EP1281802A1 - Alarmsystem for the operating state of an appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

A signaling device (12) detects the operational status of an electrically operated device/appliance (1) and transmits an operational status signal to a receiver circuit system (2), which is located separately away from the signaling device and converts this status signal into an optical/acoustic/pulse status signal by transmitting it. An Independent claim is also included for a method for signaling operating status for an electrically operated device/appliance.

Description

The invention relates to a signaling device for detecting a Operating state of a machine device or one Device and for transmission of an associated operating status signal to a receiving switching arrangement, which a is a spatially separate part of the signaling device and this Signal in an optical, acoustic and / or tactile signal implements and outputs this.

It is known from telecommunications and telecontrol technology Operating state of motors, valves, pumps, relays and the like through a contact query, an optical, magnetic and / or detect electrical sensor and a gained Operating status signal wirelessly or wired to one To be sent to the control center where there is a qualitative or quantitative display is supplied and / or dependent on it at least one evaluation criterion using at least one Threshold circuit forms an alarm signal and thus a optical or acoustic alarm is issued.

It is also known the current consumption of Household appliances, such as cooker, washing machine, refrigerator, by means of of an adapter switched on in their supply line measure and wirelessly send the current measurement signal to a central house transmitted where energy consumption from the received signal over a given period of time and a current one Power consumption can be determined and displayed.

These previously known devices are, on the one hand, in particular relatively expensive on the receiving side, and they are not suitable without further based on a reported transient state or Determine whether a washing machine or a Tumble dryer or other intermittent device is in a final operating state for the operator is of particular interest if the device is far away, in particular several floors below in a basement becomes.

In connection with this, it often happens that the device user the space outside the apartment in the Hope / expectation that the washing or drying process is terminates, visits and finds that the device in question the Process has not yet ended and the program is not yet ready it has progressed that it was worth waiting. The Device user is then kept at a later date to see if the process has ended. The The problem described above becomes even clearer when the Device users rely on it for reasons of hurry is to complete the washing and / or drying process quickly and in the meantime, other activities expediently should be performed. If there is only one secured power connection for washing machine and electrical In these cases, tumble dryer is also required the drying process immediately after the end of the Initiate washing process. Trying the wash times and the Deriving drying times from empirical values fails in many cases, especially depending on the type and amount of laundry, Washing program, temperature setting of the washing machine and Drying program with very different runtimes described devices arise.

The object of the invention is, from an operating status signal, especially from one that is intermittent working household appliance comes with respect to the existence of a Evaluate the final operating state and this according to the message signal issue.

The solution is that the operating state signal is a Amplitude threshold circuit goes through and the threshold value exceeding Signal part of a retriggerable time delay circuit is supplied, the timing of which in each case Final operating status signal for the formation of the alarm signal pending.

Advantageous configurations are in the subclaims specified.

The operating status signal of an electric washing or Drying device can be relatively easily connected to its supply line, e.g. by means of a socket plug adapter or by means of a Vibration or noise detector gain without any intervention in the device.

The current consumption of such a device fluctuates due to various processes, such as heating, ventilation, pumping and in changing directions of movement as well as beeping, signal light operation and timer operation. Thereby step between the phases high electricity consumption each with a relative transition period low consumption, and the final operating state is over one comparatively longer lasting low power consumption characterized. Accordingly, the amplitude threshold of the Threshold circuit set so high that the low consumption of the Signal devices and the timer are lower and the currents the larger electricity consumers, such as heating, ventilation, pumps, Centrifugal and swing motor exceeding the threshold.

The height of the threshold is expediently in terms of programming or circuitry can be specified to adapt to any monitoring device can be easily carried out. If the switching and evaluation device is programmable, the Automate threshold formation in that in one Programming state of the monitored in the final operating state Device's lowest measured current value with a suitable one Surcharge, e.g. doubled, stored as a threshold and for the following operation as the threshold provides.

The run-on time of the time-lag circuit is set longer, than the longest interval when switching between the different operating phases. The run-on time also leaves expedient circuitry or by means of a Specify programming specification suitable for the respective device or based on a pass in a programming state using a Program automatically by measuring the longest Intervals and adding a suitable tolerance surcharge save it and make it available for future runs.

