DE102019131487A1 - Detector unit, detector system and method for operating the detector system - Google Patents

Abstract

A detector unit for use in a supply facility of a building installation, comprising a housing (1) and within the housing (1) or on this housing (1) a control unit, at least two PIR sensor units (3a, 3b) for monitoring different detection areas and for Each detection area has a switching output using signals from the associated sensor unit (3a, 3b), characterized by a shielding element (5) arranged in the housing (1) for shielding at least two of the detection areas from one another., whereby the shielding element (5) is preferably relative to the housing ( 1) is adjustable in its position. Furthermore, a detector system with such a detector unit and a method for operating the detector system are claimed, in which the switching outputs of the detector unit or at least one of the detector units each for the separate control of at least two intended for different spatial areas Supply parts facilities are used.

Description

The invention relates to a detector unit for use in a supply device of a building installation according to the preamble of claim 1, a detector system for such a supply device and a method for operating the detector system.

Detector units of the type affected here can be motion detectors or presence detectors that can be used to control supply facilities. A supply device in the sense of the invention is primarily understood to mean a lighting device, but also a heating, air conditioning or ventilation device or a combination thereof, with which a certain room area, in particular a work area, is supplied.

From the EP 0 326 942 A2 an infrared signal transmitter, in particular for motion detectors, is known, the infrared radiation receiver of which has at least two receiving surfaces which enclose an angle with one another which is greater than 180 °. The infrared signal transmitter thus has two different, overlapping detection areas, as a result of which the total detection area of the infrared signal transmitter is enlarged. Due to the overlap, the detection areas are not independent of one another, since one and the same movement can be detected by both receiving surfaces.

From the EP 1 398 742 B1 a detector unit and a detector system of the type mentioned are known. The disclosed detector unit is a motion detector which has at least two optical systems for detecting the movement of a person in at least two different detection areas, in particular a far area and a close area. The two detection areas are essentially adjacent to one another and should not overlap. Sensors for infrared radiation of the optical systems are shielded from one another in their respective detection area by a shielding element. As a result, the receiving areas of the detectors are independent of one another, so that more information, for example about the direction of movement of a person, can be determined compared to a single detection area. However, the detection areas are permanently set when the motion detector is installed. Each detection area is assigned its own switching output, one of the switching outputs being provided for controlling a lighting unit, that is to say a supply device of the simplest type. The other switching outputs can be used for alarms, for example.

The invention concerned here is based on the technical problem of providing a detector unit, a detector system and a method for operating the detector system of the type mentioned above, which enable an improved possibility of specifying and using independent detection areas compared to the prior art. In particular, the application possibilities are to be improved compared to the state of the art in order to increase the energy saving potential and the user comfort.

This technical problem is solved with respect to the detector unit with the characterizing features of claim 1 and with respect to the detector system with the features of claim 14 and with respect to the method with the features of claim 18. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the dependent claims.

The detector unit according to the invention, which has a housing and, within the housing or on this housing, a control unit, at least two sensor units, preferably PIR sensor units, for monitoring different detection areas and a switching output using signals from the associated sensor unit for each detection area, is thus characterized by a Shielding element arranged in the housing for shielding at least two of the detection areas from one another.

With the shielding element, detection areas of the sensor units can thus be shielded from one another, which would otherwise overlap.

It can be particularly advantageous if the position of the shielding element can be adjusted relative to the housing. The adjustability of the shielding element allows at least two of its detection areas to be adapted to the given spatial conditions when the detector unit is installed. Thus, the positioning of the detector unit can be chosen more freely within a room to be monitored. In addition, the detection areas can be adapted to a changed use of the room without having to move the detector unit. In an advantageous embodiment, the shielding element can be pivoted to change its position. The shielding element can be arranged between two of the sensor units. The shielding element can in particular be designed in the manner of a plate, with one of the sides of the shielding element delimiting a detection area. It can also be provided that the two sides of the shielding element are provided with different surfaces, for example with a different coating. So For example, one side of the shielding element can be designed black and the other side glossy.

The detector unit according to the invention can be designed in such a way that the shielding element has a ferromagnetic material. In this way it is possible to change the position of the shielding element by means of a magnet without touching it directly, e.g. from outside the housing of the detector unit, even if the shielding element is arranged inside the housing under a cover. Such a magnet can be operated manually.

