FR2768885A1 - Remote monitoring system for checking operation or failure of various items of equipment using answerphone - Google Patents

Abstract

The answerphone has a number of switches fitted into its power supply line, so that one of several sensors can detect a fault and change a switch to change the answerphone behavior. The system uses a telephone answerphone with a recording facility, and/or a transmitter as a means of detecting a fault at a monitored location, and transmitting a warning signal to a remote location. The answerphone (RE) and/or the control relay (REL) of the transmitter loop (TR) are supplied with the same electrical supply as the monitored equipment. One or more detectors are used to provide signals indicating the operational status of various monitored items of equipment on the site. These signals are used to control switches which can be activated to cut the supply to the answerphone, thus blocking its ability to send a pre-recorded message.

Description

SYSTEM FOR REMOTE MONITORING OF MALFUNCTION OF A
OR MORE DEVICES INSTALLED ON ONE SITE
The present invention relates to the field of remote monitoring of a site, in particular the remote monitoring of electrical and non-electrical devices.

 In the field of remote monitoring, systems are already known which consist in equipping a site with a presence detector (infrared or microwave radar) linked to an answering machine programmed to automatically carry out a telephone number notifying the police or the owner of the premises.

 Also known is a system known by its trade name "Axiophone", not allowing remote interrogation, but remote control of the starting or stopping of an electrical device on a telephone call. It is a remote control system for an electrical device via the telephone network without knowing the state of the electrical installation.

 Another system is then known, the system known by its commercial name "Typhone 2", allowing the remote control of electrical devices by the telephone network and giving an indication of the state of the outputs of the device for controlling electrical devices thus theoretically allowing on a phone call to find out if one of the electrical devices connected to the device is off or on.

However, this device still has drawbacks:
- Indeed, the indication of start or stop of electrical devices is only theoretical because this indication relates only to the state of the outputs which are the control switches and not to the state of the devices themselves . This device makes it possible to know only if the outputs are supplied electrically or not. In addition, the memorization of the output states makes it possible, during the interrogation, to know the last state. If there has been a short-term power outage this has no effect because the assembly will re-operate normally as soon as the outage ceases. On the other hand, if the circuit breaker is tripped the memorized state gives a bad indication because the circuit breaker will not reset.

 - Its price remains excessive.

 - It allows you to know whether an electrical device is powered or not, to power it remotely if necessary, but it does not have a responder-recorder function that can be interrogated remotely.

 - The target of this device is reduced to electrical devices, it does not apply to other cases such as knowing the internal temperature of a freezer, or the temperature of a house even if the boiler is on gas, or the humidity of a lawn that needs to be watered.

 However, these systems are no longer useful if the circuit breaker of the electrical supply network or a circuit breaker is tripped.

Faced with this drawback, it is conceivable to install a circuit breaker recloser but it has two major drawbacks:
1 - In the event of a serious fault in the electrical installation, each time the user attempts to reset the circuit breaker, he replenishes a faulty circuit with electricity and amplifies this fault to short-circuit with consequently risks of 'fire.

 2 - Each device only recloses one type of circuit breaker (network or circuit breaker), but in general, the two types of circuit breaker are out of service simultaneously.

 It is therefore necessary to invest in these very expensive resetting devices to benefit from a system which can nevertheless prove to be dangerous.

 The objective of the present invention is therefore to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a device which admittedly requires human intervention, but which is much simpler, reliable and inexpensive both for its installation and for its use.

 The invention proposes the use of a recorder-answering machine comprising, in addition to the usual answering machine functions, additional functions for remote monitoring of electrical devices in the event of a power cut and for remote monitoring to detect a malfunction of a device whether it is electrical or any other source.

 To this end, the recording answering machine is connected to the general power supply which is used to power the device to be monitored via sensors which will deliver signals allowing, according to a particular embodiment, to record messages relating to the measurements carried out and in all in the event of implementation, to cause a cut in the supply to the answering-recording device in the presence of an operating anomaly.

Thus, the present invention more particularly relates to a first remote monitoring system for the malfunction of one or more devices installed on a site, mainly characterized in that it comprises
means for detecting a cut in the general electrical supply of said devices, these means comprising a telephone answering and recording device capable of providing a welcome message in response to a telephone call,
- one or more sensors capable of providing significant measurement signals for the operation of one or more devices on the site,
- one or more contact devices acting in response to a cut in the power supply or in response to control of the sensors to cut the power supply to the transponder-recorder.

