Hazard Alert Control Unit Display Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current hazard alarm systems, particularly fire alarm systems, are time-consuming in detecting faults or alarms and assigning them to associated detectors, leading to confusion and delayed reaction times, which are critical in safety-related scenarios.

Innovation Solution

A control unit with a touch-sensitive user interface featuring a display that shows a first event display with a main section and an edge section, allowing quick recognition of hazards, along with message scrolling and action means for alerting authorities, to facilitate rapid detection and response.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If traditional list form display is used for faults or alarms, then comprehensive information is provided, but response time increases and user identification becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The display is segmented into different visual zones: a prominent main display area for critical hazard information and a separate message list area for detailed fault/ alarm data. This segmentation allows users to immediately identify critical issues while comprehensive information remains accessible in the list portion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different display areas are given different visual qualities and priorities. The main display area uses high-visibility formatting for critical hazards, while the message list provides detailed information. This local differentiation ensures that urgent information stands out without sacrificing completeness of other data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If comprehensive fault and alarm assignment is performed, then system reliability is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault detection accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary classification and assignment of faults and alarms to specific hazard detectors automatically. This preliminary processing ensures reliable association before the operator needs to respond, reducing the time required for manual identification and assignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit provides feedback by automatically assigning and displaying fault/ alarm information to the corresponding hazard detectors. This automated feedback loop ensures reliable system state tracking without requiring manual processing, thereby reducing overall response time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of information

If display shows multiple messages in list form, then complete information is available, but message identification becomes confusing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage completenessVSAvoidmessage identification
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display is divided into a main section for prominent hazard display and a message list section for detailed information. This segmentation separates the function of immediate hazard identification from comprehensive message review, making both tasks easier to perform.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different visual emphasis is applied to different parts of the display. The main section uses high-contrast formatting for critical information, while the message list provides complete details. This local quality differentiation makes message identification clearer without losing completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3953921B1Control unit for a hazard alert center, hazard alert system and method for operating a hazard alert center
Publication Date: 2024.12.18 MINIMAX VIKING PATENT MANAGEMENT GMBH
  • EP3953921B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3953921B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3953921B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a control unit (10) for a hazard alert center (1), for example a break-in, fire alarm and/or fire extinguisher control center, to a hazard alert system, preferably a fire alarm system, and to a method for operating a hazard alert center (1), for example a break-in, fire alarm and/or fire extinguisher control center. In particular, the invention relates to a control unit (10) for a hazard alert center (1), for example a break-in, fire alarm and/or fire extinguisher control center, the control unit (10) being designed to receive, from a hazard detector (40) for detecting a hazardous situation, a first signal characterizing the hazardous situation, and the control unit comprising a user interface having a display means (20), which is designed to show a standard display (100) and/or an alert display (500), in the case of which an oldest alert (222) and a latest alert (224) are displayed and additional alerts between the oldest alert and the latest alert can be displayed, preferably scrollably, and a first event display (200), which shows a first event in a main portion.