Method for determining a fault of an elevator stop detection system
The method leverages elevator system data to detect passenger stranding and system failures, enhancing safety and compliance by comparing passenger presence data from different sources to identify and alert on system faults.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202280096603.9
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-06-03
- Publication Date
- 2024-12-27
AI Technical Summary
Existing elevator detention detection systems fail to reliably identify passenger stranding and system failures, posing safety risks and compliance challenges due to the inability to detect faults in real-time and requiring additional sensors.
A method and system that utilizes existing elevator system data, such as door states, load values, and operational modes, to determine passenger presence and compare it with detention detection system inputs, identifying discrepancies to detect system failures and send alarms or notifications.
Reliably detects elevator detention system failures without additional sensors, ensuring passenger safety and compliance by using existing elevator data to identify and report system malfunctions.
Smart Images
Figure CN119212941A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for determining a failure of an elevator detention detection system and an elevator control system. Background Art
[0002] Elevators are equipped with different safety systems to ensure safe operation of the elevator in various operating situations. Passenger being stranded in the elevator car is one of the key issues in the event of an elevator failure, as it will give passengers a bad experience and may put passengers in danger in some cases. Therefore, passenger stranding must be reliably monitored. In addition, monitoring passenger stranding in the elevator car is also one of the key expectations of customers as well as governments in some areas for elevator remote monitoring systems.
[0003] Existing detention monitoring methods include installing cameras or using infrared-based detection sensors for detention detection. Some prior art solutions may utilize lidar-based sensors, radar-based sensors, time-of-flight (ToF) cameras, microphones, accelerometers, or a combination of different types of sensors. In addition, additional positioning sensors may be required to detect the position of the elevator car to identify whether a passenger is stranded in the car or whether the elevator is in a normal passenger-carrying state. These sensors of the detention monitoring system cannot identify a fault state of the detention monitoring system or a fault state of the elevator.
[0004] In some countries, local governments may require that stranded passengers must be reported to a government platform and that stranded passengers be resolved within a short period of time. This poses a challenge to reliably and quickly identifying and resolving stranded passengers.
[0005] For these reasons, a reliable and safe solution is needed to detect passenger holdups and determine elevator holdup detection system failures. Summary of the invention
[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a reliable and safe solution for detecting the detention of passengers and for determining elevator detention detection system failures.
[0007] The objects of the invention are achieved as defined in the respective independent claims.
[0008] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a method for detecting a failure of an elevator detention detection system in an elevator control system. The method comprises determining the presence of a person in an elevator car by at least one detection device (e.g. a sensor) and / or a control device of the elevator system and / or based on information derived from at least one detection device and / or a control device of the elevator system, receiving occupancy status information related to the presence of a person in the elevator car from a detention detection system at the elevator control system, comparing the received occupancy status information of the detention detection system with the presence of a person determined by the elevator control system, and determining a failure of the detention detection system based on the presence of a person in the elevator car determined by the elevator control system being different from the presence of a person in the elevator car determined by the detention detection system.
[0009] In one embodiment of the invention, the elevator control system and / or an elevator control unit of the elevator control system comprises an input for receiving occupancy status information from the stay detection system.
[0010] In one embodiment of the invention, the presence of a person in the elevator car is determined at least in part by the state of the elevator and / or determined events that may occur simply due to the presence of a person in the elevator car, such as the elevator doors being closed and an elevator call being made in the car, or the elevator being in operation or having a registered call and not being cancelled due to an elevator malfunction or power outage.
[0011] In one embodiment of the invention, the presence of a person in the elevator car is at least partially determined by an elevator car load value, e.g. the elevator car load value does not indicate an empty elevator car and / or by events of a door opening, a light curtain indicating traffic, a load increase, a door closing while the load increases.
[0012] In one embodiment of the invention, the detection device is arranged to the elevator car and comprises an elevator door safety device which indicates traffic on the elevator door, for example a light curtain indicating that a person has entered the car.
[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the elevator stuck detection system is a system separate from the elevator control system.
[0014] In one embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises sending an alarm and / or a notification and / or entering a fault state of the elevator based on the detected fault of the elevator stuck detection system.
[0015] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to an elevator control system, wherein the elevator control system is configured to determine the presence of a person in an elevator car by at least one detection device (such as a sensor) and / or a control device of the elevator system and / or based on information derived from at least one detection device and / or control device of the elevator system, receive occupancy status information related to the presence of a person in the elevator car from a detention detection system at the elevator control system, compare the received occupancy status information of the detention detection system with the presence of a person determined by the elevator system, and determine a failure of the detention detection system based on the presence of a person in the elevator car determined by the elevator control system being different from the presence of a person in the elevator car determined by the detention detection system.
[0016] In one embodiment of the invention, the elevator control system and / or an elevator control unit of the elevator control system comprises an input for receiving occupancy status information from the stay detection system.
[0017] In one embodiment of the invention, the elevator control system is configured to determine the presence of a person in the elevator car at least in part by the state of the elevator and / or by a determined event that can only occur due to a person being present in the elevator car, such as the door being closed and an elevator call being made in the car, or the elevator being in operation or the elevator having a registered call and the call not being cancelled due to an elevator malfunction or power outage.
