Alarmsystem for the operating state of an appliance

The invention relates to a notification device for detecting an Operating state of a mechanical device or a Device and for transmitting a signal to the associated operating state to a receiver circuitry, which a is spatially separate part of the signaling device and this Signal into an optical, acoustic and / or tactile alarm signal converts and outputs it.

From communication and remote control technology, it is known to Operating status of motors, valves, pumps, relays and the like. through a contact scanning, optical, magnetic and / or to detect and thereby obtained electrical sensor Mode signal to a wireless or wired to transmit control room where there a qualitative or quantitative indicator is supplied and / or out of it depends on at least one evaluation criterion by at least one Threshold circuit forming an alarm signal, and thus a optical or acoustic alarm is issued.

It is also known, the respective current consumption of Household appliances, such as stove, washing machine, refrigerator, means a switched in the supply line adapter continuously measure and the current sense signal wirelessly to a central unit, transfer, where from the received signal, a power consumption over a given period and an instantaneous to determine power consumption and displayed.

These known devices are on the one hand, in particular the receiving end is relatively complex, and they are not suitable, without Another reference to a reported transient state or determine power consumption if a washing machine or a Dryer or other intermittently-working unit is in an operational end state, which for the operator is of particular interest when the device far away, in particular several floors below operated in a basement, becomes.

In this context, it often happens that the device user the external to the flat space in the Hope / expectation, the washing or drying process is terminated, seeks and finds that the device in question to Process has not finished and the Progrmam not ready has progressed, that was worth a wait. Of the Device user is then held at a later date look up even if the process is finished. The prescribed problem becomes even more evident when the dependent device users about reasons given rush it is to swiftly wrap up the washing and / or drying process and in the meantime expediently other activities to be done. In the presence of only one Safe power connection for washing machine and electric Tumble is also given in such cases the requirement, the drying process immediately after completion of the Washing process to initiate. Trying to wash times and the derive drying times from experience, fails in many cases, because in particular, depending on and quantity of laundry, Washing program, temperature settings for the washing machine and Drying program very different maturities of Devices described arise.

The object of the invention is, from an operating condition signal in particular from such a selected from an intermittently working domestic appliance comes, concerning the existence of a evaluate operational end state and this according to the report signal output.

The solution consists in that the mode signal a Amplitudenschwellwertschaltung passes and schwellwertübersteigende Signal part of a retriggerable tracking circuit is supplied at the timing respectively the Operating final signal for the formation of alarm notification signal pending.

Advantageous embodiments are in the dependent claims indicated.

The operating state signal of an electric washing or Drying unit can be relatively simple in its supply line, eg by means of a socket plug adapter or by means of a win vibration or noise detector, an engagement without make in the device.

The power consumption of such an apparatus varies due to the various processes such as heating, ventilating, and pumps in changing directions and moving signal delivery, signal light operation and switch operation. Here occur between phases with high current consumption each transitional periods with a relatively low consumption, and the operation end state is via a comparatively longer lasting Low power consumption in. Accordingly, the amplitude threshold of Schwellschaltung set so high that the low consumption of Signal devices and the time switch are deeper and the currents the major power consumers, such as heating, ventilation, pump, Spin and swing motor, cross the threshold.

The height of the threshold is appropriate program or circuitry predetermined, to adapt to any to be able to carry on growing device easy. If the switch and evaluation is programmable, can be the thresholding automate characterized in that in a Programming state of operation in the final state of the monitored Appliance lowest measured current value with an appropriate Award, including doubles provided, stored as threshold is and for the following operating as the threshold provides.

The stopping time of the time tracking circuit is set longer, as the longest interval when switching between various operating phases will take. lets also the follow-up time expediently circuitry or by means of a Programming specification appropriate for the particular device or pretend based on a passage in a program state by means of a Program automatically by a measurement of the longest Interval and adding an appropriate tolerance to surcharge this store and provide for future runs.

Instead of a current measurement, for example by means of a transformer decoupling from a supply in a Measuring circuit occurs, a measurement of another can be externally make available measured value and as a vibration or Arrange noise sensor on the unit, which, when an engine is running or a buzzer sounds, demgemäße electrical signals emits. The Amplitude threshold must in this case be set so high that conventional Nearby sounds pretend no machine operation. The follow-up time such a device has substantially longer than with a current monitoring are provided, as in many Device Types heating periods occur in which considerable power is consumed, but no motor is turned on, so may not Noise is generated. Such pure heating times have bypassed be by greater to select the delay time than at a Current measurement evaluation.

