TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to devices for passing through a signal and in particular to isolator devices in evacuation systems.

BACKGROUND

Emergency evacuation systems in accordance with class A comprise signalling devices wired in a loop comprising a signalling line. In case of evacuation, the loop is provided with an evacuation signal from a base station. The loop comprises isolator devices like the Astrea isolator type ASB-01 (02). The isolator devices are connected by the signalling line. The loop wiring comprises two conductors like a pair of wires or a coax cable. The loop wiring is interrupted by the isolator. The isolator receives a signal on a receiving module via the signalling line.

Upon reception of the signal, the signal is retransmitted via a sending unit. The quality of the signal sent out is tested. In case the quality of the signal does not meet certain quality standards with respect to for example voltage and/or current, the sending of the signal is interrupted as an out of spec voltage and/or current may indicate a short or open in a signalling line that is part of the loop. Subsequently, the loop is fed from the other side via signalling lines in the loop that are still in good state.

SUMMARY

It is preferred to have a device with which an erroneous location in the loop can be determined.

A first aspect provides a device for passing through a signal comprising: a first terminal for receiving a signal; a second terminal for sending the received signal; a signal quality monitoring module for monitoring the quality of the signal sent by via the second terminal; a pass through module for passing the signal through from the first terminal to the second terminal; a memory module arranged for storing identification information identifying the device a control module arranged to receive information from the signal integrity monitoring module; instruct the pass through module to pass through the signal received from the first terminal to the second terminal if the quality of the signal sent by means of the second terminal meets pre-determined criteria; instruct the pass through module not to pass through the signal from the first terminal if the quality of the signal sent by means of the second transceiver module connection does not meet pre-determined criteria; generate an error signal if the quality of the signal sent by means of the second terminal does not meet pre-determined criteria, the error signal comprising the identification information; and send said signal via the first terminal. With the device sending an error signal comprising the identification information, the location of the error can be detected. With the identification information available, the device directly connected to an erroneous part of the loop can be determined. This reduces the amount of work required for finding an error compared to a situation where devices do not send out error messages comprising identification information.

An embodiment of the device according to the invention comprises a speaker connection module operatively connectable to a speaker for providing sound information comprised by a sound signal received by the device through the first terminal or the second terminal to the speaker..

In this embodiment, the signalling line between devices is not interrupted by further speaker devices, so the integrity of a part of a signalling line between two devices is tested by a device. Furthermore, as there are no further connections or interruptions of the signalling line between two devices, that part of the signalling line is less prone to failures.

In a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the control module is further arranged to retrieve identification information and speaker state information comprised by the received signal; and switch the speaker connection module from a first state where sound information received by the device is provided to the speaker to a second state where sound information received is not provided to the speaker and vice versa dependent on the speaker state information if the identification information derived from the signal matches a pre-determined criterion.

Such device allows for sending dedicated messages to specific speakers in specific rooms. Different rooms may require different messages. During an evacuation in an emergency situation, people in a room comprising hazardous materials require to be instructed differently from people in a meeting room and people in a lift need to be instructed in yet another way. In a non-failing situation, the loop of devices in a class A system is fed from one side, where signals are relayed along the loop by the various devices in one direction in the loop. In case a device in the loop fails or a signalling line fails, the loop has to be fed from two sides to provide the signal to as much devices as possible and a portion of the loop that is as large as possible. This requires some devices to operate in reverse mode: the second transceiver is to receive signals and the first transceiver is to repeat those signals to provide those signals to a device further upstream in the loop.

A second aspect provides a system comprising: a base station comprising a base sending module for sending a signal comprising audio information; aAt least device according to any of the preceding claims for retrieving the audio information from the signal wherein the first terminal of the device is connected to the base sending unit; and a speaker connected to the device for reproducing the audio information retrieved from the signal received by the device as an audible signal..

