persons located in the room, in particular whether they are located in an adjacent room, can be obtained.

It is particularly advantageous in the multi-sensor interface system according to the invention that, through the aggregation of different data and information - i.e. cloud data, static data, physical and software-based sensor data - the events to be detected are not only accurate, i.e. precise, but also reliable, i.e. events can be detected without recognizing them. Furthermore, the above-described data aggregation according to the invention allows flexible possible uses of the multi-sensor interface system through one and the same hardware infrastructure, for example by using different cloud data suitable for the respective use depending on the application. For this purpose, for example, software-based sensors can be adapted to new requirements, in particular by adapting the software and retaining the physical sensor.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the multisensor interface system according to the invention, the output signal generated by the computer unit on the basis of the collected data comprises an infection risk indicator for a disease transmitted via aerosols in a room in which the multisensor interface system is located. Such an infection risk indicator allows the risk of infection to be indicated room-specifically in a reliable and precise manner. In this context, it is particularly advantageous if the collected data are weighted among one another in order to determine the infection risk indicator. As a result, the respective data is taken into account individually and the informative value of the infection risk indicator is effectively increased.

According to a further particularly preferred embodiment of the multi-sensor interface system according to the invention, the computer unit uses artificial intelligence to determine the electrical/electronic output signal on the basis of context information provided by the sensors.

In this case, the artificial intelligence can be provided, for example, by machine learning, time series analysis and/or software-based agents and advantageously makes it possible to increase the probability of certain events being recognized even further.

It is particularly effective, in particular to reduce the risk of infection and/or to increase the well-being and concentration ability of the people in the room, if the output signal generated by the computer unit includes ventilation instructions. In a further education In this embodiment of the multisensor interface system according to the invention, the output signal can also be an instruction to end ventilation in order to achieve an optimal balance between ventilation-related energy losses and improvement of the room air, measured for example by the CO2 and/or air humidity content. It is particularly preferred if the cloud data is the weather data (wind, temperature, humidity, position of the sun) and the static data is the room geometry, in particular the room volume, and the position of the multi-sensor interface system in the room, especially with regard to the position the window, are taken into account. In a further development, the multisensor interface system according to the invention can also be linked to at least one actuator, in particular a ventilation device, in particular a ventilation system, for forwarding the output signal, so that the ventilation process runs automatically. In this way, the multi-sensor interface system can contribute to a particularly economical and ecological ventilation behavior.

In order to visualize the output signal or a signal indirectly associated with the output signal, for example a warning signal, the multisensor interface system preferably has a visualization unit. Warnings expressed by the output signal can thus be conveyed optically, so that the instructions for action associated with them can be perceived immediately. Alternatively or additionally, such a warning or instruction can also be issued acoustically via a loudspeaker or visually and/or acoustically via mobile terminals coupled to the multi-sensor interface system.

According to the invention, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a CO2 sensor, a VOC sensor, a brightness sensor or a vibration sensor can be considered as the first sensor, a physical sensor for acquiring physical sensor data. Within the scope of the invention, of course, several such physical sensors can also be provided, with the selection of the sensors depending on the respective application and the above list is not to be understood as conclusive.

According to the invention, for example, a sensor for detecting radio signals that detects the presence of mobile terminals via specific Bluetooth packets can be considered as the second sensor.

Alternatively or additionally, according to the invention, a second sensor can be considered, which determines frequency components of a signal picked up by a microphone in order to use it to detect events by preprocessing. This can include, for example, identifying a frequency spectrum that is characteristic of broken glass in a certain frequency range. In this way, within the scope of this invention, a sensor to be addressed as the first sensor, since it detects physical data, here: the frequency, can detect events as a second sensor, in that the second sensor detects software-based sensor data, here: the fingerprint the recorded frequency spectrum, identified and compared with a fingerprint.

Due to the use of such second sensors, also referred to as software-based sensors for acquiring software-based sensor data within the scope of the invention, events can be identified particularly precisely and reliably, especially when, as in the case of the present invention, different data are present different sources are aggregated.

The computer unit that generates the output signal is particularly preferably localized on an edge device, since this local environment of the edge device means that no Internet connection is required, but rather the data processing takes place locally. This is advantageously accompanied by a reduction in data traffic compared to localizing the computer unit in a cloud. In addition, the localization of the computing unit on an edge device increases privacy, which can play an important role depending on the application, and the short connection distances effectively reduce latency compared to cloud localization, so that speed advantages can be achieved in this way.

A localization of the computer unit in the cloud is particularly advantageous in the case of machine learning, since in this case a particularly large amount of data can be stored in the cloud, which is advantageous for the use of machine learning.

