HUMAN-MACHINE INTERFACE DEVICE FOR BUILDING SYSTEMS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a human-machine interface device (4) comprising a housing (28) that can be installed on a floor or wall of a building. The housing (28) contains a communication device (24), a capture device (12), an optical projection module (14), and a control device (6). The communication device (24) transmits and receives data signals via a communication network (10), and the capture device (12) captures user-related data (2). The control system (6) is configured to transmit user data captured by the capture device (12) via the communication device (24) to a building system control system (8) (1) and to control the optical projection module (14) using orientation information received from the control system (8).The optical projection module (14) is configured to project orientation information (18) relating to the user (2) and visible to the user (2) onto the floor or a projection surface on the wall.

Description

HUMAN-MACHINE INTERFACE DEVICE FOR BUILDING SYSTEMS FIELD OF INVENTION The technology described herein relates generally to a building system that performs one or more services in or for a building. Examples of the technology's modality relate, in particular, to a human-machine interface device and a building system comprising such a human-machine interface device. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Building systems can be designed in a wide variety of ways for a wide variety of applications. For example, a building system might be interested in recognizing a user's presence. This interest might come from a user who wants to find their way around the building, for example, after entering. It might also come from building management who wants to know, for example, if and where a user is located within the building and which service the user wants to use. A user's presence can be recognized, for example, by an access control system, which is an example of a building system. The access control system controls, for instance, access to a restricted area (e.g., a building entrance or floor corridors with elevator access). In such an access control system, users wishing to use the system's service can be identified as having access rights in different ways, i.e., with different proofs of entitlement, e.g., through individual biometric characteristics, a key, a magnetic, chip, or RFID card, or a mobile electronic device (e.g., a mobile phone) connected to a human-machine interface device. WO 2010 / 112586 A1 describes an access control system in which a mobile phone carried by a user sends an identification code to an access node.If the identification code is valid, the access node sends an access code to the mobile phone, which displays the access code on a screen. If the user shows the indicated access code to a camera, the access control system verifies if the captured access code is valid. If it is valid, the user is granted access. Another example of a building system is an elevator system installed in the building. To use the elevator system, a user can receive an elevator call, for example, on a human-machine interface device, also known as an elevator control device or floor call terminal, to be transported from an entry floor to a destination floor. Depending on the type and purpose of a building, the elevator system and access control system may be configured so that granting access to the user also triggers an elevator call. The elevator call can be made, for example, to a defined destination floor that is saved in a user profile. The human-machine interface (HMI) devices in these building systems allow a user to interact with the building system, at least initially, when requesting service. If the user presents, for example, a valid authorization ID, the building system reacts, e.g., by granting access and / or displaying an assigned elevator for the elevator call on the elevator control device screen. Particularly in high-traffic buildings, such as office buildings, during morning rush hour, not only should access permissions and call assignments be processed as quickly as possible, but users should also move away from the HMI devices as quickly as possible to reduce the risk of queues forming.Therefore, there is a demand for a building system technology that aims, in particular, to allow users to move away from human-machine interface devices as quickly as possible, but without compromising comfort or information communication. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION One aspect of such technology relates to a human-machine interface device consisting of a box configured for installation on a floor or wall of a building. The box contains a communication device and a data capture device. The communication device is configured to transmit and receive data signals over a communication network, and the data capture device is configured to capture user-related data. The box also contains an optical projection module configured to project user-related orientation information onto the floor or a projection surface on the wall. A control device, also housed in the box, is connected for communication with the data capture device, the communication device, and the optical projection module.The control device is configured to transmit user data captured by the capture device via the communication device to a building system control system and control the optical projection module using orientation information received from the control system. Another aspect of the technology relates to a building system incorporating such a human-machine interface device. The following describes the properties of this human-machine interface device and its advantageous configurations. The technology described herein creates a human-machine interface device that can be used for various applications within a building system. In principle, it can be used in any location where specific information about the building and / or its services needs to be communicated to a user. In one example, this information communication occurs in conjunction with a building access control system and / or an elevator system. A building system control system can perform a building access control function and / or an elevator control function for this purpose. In one of these building system applications, the human-machine interface device can be integrated into an airlock of the building access control system. In this application, the optical projection module projects orientation information onto the floor. In one example, the orientation information is projected exclusively onto the floor, thus eliminating the need for an indicator device in the airlock. In another building system application, the human-machine interface device can be integrated into an elevator control device. In this application, the optical projection module projects the orientation information onto either a projection surface, the building wall, or the floor. In this example, an indication device can also be omitted from the