NL2006498C2

NL2006498C2 - Isolator device for passing through a signal.

Info

Publication number: NL2006498C2
Application number: NL2006498A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Willemjan Johannes Jonkman
Original assignee: Astrea Intellectueel Eigendomsrecht B V
Priority date: 2011-03-25
Filing date: 2011-03-30
Publication date: 2012-09-26
Also published as: EP2689592A1; WO2012134273A1

Description

Isolator device for passing through a signal FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to devices for passing through a signal and in 5 particular to isolator devices in evacuation systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Emergency evacuation systems in accordance with class A comprise signalling devices wired in a loop comprising a signalling line. In case of evacuation, the 10 loop is provided with an evacuation signal from a base station. The loop comprises isolator devices like the Astrea isolator type ASB-01(02). The isolator devices are connected by the signalling line. The loop wiring comprises two conductors like a pair of wires or a coax cable. The loop wiring is interrupted by the isolator. The isolator receives a signal on a receiving module via the signalling line.

15

Upon reception of the signal, the signal is retransmitted via a sending unit. The quality of the signal sent out is tested. In case the quality of the signal does not meet certain quality standards with respect to for example voltage and/or current, the sending of the signal is interrupted as an out of spec voltage and/or current may 2 0 indicate a short or open in a signalling line that is part of the loop. Subsequently, the loop is fed from the other side via signalling lines in the loop that are still in good state.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is preferred to have a device with which an erroneous location in the loop 25 can be determined.

The invention provides in a first aspect an device for passing through a signal comprising: a first terminal for receiving a signal; a second terminal for sending the received signal; a signal quality monitoring module for monitoring the quality of the 30 signal sent by via the second terminal; a pass through module for passing the signal through from the first terminal to the second terminal; a memory module arranged for storing identification information identifying the device a control module arranged to receive information from the signal integrity monitoring module; instruct the pass through module to pass through the signal received from the first terminal to the second 35 terminal if the quality of the signal sent by means of the second terminal meets predetermined criteria; instruct the pass through module not to pass through the signal from the first terminal if the quality of the signal sent by means of the second transceiver 2 module connection does not meet pre- determined criteria; generate an error signal if the quality of the signal sent by means of the second terminal does not meet pre-determined criteria, the error signal comprising the identification information; and send said signal via the first terminal.

5

With the device sending an error signal comprising the identification information, the location of the error can be detected. With the identification information available, the device directly connected to an erroneous part of the loop can be determined. This reduces the amount of work required for finding an error compared to 10 a situation where devices do not send out error messages comprising identification information.

An embodiment of the device according to the invention comprises a speaker connection module operatively connectable to a speaker for providing sound 15 information comprised by a sound signal received by the device through the first terminal or the second terminal to the speaker..

In this embodiment, the signalling line between devices is not interrupted by further speaker devices, so the integrity of a part of a signalling line between two 2 0 devices is tested by a device. Furthermore, as there are no further connections or interruptions of the signalling line between two devices, that part of the signalling line is less prone to failures.

In a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the control 25 module is further arranged to retrieve identification information and speaker state information comprised by the received signal; and switch the speaker connection module from a first state where sound information received by the device is provided to the speaker to a second state where sound information received is not provided to the speaker and vice versa dependent on the speaker state information if the identification 30 information derived from the signal matches a pre-determined criterion.

Such device allows for sending dedicated messages to specific speakers in specific rooms. Different rooms may require different messages. During an evacuation in an emergency situation, people in a room comprising hazardous materials require to 35 be instructed differently from people in a meeting room and people in a lift need to be instructed in yet another way.

3

In a non-failing situation, the loop of devices in a class A system is fed from one side, where signals are relayed along the loop by the various devices in one direction in the loop. In case a device in the loop fails or a signalling line fails, the loop has to be fed from two sides to provide the signal to as much devices as possible and a 5 portion of the loop that is as large as possible. This requires some devices to operate in reverse mode: the second transceiver is to receive signals and the first transceiver is to repeat those signals to provide those signals to a device further upstream in the loop.

The invention provides in a second aspect a system comprising: a base 10 station comprising a base sending module for sending a signal comprising audio information; aAt least device according to any of the preceding claims for retrieving the audio information from the signal wherein the first terminal of the device is connected to the base sending unit; and a speaker connected to the device for reproducing the audio information retrieved from the signal received by the device as an audible signal..

