DE202021106499U1 - Warning device with a warning detector group of warning detectors - Google Patents

Abstract

Warning device with a warning detector group of at least two warning detectors (2),
each of the alarms (2) comprising:
a computing unit (4) set up to detect an alarm condition (21, 22),
a communication unit (3) with a radio transmitter (32) and a radio receiver (31), wherein the processing unit (4) is further set up to control the communication unit (3),
a signal unit (5) for outputting a warning signal (51), wherein the computing unit (4) is further set up to control the signal unit (5),
the processing unit (4) of each warning device (2) being set up to
in the event of detection of a primary alarm condition (21) in the area of the alarm (2)
to control the signal unit (5) to output the warning signal (51) and to control the communication unit (3) to transmit an alarm radio telegram (7), and
in the case of a normal state (25) in which no alarm state (21, 22) has been detected,
to control the communication unit (3) to receive an alarm radio telegram (7) transmitted by another of the warning devices (2) and
to recognize a secondary alarm condition (22) after receiving such an alarm radio telegram (7) from one of the other alarm devices (2) and to control the signal unit (5) depending on the secondary alarm condition (22),
characterized in that
the communication unit (3) for sending the alarm radio telegram (7) with a total radio telegram length t _{F is made} up of an individual telegram (70) or several individual telegrams (70) sent immediately one after the other, each comprising a long preamble part (71) with a preamble length t _P and a short data part (72) following the preamble part (71) with a data length t _D , the preamble _{length t P being} several times longer than the data length t _D and at least 10 times, approximately 100 times the data length t is _D ,
the communication unit (3) switches on the radio receiver (31) for reception with a reception period tz and opens a reception time window (80), the processing unit (4) being set up to check whether the received data contains a character string from the preamble part (71) is recognized, and the reception period tz is smaller than the total radio telegram length t _F , preferably smaller than half the total radio telegram _{length t F} , preferably about a quarter of the total radio telegram length _{t F ,}
the communication unit (3) closes the reception time window (80) if no character string from the preamble part (71) has been recognized and switches off the radio receiver (31), and
the communication unit (3) keeps the reception time window (80) open when a character string from the preamble part (71) has been recognized until the data part (72) of the alarm radio telegram (7) has been received, and then switches the radio receiver (31) off.

Description

The invention relates to a warning device with a warning alarm group of at least two alarms, each of the alarms having a processing unit set up to detect an alarm condition, a communication unit with a radio transmitter and a radio receiver, and a signaling unit for outputting a warning signal. The arithmetic unit is set up to control a warning device, in particular also to control the communication unit and the signal unit. To control the warning device, the processing unit of each warning device is set up to activate the signal unit to output the warning signal and to control the communication unit to transmit an alarm radio telegram if a primary alarm condition is detected in the area of the warning device. An alarm condition in the area of the warning device is an alarm condition that can be detected in particular by a warning device in its vicinity. For the particularly preferred case of a smoke alarm device as the alarm device, this can be, for example, smoke and/or heat developing in the vicinity of the smoke alarm device.

If the warning device is in a normal state, in which no alarm condition was detected, the communication unit is set up to receive an alarm radio telegram sent by another of the warning devices or is controlled by the processing unit for this purpose. After receiving such an alarm radio telegram from one of the other warning devices, the processing unit recognizes a secondary alarm condition and controls the signal unit depending on the secondary alarm condition, for example to output or stop the warning signal. If another smoke alarm device reports a smoke alarm (as a primary smoke alarm condition), the processing unit recognizes a smoke alarm as a secondary alarm condition and emits a loud acoustic signal (as a warning signal), for example. If he (e.g. later) receives an alarm stop radio telegram, the warning signal is stopped again.

The function described here implements a group alarm that is known per se, for example to signal a smoke alarm throughout the building or at least in the vicinity of the alarm device that detects the alarm condition in its vicinity. In this connection, groups of smoke alarm devices networked by radio or wire are known, which together signal an alarm as soon as one of the smoke alarm devices detects an alarm condition (primary alarm condition). Wiring smoke alarm devices in buildings is very complex. Smoke alarm devices with radio communication are therefore often used in buildings. A corresponding system with a group alarm function is, for example, in DE 10 2015 226 132 A1 described.

In such a radio network, all smoke alarm devices send short radio telegrams (so-called "beacon" radio telegrams) at short intervals, with which they signal subsequent readiness to receive, and then activate a reception time window for a specified period of time. A smoke alarm device in the primary alarm state, which has to send an alarm radio telegram, accordingly activates continuous reception in order to receive the beacon radio telegrams of other smoke alarm devices within radio range. This smoke alarm device responds to received beacon radio telegrams by immediately sending out the alarm radio telegram after receiving a beacon radio telegram. The sender of this beacon radio telegram can thus receive the alarm radio telegram in the open reception time window. Bidirectional radio communication in the Open Metering System (OMS) standard for reading consumption values also works according to this principle. When reading the consumption value, the time intervals between the radio transmissions can be significantly shorter than with smoke alarm devices, whose alarm messages must be forwarded immediately to alert the group members. The disadvantages of this system with the frequent beacon radio signals are that these cause high power consumption for the transmission and the radio band of the radio network is heavily loaded by the frequent transmissions.

The object of the present invention is to propose an improved method for group alarms for alarms, in particular smoke alarms, which enables alarm messages to be forwarded quickly without constantly loading the radio channel and offers an energy balance that also enables the use of battery-operated alarms.

