WO2023020878A1

WO2023020878A1 - System and method for monitoring a function of a safety sign luminaire

Info

Publication number: WO2023020878A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/072249
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gregor Mayr
Original assignee: Zumtobel Lighting Gmbh
Priority date: 2021-08-18
Filing date: 2022-08-08
Publication date: 2023-02-23
Also published as: EP4388518A1; DE102021121426A1

Abstract

A system for monitoring a safety sign luminaire comprises a safety sign luminaire having at least one display unit and is characterized in that the system has at least one camera sensor, the camera sensor being designed to monitor an optical representation on a display surface of the display unit. The camera sensor can directly monitor the optical representation on the display surface, more particularly can capture the optical representation on the display surface. Alternatively, the camera sensor can monitor an optical representation on a control surface associated with the display surface, more particularly can capture the optical representation on the control surface, in which case control information displayed on the control surface can be clearly associated with the optical representation on the display surface. The camera sensor can also be designed to capture at least one monitoring region in an environment of the safety sign luminaire.

Description

SYSTEM AND PROCEDURE FOR MONITORING A FUNCTION OF A SAFETY SIGN LUMINAIRE

Description:

The invention relates to a safety sign light, in particular a safety indicator light, and a method for operating the safety sign light.

Buildings are often equipped with an emergency lighting system that provides minimal lighting for a certain period of time if the normal lighting fails.

In particular, public buildings also have escape routes out of the building signposted by means of escape route displays for rapid evacuation of the building in an emergency situation, such as a fire alarm.

Safety lights (emergency lights) and safety displays (escape route displays) enable people to leave a building quickly and safely in an emergency situation, such as a fire. Escape route signs must therefore also be clearly visible in the event of a fault in the building's general electrical lighting.

Safety lights can be designed to integrate both functionalities as safety sign lights that show people an escape route to exit a building or other relevant information. Safety sign luminaires may have illuminated pictograms showing a stylized person running and an arrow pointing in the direction of the escape route. Pictograms can also include other characters, for example the lettering "EXIT". The pictograms of the safety sign lights are originally designed to be static and are, for example, attached or printed to suitable surfaces using signs. A problem with these static safety sign lights is that people can be guided directly into a dangerous situation, for example a stairwell filled with smoke, by means of static pictograms that are predetermined independently of the specific emergency situation.

To solve this problem, dynamic safety sign lights are known in which at least some of the safety sign lights are designed with liquid crystal displays (ECD displays) or as EED displays. The latter, for example, come in the form of an EED matrix, alternatively also by coupling EED calibration into a calibration circuit board. With these dynamic safety sign lights, for example, an arrow is displayed in the direction of the escape route, with the direction of the arrow being adjustable by controlling the display using a suitable signal. Control can be based on smoke detector Data is taken so as to provide an adaptive wayfinding system for the evacuation of the building.

The safety sign lights constructed with LCD displays or LED displays often do not meet the relevant regulations and standards in terms of shape, color or luminance for safety signs, for example EN1838, ISO7010 and ISO3864. Furthermore, in the case of displays using these technologies, a failure of the internal power supply of the safety sign light means that there is no longer any representation on the display surface (display, screen). In contrast, a static escape route sign with a printed pictogram is still recognizable, at least in daylight.

It is therefore proposed to implement dynamic escape route displays using electronic paper (e-paper, elnk technology). DE 10 2019 130 700 A1 proposes a dynamic and adaptive wayfinding system which guarantees a dynamic display even when the display device is in a voltage-free state by means of a screen based on electronic paper.

Dynamic and adaptive escape route displays have the option of displaying different images dynamically and adapted to the situation. However, this creates new challenges for the function test of such display devices. Safety sign lights, such as emergency lights and escape route signs, are safety-relevant devices in building technology. Therefore, their perfect function must be checked at regular intervals in accordance with the specifications of the relevant standards and the result of the function tests must be documented. For example, it may be mandatory to carry out a function test once a week in which the control gear of an emergency sign luminaire checks whether the control gear is correctly changing an operating mode, in particular "switching from normal operating mode to emergency operating mode", and whether the lamps, for example LEDs, are changing accordingly in emergency operating mode according to the specifications, and to carry out an operating time test once a year, in which it is checked whether an energy storage device has sufficient capacity to supply the safety sign luminaire(s) with a specified current over a specified period of time.

With a controllable display, dynamic safety sign luminaires have another active element whose correct function, here in particular the representation (reproduction) a certain optically perceptible sign, for example a pictogram, is relevant to safety in accordance with the activation of the safety sign light.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improvement in the monitoring of safety sign lights for escape route display systems which take the above-described criteria into account in an improved manner, as well as a method for checking the function.

The subject matter of the independent claims, in particular the system for monitoring an emergency sign light and the method for operating an emergency sign light, solves this problem. The dependent claims develop the central idea of the present invention in a particularly advantageous manner.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a system for monitoring the function of an emergency sign light, which comprises at least one display unit, and is characterized in that the system has at least one camera sensor designed to monitor an optical representation on a display surface of the at least one display unit , having. The camera sensor is preferably part of the safety sign lights, so that the system is formed by the safety sign light itself. In principle, however, it is also conceivable to provide a separately arranged camera sensor.

