Signal unit having an acoustic signal transmitter

• US 20060206216A1
• Filed: 03/10/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WERMA Holding GmbH + Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Werma Signaltechnik GmbH & Co. KG.
• Inventors: Kuehnemundt, Gerhard
• Granted Patent: US 7,466,238 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/17
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

A signal unit is proposed for signaling at least one operating state of a technical device such as a machine, installation, vehicle, or the like, having at least one acoustic signal transmitter (2) for generating an acoustic signal, thereby improving the monitoring of the technical device. This is achieved according to the invention by providing a sensor unit for detecting an acknowledgment of the signal.

Claims

1. Signal unit for signaling at least one operating state of a technical device such as a machine, installation, vehicle, or the like, having at least one acoustic signal transmitter (2) for generating an acoustic signal, characterized in that a sensor unit (2, 9, 10, 11) is provided for detecting an acknowledgment of the signal.

2. Signal unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one input element (1) is provided for inputting the acknowledgment by an operator.

3. Signal unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor unit (2, 9, 10, 11) is designed to detect a first parameter of the acoustic signal.

4. Signal unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detected parameter is at least the amplitude and/or the frequency of the signal.

5. Signal unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor unit (2, 9, 10, 11) includes a control unit (9, 10, 11) for comparing the target-actual values of the parameter, whereby the acknowledgment generates the actual value.

6. Signal unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (9, 10, 11) is designed to modify a second parameter of the acoustic signal.

7. Signal unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second parameter to be modified is at least the volume and/or the presence of the signal.

8. Signal unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the acoustic signal transmitter (2) is designed to signal the acknowledged operating state.

9. Signal unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one optical signal transmitter (7) is designed as a light-emitting diode for generating an optical signal.

10. Signal unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (9, 10, 11) is designed to modify a parameter of a light-emitting diode.

11. Signal unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optical signal transmitter (7) is designed to signal the acknowledged operating state.

12. Signal unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the acoustic signal transmitter (2) includes at least one piezoelectric element.

13. Signal unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor unit (2, 9, 10, 11) is designed to detect a contact and/or deformation of the acoustic signal transmitter (2).

14. Signal unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor unit (2, 9, 10, 11) is designed to detect the amplitude and/or frequency of the acoustic signal transmitter (2) as a result of the contact and/or deformation.

15. Signal unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the acoustic signal transmitter (2) is designed as a sensor (2) in the sensor unit (2, 9, 10, 11) to achieve the sensor function and the signal function.

16. Signal unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal unit is designed as a signal column.

17. Signal unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal column in the case of the acoustic signal transmitter (2) has an acoustic module, and/or for the optical signal transmitter (7) has at least one light module.

18. Signal unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one transmitting unit is provided with a transmitter for wireless data transmission to a receiver.