For particularly special applications, it can also make sense to accommodate the computer unit directly in the first or second sensor, since this solution can be implemented particularly cost-effectively.

In a particularly preferred development, the multi-sensor interface system according to the invention can be coupled to an installation socket, in particular a socket, via an adapter. This ensures the voltage supply of the multi-sensor interface system in an uncomplicated manner.

• - Ermittlung von Cloud-Daten über eine erste Schnittstelle, eine Cloudschnittstelle,
• - Ermittlung von statischen Daten über eine zweite Schnittstelle, eine Datenschnittstelle,
• - Ermittlung von physikalischen Sensor-Daten über einen physikalischen Sensor und Bereitstellung über eine dritte Schnittstelle,
• - Ermittlung von software-basierten Sensor-Daten über einen software-basierten Sensor und Bereitstellung über eine vierte Schnittstelle und
• - Erzeugung eines elektrischen/elektronischen Ausgabesignals durch die gesammelten Daten durch die Rechnereinheit.

In addition to the multi-sensor interface system according to the invention, the invention relates to a method for generating an output signal in a computer unit for building technology, with a first and a second sensor as well as a first and a second interface being connected to the computer unit, comprising the following steps:

• - Determination of cloud data via a first interface, a cloud interface,
• - Determination of static data via a second interface, a data interface,
• - Determination of physical sensor data via a physical sensor and provision via a third interface,
• - Determination of software-based sensor data via a software-based sensor and provision via a fourth interface and
• - Generation of an electrical/electronic output signal from the collected data by the computing unit.

This method achieves the same advantages as the multisensor interface system according to the invention.

• 1: eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Multisensorschnittstellensystems und
• 2: eine schematische Darstellung eines weitergebildeten erfindungsgemäßen Multisensorschnittstellensystems.

The invention is described below with reference to the attached figures using an exemplary embodiment. Show it:

• 1 : a schematic representation of a multisensor interface system according to the invention and
• 2 1: a schematic representation of a further developed multi-sensor interface system according to the invention.

a in 1 The multi-sensor interface system 1 according to the invention for building technology shown is housed in a room R and comprises a computer unit C, at least a first and a second sensor φ, θ connected to the computer unit C and a first and a second interface α, β connected to the computer unit C. In the multisensor interface system 1 shown, the first interface α is a cloud interface for providing cloud data I. Such cloud data I can be provided, for example, by an institution for disease monitoring and disease prevention, in particular incidence values, as is the case, for example, in the context of Covid-19 -pandemic was the case at the German Robert Koch Institute.

The second interface β of the multisensor interface system 1 according to the invention is a data interface for providing static data D, here for example the spatial volume.

The first sensor θ, a physical sensor for acquiring physical sensor data T, which is provided via a third interface γ, is used, for example, to acquire the temperature, while the second sensor φ, a software-based sensor, is used to acquire software-based sensor data M is used, for example a radio module which can receive radio signals B, the presence of mobile devices being detected via certain radio signals, in particular Bluetooth packets. This software-based sensor data φ is made available to the computer unit C via a fourth interface δ, so that an electrical/electronic output signal is calculated on the basis of the collected data. It is particularly advantageous if the individually collected data are included in the calculation and generation of the output signal A with an individual weight, for example to determine an infection risk indicator. A particularly preferred method for deriving weighting factors is what is known as the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), since it checks the logic and quality of the decision

In such a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a weighting is carried out to determine the infection risk indicator (shown as an example in Table 1). Table 1: Weighting to determine the infection risk indicator. risk factor weighting room size 2.8% room height 2.6% mask usage 18.8% ventilation behavior 8.9% CO2 17.0% air quality 17.2% Rate of change of air quality 4.7% humidity 2.2% temperature 2.2% Type of room/use of room 7.5% presence (distance) 16.1%

Due to the large number of different data and their individual weighting, particularly reliable and precise output signals, for example infection risk indicators, can be determined.

As an alternative to the weighting of the individual influencing variables for determining the risk of infection according to Table 1, the multi-interface system 1 according to the invention can also be linked to external, established risk calculation algorithms or models, since the large number of influencing variables that can be recorded via the multi-interface system 1 (see Table 1 for example) are also included in the established risk calculation algorithms. Examples of this are the Lelieveldt model (Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 8114; doi:10.3390/ijerph17218114) and the "COVID-19 Aerosol Transmission Estimator" from the University of Colorado-Boulder, developed by Prof. Jose L Jimenez and Dr. Zhe Peng (https://tinyurl.com/covid-estimator). This allows the multi-interface system 1 to be operated in a particularly simple and effective manner for determining an infection risk, without the need to develop special algorithms.