Such system provides an efficient and convenient evacuation system for a building.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be discussed in further detail by means of Figures. In the Figures,

Figure 1 : shows an evacuation system; Figure 2: shows an isolator device;

Figure 3: shows a base station;

Figure 4 A: shows an evacuation system in a first defective situation;

Figure 4 B: shows an evacuation system in a second defective situation; and Figure 4 C: shows an evacuation system in a third defective situation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows an evacuation system 100 comprising a first isolator device

1 10.1 connected to a first speaker 1 12.1 , a second isolator device 1 10.2 connected to a second speaker 1 12.2, a third isolator device 1 10.3 connected to a third speaker

1 12.3, a fourth isolator device 1 10.4 connected to a fourth speaker 1 12.4 and a base station 120 connected to the first isolator device 1 10.1 and the fourth isolator device

1 10.4. With the isolator devices 1 10 connected to one another in series, the isolator devices 1 10 and the base station 120 are connected in a loop. The connections are preferably provided by a pair of electrical conductors, either in parallel as a pair of wires or coaxially with a centre conductive wire, surrounded by an insulating cladding which is in case clad by a conductor. Figure 2 shows an isolator device 1 10 in further detail. The isolator device

1 10 comprises a microprocessor 202 as a control module for controlling the operation of the various elements of the isolator device 1 10, a first transceiver 204, a second transceiver 206, a pass through module 208, a signal quality monitoring module 210, a memory module 212, a speaker switch 214 and a capacitor 216 as energy storage module. The capacitor 216 is on one side connected to ground of the isolator device. On another side, the capacitor 216 is connected to the various elements of the isolator device 1 10 for providing them with energy stored in the capacitor 216.

A speaker 1 12 is connected to the isolator device 1 10 and in particular to the speaker switch 214. The memory module 212 may have computer executable instruction stored on it to program the microprocessor 202. Furthermore, the memory module 212 has address information stored in it to identify this particular isolator device 1 10 in an evacuation system as depicted by Figure 1 . In the embodiment depicted by Figure 2, the pass through module 208 is directly connected to signalling lines of the loop connected to the isolator device 1 10. In an alternative embodiment, the pass through module 208 is connected to signalling lines via the first transceiver 204 and the second transceiver 206.

Figure 3 shows the base station 120 in further detail. The base station 120 comprises a microprocessor 302 as a control module for controlling the operation of the various elements of the base station 120, a first base transceiver 204, a second base transceiver 206, a memory module 312 and an external communication module 316. The memory module 312 may have computer executable instruction stored on it to program the base microprocessor 302. The operation of the evacuation system 100 will now be discussed in conjunction with Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3. The evacuation system 100 is used for reproduction of evacuation signals like alarm sounds, in particular the so-called slow whoop sound, and spoken messages. An alarm signal is sent by the base station 120 by means of the first base transceiver 304 to the first isolator device 1 10.1 . The first isolator device 1 10.1 receives the alarm signal via a first signalling line connection 222 by means of the first transceiver 204. The reception of the alarm signal is registered by the microprocessor 202 and passed to the speaker 1 12 by the speaker switch 214 for reproduction as an audible sound Alternatively, the first transceiver 204 is bypassed for alarm signals, in which embodiment the alarm signals are from a first signalling line connection 222 directly provided to the speaker switch 214. The alarm signal received by via the first signalling line connection 222 can is sent to the second signalling line connection 224 via the pass through module 208 upon instruction of the microprocessor 202. The signal sent via the second signalling line connection 224 of the first isolator device 1 10.1 is received by the first transceiver 204 of the second isolator device 1 10.2, where the same operation is repeated. For this operation, the pass through module 208 can be embodied as a MOSFET. In a preferred embodiment, the evacuation system is powered by the capacitor 216. The capacitor 216 is arranged to be charged by receiving electrical energy from the base station 120 via the first signalling connection 224 and the second signalling connection 226. The electrical energy is preferably provided by a pulse signal of 21 kHz at 8 V to 60 V. Alternatively, electrically energy may be provided by a pulsed signal at other frequencies and/or other voltages. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that such signal requires a rectifying circuit in order to properly charge the capacitor 216, as such operation requires a DC power. For reasons of clarity, this rectifying circuit has not been shown in Figure 2. Alternatively, the isolator device is powered by a battery, mains power or a combination thereof.