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Such system provides an efficient and convenient evacuation system for a building.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

2 0 The invention will now be discussed in further detail by means of Figures. In the Figures,

Figure 1: shows an evacuation system; 25 Figure 2: shows an isolator device;

Figure 3: shows a base station;

Figure 4 A: shows an evacuation system in a first defective situation; 30

Figure 4 B: shows an evacuation system in a second defective situation; and Figure 4 C: shows an evacuation system in a third defective situation.

35 DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows an evacuation system 100 comprising a first isolator device 110.1 connected to a first speaker 112.1, a second isolator device 110.2 connected to a 4 second speaker 112.2, a third isolator device 110.3 connected to a third speaker 112.3, a fourth isolator device 110.4 connected to a fourth speaker 112.4 and a base station 120 connected to the first isolator device 110.1 and the fourth isolator device 110.4. With the isolator devices 110 connected to one another in series, the isolator 5 devices 110 and the base station 120 are connected in a loop. The connections are preferably provided by a pair of electrical conductors, either in parallel as a pair of wires or coaxially with a centre conductive wire, surrounded by an insulating cladding which is in case clad by a conductor.

10 Figure 2 shows an isolator device 110 in further detail. The isolator device 110 comprises a microprocessor 202 as a control module for controlling the operation of the various elements of the isolator device 110, a first transceiver 204, a second transceiver 206, a pass through module 208, a signal quality monitoring module 210, a memory module 212, a speaker switch 214 and a capacitor 216 as energy storage 15 module. The capacitor 216 is on one side connected to ground of the isolator device. On another side, the capacitor 216 is connected to the various elements of the isolator device 110 for providing them with energy stored in the capacitor 216.

A speaker 112 is connected to the isolator device 110 and in particular to 2 0 the speaker switch 214. The memory module 212 may have computer executable instruction stored on it to program the microprocessor 202. Furthermore, the memory module 212 has address information stored in it to identify this particular isolator device 110 in an evacuation system as depicted by Figure 1. In the embodiment depicted by Figure 2, the pass through module 208 is directly connected to signalling lines of the 25 loop connected to the isolator device 110. In an alternative embodiment, the pass through module 208 is connected to signalling lines via the first transceiver 204 and the second transceiver 206.

Figure 3 shows the base station 120 in further detail. The base station 120 30 comprises a microprocessor 302 as a control module for controlling the operation of the various elements of the base station 120, a first base transceiver 204, a second base transceiver 206, a memory module 312 and an external communication module 316. The memory module 312 may have computer executable instruction stored on it to program the base microprocessor 302.

5

The operation of the evacuation system 100 will now be discussed in conjunction with Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 3. The evacuation system 100 is used for reproduction of evacuation signals like alarm sounds, in particular the so-called slow 5 whoop sound, and spoken messages. An alarm signal is sent by the base station 120 by means of the first base transceiver 304 to the first isolator device 110.1. The first isolator device 110.1 receives the alarm signal via a first signalling line connection 222 by means of the first transceiver 204. The reception of the alarm signal is registered by the microprocessor 202 and passed to the speaker 112 by the speaker switch 214 for 10 reproduction as an audible sound Alternatively, the first transceiver 204 is bypassed for alarm signals, in which embodiment the alarm signals are from a first signalling line connection 222 directly provided to the speaker switch 214. The alarm signal received by via the first signalling line connection 222 can is sent to the second signalling line connection 224 via the pass through module 208 upon instruction of the microprocessor 15 202. The signal sent via the second signalling line connection 224 of the first isolator device 110.1 is received by the first transceiver 204 of the second isolator device 110.2, where the same operation is repeated. For this operation, the pass through module 208 can be embodied as a MOSFET.

2 0 In a preferred embodiment, the evacuation system is powered by the capacitor 216. The capacitor 216 is arranged to be charged by receiving electrical energy from the base station 120 via the first signalling connection 224 and the second signalling connection 226. The electrical energy is preferably provided by a pulse signal of 21 khlz at 8 V to 60 V. Alternatively, electrically energy may be provided by a pulsed 25 signal at other frequencies and/or other voltages. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that such signal requires a rectifying circuit in order to properly charge the capacitor 216, as such operation requires a DC power. For reasons of clarity, this rectifying circuit has not been shown in Figure 2. Alternatively, the isolator device is powered by a battery, mains power or a combination thereof.

