Elevator installation serving a public building area and a non-public building area

Abstract

An elevator installation (1) has an elevator car (10) which, under the control of an elevator controller (13), can be moved between floors (L0, L, L1, Ln) of a building (2) in an elevator shaft (18) and has two car doors (10a, 10b) - a first car door (10a) on a first car wall (10d) and a second car door (10b) on a second car wall (10c). A first group of shaft doors (6, 6a) is located in a public area (Zp1, Zp2) of the building (2), and a second group of shaft doors (7, 7a) is located in a non-public area (Zs1, Zs2) of the building (2). The elevator controller (13) has a first operating mode which serves the public area (Zp1, Zp2); accordingly, only the car doors (10a) and the shaft doors (6) for the public area (Zp1, Zp2) are actuated. In a second operating mode, which serves the non-public area (Zs1, Zs2), accordingly only the car doors (10b) and the shaft doors (7, 7a) for the non-public area (Zs1, Zs2) are actuated.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The technology presented here generally relates to an elevator installation in a building. Embodiments of the technology particularly relate to an elevator installation with an access monitoring function and a method for operating such an elevator installation. BACKGROUND

[0002] Accesses to a building or to access-restricted areas within a building can be monitored in various ways. For example, when a user presents a valid credential, depending on the technology used in the access monitoring system, such as a key, an access code (PIN), an optical code (bar code, two-dimensional code, color code), the access monitoring system can unlock and release a physical barrier (e.g. a door, a gate or a door barrier) for the user. It is known from EP 2 588 399 B1 that an access monitoring function can also be combined with an elevator installation. SUMMARY

[0003] While the mentioned approaches monitor access to a building or to access-restricted areas thereof, it can be desirable to add an additional monitoring function to the building without complex changes to the building or its infrastructure. There is therefore a need for a technology that fully or at least partially meets this requirement.

[0004] One aspect of the technology presented here relates to an elevator installation with an elevator controller, at least one elevator car and a plurality of shaft doors. The elevator car is movable under the control of the elevator controller between floors of a building in an elevator shaft and has two car doors, a first car door on a first car wall and a second car door on a second car wall. The shaft doors separate the elevator shaft from the floors, wherein a first group of shaft doors is located in a public area of the building and a second group of shaft doors is located in a non-public area of the building. The elevator controller has a first operating mode and a second operating mode. In the first operating mode, the elevator controller is designed to move the elevator car between the floors and to serve the public area. On a floor to be served, the elevator controller controls the opening of the car doors which at the floor to be served cause the opening of a shaft door provided there which is in the public area. In the second operating mode, the elevator controller is designed to move the elevator car between the floors in order to serve the non-public area. On a floor to be served, the elevator controller controls the opening of the car doors which at the floor to be served cause the opening of a shaft door provided there which is in the non-public area.

[0005] Another aspect of the technology introduced here relates to a method for operating an elevator installation. The elevator installation is designed as described in the preceding paragraph. The method comprises operating the elevator controller in accordance with a first operating mode or a second operating mode. In the first operating mode, the elevator car is moved between the floors by the elevator controller to service the public areas, the car doors are controlled by the elevator controller to open on the floors to be serviced, the car doors cause the shaft doors of the public areas arranged there to open on the floors to be serviced. In the second operating mode, the elevator car is moved between the floors by the elevator controller to service the non-public areas, wherein the car doors are controlled by the elevator controller to open on the floors to be serviced, the car doors cause the shaft doors of the non-public areas arranged there to open on the floors to be serviced.

[0006] The technology introduced here makes it possible to equip an elevator installation with an entry monitoring function that replaces the prior art. The elevator controller has a first operating mode and a second operating mode and can be switched between these two operating modes. In the first operating mode, the elevator controller only has the elevator car go back and forth to floors with public areas, while in the second operating mode the elevator controller only has the elevator car go back and forth to floors with non-public areas. Thus, it is possible to determine a floor in the building that serves as an entry monitoring floor; for example, a reception area of a company or a reception desk of a hotel can be provided there. For example, in particular on the entry monitoring floor, a passenger who enters the building via a public building area and there enters an elevator call can initially only be transported by the elevator installation to another public building area. After being detected at the reception area or reception desk, the passenger can proceed to a non-public area on the entry monitoring floor in order to be transported therefrom to a desired use floor in the building.

