PASSENGER TRANSPORT SYSTEM

Abstract

A device for monitoring an operating state of a control device of a passenger transport system includes a detection unit for generating a first electrical quantity depending on a signaled state of the control device, an evaluation unit for analyzing the first electrical quantity in relation to the operating state of the control device, and an interface for transmitting a second electrical signal that is dependent on the analysis and is generated in the evaluation unit. The detection unit is a conversion device for converting an optical signal of at least one optical indicator of the control device into the first electrical signal. The device for monitoring allows state information on the control device to be tapped without conversion work being required on the control device.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. A device for monitoring an operating state of a control device of a passenger transport system, the device comprising: a detection unit detecting a signaled state of the control device and generating a first electrical quantity depending on the detected signaled state; an evaluation unit analyzing the first electrical quantity in relation to an operating state of the control device and generating a second electrical quantity dependent on the analysis of the first electrical quantity; an interface transmitting the second electrical quantity; wherein the detection unit includes a conversion device for converting an optical signal of at least one optical indicator of the control device into the first electrical quantity; wherein the conversion device has at least one plug-in device that is adapted to be plugged onto at least one optical indicator of the control device; and wherein the at least one plug-in device has at least one of a photoelectric element and a camera for monitoring the indicator and faces the at least one optical indicator when the plug-in device is plugged onto the at least one optical indicator.

13. The device according to claim 12 wherein the photoelectric element is a photoresistor.

14. The device according to claim 12 wherein the conversion device is adapted to be mounted in a control device housing that accommodates the control device and to monitor a plurality of the at least one optical indicators in the control device housing.

15. The device according to claim 12 wherein the plug-in device includes a camera monitoring at least one further optical indicator and faces away from the at least one optical indicator when the plug-in device is plugged onto the at least one optical indicator.

16. A method for retrofitting an existing passenger transport system, the method comprising the step of: installing the device according to claim 12 on an existing passenger transport system such that optical indicators of a control device of the existing passenger transport system are detected by the device.

17. A method for monitoring an operating state of a control device of a passenger transport system, the method comprising the steps of: optically monitoring at least one optical indicator of the control device; generating an electrical signal corresponding to an optical state of the at least one optical indicator; detecting a change in the optical state of the at least one optical indicator based on a change in the electrical signal; and evaluating the detected change in the optical state to determine the operating state of the control device.

18. The method according to claim 17 including continuously optically monitoring the at least one optical indicator.

19. The method according to claim 17 wherein the detection of the change in the optical state of the at least one optical indicator includes identifying a change in at least one of color, state change patterns and a one-time switch-off and/or switch-on.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the state change patterns include at least one of on-off patterns and intensity change patterns.

21. The method according to claim 17 including performing the steps in a learning phase during which the evaluating of the detected change in the optical state is used to define an operating state of at least one of the control device and the passenger transport system.

22. The method according to claim 17 including performing the steps in a monitoring phase during which the evaluating of the detected change in the optical state is used to identify an error state of at least one of the control device and the passenger transport system.

23. The method according to claim 17 including a step of transmitting the detected change in the optical state to an entity outside the passenger transport system.

24. The method according to claim 17 including a step of resetting the control device when a specific error state of the control device or passenger transport system is identified.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] In the following, the invention is further explained in drawings with reference to embodiments, in which:

[0047] FIG. 1: is a schematic view of a first embodiment of a device for monitoring an operating state of a control device of a passenger transport system;

[0048] FIG. 2: is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a device for monitoring an operating state of a control device of a passenger transport system; and

[0049] FIG. 3: is a schematic view of a third embodiment of a device for monitoring an operating state of a control device of a passenger transport system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a passenger transport system 2 having a control device 6. The control device 6 is accommodated in a control device housing 20 and has an optical indicator 14. A device 1 for monitoring an operating state of a control device 6 of the passenger transport system 2 is present in the control device housing 20. The device 1 comprises a detection unit 4, which comprises a conversion unit 12, which in this embodiment is designed as a photoelectric element 16. The detection unit 4 is connected to an evaluation unit 8, the evaluation unit 8 in turn being connected to an interface 10 for communication.

[0051] The conversion device also has a plug-in device 22 that can be plugged onto the one optical indicator 14 of the control device.

[0052] In the embodiment in FIG. 2, the conversion device 12 is designed as a camera 18.

[0053] In the embodiment in FIG. 3, the conversion device 12 comprises a photoelectric element 16 and a camera 18.

[0054] 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.