The shielding element can be arranged together with the sensor units or at least with two of the sensor units under an at least predominantly closed cover. In this way, the sensor units and the shielding element are protected against external influences and in particular against unwanted changes in the position of the shielding element. The cover is translucent or transparent for electromagnetic radiation, at least in an area that is important for the operation of the sensor units. The cover can be designed as a lens, preferably with a honeycomb structure, and thus serve as the optics of the detector unit.

The detector unit according to the invention can have more than two sensor units and more than one shielding element, so that the same detector unit has more than two detection areas and can monitor more than two room areas independently of one another.

It can be advantageous to design the detector unit according to the invention in such a way that the control unit is set up to use the switching outputs for the separate control of at least two supply sub-devices.

It is thus possible, using a single detector unit, which can be a motion detector or preferably a presence detector, to supply two or more spatial areas separately from one another, preferably with lighting, alternatively or cumulatively also with heating, air conditioning and / or ventilation.

Thus, through a combination of control software stored in the control unit, namely intelligent control logic, which is specifically geared to mutually independent detection areas, and corresponding hardware, the installation and setup effort can be reduced in order to provide savings in assembly costs. In particular, the more complex systems known in the prior art, such as installation bus systems, for example KNX, can be dispensed with.

Parameters can already be stored in the control unit which make setting up the detector unit superfluous during its installation. Nevertheless, a setting option for the initial setup of the detector unit or a change in the control unit parameters, e.g. by remote control, can be provided in order to adapt to special spatial conditions or to increase the comfort for people in the room.

To the extent that, for the sake of simplicity, the description of the invention below essentially relates to lighting devices, this is to be understood as an example in each case. All aspects of the invention and embodiments of the invention presented below can apply in an analogous manner to alternative supply devices, such as heating, air conditioning and / or ventilation. For cumulative systems, at least one further control unit can be provided in or on the detector unit or separately therefrom.

Furthermore, the detector unit according to the invention can also be designed in such a way that the sensor units belonging to detection areas shielded from one another or at least two of these sensor units are aligned with their detection areas parallel to one another. The detection areas would not be parallel if the alignment of the sensor units were at an angle to one another. If the sensor units, as is usually the case, have flat sensor surfaces, they can be arranged, for example, parallel to one another and in a common plane. The sensor units are preferably formed by pyroelectric infrared sensors (PIR sensors).

The sensor units can in particular be arranged in such a way that without a shielding element their detection areas would clearly overlap one another. Thus, without changing the alignment of the sensor units with the aid of the shielding element, the spatial areas to be monitored by the sensor units can be defined or changed without the detection areas having a gap between them.

The detector unit according to the invention can also have at least one alignment display for aligning the detector unit. The alignment display shows how the detection areas of the individual sensor units are oriented in the room. The alignment indicator can consist of one or more LEDs, for example. The detector unit can be designed so that a signal of the alignment indicator is dependent on the current position of the shielding element. For example, LEDs or other changeable signal transmitters can indicate by lighting up, color, brightness or the number of signals whether the shielding element is in a central position symmetrical to the sensor units or has been brought into another position, e.g. pivoted, the signals also - at least in stages - can display the degree of change in position of the shielding element.

It can be advantageous to provide the detector unit according to the invention with an illuminance sensor device, also called a light sensor, whose output signals can be made available to the control unit. In the case of the lighting device, the illuminance sensor device can be used to determine whether a switch-on threshold or a switch-off threshold has been exceeded or fallen below.

The detector unit according to the invention can furthermore have a receiving unit for a remote control and / or a transmitting unit for forwarding information. The receiver unit enables, for example, the setting up of the control unit in its parameters, e.g. of delay times, via the remote control. It is also possible to change the parameters via the remote control or to override the control with direct commands. With the transmission unit, for example, information about the status of the detector unit or the settings of the associated control unit can be sent to an external location, for example the remote control, for display. The external location or the remote control can also be a smartphone or some other computer unit with an infrared interface and suitable application software.

It can also be advantageous to provide the detector unit according to the invention with a slave input and / or a slave output. The detection area of the detector unit can be enlarged with the slave input by connecting a conventional slave device, i.e. a device without its own control unit or with a control unit that is not active for the slave function, and controlling the supply device via the detector unit according to the invention becomes. Furthermore, a conventional switch unit, e.g. a button, can be connected to the slave input for manual control of the supply device, for example to be able to manually override the specified control of the detector unit. In the case of a push-button, for example, different times can be set for the push-button to be pressed in order to carry out different actions depending on the duration of the push. For example, the lighting could be dimmed up or down by means of a long press of the button, whereas a short press of the button can be used to switch the lighting on or off.

