EP0872817B1 - A hasard warning device and operating module - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a hazard detector with a housing and evaluation electronics for the sensor signals and a communication interface according to the generic term of claims 1 and 3.

As is known, hazard detectors are serviced more or less regularly, with the There is a desire to access the current signals of the detector during such service work to be able to analyze and evaluate them in detail. If the evaluation electronics contains a memory, which is always the case with a microprocessor or microcontroller is the case and can be the case with an ASIC (Application Specified Integrated Circuit), the detector could then additionally determine certain data and status information recorded during operation save, which is then when the opportunity arises, for example in the frame service work, from which the detector is read and evaluated could. For example, it is conceivable that the detector measures and stores the basic signal, or near-alarms are registered or the hazard signal recorded in each case is saved. All of this information could be meaningfully evaluated statistically, but the problem there is that reading from the detector either one with an opening of the detector housing associated manipulation or the attachment of a suitable interface, for example a socket on the detector required. Because both for cost reasons as well as for reasons of ease of use, the data mentioned are not evaluated and are therefore lost.

The invention is now intended to wirelessly read the data or information mentioned from the detector without tampering with the detector, such as opening of its housing are required.

This object is achieved by the characterizing part of claims 1 and 3 solved.

A hazard detector with a communication interface is known from EP-A-0 361 585, which receives the setting data when a corresponding signal from the control module is received of the detector to the control module. The transmission of those recorded by the detector Data is not provided for this hazard detector and the detector also points no light source for alarm display.

The hazard detector can, for example, be a passive infrared detector, which evaluates the infrared radiation received from a surveillance area and the Triggering of an alarm signal by the light source preferably formed by an LED displays. For this purpose, the LED is controlled by the detector's microprocessor via a driver that it lights up for a few seconds, for example two, in the event of an alarm. It is also possible, integrate the driver into the microprocessor and the LED directly to the microprocessor to join.

In a preferred embodiment, the driver or the microprocessor is designed such that that the detector data is in a suitable format, e.g. LED brightness, duration and / or number of pulses and pulse gaps can be sent. This variant is Particularly inexpensive because there are no additional components or elements on the detector itself requires.

The optical transmission of the detector data is absolutely potential-free and influences the detector with regard to electromagnetic compatibility in no way, which leads to the investigation of Problems in the practical use of the detector can be important.

In a second preferred embodiment of the hazard detector according to the invention the communication interface has a receiver for emitted from an external source Dates on.

This is a third preferred embodiment of the hazard detector according to the invention characterized in that the evaluation electronics have a memory for storing the detector data contains, which is preferably in a microprocessor, microcontroller or ASIC is realized.

The invention further relates to an operating module in combination with the hazard detector mentioned. This is designed as a mobile unit and has Means for receiving the sent detector data.

A first preferred embodiment of the control module for use with the hazard detector at which the transmitter of the communication interface is formed by the light source for the alarm display, caution that the agent to receive the detector data formed by a photodiode, and that the control module can be coupled to the detector in such a way that the photodiode is in the immediate vicinity of the light source comes to rest and forms a kind of optocoupler with it.

A second preferred embodiment of the control module for use with the hazard detector, whose communication interface is a receiver has, that the operating module for bi-directional data communication is trained with the hazard detector.

Fig. 1

eine Vorderansicht eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemässen Gefahrenmelders mit einem auf diesem fixiertem Bedienungsmodul,

Fig. 2

eine Ansicht in Richtung des Pfeiles II von Fig. 1; und

Fig. 3

einen schematischen Ausschnitt aus einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemässen Gefahrenmelders mit zugehörigem Bedienungsmodul.

The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of exemplary embodiments and the drawings; it shows:

Fig. 1

2 shows a front view of a first exemplary embodiment of a hazard detector according to the invention with an operating module fixed on it,

Fig. 2

a view in the direction of arrow II of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3

a schematic section of a second embodiment of a hazard detector according to the invention with associated operating module.

The detector 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a conventional passive infrared detector, such as that distributed by Cerberus AG. Such detectors included a pyro sensor, an infrared mirror that detects the incident infrared radiation on the Focused pyrosensor and one connected to the pyrosensor and a microprocessor or microcontroller or ASIC stage for evaluating the sensor signals. The sensor generates a signal when the infrared energy changes Microprocessor for alarm release is processed.