The present invention also relates to a second remote monitoring system for the malfunction of one or more devices installed on a site, mainly characterized in that it comprises
means for detecting a cut in the general electrical supply of said devices, these means comprising a telephone answering and recording device capable of providing a welcome message in response to a telephone call,
- one or more sensors capable of providing significant measurement signals for the operation of one or more devices on the site,
the responder-recorder device further comprising an internal power supply for recording and saving messages representative of the signals delivered by the sensors in response to the command from the sensors or in response to a cut in the general electrical supply,
- one or more contact devices acting in response to a cut in the general power supply or in response to control of the sensors to cut the general power supply to the transponder-recorder.

 In the case of the first system where the answering and recording machine does not have an internal power supply to save the welcome message in the event of a general power cut, the malfunction of a device monitored by the installation is detected by the absence of response from the answering machine.

 Contact devices acting as electrical power switches are programmable thermostats.

 According to another characteristic, these electrical supply switches are watering programmers.

 According to another characteristic, the sensors are probes for temperature, soil humidity, water level or pressure, hygrometry and in general any sensor capable of controlling the opening and closing of switches. .

 According to another characteristic, the various contact switch electrical supply devices of the responder-recorder device are connected in series between the 220V sector and the supply of said device.

The advantages provided by the invention will be better understood through the following description which refers to the appended drawings which illustrate the invention without limitation and in which:
FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, represent functional diagrams of the remote monitoring system according to the invention,
FIG. 2 represents an example of installation of a system according to the invention in which the answering machine is provided for an advanced version with four monitoring functions,
FIG. 3 represents an electrical block diagram for the association in series of two probes with the responder,
FIG. 4 represents the diagram of an embodiment according to which the transponder-recorder comprises an internal power supply to manage the recording of the signals coming from the sensors,
FIG. 5 represents the block diagram of a remote interrogation of an answering machine,
- Figure 6 shows the block diagram of a remote control of a remote monitoring system according to the invention.

 FIG. 1A shows the functional diagram of an installation to be monitored according to the principle of the invention.

 One or more electrical apparatuses AE are supplied with current by an electrical power supply E (for example the electrical network 220V). Between the electrical devices and the answering machine, switches are placed, of course insofar as one does not only seek to detect a power cut. These switches are actuated by AE electrical devices or by sensors connected to these electrical devices or by other CP sensors on the site.

 The RE recorder responder is powered through these switches. If a switch is open, the answering machine is no longer supplied with current. The answering machine which is connected to a telephone line L will not be able to broadcast a welcome message on reception of a telephone call in the event of a power failure.

 FIG. 1B illustrates the case of a problem of electrical supply of an electrical appliance.

 FIG. 1C illustrates the case of a malfunction of an appliance (electric or not) detected by a sensor.

 One can refer for the continuation to the diagram of figure 2.

The installation of the system is very simple for the user
If the user simply wishes to monitor the electrical supply of an appliance, then he will preferably choose to install an 8-pin telephone socket 10 near the 220 volt socket 20 which supplies the electrical appliance AE1 of which he wants to monitor good functioning. This device could for example be an alarm center.

 The male telephone plug 30 of the RE answering machine will be connected to the socket 8 female studs 10 through possibly a pull-out socket 31 and the 220 volt electrical supply cord of the answering machine will be plugged into the same electric socket as the device to be monitored through an AC adapter 24.

 In the event that the user also wishes to monitor the proper functioning of an AE2 device such as a freezer, a programmable thermostat 40 with a probe is inserted between the 220 volt outlet which supplies the device to be monitored and the answering machine. CP1, located in the freezer AE2 in this case.

 To monitor another non-electric AE3 assembly such as the humidity of the soil, a watering programmer is inserted, its CP2 probe being planted in the soil.

 To monitor another non-electric device such as a gas boiler and / or if you want to control the ambient temperature of a room or site, use a programmable thermostat connected to a CP3 temperature probe.

 Using this system is just as simple.

 While away from the site, simply dial the telephone number of the facility where the answering machine is connected.

 If the answering machine trips and lets its previously recorded message be heard, it means that it is supplied with 220 volts and therefore that the circuit which supplies the devices is in service.

 Otherwise, said circuit is not supplied with 220 volts, so one of the devices no longer works or malfunctions.

You must then telephone a designated person to visit the installation.

 In fact, if the answering machine does not respond (absence of the welcome message) and there is a nonresponse tone, it is possible that one of the circuit breakers is tripped: main circuit breaker of the supply network, or circuit breaker high sensitivity differential, or circuit breaker, or the probes have detected faults, the system circuit is then open either at one of the circuit breakers or at the probes and the responder is therefore no longer powered. The visit of the designated person makes it possible to reset the circuit breakers or to remedy device faults or to disconnect the faulty device.