This object is achieved by a warning device having the features of claim 1. In a warning device of the type described at the outset, it is provided in particular that the communication unit for sending the alarm radio telegram with a total radio telegram length t _{F is made} up of an individual telegram or several individual telegrams sent in immediate succession, each comprising a long preamble part with a preamble length t _P and a short data part with a data length t _D following the preamble part. An individual telegram thus has the individual telegram length t _E =t _P +t _D , ie the individual telegram is made up of the preamble part and the data part. Unless the alarm sparks If, according to a particularly preferred embodiment, the telegram is made up of several individual telegrams _{that are sent immediately one after the other, the total radio telegram length is t F} ie t _F =n • t _E , where n is the number of individual telegrams combined in the overall radio telegram. The preamble _{length t P} is many times longer than the data length t _D and is at least 10 times, preferably approximately 100 times, the data length t _D .

As a result, the length of the individual telegram (and thus also of the entire radio telegram) is essentially determined by the length of the preamble, which contains a typical, recurring character string (bit sequence, in particular a 1-0 sequence). If only a small section of the preamble part of an individual telegram is received, the recipient can clearly recognize the preamble of the radio telegram as the preamble.

A configuration that is particularly preferred according to the invention provides that the alarm radio telegram consists of 20 individual telegrams, with the telegram length of the individual telegrams being about 1 second, _{e.g. such that the preamble length t P} = 1000 ms or 998 ms and the data length t _D = 2 ms to 20 ms. The total telegrams is then approximately t _F =20 s, with the distance or the gap between two individual telegrams preferably being so small that it is negligible when determining the total telegram length, for example less than 1 ms.

The provision of several individual telegrams is identical according to the invention to providing only one long overall radio telegram in which preamble parts and data parts alternate in the way that occurs by sending individual telegrams one after the other in direct succession. These terms have the same meaning in this text.

In order to receive transmitted alarm radio telegrams, the communication unit, controlled by the arithmetic unit set up for this purpose, switches on the radio receiver with a reception period tz and opens a reception time window. According to the configuration described above, which is particularly preferred according to the invention, the reception period can be chosen, for example, to be tz=5 s. According to the invention, the reception time window is chosen so long that the typical, recurring character string (bit sequence) of the preamble can be recognized in the preamble part. For example, the reception time window can be opened for at least 0.2 ms to 2 ms for this purpose.

The arithmetic unit of the warning device is then set up to check whether a character string from the preamble part is recognized in data received, for example, during the reception time window. According to the invention, the reception period tz is selected _{to be smaller than the total radio telegram length t F} , preferably smaller than half the total radio telegram length t _F . It is preferably about a quarter of the total radio telegram length t _F .

If no character string from the preamble part was recognized, the communication unit closes the reception time window and switches off the radio receiver. This immediately saves power, because a character string from the preamble can be recognized in a reception time window after a very short time, usually after 0.2 ms to 2 ms, so that the power consumption for checking whether a preamble is recognized is pages the recipient is small. Since, if there is an alarm radio telegram and the total length of the alarm radio telegram t _F in relation to the reception period tz, it can be assumed that a warning device in the reception range will definitely detect an alarm radio telegram, the transmission of beacon signals for Signaling that neighboring alarms are ready to receive can be completely dispensed with. This leads - especially in the case of comparatively rare alarms such as smoke alarms - to an overall power saving, even if the very long alarm radio telegrams require a disproportionately high power share.

Due to the fact that the preamble part is very long compared to the data part, the probability of the receiver scanning the data part and not recognizing the preamble is small. This probability is further reduced by the reception period, which provides for several samples per alarm radio telegram.

If, on the other hand, a character string from the preamble part was recognized, the communication unit keeps the reception time window open until the data part of the alarm radio telegram has been received, and then switches the radio receiver off. The alarm status of the transmitting warning device can be read from the data part of the alarm radio telegram and the secondary alarm status can thus be recognized and signaled accordingly. This means that if an alarm radio telegram is detected, the content of the alarm is also received and evaluated, in particular in order to achieve group signaling of all or at least many alarms from the alarm alarm group.

In the case of the alarm radio telegram, which preferably consists of several individual telegrams, the reception time window until the data part is received can be shorter because a preamble part and a data part in the radio telegram alternate more quickly than in the case of an extremely long radio telegram with only a preamble part at the beginning and only one data part at the end End. This enables a shorter reaction time for the receiver before an alarm condition is signalled. This is particularly important for smoke alarms.

According to a preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the communication unit _{closes the reception time window after a reception time t R1} if no character string from the preamble part was recognized, the preamble length t _{P being} at least 20 times, preferably at least 200 times, in particular approximately at least 2000 times the reception time t _{R1 of} the reception time window. This reliably enables a preamble character sequence to be recognized in the reception time window when the time window is only short.

Accordingly, according to a further preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the communication _{unit keeps the reception time window open for a reception time t R2} if a character string from the preamble part has been recognized, the reception time t _{R2 being} at least equal to the sum of _{the preamble length t P of} the preamble part and the data length t _{D of} the Should correspond to the data part in order to be able to reliably receive the data part of the alarm radio telegram following the preamble part. The more individual telegrams form the radio alarm telegram, the shorter the reception time window can be selected.

Preferably by the total radio frame length t _F and / or from the sum preamble t _P and the data length t _D single frame length formed t _E is not an integer multiple of the period of reception is tz, prevents repeated at successive reception time slots in the data portion of a wireless alarm message is touched. This applies in particular if the reception period tz is constant. In other words, it is proposed according to the invention to coordinate the reception period tz and the length of the telegrams t _F , t _{E in} such a way that repeated scans do not fall into repeated data parts of the radio alarm telegram. In principle, the reception period tz can also vary.