As shown, the housing of the detector 1 consists of a base 2 and a base on this fixable cover 3, in which the pyro sensor, the infrared mirror and a circuit board 4 are integrated. Because the pyro sensor and the infrared mirror are known and also are not essential to the invention, they are not shown infrared-transparent window 5 is used, through which the infrared radiation from the individual zones of the surveillance area on and from the infrared mirror reaches the pyro sensor.

In addition, the cover 3 contains one serving to lock it with the base 2 Screw snap closure 6, in the head of which contains a light guide 7 Bore is arranged so that the light guide 7 in the head of the snap lock 6 is fixed and is moved with it when the closure 6 is rotated. A locking device this type is described in EP-A-0 616 307. In the closed position of the closure 6, the light guide 7 is above one on the circuit board 4 arranged light source 8, which is preferably formed by an LED. As soon as an alarm signal is triggered, the light source 8 is either directly from the microprocessor or controlled by a driver so that it lasts for a few seconds shines. The light from the light source 8 passes through the light guide 7 from the interior of the housing to the outside and becomes visible from the outside.

The structure of the detector 1 described is only to be understood as an example. Essential the only thing is that the detector has evaluation electronics and one that is visible from the outside Light source for displaying alarms so that current detector signals for analysis and Verification purposes can be issued.

It is to enable storage of data recorded during operation advantageous if the evaluation electronics have a memory of sufficient capacity features. This memory can, for example, in a microprocessor, microcontroller or ASIC integrated, but it can also be formed by a RAM. The detector can form part of a system and connected to a hazard alarm center or it can be installed autonomously and connected to an alarm device.

As already mentioned, it reaches the detector from the room to be monitored 1 incident infrared radiation through the window 5 into the interior of the housing 2, 3 and is from the mirror arranged in this, for example from that in EP-A-0 707 294 described type can be focused on the pyro sensor. If the detector 1 is in operation and armed, the signal delivered by the pyro sensor becomes permanent evaluated, with this evaluation in addition to the rather rare event of alarms A large amount of information and data is generated, the further, especially statistical, Evaluation for the creator and / or the operator of the system or the detector can be of considerable interest.

For example, you can have a near-alarm value below the alarm threshold define and register when and how often this near-alarm is reached becomes. The basic signal or any data recorded during operation can also be obtained and / or save status information, or you can also save the currently recorded Register detector signal. All of these hereinafter referred to as "detector data" Data and information are then stored in detector 1 and are available for further use Evaluation available for what purpose they are sent from the detector to a suitable processing system which have to be transmitted, for example a portable computer, preferably a PC or a laptop.

As already mentioned, it can also be useful to switch the detector signal without prior Send out storage. The detector data is transmitted wirelessly, without any special manipulations on the detector, such as opening the detector housing, required are. The reading is preferably carried out as part of service or maintenance work, the portable computer into which the data is read are part of the equipment of the service personnel.

A unidirectional or bidirectional optical communication interface is used to transmit the detector data used, which has a transmitter formed by the light source 8 The light source 8 is used by the for the purpose of sending out detector data Microprocessor, either directly or via the driver, so modulated in brightness, that the detector data can be transmitted to the outside in a suitable format. A suitable format would be, for example, the duration and / or the number of pulses and / or pulse gaps. Under no circumstances can the detector data be transferred if when the detector is in the monitoring state, but it is also at Not armed detector not automatically and not constantly, but only in a special data transfer mode.

In this data transfer mode, the detector is either remotely controlled or brought by hand. The center can, for example, trigger the data transfer mode remotely the telegrams assigned to the two states "night" and "test" send the detectors, which usually do not make sense in this combination, because Tests cannot be carried out at night where the detectors are in surveillance mode are located. The non-remote controlled triggering of the data transfer mode with simple Detectors without remote control inputs can be done, for example, in that the operating state of the detector is switched from the outside with a magnet that opens a reed contact located inside the detector.