[0007] The technology introduced here also makes it possible to serve the entry monitoring floor in the described manner without an additional shuttle elevator that only serves floors with public areas. The two operating modes allow the same elevator (and thus, for example, also the same elevator shaft) to be used both for trips between floors with public areas and for trips between floors with non-public areas. Since no shuttle elevator is required, the elevator installation requires less space in the building. For example, the building can be planned and built with a smaller footprint, or the space no longer required can be used for other purposes. For example, the smaller space requirement of the elevator installation allows the architect greater freedom in the planning and design of the building.

[0008] In one embodiment, the entry monitoring function is supported in such a way that the switch between the two operating modes is only possible if a status signal generated by a monitoring device indicates that there are no passengers in the elevator car. In one embodiment, it can be checked whether the elevator car is empty before the operating mode is switched. In one embodiment, the monitoring device is arranged in the elevator car.

[0009] In one embodiment, an information unit, which is communicatively connected with the elevator controller, is arranged in the elevator car. Under the control of the elevator controller, the information unit generates a notification, in particular an audiovisual notification, which prompts the passengers to leave the elevator car, for example when the elevator car has reached the target floor and the elevator controller has to switch the operating mode.

[0010] In one embodiment, the information unit generates a notification, which informs the passengers that only floors with a public area, in particular an entrance monitoring floor, are served. Such a notification occurs, for example, when the passengers leave the public area into the elevator car. The notification can also inform or prompt the passengers to go to the reception.

[0011] As an addition or alternative to the notification of the passengers in the elevator car, in one embodiment, passengers who are already in the public area on the floor can be notified. By means of the mentioned options for notifying the passengers, the use of the elevator installation by the passengers and the guidance in the building are supported.

[0012] The technology presented here is not limited to elevator installations with only one elevator; the technology can also be used in connection with one elevator group or multiple elevator groups. In one embodiment, the elevator installation has a group of elevators, one elevator of the elevator group comprises at least one elevator car and the remaining elevators of the aforementioned group each have an elevator car with a first car door and a second car door. In this embodiment, each elevator car thus has car doors on two car walls, respectively. In one embodiment, the elevators of the elevator group are arranged next to each other in a row in the building.

[0013] In one embodiment, not all elevator cars of the elevator group are equipped with such two car doors. The technology presented here allows design freedom in this respect, thus enabling cost savings without limiting the entrance monitoring function provided by the technology.

[0014] In the elevator group, the arrangement of the elevators is not limited to the aforementioned arrangement in a row. In one embodiment, an elevator subgroup has elevators, which each have an elevator car with only one car door. The remaining part of the elevator group (one or more elevators) has elevator cars with two car doors, respectively. The elevators of the elevator group are arranged in the building in such a way that on the entrance monitoring floor the second car door of at least one elevator car and the only car door of the elevator subgroup are open towards the first non-public area. The non-public area is thus located in the space between the elevator subgroup and the remaining part of the elevator group. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] The various aspects of the improved technology are explained in more detail below on the basis of embodiments in connection with the drawings. In the drawings, identical elements have identical reference numerals. Therein:

[0016] Figure 1schematic diagram showing an exemplary situation in a building with multiple floors and an exemplary elevator installation;

[0017] Figure 2 a side view of a building with an exemplary elevator installation with four elevators is shown schematically;

[0018] Figure 3 a top view of an elevator installation according to Figure 2 in a plane of an entry monitoring floor is shown;

[0019] Figure 4 a top view of an elevator installation according to another embodiment in a plane of an entry monitoring floor is shown;

[0020] Figure 5 an exemplary illustration of a first embodiment of a method for operating an elevator installation is shown;

[0021] Figure 6 an exemplary illustration of a second embodiment of a method for operating an elevator installation is shown; and

[0022] Figure 7 an exemplary illustration of a third embodiment of a method for operating an elevator installation is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary situation in a building 2 with multiple floors L0, L, Ln, which are served by an elevator installation 1. According to embodiments of the technology introduced here, an internal building entry monitoring is conducted on floor L; in the following, the L floor is also referred to as entry monitoring floor L. In Figure 1 the situation shown, the building 2 has at least one floor L0 below the entry monitoring floor L and multiple floors Ln above the entry monitoring floor L. A person can enter the building 2, for example, on floor L0 in order to use one or more floors Ln for a specific purpose. In the following, floor L0 is also referred to as entry floor L0 and floors Ln are also referred to as use floors Ln. The person skilled in the art will recognize that the names "entry monitoring floor", "entry floor" and "use floor" are exemplary and are chosen here to better distinguish between floors L0, L, Ln. The person skilled in the art also recognizes that the arrangement and / or organization of floors L0, L, Ln is adapted to the building 2 and its purpose and can therefore be implemented in different ways than shown. Figure 1