[0018] In one embodiment of the invention, the elevator control system is configured to determine the presence of a person in the elevator car at least in part by an elevator car load value (such as an elevator car load value that does not indicate an empty elevator car) and / or by events of a door being opened, a light curtain showing traffic, a load increasing, a door closing while the load is at an increasing level.
[0019] In one embodiment of the invention, the detection device is arranged to the elevator car and comprises an elevator door safety device configured to indicate traffic on the elevator door, such as a light curtain configured to indicate that a person has entered the car.
[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention, the elevator stuck detection system is a system separate from the elevator control system.
[0021] In one embodiment of the invention, the elevator control system is configured to send an alarm and / or notification and / or enter a fault state of the elevator based on a detected failure of the elevator stuck detection system.
[0022] According to a third aspect, the invention relates to an elevator system comprising at least one elevator car, a motor configured to move the elevator car and an elevator control system configured to control the elevator and / or the motor. The elevator control system is an elevator control system according to any embodiment of the invention.
[0023] With the solution of the present invention, elevator stuck detection system failure can be reliably detected and reported to a backend system as a failure message, for example.
[0024] The solution of the present invention is also cost-effective to implement since it does not require additional sensors or units or self-test functions in the stuck detection system to detect a malfunction of the stuck detection system since the solution uses elevator system related data related to the elevator status to evaluate the operation of the elevator stuck system, such as the position of the elevator car, the elevator mode and the ability of the elevator car to move and the presence of passengers in the car.
[0025] Various other advantages will become apparent to the skilled person based on the following detailed description.
[0026] The terms “first,” “second,” and “third” are used herein to distinguish one element from other elements and do not particularly prioritize or rank them unless explicitly stated otherwise.
[0027] The exemplary embodiments of the present invention presented herein should not be interpreted as limiting the applicability of the appended claims. The verb "comprise" is used herein as an open-ended limitation, which does not exclude the presence of unlisted features. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, the features recited in the dependent claims may be freely combined with each other.
[0028] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention are particularly set forth in the appended claims.The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] Some embodiments of the invention are shown by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings:
[0030] FIG. 1 schematically shows an elevator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and
[0031] FIG. 2 illustrates an example method according to an example embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] FIG1 schematically shows an example elevator in which the stranded fault detection solution of the present invention can be used. An elevator 100 according to an exemplary embodiment may include an elevator car 10, which is arranged to move in an elevator shaft 12. The movement of the elevator car 10 may be achieved by a hoisting rope or belt 13 connected to a traction sheave 14 or the like. In addition, the elevator 100 includes an elevator motor, which is arranged to operate (such as by rotating its rotor) the traction sheave 14 for moving the elevator car 10, if the traction sheave 14 is not substantially directly coupled to the hoisting rope 13. The traction sheave 14 may be directly connected to the shaft of the motor via a mechanical connection or indirectly via a gear. The elevator 100 may include a machine room or be machine room-less, for example with a motor in the elevator shaft 12.
[0033] The elevator 100 may preferably comprise at least one or at least two traction machinery brakes 16, which are configured to resist or preferably prevent the movement of the motor (i.e. its rotor) directly or via the traction sheave 14 or parts thereof and / or between them. Furthermore, the elevator 100 may comprise a brake controller 25, which is configured to operate at least one of the at least one traction machinery brake 16. The brake controller 25 may also be connected to other elements of the elevator 100, such as an elevator control unit and / or a safety system 1000. The brake controller 25 may comprise an actuator (not shown) for operating the brake 16 or at least be connected to such an actuation device.
[0034] In addition, at least in some embodiments, there can be a counterweight 18 arranged in connection with the elevator car 10, such as known to those skilled in the art of elevators. Further, the elevator 100 can additionally include one or more guide rails 17 arranged in the elevator shaft 12 for guiding the movement of the elevator car 10.
[0035] The elevator 100 of FIG. 1 may further include a converter unit. The converter unit may include or be substantially an inverter or a frequency converter for connecting to the motor and controlling the operation of the motor, and a controller connected to the converter unit, wherein the controller is configured to operate the converter unit to provide electrical power (signal) such as having a variable voltage and a variable frequency to the winding of the motor. For example, the controller may be a separate controller device or included in the converter unit.
[0036] Furthermore, the converter unit may be arranged to be fed by a power source, such as the power source of the elevator 100, for example from an external grid or mains, or another power source, such as a battery system. Additionally, the power source may draw power from the converter unit.
[0037] There may be one or more devices arranged between the power source and the converter unit, such as an input filter, a circuit breaker and / or a contactor or a relay, and / or a device for charging an energy storage element of the converter unit.
[0038] The elevator 100 preferably includes a landing 19 or landing floors 19 and, for example, landing floor doors and / or openings, and the elevator car 10 is arranged to move between the landing 19 or landing floors 19 and, for example, landing floor doors and / or openings during normal operation of the elevator 100 so as to move people and / or objects between the floors 19.