elevator control device; the elevator control device can therefore be reduced in size, at least by the size of the indication device, and thus can also be more economical. In one example of a human-machine interface device, the optical projection module comprises a laser device that emits visible light. Such a laser device allows for relatively simple, high-quality light projection (e.g., in terms of edge sharpness). In addition, the optical projection module offers high flexibility in displaying wayfinding information. It can project this information as individual letters, text, symbols, and / or pictograms. Depending on the design, the size of the displayed wayfinding information can also be adjusted to suit the location and use of the human-machine interface device. The optical projection module can project orientation information statically in a specific mode for a defined period. This period can be adjusted according to the location and usage. The optical projection module can project orientation information dynamically over a defined period, in one example mode. This dynamic projection can be performed, for example, by pulse (repeated on / off cycles), pulse (repeatedly increasing and decreasing brightness), and / or as a continuous light. This enhances the user's perception. The capture device of the human-machine interface device is configured in an example mode to capture a user authorization check. The capture device can be configured in various ways. It may include a keypad to capture a user's PIN code. The keypad may consist of electromechanical keys or be represented on a touchscreen display on the human-machine interface device. The capture device may also or alternatively comprise an optical camera system configured to capture a user's fingerprint, iris pattern, face, optical code, and / or photo identification. The capture device may, for example, be a magnetic stripe card reader, chip card reader, and / or RFID card reader for capturing an authorization verification. The capture device may also be, for example, a radio receiver for receiving a radio signal transmitted by a mobile radio carried by the user. The specialist notes that, depending on the building, the capture device may comprise one or more of the aforementioned devices, according to the authorization verification defined for a building or the authorization verifications preferred by the users. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The following sections explain various aspects of the enhanced technology in more detail with the help of modality examples in conjunction with the figures. In the figures, the same elements have the same reference symbols. The following is shown: αηΐτ / ηη / ζζηζ / Ε / γίΛΐ Fig. 1 a schematic representation of an example application of a building system comprising a human-machine interface device in association with situations in a building, by way of example; Fig. 2 a schematic representation of a first example of a human-machine interface device modality; and Fig. 3 A schematic representation of a second example of a human-machine interface device modality. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an example mode of a building system 1 in association with an example building situation. For the purposes of this representation, only some walls, rooms 5, and a building zone 12 are shown. The rooms 5 could be, for example, offices, apartments, rooms, and / or elevator cars of an elevator system 16. The building zone 12 could, in this example mode, comprise a public area from which restricted access areas can be accessed, e.g., rooms 5 or an elevator car of elevator system 16. The building system 1 could be, in this example mode, part of a system or a subsystem of an access control system that monitors access to building zone 12 and / or elevator system 16.In another example of this modality, the building 1 system can be independent of other systems, in particular, an access control system or an elevator system. In the application of the building 1 system shown in Fig. 1, there are several users 2 in building 12. Figure 1 further shows a human-machine interface device 4 comprising a capture device 12 (DET in Figure 1), a communication device 24 (COM in Figure 1), a control device 6 (μR in Figure 1), and an optical projection module 14. The specialist appreciates that the human-machine interface device 4 may include a speaker system for announcing orientation information, e.g., by voice announcement; this may be helpful, in particular, for users 2 with limited vision. These components of the human-machine interface device 4 are arranged within a housing 28. Depending on the application, the housing 28 may comprise an airlock housing 26, as shown in Figure 2, or an elevator control device housing, as shown in Figure 3.The human-machine interface device 4 is connected for communication with a communication network 10 which is also connected for communication with the control system 8 of building system 1. The projection module 14 is configured to project orientation information 18 for user 2, visible to user 2, onto the floor or a projection surface 22 on a building wall. Figure 1 shows the orientation information as an arrow, indicating the direction to the desired destination. Alternatively, or in addition to the direction, information about the elevator or the building can be projected as orientation information 18. Depending on the application, the projection module 14 can be configured to project as wayfinding information 18 individual letters, text, symbols (e.g., arrows, dots, circles, etc.) or pictograms (e.g., for an elevator, a door, an evacuation route, etc.) alone or in combination (as shown, e.g., in Fig. 2). The projection module 14 can be equipped with programmable control software and / or be controlled accordingly by the control device 6. The optical projection module 14 can be configured to project wayfinding information 18 statically for a defined period; this period can be determined, for example, for a building and a location within the building through testing.The optical projection module 14 can also be configured to project orientation information 18 dynamically over a defined period, for example, by pulses (repeatedly switching the light on and off), by pulsing (alternately increasing and decreasing brightness), and / or as continuous light. In one example, the projection module 14 includes a laser sweeper that projects orientation information 18 onto the floor or projection surface 22 using laser beams. Such laser sweepers are commercially available, for example, as a micro sweeper from Bosch Sensortec GmbH, Germany. Capture device 12 is configured to capture data relating to user 2. This user data can be captured by user 2 or read from a user 2 authorization slip and captured accordingly. Examples of configurations for capture device 12 are provided elsewhere in this description. In the situation shown in Fig. 1, by way of example, the technology described herein can be advantageously applied. To summarize briefly and by way of