In a useful embodiment of the invention, the data part can have a synchronization word and data content, with the data content preferably having at least one radio transmitter identification and one alarm type identification. The sync word is used to synchronize the receiver to subsequent reception of the data content. This is often sent in the header of a data telegram for radio communication. For the present invention, the synchronization word is already assigned to the data part, since this--in contrast to the very long preamble of the telegram--is only received and evaluated when a radio telegram has been recognized from the preamble.

Advantageously, only the data content is encrypted and the synchronization word required for the technically reliable reception of the data content is not. The data content can therefore be equated with the user data of a radio telegram. According to the invention, the communication unit can be set up to encrypt all user data in the radio alarm telegrams, for example according to Security Profile A of DIN EN 13757-4. The encryption or decryption key of the devices in the alarm zone can be the same, i.e. there is only one common key for the above radio telegrams.

In principle, the alarm devices and, if applicable, other devices participating in the alarm device group can also send out radio telegrams that are not used for group alarms, such as device status radio telegrams that are used for walk-by reading or for remote monitoring (via as a data collector with cellular modem or wireless network working receiver such as an AMR system) are used. These have a different radio key. The radio key for group alarming considered here is transmitted from a remote control center to the alarm device, for example, together with a list for the "grouping configuration" via a local service interface (IrDa, NFC radio, Bluetooth,...) or via a bidirectional radio interface. The radio keys for the alarm grouping are only used locally in the apartment and do not have to be transferred to higher-level IT systems.

According to the invention, an alarm group can also be defined by a common group membership identifier, with the alarm radio telegram then preferably also having the group membership identifier in the data content. Instead of a separate radio key for the group alarm, the encryption and decryption of the data content can be determined from the group membership identifier, ie in other words the radio key for the group alarm can be calculated from the group membership identifier. The algorithm for this only has to be stored in the processing units of the warning devices or subscriber devices. That makes it easy It also hampers the addition of new devices because only the group membership ID needs to be known.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the alarm type identification can be in the form of a bit field in which a bit is provided for each alarm type, preferably one bit for each alarm type. The alarm type can be a smoke, heat, CO alarm and/or silence alarm. This minimizes the amount of data in the data part of the alarm radio telegram. For example, an alarm can be set as bit "1" and no alarm can be set as bit "0".

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the alarm type identification can additionally have an alarm counter. According to the invention, it is possible to provide an alarm counter for only one, for several or for each of the possible alarm types. Exactly one alarm counter can also be provided, with which each alarm (irrespective of the alarm type) is counted. In the event of a secondary alarm condition, an alarm counter allows a processing unit to evaluate whether it is a new alarm that is reported with the received alarm radio telegram. In the example: As soon as a device detects a new alarm condition (regardless of the alarm type), it sends an alarm telegram with an incremented alarm counter. The type of alarm can be seen in the bit field. It is therefore preferred according to the invention not to keep a separate counter for each alarm type.

Furthermore, a special alarm radio telegram can be designed as an alarm stop radio telegram that ends a secondary alarm state. Such an alarm stop radio telegram can be formed, for example, in that the bit field for the alarm type identification does not display a bit for one of the possible alarm types, ie a bit field with only 0 entries, such as "0 0 0 ..." . The arithmetic unit of the warning devices can, for example, be set up in such a way that when an alarm stop telegram is received, the currently active alarming is stopped for all warning devices in the group (i.e. the secondary alarm status is reset and the signal unit is switched off). Optionally, this can only be done in those alarms that have detected a secondary alarm condition. Such a stop telegram means that only the warning device that has recognized a primary alarm condition and accordingly indicates the hazard location still signals a warning signal.

This can be achieved, for example, by setting up the processing unit of a warning device, in which a primary or secondary alarm condition has been detected, to send out an alarm stop radio telegram if certain conditions are present, which are implemented in the processing unit in a verifiable manner. Such a specific condition can be triggered, for example, by a user action, for example by the user pressing a button on the alarm device, for example a test or deactivation button. The actuation is detected by the processing unit, and in the event of a primary or secondary alarm condition, an alarm stop telegram can be sent and this alarm is muted if a secondary alarm condition was detected in it.

According to one embodiment, in the event of a primary alarm condition, the warning signal can preferably continue to be output until this button is actuated again (after a definable, predetermined waiting time). The second press will then turn off the alarm of the alarm that detected the primary alarm condition. In another embodiment, a simple button press on the alarm device with a primary alarm state can also suppress its own acoustic signaling (until a timeout is reached). Accordingly, the processing unit of a warning device that has received an alarm stop radio telegram is preferably set up to reset a primary and/or secondary alarm state and to stop the output of a warning signal.

In order to check the group alarm capability, a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention can provide that the processing unit of one, in particular each, alarm device is set up to transmit an alarm radio telegram with an alarm type “silent alarm” _{in a test cycle t TEST.} This can be marked, for example, with a corresponding alarm type identification. The processing unit of all warning devices is also set up to store the receipt of such an alarm radio telegram with the alarm type "silent alarm" in particular in the processing unit or in a data storage unit connected to it. When storing, in particular the time of receipt of the alarm radio telegram, its signal strength RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) and/or the alarm source, for example in the form of the radio transmitter identification, can be stored. This data can be made available to system monitoring, e.g. for retrieval via a local commissioning interface, such as an IrDa interface, or by sending status radio telegrams, which are received and evaluated by a data collector in the building, for example. Such a data collector may also have a WAN communication connection, for example a mobile phone connection, to a central location that enables remote system monitoring.