The system thus provides a monitoring and test function for the display area of the safety sign light, in particular a representation of a safety sign on the display area. Dynamic and/or adaptive changing displays can now also be automatically monitored and/or tested.

The system can be used particularly advantageously for dynamic wayfinding systems, in particular also for escape route systems with increased demands on reliability.

Malfunctions of the display, such as a pictogram not being displayed or the display of an incorrect pictogram, can be detected in automated test procedures and in (remotely) monitored operation. Troubleshooting can be carried out preventively or, if necessary, corrected by alternative means, for example acoustic announcements, in the event of an emergency situation.

According to a preferred embodiment of the system for monitoring an emergency sign light, the at least one camera sensor is designed to directly monitor the visual representation on the display area, in particular to detect the visual representation on the display area. The camera sensor thus generates image data that enable an immediate and direct detection of a malfunction of the display unit by comparing the actual depiction of the depiction with a desired depiction.

The at least one camera sensor can also be designed to capture at least one monitoring area in an area surrounding the safety sign light.

This means that people who are in the surveillance area can be detected using the camera sensor. The number of people, a behavior of individual people, or a position (standing - lying down) of individual people can be recognized. In this way, data from the surveillance area of the safety sign light that are essential for decision-making are determined for active route guidance. Dynamic and, in particular, also adaptive route guidance becomes possible. The targeted approach of rescue workers in an emergency situation can be facilitated or enabled on the basis of this data.

Furthermore, the camera sensor, which is intended for the task of “monitoring the safety sign light”, is used to implement additional functions that upgrade the safety sign light or the system accordingly.

A development of smoke within the surveillance area can be detected alternatively or in addition to data provided by smoke detectors or fire detectors.

The safety sign light preferably comprises at least one processor, the processor being designed to evaluate image data generated by the at least one camera sensor.

It is particularly advantageous if the processor is designed to evaluate image data generated by the at least one camera sensor and to monitor a function of the safety sign light on the basis of the evaluated image data.

The safety sign light can thus carry out a local test of the function of the safety sign light. It is not necessary to transmit image data from an emergency sign luminaire to an external evaluation unit. An external communication interface of the safety sign light and a network cabling of a building technology system comprising a large number of individual safety sign lights do not necessarily have to be designed for the transmission of large amounts of data, since only the results of a function test or an evaluation according to certain evaluation criteria have to be transmitted externally from the safety sign light. The safety sign light of one embodiment also has at least one communication interface, the communication interface being designed to transmit image data captured by the at least one camera sensor to an evaluation unit.

This makes the image data of the emergency sign light available externally in an evaluation unit. The image data of a large number of safety sign lights can be evaluated, which in particular enables the image data of a large number of monitored areas which may cover an entire building. A dynamic and adaptive route guidance can thus be implemented particularly efficiently without the need for a large number of additional cameras in addition to the camera sensors of the safety sign lights. Although the individual safety sign lights in this embodiment require a communication interface designed for the transmission of image data, the individual safety sign light does not require a correspondingly powerful signal processor for image data processing locally in the safety sign light.

The at least one display unit of the safety sign light can have a control surface assigned to the display surface, wherein control information displayed on the control surface can be clearly assigned to the optical representation on the display surface.

In this embodiment, there is no need to arrange the camera sensor in relation to the display area in such a way that the camera sensor can capture (image) the display area directly. This has a positive effect on the degrees of freedom for the design of the safety sign light, and in particular on the design of a housing design for the safety sign light.

The control panel can be integrated into the display panel of the at least one display unit as a control panel.

This eliminates the need for the camera sensor to capture the entire display area. It is sufficient for the camera sensor to capture the control surface integrated into the display surface directly in order to capture and monitor the representation on the display surface.

Alternatively, the control surface can be designed as a control field that is separate from the display surface of the at least one display unit.

This also has a positive effect on the degrees of freedom for the design of the emergency sign luminaire, and in particular the housing design, since the control surface and the camera sensor can now be arranged at least partially independently of the spatial arrangement of the display surface. The control surface can advantageously be arranged within a housing of the safety sign light.

In one embodiment, the safety sign light arranges at least one camera sensor and/or at least one lens within the housing of the safety sign light. The at least one camera sensor and/or the at least one optic is set up to record the control information displayed on the control surface.

The exterior design of the emergency sign light can thus be largely independent of the arrangement of the control surface and the camera sensor. There are further degrees of freedom in the design of the safety sign luminaire.

The emergency sign light can have at least one first optic and at least one second optic. The safety sign light, in particular the camera sensor, can capture the control surface with the at least one first optic and the at least one monitoring area in the vicinity of the safety sign light with the at least one second optic.

The use of two optics, a first optic for monitoring and testing the safety sign light, in particular its display unit and display surface, and the second optic for room surveillance by the safety sign light, enables a freer spatial configuration of the safety sign light. Furthermore, the use of two separately designed and optimized optics for the different tasks can increase the performance of the emergency sign luminaire in both tasks.

Two appropriately designed optics can enable both tasks to be performed with a single active component, the camera sensor.

The emergency sign light can arrange the at least one first optic and at least one second optic, each optimized separately, in an integrated optic.

This improves manufacture and assembly, as well as logistical support of the safety sign light, by means of a correspondingly smaller number of components of the safety sign light.