example, a building system 1 is created using the technology described herein, in which the projection module 14 of a human-machine interface device 4 projects orientation information 18 intended for a user 2 onto the floor or a projection surface 22. The control device 6 of the human-machine interface device 4 can transmit the user data that the capture device 12 receives via the communication device 24 to a control system 8 of the building system 1. Based on the received user data, the control system 8 determines the orientation information 18 for user 2 and transmits it to the control device 6.The control device 6 controls the projection module 14 accordingly to project the orientation information onto the floor or projection surface 22. An indication device, e.g. a screen or touch screen in the human-machine interface device 4, can therefore be omitted. The orientation information 18, as projected, can be seen and perceived by user 2 over a relatively wide viewing angle and a relatively large distance range. That is, even if user 2 moves, e.g., when moving away from the human-machine interface device 4, they can still perceive the orientation information 18. User 2, therefore, does not need to read, perceive, and learn the orientation information 18 immediately on the human-machine interface device 4. Application examples of the human-machine interface device 4 are described in conjunction with Figures 2 and 3. Human-machine interface device 4 is, in one example, a partial system of building system 1, which is controlled by control system 8. Building system 1 may comprise an elevator system 16 and / or an access control system. The specialist notes that there may be multiple human-machine interface devices 4 in the building to operate the elevator and / or the access control system. The specialist further notes that human-machine interface device 4 may also be used in another building system, e.g., in a building information system, for example, for visitors. Such a building information system may be independent of an access control system or the elevator system 16. When used in elevator system 16, the human-machine interface device 4 (also referred to as the elevator control device, call pickup device, or floor terminal) is arranged, for example, in the elevator access area (A, B, C, D) on a building wall or above the floor. When used in an access control system, the human-machine interface device 4 is arranged, for example, in or next to an airlock 26 (as shown in Fig. 2) that separates a public area of ​​building zone 12 from a restricted-access area of ​​building zone 12. Depending on the application, control system 8 comprises an elevator control device (represented in Fig. 1 as ECS) and / or an access control system control device (represented in Fig. 1 as ACS). The specialist notes that control system 8 for access control system 1 and the elevator control device may be separate systems, even systems in different spaces, and that, accordingly, they may be represented as separate systems. The capture system 12 is configured, as mentioned above, to capture data relating to a user 2. The data may include, for example, a building service request, a code (ID code) associated with user 2, or an access code. The data can be captured in one mode based on an authorization voucher. The authorization voucher can be performed, for example, in the form of a physical key, a manually entered key (e.g., a PIN code), a biometric characteristic (e.g., a fingerprint, iris pattern, facial feature, linguistic or vocal characteristics), or data captured from an optical code (QR code or color code), a magnetic, chip, or RFID card, or an electronic device (based on NFC, Bluetooth, or mobile radio).The capture device 12 is configured for the authorization voucher provided for user 2 or in the building: for the capture of a PIN code a key field (electromechanical or indicated on a touch screen) can be provided, for the capture of a fingerprint, iris pattern, face, optical code or photo ID (e.g. a machine-readable passport) an optical camera system can be provided and for the capture of data from magnetic, chip or RFID cards or an electronic device the corresponding electronic reading devices can be provided. In one example, the capture device 12 captures a data signal transmitted by a mobile radio carried by user 2. The radio signal can be transmitted according to a known standard for radio communication (e.g., RFID, WLAN / WiFi, NFC, Bluetooth). The capture device 12 is configured accordingly to receive such a radio signal; the specialist notes that a known transmitting / receiving device and an antenna connected to it can be used for this purpose. The data captured by the capture device 12 is transmitted, in one example mode, to the control system 8 for further processing. If the data relates to an authorization voucher, the control system 8 checks whether user 2 is authorized to use the service. If the authorization voucher is valid, then, for example, access can be granted to user 2, or an elevator call can be registered for user 2. If the data relates to a building service request for which no authorization check is required, then the control system 8 processes this without verifying authorization. The control system 8 then ascertains the relevant orientation information 18 and transmits it to the human-machine interface device 4. For authorization verification, control system 8 uses a database system in which a set of data, also known as a user profile, is stored for each registered user 2, 2a. The user profile may include, for example, the user's personal data (e.g., name, reason for authorization (resident, employee, external service provider, visitor), telephone number(s), email address(es)), access rights (e.g., specific premises 5 and floors), and potentially time-based access restrictions (e.g., Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.). If authorization verification is performed in conjunction with elevator system 16, the user profile may also include a default value for the destination floor (default floor). Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a first example of a human-machine interface device 4 in an application at an airlock 26, as an example. In Figure 2, three airlocks 26 are arranged side by side, forming three passages P1, P2, and P3 marked by arrows pointing from the public area toward the restricted access area. If user 2 wants to reach the restricted access area, they move through one of the passages P1, P2, or P3 in the direction indicated by the arrow. The specialist notes that turnstiles, barriers, gates, or other physical obstacles may be located in passages P1, P2, and P3. The specialist also notes that in another example of a mode, fewer or more than three airlocks 26 may be arranged. In the example mode shown in Fig. 2, each lock 26 comprises a human-machine interface device 4. The communication device 24 of the human-machine interface device 4 in the respective lock 26 is connected by means of the communication network 10 to the control system 8. The projection module 14 of the lock 26 forming passage P1 shows as orientation information 18 an elevator designator (A) and the projection module 14 of the lock 26 forming passage P3 shows as orientation information 18 an elevator designator (C) and a direction indication (arrow). The locks shown in Fig. 2 can be arranged in a building where both an access control system and an elevator system 16 are installed. In such a building, access control and elevator call capture can be performed essentially simultaneously. If user 2 approaches, for example, lock 26 for passage P1, so that their authorization slip can be captured there, the access control system grants them access to passage P1 if the access right is valid, and the elevator system 16 assigns them an elevator based on their user profile that transports them to their desired destination floor. The projection module 14 projects the orientation information 18, i.e., the elevator designator (A) on the floor in passage P1 or (in the direction of the arrow) a little beyond passage P1, possibly already in the restricted access zone.The orientation information 18 is therefore projected in the direction of travel in front of user 2. Since a relatively small indication in lock 26 is likely, for example, to go unnoticed, particularly by users 2 who walk quickly, the technology described herein, with the projection in front of users 2, improves the comfort and flow of people in lock 26. Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of a second example of a human-machine interface device 4 in an application in an elevator control device, as an example. The elevator control device has, depending on the building and the elevator system 16 installed in the building, one or more call keys 30 to allow a user 2 to pick up an elevator call. In one example of a mode, the pick-up device 12 comprises the call keys 30. Alternative designs of the elevator control device, particularly with regard to call pick-up, are described elsewhere in this document; an optical code reader or an RFID reader can be provided, for example. The housing 28 of the human-machine interface device 4 comprises the elevator control device housing, which can be mounted on a building wall by surface or plaster installation. Depending on the installation, housing 28 is positioned more or less on the building wall, such that only one front face of the housing is visible to the user 2. If plaster installation is planned, then a larger portion of housing 28 can be omitted. The specialist notes that the remaining portion, possibly only the front face, also forms part of the housing, provided the components are arranged on one or more mounting plates. The specialist further notes that housing 28 and the elevator control device can be mounted at a distance from the building wall, for example, by means of a frame fixed to the wall or freely on the floor by means of a pedestal. In one example of this configuration, the projection surface 22 is located on the building wall. Its position is fixed so that it can be seen and perceived by user 2 while still at the elevator control device. The projection surface 22 can be fixed, for example, above, or even offset laterally (as shown in Fig. 3) or laterally offset below the elevator control device. If the elevator control device is set back from the wall, the projection surface 22 can also be located behind or obliquely behind it. Depending on the elevator control device's configuration, the projection surface 22 can also be located on the floor.The human-machine interface device 4 of the elevator control device is configured such that the optical projection module 14 projects the orientation information 18 onto the defined projection surface 22. The specialist appreciates that the human-machine interface device 4 can be used alternatively or additionally in conjunction with an access control system and / or an elevator system for guiding people, particularly those unfamiliar with the building, such as visitors. Such guidance can be especially helpful in complex buildings. In such a building, the human-machine interface device 4 can be positioned in critical locations, e.g., in intersecting and / or branching corridors. In such an application, the human-machine interface device 4 can be equipped with a camera system that captures an image of user 2. If user 2 approaches the human-machine interface device 4, for example, the captured image can then be used by a facial recognition algorithm.If user 2 is recognized, then the optical projection module 14 projects orientation information 18 onto the floor. User 2 can then better orient themselves within the building using this orientation information. In one example, control system 8 can be located within the building. In another example, control system 8 can be wholly or partially located at a remote central station or implemented as IT infrastructure accessible via the internet (also referred to as “cloud computing”). The communication link between control system 8 and the communication network 10 is indicated by communication link 20. The communication network 10 may comprise an internal building communication network to which the human-machine interface device 4 within the building is connected. The internal building communication network may comprise a wired network topology (e.g., a bus, ring, or mesh topology) and / or a wireless network topology (WLAN). In another example, the control system 8 may be located partially or completely outside the building. In this case, the control system 8 may be connected to the internal building communication network via an external communication network. For this purpose, an interface device exists within the internal building communication network to enable communication between the internal and external networks.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A human-machine interface device (4) characterized in that it comprises a box (28) configured to be disposed on a floor or wall of a building, the box (28) containing: - a communication device (24) configured to transmit and receive data signals via a communication network (10); - a capture device (12) configured to capture data relating to a user (2); - an optical projection module (14) configured to project orientation information (18) relating to the user (2) and visible to the user (2) onto the floor or a projection surface (22) on the wall;and - a control device (6) that is connected for communication with the capture device (12), the communication device (24) and the optical projection module (14), the control device (6) being configured to transmit user data captured by the capture device (12) through the communication device (24) to a control system (8) of a building system (1) and to control the optical projection module (14) by means of orientation information received from the control system (8).; 2. The human-machine interface device (4) according to claim 1, further characterized in that the optical projection module (14) comprises a laser device that emits visible light.