The slave output, on the other hand, is used to connect the detector unit according to the invention as a slave to another device, namely a motion or presence detector. This further device serves as a master and does not need to be set up according to the invention, but is used with its own control unit to control part of the supply device. In this case, the detector unit according to the invention sends signals to the master as a slave about a detected movement. For example, the detector unit according to the invention can be installed in a first room, e.g. an office room, and the master in a second room adjoining this first room, e.g. in a hallway. For example, if the detector unit according to the invention detects a movement, according to which a person leaves the first room in the direction of the second room, they can send a signal to the master in slave function via their slave output, which is a supply sub-device, z. B. for lighting controls in the second room. It can thus be achieved that a person who wants to leave the first room in order to enter the second room does not have to go into the dark, which can contribute to improved safety for the person.

The detector unit according to the invention can also be connected via a slave input to a first slave unit, in turn, e.g. according to the invention or designed as a conventional detector, and at the same time via a slave output to a master unit. Thus, in this chain, the detector unit according to the invention can serve as a master with respect to the first slave unit and as a slave with respect to the further master unit. This variant could be useful, for example, if the detector unit according to the invention cannot monitor an entire room with its detection areas, for example due to a room area separated by a wall piece or furniture. The first slave unit, which informs the detector unit according to the invention about movements there, can be installed in this separated room area so that the latter can control the partial lighting device of the room.

Furthermore, in the case of a lighting device as the supply device, the control unit of the detector unit according to the invention can be set up to compensate for age attenuation of at least one connected light source. For this purpose, a correction factor can be stored in the control unit, which depends on the number of operating hours. For this, a Operating hours counter for determining the operating time of the lighting means can be provided as part of control software.

The alarm system according to the invention is characterized by at least one alarm unit according to the invention. In the alarm system, at least one alarm unit according to the invention is connected to another device for controlling the supply device. In particular, it can be provided that at least one of the detector units of the detector system has a master / slave connection with a further device. An example of such a connection, in which the detector unit according to the invention functions as a slave, is already shown above.

The detector unit according to the invention or at least one of the detector units according to the invention of the detector system can also serve as a master. Thus, the alarm system according to the invention can have at least one switch unit connected as a slave to the alarm unit or to at least one of the alarm units. As already shown, the switch unit can be used to override the control unit of the detector unit.

In the method according to the invention for operating the detector system according to the invention, the switching outputs of the detector unit or at least one of the detector units are each used for the separate control of at least two supply sub-devices provided for different spatial areas.

It is thus possible to control at least two different supply devices using just one detector unit, which means that more complex installations can be avoided. In particular within the same room, at least two different areas, each with a supply sub-device, can be controlled separately by a detector unit according to the invention. The at least two mutually shielded detection areas of the sensor units of the detector unit are used for this.

It is generally known for presence detectors or motion detectors to provide a follow-up time which restarts after each detected movement and during which the supply device remains switched on. The method according to the invention can now be carried out in such a way that a common or an individual follow-up time is established for each of the at least two detection areas. The follow-up time can be automatically adjusted depending on detected movements, i.e. extended or shortened. A shortening of the follow-up time would, for example, make sense if it can be concluded from the sequence of movements detected in the two different detection areas that the only person still present is leaving the area covered. The follow-up time can also be extended when the direction of movement is reversed. The follow-up time can also be extended if movement is detected again in the affected detection area after it has expired and the previous follow-up time is therefore assessed as insufficient. If no more movement is detected within the follow-up time, the follow-up time can also (again) be shortened in order to be able to save energy. It is also possible to extend the follow-up time in one of the detection areas and to shorten it in the other.

Furthermore, it can be provided that after the delay time has elapsed, the lighting is not switched off completely, but is reduced to a significantly lower illuminance, which continues to enable orientation.

The method according to the invention can also be carried out in such a way that the supply device is a lighting device and an initial process is started during or shortly after the installation of the detector unit, i.e. when it is connected to a supply voltage, with which the connected lighting device is switched on and automatically after a predetermined time is switched off again. The initial process illumination stroke that occurs during this initial process, namely the difference in the illuminance between the switched-off and the switched-on state, is used to automatically determine a switch-on threshold to be used for later operation of the detector unit. A switch-off threshold can also be determined. In a simple case, for example, an illuminance can be defined for the switch-off threshold that is a certain factor, e.g. by a factor of 2, above the switch-on threshold.