The at least one display unit is preferably designed as a passive imaging display, in particular for an optical display on the display surface using electronic paper technology.

The use of electronic paper for the display, in particular the display area and preferably also the control area, has a number of advantages. Basically, the display of the representation of the image shown on the display area is bistable, and only a change in the representation on the display area requires a power consumption or energy supply of the display unit. Thus, if the power supply to the display unit is interrupted, such as for example the power supply cable to the safety sign lamp is burned off, the image will be displayed unchanged and visible. This is in contrast to an LCD display. Furthermore, a standard-compliant representation on the display area can be implemented with regard to shape and color. The wide viewing angle is particularly advantageous for viewing display surfaces based on electronic paper technology. This is also particularly advantageous for the direct monitoring of the display area using the camera sensor according to an embodiment of the invention, since the camera sensor or the corresponding optics can thus be arranged at a small angle to the plane of the display area. A correspondingly required vertical distance from the camera sensor or the optics to the plane of the display surface can thus be small, in particular smaller than when using alternative screen technologies (LCD display, LED display). Thus, the degrees of freedom for the spatial arrangement of the camera sensor, the optics, and thus also for the housing design are advantageously increased.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for operating a safety sign light, the method being characterized by a step in which at least one camera sensor monitors an optical representation on a display surface of at least one display unit of the safety sign light.

In one embodiment of the method for operating the safety sign light, the method also has the steps: detecting, by the at least one camera sensor, a monitored area in the vicinity of the safety sign light in order to generate image data of the detected monitored area, and evaluating by a processor of the safety sign light or by an evaluation unit, the generated image data of the surveillance area.

The method for operating the safety sign light can also include: evaluating the captured image data of the monitored area in a normal operating mode of the safety sign light according to at least one evaluation criterion for a normal operating mode of the safety sign light. The evaluation criteria for the normal operating mode can include, in particular, statistical evaluation criteria for a building technology system and/or IoT system (loT for: Internet of Things). The evaluation criteria for the normal operating mode can in particular include a number of people within the monitoring area, a respective position of the people, and the behavior of individual people in the number of people. In this way, the emergency sign light can already determine data for the provision of additional services during normal operation, which are made available to a business owner as additional services, for example: for a shop equipped with appropriate emergency sign lights, data for determining customer frequency and customer buying behavior can be determined

Alternatively or additionally, the method can include an evaluation of the recorded image data of the monitored area in an emergency operating mode of the safety sign light according to at least one evaluation criterion for the emergency operating mode. The evaluation criteria for the emergency operating mode can include the number of people within the monitored area and/or a particular position of the people.

Adaptive, dynamic guidance when evacuating the building using the extended display options of the safety sign lights is made possible.

Rescue workers can be directed to the position of endangered people or people who are unable to move.

It should be noted that the foregoing and particularly the following discussion of the preferred embodiment assumes that the camera sensor is an integral part of the signage light. However, as already explained above, it is fundamentally also conceivable to provide the camera sensor and safety sign light separately from one another, so that they interact to form a system. All statements made in relation to the exit sign light with an integrated camera sensor, with the exception of the aspects that relate specifically to the integration of the camera sensor in the exit sign light, therefore also apply to a system in which the exit sign light and the camera sensor are provided separately from one another.

The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a view of a ceiling-mounted signage luminaire of an embodiment of the invention.

2 shows a side view of an emergency sign light according to the invention,

3 shows a view of a display unit of an emergency sign light according to the invention,

4 is a rear view, partially in section, of a safety sign lamp according to the present invention. 5 shows a simplified block diagram of an emergency sign light according to the invention in a building technology system,

6 shows a view of an escape route sign as an application of a safety sign light according to the invention,

7 shows an application scenario of an emergency sign light according to the invention in a building technology system,

8 shows a simplified flowchart of a method according to the invention for operating an emergency sign luminaire of an embodiment of the invention, and

9 shows a simplified flow chart of a method according to the invention for operating an emergency sign luminaire in test mode according to an embodiment of the invention.

In different figures, the same reference signs designate the same or corresponding elements. The discussion of the same reference symbols in different figures is dispensed with as far as is considered possible in favor of a presentation without unnecessary repetitions.

1 shows a perspective view of an emergency sign luminaire 1 of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the safety sign luminaire 1 according to FIG. 1 in a ceiling-mounted position.

The safety sign luminaire I can serve as an escape or rescue route sign. The safety sign lamp 1 can be arranged on a wall or on a ceiling 3 of a room in a building.

The safety sign light 1 is advantageously arranged in a position that is easy for people to see, on the one hand so that people in a stressful situation can also see it easily, and on the other hand to ensure advantageous illumination of at least one area around the safety sign light. This area may be part of an escape (rescue) route. The position is therefore regularly also a suitable position for arranging a camera, since this is associated with a correspondingly suitable detection area with minor impairments for the viewing axes of the camera.

The safety sign light 1 comprises a housing 2 (housing frame) in and/or on which further assemblies and units of the safety sign light 1 are arranged. The safety sign light 1 shown has a fastening device 4 connected to the housing 2 . Alternatively or additionally, the fastening device 4 can have a flat contact surface for wall mounting of the safety sign light 1 . The fastening device 4 can include corresponding fastening means for wall mounting or for fastening under a ceiling, as shown in FIG. 1 and in particular FIG. 2 .