[0024] For illustration reasons, Figure 1 ​The elevator installation 1 in Fig. 1 shows only the elevator controller 13, the drive machine 14, the load bearing means 16, e.g. a steel cable or a flat belt, the elevator car (in the following also referred to as car 10) suspended on the load bearing means 16 and movable in the shaft 18 under the control of the elevator controller 13, and a plurality of elevator operating devices 4. The person skilled in the art realizes that the elevator installation 1 can also comprise a plurality of cars 10 in one or more shafts 18, the plurality of cars being controlled by a group controller. Instead of the traction elevator shown in Fig. 1, the elevator installation 1 can also have one or more hydraulic elevators. Figure 1

[0025] Figure 1 The elevator car 10 shown in Fig. 1 has a first car door 10a on a first car wall 10d and a second car door 10b on a second car wall 10c. In the embodiment shown, the monitoring device 24 and the information device 25 are arranged in the car 10 and communicatively connected to the elevator controller 13. The monitoring device 24 is designed to generate a status signal which indicates whether a passenger P is present in the elevator car 10. The monitoring device 24 can comprise a video camera with associated image processing device; the presence of a passenger P can thus be recognized. The person skilled in the art realizes that the elevator installation 1 can also be used for transporting objects which are capable of moving autonomously (robots) or other objects; the term "passenger" thus also includes such objects.

[0026] Figure 1 A plurality of shaft doors 6a, 6b, 7, 7a are also shown, which separate the elevator shaft 18 from the floors L0, L, Ln. In one embodiment, the shaft doors 6a, 6b, 7, 7a are opened and closed in such a way that they are coupled with the car doors 10a, 10b when the elevator car 10 is on the floor L0, L, Ln and can thus be moved together with the car doors 10a, 10b. In Figure 1 In the embodiment of Fig. 1, on the entrance monitoring floor L, a first shaft door 6 is provided in a first public area Zp1 of the building 2, and a second shaft door 7 is provided in a first non-public area Zs1 of the building 2. On the entrance floor L0, a third shaft door 6a is arranged in a second public area Zp2 of the building. On the use floor Ln, a fourth shaft door 7a is arranged in a second non-public area Zs2. The person skilled in the art realizes that more public and non-public areas Zp, Zs can be provided in the building.

[0027] ​The communication network 22 connects the elevator operating devices 4 to the elevator controller 13, enabling communication between the elevator controller 13 and the elevator operating devices 4. For this communication, the elevator operating devices 4 and the elevator controller 13 can be directly or indirectly connected to the communication network 22. The communication network 22 can comprise a communication bus system, separate data lines or a combination thereof. Depending on the implementation of the communication network 22, the elevator controller 13 and each elevator operating device 4 can be assigned a separate address and / or identifier, so that, for example, the elevator controller 13 can specifically send messages to a desired elevator operating device 4. The communication can be carried out according to a protocol for wired communication, for example an Ethernet protocol. In one embodiment, the elevator operating devices 4 are supplied with electrical energy via the communication network 22 (PoE). If the elevator operating devices 4 are arranged in the car 10, the communication line 20 is used for communication and for supplying the elevator operating devices 4 with energy in one embodiment.

[0028] In Figure 1 In the case shown and according to the embodiment of the elevator installation 1 and its operating modes, the elevator installation 1 is used to provide control functions in the building 2. Briefly and by way of example, it is summarized that according to the technology presented here, two operating modes are provided in the elevator installation 1. In a first operating mode, the elevator controller 13 moves the elevator car 10 between the floors L, Lo and serves the public areas Zpl, Zp2. The elevator controller 13 controls the opening of the car doors 10a, 10b on one of the floors L, Lo to be served, which car doors 10a, 10b on the floor L, Lo to be served cause the opening of the shaft doors 6, 6a provided there of the public areas Zpl, Zp2. In a second operating mode, the elevator controller 13 moves the elevator car 10 between the floors L, Ln and serves the non-public areas Zsl, Zs2. The elevator controller 13 controls the opening of the car doors 10a, 10b on one of the floors L, Ln to be served, which car doors on the floor L, Ln to be served cause the opening of the shaft doors 7, 7a provided there of the non-public areas Zpl, Zp2. As explained elsewhere in this specification, the operating modes are only switched when the elevator car 10 is empty.