Instead of a current measurement, for example using a transformer coupling from a supply line into a Measurement circuit is carried out, a measurement of another can also be made externally make available measured value and e.g. a vibration or Arrange the noise sensor on the device, when the engine is running or a buzzer sounds, and accordingly emits electrical signals. The Amplitude threshold must be set so high that usual Noises from the surroundings do not simulate machine operation. The run-on time of such a device must be considerably longer than can be provided for current monitoring, since many Device types heating times occur in which considerable electricity consumed, but no engine is switched on, so possibly no Noise is generated. Such pure heating times must be bridged by choosing a longer run-on time than with a Current measurement evaluation.

The two sub-devices for amplitude evaluation and Subsequent follow-up times can be created independently of one another Sensor, i.e. before or after the signal transmission path Arrange in front of the detector.

The transmission of the operational and / or operational end signals takes place either wired or wireless with a known one Transmission technology. This is particularly suitable Power supply network for the transmission of encrypted, modulated frequency signals or coded pulse series, so that the receiver with a suitable frequency filter the desired one Transmitter signal from a variety of other transmissions on the Can selectively extract network or certain code combinations the assignment of sender and receiver as well as the respective Serve transmitter state.

So much for the measured values for further evaluation to the recipient can be transmitted in analog form using amplitude modulation, Frequency modulation or pulse width modulation happen. However, these types of transmission are always used Transmission channel, which is only at low levels and accordingly short range is permitted.

Periodic transmission of one is more advantageous digitized measured value or a digital status code word. The latter simplifies the transmission and reception circuits. Only two states are expediently transmitted periodically, the Operating state, which serves the function control, and the Final operating state, which serves to indicate the end of operation.

The end-of-operation notification can be made in various known ways present to the user by an acoustic signal output as sound or melody or as a voice announcement and / or a Light signal, e.g. a preferably colored LED light-emitting diode or one Excitation of a tactile vibrator is made. As a function display of the operation of a not yet ended monitored device, another visual display is useful intended. This also indicates that the transmission route works.

If the receiving and display device with several signal sources in To connect is the correspondingly different Have identifiers using different frequencies or transmit different digital code words, are accordingly several display means arranged on the display device, one Allow differentiation of the source of the operating end signal. As Display means are suitable single LED diodes or one Numerical display, each with one of the signal source and the Number symbol control assigned to the respective signal state is applied. A tactile or acoustic signal becomes this issued for a limited time.

Fig. 1

zeigt ein Schema einer Stromverbrauchs-Auswertevorrichtung mit Betriebsendemelder,

Fig. 2

zeigt ein Detail der Stromauswertevorrichtung,

Fig. 3

zeigt ein Schema einer Vibrationssignal-Auswertevorrichtung mit Meldevorrichtung,

Fig. 4

zeigt ein Schaltschema einer Empfangs- und Signalgebervorrichtung,

Fig. 5

zeigt ein Signalauswerte-Schaltschema.

Advantageous refinements are given in FIGS. 1-5.

Fig. 1

shows a diagram of a power consumption evaluation device with end of operation indicator,

Fig. 2

shows a detail of the current evaluation device,

Fig. 3

shows a schematic of a vibration signal evaluation device with a signaling device,

Fig. 4

shows a circuit diagram of a receiving and signaling device,

Fig. 5

shows a signal evaluation circuit diagram.

Fig. 1 shows schematically a washing or drying machine 1, the Power cord 10 with its plug 11 in one Mains adapter 12 is plugged in via a junction box is connected to a power supply network 13.

In the adapter 12 there is a current sensor circuit and a Transmitter circuit 14, which is wireless from antenna 14 to antenna 24, such as dash-dotted, or over the network 13 with one Receiver 2 is connected to a reporting device. This has one optical, acoustic and / or tactile detectors 20-22 on the each signal an end of operation message.

Fig. 2 shows schematically a section through the adapter 12 with its network side connector pins 15 and device cable side Sockets 19, each connected to the mains voltage are. Alternatively, the current measuring arrangement can also be installed in a or surface-mounted housing, the connections being on a terminal block.

One of the current-carrying lines 15A is through one Transformer 16 led, which e.g. from a ferrite ring core exists and carries a secondary winding that is tension-proof provides galvanic decoupling. The secondary voltage of the Transformer 16 feeds a power supply unit 17, which circuit 3 feeds e.g. is a microprocessor. Because the secondary voltage it is proportional to the current flow in the primary conductor 15A on the input side of the microprocessor 3 as sensor voltage SS fed and is evaluated there. The respective Operating status or the measured value itself are output on the Microcircuit 3 in a suitable form for data or signal transmission processed via an antenna 14 or Network coupling impedance 18 transferred to the network conductor 15A.