The individual components and assemblies of the safety sign light 1 are arranged inside the housing 2 . One of these elements is the display unit 5. The display unit 5 comprises a display carrier, which has a display surface 6 for a visual display, such as an image, for example a pictogram. The display carrier is arranged on the housing 2 or in the housing frame in such a way that the display with the pictogram is arranged so that it is visible to an observer in at least one viewing direction (front side). The areal dimensions of the display area 6 of the display unit 5 in the viewing direction are preferably predetermined by the size of the representation of the image, in particular the pictogram.

The pictogram preferably represents dynamically and/or adaptively changeable path information and/or direction information.

According to one embodiment of the safety sign light 1, the display unit 5 has a flat display carrier and a lighting means arranged parallel thereto. The lighting means is designed as a light guide, preferably as a light guide plate, and is arranged in front of the display carrier in the viewing direction in order to enable front lighting of the display carrier. The display medium illuminated by the lighting means shows the representation of pictorial information, in particular in the form of a pictogram, in the viewing direction without the components of the safety sign luminaire 1 causing a disturbing formation of shadows.

The safety sign luminaire 1 of a particularly preferred embodiment uses electronic paper as the display technology for the display unit 5 in order to display the pictogram in a visible manner.

The use of electronic paper as a display technology enables the pictogram to be displayed dynamically. Electronic paper, also sometimes referred to by the English translation "E-Paper Display", the terms "E-Ink", "elnk" or "E Ink™" used interchangeably, is a display technology for screens that enables dynamic display and which continues to display a displayed representation even in the event of a complete failure of a power supply to the display unit. In particular, electronic paper is an example of one Bistable display that only requires energy consumption in the form of an electric current to change the display. The display (image content, for example a pictogram) can be displayed continuously without the need for a power supply to maintain the display. This is particularly advantageous for battery-supported operation in the event of an emergency situation involving a mains power supply failure. Electronic paper reflects light like paper and thus shows the effect of a passive, i.e. non-luminous, display. With this display technology, the safety sign light 1 can implement a dynamic and/or adaptive display of pictograms in a particularly advantageous manner.

Electronic paper has the further advantage that the representation realized in this way shows essential properties of a classic static signage transferred to a dynamic representation. Existing standards and recommendations for the appearance of safety sign luminaires 1 can easily be met using this type of display. This also applies in particular to a color display. Due to a small distance between the imaging elements of the electronic paper and the surface of the safety sign light 1, the displayed display content looks the same from a wide viewing angle range and is easily recognizable. The display is flicker-free and is equally recognizable in artificial light, e.g. a lit room, or sunlight. Electronic paper is available in various sizes, is thin in thickness and therefore light in weight, and can be formed into flexible and rigid types. Due to the low weight and the associated low mass inertia, a display unit 5 designed in this way is particularly suitable for the safety sign light 1.

The safety sign light 1 comprises a sensor carrier 7 connected to the housing 2 and arranged on an upper, horizontally extending, delimiting surface or edge of the display surface 6. The sensor carrier 7 can be designed as a receptacle for at least one camera sensor. The arrangement of the sensor carrier 7 on the upper edge of the housing 2 enables viewing of the display surface 6 without disturbing shadows from the sensor carrier 7, in particular when the viewing person is below the ceiling-mounted safety sign light 1.

The sensor carrier 7 extends for a specific length in the direction of a surface normal (perpendicular to) the display surface 6.

The sensor carrier 7 can have further receptacles for a first lens system 8 and a second lens system 9 . The first optical system 8 is arranged at a distance from the display surface 6 due to the length of the sensor carrier 7 . The first optics 8 is arranged and aligned so that information displayed on the display surface 6 is mapped onto the camera sensor.

A detection area 10 of the arrangement comprising first optics 8 and camera sensor essentially comprises the display surface 6, in particular the representation on the display surface 6.

In this way, the first optics 8 in combination with the camera sensor enables the display area 6 to be recorded (imaged). The combination of the first optics 8 with the camera sensor makes it possible to monitor the representation on the display area 6 .

Alternatively, the camera sensor can be arranged in such a way that no additional first optics 8 are required for the camera sensor to capture the representation on the display surface 6 .

The second optical system 9 is arranged at a distance from the display surface 6 in FIGS. 1 and 2 due to the length of the sensor carrier 7 . The second optics 9 are designed in such a way that a detection area 11 is imaged on the camera sensor.

The detection area 11 of the arrangement comprising the second optics 9 and the camera sensor is essentially a surveillance area in the vicinity of the safety sign light 1.

Alternatively, second optics 9 can be arranged at a different position of safety sign light 1 . An arrangement of the second optics 9 on a lower outer surface of the housing 2 running essentially parallel to the plane of the floor can, for example, enable a detection area 11 with a larger opening angle than an arrangement on the sensor carrier 7 .

Alternatively, several second optics 9, in particular in combination with several camera sensors, can enable several second detection areas 11 and thus an extended monitoring area and/or several monitoring areas in the vicinity of the safety sign light 1.