[0029] According to one embodiment, if a passenger P wants to take the elevator from the public area Zp2 of the entrance floor L0 to a usage floor Ln and enter the non-public area Zs2 there, the elevator car 10 first transports the passenger to the entrance monitoring floor L. The elevator installation 1 is in a first operating mode for this and the elevator car 10 only shuttles between the floors L0, L with the public areas Zp1, Zp2. If the passenger P leaves the car 10 on the entrance monitoring floor L and enters the public area Zp1 there, the passenger P can be detected there (e.g. seen, recognized, welcomed and / or registered). In this embodiment, the elevator car 10 is then empty and a switch from the first operating mode to the second operating mode can take place. In the second operating mode, the elevator car 10 only shuttles between the floors L0, Ln with the non-public areas Zs1, Zs2. If the passenger P in this embodiment then goes from the public area Zp1 to the non-public area Zs1 on the entrance monitoring floor L, this passenger can enter the car 10 there in order to be transported to the desired usage floor Ln.

[0030] The entrance monitoring floor L can for example comprise a reception area of a company or a reception desk of a hotel, while the usage spaces of the company or the hotel rooms are located on at least one usage floor Ln. In the company or the hotel, it can be prescribed that every passenger P, whether he is known / registered or unknown, and whether he is staying in the building 2 for the first time or regularly, has to pass through the reception area or the reception desk in order to be recorded by the staff there. The reception area or the reception desk on the entrance monitoring floor L or the staff thereof thus contribute to the implementation of the entrance monitoring function in the building 2.

[0031] The elevator installation 1 can be designed depending on the type and size of the building 2 and its transport requirements. Various configurations of the elevator installation 1 are shown in Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 . Figure 2 A side view of a building 2 is shown schematically, which has an exemplary elevator installation 1 with a set of four elevators E1, E2, E3, E4, each with an elevator car 10 with two car doors 10a, 10b. In the shown embodiment, the elevators E1-E4 serve the floors L0, L, L1, L2, Ln. On the entrance monitoring floor L, for each elevator E1-E4 it is indicated that there the public area Zp1 can be entered and exited as well as the non-public area Zs1. On the entrance floor L0, for each elevator E1-E4 it is indicated that there the public area Zp2 can be entered and exited. The non-public areas Zs, Zs2 can only be entered and exited on the usage floors L1-Ln, respectively.

[0032] In another embodiment, not all elevators E1-E4 of the above group have two car doors 10a, 10b. For example, elevators E1 and E2 can each have two car doors 10a, 10b, while elevators E3 and E4 have only one car door 10a, 10b, respectively. In this case, elevators E3 and E4 serve only floors L, LI, L2, Ln, while elevators E1 and E2 serve all floors L0, L, LI, L2, Ln as in the preceding embodiment. The skilled person will recognize that, in general, not all elevators E1-E4 of a group have two car doors. In Figure 2 In this embodiment, the shadow area for the public area can be omitted on the entrance floor L0 for elevators E3 and E4.

[0033] Figure 3 A top view of an elevator installation 1 according to Figure 2 is shown on the plane of the entrance monitoring floor L. The elevator installation 1 comprises an elevator group E1-E4. Elevator E1 comprises at least one elevator car 10 Figure 1 , the remaining elevators E2-E4 of the above group each have an elevator car 10 with first and second car doors 10a, 10b. In this top view, elevators E1-E4 are arranged next to each other (substantially in a row next to each other). From the perspective of a passenger P, elevators E1-E4 are also arranged in a row next to each other. On the entrance monitoring floor L, car door 10a is coupled with landing door 6 (corresponding to public area Zp1), and car door 10b is coupled with landing door 7 (corresponding to non-public area Zs1). Arrow 26 indicates a possible direction of movement on the entrance monitoring floor L. Depending on the mode of operation, a passenger P can leave or enter elevators E1-E4 in the direction of public area Zp1 or non-public area Zs1.

[0034] Figure 4 A top view of an elevator installation 1 according to another embodiment is shown on the plane of the entrance monitoring floor L. The elevator installation 1 comprises an elevator group E1-E4. Elevator E1 comprises at least one elevator car 10 Figure 1 . The elevator subgroup comprises elevators E2-E4 of the above group, which each have an elevator car 10 with only one car door 10b. Elevators E1-E4 are arranged in building 2 such that on the entrance monitoring floor L, the second car door 10b of the at least one elevator car 10 and the only one car door 10b of the elevator subgroup are open towards the first non-public area Zs1.