Of course, there could also be a so-called switchover inside the detector Jumper is a switch for switching to different modes or operating states of the detector, can be arranged, but the detector is open for switching what would have to be, however, due to the wireless transmission of detector data should be avoided. In any case, it must be ensured that a possible alarm also has priority in data transfer mode, and that the non-remote controlled triggering of the data transfer mode can only be carried out by authorized persons, i.e. the detector is sabotage-proof in this regard.

To receive the sent detector data is an operating module that can be coupled to the detector 1 9 provided. This has an adapted to the contour of the detector 1 Form and can be fixed in a defined position on detector 1. The latter can can be achieved in that the control module 9 hood-like and via the detector 1 is designed to be slip-on, or that, as can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, a has an angled, two-legged shape and can be hooked into the detector 1.

As shown, the leg of the Control module provided with two mounting pins 10, which in corresponding holes of detector 1 snap in and thereby fix operating module 9 to detector 1. The control module 9 contains a photodiode 11, which is suspended in the detector 1 Operating module 9 in the immediate vicinity of the light guide 7 or the light source 8 of the detector comes to rest and the modulated transmitting the detector data Receives light radiation from the light source 8. The light source 8 of the detector 1 and the photodiode 11 of the operating module 9 thus form a type of optocoupler. The control module 9 contains an amplifier connected downstream of the photodiode 11 (not shown) and a cable 12 for connection to a mobile evaluation unit, for example a PC or laptop.

Reading out the detector data takes place in such a way that an operator can use the Central switches the connected detectors into data transfer mode and the control module 9 fixed on the individual detectors 1 and thereby the detector data in the mobile evaluation unit reads in, where they can then be evaluated as required. As already mentioned, the detectors can also manually switch to the data transfer mode can be switched. Of course, the operating module 9 does not have to be directly on the Detector 1 are fixed, but can have a certain distance from it.

You can go one step further and have the option of a bidirectional Create data exchange between detector 1 and control module 9. To this end the operating module 9 with a light source, preferably an LED; and the Detector 1 provided with a photodiode, both of which are arranged so that they are on the control module fixed to the detector are opposite each other.

Another possibility for data transmission from outside into the detector 1 is to use the infrared channel for data transmission. This will be a small one Heat source in the immediate vicinity of the detector 1 in the beam path of its optics brought. The temperature of the heat source is modulated to transmit data. Because of the low bandwidth of the transmission channel both on the transmitter as also on the receiving end, but can be used in this way within more useful Deadline only transfer relatively small amounts of data. For external data transmission In the detector, the safety aspect must also be taken into account that the Detectors only in certain operating states to be controlled from the control center, data may accept.

In Fig. 3 is a section of a variant of a hazard detector in the left half 1 'and the associated operating module 9' is shown in the right half As shown, the detector 1 ', which in principle can be constructed in the same way as the detector 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2, an optical alarm display 13 and in addition to this an infrared light source forming the transmitter of the communication interface 14 on. This embodiment is because of the additional infrared light source 14 more expensive than the detector shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but it has the advantage that the operating module 9 'for data exchange is a relatively large distance from the Have detectors and in the manner of remote control of a TV set against the detector 1 'can be directed or moved past this at a distance.

The operating module 9 ', which is about the shape and dimensions of a calculator has an infrared receiver (not shown), a memory in which the received Detector data are read in, a display field 15 and a series of operating buttons 16. The latter are used to successively save the detector data from the memory call and display on the display panel 15. Of course you can the detector 1 'can also be designed such that a bidirectional data exchange with the operating module 9 'is possible. In this case, the operating module 9 ' additionally an infrared source and the detector 1 'additionally an infrared receiver exhibit.

The method described for the transmission of data from one detector to one Operating module and vice versa optically, the wavelength used can be in the range of visible light or in the infrared range can also be advantageous for configuration and / or adjustment of the detector parameters of noise or Structure-borne noise detectors are used.

Such detectors, such as the Senstec marketed by Cerberus AG Structure-borne sound detectors (Senstec - registered trademark of Cerberus AG) the shape of a flat box and are placed on the door and jacket of armored cabinets, Safe doors, or attached to walls, ceilings and floors of vaults. The detectors have, among other things, a microphone, a sensor and evaluation electronics and a solid housing cover, which is protected against unauthorized use by a sabotage switch Opening is protected (see also EP-A-0 664 531).