The base station 120 has the addresses of the isolator devices 1 10 of the evacuation system 100 stored in the memory module 312. If sound information is only to be provided to specific rooms via specific isolator devices, speakers other isolator devices are switched off. Referring to Figure 1 , if a certain spoken message or alarm is only to be provided to the second isolator device 1 10.2 and the second isolator device 1 10.3, an instruction is sent to the first isolator device 1 10.1 and the fourth isolator device 1 10.4 to switch off the first speaker 1 12.1 and the fourth speaker 1 12.1 by switching the speaker switches 214 of specific isolator devices 1 10. The instructions are received by the microprocessors 202 via the first transceivers 204 or the second transceivers 206. The instructions are preferably provided carried by a signal having a frequency of 125 kHz and preferably in accordance with the X10 protocol. However, other frequencies and protocols may be employed as well. In one embodiment, the power signal and the data signal are provided at the same frequency, preferably at 21 kHz. In that scenario, data will be send in between the "21 kHz power signal".

After the specific speakers 1 12 have been switched off, the audio information is send over the evacuation system 100 by the first base transceiver 304 and/or the second base transceiver 306 of the base station 120, as per instruction of the base microprocessor 302. The audio is provided as an analogue signal that is via the first transceivers 204 or the second transceivers 206 via the speaker switches provided to the speakers 1 12. The instruction to send out an alarm signal is received via the external communication module 316. The external communication module 316 may for that purpose be connected to a fire detection system. The base station 120 may also be integrated with a base station for fire detection. Alternatively, a button or other sensor is provided on the base station 120 for instructing the base station 120 to send out an alarm signal.

Dedicated and/or general alarm information is preferably stored in the base memory module 312. Dedicated alarm information may be coupled to certain addresses of certain isolator devices 1 10. Alternatively, general and/or dedicated alarm information is provided to the base station 120 via the external communication module 316.

Though in this embodiment only one speaker 1 12 is connected to the isolator device 1 10, other embodiments can be envisaged where multiple speakers are connectable to the isolator device 1 10.

Referring to the isolator device 1 10, upon passing through the alarm signal by the pass through module 208, the quality of the signal sent out is tested by the signal quality monitoring module 210. The signal quality monitoring module 210 tests in particular whether the signal on the second signalling line connection 224 has a voltage within a pre-determined range and/or whether the signal sent out has a current within a pre-determined range. A too low voltage and/or a too high current may indicate a short circuit further downstream; a too low current or no current at all may indicate an open circuit further downstream. This will be further discussed in conjunction with Figure 4 A and Figure 4 B, as well as Figure 2 and Figure 3.

In emergency operation where evacuation is required, an alarm signal is relayed from the base station 120 back to the base station 120 via the first isolator device 1 10.1 , the second isolator device 1 10.2, the third isolator device 1 10.3 and the fourth isolator device 1 10.4 in the mode discussed above, by the pass through modules 208 passing signals from the first signalling line connection 222 to the second signalling line connection 224 of the isolator devices 1 10. In a non-alarm state of the evacuation system 1 10, a test signal is periodically relayed from and to the base station 120 via the isolator devices 1 10.

