Signaling device

• US 20050200460A1
• Filed: 03/11/2005
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WERMA Holding GmbH + Co. KG
• Original Assignee: WERMA Holding GmbH + Co. KG
• Inventors: Marquardt, Juergen
• Granted Patent: US 7,587,178 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/332
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/00 Lighting devices intended for fixed installation F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources

Abstract

A signaling device, in particular a signal pillar 1, is proposed, which is able to generate signals even outside the range of the usual optical and acoustic signals, and flexibly create them as needed with little additional effort. This object is achieved by providing a wireless transmitting unit (8) for transferring data to a receiver in addition to the signal elements (2, 3, 4) for generating optical and/or acoustic signals, wherein the transmitting unit (8) is arranged in an exchangeable module.

Claims

1. A signaling device, in particular a signal pillar (1), for indicating at least one operating state of industrial equipment, such as a machine, plant, vehicle or the like with an optical and/or acoustic signal element (2, 3, 4), wherein a transmitting unit (8) is additionally provided with a transmitter (11) for wireless data transfer to a receiver, characterized in that the transmitting unit (8) of the signaling device is arranged in an exchangeable module (7).

2. The signaling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the signaling module has at least partially the same mechanical and electrical connection elements as a signal element (1, 3, 4) of a signal pillar (1), so that the exchangeable module can be detachably integrated into a signal pillar.

3. The signaling device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that wireless data transmission takes place via electromagnetic radiation and/or ultrasound radiation.

4. The signaling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmitting unit (8) and/or the receiver is designed as a user of a public communications network.

5. The signaling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a transfer unit is provided in the in the transmission path between the transmitter and receiver.

6. An arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that several transmitting units (8) can be connected with a transfer unit.

7. The signaling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiver is a land line telephone, a mobile telephone, a radio device and/or an Internet user.

8. The signaling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signaling device (1) additionally has a receiver for receiving data via a wireless data transmission path.

9. The signaling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmitting unit (8) consists of a mobile radio modem for dialing into a mobile radio network.

10. The signaling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmitting unit (8) is designed as a mobile component for a telephone base station on the land line network.

11. The signaling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signaling device (1) has a DECT telephone unit and/or a Blue Tooth module as the transmitting unit (8).

12. The signaling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a transmitting unit (8) is provided with several transmitters (11) for various transmission channels.

13. The signaling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmitter (11) is designed to transmit voice messages and/or text messages.

14. The signaling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmitter (11) is designed for transferring various operating states.

15. The signaling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a screen is provided to shield sensitive components of the signaling device from the transmitter (11).

16. The signaling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an antenna (9) is secured to the outside of the signaling device (1).

17. Machine or plant with a signaling device, comprised of an optical and/or acoustic sensor, characterized in that the signaling device has a transmitting unit (8) according to one of the preceding claims.

18. Vehicle with signaling device, characterized in that the signaling device has a transmitting unit (8) according to one of the preceding claims.