Abstract
A device for connecting a control device of a passenger transport installation to a communication unit for transmitting data to an entity remote from the passenger transport installation includes at least one detection unit detecting a first physical variable of the control device. The device further includes an evaluation unit generating a first electrical signal on the basis of the first physical variable detected. The device also includes a first interface connecting the device to the communication unit. The first electrical signal is transmitted to the communication unit via the first interface. The detection unit detects at least one of an electrical resistance, an electrical voltage, a visual state an acoustic signal of the control device as the first physical variable.
Claims
1-15. (canceled)
16. A device for connecting a control device of a passenger transport installation to a communication unit remote from the device to transmit data to an entity remote from the passenger transport installation, the device comprising: a detection unit adapted to detect a first physical variable of the control device; an evaluation unit generating a first electrical signal on a basis of the detected first physical variable; a first interface connecting the device to the communication unit, wherein the first electrical signal is transmitted to the communication unit via the first interface; and wherein the detection unit detects the first physical variable as at least one of an electrical resistance, an electrical voltage, a visual state and an acoustic signal of the control device.
17. The device according to claim 16 wherein the evaluation unit differentiates between a first state and a second state of the first physical variable, wherein the first state indicates that the passenger transport installation is functional and the second state indicates that the passenger transport installation is not functional.
18. The device according to claim 17 wherein the evaluation unit includes a switch for switching the evaluation unit between a first operating mode and a second operating mode, wherein the first electrical signal is generated in a first state when the evaluation unit is in the first operating mode and is inverted from the first state to a second state when the evaluation unit is in the second operating mode.
19. The device according to claim 18 wherein the evaluation unit, when operating in the first operating mode, generates the first electrical signal in the first state when the first state of the first physical variable is detected and generates the first electrical signal in the second state when the second state of the first physical variable is detected and, when operating in the second operating mode, generates the first electrical signal in the second state when the first state of the first physical variable is detected and generates the first electrical signal in the first state when the second state of the first physical variable is detected.
20. The device according to claim 16 including a second interface and a third interface, wherein the second interface is electrically connected to the third interface within the device such that an electrical signal that is present at one of the second and third interfaces is also available at another of the second and third interfaces.
21. The device according to claim 20 wherein the second interface is formed in a connection element with the first interface.
22. The device according to claim 16 wherein the device is connected to a voltage source of the communication unit to supply the device with electrical power, and wherein the voltage source is connected to the device via the first interface.
23. The device according to claim 16 wherein the passenger transport installation is an elevator installation.
24. the device according to claim 16 wherein the communication unit is an Internet-enabled communication unit.
25. A system including two of the devices according to claim 16 each having an additional interface, the additional interfaces connecting the two devices.
26. The system according to claim 25 wherein the first electrical signals of the two devices are OR-linked or AND-linked to generate a resulting signal that is transmitted to the communication unit via the first interface.
27. A system for transmitting a state of a control device of a passenger transport installation, the system comprising: a communication unit for transmitting data to an entity remote from the passenger transport installation; and at least one of the device according to claim 16 connected to the communication unit via the first interface.
28. The system according to claim 27 wherein the at least one device includes a first device and a second device, wherein the first device is connected to an additional interface of the second device via an additional interface of the first device, wherein the first device and the second device are configured identically, wherein the detection unit of the first device detects the first physical variable of the control device that is at least one of an electrical resistance, an electrical voltage, a visual state of the control device and an acoustic signal of the control device, wherein the detection unit of the second device detects a second physical variable of the control device that is different from the first physical variable and is at least one of an electrical resistance, an electrical voltage, a visual signal from the control device, or an acoustic signal from the control device.
29. The system according to claim 28 wherein the at least one device includes a third device connected to the additional interfaces of the first and second devices via an additional interface of the third device, wherein the detection unit of the third device detects a visual signal from the control device.
30. The system according to claim 27 wherein the at least one device includes a second interface connected to the communication unit and a third interface connected to the control device, and wherein the first interface and the second interface are formed in a connection element.