For automatic setting of an amplitude threshold and of a time threshold, a program button 30 is provided which the microprocessor 3 on the input side signals that it is in a Programming status should pass in which he during the subsequent operation occurring amperages with the associated time periods are saved and evaluated.

3 shows an alternative operating state detection device 42 on or on a device to be monitored 1 is placed. With a sensor 46, which is preferably an electrodynamic or piezoelectric encoder, receives the preferably battery powered sensing device 42 the Equipment vibrations and / or noises, each from the motors the device, the water flow and / or a buzzer or the like, originate.

These signals from the vibration receiver 46 become similar to that Current sensor signals in Fig. 3 in a microprocessor or the like. processed and a data transmission or measured value transmission, e.g. supplied via the antenna 44. A program button 40 is used a programming function, as described above for button 30 has been.

The receiving device 2A largely corresponds to that of FIG. 1 described, with battery operation and no mains connection is provided. The receiving device 2A is similar to one Provide wristwatch with a bracelet A - A and has one Vibrator signal generator 22 on the underside of the arm worn Device 2A on. The antenna 24, the optical LED display 20 and the signal generator 21 and the housing are only schematic shown. You can use it like a watch with an alarm function and receiving function with an internal antenna. Alternatively, a structure of the type. Radiotelephones with one Belt clip provided.

Further details of the design of the reception and Signaling device 2, 2A are shown in Fig. 4. That from the Network or operating state coming from the receiving antenna 24 - or measurement signal is processed in a receiving circuit 25, such as filtered, demodulated, or the like, and then the microprocessor 5 fed on the input side. The circuits 25, 5 are of a Battery 26 or possibly a power supply.

An operating state signal B is an output signal optical display 27 switched and an operating transmission signal BE on a further optical display 22 and a first Selector switch WS to a buzzer 21 and possibly a second one Selector switch WV switched to a vibrator 22. A button T serves to acknowledge the alarm message and switch on operational readiness. Occurs in a predetermined test time an operating signal after receiving the T key on, the circuit remains active until the end of operation message recognized and output.

Fig. 5 shows the essential structures of the circuit that the Detection of the end of operation BE serves. The circuit consists of two functional areas, namely the Amplitude assessment and the break time assessment. This Function groups can either be on the transmitter side or be arranged on the receiver side, i.e. the data transmission path can either a measured value transmission line DÜ1 or a Operating state transmission path DÜ2 or an operating state transmission path Be DÜ3. For the sake of the economy of the Use of the transmission channel becomes the latter or penultimate Variant preferred, because only one digital one above it Status signal B, B * must be signaled periodically for a short time, as long as the operating state B, B * continues, i.e. the End of operation state BE has not yet been reached. This is at missing operating state signal B * by an inverter I formed, which is realized in the circuit 5, Fig. 4.

The sensor signal SS is a comparator for evaluating the measurement signal V supplied on the input side, a threshold value at the other input SW is supplied, which is dimensioned higher than the measurement signal in Phases of low activity of the monitored device and in particular in its operating end state.

The comparator V is preferably provided with a hysteresis and emits pulse-shaped signals as long as the measurement signal is high Activity, i.e. high electricity consumption or high Vibration level signals. This from electrical impulses existing operating signal B is a tracking circuit NS on Set input S supplied. It is a so-called retriggerable monoflop equipped with a timer ZG is that determines a lag time TN in which between the Maintain input pulses of the switch-on state at the output remains, so there is an operating status signal continuously without pause B * is given when the intervals of the input pulses are shorter than the lag time TN. Only when at the end of the business no activity is signaled beyond the lag time TN the output signal B * drops and the following inverter I signals the end of operation BE, which is in the alarm signals is implemented.

The run-on time TN is set, for example, on a potentiometer PT appropriately set so that the breaks of active operation, the arise when switching, etc., are bridged.

The amplitude threshold value SW is also on a potentiometer PS set, the current measurement signal or the vibration signal is considered at the end of the operation so that the threshold is somewhat is higher.

The functions shown in FIG. 5 are alternatively in known manner as program functions of the microprocessor 3, Fig. 2 to realize. In addition, the microprocessor generates 3 or 5 the timing of the acoustic or tactile signal.

The operating state signal stabilized in the time lag circuit NS is possibly after the transmission route for a Operating display provided and via the inverter I and a Differentiator on the set input of a bistable flip-flop FF is given, which thus signals the end of operation BE at the output. The end of operation signal BE is on a multivibrator MV led, which emits a sound signal to the acoustic transmitter or drives a vibrator at a lower frequency.

