WO2013016748A1

WO2013016748A1 - Network for optical data communication for dispensing apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2013016748A1
Application number: PCT/AT2012/000198
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans Georg Hagleitner
Original assignee: Hans Georg Hagleitner
Priority date: 2011-08-02
Filing date: 2012-07-27
Publication date: 2013-02-07
Also published as: AT511786A1

Abstract

Network (1) for data communication, comprising at least one, preferably precisely one, dispensing apparatus (2), particularly a sanitary dispenser, and at least one, preferably precisely one, data communication apparatus (3), wherein both the at least one dispensing apparatus (2) and the at least one data communication apparatus (3) have at least one transmission apparatus (4, 5) for sending data (D1, D2) and at least one reception apparatus (6, 7) for receiving data (D1, D2) and said transmission and reception apparatuses (4, 5, 6, 7) allow bidirectional communication between the at least one dispensing apparatus (2) and the at least one data communication apparatus (3), wherein the reception apparatuses (6, 7) comprise at least one reception component (PT, PD) for converting visible light (L) into electrical power, and the transmission apparatuses (4, 5) comprise at least one transmission component (LED1, LED2, LED3a, LED3b) for converting electrical power into visible light (L).

Description

NETWORK FOR OPTICAL DATA COMMUNICATION FOR A DOSING DEVICE

The invention relates to a network for data communication comprising at least one, preferably exactly one, metering device, in particular a sanitary dispenser, and at least one, preferably exactly one, data communication device, wherein both the at least one metering device and the at least one data communication device at least one transmitting device for transmitting Data and at least one receiving device for receiving data, and these transmitting or receiving devices allow bidirectional communication between the at least one metering device and the at least one data communication device.

Dosing devices are devices for the demand-controlled dispensing of products that are used in toilets, washrooms, in washing devices and / or in the kitchen area. In connection with the toilet and / or washrooms, the dosing devices are, for example, sanitary dispensers for dispensing soap, towels, toilet paper, fragrances and disinfectants. However, the present invention is not limited to any particular type of metering device.

Particularly in larger toilets and / or washrooms, efforts are increasingly being made to avoid unnecessary consumption of the products to be dispensed and to keep the maintenance of the dosing devices as low as possible. A prerequisite to achieving these two goals is to provide a quick, easy and inexpensive way of communicating with the dosing devices. It is not only about reading data from the dosing devices, but also data to the dosing devices - e.g. to optimize the delivery parameters - to submit. The present invention thus relates to a bidirectional data communication.

WO 2005/065509 A1 describes a network for bidirectional data communication comprising at least one metering device and at least one data communication device. In this network, the data is transmitted by infrared radiation. A disadvantage is that only the at least the previously installed metering devices designed for infrared radiation transmitting and receiving device. This means that the previous dosing devices - to build such a network - either replaced by new equipment or must be converted consuming. The present invention has therefore set itself the task of providing a simpler and cheaper compared to the prior art alternative to the construction of a network for data communication comprising at least one metering device and at least one data communication device, in particular including the previously installed metering devices.

This object is achieved by the features of the main claim.

A basic idea of the invention is thus that bidirectional data communication by means of visible light, i. by means of electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength between 490 and 790 nm, takes place. This basic idea contributes substantially to the solution of the formulated problem, since most of the previously installed metering devices have devices (for example for status display) which in any case operate with visible light and whose functionality can be expanded comparatively easily in terms of data communication.

Advantageously, the data communication takes place with pulsed visible light, wherein the pulse duration is preferably in the microsecond range.

In the smallest embodiment, the network according to the invention consists of a metering device and a data communication device. Optionally, it can be achieved by the inclusion of a computer, e.g. in the form of a PC, a notebook, a smartphone or a so-called "mobile device." For this purpose, it is expedient if the data communication device has at least one interface for data communication with a computer, preferably a USB, serial, WLAN, LAN or BLUETOOTH interface.