31. A method for retrofitting a passenger transport installation, the method comprising the steps of: attaching at least one device according to claim 16 to a control device of the passenger transport installation; and attaching a communication unit to the passenger transport installation and connecting the communication unit to the at least one device.
32. The method according to claim 31 wherein the passenger transport installation is a non-Internet-enabled elevator installation connected to a building management via parallel wiring and the communication unit is an Internet-enabled communication unit.
33. The method according to claim 31 including transmission of an operating state of the control device of the passenger transport installation to an entity remote from the passenger transport installation, the method further comprising the steps of: monitoring with the at least one device at least one physical variable of the control device that indicates that the control device is functional, the at least one physical variable being at least one of an electrical resistance, an electrical voltage, a visual signal of the control device and an acoustic signal of the control device; and transmitting an error message to an entity outside the passenger transport installation when the at least one physical variable indicates that the control device is not functional.
34. The method according to claim 31 including receiving a reset command via the communication unit and responding by generating a reset signal to the control device of the passenger transport installation.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0052] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to embodiments in the drawings, which show:
[0053] FIG. 1: a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention.
[0054] FIG. 2: a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a system according to the invention.
[0055] FIG. 3: a schematic representation of a passenger transport installation retrofitted according to the method according to the invention.
[0056] FIG. 4: the device known from FIG. 1 in a further configuration in which it is connected to the passenger transport installation differently in comparison with FIG. 1 in order to detect a different physical variable.
[0057] FIG. 5: the device from FIG. 1 connected to the passenger transport installation according to the invention.
[0058] FIG. 6: a schematic representation of a further embodiment of a device according to the invention.
[0059] FIG. 7: the device from FIG. 6 connected to the passenger transport installation.
[0060] FIG. 8: a passenger transport installation with three identical devices according to the embodiment from FIG. 1, but different configurations with regard to the connections to the passenger transport installation for the detection of three different physical variables, a device according to the embodiment of FIG. 6, and a communication unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0061] FIG. 1 shows a device 1. The device 1 comprises a detection unit 10 and an evaluation unit 12, as well as several interfaces 14, 16, 18, 20 for connecting the device. The device further comprises a switch 22 and a status display 30. In this embodiment, the detection unit 10 is in the form of an interface having three pins. The power supply 28 of the device 1 can be led out of the device 1 via a first pin. The second pin connects a first input of the evaluation unit 12 to the detection unit 10, the third pin connecting a second input of the evaluation unit 12 to the detection unit 10. In this embodiment, the evaluation unit 12 comprises a comparator and an inverter which can be actuated by the switch 22. The comparator is connected to the second and third pin of the detection unit 10. On the basis of the output signal, which can be inverted by the inverter (depending on the position of the switch 22), the evaluation unit 12 closes or opens a switch 23 that is integrated in the evaluation unit such that a circuit that contains this switch is either closed or interrupted. The two connections of this switch are led out of the evaluation unit 12. The interfaces 14, 16, 18, 20 are configured as follows in this embodiment: The first interface 14 comprises four pins for connecting the device 1. The second interface 16 comprises two pins. In this embodiment, the first interface 14 and the second interface 16 are formed in a connection element 26, which is a plug in this embodiment. The third interface 18 comprises two pins. In this embodiment, the two pins of the second interface 16 are directly connected within the device to the two pins of the third interface 18. The additional interface 20 comprises three pins. The first pin of the first interface 14 is connected to the third pin of the first interface 14 and to the first pin of the additional interface 20. The second pin of the first interface 14 is connected to the second pin of the additional interface 20 and to the first connection of the switch 23 of the evaluation unit 12 that is led out of the evaluation unit 12. The fourth pin of the first interface 14 is connected to the third pin of the additional interface 20 and to the second connection of the switch 23 present in the evaluation unit 12, which connection is led out of the evaluation unit 12. A status display 30 is connected to the output of the comparator through the switch 22.
