EP2782428B1 - Emergency light installation with interface function for building management systems and associated communication method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an emergency lighting system in which a plurality of emergency lights, such as a first emergency light and a second emergency light, both of which can communicate with one another and with other radio subscribers such as a central control system via a radio link, can be connected via an interface device to wired building control systems or building control devices such as building management systems . Furthermore, the present invention relates to a data transmission through which the data of the one system, e.g. B. the emergency lighting system to the other system, for. B. can be transferred to a fire alarm system. In addition, the present invention relates to a measure for inserting a special activation signal such as an activation bit in a data structure such as a data tuple of an emergency lighting system. In addition, the present invention also deals with the interface device, which is equipped with the functions and capabilities mentioned above, the transition connection point from the one building system, e.g. B. the emergency lighting system to the other building management system, e.g. B. represents the fire alarm system.

In other words, the present invention relates to emergency lighting systems according to the preamble of claim 1, a method for notifying a building control system about data from an emergency lighting system according to the preamble of patent claim 18 and an interface device according to the preamble of patent claim 19.

Technical field

The design of emergency lighting systems and how they are designed is specified in many European countries by numerous standards. These standards result in numerous conditions and requirements for how an emergency lighting system should be designed.

Examples are the quite central standards DIN EN 50172 and DIN EN 50171, which u. a. be observed in the Federal Republic of Germany.

For the Republic of Austria, the ÖVE / ÖNORM E 8002-1 for the design of emergency lighting systems must be observed.

Very detailed versions can also be found in DIN VDE 0108, in particular Part 1, from 1989, which has since been subjected to revision work. The requirements for the lighting technology of buildings, in particular buildings with public traffic or increased traffic, are also subject to the DIN EN 1838 standard. Numerous aspects and requirements for escape sign luminaires and emergency luminaires are further specified. Examples include the standards ISO 3864/1, DIN 4844/1, DIN EN 60598/2/22, DIN VDE 0108/1 and DIN EN 50172, which are replaced or supplemented by similar standards depending on the location of the emergency luminaire. Additional standards to be observed are DIN 43534 and DIN VDE 0510, which are often supplemented by accident insurance associations with regulations on accident prevention. The battery or accumulator systems should be tested and monitored in accordance with DIN EN 62034.

While there is a certain tendency to be observed, emergency lighting systems may at least partially include emergency lighting such as permanent lighting (permanent lighting emergency) or standby lighting (emergency lighting in standby mode), which, primarily in the form of a single battery lamp, equipped with radio modules controlled by those modules, switched on, switched off and can be monitored, there are other building systems such as fire alarm systems that can still be implemented wired between their individual participants.

At least some older or already installed emergency lighting systems operate with emergency lights, all of which are connected to supply cables such as NYM cables and supplied from a central emergency power source to form a cable-bound overall system.

State of the art

Developments have been observed for some time as to how emergency lighting systems can be equipped with radio communication capabilities.

The DE 10 2007 024 422 A1 (Applicant: Cooper Crouse-Hinds GmbH; filing date: May 25, 2007) presents a luminaire that should be used as a safety or escape sign luminaire and has a slot for a plug-in module. The plug-in module can be a radio module such as a Bluetooth radio module or a WLAN radio module. Thanks to the modularity described there, it is possible to use the light with a radio module as well without delivering such radio modules. The luminaire is realized with a "backplane". However, the German patent application only discusses individual mechanical and structural aspects of a corresponding luminaire without examining the overall system in more detail. With regard to the representation of what an emergency light luminaire can look like, this patent application is fully incorporated in the present description.

Another, distributed system with emergency lights and additional sensor inputs is from the DE 10 2009 017 213 A1 (Applicant: Lindner et al .; filing date: April 9, 2009). The description gives the impression that as an area of application for the DE 10 2009 017 213 A1 Emergency lighting system described Building with single rooms and nursing staff, as found in hospitals, old people's homes and disabled facilities, was seen.

Numerous radio systems for emergency lighting systems are now also known from company brochures and specialist literature.

An emergency lighting system is described in more detail as an example of the commercially available systems. Such a system is offered by the ETAP group of companies under the name "ETAP Safety Manager". As can be seen from the catalogs of the ETAP group of companies, a coordinator KH12 must be installed as a communication device in the (radio-based) emergency lighting system, whose communication is based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard with a transmission power of 1 mW in a frequency range of 2.4 GHz . A certain number of safety lights is assigned to such a coordinator KH12. The coordinator KH12 offers a cable connection interface for the construction of the ESM bus internal to the emergency lighting system.

Deviating from this describes the European patent application (published after the priority date) EP 2 573 630 A1 (Applicant: RP-Technik e. K .; priority date: September 23, 2011) a radio-based communication system in which the emergency lights are available as communication channels for each other. Such a design reduces the amount of equipment required for larger emergency lighting systems. This patent application focuses on the representation of data communication by data tuple. The statements made in this application apply with reference to them EP 2 573 630 A1 as fully incorporated in the present application, at least in relation to general system description aspects.

Another lighting system with LED lights is from the US 2010/271 802 A1 (Inventor: MV Recker et al .; publication date: October 28, 2010) known, which in numerous examples, such as. B. in Figure 11, a control unit and locally separated from it describes one or more wireless LED light bulbs. A control takes place via a radio frequency (RF), which can be received and decoded in a receiver of the LED light bulb. Additional sensors can be integrated into the lighting system. The (LED) light bulbs should be able to establish communication via a building management unit. Interfaces and interface components are shown on some components of the lighting system. A designated interface device appears in the entire description of the US 2010/271 802 A1 not to be addressed, but only the installation of an interface such as a USB connector, e.g. B. for connection to a computer (see, for example, section [0169]). A lighting system according to the European safety lighting system requirements is likely. the US 2010/271 802 A1 not enough. Although the description uses the US 2010/271 802 A1 also the term "emergency", but all system and component descriptions actually point to consumer electronics instead of a safety lighting system.

A security network for monitoring, warning, intervention and dissemination of information with assigned and helpful devices, in particular for the area of environment and health, is in the US 2006/154 642 A1 (Applicant: Robert F. Scannell jr .; publication date: July 13, 2006).

The patent application US 2004/023 053 A1 (Applicant: Yi-Chia Liao; publication date: November 25, 2004) is devoted to the topic of how a system with multiple detectors can be designed to improve security against burglars.

A smoke detector with acoustic alarm device is the subject of DE 203 09 338 U1 (Owner: Axel Benkhardt; registration date: September 11, 2003). The smoke detector should be equipped with a programmable voice module in order to send messages to people in the event of a fire, so that these people can more easily get to safety. It is also proposed that the smoke detector can switch a transmitter on or off in order to send control signals to a receiver by radio.

A system for monitoring the operation of, in particular, safety-related devices from Railways, like signal lamps, go out of the EP 2 441 643 A1 (Applicant: ALSTOM Transport SA; disclosure date: April 18, 2012). The devices are to be equipped with components for wireless communication and enable the transmission of monitoring parameters, even when the monitored devices are switched off. A data transmission via intermediary units to a server can be carried out using known network technology.

The WO 2012/023 087 A1 (Applicant: Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV; Date of publication: February 23, 2012) shows that a system for monitoring by means of radar units, for. B. can be integrated into street lamps of street lighting, so that each street lamp comprises a transmitter unit. These units can now interfere with each other. Frequency covers which can be caused by noise in the sidebands are mentioned as a notable source of error.

In the US 2009/072 970 A1 (Applicant: Robert A. Barton; publication date: March 19, 2009) the focus is on the effort to be able to attach emergency lighting elements that are as inconspicuous as possible to standard lighting fixtures or conventional lamps in order to provide them with a safety warning system. Lamp sockets and lamp components are described which can be added to common lamps, such as floor lamps or flush-mounted lamps, as elements to be installed. With a so-called "remote system module", system security is also taken into account when installing at different locations. In order to have the lowest possible energy conversion, addressing of the lamps via radio frequencies ("RF signaling") can also be considered.

The company deals with the use of commands according to the "DALI protocol" (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) in wireless networks for monitoring lighting systems for home, office and public areas WO 2013/016 534 A1 (Applicant: Verified Energy, LLC; publication date: January 31, 2013).

In the US 2010/060 173 A1 (Applicant: Joshua Scharf; publication date: March 11, 2010) describes a wireless lighting system for stairways and passageways. Installations are used for close-range lighting using motion detectors. It is proposed, among other things, that a light sensor should prevent activation of the lighting fixtures in an installation realized in this way. Signals that are sent through the room to different receivers should preferably be on one Carrier frequency in a frequency range between 300 MHz and 500 MHz are transmitted.

