EP3825973A1 - Fire alarm system controller, fire alarm system, separator device and method for initializing a fire alarm system - Google Patents
Fire alarm system controller, fire alarm system, separator device and method for initializing a fire alarm system Download PDFInfo
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- EP3825973A1 EP3825973A1 EP19210896.7A EP19210896A EP3825973A1 EP 3825973 A1 EP3825973 A1 EP 3825973A1 EP 19210896 A EP19210896 A EP 19210896A EP 3825973 A1 EP3825973 A1 EP 3825973A1
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- Prior art keywords
- separator
- bus
- identifier information
- alarm system
- initialization process
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 82
- 230000006854 communication Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 45
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 45
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 26
- 230000002457 bidirectional effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 238000004146 energy storage Methods 0.000 claims description 18
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 claims description 13
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 206010003402 Arthropod sting Diseases 0.000 description 4
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000012212 insulator Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon monoxide Chemical compound [O+]#[C-] UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000007175 bidirectional communication Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003990 capacitor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910002091 carbon monoxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011423 initialization method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 231100000614 poison Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003440 toxic substance Substances 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B25/00—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems
- G08B25/003—Address allocation methods and details
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B17/00—Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B25/00—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems
- G08B25/14—Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
Abstract
a power module for supplying power to the bus (3) to the separator devices;
a communication module for performing a bidirectional digital communication through the bus with the separator devices; and
a monitoring module for monitoring the electrical current supplied to the bus;
wherein the alarm system controller further includes:
an initialisation module for initialising the alarm system, wherein the initialisation module is configured to control:
the power module so as to temporarily increase an electrical voltage supplied through the bus above a first threshold, for triggering an internal initialization process of at least one of the plurality of separator modules;
the monitoring module so as to determine whether more than one separator device has started the internal initialization process, depending upon whether the electrical current supplied to the bus exceeds a second threshold or not; and
the communication module to perform an initialization communication with a separator device, which has started the internal initialization process, if only one separator devices has started the internal initialization process;
wherein the initialisation module is configured to perform an exception initialization process, if more than one separator devices has started the internal initialization process.
Description
- The present invention relates to an alarm system controller, an alarm system, a separator device and method for initializing an alarm system. Especially, the invention relates to a fire alarm system controller, a fire alarm system, a separator device and method for initializing a fire alarm system.
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EP 1703481 discloses a danger warning system that has a central station, i.e. control panel, and appliances, i.e. separator devices, which are connected thereto by a monitoring line of a bus. Each appliance has an insulator switch, a unique identifier information, and a communication address. In order to determine the configuration of the danger warning system, the appliances that can be decoupled by the insulator switch are sequentially started and announced to the central station. In the event of simultaneous announcements of more than one appliance, only the announcement of one of said appliances is accepted. During the announcement of appliances at the central station with the communication addresses thereof, when appliances with different communication addresses are simultaneous announced, the communication addresses are differed according to an arbitration method, and the two different communication addresses are sequentially registered. When appliances with the same communication addresses are simultaneously announced, the collision of said same communication addresses is identified and resolved. - However, when only one appliance is connected at a time, the central station has to wait a certain idle time, in order to make sure that no further appliance is trying to connect.
- Additionally, in case that due to a fabrication error two appliances have the same communication address, the state of the art has to rely on the unique identifier information to discover this error.
- Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an alarm system controller, an alarm system, a separator device and method for initializing an alarm system which allow a faster initialisation process.
- A further advantage of the invention is to provide an alarm system controller, an alarm system, a separator device and method for initializing an alarm system which allow to recognize a unique identifier information error.