• - Rauchsensor
• - Temperatursensor
• - Gassensor, insbesondere CO-Sensor und/oder Radon-Sensor
• - Feuchtesensor, insbesondere Luft-Feuchtesensor
• - Umgebungs- und/oder Abdeckungsüberwachungssensoren, insbesondere Ultraschallsensoren, Radarsensoren, Lidarsensoren

According to the invention, for monitoring the surroundings around the warning device, one, preferably several or all of the warning devices of the warning device can contain a sensor unit for monitoring the area surrounding the warning device for a primary alarm condition, with the sensor unit being equipped with at least one of the following sensors:

• - Smoke sensor
• - Temperature sensor
• - Gas sensor, in particular CO sensor and/or radon sensor
• - Humidity sensor, in particular air humidity sensor
• - Environment and/or coverage monitoring sensors, in particular ultrasonic sensors, radar sensors, lidar sensors

• - akustischer Signalgeber, insbesondere Piezoelement oder Lautsprecher
• - optischer Signalgeber, insbesondere LEDs oder Leuchten
• - Funksignalgeber, insbesondere zur Nahfeld-Funkkommunikation, wie Bluetooth, WLAN, SRD-Funk, oder zur Fern-Funkkommunikation, wie Mobilfunkkommunikation

Furthermore, the signaling unit of all or selected warning devices of the warning device can be equipped with at least one of the following signaling devices:

• - Acoustic signal transmitter, in particular piezo element or loudspeaker
• - Optical signal transmitter, in particular LEDs or lights
• - Radio signal transmitters, in particular for near-field radio communication, such as Bluetooth, WLAN, SRD radio, or for long-distance radio communication, such as mobile radio communication

In particular, with the radio signal transmitter configured as a (further) radio interface, radio alarm messages can be sent to mobile warning units, such as mobile user devices such as mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, watches, and displayed or signaled there. According to the invention, the wireless alarm messages can be standard messages such as SMS or mobile messages. It is also possible to equip the mobile warning units with apps that can be used to receive radio alarm messages in a proprietary radio standard.

In a particularly preferred application of the invention, the communication unit of a warning device can be set up to participate in a local building radio network, in particular a local building radio network in an SRD frequency band (Short Range Device). The integration into a radio building network offers advantages during the installation and enables radio alarm telegrams to be read by other participants in the radio building network in a particularly simple manner.

According to a preferred embodiment, the warning device can include a receiver with a radio receiver set up to receive the alarm radio telegrams, the receiver (as a listening participant, in particular in the local building network radio) being set up to receive the alarm radio telegrams (in particular in the one described for the alarm devices way) to read along. In this way, the recipient is immediately informed of the alarm status and is able to evaluate data contained in the alarm radio telegrams and to evaluate and use them, for example, as part of a system monitoring system (already described). This saves more power than sending further telegrams in another radio system, e.g. a radio system for recording consumption values (such as an OMS radio system). Such receivers can (nevertheless) be, for example, data collectors in a consumption recording system (AMR - Automated Meter Reading), which often have long-distance communication links with a central location and can pass on information contained in the alarm data telegrams (sensor values, status values of the transmitting devices) accordingly, for example for system monitoring of the warning device, for energy monitoring or the like. The central point can also be a cloud system. The central point, such as a backend system, can also generate and send an emergency notification, in particular in addition to the alarm from the alarm device itself.

According to a further embodiment, the or each warning device can be set up _{to repeat alarm radio telegrams in a repetition cycle t REP} , for example with a repetition cycle t _REP =5 minutes. The alarm counter is not incremented so that receiving devices can determine that it is a matter of repeated transmission of an alarm radio telegram. According to the invention, the alarm counter can in particular always be incremented when a primary alarm condition is newly detected. By repeating alarm radio telegrams, it is achieved in particular that a warning device or receiver who was prevented from using his receiver to receive alarm radio telegrams due to other tasks can receive the alarm radio telegram at a later point in time.

A particularly preferred application according to the invention relates to group alarms for smoke alarm devices. Accordingly, it is provided according to this preferred embodiment that the alarm device is a smoke alarm device.

Further features, advantages and possible applications of the invention result from the following description of an exemplary embodiment and the drawing. All of the features described and/or illustrated form the subject matter of the present invention, either alone or in any combination, even independently of their summary in the claims or their back-references.

• 1 schematisch eine Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Warneinrichtung;
• 2 den Aufbau eines erfindungsgemäß vorgeschlagenen Alarm-Funktelegramms gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform;
• 3 den Detailaufbau des Funktelegramms aus 2 im Datenteil;
• 4a schematisch den Ablauf eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens zur Weiterleitung von Alarm-Funktelegrammen durch einen Warnmelder;
• 4b den Ablauf des Verfahrens gemäß 4a im Falle eines sekundären Alarmzustands im Detail;
• 5 schematisch eine ergänzte Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Warneinrichtung.

Show it:

• 1 schematically an embodiment of a warning device according to the invention;
• 2 the structure of an alarm radio telegram proposed according to the invention according to a preferred embodiment;
• 3 the detailed structure of the radio telegram 2 in the data part;
• 4a schematically shows the sequence of a method according to the invention for forwarding alarm radio telegrams through an alarm device;
• 4b the course of the procedure 4a in the event of a secondary alarm condition in detail;
• 5 schematically an additional embodiment of a warning device according to the invention.