The US 2008/224 026 A1 (Applicant: Barton A. Pasternak; publication date: September 18, 2008) is concerned with a lighting system in which the lighting on different floors of a building is switched sequentially, with sequential activation using radio frequencies. In safety-relevant situations, however, the control intended to save energy should be switched off.

In the international patent application WO 2012/089 355 A1 (Applicant: Schneider Electric Industrie Italia SPA; publication date: July 5, 2012) describes a network that enables emergency lighting devices to be connected to one another and a method for managing the network. In the system described, several emergency lights are connected to one another in a radio network, as a result of which a central unit can receive status data from the emergency lights via the radio network. Modeling of the radiation field of the transmitters is proposed for a favorable structure of the system. The system should have at least one "transceiver", which is also referred to as a "bridge". This has a connection to a "two-wire bus". To improve signal transmission, the system can be set up with "repeaters" in between. Components that are not located in the electromagnetic field can be connected via cables. A majority of communication paths can supposedly be managed in this way, but only how they can be assigned to devices in communication paths Figures 1 to 4 first clues.

From the cited documents it can be deduced that networking is an important topic, but many documents remain silent on the concrete implementation.

Framework

In expert circles, there are always considerations of how the numerous different building management systems such. B. fire alarm systems, intrusion alarm systems, fire extinguishing systems and air conditioning systems can be combined. Contrary to the comparatively quite progressive approach in emergency lighting technology to use newer communication systems, paths and ways, the attitude of providers of other building management systems is partly too observe that conventional communication technologies, either on the supply lines or through special lines, but in any case wired, should persist.

However, all building management systems, often viewed as self-sufficient systems, must take measures against errors, malfunctions and malfunctions. A provider of a building management system or building management technology therefore often prefers if no influence from third parties can be exerted on the building management system for which he is responsible. Nevertheless - at least according to the wishes of some builders or building operators - the individual building management systems should be networkable.

Task

It would be particularly desirable to be able to connect an emergency lighting system to other building management systems or to other electrical and electronic building management systems in which a reliable data connection and communication interface can be implemented.

Description of the invention

The object of the invention is achieved by an emergency lighting system according to claim 1. Advantageous communication methods and methods for notifying a building control system about data from an emergency lighting system by means of a corresponding interface device are presented in claim 18. An interface device for the emergency lighting system is presented in claim 19. Advantageous further developments can be found in the dependent claims.

The emergency lighting system is a distributed lighting system that is equipped with various lights, such as. B. emergency lights in permanent switching or emergency lights in standby lighting or with safety lights, is built, it should be - due to the control or communication system of the emergency lighting system used - if a larger number of lights, for. B. fifty or more lights, belong to the emergency lighting system. Emergency lighting systems, in which at least some of the luminaires are designed as single-battery luminaires, have a particularly low susceptibility to external influences damaging the supply lines (fire, vandalism, earthquakes, mechanical vibrations). A single battery lamp has its own Emergency power supply such as an accumulator, which provides energy for a lighting device for the self-contained luminaire, if via a supply cable such. B. Mains cable does not have sufficient supply voltage.

The emergency lighting system has at least one excellent interface, which is created by an interface device. If there are to be interfaces to several other building management systems (e.g. to a fire alarm system and an intrusion alarm system), of course, several interface devices can also be part of the emergency lighting system. However, it is also advantageous if an interface device offers contacts and interfaces to several other systems, so that actually not multiple interface devices are to be used just because several other building management systems are to be connected. At least the emergency lighting system includes a first emergency light and a second emergency light. The interface device offers a contact group equipped with safety functions and less sensitive to interference.

Different devices of the emergency lighting system are connected to each other via a radio channel. It is often expedient to have a center via which communication that has taken place between the radio subscribers can be stored or visualized or archived or made accessible. It can e.g. B. a single frequency can be selected on which all radio participants of an emergency lighting system communicate (e.g. 868 MHz). Another emergency lighting system, e.g. B. on another floor of a building, can communicate on a slightly different frequency, e.g. B. to 870 MHz. It is particularly advantageous if the radio subscribers of an emergency lighting system exchange their data on a common radio channel. Here, data from different radio subscribers can be stored in a combined data set, e.g. B. can be a data tuple, transmitted from one radio subscriber to a second radio subscriber. The transmission of the data tuple provides information or contains data from several radio subscribers, ideally from all radio subscribers of the emergency lighting system, i.e. H. in an embodiment of all emergency lights of the emergency lighting system, of all interface devices of the emergency lighting system and of a central device such as a computer. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, only a single data tuple in the control center has to be broken down into its objects in order to obtain information about all radio subscribers.

The interface device has several function modules. Such a function module is a radio module. A possible connection point is one comprising two individual contacts The radio module communicates with other similar transmitters and receivers of the emergency lights belonging to the emergency lighting system. The radio module forms a radio node between several radio nodes present in the emergency lighting system.

An output contact, in particular on a communication board of the interface device, is designed as a collective fault contact. This means that several different events, which are to be regarded as fault events, lead to switching or to another reaction on the collective fault contact. Despite different sources or causes of a disturbance event, there is a reaction to the collective fault contact due to the respective disturbance event. It is particularly advantageous if the collective fault contact can come into an switched-on state, although there may be a voltage interruption in a control circuit of a switch of the collective fault contact. Such behavior of the collective fault contact can also be referred to as a collective fault contact with a "fail-safe". Even if it should happen that there is insufficient voltage at the interface device, an interference-free state can still be assumed.

According to another interesting aspect, the emergency lighting system is designed as a "multi-hop system". With such a system of an emergency lighting system, the communication paths do not have to be established right from the start. The data tuple is passed on from radio subscriber to radio subscriber. Provides the control computer of a radio subscriber, for. If, for example, the calculation logic of an emergency light luminaire determines that the data tuple obtained does not have the most current data for the device that houses the radio subscriber, the part of the data tuple assigned to the device is updated first and only then is the data tuple with the most up-to-date values possible forwarded. The interface device works in the same way. This means that the interface device also takes up a data tuple, secondly clarifies whether anything in the data tuple needs to be updated, thirdly puts its data into the data tuple or into the data tuple and finally sends the data tuple for the radio module (if possible to everyone) other radio subscribers. The interface device as a radio node thus promotes communication between the other radio participants by itself representing a point, a step or a jump point or a node for the transmission after the received data tuple has been updated. It makes sense if the data tuple can communicate operating states, malfunctions and operating times of individual emergency lights to other radio users. So z. B. based on the operating time, an expected remaining light duration can be estimated. On the basis of a message relating to the operating state, it can be "fed back" whether a switch-on or a switch-off command has actually caused the requested reaction in the activated emergency light lamp.

The interface device can also be viewed as a monitored radio node, which identifies a number of different sources of interference at a specially designated contact, the collective interference contact. The data tuple, which has or includes data from several emergency lights, is not only sent again by the other emergency lights, but also by the interface device. The interface device could also be referred to as a repeater. The collective fault contact can be used as a transition point for a telecommunications unit.

In order to pass on the communication from the radio-based emergency lighting system to other building management systems, at least one collective fault contact is helpful as an interface. If another building management system, such as a fire alarm system or a key switch, is to influence the emergency lighting system without the entire emergency lighting system being exposed to a risk of permanent damage, an input contact is one of the few, in one configuration, e.g. B. as the only, liaison (s) beneficial.

An emergency lighting system can also be described using its individual components. The emergency lighting system is set z. B. together in an embodiment of three or more emergency lights, an interface device, a central device for radio-based communication and a central control logic. The emergency lighting system operates with its own radio channel. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, all information which is intended for the emergency light lamps or which is sent back by the emergency light lamps is transmitted on this radio channel. Status data are therefore exchanged via this radio channel. Various radio subscribers hear the radio channel, e.g. B. equipped with radio modules from emergency lights. If a status signal such as the switching on of all lights is transmitted, the emergency lights react by switching their lights on immediately. The interface device also represents a radio node. The interface device enriches or extends the radio network, which is composed of the radio subscribers.

It is particularly advantageous if the input contact is a galvanically decoupled wide-range voltage contact. The can be connected to a wide-range voltage contact various building management system devices can be connected. In a voltage range for building installations, a voltage swing is considered to be a wide-range voltage, which starts at least above a protective extra-low voltage (e.g. 63 volts) and extends into the usual luminous power supply voltage range (e.g. 232 volts). In one embodiment, this would be a voltage range from 64 volts to beyond 230 volts. Different fire alarm systems work with different voltages to indicate to other devices that a fire alarm priority has occurred. While one fire alarm system only emits a low voltage signal at the upper end of the low voltage range, the other fire alarm system works with 230 volts on all of its outputs. The input contact is expediently designed as a contact for switching on all emergency lights and ensures that information on the input contact is given preferential treatment or priority. With input information, e.g. B. a switching pulse or a continuous voltage can turn on at least some of the emergency lights of the emergency lighting system in the sequence. Due to the design as a galvanically isolated contact, the input contact is protected against incorrect wiring, interference from the other building management system or other voltage peaks. A fastener is available on the input contact for connecting cables.