- According to the invention the above object is achieved by an alarm control system according to
claim 1, an alarm system according to claim 6, a separator device according toclaim 7 and a method according to claim 8. The dependent claims are directed to different advantageous aspects of the invention. - Especially, the present invention provides an alarm system controller configured to be connected to a wired bus divided into a plurality of segments by means of a plurality of separator devices. The alarm system controller comprises a power module for supplying power to the bus to the separator devices, a communication module for performing a bidirectional digital communication through the bus with the separator devices, and a monitoring module for monitoring the electrical current supplied to the bus. The alarm system controller further includes an initialisation module for initialising the alarm system, wherein the initialisation module is configured to control the power module so as to temporarily increase an electrical voltage supplied through the bus above a first threshold, for triggering an internal initialization process of at least one of the plurality of separator modules, to control the monitoring module so as to determine whether more than one separator device has started the internal initialization process, depending upon whether the electrical current supplied to the bus exceeds a second threshold or not, and to control the communication module to perform an initialization communication with a separator device, which has started the internal initialization process, if only one separator devices has started the internal initialization process. The initialisation module is configured to perform an exception initialization process, if more than one separator devices has started the internal initialization process.
- Since the alarm system controller of the present invention present invention monitors, whether the current exceeds a second threshold, the alarm system controller can immediately recognize any branch in the bus, since a branch will lead to the simultaneous connection of at least two separator devices with a corresponding increased current, or whether only one separator device has been connected. If only one separator device has been connected, the alarm system controller of the invention does not have to wait for any further unique identifier information, and can immediately increase the voltage at the bus upon finalizing the internal initialization process of the one separator device. Thus the overall time for the initialization of the system can be shorten.
- According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the communication module is configured to receive a unique identifier information from a separation device and to transmit an acknowledgement to the respective separation device including the received unique identifier information and a short identifier information.
- According to a further advantageous aspect of the invention, the initialisation module is configured to perform the exception initialization process including a bitwise arbitration process using the unique identifier information comprising receiving a first unique identifier information of a first separator device and transmitting an acknowledgement including the received first unique identifier information and a first short identifier information, subsequently receiving a second unique identifier information of a second separator device (5) and transmitting a response including the second received unique identifier information and a second short identifier information, and waiting to receive a further
- According to a further advantageous aspect of the invention, the initialisation module is configured to control the communication module so as to transmit the connection instruction to a first separator device and to postpone the transmission of the connection instruction to a second separator device.
- According to a further advantageous aspect of the invention, the alarm system controller further comprises a configuration storage module storing a table relating the unique identifier information and the first short identifier information of the respective separator devices with each other and further more storing relative position information of the separator devices along the bus.
- According to a further advantageous aspect of the invention, there is provided an alarm system comprising an alarm controller as discussed above, a bus and a plurality of separator devices.
- According to a further advantageous aspect of the invention, there is provided a separator device for an alarm system comprising an energy storage means for storing electrical energy, a separator control unit configured to control the operation and initialization of the separator device and charging and discharging of the energy storage means, an information storage means for storing the unique identifier information permanently and for storing the short identifier information in a rewriteable manner, and a separator communication module for transmitting the unique identifier information through the bus, while monitoring the bus for performing a bitwise arbitration process, wherein the separator control circuit is configured to detect the voltage at the bus and to perform the internal initialization process, when the detected voltage exceeds the first threshold level and no short identifier information is stored in the information storage means.
- According to a further advantageous aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for initializing an alarm system comprising the steps of:
- a) temporarily increasing the voltage supplied from the power module to a value higher than the first threshold value;
- b) detecting the increased voltage value by at least one separator control circuit of a separator device, while charging the energy storage means using the electrical power supplied through the bus, and performing an internal initialization process of the separator device;
- c) detecting a current flowing to the bus by means of the monitoring module of the alarm system controller;
- d) determining, when the detected current is higher than the second threshold, that more than one separator device has started the internal initialization process; and
- According to a further advantageous aspect of the invention, the exception initialization process comprises the steps of:
- d1) transmitting from the more than one separator devices (5) a unique identifier information while performing a bitwise arbitration;
- d2) transmitting from the communication module (9) of the alarm system controller a short identifier information together with the unique identifier information of the separation device (5), which has succeeded in the bitwise arbitration of step d1);
- d3) retransmitting only from the separator device or devices, which have not succeeded in the bitwise arbitration, the unique identifier information, while performing a bitwise arbitration;
- d4) transmitting from the communication module of the alarm system controller the short identifier information together with the unique identifier information of the separation device, which has succeeded in the bitwise arbitration of step d3);
- d5) performing the above steps d2) and d4) until all separator devices of the more than one separator devices (5) have received a short identifier information; and
- d6) connecting a next segment of the bus through the separator device, which has succeeded in the bitwise arbitration of step d1).