According to the invention, a sensor for detecting radio signals, for example, which detects the presence of mobile terminals via specific Bluetooth packets, is particularly preferred as the second sensor φ. As a result, contact tracking can be achieved in that the second sensor φ detects radio signals, in particular sent by the infection warning apps installed on the mobile end devices of people in a room. Immediate contact tracing can thus be initiated as soon as radio signals corresponding to a proven or probable infection are sent or are detected by the multi-sensor interface system 1 . Such direct contact tracing can significantly reduce the number of people to be quarantined, so that any pandemic can be controlled more effectively and specifically (L. Ferretti, https://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science. ).

2 shows a schematic representation of a further developed multi-sensor interface system 1 according to the invention, in which the output signal A generated by the computer unit C is sent both to a ventilation device L and to a visualization unit V. This allows the room R to be ventilated and the output signal A to be visualized.

The invention is described using exemplary embodiments. Without departing from the scope of the applicable claims, there are numerous other ways for a person skilled in the art to implement them, without this having to be explained in detail within the scope of these statements.

Reference List

1

multisensor interface system

θ

first sensor

φ

second sensor

A

output signal

B

radio signal

C

computing unit

D

static data

L

ventilation unit

I

cloud data

M

software-based sensor data

R

Space

T

physical sensor data

V

visualization unit

a

first interface

β

second interface

g

third interface

δ

fourth interface

Claims (17)

Multi-sensor interface system for building technology, comprising a computer unit (C) and at least a first and a second sensor (θ, φ) connected to the computer unit (C) and two interfaces connected to the computer unit (C), characterized in that a first interface (α) comprises a cloud interface for providing cloud data (I), that a second interface (β) comprises a data interface for providing static data (D), that the first sensor (θ) comprises a physical sensor for detecting physical sensor -Data (T) that is provided via a third interface (y), and the second sensor (φ) is a software-based sensor for acquiring software-based sensor data (M) that is provided via a fourth interface (δ). , Includes, wherein the computer unit (C) generates an electrical / electronic output signal (A) on the basis of the collected data. multisensor interface system claim 1 , characterized in that the output signal (A) comprises an infection risk indicator for an aerosol-borne disease of a room (R) in which the multi-sensor interface system (1) is located. Multisensor interface system according to one of Claims 1 or 2 , characterized in that the computer unit (C) determines the electrical/electronic output signal based on context information provided by the sensors (θ, φ) using artificial intelligence, in particular machine learning, time series analysis, software-based agents. Multisensor interface system according to one of Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the output signal (A) comprises a ventilation instruction. Multisensor interface system according to one of Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the multi-sensor interface system (1) for forwarding the output signal (A) with at least one actuator, in particular a ventilation device (L), is linked. Multisensor interface system according to one of Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the multi-sensor interface system (1) has a visualization unit (V) for visualizing the output signal (A). Multisensor interface system according to one of Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that the first sensor (θ) is a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a CO2 sensor, a VOC sensor, a brightness sensor or a vibration sensor. Multisensor interface system according to one of Claims 1 until 7 , characterized in that the second sensor comprises a sensor for detecting radio signals, which detects the presence of mobile terminals via certain Bluetooth packets. Multisensor interface system according to one of Claims 1 until 8th , characterized in that the second sensor (φ) comprises a sensor for detecting frequency components of a signal picked up by a microphone, which is suitable for detecting events by preprocessing. Multisensor interface system according to one of Claims 1 until 9 , characterized in that the multi-sensor interface system (1) can be coupled to an installation socket, in particular a socket, via an adapter. multisensor interface system claim 2 , characterized in that the data collected to determine the infection risk indicator are weighted with each other. Multisensor interface system according to one of Claims 1 until 11 , characterized in that the computer unit (C) is arranged in an edge device. Multisensor interface system according to one of Claims 1 until 12 , characterized in that the computer unit (C) is arranged in a cloud. Multisensor interface system according to one of Claims 1 until 13 , characterized in that the computer unit (C) is arranged in a sensor. Method for generating an output signal in a computer unit for building technology, two sensors and a first and a second interface being connected to the computer unit, comprising the following steps: - Determination of cloud data via a first interface, a cloud interface, - Determination of static data via a second interface, a data interface, - Determination of physical sensor data via a physical sensor and provision via a third interface, - Determination of software-based sensor data via a software-based sensor and provision via a fourth interface and - Generation of an electrical/electronic output signal from the collected data by the computing unit. procedure after claim 10 , characterized in that the output signal is forwarded to an actuator. procedure after claim 10 or 11 , characterized in that the output signal is visualized on a visualization unit.

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