An emergency light that is the first to emit a data tuple does this on a radio channel. Data about a state of another, e.g. B. a second emergency light, transmitted. The first emergency light luminaire picks up the data from the second emergency light luminaire and combines it with its data to form a revised data tuple that can be sent out again. Each emergency light lamp works as a radio node for the other radio participants on the radio channel. The interface device also picks up the received data tuples and forwards them if necessary, updated. The interface device partly takes on the function of a repeater. A data tuple that passes from one emergency light luminaire to the next emergency light luminaire, the term "next" not necessarily being spatially adjacent, but in the sense to be referred to as an additional "hop" location, can be referred to as a transmission tuple. A data tuple that is broken down into its objects when it arrives at a destination can be called a monitoring tuple. Depending on the further processing, a data tuple can be a transmission tuple at one point in time and a monitoring tuple at another, in particular later point in time.

The implementation of the data from the emergency lighting system to the other Building management system, e.g. B. to the fire alarm system, is carried out by a data conversion. The data conversion converts the data from the emergency lighting system into a form that can be processed by the fire alarm system. Here, reference can be made to the discussions above regarding the design of the emergency lighting system.

A communication path for the data takes place over several stations. Data from at least one emergency light lamp is intercepted by radio from the interface device. The interface device has a radio module. The data is recorded via the radio module. The data is then passed through the interface device in processed form and made available at the collective fault contact. In a similar way, the collective fault contact can also be called a sum connection. The data is therefore forwarded in an integrated or compressed form.

A microcontroller is provided in the interface device. The microcontroller is programmed so extensively that it can perceive different sources of interference. In a particularly simple embodiment, the microcontroller can identify at least two sources of interference of different types (e.g. a calculation error in the microcontroller itself as the first source of interference and untrustworthy data of a data tuple as the second source of interference, for example using checksums). If a source of interference overlays the data of a data tuple with the weight that an undisturbed reception can no longer be assumed, the logic of the microcontroller can determine this situation, the situation of the untrustworthy data of a data tuple. The microcontroller identifies the presence of at least one source of interference or the intervention in data of a data tuple.

Control information should be able to be integrated into the data direction from the other building management system into the emergency lighting system. An activation signal can be integrated in this way. The input on the interface device can e.g. B. be designed as an input for a fire alarm signal. Such a design is therefore a fire alarm input. The activation signal is to be integrated in a data tuple of an emergency lighting system. The activation signal can become part of the data tuple.

The individual components and assemblies of the emergency lighting system can communicate with each other. As previously stated, radio data exchange takes place between emergency lights in the emergency lighting system. One emergency light lamp exchanges its data tuple with another emergency light lamp. The interface device acts as whether it would be a further emergency light luminaire, although it can be seen from the supplemented data in the data tuple that it is an interface device.

The insertion process takes place in several steps, it can also be said that the insertion process runs in several phases:
In one of the first steps, the interface device receives a data tuple via its radio module. It is first checked whether the data tuple is to be regarded as a processable data tuple, i.e. whether there are sufficient, valid-looking data components in the data tuple. The validity can e.g. B. on the basis of checks and checksums that have been met or met. In a next step, the data tuple is temporarily stored in a memory managed by a microcontroller intended for processing. Thus, the data tuple is available over a longer period, e.g. B. over a period of 2 minutes or even over a period of 15 minutes. Information about a signal that is present at the fire alarm input is inserted into the data tuple. The data tuple is thus supplemented by further information. An object in the data tuple that does not previously exist or has not passed a validity test is updated. For this purpose, an actuality stamp can be built into the data tuple for each object, or at least for the entire data tuple. In a further step, the data tuple to be regarded as revised is offered to the neighboring or the other radio subscribers. The data tuple, which is preferably provided with a timed update stamp, ie with an update stamp adapted to the time given at the time of processing, is made available to further radio subscribers of the emergency lighting system via the radio module. In other words, the radio module receives a data tuple, a microcontroller processes the data tuple and the radio module sends out the more current data tuple again.

The interface device, in which both the previously described data conversion and the insertion of an activation signal into a data tuple can ideally be carried out, has a microcontroller for these tasks. The microcontroller includes program routines that can perform data conversion. The same microcontroller includes program routines that fill the data tuple. The radio module connected to the microcontroller collects data tuples and sends out data tuples processed by the microcontroller. Before sending out a data tuple, the information in the data tuple is updated, revised or adapted to the latest events on the interface device.

The interface device significantly reduces the risk of mutual interference between the different building management systems. A further risk of errors and poorly functioning mutual controls of the different building management systems is reduced by the fact that due to the collection of the most diverse faults on a collective fault contact, data overload and unnecessary information transfer are prevented. The information from one building management system can be easily monitored by the other building management system. Sophisticated analysis systems, which could have occurred in the other building management system, are no longer required because the information has been reduced to the bare minimum.

Advantageous refinements and developments are set out below which, viewed individually, both individually and in combination, can also reveal inventive aspects.

Another function module is a circuit board for cable-guided signals, impulses, switching or control information. In a first embodiment, the different function modules can be set apart from one another. In a second embodiment, all function modules of the interface device can be integrated in a circuit board. Structurally, functionally or in terms of layout, at least two blocks or areas can be identified in the interface device, a radio module and a communication board. Other areas, such as B. for a long-distance bus such as an RS-232 bus, may be present in the interface device. The communication board represents the link to the cable-based connections of other devices or other building management systems.

An electrical line connection is preferably provided between the radio module of the interface device and the communication board.

In other words, an electronic part is provided in the interface device for the connection of further building control systems, which can be referred to as a communication board. This part of the interface device can be divided into a separate assembly, so this part can be viewed as a separate section for communication. Connection lines are present between the radio module and the section that can be referred to as the communication board. The communication board has contacts that are accessible from the outside. In one embodiment, the contacts can be used as input contacts. In another embodiment, the contacts are to be used as output contacts. Entrance or exit are determined on the basis of the direction of information flow, whether a signal should be transmitted via the contact from the interface device (output contact) or whether a signal should be transmitted via the contact into the interface device (input contact). The communication board takes over hardware filter tasks.

The other building management system must be notified in response to the presence of at least one source of interference. The other building management system is thus aware that there is some kind of malfunction in the emergency lighting system. The reporting of faults can be connected to a timer or a timer. Only if, after a particularly stable design of the interface device, at least for a minimum period of z. B. several seconds, i.e. less than 10 seconds, there is a fault, the collective fault contact is switched.

The collective fault contact is designed as a connection point for communication cables. In a particularly simple embodiment, the operation is carried out at a simple (voltage) level. In a further developed embodiment, information transmitted from the other building management system with the lowest possible internal resistance, ie. H. e.g. B. with a resistance of less than 1 ohm, transmitted via cable to the building management system. The building management system can thus be a wired building management system, at least with regard to its fault input.

The output contact offers, as a collective fault contact, in particular at least two fastening elements such as spring terminal strips, luster terminals, screw terminals or plug contact terminals.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the common fault contact comprises an electromagnetic component that can implement the function of an electrical changer. A typical changeover contact for the application in question is an electromagnetic relay with a contact tongue that switches back and forth between changeover contacts depending on the current level. Such a relay can also be implemented electronically. Particularly low resistances via the changeover contacts (e.g. below 10 ohms) are favorable, so that the collective fault contact can be available as a contact loop for the other building management system. In addition, inductive and capacitive influences caused by the changeover contact should be negligible.

Particularly advantageous emergency lighting systems include various lights. A The stand-by lights are a separate category of lights. The emergency lights in the standby mode only switch on if the emergency lighting system has detected a special malfunction or a special (switching) pulse. The presence of standby light lamps reduces the power consumption in phases in which no special switch-on request has been forwarded to a control center of the emergency lighting system via the interface device.

In order for communication to work in both directions, i.e. into the emergency lighting system as well as out of the emergency lighting system and into the second building management system, an interface device that has both a collective fault contact and a fire alarm contact is advantageous. The interface device comprises several contacts. A contact is the collective fault contact. A contact is the fire alarm contact.

The interface device is provided in its own housing so that it is protected as much as possible. So that the interface device can be set up at a location where the interface device can possibly also act as a repeater, the interface device should be an independent electronic device. The interface device is independent. The interface device is also a radio subscriber. However, the interface device is a radio subscriber that can be arranged at a different location than the other radio subscribers.