 The diagram in Figure 3 illustrates the electrical connections in the case of a remote monitoring system of an automatic water pumping (example: sprinkling), a freezer or a boiler.

In this example, stopping the responder can also be due to exceeding the critical threshold of one of the probes
- Or the CP2 probe placed in a freezer where the normal temperature must be -240C. Thermostat 40, which acts as a switch and which lets the current flow to the answering machine or not, is programmed in advance at the threshold of -150C. For a temperature between -150C and -240C detected by the probe, the switch is closed, and the answering machine is powered.

 If a non-electrical malfunction occurs in the freezer itself, the temperature will rise until reaching the critical threshold of -150C, the thermostat, like an open switch, will cut the power to the answering machine.

 The state of the probes 60 and 70 which are pressure switches of a water pump M is a function of the pressure of the water pump used for sprinkling.

 To obtain the desired effect according to the present invention, the first contact 70 of the pressure switch, that is to say the one which is closed each time the pump turns and open each time the pump does not turn, has been mounted in second position so that a malfunction of the system is not detected due to "normal" stops of the pump M. The second contact 60 has therefore been mounted in the first position. This contact opens when there is no more pressure in the water circuit. When the pump is in working condition, this contact is closed.

 Thus, in normal operation the contact 60 will be closed if the pressure is greater than or equal to 2 bars and open if this pressure is less than 2 bars (fault detected by the system). Contact 70 is open if the pressure is less than 2.2 bar or if it is more than 3.3 bar. This contact is closed when the pressure is between 2.2 and 3.2 and the pump motor is running.

 It is also possible, if the answering machine does not go off and there is a busy tone that the telephone line is out of order, which is statistically rare.

 We can of course provide for management of the signals from the sensors in order to know the nature of the malfunction, which is not done in the operating modes described above. For this, it is possible, for example, to use an answering machine which has an internal electrical supply used for memorizing messages relating to the detected malfunctions.

 In all cases, human intervention is necessary to control the whole system and act accordingly.

 We will now describe with reference to FIG. 4 an embodiment in which management of the signals from the sensors is provided.

 This implementation makes it possible to provide the differentiated message interrogation functions for each type of fault with an open or closed circuit interrogation option in the case of a remote control (cf. FIG. 4).

 As has been said, this embodiment uses a responder provided with an internal power supply (accumulators).

We first recall some definitions
- opening contact
contact open when the coil is supplied with current (therefore closed otherwise).

- closing contact
contact closed when the coil is supplied with current (therefore open otherwise).

In the diagram in FIG. 4: the contacts N1, N2,
N3 and N4 are opening contacts, the contacts
F1, F2, F3 are normally closed contacts. The contact C2 is self-powered by the coil B2 of the remote control system (see Figure 6).

Principle of interrogation
The processing units U1-U4 are microprocessors which are activated in the event of a fault by the various relays and will record on the magnetic track or the disc the appropriate fault message thanks to the "MEMO" function of the telephone answering and recording machine.

 A person who wants to interrogate remotely the classic messages recorded on the answering machine will carry out the operation from the telephone keypad: * 0 + confidential code which causes an action 1 on the processing unit. If this person wants to remotely interrogate the "MEMOS" which are either personalized messages or fault messages, he performs the operation * 1 + confidential code which causes an action 2 on the processing unit.

 It is understood that after elimination of the fault by an intervention at home, the fault message can be erased either remotely or by the person who intervenes at home, with the classic erasure function; this is so as not to mislead during a subsequent interrogation.

Example of fault message
- U1 processing unit:
"Pressure sensor faulty",
- U2 processing unit
"Faulty temperature sensor",
- U3 processing unit
"Power supply fault",
- U4 processing unit
"The remote control circuit is open".

We will now explain the operation of the circuit in the event of a probe fault
- the 3 circuit breakers are tripped, current therefore arrives at probe S1. This being faulty, the switch is open. The coil BN1 is therefore no longer supplied with 220 volts electric current and the opening contact N1 closes. The processing unit U1 is therefore activated and records the fault message "Faulty pressure probe". This message can be interrogated remotely then erased after intervention to remove the fault.

 N.B .: the 3 circuit breakers being on, the internal electrical installation is supplied and the BN3 coil maintains the N1 closing contact in the closed position.

We will now explain the operation of the circuit in the event of a power supply fault.
- One of the 3 circuit breakers is tripped (or the 3 together ...), the BN3 coil is therefore no longer supplied.