The evaluation electronics contains, among other things, a microprocessor in which during commissioning the detector parameters are configured and saved. If necessary, later, for example as part of service or maintenance work, an adjustment of the saved detector parameters. To enable one wireless configuration and / or change of the detector parameters with an external The control module contains an infrared interface with a Infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver, both when the housing cover is closed are inside the detector and are not accessible from the outside.

The housing cover is used for data communication with the microprocessor of the detector removed and replaced by a "service cover" forming the operating module, which has an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver, so that infrared radiation from the sender of the service cover to the receiver of the detector and from the sender of the detector can reach the recipient of the service cover. It is also possible that way As with the passive infrared detector described, the data between the detector and the control module exchange over a certain distance. In this case, the service cover not form the operating module, but would be the connection between enable the communication interface of the detector and the control module.

The tamper switch would trigger an alarm when the housing cover was opened, but this is not a problem because the opening is done by an authorized service person who can turn off the alarm. On the other hand, it is impossible for an unauthorized person tries to communicate with the detector's microprocessor, without the alarm being triggered by the tamper switch.

Claims (11)

1. Hazard detector having a housing (2, 3) that comprises at least one sensor for a hazard parameter, evaluation electronics for the sensor signals and a communications interface having a transmitter (7, 8; 14) for the wireless emission of data to an operating module (9, 9') and a light source (7, 8; 13) for alarm indication, wherein the detector can be switched into a data-transfer mode in which data recorded by the detector are emitted, characterized in that the transmitter of the communications interface is formed by the light source (7, 8) for alarm indication.
2. Hazard detector according to Claim 1, characterized in that the communications interface has a receiver for data emitted by an external source.
3. Hazard detector having a housing (2, 3) that comprises at least one sensor for a hazard parameter, evaluation electronics for the sensor signals, a communications interface having a transmitter (7, 8; 14) for the wireless emission of data to an operating module (9, 9') and a light source (7, 8; 13) for alarm indication, wherein the detector can be switched into a data-transfer mode in which data recorded by the detector are emitted, characterized in that the detector has a removable housing lid that seals the housing and in that the transmitter of the communications interface is formed by an additional infrared source (14) and the receiver of the communications interface is formed by an infrared receiver disposed within the housing and inaccessible from the outside with the housing lid closed, and in that, for the purpose of data transfer between the detector and the operating module, the housing lid can be replaced by a lid comprising an infrared transmitter in the region of the communications interface and an infrared receiver.
4. Hazard detector according to any of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the evaluation electronics comprise a memory for storing detector data that is preferably implemented as a microprocessor, microcontroller or ASIC.
5. Hazard detector according to Claim 4, characterized in that, in the case of a detector (1, 1') connected to a centre, switching to the data transfer mode is controlled remotely by the centre.
6. Hazard detector according to Claim 5, characterized in that, in the case of a detector (1, 1') without remote-control input, a Reed contact is disposed in the interior of the detector and in that the switching to the data transfer mode is performed by a magnet acting on the Reed contact from the outside.
7. Hazard detector according to Claim 1 having an operating module, characterized in that the operating module (9, 9') is constructed as a mobile unit and has means (11), formed by a photodiode (11), for receiving the emitted detector data and in that the operating module (9) can be coupled to the detector (1) in such a way that the photodiode (11) comes to rest in the immediate vicinity of the light source (7, 8) for alarm indication and forms with the latter a type of optocoupler.
8. Hazard detector according to Claim 7, characterized in that the operating module is designed as attachable to the detector (1), preferably as mountable on the latter or suspendable in the latter.
9. Hazard detector according to Claim 8, characterized in that the operating module can be connected to an evaluation appliance, preferably a PC or laptop.
10. Hazard detector according to Claim 3, with an operating module, characterized in that the operating module (9') has a memory for the received detector data and/or a display panel (15) for the latter.
11. Hazard detector according to Claim 2 having an operating module, characterized in that the operating module (9') is designed for bidirectional data communication with the hazard detector.

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