A particularly easy and quick installation can be realized if the interface device is installed in a top-hat rail housing. More specifically, the interface device encompasses the top-hat rail housing. The interface device is not intended to illuminate a room, although it can have individual LEDs. The interface device should therefore be attached to places where it is not intended for the production of illuminated areas, but as part of improving communication via the radio channel. The interface device is therefore developed for an area that is usually not intended for illumination. The interface device can also be called a dark area device, because it should be installed in areas such as B. in control cabinets that are dark or not illuminated in regular operation.

A microcontroller can be present in the interface device as an electronic assembly between the radio module on the one hand and the collective fault contact on the other hand. The microcontroller acts on the collective fault contact in such a way that the collective fault contact changes its state by controlling the microcontroller, e.g. B. by changing the contact tongue from one contact to another contact of the relay.

The collective fault contact should be as low a fault as possible. A contact becomes a contact that is as interference-free as possible when a predetermined state can be assumed by the collective fault contact, which can also be reached when there is no current or a falling voltage. A fail-safe contact can be realized by an inverse working control circuit for the actuation of the switching part of the contact (e.g. in the form of an operating high control circuit to be held, which causes negative (low) information of the collective fault contact). If the collective fault contact is a connection loop, the z. B. is realized electromechanically with the aid of a relay, any signal sequence can be returned to itself from the other building management system via the connection loop. The emergency lighting system does not need any precautions that deal with how the other building management system internally signals a detected fault. The common fault contact closes a loop that z. B. is guided via a first cable from an output of the control center of the other building control system to the first contact of the common fault contact and is returned from a second contact via a second cable to the control center of the other building control system. Such an electrical loop, realized by means of electromechanical components, is considered to be particularly insensitive to faults.

An even greater functionality can or more applications can be covered by the interface device if there are more contacts. In one development, the interface device has at least two pairs of output contacts, that is to say at least four output contacts, two of which belong to one output. In an additionally remarkable development, the interface device has at least two input contact pairs, ergo at least four input contacts. Two input contacts are always combined to form one input. Both the interface device as a whole, as well as the one input with respect to the other input or the one output with respect to the other output, are particularly charge and voltage-resistant if each contact pair is galvanically decoupled or galvanically isolated from another contact pair.

The circuitry in the interface device is further simplified if there is only one power supply module as an input voltage circuit. All modules, circuit boards and parts of the electronics can be made from this input voltage circuit of the interface device. Several different voltages do not have to be applied to the interface device. Likewise, multiple versions of the input voltage circuits are not required.

The microcontroller can be designed, in particular programmed, in such a way that it works as a logical OR module. As soon as the microcontroller is designed as a logical connecting element, the microcontroller can test the different faults. If there is a fault, the collective fault contact is activated. In one embodiment, a switching pulse for the collective fault contact is caused on the basis of at least one, preferably two or more triggering events. Faults that cause the collective fault contact to react can, for. B. be a detected fault, such. B. due to an alarm signal received by radio transmission such as a fire alarm bit. Monitoring in the interface device itself, e.g. B. on existing voltages, the expiry of a watchdog or compliance with operating temperatures, can lead to an error or a fault being identified when the limit values and expected values are exceeded or fallen short of. Another cause of a signal at the collective fault contact can be a fault on a radio channel, e.g. B. finding that no transmission data tuples have arrived for a quarter of an hour. The data of the data tuple can also be analyzed. If these no longer work conclusively or if the checksum does not match the data tuple, a data bit error can lead to a reaction on the collective fault contact.

The microcontroller may have an additional bus connection. Such bus connections can e.g. B. a connection for an RS-232 bus, for an RS-422 bus, for an RS-485 bus or for an ESA-Net bus. There can also be an ISA-Net connection. A PCMCIA bus is helpful. A USB bus is equally useful. A web server interface could also be implemented with the microcontroller on the radio module. With such interfaces and bus systems, the interface device can be programmed, monitored, reconfigured or even changed by a PC.

In a further view, the interface device can also be described in that it is an independent, independent, mountable or individually arrangable electrical or electronic box. The box offers connections for cable connections. The box can establish a radio communication channel. The interface device can also be viewed as a transition device from wired communication, control or influencing to radio-based communication or vice versa. The box decouples the wired network components from the radio-communicating network components. The box is a transition device from a network, e.g. B. an emergency lighting system on another network, for. B suitable for a fire alarm system. Events, damage and uncontrollable or undesirable conditions in one network have no damaging effect on the other network. The separation and encapsulation of one network from the other network by the box contributes to this. The box could also be called "gateway" of two network topologies. The box connects two differently communicating networks, a wired network with a wirelessly communicating network.

Failures and events in a measurement section on the wired side, e.g. B. through a voltage path or through a voltage loop, alternatively through a current loop, can be transferred to the radio-based side using the box.

Because there is an input contact and / or an output contact, with the term "contact" u. a. If a terminal strip or terminal connection is designated for several wires, polarities, signals or potentials, the flow of information in or out of the wired network is determined. The flow of information in one direction and in the outward and outward direction with respect to the radio-based network runs via a contact which is only intended for one direction.

The combinations and exemplary embodiments described above can also be viewed in numerous other connections and combinations.

Brief description of figures

• Figur 1 ein Gebäude mit einer Notlichtbeleuchtungsanlage und mit einer Brandmeldeanlage zeigt,
• Figur 2 ein Segment einer Notlichtbeleuchtungsanlage und ein Segment eines zweiten Gebäudeleitsystems zeigt,
• Figur 3 einen inneren Aufbau eines Schnittstellengeräts anhand seines Schaltplans zeigt und
• Figur 4 eine Datenkommunikation mithilfe von Tupeln zwischen mehreren Funkteilnehmern zeigt.

The present invention can be understood even better if reference is made to the accompanying figures, which exemplify particularly advantageous design options without restricting the present invention to these, wherein

• Figure 1 shows a building with an emergency lighting system and a fire alarm system,
• Figure 2 shows a segment of an emergency lighting system and a segment of a second building management system,
• Figure 3 shows an internal structure of an interface device based on its circuit diagram and
• Figure 4 shows data communication using tuples between multiple radio subscribers.

Figure description

Figure 1 shows a building 3. Building 3 is equipped with an emergency lighting system 1. The emergency lighting system 1 includes a central unit 13 and an interface device 51. Furthermore, the emergency lighting system 1 includes the first, second and third lamps 19, 21 and 23 and a repeater 29. In addition, the emergency lighting system 1 has a first unit 17 and a second unit Unit 18 equipped. The second luminaire-spanning unit 18 can, as shown, be arranged in the vicinity of a luminaire 24. The central unit 13 is provided for the (at least temporarily) energy supply 31. At the central unit 13 there is advantageously a luminaire monitor 32 which, at a first quick glance, shows the state of the emergency lighting system 1 with all the luminaires 19, 21, 23, 24 and other luminaires (not shown) in adjacent rooms and the luminaire-spanning units 17, 18 and the Repeater 29 displays. In order to meet standard requirements, the central unit 13 is preferably arranged in a first fire section 9, the fire resistance of which is produced by a separate concrete trough 5. The escape corridor 7 is located in a second fire section 11, which is kept separate from the first fire section 9. Thus, the building has 3 different fire compartments 9, 10, 11. The interface device 51 is an independent electronic device, in particular of all other radio subscribers, such as the unit 17 that crosses the lights and the lights 19, 21, 23, 24 and the repeater 29. The interface device 51 is intended to be used as a dark area device. The interface device 51 is part of the emergency lighting system 1, but it does not illuminate an escape route area. The interface device 51 can be mounted on a mounting rail such as a top-hat rail (not shown). The interface device 51 therefore has a top-hat rail housing 53 with which the interface device 51 can be mounted on such a top-hat rail. The interface device 51 is in a data exchange by means of at least one radio channel 55, via which status data can be transmitted, with a further radio subscriber, such as the unit 17 spanning the lights and the lights 19, 21, 23, 24 and the repeater 29, of the emergency lighting system 1. The interface device 51 represents a radio node, communicating on the radio channel 55, the interface device 51 communicating with other radio modules 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39. The radio modules 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 can also be designed as high-frequency communication modules. The radio module of the interface device 51 is connected to a communication board via connecting lines (not shown) connected. The communication board is in turn equipped with at least one output contact 63 comprising at least two fastening means. The output contact 63 is a common fault contact, which preferably comes into an switched-on state when a voltage interruption occurs in a control circuit of a switch of the common fault contact. The interface device 51 can operate as a collective fault contact via the output contact 63 of the communication board. The communication board is also equipped with an input contact 61. The input contact 61 is a galvanically decoupled wide-range voltage contact. The wide-range voltage contact, which can cover voltages in a range from 50 volts to 400 volts, can be used as a fire alarm contact. The emergency lights, lights 19, 21, 23 and 24, of the emergency lighting system 1 can be switched on via the input contact 61. The first emergency light luminaire, also abbreviated as first luminaire 19, has a radio channel 55 via which data about a state of the second emergency light luminaire, which can also be abbreviated as second luminaire 21, can be forwarded. One of the emergency lights, lights 19, 21, 23 or 24, should be configured as a standby light. There is another building management system 57 in the form of a fire alarm system 59. The interface device 51 forms a communicative connection with the fire alarm system 59 via the input contact 61 and the output contact 63. The fire alarm system 59 is connected to a sensor, such as a fire sensor 65, via the connecting cable 67. The high-frequency communication modules of repeaters such as repeater 29 and of lights 19, 21, 23, 24 contain intermediate memories 41 and are equipped, for example, with an antenna 46. It is advantageous if, in particular, the repeater 29 is equipped with two or more antennas spaced from one another in order to be able to carry out the communication transmission from another position in the event of impairment of reception or due to high-frequency emission due to interference. In the simplest case, this can be done by installing two or more high-frequency communication modules 37, 39 (and possibly associated antennas - not shown), which communicate with one another via a dedicated line (not shown). Another antenna 46 'is part of the high-frequency communication module 34. The individual lights 19, 21, 23, 24 each have their own high-frequency communication module 36, 37, 38, 39. The monitoring data of the individual lights 19, 21, 23, 24 and the other network nodes in the form of the luminaire-spanning units 17, 18 and the repeater 29 are passed on to the central unit 13 with the aid of the high-frequency communication modules 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and the transmission modules 40, 40 '. For this purpose, the central unit 13 comprises at least one high-frequency communication module 33 Synchronization module 15, which is part of the central unit 13, gives a clock for all the lights 19, 21, 23, 24 and in all other network nodes as in the light units 17, 18. The synchronization module 15 forms an up-to-date reference 42 with which, in particular, an up-to-date stamp is set. In a particularly favorable embodiment, the synchronization module 15 can also be integrated in the repeater 29 or in a lamp 19, 21, 23, 24.