[0035] In the shown embodiment, the elevators E1 and E2 are arranged next to each other and have elevator cars 10 and car doors 10a, 10b, respectively. It applies to each elevator E1, E2 that on the entry monitoring floor L, the car door 10a can be coupled with the landing door 6 (corresponding to the public zone Zp1 ) and the car door 10b can be coupled with the landing door 7 (corresponding to the non-public zone Zs1 ). The elevators E3 and E4 are also arranged next to each other in this plan view and have elevator cars 10, respectively; on the other hand, each of these elevator cars 10 has only one car door 10b which on the entry monitoring floor L can be coupled to the landing door 7 (corresponding to the non-public zone Zs1 ). In Figure 4 It can be seen in

[0036] In the embodiment of Figure 4 from the perspective of a passenger P in the public zone Zp1, only the elevators E1, E2 are visible. The arrow 28 indicates the possible direction of movement on the entry monitoring floor L. Depending on the operating mode, the passenger P can leave or enter the elevators E1 and E2 in the direction of the public zone Zp1 or the non-public zone Zs1 ; on the other hand, the elevators E3 and E3 can only leave or enter in the direction of the non-public zone Zs1.

[0037] The elevator installation 1 can be equipped with up / down control or destination call control. The person skilled in the art will recognize that there can be other elevator control modes, for example control using mobile devices, but also a mixture of the above-mentioned control modes. If the elevator installation 1 is equipped with up / down control, the elevator operating devices 4 are arranged on the floors L, L0, Ln on which the passenger P can input the desired direction of travel. The boarding floor results from the position of the elevator operating device 4 in which the direction of travel, i.e. the elevator call, is input. The desired destination floor is then input at the elevator operating device (not shown in Figure 1 ) arranged in the car 10 there. The communication line 20 connects the elevator operating device (on the car side) to the elevator controller 13. If the elevator installation 1 is equipped with destination call control, the elevator operating devices 4 are arranged on the floors L, L0, Ln on which the passenger P can input the desired destination floor; when the destination floor is input by the passenger P, i.e. the target call is input, there is information about the boarding floor and the destination floor. The boarding floor results from the position of the elevator operating device 6 in which the destination floor is input. The target call control device 12 allocates an elevator car 10 for the input target call, and the elevator controller 8 controls the movement of the allocated elevator car 10 according to the target call.

[0038] Having understood the basic system components of the elevator installation 1 and their functions, the following gives an introduction to an exemplary method for operating the elevator installation 1 with reference to Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 . The elevator installation 1 can be equipped as shown in Figure 1 ; a plurality of elevators E1-E4 can be arranged as shown in Figure 2 or Figure 3 . The method is illustrated using an exemplary flow chart and the steps carried out. The person skilled in the art will recognize that the division of the steps is exemplary and one or more of the steps can be broken down into one or more sub-steps or several steps can be combined into one step.

[0039] Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of a method for operating the elevator installation 1 is shown. The method starts in step S1 and ends in step S8. In step S2, the elevator controller 13 of the elevator installation 1 operates according to a first operating mode or a second operating mode. The operation can proceed according to either of the two operating modes, which is indicated by the decision in step S3. If the operation proceeds according to the first operating mode, the method proceeds along the "1" branch to step S4, in which the first operating mode is defined as the operating mode. If the operation proceeds according to the second operating mode, the method proceeds along the "2" branch to step S6, in which the second operating mode is defined as the operating mode.

[0040] If the first operating mode is determined in step S4, in step S5, the elevator controller 13 controls the elevator car 10 such that the elevator car moves between the floors L, L0 and serves the public areas Zp1, Zp2. This also means that the elevator controller 13 only accepts elevator calls from and to the floors L, L0 having the public areas Zp1, Zp2 for service or execution. On the floors L, L0 to be served, the elevator controller 13 controls the opening of the car door 10a that causes the shaft door 6, 6a provided therein to open in the public area Zp1, Zp2 on the floors L, L0 to be served. As described elsewhere in this specification, the car door 10a on the floors L, L0 to be served entrains the respective shaft door 6.

[0041] If in step S6 it is determined that the second operating mode, then in step S7 the elevator controller 13 controls the elevator car 10 so that it moves between the floors L, Ln and serves the non-public areas Zsl, Zs2. This also means that the elevator controller 13 accepts only elevator calls from and to the floors L, Ln having non-public areas Zsl, Zs2 for service or execution. On the floors L, Ln to be served, the elevator controller 13 controls the opening of the car door 10b which causes the shaft door 7, 7a arranged in the non-public area Zsl, Zs2 located there to open. At this point, the car door 10b on the floor L, L0 to be served also actuates the corresponding shaft door 7, 7a.