- According to a further advantageous aspect of the invention, the method further comprises the steps:
- e) determining, when the detected current is higher than the third threshold but lower than the second threshold, that one separator device has started the internal initialization process;
- f) repeating the steps a) to e) until the monitoring module of the alarm system controller determines that the increase of the voltage in step a) does not cause an increase of the current flowing into the bus exceeding the third threshold, and judging that all separator devices of a respective branch of the bus have been initialized;
- g) connecting a next segment of the bus through one of the separator devices, which have not succeeded in a bitwise arbitration in step d2) or d3);
- h) repeating steps the steps a) to e) until the monitoring module of the alarm system controller determines that an increase of the voltage in step a) does not cause an increase of the current flowing into the bus and judging that all separator devices (5) of a respective branch of the bus have been initialized;
- i)repeating steps g) and h) until all separator devices (5) connect the respective segments of the bus.
- According to a further advantageous aspect of the invention, the method further comprises:
detecting that two separator devices directly connected to a branching point of the bus have identical unique identifier information, when an increased current is detected in step d) but no retransmission of a unique identifier information in step d3) is detected. - According to a further advantageous aspect of the invention, the relation of unique identifier information and short identifier information is stored in the alarm system controller together with topographical information of the bus reflecting the relative positon of the separator devices, branching points and segments.
- In the following preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein
- Fig. 1
- shows the overall configuration of the alarm system;
- Fig. 2
- shows an alarm system controller of a control panel;
- Fig. 3
- shows a separator device of the alarm system; and
- Fig. 4
- shows a flow diagram of the method for carrying out the invention.
- As shown in
Fig. 1 , according to the invention an alarm system, especially a fire alarm system, comprises a control panel, abus 3 and a plurality ofalarm devices 5, like sensors or actuators. Thebus 3 can be configured in a variety of topologies, including loops or stiches and even a combination of both. Thebus 3, which is preferably a two wired bus, is used to supply power from the control panel to thealarm devices 5 and for a bidirectional transmission of digital information signals between thecontrol panel 1 and thealarm devices 5. - The
alarm devices 5 are equipped withseparator devices 5, which allow to isolatesegments 15 of thebus 3 in in case of e.g. a short circuit or an earth fault. - When an alarm system according to the invention is build up, it is essential to correctly acquire the topology of the alarm system by the control panel. Therefore, the control panel includes an
alarm system controller 1, which is designed to perform an initialization process to acquire the topology of the alarm system and respective unique identifier information of allseparator devices 5. - At the beginning of the initialization process all
separator devices 5 are in a non-connecting state and allinternal energy storage 19 are discharged. The control panel applies a predetermined fixed voltage, exceeding first voltage level, to thebus 3. This voltage reaches theseparator device 5 immediately adjacent to the control panel. Theinternal energy storage 19 of thisseparator device 5 begins to be charged by the first voltage level and a corresponding current flows from the control panel to thefirst separator device 5 through the bus. After a predetermined time, which usually is set so as to allow to chargeenergy storage 19, the voltage is decreased again to a low voltage level and theseparator device 5 starts an internal initialization process, including a digital communication with the control panel. - Subsequently, the control panel instructs this
separator device 5 to connect thenext segment 15 of thebus 3, that is thesegment 15 of thebus 3 between thisrespective separator device 5 and anadjacent separator device 5. The control panel again increases the voltage, and the initializing process for thenext separator device 5 is performed. This procedure is sequentially repeated until none of theseparator devices 5 remain in the non-connected state. - Each