1 and 2 show an embodiment of the safety sign light 1 with a display area 6. Alternatively, the safety sign light 1 can also have one or more further display areas 6, which are preferably monitored by means of an assigned camera sensor in each case.

Fig. 3 shows a view of an element of the display unit 5 of an emergency sign luminaire I according to the invention. The element shown shows a display area 6 on a display carrier. The display area 6 is--not shown graphically in FIG. 3--divided into a large number of individual display segments. For the display of a pictogram on the display area 6, which includes a running person and a directional arrow, the display area 6 can include about 200 display segments. The individual segments of the display surface 6 are actuated with an electrical control signal in order to bring about a dynamically changeable display on the display surface 6 in accordance with the control signal supplied.

The display carrier shown has connection lugs 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5 and 12.6 in order to supply the electrical control signal for driving the display surface 6.

The display carrier according to FIG. 3 additionally shows a further connecting lug 13. The further connecting lug 13 carries a control surface 14. The control surface 14 is constructed as a further display segment (control segment) using electronic paper technology.

The additional terminal lug 13 can—like the terminal lugs 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6—be designed to be flexible. This makes it possible to bend the additional terminal lug 13 and to arrange it inside the housing 2 in such a way that the first optics 8 and/or the camera sensor can monitor, in particular detect, the control surface 14 on the additional terminal lug 13 .

For this purpose, the representation on the control surface 14 will be clearly assigned to a representation on the display surface 14 . The representation on the control surface 14 can be a reduced image of the representation on the display surface 6, for example. Alternatively, each representation on the control surface 14 can be an optoelectronically detectable representation that is clearly assigned to a corresponding representation on the display surface 6 , for example a corresponding bar code (bar code) or QR code.

The control panel 14 can thus be used to indirectly monitor the display area 6 and thus the display unit 5 and in particular the representation on the display area 6 . The control area 14 is thus an area which is connected parallel to the display area 6 and comprises only a substantial part of the information displayed on the display area 6 . The information displayed (displayed) on the control surface 14 , which is smaller in area than the display surface 6 , is clearly assigned to a corresponding representation on the entire display surface 6 . The information displayed on the display surface 6 can be reduced information compared to the corresponding display on the entire display surface 6 . By means of the optical detection of the control surface 14 by the camera sensor, it can thus be recognized just as reliably as with a direct detection of the representation of the pictogram whether the display surface 6 reproduces a representation and in particular a correct representation.

In comparison to the embodiment with an arrangement of the camera sensor such that the camera sensor, possibly in connection with the first optics 8, directly captures the representation on the display surface 6, by arranging the control surface 14 within the housing 2 and capturing the representation on the Control surface 14 an optimized design of the housing 2, for example, a complete waiver of the sensor carrier 7 possible.

The safety sign light 1 can thus be designed to be particularly flat. In this context, flat is to be understood as having a small depth perpendicular to the display surface 6 .

Fig. 4 shows a rear view in a partial sectional representation of an emergency sign lamp 1 according to the invention.

The arrangement of the display carrier with the display surface 6 in the embodiment according to FIG. 3 in the housing 2 of the safety sign light 1 can be seen in a rear view of the safety sign light 1 from FIG. The display surface 6 is arranged on the surface of the safety sign light 1 facing away from a viewer of the figure.

The display carrier with the display area 6 has three bent connection lugs 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 and a further connection lug 13 with the control surface 14 in FIG. The control surface 14 can thus be monitored with a first lens system 8 (not shown in FIG. 4 ) and a camera sensor arranged inside the housing 2 . In the middle area of the housing 2 shown in section, several assembled circuit boards are shown, the elements of the emergency sign light 1, such as control electronics for the display surface 6, an electric power supply for a normal operating mode with mains operation and a power supply for an emergency operating mode with stored electrical energy, one or several processors 18 for controlling the safety sign light 1, one or more communication interfaces 21, one or more sensor interfaces 17.

A further camera sensor 15 designed for detecting people in the monitored area 11 can be arranged in the lower area of the housing 2 . It can thus be seen from FIG. 4 that the embodiment of the display unit 5 with a display surface 6 and a control surface 14 enables the design of a particularly flat safety sign luminaire 1 .

FIG. 5 shows a simplified block diagram of an emergency sign light 1 according to the invention in a building technology system. The building technology system can include a large number of safety sign lights 1 distributed over a building. The safety sign lights 1 are networked by means of a communication network 22 with an evaluation unit 23 .

For the sake of clarity, the supply of electrical energy to the safety sign light 1 is not shown in FIG.

The safety sign light 1 shown has two display units 5.1, 5.2. Each display unit 5.1, 5.2 includes a display area 6.1, 6.2.

Exactly one camera sensor 16.1, 16.2 is assigned to each display area 6.1, 6.2 in the embodiment of the safety sign light 1 according to FIG.

The safety sign light 1 also has three additional camera sensors 15.1, 15.2, 15.3. Each additional camera sensor 15.1, 15.2, 15.3 enables an assigned monitored area 11 in the vicinity of the safety sign light 1 to be monitored.

The camera sensors 16.1, 16.2 and the other camera sensors 15.1, 15.2, 15.3 can be arranged in combination with correspondingly assigned optics, for example first optics 8 and second optics 9.