[0042] In Figure 5 In an embodiment of the method, the method ends in step S8 after step S5 or step S7.

[0043] Figure 6 A schematic diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the method for operating the elevator installation 1 is shown. The method starts in step Al and ends in step A16. The presentation of this embodiment is based on the following situation: Figure 1 The elevator car 10 shown is empty, which is detected by the monitoring device 24, and there are no elevator calls to be served; step A2 represents this situation.

[0044] In step A3, an elevator call is received from a passenger P. The elevator call can be a destination call or an indication of the direction of travel.

[0045] The landing floor is determined in step A4. The landing floor is derived from the floor L, L0, Ln at which the elevator operating device 4 is arranged at which the passenger P inputs the elevator call. Here, the passenger P can be staying in the public area Zp or in the non-public area Zs. In step A4, it is also determined in which type of area (Zp, Zs) the passenger P is located and from which the passenger P has to enter the elevator car 10. The determination of the type of area thus also includes which of the elevator doors 10a, 10b is to be opened at the landing floor. The elevator operating device 4 used by the passenger P can also be arranged in one of the two areas Zp, Zs. Thus, in one embodiment, the type of area can be determined for the elevator call.

[0046] In step A5, it is checked whether the area is a public area Zpl, Zp2. If so, the method proceeds along the "yes" branch to step A6. If, on the other hand, it is a non-public area Zsl, Zs2, the method proceeds along the "no" branch to step Al l.

[0047] The first operating mode is determined in step A6 for the elevator controller 13. Since the elevator car 10 is empty (step A2), a switch from one operating mode to another operating mode can be made according to the techniques presented here.

[0048] In step A7 following step A6, elevator calls are served according to the first operating mode. In the first operating mode, the elevator controller 13 accepts only elevator calls from and to floors L, L0 having a common area Zp1, Zp2, and opens only doors leading to the common area Zp1, Zp2 (see also step S5 in Figure 5 ).

[0049] In step A8, the elevator call of the passenger P and any possibly existing elevator calls from other passengers, which can be served in the first operating mode, are served. The elevator car 10 should therefore be empty.

[0050] In step A9, it is checked whether the elevator car 10 is empty. For this purpose, the signal from the monitoring device 24 is evaluated. If the elevator car 10 is empty, the method proceeds along the "yes" branch to step A16, in which the method ends or proceeds back to step A1, in which it starts.

[0051] If the elevator car 10 is not empty, the method proceeds along the "no" branch to step A10. In step A10, an alarm is generated, for example, informing building personnel of a possible unauthorized use of the elevator and / or the information unit 25 in the elevator car 10 generates an audiovisual notification requiring the passenger to leave the elevator car 10.

[0052] After the alarm has been generated in step A10, the method can wait for a predetermined period of time and then check again in step A9 whether the elevator car 10 is empty. This query can be made until the elevator car 10 is empty.

[0053] In step A5 described above, if it is a non-common area Zs1, Zs2, the "no" branch is followed to step A11. In step A11, a second operating mode is determined for the elevator controller 13. Since the elevator car 10 is empty (step A2), a switch from one operating mode to another operating mode can be made according to the techniques presented here.

[0054] In step A12, elevator calls are served according to the second operating mode. In this operating mode, the elevator controller 13 accepts only elevator calls from and to floors L, Ln having a non-common area Zs1, Zs2, and opens only doors leading to the non-common area Zs1, Zs2 (see also step S7 in Figure 5 ).

[0055] The steps A13-A15 remaining in this branch are performed as introduced in connection with steps A8-A10. In particular, these steps A8-A10 and A13-A15 ensure that the elevator car 10 is empty before switching from one operating mode to another operating mode (see steps A2, A6 and A11).

[0056] Figure 7 A schematic diagram illustrating a third embodiment of a method for operating an elevator installation 1 is shown. The method starts in step B1 and proceeds in a loop which in this embodiment returns to step B2.

[0057] In step B2 it is checked whether the elevator car 10 is empty. For this purpose, the signal from the monitoring device 24 is evaluated. If the elevator car 10 is empty, the method proceeds along the "yes" branch to step B3 in which it is determined that the operating mode can be either the first operating mode or the second operating mode. If, on the other hand, the elevator car 10 is not empty, the method proceeds along the "no" branch to step B4 in which the current operating mode of the elevator controller 13 is maintained. Since the elevator car 10 is not empty, the operating mode cannot be switched according to the technique introduced here (at the time of performing step B2).