separator device 5 has the unique identifier information, like a MAC-Address, allowing a reliable identification. When first connecting theseparator device 5 through thebus 3 with the control panel, theseparator device 5 transmits his unique identifier information to the control panel. The control panel acknowledges the receipt of the unique identifier information by retransmitting this unique identifier information together with a short identifier information to theseparator device 5. - The initialization process however is time consuming. The unique identifier information is lengthy, e.g. 64 Bit, and requires a certain time for the transmission and retransmission. The control panel assigns the short identifier information or communication address, e.g. 8 Bit, to the received unique identifier information and communicates this short identifier information together with the received unique identifier information to the separator device, so that in future communication the
separator device 5 can be addressed using the short identifier information. The short identifier information has to be unique only within the bus controlled by the control panel. - Since the
bus 3 is not limited to a simple stich or a loop, it might occur that two ormore separator devices 5, e.g. one in a stich and one in a loop, start the internal initialization processes simultaneously. In this case bothseparator devices 5 will start to transmit their unique identifier information simultaneously. To resolve this issue, a bitwise arbitration is carried out. That is, during the transmission bothseparator devices 5 monitor thebus 3 and compare the voltage level with their transmission signal. As soon as a bit of the unique identifier information of the twoseparator devices 5 differs, this will be recognized. For example, if a first separator device transmits a low level, by connecting the bus to a fixed low voltage level, while the other separator device transmits a high level, the bus will remain in the fixed low voltage level. In this event, it is decided that theseparator device 5, transmitting the low voltage level, has won the arbitration, and theother separator device 5 will stop the transmission of his unique identifier information and wait until the control panel has sent the acknowledgement including the unique identifier information and the short identifier information to theseparator device 5, which has won the arbitration. Subsequently, the other separator device, which has not won the arbitration, will restart the transmission of his unique identifier information to the control panel. - If two
separator devices 5 transmit their unique identifier information before the control panel increases the voltage level at thebus 3 again, the control panel records that there must be a branch in the bus. - In this way topology information about the bus is obtained.
- As shown in
Fig. 2 according to the invention thealarm system controller 1 of the invention comprises apower module 7, which is configured to supply power to thebus 3. Thepower module 7 is designed to operate at at least two different voltage levels, one for the usual operation of the alarm system, e.g. 12 V, and one for triggering the switching of aseparator device 5 from the non-connected to the connected state, e.g. 40 V. These voltage values are only examples, and the invention is not limited thereto. - Furthermore, the
alarm system controller 1 includes acommunication module 9 for enabling a bidirectional communication through thebus 3. Preferably the communication is performed through voltage modulation. - According to the invention the
alarm system controller 1 additionally includes amonitoring module 11 which is arranged to monitor the current supplied to thebus 3. - In the event that two or
more separator devices 5 try to perform their respective initialization processes simultaneously, theenergy storages 19 of more than oneseparator device 5 will draw current from thebus 3, while the power module is applying the high voltage level. Accordingly, themonitoring module 9 will recognize that the current supplied to thebus 3 exceeds the expected second threshold value. The detection of this event can be used to determine that more than oneseparator device 5 has tried to join thebus 3 and that accordingly, there is a branch in thebus 3. In other words, when thepower module 7 applies a voltage at a first fixed predetermined level and if simultaneously the current monitored by themonitoring module 9 exceeds a second threshold, aninitialization module 13 of thealarm system controller 1 will start an exception initialization process. - On the other hand, when only one
separator module 5 tries to join thebus 5, the current flowing to thebus 3 will be smaller and below a predetermined third threshold. - Thus, the
initialization module 13 will perform a regular initialization process in case the current does not exceed the above mentioned third threshold. - According to the invention, the
alarm system controller 1 further includes aconfiguration storage module 17, which will store a table relating the unique identifier information and the first short identifier information of the respective separator devices with each other and further more will store relative position information (topology information) of theseparator devices 5 along thebus 3, indicating the sequence ofseparator devices 5 along thebus 3 and the respective branching points. - In the embodiment of