The camera sensors 16.1, 16.2 and the other camera sensors 15.1, 15.2, 15.3 each generate image data of the spatial (capture) area 10, IE captured by the respective camera sensor 15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 16.1, 16.2 Safety sign light 1 supplied to a processor 18 .

Processor 18 may include one or more microprocessors, signal processors, and/or application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). The processor 18 is a control unit of the safety sign light 1, which in particular also generates the control signal for driving the display units 6.1, 6.2 and outputs it to the display units 6.1, 6.2 via a display interface 19.

In particular, processor 18 can perform the function of evaluating and analyzing the image data from camera sensors 16.1, 16.2 from detection area 10 of camera sensors 16.1, 16.2. In this embodiment, the processor 18 of the security display 1 takes over in particular the function of monitoring the display units 5.1, 5.2 or their display areas 6.1, 6.2. The processor 18 can control a test of the safety sign light 1 and, in particular, monitor and test the display units 5.1, 5.2 and their display areas 6.1, 6.2. A test of the safety sign light I can be started, for example, by a test signal as an input signal at a test input of the safety sign light 1 .

The processor 18 can indicate the successful completion of the test as well as the detection of errors in the execution of the test via suitable signaling means, not shown in FIG.

Alternatively or additionally, the start of the test and feedback on the test results after the test has been completed can be controlled centrally via a correspondingly designed communication interface 21 .

The safety sign light 1 shown has a memory 20 for storing data. Storage 20 may store one or more icons, each in the form of image files. The memory 20 can store additional data, for example test procedures, on tests that have been carried out and, in particular, also test results after the tests have been completed with corresponding data (log data) on the tests.

Further, memory 20 may store program data and programs for processor 18 to execute.

The safety sign light I can also have a communication interface 21 .

The communication interface 21 can be designed for wireless and/or wired communication. The communication interface 21 can support communication according to one or more communication standards, in particular lighting standards.

The communication interface 21 comprises, for example, an NFC interface (Near Field Communication), a DALI interface (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface), and/or a Power Line Communication PLC interface (Power Line Communication).

Images, in particular pictograms, can be transmitted via the communication interface 21 to the memory 20 of the emergency sign light 1 for display on the display surface 5 . In the case of transmission via NFC, the images can be loaded directly onto the memory 20 of the emergency sign light 1 using a mobile device for data processing, for example a smartphone, a tablet or a laptop.

Furthermore, the communication interface 1 can have means of connection to a communication network 22 . An activation signal can be supplied to the safety sign light 1 , in particular to the processor 18 , via the communication network 22 . The activation signal can trigger an optical output of the pictogram. The communication interface 21 to the communication network 22 can be used to dynamically and/or adaptively control the display (optical output) of a specific pictogram via the display units 5.1, 5.2 and their display areas 6.1, 6.2.

The communication interface 21 to the communication network 22 can be used to integrate the safety sign light 1 into a wayfinding system as an example of a building technology system.

Commissioning and configuration of the emergency sign light 1 can in particular also be carried out via the communication interface 21 . Likewise, a change and/or new storage of pictograms in the memory 20 can be made possible via the communication interface 21 .

Image data from the camera sensors 16.1, 16.2 and the other camera sensors 15.1, 15.2, 15.3 can also be transmitted via the communication interface 21 to the evaluation unit 23, in particular to a light interface 24 of the evaluation unit 23. The evaluation unit 23 can preprocess the image data received from the camera sensors 16.1, 16.2 and the other camera sensors 15.1, 15.2, 15.3, process them further and transmit them to other data processing devices, servers.

The evaluation unit 22 can in particular carry out the function of evaluating and analyzing the image data from the additional camera sensors 15.1, 15.2, 15.3 from the monitoring area U of the additional camera sensors 15.1, 15.2, 15.3. The evaluation and analysis of the image data enable the representation on the display area 6.1, 6.2 to be monitored.

The safety sign light 1 has further, particularly advantageous properties on the level, which is higher than the device, of a wayfinding system implemented therewith, as will be shown below with reference to FIG. 7 .

Fig. 6 shows a view of an escape route sign in an application of a safety sign light 1 according to the invention. In the case shown in FIG. 6, the safety sign light 1 uses the optical display unit 5 to show a pictogram 29 on its display surface 6 with a person running in front of a stylized door opening. The pictogram 29 shown also includes a directional arrow to the right shown to the right of the running person.

Escape route displays with pictograms 29 are arranged in appropriately equipped buildings or areas, which are intended to effect spatial escape route guidance in the event of an emergency situation. Escape route signs should also be visible in the event of a fault in the general electrical lighting of the building and can be designed to be integrated with emergency lights. The emergency sign light 1 can be used particularly advantageously in such application scenarios.

An example of escape route signs are signs with pictograms 29 or special escape route indicator lights that show people the direction of an escape or rescue route to leave the building or area.

Pictograms 29 as displays are pictorial representations of information showing a stylized person running and an arrow pointing in the direction of a predetermined escape route. The pictograms 29 can alternatively or additionally include other characters, for example the lettering “EXIT”. Safety indicator lights may include illuminated pictograms 29 that are activated as active escape route indicators upon the occurrence (detection) of an emergency event. Dynamic escape route displays are designed in such a way that some of the escape route displays are in the form of a variable representation. With these changeable representations, an arrow is shown in the direction of the escape route recommended in the current situation, the direction of the arrow shown being adjustable by appropriate control of the display unit 5 . The pictogram 29 preferably represents dynamically and/or adaptively changeable path information and/or direction information.