1 shows an embodiment of a warning device 1 according to the invention with four warning devices 2, which together form a warning device group. In this exemplary embodiment described, the alarm devices 2 are smoke alarm devices of a user unit, in particular an apartment in a building (not shown). The terms “smoke alarm device” and “alarm device” are used synonymously in the description of the exemplary embodiments.

Each of the warning devices 2 comprises a processing unit 4 set up to detect an alarm condition 21, 22, a signal unit 5 controlled by the processing unit 4 for outputting a warning signal 51 and a communication unit 3 controlled by the processing unit 4 with a radio receiver 31 and a radio transmitter 32.

Signal unit 5 has an optical signal generator 52, for example one or more LEDs, and an acoustic signal generator 53, for example a piezo element.

Furthermore, the alarm device 2 is equipped with a sensor unit 6 which, in the example shown here, has a smoke sensor 61 and a temperature sensor 62 and can optionally have additional sensors. The sensors 61, 62 of the sensor unit 6 are equipped to detect dangerous situations 63 in the vicinity of the warning device 2, so that the computing unit 4 can detect a primary alarm condition 21 in the area of the warning device. this is in 1 for the smoke alarm device 2 shown on the left, this is the case in which the primary alarm state 21 is shown in black with a white number. A secondary alarm condition 22 is shown in black with a white number.

After recognizing the primary alarm condition 21 in the area of the alarm device 2, the processing unit 4 controls the signal unit 5 to output the warning signal 51 and the communication unit 3 to transmit an alarm radio telegram 7, which in the following 2 and 3 is explained in more detail.

The computing unit 4 of the remaining alarm devices 2 of the alarm device group in which no primary alarm condition 21 is detected controls the communication unit 3 in each case to receive the alarm radio telegram 7 sent by the other of the alarm devices 2 . After receiving the alarm radio telegram 7, the processing unit 4 of the receiving warning device 2 recognizes a secondary alarm condition 22, as in the three right-hand warning devices 2 according to FIG 1 represented by the alarm status 22 with a black background. Correspondingly, the signal unit 5 is activated depending on the secondary alarm state 22 and emits the warning signal 51 .

in the in 2 In the example shown, communication unit 3 for sending the alarm radio telegram 7 with a total radio telegram _{length t F} consists of three individual telegrams 70 sent in direct succession, each comprising a long preamble part 71 with a preamble length t _P and a short data part 72 with a data length following the preamble part 71 t _D on. The three individual telegrams 70 shown serve to simplify the illustration. According to an actually preferred embodiment, twenty individual telegrams 70 are provided, preferably with a total radio telegram length t _F =20,000 ms=20 s. An alarm radio telegram 7 formed in this way is also referred to below as a “long frame”.

The preferably provided preamble _{length t P} =998 ms is many times longer than the preferably provided data length t _D =12 ms and is about 100 times, in the example 83 times. Accordingly, the length of an individual telegram is t _E = 1,010 ms = 1 s.

To receive, the communication unit 3 switches the radio receiver 31 on with a reception period tz and opens a reception time window 80, with the processing unit 4 being set up to check whether the data received in the reception time window 80 (or in other words during the reception time window 80) has a Character string from the preamble part 71 is recognized. The reception period tz is smaller than the total radio telegram length t _F , preferably smaller than half of the total radio telegram _{length t F} and is preferably about a quarter of the total radio telegram length t _F . In the preferred embodiment, the reception period can be tz = 4.9 s.

As in 2 shown in the left two reception time windows, the communication unit 3 closes the reception time window 80 if no character string from the preamble part 71 was recognized and switches the radio receiver 31 off. At the first reception time window 80 from the left (in the representation of the 2 ) no character string from the preamble part 71 was recognized because no alarm radio telegram 7 was sent out. In the second reception time window 80 from the left, no character string from the preamble part 71 was recognized because the reception time window 80 happened to fall in the data part 72 of the alarm radio telegram 7 . This reception in the only short reception time windows 80 is also referred to below as “blink” or “blink reception”.

In the third reception time window 80 from the left, on the other hand, a character string from a preamble part 71 of the alarm telegram 7 was recognized. The communication unit 3 keeps the reception time window 80 open until the data part 72 that follows the preamble part 71 of the alarm radio telegram (7) has been received, and only then switches the radio receiver 31 off.

In this way, the data part of the alarm radio telegram 7 is received promptly, without alarm devices from the alarm alarm group having to send out beacon telegrams in order to indicate to the sender of an alarm radio telegram 7 that they are ready to receive.
3 shows the structure of the data part 72 of an individual telegram 70 of the alarm radio telegram 7 in detail. The data part 72 includes a synchronization word 721 for synchronizing the receiver to the following data content 722. This data content 722 can in particular have a radio transmitter identification 7221 and an alarm type identification 7222 in order to contain the required information about the transmitter and the type of alarm. If necessary, a group membership identifier and other information, for example status information about the battery status and/or sensor readings, can also be included. These are in 3 not shown.

A method according to the invention is described below, for which or in parts of which the processing unit 4 of the warning devices 2 is set up, which form a warning device group, in order to achieve a group alarm that is preferred according to the invention.