[0062] FIG. 2 shows a system 2. In this embodiment, the system 2 consists of a device 1, as shown in FIG. 1, and a communication unit 8. The communication unit 8 comprises a voltage source 24. The voltage source 24 is led out of the communication unit 8 and connected to the device 1 via the first and second pins of the first interface 14 of the device 1. The communication unit 8 has a digital input 40 and two pins which allow the digital input 40 to be contacted. These two pins are configured as the second and third pins of the communication unit 8. The communication unit 8 further comprises a digital output 42. This digital output can be tapped via two pins, namely the fifth and sixth pins of the communication unit 8, outside the communication unit 8. The digital input 40 is connected to the third and fourth pins of the first interface 14. The digital output 42 is connected to the second interface 16 of the device 1 via the fifth and sixth pins of the communication unit 8.
[0063] FIG. 3 shows the system 2 described above after it has been connected to a passenger transport installation 6 or the control device 4 of the installation 6 by means of a retrofitting method according to the invention. In this embodiment, a so-called cold switch signal output of the control device 4 is detected by the detection unit 10 of the device 1 of the system 2, and the physical variable of an electrical resistance representing the status of a switch 32 is thus detected by the system 2. For this purpose, the first pin and the second pin of the detection unit 10 are connected to the signal output of the switch 32 of the control device 4. The control device 4 also includes a reset input 38, this input 38 being connected to the third interface 18 of the device 1. A reset command of the digital output 42 of the communication unit 8 is thus routed through the device 1, i.e. through the second interface 16 and third interface 18, to the control device 4. As a result of the above-described connection of the system 2 to the control device 4, a closure of the switch 32, i.e. a change in the resistance of the switch 32 from almost infinite to zero ohms, results in a current flow from the voltage source 28, which is supplied with power by the voltage source 24 (connection not shown), to the first input of the comparator. This leads to a positive output voltage at the output of the comparator and thus to a closed switch 23. When the switch 23 is closed, a current flow through the digital input 40 of the control device 4 is enabled. This current flow takes place from the voltage source 24 of the communication unit 8 via the first pin of the first interface 14 into the device 1 and via the third pin of the first interface 14 out of the device 1 into the digital input 40 of the communication unit 8. From the communication unit 8, the current flow leads via the fourth pin of the first interface 14 into the device 1 and then via the switch 23 of the comparator of the detection unit 10 and the second pin of the first interface 14 back into the voltage source 24 of the communication unit 8. Such a current flow is detected by the communication unit 8 as an error signal, for example (current flow equals non-functional, no current flow equals functional). The inverter, which is part of the evaluation unit 12 and can be switched on or off by the switch 22, now allows both a normally open cold switch (open cold switch when the control device is functional) and a normally closed cold switch (closed cold switch if the control device is functional) to be connected to the same communication unit.
[0064] FIG. 4 shows a device 1 according to the embodiment in FIG. 1, as well as a control device 4 of a passenger transport installation 6. In contrast to the embodiment in FIG. 3, the control device 4 has a hot switch 34 (see cold switch 32 in FIG. 3). At the output of the control device 4, the hot switch 34 leads to a first physical variable which is voltage-free, i.e. 0 V, in a first state, and to a positive DC voltage, e.g. 5 V, in a second state, for example. In order to detect the first physical variable in the form of a voltage (hot switch), the device 1 from FIG. 1 is connected to the control device 4 via the second and third pin of the detection unit 10 in this embodiment. The inputs of the comparator of the evaluation unit 12 are both connected to the control device, i.e. to the voltage source of the hot switch output. The power supply 28 of the detection unit is not used in this configuration. Similarly to the description from FIG. 3, a first state and a second state of the electrical voltage can be detected, it being possible to invert the conversion of the information by means of the inverter of the evaluation unit 12 such that the communication unit 8 is independent of the implementation of the hot switch (0 V voltage can indicate a functional control device in one embodiment of the control device and a non-functional control device in another embodiment). The device 1 is identical to the device 1 from FIG. 1.
