Method and device for monitoring at least one loudspeaker line

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for monitoring at least one loudspeaker line (120), wherein a main module (210) arranged at a first point in the at least one loudspeaker line (120) and at least one monitoring module (220) arranged at a second, remote point in each of the at least one loudspeaker lines (120) communicate, wherein a message is transmitted from the main module (210) to the at least one monitoring module (220), and/or the at least one monitoring module (220) is supplied with power, by using the loudspeaker line (120), wherein a message is transmitted from the at least one monitoring module (220) to the main module (210) by using a wireless communication connection, and a device for monitoring at least one loudspeaker line (120).

Claims

1. A method for monitoring at least one loudspeaker line, wherein a main module, arranged at a first point in the loudspeaker line, and at least one monitoring module, arranged at a second point in the loudspeaker line, communicate, wherein the main module transmits a first message over the loudspeaker line to the at least one monitoring module and/or for supplying power to the at least one monitoring module, wherein the at least one monitoring module transmits a second message over a wireless communication link to the main module through a smoke detector, and wherein the smoke detector is part of a fire and/or smoke alarm system different from the at least one monitoring module arranged at the at least one loudspeaker line.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one item of status information about the at least one monitoring module is transmitted in the message transmitted by the at least one monitoring module to the main module.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein Bluetooth or wireless local area network (WLAN) is used as the wireless communication link.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one monitoring module is supplied with power over the at least one loudspeaker line by a high-frequency pilot tone.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two loudspeaker lines are monitored.

6. A device for monitoring at least one loudspeaker line comprising a main module, arranged at a first point in the at least one loudspeaker line, and at least one monitoring module, arranged at a second point in each of the at least one loudspeaker line, wherein the main module and the at least one monitoring module are configured to transmit a first message from the main module to the at least one monitoring module and/or for supplying power to the at least one monitoring module over the at least one loudspeaker line, wherein the at least one monitoring module is configured to transmit a second message to the main module over a wireless communication link through a smoke detector, and wherein the smoke detector is part of a fire and/or smoke alarm system different from the at least one monitoring module arranged at the at least one loudspeaker line.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the wireless communication link is a Bluetooth or wireless local area network (WLAN) link.

8. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one monitoring module is supplied with power over the at least one loudspeaker line by a high-frequency pilot tone.

9. A monitoring module for monitoring at least one loudspeaker line, wherein the monitoring module is configured to receive a first message and/or power from a main module over at least one loudspeaker line, wherein the monitoring module is configured to transmit a second message from the monitoring module to the main module over a wireless communication link through a smoke detector, and wherein the smoke detector is part of a fire and/or smoke alarm system different from the monitoring module for monitoring the at least one loudspeaker line.

10. The monitoring module for monitoring at least one loudspeaker line (120) as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one item of status information about the at least one monitoring module is transmitted in the message transmitted by the at least one monitoring module to the main module.

11. The monitoring module for monitoring at least one loudspeaker line as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one monitoring module is supplied with power over the at least one loudspeaker line by a high-frequency pilot tone.

12. The monitoring module for monitoring at least one loudspeaker line as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least two loudspeaker lines are monitored.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 schematically shows a number of loudspeaker lines with a monitoring device according to the invention in a preferred embodiment,

(2) FIG. 2 schematically shows a loudspeaker line from FIG. 1 in more detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(3) FIGS. 1 and 2 are described below in a coherent and comprehensive manner, the same elements being provided with the same reference symbols. In this case, FIG. 2 shows a more detailed representation of one of a number of loudspeaker lines that are schematically represented in FIG. 1 of a public address system 100, which has a preferred embodiment of a monitoring device according to the invention. For purposes of illustration, the public address system is only represented very schematically, with a very small number of elements, such as for example amplifiers, loudspeakers and monitoring modules. It goes without saying, however, that in practice corresponding public address systems have far more elements.

(4) The public address system 100 has (in FIG. 2 only shown for one loudspeaker line) an audio amplifier 110, connected to the output of which, which is galvanically isolated by way of a transformer 111, is a loudspeaker line 120. The loudspeaker line 120 has two loudspeaker leads 121 and 122, connected in parallel to which are a number of loudspeakers 123, 124likewise galvanically isolated by way of transformers. In the illustration represented, the public address system 100 is configured for the 100 V technique, so that a length of the loudspeaker line 120 may be for example in excess of 1 or 2 km. It goes without saying that the other loudspeaker lines can be set up in the same way.

(5) For monitoring the loudspeaker lines 120, a monitoring device according to the invention is provided, comprising a main module 210 and also monitoring modules 220. For monitoring the loudspeaker lines 120, a message is respectively sent from the main module 210 over the loudspeaker lines 120 to the monitoring modules 220, preferably as a digital signal. The sending of a message may in this case take place in the way described for example in DE 10 2010 028 022 A1.

(6) For providing the monitoring functionality, communication modules 310 are therefore used, in order to set up a wireless communication link between the monitoring modules 220 and the main module 210.

(7) The communication modules 310 may be for example smoke detectors of a smoke alarm system 300, which are in any case connected to one another by way of a wireless communication link. Particularly preferably, these may be meshed communication units with the Bluetooth Low-Energy standard.

(8) The main module 210 and the monitoring modules therefore themselves have in each case suitable communication means in order to set up the wireless communication link by way of the communication unit 310.

(9) The monitoring modules 220 also additionally have a power supply, which is fed over the loudspeaker lines 120 preferably by means of a high-frequency pilot tone of for example 20 kHz.

(10) For monitoring the loudspeaker lines 120, it is often appropriate for the main module 210 to send a message, in particular a digital (and preferably addressed) signal, which is received and processed by the connected monitoring modules. The digital signal may in particular contain an address in order to be directed specifically to certain monitoring modules.

(11) If a receiving monitoring module detects that it is being addressed, it responds to the inquiry by sending a message, in particular likewise a digital signal, over the wireless communication link. In principle, all methods of communication that use a signal, in particular a digital signal, over a wireless communication link are suitable for the communication. The communication allows the loudspeaker lines to be monitored, because in particular, if there is a fault on a loudspeaker line, the monitoring module concerned does not send a message.

(12) Alternatively, it may also be provided that the monitoring modules 220 report to the main module 210 at intervals of time, for example regular intervals of time, without first having to receive a message. For this, the monitoring modules may transmit corresponding messages. If the loudspeaker line then fails, the monitoring modules 220 are no longer supplied with power, and consequently can no longer transmit messages.