When actuated, the button T generates a reset signal for the flip-flop FF, the end of operation signal BE in the zero state off.

Claims (18)

Signaling device (12, 2; 42, 2A) for detecting an operating state (B) of a machine device (1) or a device and for transmitting an associated operating state signal (SS, B, B *) to a receiving switching arrangement (2, 42), which is a spatially separate part of the signaling device (12, 2; 42, 2A) and converts this signal (SS, B, B *) into an optical, acoustic and / or tactile signal and outputs it, characterized in that the operating status signal ( SS) passes through an amplitude threshold value circuit (V) and the signal part (B) exceeding the threshold value is fed to a retriggerable time delay circuit (NS), at the expiry of which the operating end signal (BE) is pending for the formation of the alarm signal. Signaling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating status signal (B, B *) is obtained with a detector device (12, 42) from a measurement signal (SS) which is formed by detecting the respective operating current or the respective vibrations of the device (1) becomes. Signaling device according to claim 2, characterized in that in the detector device (12) the measurement signal (SS) is obtained from a current supply line (15A) of the device (1) and is fed to a microprocessor (3) which supplies the operating state signal (B, B *) or the measurement signal (SS) prepared for transmission purposes in the power supply line (15A) and thus in the feeding power network (13) or wirelessly via an antenna (14). Signaling device according to claim 3, characterized in that the microprocessor (3) together with a power supply unit (17) and the transmission device (14) are arranged in a power plug adapter (12), a power socket or a power supply block. Signaling device according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the power supply line (15A) is guided through a ferrite core which carries a secondary winding which emits the measurement signal (SS). Signaling device according to claim 2, characterized in that a mechanical-electrical vibration transducer (46) is arranged as a measuring signal transmitter on the detector device (42) and the measuring signal (SS) is fed to a microprocessor (3) which carries the measuring signal (SS) or one thereof derived operating state signal (B, B *) prepared for transmission purposes to a transmitting antenna (44). Signaling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the comparator (V) and / or the time lag circuit (NS) each have an adjusting device (PS, PT) for specifying a threshold value (SW) or a lag time (TN). Signaling device according to claim 7, characterized in that the setting device (PS, PT) are potentiometers or are transmitters to be evaluated by the microprocessor (3), for example setting and setting buttons. Signaling device according to Claim 8, characterized in that the setting device for the threshold value (SW) and / or the run-on time (TN) operates automatically in terms of program technology, in that the measuring signal (SS) is amplified during a complete operating process in a control program activated by a button (30) and associated periods of time and from this forms a sufficient threshold value, which is slightly above the current consumption or vibration measurement value at the end of operation, and forms a follow-up time, which is somewhat longer than the longest low-current or low-vibration time, and stores and specifies for later operations. Signaling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiver (2, 2A) the measuring signal (SS), the operating signal (B) derived therefrom in the comparator (V) or the gap-free operating signal (B * derived therefrom in the follow-up circuit (NS) ) is received and processed accordingly in the comparator (V) or the follow-up circuit (TN) and then the inverted operating signal (B *) is inverted and transferred to a hold circuit (FF) which transmits the optical display (20) and, if necessary, via a multivibrator (MV) feeds an acoustic or tactile transmitter (21, 22). Signaling device according to claim 10, characterized in that the holding circuit (FF) can be reset by means of a key signal (T). Signaling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the acoustic transmitter (21) and possibly the tactical transmitter (22) are each controlled by the selector switch (WS, WV) with the multivibrator signal. Signaling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiver (2, 2A) receives the received signal in a microprocessor (5) with regard to a filter function, possibly a comparator (V) and / or follow-up time function (NS), an inversion (I ), a hold function (FF) and a multivibrator function processed in the program. Signaling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiver (2, 2A) is arranged in a housing with a holding clip or on a bracelet (A). Signaling device according to claim 14, characterized in that the tactile transmitter (22) is arranged facing the body or arm of a wearer of the receiver (2). Signaling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in addition to the end-of-operation signal (BE), the complete operating-state signal (B *) is output on an optical display (27). Signaling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (12, 42) for detecting the operating state (B) on an electric washing machine (1) or its feed line (10) and / or an electric clothes dryer or its feed line (10) is arranged. Method for reporting an operating state of an electrically operated device or a device, on which a measuring signal is detected and immediately or evaluated as an operating state signal is remotely transmitted to a receiving device, characterized in that the measuring signal or the operating state signal provides a temporal check with regard to a failure over a predetermined period of time is subjected and in the event of a failure, an end-of-operation status message is output.

Images