Figure 2 shows a section of an emergency lighting system 101 and a second building management system 157, this overall system in a more schematic representation than in FIG Figure 1 is shown. The emergency lighting system 101 is equipped with an arrangement of high-frequency communication modules 136, 137, 138, 139, which are distributed in two rooms R1, R2. Parallel to the emergency lighting system 101, there is a building management system 157 in the rooms such as room R1. B. represents a burglar alarm system. The first high-frequency communication module 136, installed in the first light 119, the second high-frequency communication module 137, connected to the second light 121, and the third high-frequency communication module 138, connected to the third light 123, are located in the first room R1. The second room R2 comprises one fourth luminaire 124 with the high-frequency communication module 139, which is spaced apart from the luminaire-spanning unit 117 via the communication path length 173. Further communication path lengths 173 'and 173 "exist between the high-frequency communication module 139 and an interface device 151 or between the interface device 151 and the first light-covering unit 117. The communication path lengths 173' and 173" on one side and the communication path length 173 on the other side compared to one another, it can be seen that the communication path length 173 spans the greatest distance between two devices with high-frequency communication modules such as the high-frequency communication module 139. By arranging the interface device 151, so to say halfway, the interface device can be used as a repeater; The interface device 151 takes data tuples (cf. Figure 4 ) and sends it on. There is a wall W between the first room R1 and the second room R2, which exerts a damping influence on electromagnetic radiation. Transmission tuples that are emitted by the first lamp 119 or the first high-frequency communication module 136 can reach the luminaire-overlapping unit 117 through the wall W via the first communication path P1 and can be analyzed or utilized after receipt by the luminaire-overlapping unit 117. Monitoring tuples of the second lamp 121 also come out of the second high-frequency communication module 137 via path P2 to the luminaire-covering unit 117. Under realistic building conditions, there is the possibility that shielding steel support elements (not shown) in the wall W impair a communication path P1, P2, P3. It is also possible that communication path P3 is blocked by a group of people M, so that monitoring tuples of the third high-frequency communication module 138 can no longer reach the luminaire-spanning unit 117 via the direct path P3. The group of people M represents a total signal shield 175. Due to the inventive design of the emergency lighting system 101, monitoring tuples are also communicated via the short paths KP2, KP3 and KP1 between the high-frequency communication modules 136, 137, 138 located in the room R1. The fourth high-frequency communication module 139 is also involved in this exchange of monitoring tuples, and the interface device 151 with its radio module (see Figure 3 ). The high-frequency communication modules 136, 137 and 139 and the interface device 151 thus act as communication nodes for the indirect forwarding of monitoring tuples from the high-frequency communication module 138 to the unit 117 that spans the lights. A monitoring tuple of the third light 123 can receive and transmit via the short path KP2 from the first high-frequency communication module 136 the communication path P1 are forwarded to the luminaire-spanning unit 117. A monitoring tuple of the third luminaire 123 can also be received by the second high-frequency communication module 137 via the short path KP3 and transmitted to the luminaire-spanning unit 117 via the communication path P2. In addition, monitoring data of the third luminaire, which were received by the second high-frequency communication module 137, are also supplied via the short path KP1 to the first high-frequency communication module 136, which can subsequently also forward the monitoring data via the communication path P1. So z. B. short-term transmission interference on a short path KP1, KP2, KP3 can be avoided. Even if the communication paths P1, P2, P3 and the (communication) path P4 should be interrupted because e.g. B. the communication path length 173 is too long for a signal that is too weak at that moment, so that the communication paths P1, P2, P3 and P4 are all interrupted for a period of time, but thereafter, for example, the communication path P1 is available for a short period of time, All test results arrive from the lights 119, 123 and 121 from the temporary storage of the light 121 to the temporary storage of the light 124, in order to then reach communication unit P5 and P6 as far as the unit 117. Is the communication path P4 available at a later time because the If the communication path length 173 can be bridged, the test results finally reach the monitoring unit 117 which spans the lights. If the communication path P4 is interrupted, however, the interface device 151 can perform the function of a repeater and establish the connection to the unit 117 spanning the lights via the two communication paths P5 and P6. The data exchange and the control functions in the emergency lighting system 101 are ensured because there is no specification as to which path a surveillance tuple takes from a high-frequency communication module 136, 137, 138, 139 to the unit 117 that spans the lights. The components of a monitoring tuple can simultaneously strive for their destination via a plurality of communication paths, with only the arrival time being delayed, in particular with the number of passed high-frequency communication modules 136, 137, 138, 139. Only when the arrival time is delayed to such an extent that the data is no longer up to date are communication or lighting faults reported. Determinations as to when a fault is to be expected can be found in the relevant standards and can be 1 day, 1 week or, depending on the circumstances, one month.

An advantage of an emergency lighting system 101 according to the invention with data transmission of monitoring data in monitoring tuples, even without a totally shielding element such as the group of people M (according to Figure 2 ) can be estimated using a simple numerical example. Assuming a data transmission probability of 80% on each communication path P1, P2, P3, the probability for a direct supply of monitoring data for the lights 119, 121, 123 would be 0.8 in each case via the communication paths P1, P2, P3 according to known techniques * 0.8 * 0.8 = 0.51, i.e. approx. 50%. Every second test of the segment of the emergency lighting system 101 would have a transmission-related error. According to the above requirement, the probability of an unsuccessful transmission of the monitoring data from a lamp is 20%. Due to the fact that the entire monitoring data can be transmitted via each of the communication paths P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6 in an arrangement according to the invention, the probability of a transmission failure in the arrangement according to the invention is only 0.2 * 0 , 2 * 0.2 * 0.2 * 0.2 = 0.0016, i.e. in the alcohol range. Accordingly, only approximately every thousandth test of the segment of the emergency lighting system 101 would have a transmission error. The probabilities for transmission problems between the high-frequency communication modules 136, 137 and 138 in room R1 via the short paths KP1, KP2, KP3 were assumed to be negligible compared to possible transmission problems through a wall W. The assumption was also made that the communication path length 173 very long and thus the reliability of the communication path P4 is very low. The use of short paths between high-frequency communication modules 136, 137, 138 in the same room R1 increases the probability of transmission to a unit 117 that spans luminaires to more than 99%, although the individual probability of transmission in each case, that is, between a high-frequency communication module 136, 137, 138 and a luminaire overlapping 117, is only 80%.

The mode of operation of the data transmission from the segment of the emergency lighting system 101 in Figure 2 is going on in Figure 4 explained, wherein as a simplification a contribution of the fourth high-frequency communication module 139 to the fourth lamp 124 Figure 2 in the context of data transmission in Figure 4 is not discussed further.