Such a dynamic escape route display can be controlled, for example, depending on the data from fire alarms collected in a fire alarm control panel (BMZ) of the building. Such dynamic escape route displays are used within the framework of systems for dynamic or adaptive escape route guidance, as specified in particular in leaflet 33013:2016-05 of the ZVEI Zentralverband der Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie e. V., Fachverband Sicherheit, in May 2016 with the title "Adaptive escape routing: further development of technical building evacuation: from dynamic to adaptive escape routing".

The dynamic escape route display system is in particular an adaptive one

Escape route display system, which can change a display even during ongoing emergency operation can. Dynamic display means any type of display or display that can be controlled to display different static and/or dynamic images.

FIG. 7 shows an application scenario of an emergency sign light 1 according to the invention in a building technology system, in particular a wayfinding system.

The routing system shown can provide dynamic escape routing on a floor 30 of a building. The floor is accessed in Fig. 7 by means of two stairwells.

The first stairwell 31 and the second stairwell 32 each represent a possible escape route from floor 30 of the building second stairwell 32 out and over the respective stairwell 31, 32 out of the building. The routing of people to the stairwells 31, 32, shown in FIG. In a second corridor section 35 , the safety sign luminaires 1 direct people to the first stairwell 31 .

The routing of people in an emergency situation shown in FIG. 7 can be changed with a dynamic wayfinding system. This is advantageous, for example, for a quick evacuation of floor 30 via the first and second staircases 31, 32 if a large number of people are in room 36 when the evacuation of floor 30 is initiated. In this case, the evacuation of the second corridor section 35 also via the first stairwell 31 is advantageous in order to distribute the people on the floor 30 according to the capacity of the first and second stairwells 31, 32.

The emergency sign light 1 of one embodiment can provide suitable data on the number of people in the rooms and corridor sections 34, 35 by means of the additional camera sensor(s) 15.1, 15.2, 15.3 for monitoring the monitored area H and evaluating the image data with regard to the number of people in the monitored area 11 , to allow adaptive routing of people according to the capacity of the escape routes.

FIG. 8 shows a simplified flow chart of a method according to the invention for operating an emergency sign light 1 of an embodiment of the invention. The method begins with step S1, in which the current operating mode of the safety sign light 1 is detected.

In step S2 it is checked whether an emergency situation exists. An emergency situation can be triggered, for example, by a fire alarm of a fire alarm system that reports a fire.

The process goes to Step S3 when it is decided that there is no emergency situation in Step S2.

Following step S2, step S3 checks whether the current operating mode is the test mode. A test mode can be triggered, for example, by actuating a test switch on the emergency sign light 1 . If the test mode is recognized in step S3, the safety sign light 1 switches to the “test mode” operating mode. The test mode is discussed below with reference to FIG.

If the answer to the question about triggering the test mode in step S3 is negative ("NO"), the method continues with step S7.

In step S7, a current operating mode of the exit sign lamp 1 is then set to the normal operating mode or maintained.

The method goes from step S2 to step S4 if the existence of an emergency situation is detected in step S2. In step S4, the current operating mode of the safety sign light 1 is then set to the emergency operating mode.

In the emergency operating mode, after step S4, first and second image data are recorded in step S5.

The first and second operating data recorded in step S5 are then evaluated in step S6. The first and second image data are evaluated according to evaluation criteria for the emergency operating mode. Evaluating the recorded image data of the surveillance area in an emergency operating mode of the safety sign light according to at least one evaluation criterion for the emergency operating mode can determine the number of people within the surveillance area 11, determine a respective spatial position of the persons within the surveillance area 11, and/or a position (standing, lying down , motionless, ...) of individuals within the surveillance area 11 discover.

Following step S6, the emergency operating mode is checked as the current operating mode of the emergency sign light 1 by repeating steps S1-S2. If the emergency operating mode is still present as the current operating mode of the emergency sign light 1, the loop S1-S2-S4-S5-S6 is run through repeatedly . On the other hand, when the emergency situation ends, the safety sign light 1 leaves the emergency operating mode in step S2 and switches to step S3.

Following step S2, step S3 checks whether the current operating mode is the test mode. If the test mode is recognized in step S3, the safety sign light 1 switches to the “test mode” operating mode and continues with the steps discussed in FIG.

If it is recognized in step S3 that the current operating mode is not the test mode, then the method goes to step S7. In step S7, the current operating mode is set to normal operating mode.

In step S8, first and second image data are then captured in the normal operating mode.

The first and second operating data recorded in step S8 are then evaluated in step S9. The first and second image data are evaluated in steps according to evaluation criteria for the normal operating mode.

The evaluation criteria for the normal operating mode include, in particular, statistical evaluation criteria for a building technology system or IoT system. Evaluation criteria for the normal operating mode can include a number of people within the monitored area 11, a respective position of the people within the monitored area 11, and/or the behavior of individual people within the monitored area 11.