Ideally, the data communication device is mobile. In this case, for example, a person who is entrusted anyway with the maintenance of the metering devices or the cleaning of the toilet and / or washrooms, in a simple manner also take any data communication tasks by the Data communication device carries and holds to carry out the data communication in the vicinity of the metering device.

In a technically simple embodiment, the at least one receiving component of the at least one dosing device and / or the at least one data communication device is a photodiode or a phototransistor, wherein at least one dosing device is a phototransistor and / or a photodiode is preferred in the data communication device. The principle of operation of a photodiode or a phototransistor is the same in principle, except that the phototransistor already has an integrated amplifier circuit for amplifying the measurement signal. This means that the signal of the photodiode usually has to be amplified. Therefore, the data communication device advantageously still comprises an amplifier device. The at least one transmitting component is a light-emitting diode in a technically simple embodiment.

A particularly flexible embodiment is characterized in that the Sendebzw. Receiving devices of the at least one metering device and the at least one data communication device at least one processor and / or logic, preferably a microcontroller, comprise, the task of the processor and / or the logic is essentially to prepare the data packets intended for communication or to evaluate , In particular, such a processor or logic offers the possibility of executing different data processing programs in different operating states. For example, the term "logic" includes so-called "programmable" SoC systems, where "SoC" is an abbreviation of the English term "system on a chip."

This is not least in connection with an advantageous multiple function of at least one transmitting device and / or the at least one receiving device of the at least one dosing of importance: It has been found to be favorable if the at least one transmitting device of the at least one metering additionally as a status indicator and / or the at least one receiving device of the at least one metering device in addition to the measurement of the brightness of the ambient light and / or the detection at least one object, which is located in the vicinity of the metering device serves. These multiple functions will be explained in detail in the description of the figures below. Further embodiments are characterized in that the at least one data communication device comprises at least one memory device, at least one display device for visualizing data, at least one, preferably visual, status display device, at least one acoustic signaling device, at least one real-time clock device and / or at least one power supply device. These components essentially serve to increase the ease of use for the user and are particularly relevant with regard to the optional feature of the mobility of the data communication device. With regard to the data transmitted in the network according to the invention, it should be noted that this may be, for example, counter readings, serial numbers and / or identification numbers, names, error messages, production data and / or information about the voltage state of at least one battery. In addition, it should be pointed out that the data transmitted in the two communication directions can preferably be coded differently, this point also being explained in more detail in the following description of the figures.

Further details and advantages of the present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the description of the figures with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. Show:

Fig. 1 is a schematic overview of the network for

Data communication,

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the essential components in connection with the invention of the metering device and the

Data communication device,

Fig. 3 is a greatly simplified schematic representation of the essential electronic components of the receiving, the brightness measurement or the

Detection device of the metering device, 4 is a schematic representation of the timing of the status display of the metering device, the data exchanges with the data communication device, the measurement of the brightness of the ambient light and the detection of an object that is in the vicinity of the metering device,

5a a schematic representation of the two-phase marking code,

Fig. 5b is a schematic representation of the bit format of

Coding method used in the transmission of the data from the data communication device to the dosing device,

6 is a schematic representation of the network protocol used for

Transmitting the data is used

Fig. 7 shows a detail of a schematic cross-sectional view of

Dosing device together with a schematic plan view of the data communication device and