The initial process can be started automatically or by means of a trigger signal, which can also be generated manually, e.g. via a remote control.

For this method, it is assumed that the existing lighting device is already optimally set. If the initial process does not lead to a satisfactory result, e.g. because the initial process lighting stroke falls below a reference value, the measurement can be restarted at a later point in time automatically or manually, preferably by remote control, e.g. via a software application.

• 1: einen Präsenzmelder im seitlichen Querschnitt mit einer ersten Stellung eines Abschirmelements,
• 2: den Präsenzmelder mit einer zweiten Stellung des Abschirmelements und
• 3: den Präsenzmelder in einer perspektivischen Ansicht.

In the following, a preferred embodiment of the detector unit according to the invention is shown in Form of a presence detector described with reference to figures. It shows

• 1 : a presence detector in lateral cross-section with a first position of a shielding element,
• 2 : the presence detector with a second position of the shielding element and
• 3rd : the presence detector in a perspective view.

The figures show a presence detector with a housing composed of several components 1 with fixatives 2 for fixing the presence detector, for example on a wall or ceiling. The presence detector has two sensor units 3a and 3b on, which are preferably pyroelectric infrared sensors (PIR sensors). The sensor units 3a and 3b are with their sensor area 4a or. 4b arranged parallel to each other and in a common plane. Without further measures, the detection areas of the sensor units 3a and 3b which are usually fanned out widely and can each cover a solid angle Ω of, for example, 3.14 sr, strongly overlap one another. Between the sensor units 3a and 3b however, it is a plate-shaped shielding element 5 arranged with which the detection areas of the two sensor units 3a and 3b be shielded from each other. Thus, for example, the sensor unit 3b no movement from the area to the left of the shielding element 5 (in the representation according to 1 ) and vice versa. As shown in 1 would cover the entire detection range of both sensor units 3a and 3b divided exactly in half together.

The shielding element 5 is about a pivot axis 6th pivotable in a pivot bearing 7th stored. The shielding element is preferably made 5 made of a ferromagnetic material and can therefore be pivoted by means of a magnet. The magnet, not shown here, can, for example, be brought manually to the presence detector by a person and to change the position of the shielding element 5 be moved.

2 shows the presence detector with a compared to 1 shielding element pivoted into another position 5 so that the detection range of the sensor units 3b monitors a significantly larger solid angle than the sensor units 3a .

The case 1 has a cover element 8th on which the sensor units 3a and 3b as well as the shielding element 5 protectively surrounds and for electromagnetic wavelengths, which for the function of the sensor units 3a and 3b are important, is permeable. The cover element 8th can have one or more lenses, for example in the form of a Fresnel lens or a plurality of individual lenses, which the incident radiation on the sensor units 3a and 3b focus.

3rd shows the presence detector in a perspective view, but without a cover element 8th so that in this view, too, the internal structure of the area below the cover element 8th you can see. For the sake of clarity, the sensor units are shown in this illustration 3a and 3b only the sensor surfaces 4a and 4b provided with reference numerals.

On a border area 9 of the housing 1 are LEDs 10 attached, which are used to display the status and can be designed with different colors.

The presence detector can have two switching outputs, not shown separately here, which can be used to control different parts of a lighting device. The partial lighting devices to be controlled can relate to different room areas of the same room. The two room areas can, for example, be different work areas, for example each with one or more desks, or a central room area and an entrance area, e.g. B. in a hotel room. Due to the changeability of the detection areas of the two sensor units 3a and 3b by means of the shielding element 5 can be used by the respective sensor units 3a and 3b areas to be monitored can be adapted.

For the operation of the presence detector, provision can be made for the two switching outputs to be switched independently of one another via a control unit not shown separately here. For example, when movement is detected in a first room area, it is also possible to switch on only the partial lighting device connected to this switching output, while the corresponding partial lighting device remains switched off for a second room area. However, provision can also be made for the partial lighting devices of both room areas to be switched on if movement is detected in only one of the room areas. It can also be stipulated that when movement is detected in the first spatial area and only a very brief, permanent movement is detected in the second spatial area, the partial lighting device for the second spatial area remains switched off, e.g. B. because from the short duration of the movement it can be concluded that the person does not want to stay in the second area of the room.