In the specifically described example of the proposed method, a group of smoke alarm devices is considered as alarm device 2 in a living unit (apartment), which was set up as a smoke alarm device group during installation. This is done when the smoke alarm device is commissioned, for example by using a service tool (commissioning device) for each smoke alarm device to transmit (encode) the complete list of the radio transmitter identifications 7221 (hereinafter radio IDs for short) of the group members to the processing unit 4. In addition, each smoke alarm device has its own alarm counter for each group member. List elements are therefore radio ID and alarm counter.

If an alarm radio telegram 7 from a smoke alarm device is received, - as in 4a for the sequence 90 for alarming and group alarming - the radio ID contained in the radio telegram is evaluated as part of a subsequence 91 for a secondary alarm condition. If the transmitter belongs to the alarm zone, the associated alarm counter is checked. If it is a new alarm, ie the value of the alarm counter in the alarm radio telegram is greater than the value stored in the internal list, the alarm counter on the list associated with the radio ID is overwritten (updated) and the in 4b Subsequence 91 shown in detail for the secondary alarm condition 22 is processed. This will be explained later in more detail. Otherwise, the smoke alarm returns to its initial state and the sequence 90 continues as explained below.

As in 4a shown it is assumed that the smoke alarm device is in a normal state 25 . In this normal state 25, the smoke alarm device carries out the blinking reception according to the invention, already described, in order to receive alarm radio telegrams 7 from neighboring smoke alarm devices, i.e. the smoke alarm device switches on the radio receiver with a reception period tz (e.g. every 5 seconds) and opens a reception time window 80 for very short time to possibly recognize preamble characters of an alarm radio telegram 7.

All other functions in the normal state 25, such as detection with the sensors of the sensor unit 6 (smoke chamber, CO, temperature, humidity, environmental and cover monitoring sensors) and the signaling device 5 (signal transmitters, LEDs) of the smoke alarm device work normally. For this purpose, corresponding software routines, for example, are processed cyclically by the arithmetic unit 4 in a basically known manner.

If an alarm is detected in the process, the smoke alarm device changes from its normal state 25 to the primary alarm state 21, in which blink reception is terminated. The alarm counter is incremented in step 101 and the warning signal 51 is activated. Immediately after the transition to the primary alarm state 21, the smoke alarm device sends out an alarm radio telegram 7 (long frame) and repeats the transmission in a repetition cycle t _REP of, for example, 5 minutes. All other functions, such as detection with the sensors of the sensor unit 6 (smoke chamber, CO, temperature, humidity, environment and cover monitoring sensors) and the signaling device 5 (signal transmitters, LEDs) of the smoke alarm device work normally. For this purpose, corresponding software routines, for example, are processed cyclically by the arithmetic unit 4 in a basically known manner.

• - Rauch als Doppelsignalton mit einer ersten zyklischen Wiederholung nach einigen Sekunden
• - Hitze/Feuer: als 3-fach-Signalton mit einer zweiten zyklischen Wiederholung nach einigen Sekunden
• - Kohlenmonoxid (CO) einfacher Signalton mit maximaler Lautstärke alternierend

While the alarm state 21 persists, the warning signals 51 can be output as tones with the acoustic signal transmitter, for example a piezo element. To distinguish between different alarms, different dangerous situations can also be displayed differently, e.g.

• - Smoke as a double beep with a first cyclic repetition after a few seconds
• - Heat/Fire: as a triple beep with a second cyclical repetition after a few seconds
• - Carbon monoxide (CO) single beep alternating with maximum volume

If the reason for the alarm ends or a timeout for the forwarding of alarm telegrams is reached, the output of the warning signal 51 is deactivated in step 102 and an alarm stop radio telegram 7 is sent, the possible structure and content of which has already been described. The alarm stop radio telegrams 7 can be received by other alarm devices from the alarm device group. In particular, they have the same structure as alarm radio telegrams 7 and differ in that all bits in the bit field for the alarm types have a 0.

If an acknowledgment button is pressed in step 103 from the primary alarm state, the output of the warning signal 51 is also deactivated because a user has acknowledged the primary alarm. This also triggers the transmission of an alarm stop radio telegram 7 in order to stop the group alarm. The alarm then goes into a primary alarm state without acoustic signaling 26 .

In state 26 it is further checked whether the primary alarm state still persists. If this is still the case after a certain waiting time (timeout), the transition to the primary alarm state with 21 with active acoustic signaling occurs again. In a variant, step 104 can be used to increment the alarm counter. This would have the effect that with the next alarm radio telegram 7 sent from state 21, the other alarm devices in the alarm group would again switch to a secondary alarm state with acoustic signalling. However, if a primary alarm condition, after the alarm tone has been suppressed once, is not to generate a group alarm again after the timeout, step 104 can be skipped.

If the reason for the alarm no longer exists in state 26, the smoke alarm device returns to normal state 25 in step 105 after the timeout. Any signals that are still active, such as a flashing LED or others, are safely terminated.

As well as starting from the normal state 25, the smoke alarm device is in a primary alarm state without signaling 26 ready to receive alarm radio telegrams 7 from another smoke alarm device from the alarm alarm group. If such a signal is received, the sub-sequence 91 for a secondary alarm condition is executed, in which a smoke alarm device without an acute primary alarm condition 21 signals the primary alarm condition 21 of the other smoke alarm device.

in the in 4b Subsequence 91 shown, after receiving an alarm radio signal 7 from another smoke alarm device from the alarm alarm group, a first query 110 uses the alarm counter to check whether a new alarm is present. If this is not the case, the smoke alarm device immediately returns to its initial state (normal state 25, primary alarm state without signaling 26).

