Abstract: Various teachings include methods and/or BACnet network systems to extend BACnet network systems for building automation systems to scale up to large topologies. The BACnet network system comprises a network of BACnet devices organized as a virtual hub-and-spoke network. One of the BACnet devices is implemented as a directed hub-device to which all other BACnet devices are connected as node-devices by using WebSocket connections. The directed hub-device is configured to limit the broadcast distribution of broadcast messages from a downlink-connection to each uplink-connection, and not to any other downlink-connection. The directed hub-device is configured to block or forward unicast messages from one downlink-connection to another downlink-connection.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a blocking apparatus comprising: a holding apparatus; a receiving element mounted in the holding apparatus about an axis of rotation, defining a through-opening with a through-axis parallel to the axis of rotation; a wrap spring mechanically prestressed in the holding apparatus, with a winding arranged around the receiving element; and a thermocouple made of a material having a lower melting temperature than the holding apparatus and/or the wrap spring. The thermocouple holds at least one end of the wrap spring with respect to the holding apparatus in the prestressed state in such a way that the receiving element can be freely rotated in both drive directions about the axis of rotation. The receiving element is blocked in one of the two drive directions in the relaxed state of the wrap spring and in the triggered state of a thermal fuse.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a measurement chamber for a smoke detection unit of a smoke detector. The measurement chamber may include: at least a passage for smoke to be detected; and a measurement chamber cover with angular light trap structures on an inside of the measurement chamber. The angular light trap structures are shaped to follow the compact-design principle of a Fresnel stepped lens.

Abstract: A networking device (e.g. edge gateway), configured to host containers to provide application services, for converting data between an IP-Port of the networking device and a serial communication link to enable serial communication between the networking device and a serial interface of a device (e.g. controller, actor, sensor).

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a valve comprising: a first port; a second port; a fluid path extending between the first port and the second port; a valve member situated in the fluid path, the valve member selectively moveable between a closed position, blocking the fluid path, and an open position; an armature coupled to the valve member and having a surface; and a solenoid forming a linear actuator with the armature. At least a portion of the surface of the armature directly faces the solenoid.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a system comprising: a local supply of renewable power; a storage device with a discharge characteristic; a switch for electrically connecting the storage device to the local supply; and a system controller. The system controller may be configured to: receive from the local supply a signal indicative of available power; read from a memory a time history of past activations of the storage device; estimate a future demand of power based on the time history; estimate a charge of the storage device based on the future demand of power and the discharge characteristic; compare the charge to the future demand of power; and if the charge is larger than the future demand of power by a predetermined margin, electrically connect the local supply of renewable power to the storage device by closing the switch.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a control device for controlling one or more field devices connected to the control device by data technology in the form of a communication network. The control device includes a wireless service interface. The communication network connects the control device to one or more tools. The wireless service interface can be activated by first tool via the communication network.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a building automation network. The network may include an embedded edge device having a data interface and an edge digital service agent adapted to automatically fetch container images of configured containers via the data interface from a cloud-based container repository for deployment as a container application in a persistent memory and a container engine adapted to run the deployed container application for performing tasks in the building automation network.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a fire or smoke alarm comprising: a detection arrangement arranged within an alarm housing; and an alarm-housing cover having, on an inner side, a plurality of housing ribs pointing radially in the direction of an alarm dome. The detection arrangement comprises a level divider with an opening. A maximum possible spacing between two points on a peripheral line of the opening or on a common peripheral line of a plurality of openings is larger than a diameter of the alarm dome. The peripheral line of the opening or the common peripheral line of a plurality of openings in the level divider extends beyond the alarm dome of the alarm-housing cover on all sides.

Abstract: Configuration of a building. A method of configuring a site, the site comprising a plurality of devices (11-23), the plurality of devices (11-23) comprising a plurality of site controllers and a plurality of sensors and a plurality of appliances, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a first device (11-23) from the plurality of appliances and/or from the plurality of sensors; producing first descriptor data for the first device (11-23); selecting a second device (11-23) from the plurality of appliances and/or from the plurality of sensors; producing second descriptor data for the second device (11-23); loading data indicative of an ontology database (9), the ontology database comprising a set of rules; producing relationship data by applying one or more rules to the first and second descriptor data; selecting a third device (11-23) from among the controllers.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a closed-loop and open-loop control device without integrated facility or with reduced integrated facility for operating and/or monitoring. The device may include: an attachment apparatus for attaching an external operating device; and a communication connection to receive user input from an input unit of the external operating device. The communication connection is used to provide information to an output unit of the external operating device.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a method for commissioning hazard detectors in a detector line. The method may include: operating a control center for the detectors for the installation and/or commissioning of the detectors in an installation mode; and in the case of an identified installation error, the control center sends a corresponding error message to the mobile communication terminal for display on an output apparatus of the mobile communication terminal and/or a corresponding error message for display on an output unit of the detector affected by the installation error; and checking the electrical properties of the detector line in the fire alarm control center.

