Modular system and process for obtaining measured data and for forwarding them in a radio-based manner

• US 7,389,202 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2006
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dragerwerk AG
• Original Assignee: Dragerwerk AG
• Inventors: Gerder, Henning, Beckmann, Udo
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, Jr.; John E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, HIEN XUAN
• Application Number:
  US11/368,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20070006156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 702/183, 706/33, 709/200, 709/224
• US Class Current: 702/183
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A modular system and process for obtaining measured data and forwarding them in a radio-based manner is based on a plurality of modules. The modules contain at least one device (31) for obtaining measured data, a device (32) for transmitting the measured data by radio, a device (33) for receiving data sent by other units, as well as device (34) for generating a transmissible code containing additional data, wherein the device (32) for transmitting the measured data and the device (33) for receiving data sent by other units together function as a repeater (35).

Claims

1. A modular system for obtaining measured data for forwarding such data in a radio-based manner, the system comprising:

units comprising a plurality of modules each having measured data means for obtaining measured data, a transmitting means for transmitting measured data by a radio signal, a receiving means for receiving data sent by other units, and means for generating a transmissible code containing additional data sent by said transmitting means that identifies a sending module and identifies by which module measured data transmitted were obtained, wherein said transmitting means and said receiving means together function as a repeater and wherein each module can function as a sensor for obtaining measured data, as a repeater for the radio-based forwarding of received data and as a master for collecting the data obtained and/or sent by the individual modules and for coordinating the transmission operation and for initializing the system when the particular function is assigned to the module, at least one module functioning as a master and having collecting means for collecting data obtained and/or sent by the individual modules and coordinating and/or initializing the transmission operation of the individual modules.

2. A modular system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said code containing additional data contains data on whether an alarm situation exists at a site of one said module or additional data on whether an alarm situation exists at a site of one said modules is sent by each said transmitting means.

3. A modular system in accordance with claim 1, wherein each transmitting means includes a transmitter in a state of rest at least partially during a state in which an associated said measured data means is obtaining measured data.

4. A modular system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said measured data means for obtaining measured data in at least some of said modules comprises an electrochemical gas sensor, an optical gas sensor or a pyroelectric gas sensor.

5. A modular system in accordance with claim 1, wherein a transmitting power of each said transmitting means can be set and/or remotely controlled.

6. A modular system in accordance with claim 1, wherein receiving levels of each said receiving means can be measured.

7. A modular system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one module which functions as a master coordinates and/or initializes the transmission operation of the individual modules by providing a higher polling cycle in an alarm situation than in normal operation data or provides a forwarding of data from the modules at a higher cycle rate in an alarm mode than in the normal operation.

8. A modular system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said measured data means for obtaining measured data comprises an electrochemical gas sensor, an optical gas sensor or a pyroelectric gas sensor.

9. A process for obtaining measured data, comprising:

providing a system of units including a plurality of modules having measured data means for obtaining measured data, a transmitting means for transmitting measured data by a radio, a receiving means for receiving data sent by other modules, and a means for generating a transmissible code containing additional data, wherein said transmitting means and said receiving means together function as a repeater;

arranging said plurality of modules in an area;

providing one of said units to function as a master;

using the master to specify an initiation step in which modules function as sensors and obtain measured data and/or function as repeaters;

setting the function of individual modules such that all measured data obtained by a module will reach the master over at least two transmission paths, wherein at least one module functions as said master, wherein the function of the individual modules is set such that all the measured data that are obtained by a module will reach said master over said at least two transmission paths.

10. A process in accordance with claim 9, wherein the master is a central evaluating unit specifying in said initialization step which modules shall function as or also function as additional masters.

11. A process in accordance with claim 9, wherein the number of transmission paths is set at a number greater than 2.

12. A process in accordance with claim 9, wherein additional stationary or mobile modules are included in the system during the obtaining of the measured data.

13. A process in accordance with claim 9, wherein tracking of the mobile modules is performed by including cartographic data and the evaluation of a position at which the mobile modules are connected.

14. A process in accordance with claim 9, wherein a code, which contains at least data on which module the measured data were obtained by is added to the transmitted measured data.

15. A process in accordance with claim 9, wherein a code, which contains at least data on which module the data were forwarded by is added to the data forwarded.

16. A process in accordance with claim 9, wherein the transmitting power of the individual modules is set such that bidirectional use of the transmission paths is possible.

17. A process in accordance with claim 9, wherein the transmitting power of the individual modules is set such that a fixed number of transmission paths can be used between the individual modules and a central evaluating unit.

18. A process in accordance with claim 9, wherein the transmitting power of the individual modules is set such that at least two transmission paths can be used between the individual modules and a central evaluating unit.

19. A process in accordance with claim 9, wherein the transmitting power of the individual modules is set at a maximum of 10 mW.

20. A process in accordance with claim 9, wherein at least 90% of the monitoring period is used for data obtaining and at most 10% for data transmission.

21. A process in accordance with claim 9, wherein a higher polling cycle is used in an alarm situation than in normal operation.

22. A process in accordance with claim 9, wherein initialization is performed corresponding at least at the time when the modular system for obtaining measured data and forwarding them in a radio-based manner is put into operation.

23. A process in accordance with claim 9, wherein an alarm mode is tested during an initialization phase such that all modules are in the state of alarm.

24. A process in accordance with claim 9, wherein a protocol, which contains time and site data on defined checking states, is set up during the initialization and/or the operation of the modular system.

25. A process in accordance with claim 9, wherein the data are forwarded at a higher cycle rate in an alarm mode than in the normal operation.

26. A process for obtaining measured data, comprising:

providing a system of units including a plurality of modules having measured data means for obtaining measured data, a transmitting means for transmitting measured data by a radio, a receiving means for receiving data sent by other modules, and a means for generating a transmissible code containing additional data, wherein said transmitting means and said receiving means together function as a repeater;

arranging said plurality of modules in an area;

providing one of said units to function as a master;

using the master to specify an initiation step in which modules function as sensors and obtain measured data and/or function as repeaters;

setting the function of individual modules such that all measured data obtained by a module will reach the master over at least two transmission paths, wherein a fixed number of sensors and repeaters are initialized before the obtaining of the measured data.

27. A process for obtaining measured data, comprising:

providing a system of units including a plurality of modules having measured data means for obtaining measured data, a transmitting means for transmitting measured data by a radio, a receiving means for receiving data sent by other modules, and a means for generating a transmissible code containing additional data, wherein said transmitting means and said receiving means together function as a repeater;

arranging said plurality of modules in an area;

providing one of said units to function as a master;

using the master to specify an initiation step in which modules function as sensors and obtain measured data and/or function as repeaters;

setting the function of individual modules such that all measured data obtained by a module will reach the master over at least two transmission paths, wherein if a state of alarm is present, a code, which contains at least data on the fact that a state of alarm is present, is added to the measured data sent or comprises the data of the transmissible code containing additional data.