Fig. 8 shows a detail of a schematically illustrated perspective view of the metering device.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic overview of the preferred embodiment of the network 1 for data communication. The network 1 comprises (viewed from left to right) a metering device 2, which is a device for dispensing soap, towel, toilet paper, perfume or disinfectant, a data communication device 3 which is designed to be mobile and a computer 9, which is a PC, a notebook, a smartphone or a so-called "mobile device." Data can be transmitted in both directions of communication between the dosing device 2 and the data communication device 3, ie bidirectional data communication is possible In the drawing, this is symbolized by arrows and schematically indicated wavefronts by means of visible light L. Typically, the distance A is for this data communication n between the metering device 2 and the data communication device 3 a few centimeters. Technically, the data communication is made possible by the fact that both the metering device 2 as Also, the data communication device 3 each having a transmitting device 4 or 5 for sending data and a receiving device 6 or 7 for receiving data, wherein the essential components or the operation of these transmitting or receiving devices 4, 5, 6 and 7 based the following figures are explained in detail. The data communication device 3 and the computer 9 can also exchange bidirectional data. For this purpose, the data communication device 3 has an interface 8 which is customarily used by a person skilled in the art for this purpose, for example a USB, a serial, a WLAN, a LAN or a BLUETOOTH interface. It should generally be noted that the data transmitted in the network 1 between the dosing device 2 and the data communication device 3 or between the data communication device 3 and the computer 9, for example counter readings, serial and / or identification numbers, names, Error messages, production data and / or information about the voltage state of batteries is.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the components of the dosing device 2 and the data communication device 3 which are essential in connection with the invention. The receiving devices 6 and 7 each comprise a receiving component PT and PD for converting visible light L into electrical energy, and the transmitting devices 4 and 5 comprise transmitting components LED1, LED2, LED3a and LED3b for converting electrical energy into visible light L. In the case of Dosing device 2 is the receiving component to a phototransistor PT, in the case of the data communication device 3 to a photodiode PD. The principle of operation of a photodiode PD or a phototransistor PT is the same in principle, except that the phototransistor PT already has an integrated amplifier circuit for amplifying the measurement signal. This means that the signal of the photodiode PD usually has to be amplified. Therefore, the data communication device 3 consequently has a corresponding amplifier device 10. The phototransistor PT is designed so that its sensitivity to infrared radiation is greatest, but also visible light L can convert into electrical energy. In contrast, the photodiode PD has a narrowband sensitivity and essentially converts only visible light L into electrical energy. The transmitting components LED1, LED2, LED3a and LED3b, which are components of the transmitting devices 4 and 5, are light-emitting diodes which emit visible light L. It should be noted that in the preferred embodiment both the transmitting device 4 of the metering device 2 and the transmitting device 5 of the data communication device 3 each comprise two light-emitting diodes LED1 and LED2 or LED3a and LED3b. In the case of the metering device 2, the reason for this is that the transmitting device 4 fulfills a dual function. In addition to sending data, it also serves as a status indicator. By means of this status display can be displayed, for example, if the donated Good the metering device 2 must be refilled or a battery needs to be renewed. In such cases, the status indicator lights red. If there are no faults and the dosing device 2 is ready for operation at any time, the status indicator lights up green. In the simplest case, this two-color status display can be realized technically in that the transmitting device 4 comprises both a red LED LED1 and a green LED2 LED. Alternatively, it may of course also include a two-color LED instead. In the case of the data communication device 3, the reason why the transmitting device 5 comprises two light-emitting diodes LED3a and LED3b (which are two identical light emitting diodes) is that in this way the signal strength for the transmission of data from the data communication device 3 can increase to the metering device 2.

The receiving components PT and PD for converting visible light L into electrical energy or the transmitting components LED1, LED2, LED3a and LED3b for converting electrical energy into visible light L are electrically both in the case of the metering device 2 and in the case of the data communication device 3 a central processor C1 or μ02, more specifically connected to a microcontroller. This combination of the receiving or transmitting components with the microcontrollers C1 and pC2 represent the transmitting and receiving devices 4, 5, 6 and 7, which should be indicated in the drawing by means of the four smaller curly brackets. The task of the two microcontrollers pC1 and μ02 is to prepare or evaluate the data packets intended for the communication. These are - depending on the type of microcontroller pC1 and pC2 - either directly on the microcontrollers or connected to the microcontrollers Memory devices 22 and 11 stored various operating programs for data processing.