3. The human-machine interface device (4) according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized in that the optical projection module (14) is configured to project as orientation information (18) individual letters, text, symbols and / or pictograms.

4. The human-machine interface device (4) according to one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the optical projection module (14) is configured to project the orientation information (18) statically for a defined period.

5. The human-machine interface device (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further characterized in that the optical projection module (14) is configured to project the orientation information (18) dynamically for a defined period.

6. The human-machine interface device (4) according to one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the capture device (12) is configured to capture a user authorization check (2).

7. The human-machine interface device (4) according to claim 6, further characterized in that the capture device (12) comprises a key field (30) to allow the capture of a user PIN code (2).

8. The human-machine interface device (4) according to claim 6, further characterized in that the capture device (12) comprises a key field (30) to allow the capture of a user PIN code (2), the key field (30) comprising electromechanical keys or being able to be represented on a touch screen disposed in the human-machine interface device (4).

9. The human-machine interface device (4) according to claim 6, further characterized in that the capture device (12) comprises an optical camera system configured to capture a user fingerprint (2), a user iris pattern (2), a user face (2), an optical code and / or a user photo ID (2).

10. The human-machine interface device (4) according to claim 6, further characterized in that the capture device (12) comprises a magnetic card reader, a chip card reader and / or an RFID card reader for capturing the authorization verification.

11. The human-machine interface device (4) according to claim 6, 5 further characterized in that the capture device (12) comprises a radio receiving device for receiving a radio signal emitted by a user-carried mobile radio apparatus (2).

12. A building system (1) characterized in that it comprises a human-machine interface device (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The building system (1) according to claim 12, further characterized in that 10 comprises a control system (8) that is configured to perform a building access control function and / or an elevator control function.

14. The building system (1) according to claim 13, further characterized in that the human-machine interface device (4) is integrated into an airlock (26) of a building access control system, the optical projection module (14) projecting the orientation information (18) 15 onto the floor.

15. The building system (1) according to claim 13, further characterized in that the human-machine interface device (4) is integrated into an elevator control device of an elevator system (16).

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