Signal unit having and acoustic signal transmitter

• US 7,466,238 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2006
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lu; Shirley
• Application Number:
  US11/371,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20060206216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 340/933, 340/562, 340/539.26, 340/539.29, 340/539.1, 340/51, 340/691.1, 250/360.1, 250/35
• US Class Current: 340/691.1
• 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 provided 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 or detecting an acknowledgment of the signal.

Claims

1. A signal unit for signaling at least one operating state of a machine, having at least one acoustic signal transmitter for generating an acoustic signal wherein the improvement comprises a dual function sensor unit having an acoustic signal transmitter for generating said acoustic signal and a sensing unit for detecting the acknowledgement of said acoustic signal.

2. The signal unit according to claim 1 further comprising at least one input element for inputting the acknowledgment by an operator.

3. The signal unit according to claim 1 wherein the sensor unit detects a first parameter of the acoustic signal.

4. The signal unit according to claim 1 or 3 wherein said parameter of the acoustic signal is at least the amplitude or the frequency of the signal.

5. The signal unit according to claim 1 wherein the sensor unit has a control unit for comparing the target-actual values of a parameter of the acoustic signal, whereby the acknowledgment generates the actual value.

6. The signal unit according to claim 3 wherein the control unit modifies a second parameter of the acoustic signal.

7. The signal unit according to claim 6 wherein the second parameter to be modified is at least the volume or the presence of the signal.

8. The signal unit according to claim 1 wherein the acoustic signal transmitter signals the acknowledged operating state.

9. The signal unit according to claim 1 further comprising at least one optical signal transmitter having a light-emitting diode for generating an optical signal.

10. The signal unit according to claim 9 wherein the control unit modifies a parameter of a light-emitting diode.

11. The signal unit according to claim 9 wherein the optical signal transmitter signals the acknowledged operating state.

12. The signal unit according to claim 1 wherein the acoustic signal transmitter includes at least one piezoelectric element.

13. The signal unit according to claim 1 wherein the sensor unit detects a contact or deformation of the acoustic signal transmitter.

14. The signal unit according to claim 1 wherein the sensor unit detects the amplitude or frequency of the acoustic signal transmitter as a result of a contact or deformation.

15. The signal unit according to claim 1 wherein the acoustic signal transmitter is a sensor in the sensor unit to achieve the sensor function and the signal function.

16. The signal unit according to claim 1 wherein the signal unit is a signal column.

17. The signal unit according to claim 16 wherein the signal column has an acoustic module for the acoustic signal transmitter or 6 has at least one light module for an optical signal transmitter.

18. The signal unit according to claim 1 further comprising one transmitting unit with a transmitter for wireless data transmission to a receiver.

19. A signaling device for signaling the operating state of a machine comprising:

(a) a piezoelectric element having a dual function of transmitting an acoustic signal and as a sensor for acknowledging the receipt of said acoustic signal; and

(b) a translucent housing having one or more light emitting diodes.

20. A signaling device for signalling signaling the operating state of a machine having an acoustic signal transmitter for generating an acoustic signal and a sensor for providing acknowledgment for receipt of said acoustic signal wherein the improvement comprises a dual function acoustic signal transmitter for generating said acoustic signal and a sensing unit for detecting the acknowledgment of said acoustic signal and a translucent housing having one or more light emitting diodes.