Fig. 2 thealarm system controller 11 is equipped with respective switches S1 and S2. Thealarm system controller 1 can alternatively perform the initialization from either side of the bus loop shown inFig. 1 . - In an alternative embodiment, the
alarm system controller 1 can be designed to simultaneously perform the initialization from both sides of the bus loop, shown inFig. 1 . In this case the power module, the monitoring module and the communication module have to be designed to process the both sides of the bus simultaneously, for example by providing two power modules, two the monitoring modules and two communication modules or by adequately switching of these modules. This configuration has the advantage that the time for initialization is further decreased. -
Fig. 3 shows a separator device according to the invention. Theseparator device 5 comprises the energy storage means 19, e.g. a capacitor or a secondary battery. This energy storage means 19 is connected between thebus 3 and ground in parallel with a switch S5. The switch S5 is used to completely discharge the energy storage means 19, before beginning with the internal initialization process, in order to surely control the current, which will be drawn by theseparator module 5. The energy storage means 19 can be used to supply power t theseparator device 5 in case of a short interruption of power supply through the bus, or for reconnecting theseparator device 5 after a short circuit event. - The
separator device 5 further includes aseparator control unit 21 for controlling the operation and initialization of theseparator device 5 and the charging and discharging of the energy storage means 19. - Additionally, there is provided an information storage means 23 for storing the unique identifier information permanently and for storing the short identifier information in a rewriteable manner.
- A
separator communication module 25 transmits the unique identifier information through thebus 3, while monitoring thebus 3 for performing a bitwise arbitration process, as described above. - Additionally the
separator control circuit 21 detects the voltage at thebus 3 and performs the internal initialization process, when the detected voltage exceeds the first threshold level and no short identifier information is stored in the information storage means 23. - In detail, according to a preferred embodiment the
power module 9 of thealarm system controller 1 temporarily increases the voltage supplied from thepower module 11 to a known voltage level, higher than the first threshold value. - The
separator control circuit 21 of aseparator device 5 detects the increased voltage value, while charging the energy storage means 19 using the electrical power supplied through thebus 3, and performs the internal initialization process of theseparator device 5. - The
monitoring module 9 of the alarm system controller detects the current flowing through thebus 3 controller. - When the detected current is higher than the second threshold, the
alarm system controller 1 concludes that more than oneseparator device 5 has started the internal initialization process, and performs an initialization communication with theseparator device 5, which has started the internal initialization process, if only oneseparator devices 5 has started the internal initialization process and subsequently instructs therespective separator device 5 to connectnext segment 15 of thebus 3. This concept is shown in the flow diagram ofFig. 4 . - For doing so, the
separator device 5 is preferably equipped with two switches S3 and S4. At the beginning these switches S3 and S4 are open, so as to disconnect both sides of thebus 3. Upon receiving the high voltage level from thebus 3 and charging of the energy storage means 19, the switch S3 on the receiving side will be closed, so as to supply power to the internal circuit of theseparator device 5, including theseparator control unit 21, the information storage means 23 and theseparator communication module 25. - Since the energy storage means 19 had been charged, the
power module 7 reduces the voltage at thebus 3 to the operation level and the transmission of digital information between thealarm system controller 1 and theseparator device 5 is carried out. - When the
separator device 5 is correctly initialized, that is, when theseparator device 5 has transmitted his unique identifier information to thealarm system controller 1 and has received the acknowledgment of this information together with his short identifier information, theseparator device 5 will close the other switch S4 and thealarm system controller 1 will raise the voltage at thebus 3 again to the high voltage level, unless an exception initialization process is required from thealarm system controller 1. Since thealarm system controller 1 does not need to wait an idle time to check, whetherfurther separator devices 5 try to join thebus 3, the sequential connection of theseparator devices 5 will proceed fast. - Upon closing the second switch S4, the