Again Figure 2 can be seen, the interface device 151 is a transition component between the emergency lighting system 101 and the other building management system 157 which is still present. The interface device 151 is connected to the building management system via the connecting cable 167. The risk of radio interference from one building management system emergency lighting system 101 to the other building management system 157 is reduced by the cable routing in the second building management system 157.

The first light 119, more precisely the first emergency light, receives data via the short path KP1 from the second light 121 via a data tuple. The high-frequency communication module 136 then sends a data tuple with data from the first light 119 and the second light 121 to the fourth high-frequency communication module 139 as well as to the interface device 151 with its radio module such as radio module 239 (see Figure 3 ).

The lights 119, 121, 123 and 124 can be configured on site. In this way, a luminaire 119 can become a standby light luminaire as required.

Figure 3 shows the interior of an interface device 251 based on the illustration of a circuit diagram with schematic electronics and electrical symbols. The interface device 251 comprises several assemblies. One module is the radio module 239, to which further sub-modules such as the modules 245, 246, 247, 249, 250 belong. The radio module 239 has an antenna 246 which is connected to an RF radio part 245. On the board of the Radio module 239 is a bus connection 247 for a standard serial bus such as an RS-232 bus, an RS-485 bus or an RS-422 bus. Furthermore, the circuit board of the radio module 239 includes a web server 249. An Ethernet connector 250 is added to the radio module 239. The radio module 239 is inserted into a connector strip 254. The plug connector 254 leads electrically to the common fault contact, which is composed of the two parts of the common fault contact 269, 269 '. The radio module 239 further comprises a microcontroller 243. An analog driver stage 244 is connected to the microcontroller 243 and is controlled by the microcontroller 243. Via the analog driver stage 244, relays can be actuated beyond the connector strip 254 or kept in switched or unswitched states. Such a relay is part of the collective fault contact 269, 269 '. The second part of the common fault contact 269 'is implemented by a changeover contact. The changer 269 'is moved into different switching positions by the coil of the first part 269 of the collective fault contact. A field effect transistor FET of the "enhancement" type is located in the line connection between the plug connector 254 and the common interference contact 269, 269 '. With the help of the field effect transistor FET, the drive signal originating from the analog driver stage 244 is inverted for the first part 269 of the collective interference contact. An LED4 also present in the first part 269 of the common fault contact indicates the operating state of the common fault contact 269, 269 '. Further output contacts 263, 264 are implemented with the aid of relay circuits, similar to the common fault contact 269, 269 '. The interface device 251 comprises three output contact assemblies such as the output contacts 263, 264 or the common fault contact 269, 269 '. The interface device 251 has a power supply unit U _v . The power supply unit U _v supplies a wide variety of voltages through voltage supply _modules U _v1 , U _v2 . In addition, the interface device 251 has input contacts such as the input contact 261 or the fire alarm input 265. Both the fire alarm input 265 and the further input contact 261 are galvanically decoupled via optocouplers OK1, OK2. The output contacts like the output contacts 263, 264 are also galvanically decoupled due to the use of the relays. This means that all input contacts and output contacts are galvanically decoupled from one another and from the voltages of the power supply unit U _v . LEDs such as the LED3, LED4, LED5, LED6 are present behind each assembly of the input contacts such as the input contact 261 and the output contacts such as the output contacts 263, 264 and the common fault contact 269, 269 '. With further LEDs such as LEDs LED1, LED2, the presence of a sufficient supply voltage from the power supply unit U _v can be recognized. Despite the existing LEDs LED1, LED2, LED3, LED4, LED5, LED6, it is a device in a top-hat rail housing that is not intended for lighting purposes. The LEDs LED1, LED2, LED3, LED4, LED5, LED6 are only used for faster visual recognition during maintenance of a Emergency lighting system 1 (cf. Figure 1 ), 101 (cf. Figure 2 ).

The microcontroller 243 of the radio module 239 has what in Figure 3 is not immediately visible, a control program with which both the individual output contacts 263, 264 and input contacts 261 can be controlled, monitored and measured, as well as manipulation software for data tuples, received as transmission tuple 179 or monitoring tuple 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191 (see Figure 4 ). The microcontroller 243 receives individual data tuples via the antenna 246 and the RF radio part 245. The microcontroller 243 stores the received data tuple in an internal memory and supplements objects in the data tuple with those from the output contacts 263, 264 or at the common fault contact 269, 269 '. displayed states.

In Figure 4 is schematically a segment from the emergency lighting system 101, which is more extensive in Figure 2 is shown, shown in more detail along with their data tuples. In Figure 4 a transmission tuple 179 is transmitted by the luminaire-spanning unit 117 with the high-frequency communication module 134, which reaches the first high-frequency communication module 136 of the first lamp 119 via the communication path P1 and the second high-frequency communication module 137 of the second lamp 121 via the path P2. Due to a signal shield 175, the transmission tuple 179 cannot penetrate beyond the communication path length 173 of the communication path P3 to the third high-frequency communication module 138 of the third light 123. The transmission tuple 179 in the form of a monitoring tuple has a first component 193, a second component 194 and a plurality of further components 195, 195 ', 195 ", which are arranged sequentially in the transmission tuple 179. Each component 193, 194, 195, 195 ', 195 "of the transfer tuple 179 has an actuality stamp 197, which in particular determines a point in time at which the component of the transfer tuple 179 was updated. The first component of the transmission tuple 179 is provided for the recording of monitoring data DK1, DK1 'of the first high-frequency communication module 136, as are the corresponding further odd-numbered components for recording additional monitoring data DK2, DK2' and DK3, DK3 'of the transmission tuple 179 of the second high-frequency communication module 137 or are assigned to the third high-frequency communication module 138. The second component 194 of the transmission tuple 179 carries the control data SK1 intended for the first high-frequency communication module 136. Accordingly, the further even-numbered components of the transmission tuple 179 carry control commands in the control data SK2, SK3, each for the second high-frequency communication modules 131 and the third high-frequency communication module 138 are determined. The control data for the lights 119, 121, 123 are also each provided with an update stamp, such as the update stamp 197. The further data of the part of the emergency lighting system 101, which is otherwise not shown, are also documented in the transmission tuple 179, but are summarized as further data DTN in order to simplify the representation in the last component of the transmission tuple 179. A validity supplement 199 of the transmission tuple 179 is used to control the transmission quality of the data in the components of the transmission tuple 179. B. performed by the radio frequency communication module 136. The combination of control data and monitoring data shown in this example into a common, uniform transmission tuple leads to a particularly simple implementation of each individual high-frequency communication module such as high-frequency communication module 134, 136, 137, 138, 139.

The transmission tuple 179 also has a component for an alarm signal AS. The component of the alarm signal AS is assigned a processable value if an external event of another building management system 157 (cf. Figure 2 ) has occurred. With the help of the alarm signal AS, the lights 119, 121, 123 in their operating state, for. B. be changed by switching on.

In a possible embodiment, which results from the Figure 2 respectively. Figure 4 results, the radio-frequency communication modules 136, 137 transmit a corresponding, identical transmission tuple 179 in time after receipt of the transmission tuple 179 with control data SK1, SK2, SK3. The high-frequency communication modules 136, 137, 138 work as repeaters. There is an efficient and rapid distribution of tax data, which is necessary, for example, to set an up-to-date reference 42 (cf. Figure 1 ) via the high-frequency communication modules 136, 137, 138 is useful.