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The base station 120 has the addresses of the isolator devices 110 of the evacuation system 100 stored in the memory module 312. If sound information is only to be provided to specific rooms via specific isolator devices, speakers other isolator devices are switched off. Referring to Figure 1, if a certain spoken message or alarm is 6 only to be provided to the second isolator device 110.2 and the second isolator device 110.3, an instruction is sent to the first isolator device 110.1 and the fourth isolator device 110.4 to switch off the first speaker 112.1 and the fourth speaker 112.1 by switching the speaker switches 214 of specific isolator devices 110. The instructions 5 are received by the microprocessors 202 via the first transceivers 204 or the second transceivers 206. The instructions are preferably provided carried by a signal having a frequency of 125 kHz and preferably in accordance with the X10 protocol. However, other frequencies and protocols may be employed as well. In one embodiment, the power signal and the data signal are provided at the same frequency, preferably at 21 10 kHz. In that scenario, data will be send in between the “21 kHz power signal”.

After the specific speakers 112 have been switched off, the audio information is send over the evacuation system 100 by the first base transceiver 304 and/or the second base transceiver 306 of the base station 120, as per instruction of the 15 base microprocessor 302. The audio is provided as an analogue signal that is via the first transceivers 204 or the second transceivers 206 via the speaker switches provided to the speakers 112. The instruction to send out an alarm signal is received via the external communication module 316. The external communication module 316 may for that purpose be connected to a fire detection system. The base station 120 may also be 20 integrated with a base station for fire detection. Alternatively, a button or other sensor is provided on the base station 120 for instructing the base station 120 to send out an alarm signal.

Dedicated and/or general alarm information is preferably stored in the base 25 memory module 312. Dedicated alarm information may be coupled to certain addresses of certain isolator devices 110. Alternatively, general and/or dedicated alarm information is provided to the base station 120 via the external communication module 316.

Though in this embodiment only one speaker 112 is connected to the 30 isolator device 110, other embodiments can be envisaged where multiple speakers are connectable to the isolator device 110.

Referring to the isolator device 110, upon passing through the alarm signal by the pass through module 208, the quality of the signal sent out is tested by the signal 7 quality monitoring module 210. The signal quality monitoring module 210 tests in particular whether the signal on the second signalling line connection 224 has a voltage within a pre-determined range and/or whether the signal sent out has a current within a pre-determined range. A too low voltage and/or a too high current may indicate a short 5 circuit further downstream; a too low current or no current at all may indicate an open circuit further downstream. This will be further discussed in conjunction with Figure 4 A and Figure 4 B, as well as Figure 2 and Figure 3.

In emergency operation where evacuation is required, an alarm signal is 10 relayed from the base station 120 back to the base station 120 via the first isolator device 110.1, the second isolator device 110.2, the third isolator device 110.3 and the fourth isolator device 110.4 in the mode discussed above, by the pass through modules 208 passing signals from the first signalling line connection 222 to the second signalling line connection 224 of the isolator devices 110. In a non-alarm state of the evacuation 15 system 110, a test signal is periodically relayed from and to the base station 120 via the isolator devices 110.

Additionally or alternatively, in particular if the isolator devices 110 are powered by a signal sent by the base station 120, a power signal is periodically relayed 2 0 from and to the base station 120. The test signal is preferably provided at a frequency of 21 kHz; the power signal is preferably provided at a frequency of 21 kHz. Alternatively, the test signal is provided at another frequency, for example 125 kHz The power signal may also be employed as a test signal, as will be discussed later. Both the test signal and the power signal may be sent independently from one another. In a preferred 25 embodiment, the power signal is provided at two sides of the evacuation system 100 and the test signal is provided from left to right, being passed clockwise through the loop of the evacuation system 100. Or in case of a malfunction in the loop it will be sent to the main system on the shortest possible way, either clockwise or counter-clockwise.

30 The power signal is in normal mode passed through the loop of the evacuation system 100, where the isolator devices 110 act as transparent signal gates, passing through the test signal without further interaction.

8

The test signal is passed through the evacuation system, where each isolator device 110 returns a response signal that the isolator device is in good order. In order to check that the isolator device 110 is in good order, the isolator device 110 runs a self diagnosis routine, including a check whether at least one speaker 112 is 5 connected to the isolator device 110 and whether characteristics of the test signal related to a neighbouring isolator device 110 are within certain boundaries. The response signal includes identification of the specific isolator device 110 sending the response signal.

10 In the case depicted by Figure 4 A, there is an open in the signal line between the second isolator device 110.2 and the third isolator device 110.3. This is detected by the signal quality monitoring module 210 of the second isolator device 110.2 as discussed above as the current level is too low. Upon detection of the short in the signal line, the signal quality monitoring module 210 of the second isolator device 15 110.2 reports to the microprocessor 202 that the signal send by the second transceiver 206 does not meet pre-set quality requirements, like the voltage and current requirements discussed above. Subsequently, the microprocessor 220 generates an error message and the type of error and instructs the first transceiver to send out a signal comprising the error message and the identification information of the second 2 0 isolator device 110.2.