[0065] Like FIG. 4, FIG. 5 shows an embodiment according to the invention of the device 1 shown in FIG. 1 in conjunction with a control device 4 of a passenger transport installation. In this embodiment, the control device 4 has a signal output which is connected to the safety circuit 34 of the passenger transport installation. In the embodiment shown, the safety circuit 34 is a series connection of two switches between a voltage source and the ground. Each of these switches represents a safety-relevant function of the passenger transport installation. If both switches are closed, the voltage of the voltage source is present at the signal output. When the upper switch is opened, 0 V is present at the output. When the lower switch is opened, the supply voltage can be detected at the output. The state of the safety circuit 34 can therefore be tapped by the device 1 and this information can be made accessible to the communication unit 8. This embodiment is identical in principle to the embodiment from FIG. 4. In this embodiment, too, a voltage is detected as the first physical variable (i.e. a hot switch). Only the second and third pins of the detection unit 10 are connected to the control device 4. The power supply 28 at pin one of the detection unit 10 is not required.
[0066] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the device 1. In this embodiment, the device 1 comprises a detection unit 10 which comprises a photoelectric sensor. This is connected to the evaluation unit 12 via a converter. In this embodiment, the evaluation unit 12 comprises a processor 44 instead of the comparator. The output of the processor 44 is in turn connected to a switch 23 so that the processor can open or close this switch. The structure of the device 1 is otherwise identical to the device 1 according to the first embodiment from FIG. 1.
[0067] FIG. 7 shows the connection of a device 1 according to the second embodiment from FIG. 6 to a control device 4 of a passenger transport installation. In this embodiment, the control device 4 of the passenger transport installation has an LED 36 which indicates a state of the control device. In this embodiment, a green light on the LED means a functional control device, while a red light on the LED indicates a non-functional control device. In this embodiment, the first physical variable of the control device 4 is therefore a visual state, which can assume two states. This first physical variable of the control device 4 is detected by the detection unit 10 (photoelectric sensor) of the device 1 and processed by the evaluation unit 12 of the device 1 and then output as a simple binary signal at the output of the evaluation unit 12 in the form of an open or closed switch. The device 1 thus allows the detection of the physical variable, the visual state of the control device 4, and a conversion, so that the communication unit 8 can process the state of this physical variable (functional or non-functional control device), i.e. transmit it to a remote entity. There is no inverter in this embodiment, since the adaptation of the control device signaling to the logic of the communication unit is carried out by the CPU 44.
[0068] FIG. 8 shows a system 2 consisting of four devices 1 and a communication unit 8, the system 2 being connected to a control device 4 of a passenger transport installation. In this embodiment, the control device 4 comprises four signaling outputs, i.e. outputs indicating the operating state. These outputs signal different operating states through different physical variables, each of these physical variables being able to change from an “OK” state to an “out of order” state, i.e. from a first to a second state. Three of the four devices 1 are identical, specifically according to the embodiment from FIG. 1. The fourth device 1 (bottom of the figure) is configured according to the embodiment from FIG. 6. The device 1 shown at the top is connected to the control device 4 in such a way that it can detect the physical variable of electrical resistance, i.e. open or closed switch (cold switch). The two middle devices 1 are connected to the control device 4 in such a way that they can distinguish a zero voltage from a positive voltage (hot switch). One of these two devices 1 is connected to a conventional hot-switch status output 34.1 of the control device 4, while the other device 1 is connected to the safety circuit 34.2 of the passenger transport installation. The fourth, lowermost device 1 detects a state that is visually signaled by the control device 4. The four devices 1 are connected to one another in a bus-like manner via the additional interface 20. The uppermost device 1 is connected to the communication unit 8 as described above. If one of the evaluation units 12 of the devices 1 closes the switch on the basis of the detected first physical variable, this leads to a current flow as described above, which is then evaluated by the communication unit 8 as a non-functional control device. In this embodiment, the various devices 1 are OR-linked to one another, the result of the OR link being passed to the communication unit 8. Using the inverters present in the devices 1 or the CPU 44 present in the fourth device 1, the signal coding can be adapted to the physical variable such that the relevant switch of the evaluation unit 12 only actually opens when the physical variable indicates a non-functional control device. In such a configuration, the plurality of devices 1, which are configured as simple devices 1, as described above, make it possible to detect a plurality of different physical variables of the control device 4, to adapt them by the inverter, to OR-link them, and then to route them via a simple two-wire connection to the communication unit 8 as a simple digital on or off signal.
[0069] In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.