It should also be noted that not only the transmitting device 4 of the metering device 2 fulfills a multiple function, but also the receiving device 6 of the metering device 2 serves several purposes: it functions not only as a device for receiving data transmitted by means of electromagnetic radiation but also as a brightness measuring device 6 '. for measuring the brightness of the ambient light. In the case of a dispensing device 2 for dispensing soap or a disinfectant, this device is moreover also used as a detection device 6 "for detecting at least one object which is located in the vicinity of the dispensing device 2, ie for detecting the hand of a human Multiple functions of the transmitting and receiving device 4 and 6 of the metering device 2 will be explained in detail with reference to Figures 3 and 4.

In addition to the components already mentioned (reception component PD, transmission components LED3a and LED3b, microcontroller μ02 and memory device 11), the data communication device 3 further comprises a display device 12 for visualizing data, a visual status display device 13, an acoustic signaling device 14 (buzzer), a real time clock device 15 as well as a power supply device 16, which comprises a plurality of batteries, as well as the already addressed in connection with FIG. 1 interface 8 for data communication with a computer 9. The metering device 2 also includes several components, such as a motor, sensors, adjustment elements that are commonly used in the prior art to allow the delivery of a sanitary product. These components, which are summarized in the drawing by the reference symbol P, will not be discussed in more detail here, since they do not serve the understanding of the present invention and are already known to a person skilled in the art.

The basic electronic structure of the receiving device 6, the brightness measuring device 6 'or the detection device 6 "of the metering device is explained below with reference to FIG essential electronic components required for basic understanding.

The central component is a phototransistor PT, which converts visible light and infrared radiation into an analogue electrical signal and forwards this signal to a microcontroller μ01 for further processing. The phototransistor PT together with the resistor R2 forms a voltage divider, wherein the resistor R2 is connected to the positive voltage supply V + and the emitter of the phototransistor PT to pin 12 of the microcontroller μ01. When using the phototransistor PT, this pin is switched to ground GND. Because the pin is not permanently connected to ground GND, it is possible to disable the circuit in periods when it is not needed, thus saving energy. If (in the operating state) light or infrared radiation falls on the phototransistor PT, the conductivity increases through the phototransistor, whereby the voltage at the tap of the voltage divider, which is connected to pin 4 of the microcontroller μ01, decreases. Conversely, the voltage increases as the intensity of the light or infrared radiation decreases. It is therefore an inverting behavior.

If this circuit is now used as a receiving device 6 for receiving data transmitted by means of electromagnetic radiation, the analog signal of the phototransistor PT is read in at pin 4 of the microcontroller μ01 and sampled in a specific time interval. In this case, sudden increases (positive and negative edges) of this analog value are detected and the time intervals between these increases are converted into a bit pattern (data).

If the described circuit is used as a brightness measuring device 6 'for measuring the brightness of the ambient light, the signal of the phototransistor PT at pin 4 of the microcontroller μ01 is in turn read in and processed. A special feature is that an average value is determined over several measurements in order to filter out possible disturbances. The brightness value of the ambient light detected in this way can subsequently be used to regulate, for example, the brightness of the status display of the dosing device already mentioned in connection with FIG. 2. This brightness control of the status display is important, for example in hospital rooms, to disturb a patient, staying in the hospital room to avoid at night by flashing the status indicator.

As explained above, the phototransistor PT may finally also be part of a detection device 6 "for detecting at least one object, for example a human hand. <br/> <br/> For technical realization of this detection device 6", the electronic circuit further comprises a light-emitting diode LED4 which emits infrared radiation. An object in the vicinity of the metering device can then be detected as follows:

1. The brightness of the ambient light is measured (in the manner described above).

2. The infrared LED4 is switched on.

3. A new measurement of the brightness of the ambient light is performed.

4. The infrared LED4 is switched off again.

5. The two measured values are compared with each other.

If there is now an object in the vicinity of the metering device or in the vicinity of the phototransistor PT, the two measured values deviate from one another, since part of the infrared radiation is reflected back at the object. This deviation of the measured values is greater, the smaller the distance of the object to the phototransistor PT. If the difference in the measured values exceeds a predetermined limit value, then the dosing device "knows" that an object is in its vicinity, and this information can subsequently be used to activate the dispensing mode.