The opening contact N3 closes, the processing unit U3 is activated and registers the fault "Power supply fault". At the same time the action of the coil BN3 causes the opening of two closing contacts F1 and F2, which prohibits the registration of the two other processing units and favors a single fault message.

We will now explain the operation of the circuit in the remote control option
- In this option we will refer to the diagram in Figure 6.

 The contact C2 is self-powered by the coil BN2 to allow the electrical appliance to be supplied with remote control. If it is open, the device no longer works This contact therefore behaves like that of the S1 or S4 probe.

 To simplify understanding, four processing units have been shown. Of course, a single processing unit capable of implementing the four required functions would suffice.

 First of all, it is recalled before explaining how the remote circuit opening-closing command is carried out, the conventional function of remote interrogation of messages. The latter is illustrated by the diagram in FIG. 5.

 The operator placed on a remote site from the surveillance system dials * 0 + confidential code. An electric current at a frequency F is sent by the switched telephone network (PSTN) and arrives at the answering machine site. The transponder processing unit UT receives this signal and controls the motor M for positioning the read head T of the magnetic cassette (or disc).

 The answering machine is powered by the 220V mains supply or a 12V accumulator in the event of a power supply failure.

 We will now describe the remote control function of the system.

 At the remote site: the operator dials t1 + confidential code using the function keys of a voice frequency telephone set programmed for this purpose to switch on the device to be controlled M (frequency F '). It dials * 1 + confidential code to stop the device (frequency f ").

 Contact C4 is a shunt with manual or automatic control. Contact C1 is a normally closed contact.

Contact C2 is a self-powered relay. The contact
C5 is a normally closed contact. Contact C3 is an opening contact controlled by shunt C4 (automatic or manual).

The order can be done manually as follows
- contact C1 is open because there is no activation frequency for the processing unit,
- the operator manually closes contact C4,
- contact C2 opens on the action of contact C4,
- coil B2 is therefore inactive and the self-powered relay is inactive. Contact C2 is open, which prevents permanent looping of the circuit if you wish to stop the device manually,
- the action of contact C4 starts the device.

This stops as soon as the operator manually opens this contact.

The control of the device can be automatic as follows
- the operator dials $ 1 + confidential code and therefore sends a frequency F 'to the processing unit. This feeds the coil Bl. The contacts C1 and C5 are therefore closed.

- the contact C4 of the manual / auto shunt being open, the contact C3 is closed to it,
- coil B2 is therefore active and the self-powered relay also,
- Therefore, the contact C2 is self-maintained and allows the power to be supplied to the electrical device as soon as the frequency F 'stops which opens the contact C1.

Remote shutdown
- The operator dials * 1 + confidential code and therefore sends a frequency F "to the processing unit. Does this no longer supply the coil B1? The contacts C1 and C5 are therefore open.

 - If contact C5 is open, coil B2 is no longer supplied with power and deactivates the self-supply relay for contact C2. It opens and the device is therefore no longer powered.

Claims (6)

 1. Remote monitoring system for the malfunction of one or more devices installed on a site, characterized in that it comprises:  means for detecting a cut in the general electrical supply (RE) of said devices, these means comprising a telephone answering-recording device capable of providing a welcome message in response to a telephone call,  - one or more sensors (CP1, CP2, CP3) capable of providing significant measurement signals for the operation of one or more devices on the site,  - one or more contact devices (40, 50, 60) acting in response to a cut in the general electrical supply to the devices or in response to the command of the sensors to cut the electrical supply to the transponder-recorder.  2. Remote monitoring system for the malfunction of one or more devices installed on a site, characterized in that it comprises  means for detecting a cut in the general electrical supply of said devices, these means comprising a telephone answering and recording device capable of providing a welcome message in response to a telephone call,  - one or more sensors capable of providing significant measurement signals for the operation of one or more devices on the site,  the responder-recorder device further comprising an internal power supply for recording and saving messages representative of the signals delivered by the sensors in response to the command from the sensors or in response to a cut in the general electrical supply,  - one or more contact devices acting in response to a cut in the general power supply or in response to control of the sensors to cut the general power supply to the transponder-recorder.  3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the contact devices acting as electrical power switches of said transponder-recorder are programmable thermostats (40, 60).  4. System according to claims 1,2 or 3, characterized in that the contact switch electrical power supply devices of said transponder-recorder are watering timers (50).  5. System according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the sensors are temperature, humidity, water level or hygrometry pressure probes.  6. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the various electrical supply switch devices of the transponder-recorder are connected in series between the 220V sector and the supply of said device.