Abstract: The present invention relates to a communications system (1) with at least one node (101, 102, 110), a control instance (10) and a shared communications medium (11). The at least one node is designed to receive messages that are or were transmitted in a first transmission mode. This first transmission mode has a lower data transmission rate and/or transmission complexity than a second transmission mode. The control instance (10) determines a first of the nodes in order to transmit data thereto in the second transmission mode or in order to release the shared communications medium (11) for the first node to transmit data in the second transmission mode. The control instance communicates this to the first node by means of a message (501, 502, 503, 504). This message is transmitted in the first transmission mode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a processing device (2) that comprises a control unit (4) and at least one field device (8, 10, 12) connected to said control unit (4) for the purpose of exchanging data via a data exchange connection (6), in which a field device (10) to be exchanged is replaced by another field device (12) to be inserted, and which comprises the steps of: generating an exchange signal (AS) using an exchange signal generator (14), and transmitting said exchange signal (AS) to the control unit (4). The invention also relates to a corresponding processing device and a control unit, field device, and exchange signal generator, as well as a computer program.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing at least one data packet (78, 156) which comprises a first header (82, 158) and a payload (100, 160), wherein the first header (82, 158) is processed by a first mode and the payload (100, 160) is processed by a second mode, wherein a number of processing steps (172, 174) for carrying out the second mode is greater than a number of processing steps (168, 170) for carrying out the first mode, the two modes being performed separately from one another.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a processing device (2) that comprises a control unit (4) and at least one field device (8, 10, 12) connected to said control unit (4) for the purpose of exchanging data via a data exchange connection (6), in which a field device (10) to be exchanged is replaced by another field device (12) to be inserted, and which comprises the steps of: generating an exchange signal (AS) using an exchange signal generator (14), and transmitting said exchange signal (AS) to the control unit (4). The invention also relates to a corresponding processing device and a control unit, field device, and exchange signal generator, as well as a computer program.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a communications system (1) with at least one node (101, 102, 110), a control instance (10) and a shared communications medium (11). The at least one node is designed to receive messages that are or were transmitted in a first transmission mode. This first transmission mode has a lower data transmission rate and/or transmission complexity than a second transmission mode. The control instance (10) determines a first of the nodes in order to transmit data thereto in the second transmission mode or in order to release the shared communications medium (11) for the first node to transmit data in the second transmission mode. The control instance communicates this to the first node by means of a message (501, 502, 503, 504). This message is transmitted in the first transmission mode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing at least one data packet (78, 156) which comprises a first header (82, 158) and a payload (100, 160), wherein the first header (82, 158) is processed by a first mode and the payload (100, 160) is processed by a second mode, wherein a number of processing steps (172, 174) for carrying out the second mode is greater than a number of processing steps (168, 170) for carrying out the first mode, the two modes being performed separately from one another.

Abstract: Alarm installations in buildings or other environments are used to notify people of particular events, particularly hazards. By way of example, fire alarm installations usually have visual signal generators which, in the event of an alert, bring a hazard situation to the attention of people in a building by means of visual signals. In this case, the aim is to use the visual signals to prompt the people to leave the building via the escape routes. A signal apparatus (1) for an alarm installation (2) is proposed, having a signal generator (3) for outputting a notification signal (6) to the environment of the signal apparatus (1), having a control device (4) for actuating the signal generator (3), and having an activation interface (5) for receiving an activation signal for triggering and/or synchronizing the control apparatus (1), wherein the activation interface (5) is designed to receive a notification signal (6) from a different signal generator than the activation signal.

Abstract: An imaging fire detector is used to detect a fire from a recorded image sequence. Either a video camera or an infrared camera is used as an imaging device. Characterizing parameters of a fire are either analyzed individually or in combination. In order to detect changes, an object analysis, a pattern analysis or a spatial-frequency analysis of the recorded image sequences is conducted. Using a threshold value for the duration of the changes, short-term changes are detected and discarded. In a further embodiment, the fire detector may also be used as a burglar alarm. With the aid of communication means, the fire detector transmits a fire alert to a master station.

Abstract: The invention proposes a method for operating an evaluation circuit for an electrochemical cell wherein the evaluation circuit is switched on for a first time period and is switched off for a second time period. The ratio between the first and the second time periods is selected to be less than 1. The measurement value of the electrochemical cell undergoes a current amplification in the evaluation circuit.

Abstract: A device for deflecting optical beams is provided, the device having an array of mirror elements, and each mirror element being pivotable at any angle independently from another mirror element. This array may be manufactured micromechanically. The pivoting of the mirror element may be executed either capacitively or thermally. The array may be situated in a camera either as a deflecting mirror or as a lens. Scanning of a space element is also possible by using the array. Applications of the device include, e.g., use in a passive infrared detector, as well as use in a scattered-light smoke detector.