The two partial devices for amplitude evaluation and Later overrun time education can be set independently on Sensor, before the signal transmission path or after this Arrange front of the detector.

The transfer of the operation and / or operation end signals either by wire or wirelessly with a known Transmission technology. In particular, the suitability of the Power supply network for transmitting encrypted, modulated frequency signals or coded pulse trains so that the recipient with a suitable frequency filters, the desired Transmitter signal from a variety of other transmissions on the can selectively retrieve network or certain code combinations the assignment of sender and receiver, as well as the respective Transmitter state serve.

As far as the measured values ​​for further evaluation to the receiver are transmitted, this may in analog form by means of amplitude modulation, Frequency modulation or pulse width modulation happen. These types of transmission constantly occupy but a Transmission channel, which is only at low levels and accordingly Short range is approved.

More advantageous is a periodic transmitting a digitized reading or a digital state code word. The latter simplifies the transmit and receive circuits. Suitably only two states are transmitted periodically, the Operating condition which is used to Funkionskontrolle, and Operation end state, which is used for operating the end message.

The operation end message can be in various known manners the votes present, by an acoustic signal output as a sound carried out and / or one or melody or a voice announcement Light signal, for example, a preferred color LED light-emitting diode or a Energizing a tactilely perceptible vibrator is made. As function display of the not yet completed the operation of a monitored device is another visual display expedient provided. This also shows a n that the transmission path is working.

If the receiving and display device having a plurality of signal sources in is bringing compound correspondingly different have IDs by using different frequencies transmitted or various digital code words, so are accordingly a plurality of display means arranged on the display device, a allow distinguishing the source of the operation end signal. As Ad agents are individual LEDs or Numerical display, each with one of the signal source and the respective signal state associated Paragraph Symbol Control is acted upon. A tactile or audible signal is output limited.

Advantageous embodiments are shown in Figures 1-5 given.<dl tsize="6"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>shows a schematic of a power consumption evaluation with operating end detector,</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>shows a detail of Stromauswertevorrichtung,</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>shows a diagram of a vibration signal-evaluating device with signaling device,</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>shows a circuit diagram of a receiving and Signaling device,</dd><dt>Fig. 5</dt><dd>shows a schematic diagram of signal evaluation.</dd></dl>

Fig. 1 schematically shows a washing or drying machine 1, the Power cord 10 with its plug 11 in a Mains adapter 12 is inserted, via a junction box is connected to a voltage supply network thirteenth

In the adapter 12 is a current sensor circuit, and a Transmitting circuit 14, which wirelessly from antenna 14 to antenna 24, as dash-dotted lines drawn, or through the network 13 with a Receiver 2 a Meldevorrichung connected. This includes a optical, acoustic and / or tactile detector 20-22, which each one operating end of message signal.

Fig. 2 shows schematically a section through the adapter with 12 its network-side connector pins 15 and apparatus cable side Bushes 19, each of the mains voltage through a leader connected are. Alternatively, the current measuring in an installation or surface-mounted housing can be arranged with the terminals to a terminal strip.

One of the conductive lines 15A by a Transformer 16 out, for example, of a ferrite core and having a secondary winding carries a voltage-resistant provides galvanic decoupling. The secondary voltage of the Transformer 16 feeds a power supply 17, the circuit 3 input, the example is a microprocessor. Since the secondary voltage proportional to the current flowing in the primary conductor 15A, it is also the input side to the microprocessor 3 as a sensor voltage SS fed out and is evaluated there. The respective Operating condition or the measurement itself are on the output side of the Microcircuit 3 in a suitable form for data or signal transmission prepared via an antenna 14 or a AC coupling impedance 18 transferred to the line conductor 15A.

For automatic adjustment of amplitude threshold and a Zeitschwellwertes is provided a push button 30, the the input side to the microprocessor 3 indicates that he in a Programming state is to go in which it while that of the subsequent operations occurring currents with associated durations collects and evaluates.