alarm system controller 1 applies the high voltage level to the next segment of thebus 3 and the initialization of thenext separator device 5 is started. - On the other hand, if the
monitoring module 9 detects a current, exceeding the second threshold, thealarm system controller 1 will postpone the instruction to theseparator device 5 for connecting thenext segment 15, i.e. to close the second switch S4. Furthermore, thealarm system controller 1 will continue to apply the low voltage level to thebus 3, so that a communication withother separator devices 5, which have not won the arbitration process, can be carried out. - As explained above, according to the invention the initialization method of the alarm system includes transmitting from the separator devices 5 a unique identifier information while performing a bitwise arbitration and transmitting from the communication module of the
alarm system controller 1 an acknowledgement including a short identifier information together with the unique identifier information of theseparation device 5, which has succeeded in the bitwise arbitration of step. - Furthermore, in case of an exception initialization process the method includes retransmitting only from the separator device or
devices 5, which have not succeeded in the bitwise arbitration, the unique identifier information, while performing a bitwise arbitration - If only one
further separator device 5 participates in this retransmission, the initialization of thisseparation device 5 will be performed as described above. However, the second switch S4 of thisseparator device 5 will remain open and thesubsequent segment 15 of thebus 3 disconnected, until explicitly instructed by thealarm system controller 1. - The
alarm system controller 1 will wait a predetermined idle time, after completion of the initialization of thesecond separator device 5, in order to give any third orfourth separation device 5, which had not won the arbitration so far, opportunity to transmit their unique identifier information, until allseparator devices 5 have received their own short identifier information and no further access to thebus 3 is detected by the alarm system controller. - Subsequently, a
next segment 15 of thebus 3 will be connected through theseparator device 5, which has succeeded in the first bitwise arbitration. - According to a preferred embodiment the
alarm system controller 5 continues to connect oneseparator device 5 after the other, until nofurther segment 15 of a stich of the bus is left unconnected or until the loop is closed. - Then, based on the information stored in
configuration storage module 17, thealarm system controller 1 instructs through digital communication one of theseparator devices 5, which have lost the arbitration, to close his second switch S4 and applies the high voltage level to thebus 3, again. - In this manner the remaining
separator devices 5 will be connected, until the entire system is initialized and ready for operation. - The
alarm system controller 1 will judge, whether all registeredseparator devices 5 have all their switches S3 and S4 closed, and that even when applying a high voltage no current exceeding the usual operation current, which is lower than a third threshold, flows through thebus 3. - In the unlikely event that simultaneously two separator devices with identical unique identifier information try to access to the
bus 3, for example due to a fabrication error, thealarm system controller 1 of the present invention can recognize this situation, since a current exceeding the second threshold will flow into the bus. The alarm system controller can thus produce a warning, if after the detection of the high current only oneseparator device 5 requires to be connected. - Although the invention has been described based on the accompanying drawings making reference to specific preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited to the details of these embodiments. The invention can be used for fire alarm system, but it can be used for burglar alarm system or system for detecting toxic substances, like carbon monoxide.
- Furthermore, in the embodiment of
Fig. 2 , one power module has been used for supplying the high and the low voltage levies. Instead of his, two separate power modules might be implemented. - Both the
separator modules 5 and thealarm system controller 1 comprise an information storage means 19 respectively aconfiguration storage module 17, which can be realized by means of respective EEPROMs or other known semiconductor memory devices. - Although the
separator device 5 is preferably equipped with two switches S3 and S4, it is basically possible to provide only one switch for isolating the segments of thebus 3 in eachseparator device 5.
performing an exception initialization process, if more than one separator devices has started the internal initialization process.