In another possible embodiment variant, after receiving the transmission tuple 179, a first monitoring tuple 181, 185, 189 is transmitted by the high-frequency communication modules 136, 137, 138. For this purpose, the first component of invalid data X in the first lamp 119 based on the transmission tuple 179 was replaced by current monitoring data DK1 of the first lamp 119 and the actuality stamp 197 and the validity supplement 199 were also updated. The validity supplement 199 is a self-correcting checksum from which it can be determined whether the transmission tuple 179 was received without errors. The monitoring tuple 181 reaches the second high-frequency communication module 137, the third high-frequency communication module 138 and the high-frequency communication module 134 of the luminaire-covering unit 117. Before receiving the monitoring tuple 181 of the first high-frequency communication module 136, the second high-frequency communication module 137 also sends out a first monitoring tuple 185, which the current monitoring data DK2 in of the third component based on the transmission tuple 179. The first component of the first monitoring tuple 185, which is assigned to the first high-frequency communication module 136, therefore still contains invalid data X. Due to a temporary electromagnetic signal interference 177, the monitoring tuple 185 from the second high-frequency communication module 137 only reaches the first high-frequency communication module 136 with non-valid data X in all components, so that the received monitoring tuple 185 in the first high-frequency communication module 136 is rejected. However, the first monitoring tuple 185 of the second high-frequency communication module 137 is received in valid form by both the third high-frequency communication module 138 and the high-frequency communication module 134. The monitoring data DK2 of the second light 119 are thus present in the third high-frequency communication module 138. Before the first high-frequency communication module 138 received the first monitoring tuple 183, 185, the latter had already sent out a monitoring tuple 189, which, owing to the fact that the transmission tuple 179 was not received, only made a valid data entry of status information of the third light 123 as monitoring data DK3 in the contains the corresponding component of the first monitoring tuple 189, the remaining components of which are described with non-valid data X. This first monitoring tuple 189 only reaches the high-frequency communication modules 136, 137, but not the high-frequency communication module 134 of the luminaire-crossing unit 117. The analysis of the first monitoring tuple 189 in the high-frequency communication modules 136, 137 in connection with temporarily stored data shows that there is a transmission problem on the third high-frequency communication module 138. This information is written into the second monitoring tuples 183 and 187, which are emitted by the high-frequency communication modules 136, 137, by updating the component for the control data SK3 to the third lamp 123 in the form of control data SK3 '. When the second monitoring tuple 187 is emitted From the second high-frequency communication module 137, all the current monitoring data for the lights 119, 121, 123 are already written into the monitoring tuple 187. The monitoring data DK2 'of the second luminaire 121 are up to date. In addition, the monitoring tuple 187 of the luminaire-crossing unit 117 is used to inform the control data SK3' that there is a transmission problem with the third high-frequency communication module 138. The reception problem of the first monitoring tuple 185 by the first high-frequency communication module 136 was noted as an updated control data record SK2 'in the second monitoring tuple 183 of the first high-frequency communication module 136, so that this information is also received by the unit 117, but via the communication path P1. Due to the electromagnetic interference 177, the monitoring tuple 183 does not contain any monitoring data about the second lamp 119, but the monitoring data DK1 'of the first lamp is up to date. The monitoring data DK2 only reach the first communication module 136 via the short path KP3 and the short path KP2 with the second Monitoring tuple 191, which the third high-frequency communication module 138 emits, together with an update of the monitoring data DK3 'of the third light 123. Thus, the data record DK2 can only be included in the corresponding component of a third monitoring tuple (not shown) of the first high-frequency communication module 136. After studying the processes according to Figure 3 it becomes clear how quickly (and reliably) current information about the emergency lighting system 101, in particular about the lights 119, 121 and 123, spread. Almost without loss of time, the light-encompassing unit 117 receives notification of possible communication problems. The reliable operation of the emergency lighting system 101 is thus ensured. It is also obvious that a transmission can be accomplished without an initiation by the luminaire-crossing unit 117. The high-frequency communication modules 136, 137, 138 in the lights 119, 121, 123 are controlled by a timer (not shown graphically), only dependent on their operating parameters or on measured values, send monitoring tuples 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191. A time-overlapping arrival, which makes data reception impossible due to the collision, from several monitoring tuples 181, 185, for example at the high-frequency communication module 137, is prevented by different operating parameters and thus different timing of the timers. The timers work with non-equidistant time intervals which depend on the operating parameters when the transmission of a transmission tuple is repeated, in order to avoid this in the event of a random collision during the next repetition.

The circuit after Figure 3 can be in one piece or divided into several boards or even housings in an emergency lighting system 1, 101 (see Figures 1 and 5) be installed. There is a circuit behind Figure 3 completely in a lamp as in lamp 24 (see Figure 1 ), the lamp 24 can be used as a "single-battery lamp" (it is also referred to as "self-contained"). Is in a lamp, such as lamp 23 (see Figure 1 ), only the circuit part is present, the one in the upper left area with the reference symbol U _v in the circuit Figure 3 is shown, arranged in a centralized manner, this is referred to as a central or group battery-supplied emergency lighting system. Such emergency lighting systems are also known as CPS (Central Power Supply) or LPS (Low Power Supply).

Another relay (not shown) can follow in the circuit Figure 3 be installed. It can be used to control lamps.

The radio module after Figure 3 can be used as a retrofit kit 239, e.g. B. as a plug-in module, designed for previously common lights in emergency lighting systems.

If the luminaire housing is made of metal or plastic, tests have shown that only a negligible attenuation occurs in a frequency band around 868 MHz.

The design options shown graphically can also be combined with the other verbally presented aspects in any form.

Reference symbol list

1, 101

Emergency lighting system

3rd

building

5

Concrete tub

7

Escape corridor

9

Fire section I

10th

Fire section III

11

Fire section II

13

Central unit

15

Synchronization module

17, 117

first cross-luminaire unit

18th

second cross-luminaire unit

19, 119

first light

21, 121

second light

23, 123

third light

24, 124

fourth light

29

Repeater

31

power supply

32

Luminaire monitoring

33

Radio module, in particular high-frequency communication module of the central unit

34

Radio module, in particular high-frequency communication module of the cross-luminaire unit

134

High-frequency communication module, in particular the cross-luminaire unit

35

Radio module, in particular high-frequency communication module of a repeater

36

fourth radio module, in particular fourth high-frequency communication module

136

second radio frequency communication module

37

fifth radio module, in particular fifth high-frequency communication module

137

third radio frequency communication module

38

sixth radio module, in particular sixth high-frequency communication module

138

fourth high frequency communication module

39

seventh radio module, in particular seventh high-frequency communication module

139

fifth high frequency communication module

239

Radio module, in particular the interface device

40, 40 '

Transmission assembly

41

Cache

42

Up-to-date reference, in particular an up-to-date stamp

243

Microcontroller

244

Analog driver stage

245

RF radio part

46, 46 ',

antenna

246 247

Bus connection

249

Web server

250

Ethernet connector

51, 151,

Interface device

251 53

DIN rail housing

254

Header

55

Radio channel

57, 157

Building control system

59

Fire alarm system

61, 261

Input contact, in particular with at least two fastening means

63, 263

first output contact

264

second output contact

65

Fire sensor

265

Fire alarm entrance

67, 167

connection cable

269

first part of the collective fault contact

269 '

second part of the collective fault contact

173, 173 ',

Communication path length, especially route

173 "175

Signal shielding

177

Signal interference

179

Transmission tuple, especially surveillance tuple

181

first monitoring tuple, in particular of the first high-frequency communication module

183

second monitoring tuple, in particular of the first high-frequency communication module

185

first monitoring tuple, in particular of the second high-frequency communication module

187

second monitoring tuple, in particular of the second high-frequency communication module

189

first monitoring tuple, in particular of the third high-frequency communication module

191

second monitoring tuple, in particular of the third high-frequency communication module

193

first component of the transmission tuple, in particular a monitoring tuple

194

second component of the transmission tuple, in particular one Surveillance tuples

195, 195 ',

Component or object

195 "197

Actuality stamp

199

Validity supplement

AS

Alarm signal

DK1,

Monitoring data of the first lamp

DK1 'DK2,

Monitoring data second light

DK2 'DK3,

Third luminaire monitoring data

DK3 'DTN

further data

FET

Field-effect transistor, especially a MOS-FET

KP1

Short path

KP2

Short path

KP3

Short path

LED1

First LED

LED2

Second LED

LED3

Third LED

LED4

Fourth LED

LED5

Fifth LED

LED6

Sixth LED

M

Group of people

OK1

First optocoupler

OK2

Second optocoupler

P1

Communication path

P2

Communication path

P3

Communication path

P4

Communication path

P5

Communication path

P6

Communication path

R1

First room

R2

Second room

SK1

Control data first lamp

SK2, SK2 '

Control data second light

SK3, SK3 '

Control data third light

U _v

power adapter

U _v1

First power supply module

U _v2

Second power supply module

W

wall

X

invalid data, especially negative monitoring data

Claims (19)