The error signal is received by the first base transceiver 304 and passed on to the base microprocessor 302. Preferably, this information is provided to a person operating the evacuation system 100 so appropriate action can be taken for repair. 25 Upon receiving the error signal comprising the error message and the identification information of the second isolator device 110.2, the base microprocessor 302 determined the location of the second isolator 110.2 in the loop of the evacuation system 100 and instructs the third isolator 110.3 to reverse operation. This is done by sending a signal comprising reversal message to the third isolator 110.3 by means of 30 the second base transceiver 306. This message is received by the second transceiver 206 of the third isolator 110.3 and passed on to the microprocessor 202.

The microprocessor 202 subsequently instructs the first transceiver 204 to take over functionality of the second transceiver 206 and the second transceiver 206 to 9 take over the functionality of the first transceiver 204. The same instruction is also sent to the fourth isolator device 110.4. This means that the functionality of the first transceiver 204 and that of the second transceiver is at least substantially the same. Alternatively, the first transceiver 204 and the second transceiver 206 are always in a 5 listening mode, unless they are instructed to send a signal and in case one of the two transceivers receives a signal, the signal will be reproduced by the other transceiver.

In this way, the defective signal line between the second isolator device 110.2 and the third isolator device 110.3 is isolated and the functionality of the 10 evacuation system 100 is maintained. A first half of the loop of the evacuation system 100 with the isolator devices 110 is fed by the first base transceiver 304 and a second half of the loop of the evacuation system 100 is fed by the second base transceiver 306. Advantageously, the second isolator device 110.2 and the third isolator device 110.3 are instructed not to relay any signals forward anymore. In another embodiment, the 15 second isolator device 110.2 and the third isolator device 110.3 periodically test the status of the signal line between them and report back in case the signal line is restored.

In the case depicted by Figure 4 B, the third isolator device 110.3 is not 20 functional anymore. This may have several causes, like loss of power or dysfunctional elements. If a signal sent out by the second transceiver of the second isolator device 110.2 or passed through by the pass through module 208 does not meet the pre-set quality requirements, the signal quality monitoring module 210 of the second isolator device 110.2 will generate an error. This will trigger the second isolator device 110.2 to 25 send an error signal to the base station 120 as discussed above. Preferably, this information is provided to a person operating the evacuation system 100 so appropriate action can be taken for repair. If the third isolator device 110.3 is only partially operational but still able to run self-diagnostics and to send out an error message, the third isolator device 110.3 will report itself to be in an error state.

30

If a signal sent out by the second transceiver of the second isolator device 110.2 meets the pre-set quality requirements, the signal quality monitoring module 210 of the second isolator device 110.2 will not generate an error. As the third isolator device 110.3 is not operational anymore, it will not relay any information anymore to the 10 fourth isolator device 110.4 and the base station 120. In this way, the base station 120 will detect that there is an issue in the loop of isolator devices 110.

To detect the location of the problem, the base station 120 will hail all 5 isolator device 110 in the loop of the evacuation system 100 to report by means of the first base transceiver 304 and the second base transceiver 306. In an alternative embodiment, all isolator devices 110 report regularly and preferably periodically to the base station 110. Sending such a reporting signals may be triggered at pre-determined intervals controlled by the isolator devices themselves. Alternatively or additionally, 10 sending such reporting signals is triggered by receiving the test signal as discussed above. If a specific isolator device 110 does not report itself to the base station 110 within a pre-determined time limit, the base station will understand that there is an issue in the loop.

15 Upon detecting that the third isolator device 110.3 is dysfunctional, the fourth isolator 110.4 is instructed to reverse operational direction of relaying signals as discussed before. If the loop would comprise more isolator devices 110 like a fifth and a sixth one, those isolator devices 110 would be instructed as well to reverse operation. This means that within the evacuation system 100, only the third isolator device 110.3 is 2 0 not operational anymore and that other devices would still be operational and operatively connected to the base station 120, either via the first base transceiver 304 or the second base transceiver 306.

Figure 4 C depicts another erroneous situation, where the third speaker 25 112.3 is not properly connected to the third isolator device 110.3. In this embodiment, the speaker switch 214 of the third isolator device 110.3 is arranged to detect whether the third speaker is properly connected to the third isolator device 110.3 and in particular to the speaker switch 214. If the third speaker 112.3 is not properly connected to the third isolator device 110.3 as depicted by Figure 4 C, the speaker switch 214 30 generates an error message and transmits the error message to the microprocessor 202. Subsequently, the microprocessor 202 instructs the either the first transceiver 204 or the second transceiver 206 to send an error signal comprising the error message together with identification information identifying the third isolator device 110.3 to the base station 120.