Additionally or alternatively, in particular if the isolator devices 1 10 are powered by a signal sent by the base station 120, a power signal is periodically relayed from and to the base station 120. The test signal is preferably provided at a frequency of 21 kHz; the power signal is preferably provided at a frequency of 21 kHz. Alternatively, the test signal is provided at another frequency, for example 125 kHz The power signal may also be employed as a test signal, as will be discussed later. Both the test signal and the power signal may be sent independently from one another. In a preferred embodiment, the power signal is provided at two sides of the evacuation system 100 and the test signal is provided from left to right, being passed clockwise through the loop of the evacuation system 100. Or in case of a malfunction in the loop it will be sent to the main system on the shortest possible way, either clockwise or counter-clockwise. The power signal is in normal mode passed through the loop of the evacuation system 100, where the isolator devices 1 10 act as transparent signal gates, passing through the test signal without further interaction. The test signal is passed through the evacuation system, where each isolator device 1 10 returns a response signal that the isolator device is in good order. In order to check that the isolator device 1 10 is in good order, the isolator device 1 10 runs a self diagnosis routine, including a check whether at least one speaker 1 12 is connected to the isolator device 1 10 and whether characteristics of the test signal related to a neighbouring isolator device 1 10 are within certain boundaries. The response signal includes identification of the specific isolator device 1 10 sending the response signal. I n the case depicted by Figure 4 A, there is an open in the signal line between the second isolator device 1 10.2 and the third isolator device 1 10.3. This is detected by the signal quality monitoring module 210 of the second isolator device 1 10.2 as discussed above as the current level is too low. Upon detection of the short in the signal line, the signal quality monitoring module 210 of the second isolator device 1 10.2 reports to the microprocessor 202 that the signal send by the second transceiver 206 does not meet pre-set quality requirements, like the voltage and current requirements discussed above. Subsequently, the microprocessor 220 generates an error message and the type of error and instructs the first transceiver to send out a signal comprising the error message and the identification information of the second isolator device 1 10.2.

The error signal is received by the first base transceiver 304 and passed on to the base microprocessor 302. Preferably, this information is provided to a person operating the evacuation system 100 so appropriate action can be taken for repair. Upon receiving the error signal comprising the error message and the identification information of the second isolator device 1 10.2, the base microprocessor 302 determined the location of the second isolator 1 10.2 in the loop of the evacuation system 100 and instructs the third isolator 1 10.3 to reverse operation. This is done by sending a signal comprising reversal message to the third isolator 1 10.3 by means of the second base transceiver 306. This message is received by the second transceiver

206 of the third isolator 1 10.3 and passed on to the microprocessor 202.

The microprocessor 202 subsequently instructs the first transceiver 204 to take over functionality of the second transceiver 206 and the second transceiver 206 to take over the functionality of the first transceiver 204. The same instruction is also sent to the fourth isolator device 1 10.4. This means that the functionality of the first transceiver 204 and that of the second transceiver is at least substantially the same. Alternatively, the first transceiver 204 and the second transceiver 206 are always in a listening mode, unless they are instructed to send a signal and in case one of the two transceivers receives a signal, the signal will be reproduced by the other transceiver.

In this way, the defective signal line between the second isolator device 1 10.2 and the third isolator device 1 10.3 is isolated and the functionality of the evacuation system 100 is maintained. A first half of the loop of the evacuation system 100 with the isolator devices 1 10 is fed by the first base transceiver 304 and a second half of the loop of the evacuation system 100 is fed by the second base transceiver 306. Advantageously, the second isolator device 1 10.2 and the third isolator device 1 10.3 are instructed not to relay any signals forward anymore. In another embodiment, the second isolator device 1 10.2 and the third isolator device 1 10.3 periodically test the status of the signal line between them and report back in case the signal line is restored.

In the case depicted by Figure 4 B, the third isolator device 1 10.3 is not functional anymore. This may have several causes, like loss of power or dysfunctional elements. If a signal sent out by the second transceiver of the second isolator device 1 10.2 or passed through by the pass through module 208 does not meet the pre-set quality requirements, the signal quality monitoring module 210 of the second isolator device 1 10.2 will generate an error. This will trigger the second isolator device 1 10.2 to send an error signal to the base station 120 as discussed above. Preferably, this information is provided to a person operating the evacuation system 100 so appropriate action can be taken for repair. If the third isolator device 1 10.3 is only partially operational but still able to run self-diagnostics and to send out an error message, the third isolator device 1 10.3 will report itself to be in an error state.