[0058] Steps B3 and B4 are followed by step B5. In step B5 it is checked whether there is at least one elevator call depending on the operating mode determined in step B3 (both operating modes are possible (first or second operating mode)) or B4 (current operating mode is maintained). If such an elevator call exists, the method proceeds along the "yes" branch to step B6, otherwise along the "no" branch to step B9.

[0059] In step B6 the current elevator call is analyzed in order to plan by the elevator controller 13 the next stop of the elevator car 10 required for this. The floor to be served and the car doors 10a, 10b to be opened at the floor to be served depending on the elevator call and the operating mode are selected.

[0060] In step B7 the operating mode is set depending on the stop selected for the elevator call in step B6. The operating mode can be set to either the first operating mode or the second operating mode. There are two cases here: If the operating mode has already been set (i.e. either the first or the second operating mode), then the elevator call matches the operating mode reliably and the operating mode will be maintained. If, on the other hand, the operating mode can still be selected (according to step B3), then the operating mode suitable for the elevator call is determined in step B7 at the moment, which elevator call only involves the public area Zp (first operating mode) or the non-public area Zs (second operating mode).

[0061] In step B8, the elevator car 10 is moved to the floor to be served. The car doors 10a and 10b selected in step B6 open and close again, and the corresponding shaft doors 6, 6a, 7, and 7a move together with the car doors 10a and 10b. The elevator call is thus served and the method returns to step B2.

[0062] In step B9, after no further elevator calls are received according to the operating mode determined in step B3 or B4 in step B5, it is checked whether there are other elevator calls requiring a different operating mode. If there are no such elevator calls, the method proceeds along the "No" branch back to step B2; otherwise, it proceeds along the "Yes" branch to step B10.

[0063] An alarm is generated in step B10, such as in combination with Figure 1 As described in step A10. Furthermore, the car doors 10a, 10b and the corresponding shaft doors 6, 6a, 7, 7a are opened until the elevator car 10 is empty. If this is the case, the alarm can be deactivated. The method then returns to step B2.

[0064] In the embodiments and based on Figure 1 In the scenario shown, passenger P enters an elevator call at the elevator operating device 4 (displayed as a target call device). When the elevator car 10 is ready to carry passengers, the shaft door 6b and car door 10a open, and passenger P boards the car 10. In one embodiment, an information unit 25 arranged in the car 10 notifies passenger P that the car 10 has arrived at the entrance monitoring floor L and that the passenger must exit there. If the car 10 is at the entrance monitoring floor L, passenger P enters the first public area Zp1 through the open car door 10a and the open shaft door 6a. Monitoring device 24 checks whether the car 10 is currently empty. In order to begin the journey to the desired floor Ln after staff recording, passenger P enters the first non-public area Zs1 on the entrance monitoring floor L. Passenger P enters the desired floor Ln (target call) at the elevator operating device 4 arranged there. If the monitoring device 24 indicates that the car 10 is empty, the elevator controller 13 switches to a second operating mode. When the elevator car 10 is ready to carry passengers, the shaft door 7 and the car door 10b open, and passenger P boards the car 10 and is transported to the desired floor Ln.

Claims

1. Elevator installation (1) having an elevator controller (13), at least one elevator car (10) which is movable in an elevator shaft (18) between floors (Lo, L, LI, Ln) of a building (2) under control of the elevator controller (13) and which has two car doors (10a, 10b), namely a first car door (10a) on a first car wall (10d) and a second car door (10b) on a second car wall (10c), and a plurality of shaft doors (6, 6a, 7, 7a) separating an elevator shaft (18) from a floor (L0, L, L1, Ln), wherein a first group of shaft doors (6, 6a) arranged in a public area (Zpl, Zp2) of the building (2) and a second group of shaft doors (7, 7a) arranged in a non-public area (Zsl, Zs2) of the building (2), wherein the elevator controller (13) has a first operating mode according to which the elevator controller (13) is designed to move the elevator car (10) between floors (L, Lo) and to serve the public area (Zpl, Zp2), wherein the elevator controller (13) controls the opening of car doors (10a) on the floor (L, Lo) to be served which cause the opening of shaft doors (6) arranged in the public area (Zpl, Zp2) there, and a second operating mode according to which the elevator controller (13) is designed to move the elevator car (10) between floors (L, Ln) in order to serve the non-public area (Zsl, Zs2), wherein the elevator controller (13) controls the opening of car doors (10b) on the floor (L, Ln) to be served which cause the opening of shaft doors (7, 7a) arranged in the non-public area (Zsl, Zs2) there.