1. Emergency lighting system (1, 101),
   comprising an interface device (51, 151, 251) which is equipped with a radio module (33, 34, 134, 35, 36, 136, 37, 137, 38, 138, 39, 139, 239),
   or comprising multiple interface devices (51, 151, 251) which are equipped with radio modules (33, 34, 134, 35, 36, 136, 37, 137, 38, 138, 39, 139, 239), and
   comprising at least one first emergency light (19, 119) and
   comprising at least one second emergency light (21, 121),
   which are connected to one another via a radio channel (55),
   wherein data (177, 185, 187, DK1, DK2, DK2', DK3) can be transmitted on the radio channel (55) by the second emergency light (21, 121), which is equipped with a radio module (33, 34, 134, 35, 36, 136, 37, 137, 38, 138, 39, 139, 239),
   wherein data (179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, DK2, DK2') regarding a state of the second emergency light (21, 121) can be forwarded by the first emergency light (19, 119), which is equipped with a radio module (33, 34, 134, 35, 36, 136, 37, 137, 38, 138, 39, 139, 239), and
   wherein the interface device (51, 151, 251) by means of its radio module (33, 34, 134, 35, 36, 136, 37, 137, 38, 138, 39, 139, 239) represents a radio node (P1, P2, P3) communicating (SK1, SK2, SK3) on the radio channel (55),
   and
   the interface device (51, 151, 251) has at least one contact (61, 63, 261, 263, 264, 265), characterized in that
   the at least one first emergency light (19, 119, 21, 121, 23, 123, 24, 124) and the at least one second emergency light (19, 119, 21, 121, 23, 123, 24, 124) and the interface device (51, 151, 251) can be brought into data exchange, by means of the at least one radio channel (55) over which state data (177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191) can be transmitted, with a further radio participant device (29, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 134, 136, 137, 138, 139) of the emergency lighting system (1, 101), to which a communication path is not initially established, wherein the interface device (51, 151, 251) is equipped with an electronic part, having a timer or a timing element, for the connection of at least one building management system (57, 157, 59),
   and in that one contact (61, 63, 261, 263, 264, 265) of the at least one contact (61, 63, 261, 263, 264, 265) is an output contact (63, 263, 264)
   which, as a combined fault contact (269, 269'), designates a number of different faults for informing the building management system (57, 157, 59) about faults and which is switchable only when a fault exists for a minimum duration,
   and one contact (61, 63, 261, 263, 264, 265) of the at least one contact (61, 63, 261, 263, 264, 265) is an input contact (61, 261, 265) which is an galvanically decoupled voltage contact for a wide-range voltage or
   which serves to connect a remote radio module (33, 34, 134, 35, 36, 136, 37, 137, 38, 138, 39, 139, 239) via connecting lines, and
   in that the radio module (33, 34, 134, 35, 36, 136, 37, 137, 38, 138, 39, 139, 239) of the interface device (51, 151, 251) comprises a microcontroller (243) with a control program, so that,
   via the input contact (61, 261, 265), emergency lights (19, 119, 21, 121, 23, 123, 24, 124) of the emergency lighting system (1, 101) can be switched on by objects in a data tuple which are filled in by the microcontroller (243), the data tuple being communicated on the at least one radio channel (55).
2. Emergency lighting system (1, 101) according to claim 1, characterized in that the combined fault contact (269, 269') comprises a changeover.
3. Emergency lighting system (1, 101) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
   at least one emergency light (19, 119, 21, 121, 23, 123, 24, 124) is configured as a stand-by light.
4. Emergency lighting system (1, 101) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
   the interface device (51, 151, 251) has both a combined fault contact (269, 269') and a fire alarm contact (265).
5. Emergency lighting system (1, 101) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
   the input contact (61, 261, 265) is a fire alarm contact (265).
6. Emergency lighting system (1, 101) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
   the interface device (51, 151, 251) is a stand-alone electronic device.
7. Emergency lighting system (1, 101) according to claim 6, characterized in that the interface device (51, 151, 251) has no wired connection to any of the other radio participant devices (19, 119, 21, 121, 23, 123, 24, 124, 29).
8. Emergency lighting system (1, 101) according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterized in that
   the interface device (51, 151, 251) is a dark-area device installed on a mounting rail.
9. Emergency lighting system (1, 101) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
   the combined fault contact (269, 269') can be actuated by a microcontroller (243) in a microcontroller-controlled manner (244).
10. Emergency lighting system (1, 101) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
    the combined fault contact (269, 269') has an interference-proof connection loop.
11. Emergency lighting system (1, 101) according to claim 10, characterized in that the connection loop is implemented electromechanically.
12. Emergency lighting system (1, 101) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
    the interface device (51, 151, 251) comprises at least two output contact pairs (63, 263, 264, 269, 269') and at least two input contact pairs (61, 261, 265), of which each contact pair (61, 261, 63, 263, 264, 265, 269, 269') is galvanically decoupled from the other contact pairs (63, 263, 264, 265, 269, 269', 61, 261).
13. Emergency lighting system (1, 101) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
    the interface device (51, 151, 251) comprises an input voltage circuit (U_V, U_V1, U_V2), which can be supplied by a mains voltage supply.
14. Emergency lighting system (1, 101) according to any one of the preceding claims 9 to 13, characterized in that
    the microcontroller (243) is configured to function as a logic OR.
15. Emergency lighting system (1, 101) according to claim 14, characterized in that a switching pulse for the combined fault contact (269, 269') can be generated by the microcontroller (243) as a result of one or two or more of the following triggering events:

    as a result of an alarm signal (AS) received via radio transmission,

    as a result of a fault in the interface device (51, 151, 251),

    as a result of a fault on a radio channel (55),

    as a result of an error message, or

    as a result of a data bit error (177).
16. Emergency lighting system (1, 101) according to any one of the preceding claims 9 to 15, characterized in that
    the microcontroller (243) is connected to a radio module (33, 34, 134, 35, 36, 136, 37, 137, 38, 138, 39, 139, 239).
17. Emergency lighting system (1, 101) according to claim 16, characterized in that the microcontroller (243) has a bus connection (247), an ISA network connection, or a web server interface (249).
18. Method for informing a building management system (57, 157) via data (179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, DK1, DK1', DK2, DK2', DK3, DK3', DTN, AS, SK1, SK2, SK2', SK3, SK3') from an emergency lighting system (1, 101),
    wherein the data (179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, DK1, DK1', DK2, DK2', DK3, DK3', DTN, AS, SK1, SK2, SK2', SK3, SK3') are received via radio from at least one emergency light (19, 119, 21, 121, 23, 123, 24, 124) by an interface device (51, 151, 251) having a radio module (33, 34, 134, 35, 36, 136, 37, 137, 38, 138, 39, 139, 239), characterized in that
    the received data (179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, DK1, DK1', DK2, DK2', DK3, DK3', DTN, AS, SK1, SK2, SK2', SK3, SK3') are made available at a combined fault contact (269, 269') of the interface device (51, 151, 251), and
    a microcontroller (243) of the interface device (51, 151, 251) identifies at least two fault sources (AS, 177)
    which prevent undisturbed reception of a data set of the data (179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, DK1, DK1', DK2, DK2', DK3, DK3', DTN, AS, SK1, SK2, SK2', SK3, SK3') transmitted as a monitoring tuple (179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191),
    wherein an analysis of monitoring tuples (183, 185, 187) or an analysis of monitoring tuples (183, 185, 187) with temporarily stored data by the programmed microcontroller (243) is a basis for identifying the fault sources (AS, 177), and
    if at least one of the fault sources (AS, 177) is present, the combined fault contact (269, 269') is switched only after a minimum duration of a fault,
    via which information for the wired building management system (57, 157) can be transmitted.
19. Interface device (51, 151, 251), which has a radio module (239),
    characterized in that
    the interface device (51, 151, 251) carries out both a method for informing a building management system (57, 157) via data (179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, DK1, DK1', DK2, DK2', DK3, DK3', DTN, AS, SK1, SK2, SK2', SK3, SK3') from an emergency lighting system (1, 101) according to claim 18
    and an insertion of an activation signal (AS) into a data tuple (179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191) for an emergency lighting system (1, 101)
    in a same microcontroller (243) of the interface device (51, 151, 251), then using the same radio module (33, 34, 134, 35, 36, 136, 37, 137, 38, 138, 39, 139, 239) to receive a data tuple (179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191)
    and to transmit an information-adapted data tuple (179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191),
    wherein the data (179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, DK1, DK1', DK2, DK2', DK3, DK3', DTN, AS, SK1, SK2, SK2', SK3, SK3') from the emergency lighting system (1, 101) are data exchanged via radio between emergency lights (19, 119, 21, 121, 23, 123, 24, 124), and the insertion comprises an insertion process
    which includes the following steps:

    the interface device (51, 151, 251) receives the data tuple (179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191) via the radio module (33, 34, 134, 35, 36, 136, 37, 137, 38, 138, 39, 139, 239),

    the data tuple (179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191) is temporarily stored in a memory (41) managed by the microcontroller (243),

    information about a signal (AS) at a fire alarm input (265) is inserted into the data tuple (179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191) in a component of the data tuple (179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191) that is provided for this purpose, and

    the data tuple (179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191) is intended to be made available via the radio module (33, 34, 134, 35, 36, 136, 37, 137, 38, 138, 39, 139, 239) to other radio participant devices (19, 119, 21, 121, 23, 123, 24, 124, 29) of the emergency lighting system (1, 101).

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