11

Upon receiving this error signal, the base station 120 is informed that the third speaker 112.3 is unable to reproduce alarm messages intended to be reproduced by the third speaker via the third isolator device 110.3. Preferably, this information is 5 provided to a person operating the evacuation system 100 so appropriate action can be taken for repair. Optionally, alarm information intended for the third speaker 112.3 is rerouted to the second speaker 112.2 via the second isolator 110.2 or the fourth speaker 112.4 via the fourth isolator.

10 Expressions such as "comprise", "include", "incorporate", "contain", "is" and "have" are to be construed in a non-exclusive manner when interpreting the description and its associated claims, namely construed to allow for other items or components which are not explicitly defined also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed in be a reference to the plural and vice versa.

15

In the description above, it will be understood that when an element such as layer, region or substrate is referred to as being "on", "onto" or "connected to" another element, the element is either directly on or connected to the other element, or intervening elements may also be present.

20

Furthermore, the invention may also be embodied with less components than provided in the embodiments described here, wherein one component carries out multiple functions. Just as well may the invention be embodied using more elements than depicted in the Figures, wherein functions carried out by one component in the 25 embodiment provided are distributed over multiple components.

A person skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various parameters disclosed in the description may be modified and that various embodiments disclosed and/or claimed may be combined without departing from the scope of the invention.

It is stipulated that the reference signs in the claims do not limit the scope of the claims, but are merely inserted to enhance the legibility of the claims.

30

Claims

An isolator device for transmitting a signal, comprising: a) A first terminal for receiving a signal; B) A second terminal for sending the received signal; c) A signal quality monitoring module for monitoring the quality of the signal sent through the second terminal; d) A pass module for passing the signal from the first terminal to the second terminal; e) A memory module adapted to store identification information which identifies the device; f) A control module adapted to: i) Receive information from the signal quality monitoring module; ii) instructing the pass module to forward the received signal from the first terminal to the second terminal if the quality of the signal sent through the second terminal meets predetermined criteria; 2. iii) instruct the pass module not to forward the signal from the first terminal to the second terminal if the quality of the signal sent through the second terminal does not meet the predetermined criteria; iv) Generate an error signal if the quality of the signal sent through the second terminal does not meet predetermined criteria, which error signal comprises the identification information; v) The error signal to be sent via the first terminal.

An isolator device according to claim 1, further comprising a loudspeaker connection module operably connectable to a loudspeaker for supplying sound information included in a sound signal received by the device via the first terminal or the second terminal to the loudspeaker.

An isolator device according to claim 2, wherein the control module is further adapted to: a) extract identification information and loudspeaker status information from the received signal; b) The loudspeaker connection module from a first state in which sound information received from the device to the loudspeaker 5 is supplied to a second state in which received sound information is not supplied to the loudspeaker and vice versa, depending on the loudspeaker status information as the identification information which extracted from the signal meets pre-paid criteria. 10

The isolator device of claim 3, wherein: a) The control module is adapted to compare the identification information derived from the signal with identification information stored in the memory module; and b) The predetermined criterion is that the identification derived from the signal corresponds to the identification information stored in the memory module.

The isolator device of claim 2, wherein the control module is adapted to: a) Detect whether the speaker is operatively connected to the device; and b) Sending a message through the first or the second terminal that no loudspeaker is operatively connected to the device.

6. An isolator device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pass module comprises a first transceiver which connects the first terminal to the control module and a second transceiver which connects the second terminal to the control module.

An isolator device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pass module comprises at least one switch.

The isolator device of claim 7, wherein the switch is an electronic switch.

A system comprising: a) A base station comprising a basic transmit module for transmitting a signal comprising sound information; b) At least one device according to any one of the preceding claims for deriving sound information from the signal, wherein the first terminal of the device is connected to the basic transmitting module; c) A loudspeaker connected to the device for converting the audio information derived from the signal received by the device into an audible signal. 10

The system of claim 9, comprising a plurality of devices according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the devices are connected in series and in a loop by connecting the second terminal of a first device to the first terminal of a second device, wherein the first terminal of the first device is connected to the base station and the second terminal of a last device is connected to the base station.

The device of claim 10, wherein the base station comprises a basic memory module for storing identification information of each 2. device of the system and the position of each device in the system.