SYSTEM COMPOSED OF AN APPARATUS FOR TREATING A FLUID, A HANDHELD DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR OPERATING SUCH A SYSTEM

Abstract

The invention relates to a system composed of an apparatus to treat a fluid and a handheld device, wherein the apparatus has a communication unit with a radio antenna and the handheld device has a communication unit with a radio antenna and both communication units can exchange data with each other by means of radio communication, and the apparatus has a control unit, which can detect at least one status parameter of the apparatus and generate a signal which is dependent on the status parameter and can transfer it via the communication unit of the apparatus to the communication unit of the handheld device.

Claims

1. A system composed of an apparatus (1) to treat a fluid and a handheld device (2), wherein the apparatus (1) has a communication unit (3) with a radio antenna and the handheld device (2) has a communication unit with a radio antenna and both communication units can exchange data (4) with each other by means of radio communication and/or the apparatus (1) has a communication unit (3) with a cable connection and the handheld device (2) has a communication unit with a radio antenna or a cable connection, via which it can be connected to a computer network and the communication unit of the apparatus (1) can be connected to the computer network via a cable, and both communication units can exchange data (4) with each other via the computer network or the handheld device (2) can be connected to the cable connection of the apparatus (1) via a cable connected to the cable connection of the handheld device (2) and both communication units can exchange data (4) with each other via the cable, and the apparatus (1) has a control unit, which can detect at least one status parameter of the apparatus (1) and generate a signal which is dependent on the status parameter and can transfer it via the communication unit (3) of the apparatus to the communication unit of the handheld device (2).

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the apparatus (1) to treat a fluid has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and specifies a flow path through the apparatus (1) between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, wherein the flow path leads through means of treatment, especially means to clean, in particular, means to dry (5) and/or through means to filter the fluid.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that both communication units exchange data (4) by means of radio signals according to the Bluetooth standard, NFC standard or a standard belonging to the IEEE-802.11 family.

4. The system according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the handheld device (2) has another communication unit with a radio antenna, with which the handheld device (2) can exchange data via a mobile communications network.

5. The system according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the apparatus (1) has at least one of the measurement elements indicated in the list below: temperature element to measure the fluid temperature on a measuring point within the apparatus; temperature element to measure the temperature of the means to clean, in particular, to dry, or the means to filter the fluid; pressure sensor to detect the pressure of the fluid at a measuring point; operating-hours meter switched on since a preceding event, for example since a preceding maintenance or a preceding exchange of means to dry the fluid arranged in cartridges; power consumption meter; measurement element to determine fluid composition (e.g. CO sensors, CO.sub.2 sensors or O.sub.2 sensors); volume flow meter, hygrometer position measurement device or position sensor of positioning devices of the apparatus, for example of valves installed in the apparatus, differential pressure gauge.

6. The system according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the handheld device (2) has a database stored on a non-volatile memory.

7. A method to operate a system according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the control unit detects a status parameter of the apparatus (1) and generates a signal dependent on the status parameter and transmits it to the communication unit of the handheld device (2) via the communication unit (3) of the apparatus (1).

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the handheld device (2) exchanges data via a mobile communications network after receiving the signal via the radio antenna of the other communication unit.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that after receiving the signal via the radio antenna, the handheld device (2) generates a response signal which it transfers to the communication unit (3) of the apparatus (1) via the communication unit of the handheld device (2).

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the response signal is transmitted from the communication unit of the apparatus (1) to the control unit of the apparatus (1) and the control unit of the apparatus (1) places a positioning

Description

[0043] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing which illustrates merely one exemplary embodiment. The single figure of the drawing shows a perspective schematic view of the system according to the invention.

[0044] The system according to the invention has an apparatus for treating a fluid 1 and a handheld device 2. The apparatus 1 has a communication unit 3 with a radio antenna. In addition, the handheld device has a function unit (not illustrated in more detail) with a radio antenna. The two communication units can exchange data with one another by means of radio (indicated symbolically by the arrow 4).

[0045] The apparatus 1 has a fluid inlet (not illustrated in more detail) and a fluid outlet (not illustrated in more detail). Between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet the apparatus specifies a flow path (not illustrated in more detail) through the two desiccant containers 5 and the two filters 6.

[0046] In a control unit (not illustrated in more detail) of the apparatus 1, the operating hours since a cartridge of a desiccant container 5 has been replaced are counted as status parameters of the apparatus. If the counted operating hours reach a previously input value, the control unit generates a signal which can be transferred via the communication unit of the apparatus to the communication unit of the handheld device 2. In response to this, a message is displayed on the display of the handheld device 2 to the effect that a cartridge of a desiccant container 5 of the apparatus 1 has to be exchanged. At the same time, it is possible to display on the display of the handheld device 2 an input request which requests whether a new cartridge is to be supplied by a service team. If this input request is responded to in the affirmative, the handheld device can exchange data via a mobile communications network, via a further communication unit (not illustrated in more detail) which has a further radio antenna, and can enter into contact with a service team, which is informed about what type of cartridge is to be supplied for what type of apparatus to which operator and at which location of the operator.

[0047] In an alternative operating state, the control unit can detect a malfunction of the apparatus by detecting status parameters of the apparatus, and in response generate a signal which is transmitted via the communication unit of the apparatus 1 to the communication unit of the handheld device 2. This malfunction can be displayed on the display of the handheld device 2. In this context, the handheld device can output an action recommendation as a function of the present malfunction by accessing a database which is stored on a non-volatile memory. In addition, it is possible to display on the display of the handheld device an input request whose confirmation permits contact to be established with a service centre or a maintenance technician. This contact can be made via the exchange of data via a mobile communications network, wherein an exchange of data is also to be understood as making a telephone call. In this context it is, in particular, possible that, on the one hand, the handheld device exchanges data for a telephone call when data is exchanged via the mobile communications network, but in parallel with this it also exchanges data which identifies, for example, the model type of the apparatus, the location of the apparatus or, for example, the operator of the apparatus, with the result that during the telephone call a service centre or maintenance personnel are already provided with information about the apparatus or, for example, also about the detected malfunction.