2. Elevator installation (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a monitoring device (24) which is in communication connection with the elevator controller (13) and is designed to generate a status signal which is indicative of whether a passenger (P) is present in the elevator car (10), wherein, The elevator controller (13) is designed to switch between the first operating mode and the second operating mode only if a status signal generated by a monitoring device (24) indicates that there are no passengers (P) in the elevator car (10).

3. Elevator installation (1) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an information unit (25) in the elevator car (10), wherein The information unit (25) is in communication connection with the elevator controller (13) and is designed to generate a notification under control of the elevator controller (13) which requires passengers (P) to leave the elevator car (10).

4. Elevator installation (1) according to claim 3, wherein The notification is an audiovisual notification.

5. Elevator installation (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein There is a group of elevators (El- E4), the elevator (El) comprising the at least one elevator car (10) and the remaining elevators (E2- E4) of the above group each having an elevator car (10) with first and second car doors (10a, 10b), and the elevators (El- E4) being arranged next to each other in the building (2).

6. Elevator installation (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein There is a group of elevators (E1-E4), the elevator (E1) comprises the at least one elevator car (10) and the remaining elevators (E2-E4) of the group each have one elevator car (10), wherein the elevators (E1-E4) are arranged next to each other in the building (2) and the at least one elevator car (10) or the further elevator cars (10) have first and second car doors (10a, 10b) such that at least one elevator (E1-E4) of the group has an elevator car with only one car door.

7. Elevator installation (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein There is a group of elevators (E1-E4), the elevator (E1) comprises the at least one elevator car (10), wherein the subgroup of elevators comprises the elevators (E2-E4) of the group as follows: the elevators each have one elevator car (10) with only one car door (10b), wherein the elevators (E1-E4) are arranged in the building (2) such that the second car door (10b) of the at least one elevator car (10) and the only one car door (10b) of the subgroup of elevators open towards the first non-public area (Zs1) on the entrance monitoring floor (L).

8. A method for operating an elevator installation (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein The elevator installation (1) has an elevator controller (13), at least one elevator car (10) which is movable under control of the elevator controller (13) between floors (L0, L, L1, Ln) of a building (2) in an elevator shaft (18) and has a first car door (10a) on a first car wall (10d) and a second car door (10b) on a second car wall (10c), and a plurality of shaft doors (6a, 6b, 7) which separate the elevator shaft (18) from the floors (L0, L, L1, Ln), wherein a first group of shaft doors (6, 6a) is arranged in a public area (Zp1, Zp2) of the building (2) and a second group of shaft doors (7, 7a) is arranged in a non-public area (Zs1, Zs2) of the building (2), the method comprising: - operating the elevator controller (13) according to a first operating mode or a second operating mode, wherein in the first operating mode the elevator car (10) is moved under control of the elevator controller (13) between the floors (L, L0) in order to serve the public area (Zp1, Zp2), wherein the opening of the car doors (10a) is controlled by the elevator controller (13) on the floors (L, L0) to be served in such a way that the shaft doors (6) arranged there open in the public area (Zp1, Zp2) arranged there, and wherein in the second operating mode the elevator car (10) is moved under control of the elevator controller (13) between the floors (L, L0) in order to serve the non-public area (Zs1, Zs2), wherein the opening of the car doors (10a) is controlled by the elevator controller (13) on the floors (L, L0) to be served in such a way that the shaft doors (7) arranged there open in the non-public area (Zs1, Zs2) arranged there. In the second operating mode, the elevator car (10) is moved between the floors (L, Ln) under the control of the elevator controller (13) in order to service the non-public areas (Zs1, Zs2), wherein the opening of the car door (10b) is controlled by the elevator controller (13) on the floor (L, L0) to be serviced in such a way that the car door (10b) causes the shaft door (7, 7a) arranged in the non-public area (Zs1, Zs2) located there to open on the floor (L, L0) to be serviced.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: The status signal produced by the monitoring device (24) in communication connection with the elevator controller (13) is evaluated, the status signal indicating whether a passenger (P) is present in the elevator car (10), wherein the elevator controller (13) is designed to switch between the first operating mode and the second operating mode only when the status signal produced by the monitoring device (24) indicates that no passenger (P) is present in the elevator car (10).

10. The method of claim 8 or 9, further comprising: A notification is generated by an information unit (25) in the elevator car (10), wherein the information unit (25) is in communication connection with the elevator controller (13) and the notification requires the passenger (P) to leave the elevator car (10).

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, The notification is an audiovisual notification.

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