Claims (12)
- Alarm system controller configured to be connected to a wired bus (3) divided into a plurality of segments (15) by means of a plurality of separator devices (5), the alarm system controller comprising:a power module (7) for supplying power to the bus (3) to the separator devices (5);a communication module (9) for performing a bidirectional digital communication through the bus (3) with the separator devices (5); anda monitoring module (11) for monitoring the electrical current supplied to the bus (3);wherein the alarm system controller further includes:
an initialisation module (13) for initialising the alarm system, wherein the initialisation module (13) is configured to control:the power module (11) so as to temporarily increase an electrical voltage supplied through the bus (3) above a first threshold, for triggering an internal initialization process of at least one of the plurality of separator modules (5);the monitoring module (11) so as to determine whether more than one separator device (5) has started the internal initialization process, depending upon whether the electrical current supplied to the bus (3) exceeds a second threshold or not; andthe communication module (9) to perform an initialization communication with a separator device (5), which has started the internal initialization process, if only one separator devices (5) has started the internal initialization process;wherein the initialisation module (13) is configured to perform an exception initialization process, if more than one separator devices (5) has started the internal initialization process. - Alarm system controller according to claim 1, wherein
the communication module (9) is configured to receive a unique identifier information from a separation device (5) and to transmit a n acknowledgement to the respective separation device (5) including the received unique identifier information and a short identifier information. - Alarm system controller according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
the initialisation module (13) is configured to perform the exception initialization process including a bitwise arbitration process using the unique identifier information, comprising:receiving a first unique identifier information of a first separator device (5) and transmitting an acknowledgement including the received first unique identifier information and a first short identifier information; subsequentlyreceiving a second unique identifier information of a second separator device (5) and transmitting an acknowledgement including the second received unique identifier information and a second short identifier information; andwaiting to receive a further unique identifier information of a further separator device (5). - Alarm system controller according to claim 3, wherein
the initialisation module (13) is configured to control the communication module (9) so as to transmit a connection instruction to a first separator device (5) and to postpone the transmission of the connection instruction to a second separator device (5). - Alarm system controller according to any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising
a configuration storage module (17) storing a table relating the unique identifier information and the first short identifier information of the respective separator devices (5) with each other, and furthermore storing relative position information of the separator devices (5) along the bus (3). - Alarm system comprising an alarm controller according to any of claims 1 to 5, a bus (3) and a plurality of separator devices (5).
- Separator device for an alarm system according to claim 6, comprising:an energy storage means (19) for storing electrical energy;a separator control unit (21) configured to control the operation and initialization of the separator device (5) and charging and discharging of the energy storage means (19);an information storage means (23) for storing the unique identifier information permanently and for storing the short identifier information in a rewriteable manner; anda separator communication module (25) for transmitting the unique identifier information through the bus (3), while monitoring the bus (3) for performing a bitwise arbitration process;wherein the separator control circuit (21) is configured to detect the voltage at the bus (3) and to perform the internal initialization process, when the detected voltage exceeds the first threshold level and no short identifier information is stored in the information storage means (23).