Fig. 3 shows an alternative operating condition detecting device 42, on or at a to be monitored device 1 is placed. With a sensor 46, which is preferably an electro-dynamic or piezoelectric transducer is receiving the preferably battery-powered sensing device 42 Device vibrations and / or noise, each of the motors of the device, the flow of water and / or a buzzer or the like. originate.

These signals of Schwinungsempfängers 46 are similar to the Current sensor signals in Fig. 3 in a microprocessor or the like. processed and a data transfer or transmission of measured values, for example, via the antenna 44, respectively. A push button 40 is used a programming function, as described above for stylus 30 has been.

The reception apparatus 2A corresponds largely to FIG. 1 described, in which case battery and no mains connection is provided. The reception apparatus 2A is similar to a Watch with a bracelet A - A is provided and includes a Vibrator-signal generator 22 on the arm supported bottom of the Device 2A. The antenna 24, the optical LED display 20 and the buzzer 21 and the housing are only schematically shown. You can as a wrist watch with alarm function be formed and receiving function in an internal antenna. Alternatively, a structure in the manner of a. Cordless telephone with a Belt clip provided.

Further details of the configuration of the reception and Reporting device 2, 2A are shown in Fig. 4. Dating back to the Network or coming from the receiving antenna 24 operating state - or measuring signal is processed in a receiver circuit 25, as filtered, demodulated or the like. and then the microprocessor 5 input side fed. The circuits 25, 5 are of a Battery 26 or possibly fed a power supply.

As output signals are a mode signal B to a optical display connected 27 and an operating transmission signal BE to another visual display 22 and via a first Selector WS on a buzzer 21 and possibly a second Selector WV switched to a vibrator 22nd A T button is an acknowledgment of the alarm message and the involvement operational readiness. If in a given test time receiver side after pressing the T button, an operation signal on, so the circuit will remain active until the end of operation state message has been detected and outputted.

Fig. 5 shows the main structures of the circuit which the Detection of the operating end state BE is used. The circuit consists of two functional areas, namely, the Amplitude evaluation and the pause time review. These Functional groups can each either at the transmitter end or be arranged on the receiver side, ie, the data transmission path Either a Meßwertübertragungsstrecke DÜ1 or Mode transmission path DT2 or operational end state link be DÜ3. For reasons of economy of Use of the transmission channel is the last or next to last Variant preferred because it only a digital State signal B, B is * briefly to signal periodically, as long as the operating state B, B * holding, so the Operating end state BE is not yet reached. This is in lack mode signal B * by an inverter I formed, which is in the circuit 5, Fig. 4 realized.

For the measurement signal evaluation, the sensor signal SS is supplied to a comparator V supplied to the input side, which at the other input a threshold SW is supplied, is dimensioned greater than the measurement signal in Phases of low activity of the monitored device, and in particular in its operational end state.

The comparator V is preferably provided with a hysteresis and outputs pulse signals as long as the measurement signal high Activity, so a high power consumption or a high Vibration levels signaled. This of electrical pulses existing operating signal B is a tracking circuit NS on Set input S supplied. It is a so-called. retriggerable monoflop, which equipped with a timer ZG is that determines a delay time TN, in between maintained input pulses of the switched-on output remains there so continuously without pause mode signal B * is emitted when the distances between the input pulses are shorter than the delay time TN. Only when at the end of operation on the off time TN, no activity is signaled, , the output signal B * from and the following inverter I signaled the end of operation state BE, in the Signals is implemented.

The off time TN is for example at a potentiometer PT suitably adjusted so that the breaks of the active operation, the when switching etc. arise, be bridged.

Also, the amplitude threshold SW is at a potentiometer PS set, the current sense signal and the vibration signal is taken into account at the end of operation so that the threshold slightly higher.

The functions shown on Fig. 5, in an alternative known manner as program functions of the microprocessor 3, Fig. 2, to realize. In addition, the microprocessor generates 3 or 5, the clocking of the audible or tactile alarm signal.

The NS in the time tracking circuit stabilized operating condition signal is necessary, according to the transmission path for a Operating display provided and through the inverter I and a Differentiator to the set input of a toggle flip-flop FF given that thus signaling the end of operation BE at the output. The operation end state signal BE is a multivibrator MV out which outputs a sound signal to the acoustic transducer or lower frequency drives a vibrator.

The pushbutton T generated when actuated a reset signal for the flip-flop FF, which in the zero state, the operation end signal BE off.