If a signal sent out by the second transceiver of the second isolator device 1 10.2 meets the pre-set quality requirements, the signal quality monitoring module 210 of the second isolator device 1 10.2 will not generate an error. As the third isolator device 1 10.3 is not operational anymore, it will not relay any information anymore to the fourth isolator device 1 10.4 and the base station 120. In this way, the base station 120 will detect that there is an issue in the loop of isolator devices 1 10.

To detect the location of the problem, the base station 120 will hail all isolator device 1 10 in the loop of the evacuation system 100 to report by means of the first base transceiver 304 and the second base transceiver 306. In an alternative embodiment, all isolator devices 1 10 report regularly and preferably periodically to the base station 1 10. Sending such a reporting signals may be triggered at pre-determined intervals controlled by the isolator devices themselves. Alternatively or additionally, sending such reporting signals is triggered by receiving the test signal as discussed above. If a specific isolator device 1 10 does not report itself to the base station 1 10 within a pre-determined time limit, the base station will understand that there is an issue in the loop. Upon detecting that the third isolator device 1 10.3 is dysfunctional, the fourth isolator 1 10.4 is instructed to reverse operational direction of relaying signals as discussed before. If the loop would comprise more isolator devices 1 10 like a fifth and a sixth one, those isolator devices 1 10 would be instructed as well to reverse operation. This means that within the evacuation system 100, only the third isolator device 1 10.3 is not operational anymore and that other devices would still be operational and operatively connected to the base station 120, either via the first base transceiver 304 or the second base transceiver 306.

Figure 4 C depicts another erroneous situation, where the third speaker 1 12.3 is not properly connected to the third isolator device 1 10.3. In this embodiment, the speaker switch 214 of the third isolator device 1 10.3 is arranged to detect whether the third speaker is properly connected to the third isolator device 1 10.3 and in particular to the speaker switch 214. If the third speaker 1 12.3 is not properly connected to the third isolator device 1 10.3 as depicted by Figure 4 C, the speaker switch 214 generates an error message and transmits the error message to the microprocessor

202. Subsequently, the microprocessor 202 instructs the either the first transceiver 204 or the second transceiver 206 to send an error signal comprising the error message together with identification information identifying the third isolator device 1 10.3 to the base station 120. Upon receiving this error signal, the base station 120 is informed that the third speaker 1 12.3 is unable to reproduce alarm messages intended to be reproduced by the third speaker via the third isolator device 1 10.3. Preferably, this information is provided to a person operating the evacuation system 100 so appropriate action can be taken for repair. Optionally, alarm information intended for the third speaker 1 12.3 is rerouted to the second speaker 1 12.2 via the second isolator 1 10.2 or the fourth speaker 1 12.4 via the fourth isolator. Expressions such as "comprise", "include", "incorporate", "contain", "is" and

"have" are to be construed in a non-exclusive manner when interpreting the description and its associated claims, namely construed to allow for other items or components which are not explicitly defined also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed in be a reference to the plural and vice versa.

In the description above, it will be understood that when an element such as layer, region or substrate is referred to as being "on", "onto" or "connected to" another element, the element is either directly on or connected to the other element, or intervening elements may also be present.

Furthermore, the invention may also be embodied with less components than provided in the embodiments described here, wherein one component carries out multiple functions. Just as well may the invention be embodied using more elements than depicted in the Figures, wherein functions carried out by one component in the embodiment provided are distributed over multiple components.

A person skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various parameters disclosed in the description may be modified and that various embodiments disclosed and/or claimed may be combined without departing from the scope of the invention.

It is stipulated that the reference signs in the claims do not limit the scope of the claims, but are merely inserted to enhance the legibility of the claims.