- Method for initializing an alarm system according to claim 6 comprising the steps of:a) temporarily increasing the voltage supplied from the power module (11) to a value higher than a first threshold value;b) detecting the increased voltage value by at least one separator control circuit (21) of a separator device (5), while charging the energy storage means (19) using the electrical power supplied through the bus (3), and performing an internal initialization process of the separator device (5) ;c) detecting a current flowing to the bus (3) by means of the monitoring module (11) of the alarm system controller;d) determining, when the detected current is higher than the second threshold, that more than one separator device (5) has started the internal initialization process; andperforming an initialization communication with a separator device (5), which has started the internal initialization process, if only one separator devices (5) has started the internal initialization process and subsequently connecting a next segment (15) of the bus through the of the separator device (5); or
performing an exception initialization process, if more than one separator devices (5) has started the internal initialization process. - Method according to claim 8, wherein the exception initialization process comprises the steps of:d1) transmitting from the more than one separator devices (5) unique identifier information while performing a bitwise arbitration;d2) transmitting from the communication module (9) of the alarm system controller an acknowledgement including a short identifier information together with the unique identifier information of the separation device (5), which has succeeded in the bitwise arbitration of step d1);d3) retransmitting only from the separator device or devices (5), which have not succeeded in the bitwise arbitration, the unique identifier information, while performing a bitwise arbitration;d4) transmitting from the communication module (9) of the alarm system controller an acknowledgement including the short identifier information together with the unique identifier information of the separation device (5), which has succeeded in the bitwise arbitration of step d3);d5) performing the above steps d2) and d4) until all separator devices (5) of the more than one separator devices (5) have received an acknowledgement including a short identifier information; andd6) connecting a next segment (15) of the bus (3) through the separator device (5), which has succeeded in the bitwise arbitration of step d1).
- Method according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising the steps:e) determining, when the detected current is higher than the third threshold but lower than the second threshold, that one separator device (5) has started the internal initialization process;f) repeating the steps a) to e) until the monitoring module (11) of the alarm system controller (1) determines that the increase of the voltage in step a) does not cause an increase of the current flowing to the bus (3) exceeding the third threshold, and judging that all separator devices (5) of a respective branch of the bus (3) have been initialized;g) connecting a next segment (15) of the bus through one of the separator devices (5), which have not succeeded in a bitwise arbitration in step d1) or d3);h) repeating steps the steps a) to e) until the monitoring module (11) of the alarm system controller (1) determines that an increase of the voltage in step a) does not cause an increase of the current flowing to the bus (3) exceeding the third threshold and judging that all separator devices (5) of a respective branch of the bus (3) have been initialized;i) repeating steps g) and h) until all separator devices (5) connect the respective segments of the bus (3).
- Method according to claim 8, further comprising:
detecting that two separator devices (5) directly connected to a branching point of the bus (3) have identical unique identifier information, when an increased current is detected in step d) but no retransmission of a unique identifier information in step d3) is detected. - Method according to any of claims 8 to 11, wherein the relation of unique identifier information and short identifier information is stored in the alarm system controller together with topographical information of the bus reflecting the relative positon of the separator devices (5), branching points and segments (15).
Priority Applications (1)
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EP19210896.7A EP3825973A1 (en) | 2019-11-22 | 2019-11-22 | Fire alarm system controller, fire alarm system, separator device and method for initializing a fire alarm system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
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EP19210896.7A EP3825973A1 (en) | 2019-11-22 | 2019-11-22 | Fire alarm system controller, fire alarm system, separator device and method for initializing a fire alarm system |
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EP1703481A1 (en) | 2005-03-15 | 2006-09-20 | Siemens Schweiz AG | Method for determining the configuration of an alarm system and alarm system |
EP2437228A2 (en) * | 2010-10-04 | 2012-04-04 | Hekatron Vertriebs GmbH | Alarm, hazard warning assembly and method for detecting circuit faults |
EP2833333A1 (en) * | 2013-07-31 | 2015-02-04 | Honeywell Life Safety Austria GmbH | Bus system and method for operating a bus system |
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2019
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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DE4322841A1 (en) * | 1993-07-08 | 1995-01-26 | Zettler Gmbh | Danger-signalling installation |
EP1703481A1 (en) | 2005-03-15 | 2006-09-20 | Siemens Schweiz AG | Method for determining the configuration of an alarm system and alarm system |
EP2437228A2 (en) * | 2010-10-04 | 2012-04-04 | Hekatron Vertriebs GmbH | Alarm, hazard warning assembly and method for detecting circuit faults |
EP2833333A1 (en) * | 2013-07-31 | 2015-02-04 | Honeywell Life Safety Austria GmbH | Bus system and method for operating a bus system |
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