In the event of a new alarm, the alarm status of the alarm signaling device sending out the alarm radio telegram 7 is signaled in step 111 directly by activating the warning signal 51 . The alarm will transition to the secondary alarm state 22, in where not all functions of the smoke alarm device have to be executed. However, blink reception continues to be carried out in order to receive new alarm radio telegrams 7 and/or alarm stop radio telegrams 7 .

In the secondary alarm state 22, the alarm deactivates in step 112 after a certain waiting time (timeout) (path A in 4b) or after receiving an alarm stop signal (path B in 4b) in step 112 the warning signal 51 and returns to the initial state.

After receiving another alarm radio telegram 7 in the secondary alarm state 22, in step 113 the end of the waiting time is reset. In this case one also speaks of a retriggering.

If a confirmation button is pressed on a smoke alarm device in the secondary alarm state 22, the output of the warning signal 51 is deactivated in a step 114 and an alarm stop radio telegram 7 is sent. The alarm then returns to its initial state. This allows the user (resident) to see which smoke alarm device triggered the group alarm, because after receiving the alarm stop radio telegram, all smoke alarm devices in the alarm group that are in the secondary alarm state 22 are muted. The only alarm at which the alarm will continue to be signaled is the alarm in the primary alarm condition 21.

As long as each smoke alarm device in the alarm detector group is within a common radio reception area, all group members can receive the alarm radio telegram (long frame) in the event of an alarm and the alarm stop radio telegram (long frame) to stop the alarm without forwarding it (repeat). In order to expand the reception area, the method can be extended with hop stages. In this case, devices that receive alarm radio telegrams would in turn retransmit alarm radio telegrams. In order to avoid collisions, these alarm radio telegrams can be organized in time slots. Such methods are known and will not be described further here.

Even two smoke detectors in the same room could detect an alarm almost simultaneously. In order to avoid a collision on the radio channel caused by two alarm radio telegrams 7 sent at the same time, according to a special embodiment of the invention, a smoke alarm device can hear (e.g. by blinking reception) whether another smoke alarm device has already received an alarm radio telegram before it is transmitted into the radio channel 7 sends and, if necessary, wait for its end, in the sense of a listen-before-talk procedure.

5 represents an addition to the warning device 1, of which only two warning devices 2 are shown here. One of the warning devices 2 is in a primary alarm state 21, sends an alarm radio telegram 7 and outputs a warning signal 51. A second warning device 2 receives the alarm radio telegram 7, recognizes a secondary alarm condition 22 and outputs a warning signal 51. Furthermore, the warning device 1 has a receiver 8, e.g. to inform.

The alarm device 2, which outputs the alarm radio telegram 7, also has a radio signal transmitter (not shown) for long-distance communication 10 (mobile radio) for connection to a mobile terminal device 13 (e.g. a mobile phone or smartphone), which, after receiving a corresponding Message can issue a warning signal 54. The warning device 2 also has a radio signal generator (not shown) for near-field communication 11 (Bluetooth) for connection to a mobile warning unit 14 (e.g. a watch or smartwatch), which can also emit a warning signal 54 after receiving a corresponding message.

In another embodiment that is simpler in terms of circuitry and is not shown in the figures, the warning device itself does not have a radio signal transmitter for long-distance communication 10 (mobile radio). In this case, an emergency notification can be sent to a mobile terminal device 13 (for example a cell phone or smartphone) from the central point 12, for example a cloud server, as the back end. Suitable communication devices are often present in the central location 12 anyway, without having to be installed separately in the alarm device 2 .

In principle, mobile terminals 13 and/or mobile warning units 14 can also be designed to directly receive and evaluate the long-frame alarm radio telegrams, similar to the receiving participants 8 (e.g. data collectors).

In order to keep the battery charge consumption under control, the reception activities that go beyond the short blink reception (i.e. when a preamble was detected) can be evaluated or recorded and counted.

The number of these telegrams then correlates with the energy consumption that goes beyond the usual blink of an eye.

Reference List

1

warning device

2

alarm

21

primary alarm condition

22

secondary alarm condition

25

normal state

26

primary alarm condition without signaling

3

communication unit

31

radio receiver

32

radio transmitter

4

unit of account

5

signaling unit

51

warning signal

52

Optical signal transmitter

53

Acoustic signal generator

54

warning signal

6

sensor unit

61

smoke sensor

62

temperature sensor

63

dangerous situation

7

Alarm radio telegram

70

single telegram

71

preamble part

72

data part

721

synchronization word

722

data content

7221

Radio Transmitter Identification

7222

Alarm Type Identification

8th

Receiver in the local wireless building network (data collector)

80

receive time slot

10

long-distance communication (cellular)

11

Near field communication (Bluetooth)

12

central location (cloud server)

13

mobile device

14

Mobile warning unit

90

Sequence for alerting and group alerting

91

Subsequence for a secondary alarm condition

101

Step: Activate warning signal and increment

102

Step: Deactivate warning signal because alarm reason no longer exists

103

Step: Deactivate warning signal by confirmation button

104

Step: Transfer to primary alarm condition with acoustic signal

105

Step: return to normal

110

Query: New alarm

111

Step: Activate warning signal

112

Step: Disabling the warning signal

113

Step: Retrigger the waiting time

114

Step: Deactivate warning signal by confirmation button

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited 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

• DE 102015226132 A1 [0003]

Claims (19)