Following step S9, the normal operating mode is checked as the current operating mode of the emergency sign light 1 by running through the steps SI - S2. If the normal operating mode is still present as the current operating mode of the emergency sign light 1, the loop SI - S2 - S3 - S7 - S8 - S9 is repeated run through.

FIG. 9 shows a simplified flow chart of a method according to the invention for operating a safety sign light 1 in a test operating mode according to an embodiment of the invention. The flowchart supplements the flowchart of the method according to Fig. 8.

It is particularly preferred if the self-monitoring of the safety sign light 1 is carried out in the test operating mode described below in the safety sign light 1, for example controlled by the processor 18.

After step S4, step S7 checked whether the current operating mode is the test mode. If the test mode is recognized in step S7, the emergency sign light 1 switches to the “test mode” operating mode and, in step S10 following step S7, sets the test operating mode as the current operating mode of the emergency sign light 1. Subsequent to step S10, first image data are recorded in step S1.

The first image data recorded in step S11 are then evaluated in step S12. The evaluation of the first image data in step S12 takes place according to evaluation criteria for the test mode. If the evaluation of the first operating data in step S12 results in the test being passed in the subsequent step S13, the test mode can be ended with the output of a corresponding message “test passed”. The method is then continued with step S4 normal operation in FIG.

If the evaluation of the first operating data in step S12 reveals that the test in the subsequent step S13 has not been passed, the test mode is terminated with the output of a corresponding “error” message for the safety sign light 1 . The procedure is then terminated.

Claims

Expectations :

1. System for monitoring the function of an emergency sign light, comprising the emergency sign light having at least one display unit (5) and at least one camera sensor (16.1, 16.2), designed to provide an optical representation on a display surface (6) of the at least one display unit (5) to monitor.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the at least one camera sensor (16.1, 16.2) is designed to monitor the visual representation on the display surface (6) directly, in particular to detect the visual representation on the display surface (6).

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one camera sensor (16.1, 16.2) is also designed to detect at least one monitoring area (11) in an area surrounding the safety sign light.

4. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the system has at least one processor (18) which is designed to evaluate image data generated by the at least one camera sensor (16.1, 16.2).

5. System according to claim 4, wherein the at least one processor (18) is designed to monitor a function of the safety sign light by evaluating the image data generated by the at least one camera sensor (16.1, 16.2).

6. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system further comprises at least one communication interface (21) which is designed to transmit image data generated by the at least one camera sensor (16.1, 16.2) to an evaluation unit (23).

7. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one display unit (5) comprises a control surface (14) assigned to the display surface (6), and control information displayed on the control surface (14) of the optical representation on the display surface (6) unambiguously is to be assigned.

23

8. System according to claim 7, wherein the control surface (14) is integrated as a control field in the display surface (6) of the at least one display unit (5).

9. System according to claim 7, wherein the control surface (14) is formed as a control field separated from the display surface (6) of the at least one display unit (5).

10. System according to claim 9, wherein the control surface (14) is arranged within a housing (2) of the emergency sign light.

11. System according to claim 10, wherein the system arranges at least one camera sensor (16.1, 16.2) and/or at least one optics (8, 9) within the housing (2) of the emergency sign light, and the at least one camera sensor (16.1, 16.2) and / or the at least one lens (8, 9) is designed to capture the control information displayed on the control surface (14).

12. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the system has at least one first optics (8) and at least one second optics (9), and the at least one camera sensor (16.1, 16.2) is designed, the control surface (14) with the at least to capture a first lens (8) and to capture a surveillance area (11) in the environment with the at least one second lens (9).

13. System according to claim 12, wherein the system arranges the at least one first optics (8) and at least one second optics (9) in each case separately optimized in an integrated optics.

14. System according to claim 1, wherein the at least one display unit (5) is designed as a passive imaging display, in particular for an optical display using electronic paper technology.

15. A method for operating an escape sign luminaire, the method characterized by the step Monitoring (S5, S6; S8, S9; Sil, S12) by at least one camera sensor (16.1, 16.2) an optical representation on a display surface (6) of at least one display unit (5) of the safety sign light (1).

16. A method of operating the exit sign light of claim 15, the method further comprising the step of:

Detection (S5, S8) of a surveillance area (11) in the vicinity of the safety sign light (1) by the at least one camera sensor (15.1, 15.2, 15.3) in order to generate image data of the surveillance area (11) that has been detected,

Evaluation (S6, S9), by a processor (18) or by an evaluation unit (23), of the generated image data of the monitored area (11).

17. The method of operating the exit sign light of claim 16, the method further comprising:

Evaluation (S9) of the recorded image data of the monitored area (11) in a normal operating mode of the safety sign light (1) according to at least one evaluation criterion for a normal operating mode of the safety sign light (1), the evaluation criteria for the normal operating mode being, in particular, statistical evaluation criteria for a building technology system or IoT system include, and the evaluation criteria for the normal operating mode include in particular a number of people within the monitored area (11), a respective position of the people, and the behavior of individual people, and / or

Evaluation (S6) of the recorded image data of the monitored area in an emergency operating mode of the safety sign light (1) according to at least one evaluation criterion for the emergency operating mode, the evaluation criteria for the emergency operating being the number of people within the monitored area (11), a respective position of the people, and a Include location of individuals.