List of reference symbols

1

casing

2

Fixatives

3a

Sensor unit

3b

Sensor unit

4a

Sensor area

4b

Sensor area

5

Shielding element

6th

Swivel axis

7th

Swivel bearing

8th

Cover element

9

Border area

10

LED

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• EP 0326942 A2 [0003]
• EP 1398742 B1 [0004]

Claims (27)

Detector unit for use in a supply facility of a building installation, comprising a housing (1) and within the housing (1) or on this housing (1) a control unit, at least two PIR sensor units (3a, 3b) for monitoring different detection areas and for each Detection area a switching output using signals from the associated sensor unit (3a, 3b), characterized by a shielding element (5) arranged in the housing (1) for shielding at least two of the detection areas from one another. Detector unit after Claim 1 , characterized in that the shielding element (5) is adjustable, preferably pivotable, in its position relative to the housing (1). Detector unit after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the shielding element (5) is arranged between two of the sensor units (3a, 3b). Detector unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shielding element (5) has a ferromagnetic material. Detector unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shielding element (5) can be adjusted by means of a magnet. Detector unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit is set up to use the switching outputs for the separate control of at least two supply sub-devices. Detector unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor units (3a, 3b) belonging to mutually shielded detection areas or at least two of these sensor units (3a, 3b) are aligned with their detection areas parallel to one another. Detector unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an alignment display for aligning the detector unit, a signal from the alignment display preferably being dependent on the current position of the shielding element (5). Detector unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detector unit is a presence detector. Detector unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an illuminance sensor device. Detector unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a receiving unit for a remote control and / or a transmitting unit for forwarding information. Detector unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one slave input and / or one slave output. Detector unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the case of a lighting device as the supply device, the control unit is set up to compensate for age attenuation of at least one connected lighting means. Detector system for a supply facility, characterized by at least one detector unit according to one of the Claims 1 to 13th . Detector system according to Claim 14 , characterized in that at least one of the detector units has a master / slave connection with another device. Detector system according to Claim 14 or 15th , characterized by at least one switch unit connected as a slave to the detector unit or to at least one of the detector units. Detector system according to Claim 16 , characterized in that the control unit of the detector unit or of the at least one detector unit is set up to be overridden by the switch unit connected as a slave. Procedure for operating the detector system according to one of the Claims 14 to 17th , in which the switching outputs of the detector unit or at least one of the detector units are each used for the separate control of at least two supply sub-devices intended for different spatial areas. Procedure according to Claim 18 , characterized in that at least one of the supply sub-devices is switched on or remains switched on when movement is detected in an associated one of the detection areas, the affected supply device remaining switched on within a follow-up time after the last detected movement and the follow-up time being automatically adjusted as a function of detected movements. Procedure according to Claim 19 , characterized in that the follow-up time is set and / or adapted individually for different detection areas. Procedure according to Claim 19 or 20th , characterized in that the follow-up time is automatically extended by a specified extension period for at least one of the detection areas if a movement is detected within a specified checking time after the end of the follow-up time. Method according to one of the Claims 19 to 21 , characterized in that the follow-up time is automatically shortened by a predetermined reduction period if no movement is detected by the relevant detector unit in the follow-up time. Method according to one of the Claims 19 to 22nd , characterized in that two different detection areas are monitored for movement with the responsible detector unit and the follow-up time is automatically adjusted as a function of time sequences of movements in the different detection areas. Method according to one of the Claims 19 to 23 , characterized in that the delay time is changed with a remote control. Method according to one of the Claims 18 to 24 , characterized in that the supply device is a lighting device and a) when connecting the detector unit, which has an illuminance sensor device for an illuminance or is set up to receive signals from an external illuminance sensor device, to a supply voltage automatically or as a result of a trigger signal in one Initial process the lighting device is switched on and automatically switched off again after a predetermined time, b) from an initial process lighting stroke given in the initial process between switched on and switched off lighting device, namely the difference in illuminance, automatically a switch-on threshold to be used for the later operation of the relevant detector unit and optionally a switch-off threshold for the lighting device is determined. Procedure according to Claim 25 , characterized in that the initial process and the determination of the switch-on threshold and optionally the switch-off threshold according to feature b) of claim 1 is repeated. Procedure according to Claim 25 or 26th , characterized in that the initial process lighting stroke is doubled to determine the switch-off threshold.

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