But what determines whether the phototransistor PT is used to receive data, to measure the brightness of the ambient light, or to detect an object? For this purpose, several comments are made: Since the first step for detecting an object is anyway to measure the brightness of the ambient light, it is possible to operate the brightness measuring device 6 'and the detection device 6 "simultaneously in the operating state of the dosing device 6 is achieved in a preferred embodiment in that a cover 17 of the metering device opened and / or at least one command generator 18, preferably a button, which is located on the metering device, is actuated. The cover 17 and the button 18 can be seen in Fig. 8, which will be described below. A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that the receiving device 6, the brightness measuring device 6 'and the detection device 6 "are automatically active at predetermined time intervals in the operating state of the metering device and do not have to be activated by operating a mechanical component of the metering device.

How such a timing of the status display of the metering device, the data communication between the metering device and the data communication device, the measurement of the brightness of the ambient light and the detection of an object that is located in the vicinity of the metering may look like, is shown schematically in FIG shown. The time axis extending from left to right is provided with the reference symbol t. Events that are exactly superimposed in the drawing take place simultaneously. As a guide dashed lines are shown. As already mentioned, the two light-emitting diodes LED1 and LED2 arranged on the dosing device serve to indicate the status of the dosing device in the colors red and green. For this purpose, one of the two light-emitting diodes LED1 or LED2 (depending on whether there is a malfunction) is switched on at periodic intervals ΔΤ1 for a period of time ΔΤ4. The time interval ΔΤ1 is in the second, the time interval ΔΤ4 in the millisecond range, so that the status of the metering device for a person who is in its vicinity, can be seen by a red or green flashing.

It has also been stated that the two LEDs LED1 and LED2 are also used, in addition to the status display, to send data D1 to a data communication device. This is achieved by "hiding" the data D1 in the form of a rapid succession of comparatively short pulses of light in the status indication flashing of the two LEDs LED1 and LED2 The pulse duration of the data bits is in the microsecond range, thus the data bits for the human eye due to its inertia are not recognizable. The data D1 is preferably sent at the end of a status light signal (in the time window ΔΤ7). If there is an operational data communication device in the vicinity of the metering device, the photodiode PD or the amplifier circuit of the data communication device in electrical contact with it is made operational by a start signal preceding the actual data D1 and the data reception of the data D1 in the time window ΔΤ7 allows.

Preferably, in the time window ΔΤ8, ie immediately after receiving the data D1 from the dosing device, data D2 is sent in the reverse direction with the aid of the LEDs LED3a and LED3b from the data communication device to the dosing device. This immediate succession of the "data sending" and "receiving data" events has the advantage that the phototransistor PT of the metering device is automatically placed ready to receive the data D2 immediately after the end of the status light signal, and not specifically by a specific event must be activated.

Relative to these three events (display the status of the dosing device, send data D1 and receive data D2), the measurement of the brightness of the ambient light (in the time window ΔΤ5) or the detection of an object (in the time window ΔΤ6) takes place at specific time intervals ΔΤ2 and ΔΤ3 the manner described in connection with FIG. 3 instead.