Abstract: A danger detecting system has a danger detecting control center, at least one detector, at least one conductor connecting the danger detecting control center with the at least one detector, the danger detecting control center producing an output signal depending on a signal of the detector, the danger detecting control center being composed of a plurality of modules, a bus through which the modules are connected, the danger detecting control center and the modules being formed so that the modules are mountable and/or dismountable during an operation of the danger detecting control center.

Abstract: A method for detecting fires is proposed that serves to avoid false alarms, by providing that an alarm threshold is determined as a function of signal parameters derived from at least one sensor signal. False alarms are thus advantageously precluded. This is still further improved by setting up an alarm interval for which the alarm threshold must be exceeded, if an alarm is to be indicated. The alarm interval can also be determined adaptively as a function of the signal parameters. An upper threshold and a lower threshold are provided for the alarm interval and the alarm threshold, respectively, in order to build in a certain safety, so that the alarm threshold and alarm interval will not assume values that put a function of the fire detector at risk. It is also possible to use more sensor signals, in which case signal parameters can be generated by linking the sensor signals.

Abstract: A dispersion light smoke detector has a structure for providing a definite measuring volume, the structure being formed as two light receivers or an imaging optical system for one light receiver.

Abstract: An operation testing of a temperature sensor of an alarm includes spraying so that the sprayable material is sprayable on the temperature sensor, a temperature decrease due to the spraying is detected, and an operation ability is determined in dependence on the testing.

Abstract: A device for deflecting optical beams is provided, the device having an array of mirror elements, and each mirror element being pivotable at any angle independently from another mirror element. This array may be manufactured micromechanically. The pivoting of the mirror element may be executed either capacitively or thermally. The array may be situated in a camera either as a deflecting mirror or as a lens. Scanning of a space element is also possible by using the array. Applications of the device include, e.g., use in a passive infrared detector, as well as use in a scattered-light smoke detector.

Abstract: A device for testing a fire alarm including a smoke alarm and at least one gas sensor, has a testing pot fittable over a fire alarm, a first gas container with aerosol for operational testing of the smoke alarm, the first gas container having a first valve and a first gas outlet opening, the first gas outlet opening extending into the testing part, and means for making available a testing gas for at least one gas sensor available in the testing pot.

Abstract: A method for detecting fires is proposed that serves to avoid false alarms, by providing that an alarm threshold is determined as a function of signal parameters derived from at least one sensor signal. False alarms are thus advantageously precluded. This is still further improved by setting up an alarm interval for which the alarm threshold must be exceeded, if an alarm is to be indicated. The alarm interval can also be determined adaptively as a function of the signal parameters. An upper threshold and a e lower threshold are provided for the alarm interval and the alarm threshold, respectively, in order to build in a certain safety, so that the alarm threshold and alarm interval will not assume values that put a function of the fire detector at risk. It is also possible to use more sensor signals, in which case signal parameters can be generated by linking the sensor signals.

Abstract: The invention proposes a method for operating an evaluation circuit for an electrochemical cell wherein the evaluation circuit is switched on for a first time period and is switched off for a second time period. The ratio between the first and the second time periods is selected to be less than 1. The measurement value of the electrochemical cell undergoes a current amplification in the evaluation circuit.

Abstract: An optoelectronic gas sensor based on optodes, where multiple separate photosensitive elements and an opto-transmitter located centrally between them are integrated into or onto a semiconductor substrate is characterized in that the photosensitive elements lie in one plane in the substrate, and together with a lateral emission area of the opto-transmitter emitting light laterally, they are covered by sections of the optode material whose thickness and refractive index are selected so that light emitted laterally from the emission area is guided to the photosensitive elements by total reflection in the optode material in each transmission branch. Such a chip-shaped gas sensor based on optodes can be implemented in a very small design, e.g., in an area of 2×2 mm2 and a thickness of 250 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A fire detector having a sensor group containing at least one fire detection sensor and having a control and evaluation unit, which is connected to a sensor group that is set up to evaluate signals supplied by the at least one fire detection sensor, and if necessary, that is also set up to output at least one control signal for the at least one fire detection sensor. The sensor group includes one of a chemosensor and a chemosensor array, which is connected to the control and evaluation unit for evaluating a detection signal of the one of the chemosensor and the chemosensor array, and which is set up based on a chemical sensor-operation principle to detect gas emissions and/or smoke emissions associated with a fire. The additional chemosensor may be an optoelectronic gas sensor functioning on an optode basis or an optoelectronic gas sensor array functioning on an optode basis.