Warning device with a warning alarm group of at least two alarms (2), each of the alarms (2) having: a processing unit (4) set up to detect an alarm condition (21, 22), a communication unit (3) with a radio transmitter (32) and a Radio receiver (31), the processing unit (4) also being set up to control the communication unit (3), a signal unit (5) for outputting a warning signal (51), the processing unit (4) also being set up to control the signal unit (5). the processing unit (4) of each warning device (2) being set up to actuate the signal unit (5) to output the warning signal (51) and the communication unit if a primary alarm condition (21) is detected in the area of the warning device (2). (3) to emit an alarm radio telegram (7), and in the case of a normal state (25) in which no alarm state (21, 22) was detected, the communication unit (3) for receiving one of another alarm radio telegram (7) sent out by another alarm device (2) and after receiving such an alarm radio telegram (7) from one of the other alarm devices (2) to recognize a secondary alarm state (22) and the signal unit (5) depending on the secondary alarm state (22), characterized in that the communication unit (3) for sending the alarm radio telegram (7) with a total radio telegram length t _{F is made} up of an individual telegram (70) or several individual telegrams (70) sent immediately one after the other each comprising a long preamble part (71) with a preamble length t _P and a short data part (72) with a data length t _D following the preamble part (71), the preamble _{length t P being} a multiple longer than the data length t _D and at least that 10 times, approximately 100 times, the data length t _D , the communication unit (3) switches on the radio receiver (31) with a reception period tz for receiving ltet and a reception time window (80) opens, the processing unit (4) being set up to check whether a character string from the preamble part (71) is recognized in the received data, and the reception period tz being smaller than the total radio telegram length t _F , preferably less than half the total radio telegram _{length t F} , preferably about a quarter of the total radio telegram _{length t F} , the communication unit (3) closes the reception time window (80) if no character string from the preamble part (71) has been recognized, and switches off the radio receiver (31), and the communication unit (3) keeps the reception time window (80) open when a character string from the preamble part (71) has been recognized until the data part (72) of the alarm radio telegram (7) is received, and then switches off the radio receiver (31). warning device claim 1 , characterized in that the communication unit (3) closes the reception time window (80) after a reception time t _R1 if no character string from the preamble part (71) has been recognized, the preamble length t _{P being} at least 20 times, preferably at least 200 times times, in particular approximately at least 2000 times, the reception time t _{R1 of} the first reception time window (80). warning device claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the communication unit (3) keeps the reception time window (80) open for a reception time t _R2 if a character string from the preamble part (71) has been recognized, the reception time t _R2 at least equaling the sum of the preamble length t _{P of} the preamble part (71 ) and data length t _{D of} the data part (72). Warning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the total radio frame length t _F and / or from the sum preamble t _P and the data length t _D single frame length formed t _F is not an integer multiple of the period of reception is tz. Warning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data part (72) has a synchronization word (721) and data content (722), the data content (722) having a radio transmitter identification (7221) and an alarm type identification (7222). . warning device claim 5 , characterized in that the data content (722) is encrypted. warning device claim 5 or 6 , characterized in that the data content (722) has a group membership identifier. warning device claim 6 and 7 , characterized in that the encryption of the data content (722) can be determined from the group membership identifier. Warning device according to one of Claims 5 until 8th , characterized in that the alarm type identification (7222) is designed as a bit field in which one bit is provided for each alarm type. Warning device according to one of Claims 5 until 8th , characterized in that the alarm type identification (7222) has an alarm counter. Warning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the alarm radio telegrams (7) is in the form of an alarm stop radio telegram which ends a secondary alarm state (22). warning device claim 11 , characterized in that the processing unit (4) of a warning device (2) in which a primary or secondary alarm condition (21, 22) has been detected is set up to implement certain conditions that can be checked in the processing unit (4). are to send out an alarm stop radio telegram, and the processing unit (4) of a warning device (2), which has received an alarm stop radio telegram, is set up to reset a primary and/or secondary alarm state (21, 22) and to output a warning signal (51) to stop. Warning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing unit (4) of a warning device (2) is set up to transmit an alarm radio telegram (7) with an alarm type "silent alarm" _{in a test cycle t TEST, and the processing units (} 4) all alarm devices (2) are set up to store the receipt of such an alarm radio telegram (7) with the alarm type "silent alarm". Warning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the warning devices (2) contains a sensor unit (6) for monitoring the surroundings of the warning device for the primary alarm state (21), the sensor unit (6) being equipped with at least one of the following Sensors is equipped: - Smoke sensor (61) - Temperature sensor (62) - Gas sensor, in particular CO sensor, radon sensor - Humidity sensor, in particular air humidity sensor - Surrounding and/or cover monitoring sensors, in particular ultrasonic sensors, radar sensors, lidar sensors Warning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal unit (5) is equipped with at least one of the following signal transmitters: - acoustic signal transmitter (52), in particular piezo element or loudspeaker - optical signal transmitter (53), in particular LEDs or lights - radio signal transmitter, in particular for near-field radio communication, such as Bluetooth, WLAN, SRD radio, or for long-distance radio communication, such as mobile radio communication Warning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communication unit (3) is set up to participate in a local building radio network. Warning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the warning device (1) comprises a receiver (8) with a radio receiver set up to receive the alarm radio telegrams (7), the receiver (9) being set up to receive the alarm radio telegrams (7) to read along. Warning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the warning indicator (2) is set up to repeat alarm radio telegrams (7) in a repetition cycle t _REP. Warning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the alarm (2) is a smoke alarm.

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