A particular feature is that the data D1 and D2 transmitted in the two directions of communication - that is, the data from the dosing device to the data communication device and in the reverse direction - are coded according to different coding methods. In general, a code is understood to mean a rule for converting data for its transmission. In connection with the present invention, different coding methods are available, wherein the data D1 transmitted from the dosing device to the at least one data communication device is preferably coded according to the so-called two-phase marking code C1 and the data D2 transmitted from the data communication device to the dosing device is preferably coded according to a coding method C2, which is based on a bit format which is also used in the so-called "KEELOQ PWM TRANSMISSION "format of the company Microchip Technology Inc. The two-phase marking code C1 is explained schematically with reference to FIG. 5a and the coding method C2 with reference to FIG. 5b: the two-phase marking code C1 (better known under the name" Biphase mark "). Code ") is comparable to the differential Manchester code, but differs in a different phase position of the encoded data stream: It is an additional time shift of the uncoded data signal by half a bit cell time necessary to the Biphase Mark code in the differential To transfer Manchester code. For each bit of data, two states are transmitted. At the beginning of a bit, in contrast to the Manchester code, a change of state is always made. After that the coding differs as follows: At a one the state changes in the middle of the bit and at a zero the state remains the same until the end of the bit. In the upper line of Fig. 5a, the clock signal C1a is shown schematically. The middle row shows an exemplary sequence of data C1b to be transmitted, and the bottom row shows the coded data signal C1c.

Fig. 5b is illustrative of the bit format encoding process C2 used in the transmission of the data from the data communication device to the dosing device. In this case, one bit consists of three signal units E. The first third of the signal (the first one third of the signal) Signal unit) is always "high", the third third is always "low", only the difference in the second third of the signal indicates whether it is a zero bit or a one bit: is the second third "high "encoded, it is a zero bit, it is" low "coded to a one-bit.

As already indicated above, the data D1 and D2 are not transmitted in isolation, but are integrated into a predetermined network protocol N whose main components are shown schematically in FIG. First, a start signal N1 is transmitted, with the aid of which - in the case of the data transmission from the metering device to the data communication device - the photodiode or the amplifier circuit of the data communication device is put into operational readiness. This targeted activation of the amplifier circuit serves to reduce the power consumption of the data communication device. To the Start signal N1 is then transmitted with some important information N2 designated by the term "header data", followed by status bytes N3, the actual data D1 and D2 and a checksum N4, in principle these components are N1, N2, N3 and N4 of the network protocol N are known to a person skilled in the field of information technology and / or telecommunications and therefore need not be explained in detail It should be noted that this network protocol N is used in a similar form for both directions of communication.

FIG. 7 shows a section of a schematic cross-sectional representation of the dosing device 2 relevant to understanding the invention, together with a schematic top view of the data communication device 3. The central element for the technical realization of the data communication, the status display, the brightness measuring device and the detection device is a circuit board 20, on which essentially the electronic circuit shown in FIG. 3 and the two light-emitting diodes LED1 and LED2 are arranged. This board 20 is located inside the metering device 2, which is covered by the cover 17 to the outside. Below the two light-emitting diodes LED1 and LED2, which serve (as described) for the transmission of data or the status display, a light ring 19 is arranged, which distributes the rather punctiform emitted light homogeneously to a wider area.

Visible to the outside in the data communication device 3 - seen from above - are the two light-emitting diodes LED 3a and LED 3b, which are used to transmit data, and the photodiode PD, which is used to receive data. Further visible is a battery compartment 16, in which the batteries for powering the data communication device 3 are arranged, a USB interface 8, via which the data communication device 3 can exchange data with a computer, a visual status display device 13 and a power button 21.

Finally, FIG. 8 shows a detail of a schematically illustrated perspective view of a metering device 2 from obliquely below, in which case the metering device 2 is a device for dispensing soap. The soap outlet opening is provided with the reference numeral 23. Concentric with this outlet opening of the light ring 19 is arranged, the Status display of soap dispenser 2 is used. Furthermore, a button 18, which is also used to activate the receiving device, the phototransistor PT and the infrared LED LED4 can be seen on the underside of the soap dispenser 2.