Abstract: A room device comprising two or more connectors (2a, 2b, 15) for providing building power to the room device (1); a device controller (3a) configured to operate a heating, ventilation and/or air-conditioning system (4); a device memory (3b) in operative communication with the device controller (3a); wherein the device memory (3b) and the device controller (3a) require building power for standard operation; a transponder controller (5a) and an antenna (5c); a transponder memory (5b) being powerable by the transponder controller (5a); a device firmware stored in the device memory (3b), the device firmware including instructions causing the device controller (3a) upon providing building power to the room device (1) to: connect to the transponder controller (5a) such that the device controller (3a) is in operative communication with the transponder controller (5a); transfer the initial configuration data stored in the transponder memory (5b) to the device memory (3b).

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a method for operating a valve comprising: determining a nonlinear characteristic curve function indicating a required relationship between a valve opening position and flow of a fluid; storing the function in an ECU; and using the function to set the valve opening position with a control signal indicating a target flow. The function is calculated automatically using a parameter value, with an analytic function, or by interpolation with specified supporting values by a user. The function comprises an inverse function based on a characteristic curve for a heat exchanger and a target function. The curve for the heat exchanger indicates a relationship between a heating power or a cooling power and the flow of a fluid. The target function indicates a relationship between the heating power or the cooling power of the heat exchanger based on the valve opening position.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include an actuating drive comprising: a drive element; an actuation element; and a restoring spring. The drive element drives the actuation element indirectly about an actuation axis. The actuation element includes a shaft portion concentric to the actuation axis and extends at least partially circumferentially. The restoring spring includes a wound flat spring providing a restoring torque on the actuation element, acting tangentially on the shaft portion, and a free spring end tangentially fastened to the shaft portion. The free spring end is radially externally disposed with respect to the spring axis and fastened tangentially to the shaft portion. The spring is mounted rotatably so the spring axis is radially spaced apart from the actuation axis and aligned parallel to the actuation axis.

Abstract: An initial building model is read in and a creator indication about the creator thereof is extracted therefrom. The creator indication is taken as a basis for loading a creator-specific object pattern library in which a respective object pattern has an assigned building element data record. The respective object pattern is correlated with objects of the initial building model by a pattern recognition method. At the same time, an object correlating with the respective object pattern is assigned the building element data record assigned to this object pattern as an annotation. The initial building model and the assigned annotations are then taken as a basis for generating and outputting an annotated digital building model.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for automatic identification of fire detectors in a fire alarm system of a building, wherein the fire alarm system includes a plurality of fire detectors, a panel, and a transmission line. The method may include: determining linear distance spacings between fire detectors using a floor plan; determining line distances between fire detectors by measurement along the transmission line; using the line distances to determine a fire detector sequence; and creating a graph using the distance spacings and the line distances with a set of potential connection orders. The method may include determining a potential connection order matching the fire detector sequence based on the set of potential connection orders and determining a correspondence of the designations representing the identification of the fire detectors.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include an actuator for a flap or for a valve for adjusting a gaseous or fluid volume flow. The actuator may include: a housing; an electric motor disposed in the housing; a downstream reduction gear; and a positioning element with an actuator connection for the flap or the valve. There is an electromagnet adjacent to an outer side of the rotor with a coil arrangement with a magnetic core. There is an electrical circuit arrangement for activating the electromagnet, providing a first brief current pulse, so a remanent magnetic field remains in the coil core. In a holding position of the actuator, while a mechanical pre-tensioning is set up, there is a holding torque with contact to the outer side of the rotor. The circuit arrangement provides a second brief current pulse to extinguish the remanent magnetic field still present in the coil core for releasing the holding torque with contact, forming an air gap between the electromagnet and the outer side of the rotor.

Abstract: A method is specified for automatic testing of a fire alarm system. The method is carried out by a device in the fire alarm system functioning as a panel. In this method, during a recording mode, fire detectors are triggered in turn and the reactions resulting from the triggering (recording mode reactions) of the panel are stored. During a test mode executed later in time, for example as a result of a firmware update of the panel, reactions resulting during the test mode (test mode reactions) are compared with the reactions stored during the recording mode. With discrepancies or an insufficient match an error message is generated.

Abstract: Provided is a method for determining at least one region in at least one input model for at least one element to be placed including the steps: receiving an input data set including the at least one element to be placed, a plurality of conditions; the at least one input model; determining at least one appurtenant condition from the plurality of conditions; and determining at least one valid and/or invalid region of the at least one input model depending on the appurtenant condition; wherein the at least one valid region satisfies the appurtenant condition at least in part.