1

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 network C1b data signal

2 dosing device C1c Coded data signal

3 data communication device C2 bit format of a

encoding method

4 sending device of the C2a zero bit

metering

5 transmitting device of the C2b one-bit

Data communication apparatus

6 receiving device of the D1 data, sent from the metering device metering device

6 'brightness measuring device D2 data sent by the

Data communication apparatus

6 "detection device E signal unit

7 Receiving device of the GND ground

Data communication apparatus

8 interface L visible light

9 computer LED1 green LED on the

metering

10 Amplifier device LED2 red LED on the dosing device

11 Storage device of the LED3a, LEDs on the data communication device LED3b Data communication device

12 LED4 display device Infrared LED on the

metering

13 status indicator C1 microcontroller of

metering

14 acoustic signal transmitter C2 microcontroller of

Data communication apparatus

15 real-time clock device N network protocol

16 Power supply device N1 start signal

17 Cover N2 header data

18 control unit N3 status

19 light ring N4 checksum 20 board P peripheral devices

21 Power on PD photodiode

22 storage device of the PT phototransistor

metering

23 soap outlet R1, R2 resistors

A distance t time

C1 two-phase mark code ΔΤ1 - ΔΤ8 time intervals

C1a clock signal V + positive power supply

Claims

claims:

A network (1) for data communication, comprising at least one, preferably exactly one, metering device (2), in particular a sanitary dispenser, and at least one, preferably exactly one, data communication device (3), wherein both the at least one metering device (2) and the at least one data communication device (3) has at least one transmitting device (4, 5) for transmitting data (D1, D2) and at least one receiving device (6, 7) for receiving data (D1, D2) and these transmitting or receiving devices (4, 5, 6, 7) enable a bidirectional communication between the at least one metering device (2) and the at least one data communication device (3), characterized in that the receiving devices (6, 7) at least one receiving component (PT, PD) for Conversion of visible light (L) into electrical energy and the transmitting devices (4, 5) at least one transmitting component (LED1, LED2, LED3a, LED3b) for the conversion vo n electrical energy in visible light (L) include.

Second network (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the visible light (L) is pulsed and preferably has a pulse duration in the microsecond range.

3. Network (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one data communication device (3) at least one interface (8) for data communication with a computer (9), preferably a USB, a serial, a WLAN, a LAN or BLUETOOTH interface.

4. network (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is the at least one metering device (2) is a sanitary dispenser for dispensing soap, towel, toilet paper, fragrance or disinfectant.

5. network (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one data communication device (3) is designed to be mobile.

6. Network (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is the at least one receiving component of the at least one metering device (2) and / or the at least one data communication device (3) to a photodiode (PD) or a Phototransistor (PT) acts.

7. network (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that it is the at least one receiving component of the at least one metering device (2) is a phototransistor (PT).

8. network (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that it is the at least one receiving component of the at least one data communication device (3) is a photodiode (PD).

9. network (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the at least one receiving device (7) of the at least one data communication device (3) comprises at least one amplifier device (10) for amplifying the measurement signal of the at least one receiving component (PD) ,

10. network (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it is the at least one transmitting component to a light emitting diode (LED1, LED2, LED3a, LED3b).

11. network (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the transmitting or receiving devices (4, 5, 6, 7) at least one processor and / or logic (μ01, μ02), preferably a microcontroller , include.

12. network (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the at least one transmitting device (4) of the at least one metering device (2) additionally serves as a status indicator.

13. network (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the at least one transmitting device (4) of the at least one metering device (2) comprises two different-colored light emitting diodes (LED1, LED2) or a two-color LED, wherein the two colors preferably red and green are.

14. Network (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the at least one receiving device (6) of the at least one metering device (2) in addition to the measurement of the brightness of

Ambient light and / or the detection of at least one object which is located in the vicinity of the metering device (2), is used.

A network (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the at least one data communication device (3) comprises one or more of the following components:

at least one storage device (11),

at least one display device (12) for visualizing data,

at least one status display device (13),

at least one acoustic signaling device (14),

- At least one real-time clock device (15) and / or

- At least one power supply device (16).

16. Network (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that it is in the transmitted data (D1, D2) counter readings, serial and / or identification numbers, names, error messages, production data and / or information about the Voltage state of at least one battery is.

17. Network (1) according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the data transmitted in the two directions of communication (D1, D2), preferably different, are encoded.