[0039] The elevator may include a control unit 20 for controlling the operation of the elevator and / or the safety system of the elevator. The control unit 20 may be a separate device or may be included in other components of the elevator, such as in or as part of the electric drive. The control unit may also be implemented in a distributed manner so that, for example, part of the conveyor control unit may be included in the electric drive and another part may be included in the elevator car. The control unit may also be arranged in a distributed manner at more than two locations or in more than two devices. In one embodiment of the invention, the control unit is configured to control a power unit that supplies power to the conveyor system. The elevator control may also be configured to collect status information of the elevator car and fault information when a fault occurs in the elevator.
[0040] The control unit or controller of the system may comprise one or more processors, one or more memories, volatile or non-volatile, for storing parts of the computer program code and any data values, and possibly one or more user interface units. The mentioned elements may be communicatively coupled to each other via, for example, an internal bus.
[0041] The elevator comprises at least one detection device for determining the presence of a person in the elevator. The detection device may comprise, for example, a detector, a sensor and / or the detection device may utilize information derived from the elevator control system to be able to determine the presence of a person in the elevator car and / or the presence of a person entering the elevator car.
[0042] In one embodiment of the present invention, the presence of a person in an elevator car may be determined at least in part by the state of the elevator. In one embodiment of the present invention, the state information of the elevator may include information about the floor where the elevator car stops, information about the state of the door area of the floor where the elevator car stops, information about the speed of the elevator car, and information about the opening and closing of the door of the elevator car. The state information may also include information about the current service mode, which includes a fire protection mode and a maintenance mode in which no warning alarm will be issued. In one embodiment of the present invention, the state information of the elevator may include a state in which the elevator is running or the elevator has a registered call and the call has not been canceled due to an elevator failure or power failure. In one embodiment of the present invention, the presence of a person in the elevator car may be determined at least in part by an elevator car load value, such as an elevator car load value that does not indicate an empty elevator car.
[0043] The detection device may also be a detector, a sensor or other detection device arranged to the elevator car. These detection devices may include elevator door safety equipment that can indicate traffic on the elevator door, such as a light curtain that can indicate that a person has entered the car and / or a camera or sensor configured to detect the presence of a person in the elevator car.
[0044] The elevator also includes a device or system for detecting a person stuck in the elevator car. The elevator stuck detection system 30 can be a system separate from the elevator control system. Once the stuck detection system 30 determines that a passenger is stuck in the elevator car when the elevator fails, the stuck system will send a warning alarm to a remote server and notify maintenance personnel. In one embodiment of the present invention, when a passenger is stuck, a speaker in the elevator car can be used to speak some comfort messages for the passengers. In one embodiment of the present invention, when a passenger is stuck, the elevator system can and / or enter a fault state of the elevator.
[0045] The hold-up detection system may, for example, include input- and / or output-based means by which its status may be reported to the elevator system. The status may be, for example, active or inactive, with or without passengers in the elevator car, and / or hold-up detected or not detected. The elevator control system and / or an elevator control unit of the elevator control system may include an input for receiving occupancy status information from the hold-up detection system. The input may receive wireless and / or wired signals, for example, the input may be configured to receive physical electrical signals and / or receive wireless data communication signals via a wired bus. The input / output of the hold-up detection system may be connected to, for example, an elevator controller via an input / output board.
[0046] The elevator control unit may receive status information of the detention detection system, such as occupancy status information of the detention detection system, such as a person being detained in the elevator car or no person being detained in the elevator car. In one embodiment of the invention, the elevator may also be controlled to a fault state and, for example, park at a landing with an open door to allow a person to exit. A call in the elevator call queue may be completed, or the elevator may be controlled to the nearest or predetermined landing, such as, in one embodiment, a lobby level or a ground floor landing.
[0047] By utilizing the information of the passenger detection device of the elevator system, the operation of the detention system, such as the failure of the detention system, can be determined. The failure of the detention detection system can be based on comparing the passenger occupancy information of the elevator control system and the elevator detention detection system, and if the passenger occupancy status of the systems is different, the detention system failure can be detected. In one embodiment of the present invention, the failure of the detention detection system can be based on the information that a person is in the elevator car sensed by the detection device of the elevator system, and the detention detection system still cannot detect the person. Therefore, the elevator system can compare the received occupancy status information of the detention detection system with the presence of the person determined by the elevator control system, and in this example case, if the presence of the person determined by the elevator control system indicates the presence of a person but the occupancy status of the detention detection system indicates that there is no person in the elevator car, or in one embodiment of the present invention, if the presence of the person determined by the elevator control system indicates that there is no person in the elevator car but the occupancy status of the detention detection system indicates that there is at least one person in the elevator car, then the failure of the detention detection system is determined. The elevator system of the present invention can also be configured to send an alarm and / or notification based on the detected failure of the elevator detention detection system. In one embodiment of the present invention, the elevator system can and / or enter a failure state of the elevator.
[0048] In one exemplary embodiment, if the elevator sensors indicate that there is someone in the car in the manner described above, but the stuck system (e.g., using its sensor camera) tells that there is no one in the car, the stuck detection system may be considered to be faulty. In one exemplary embodiment, if the elevator sensors indicate that there is no one in the car in the manner described above, but the stuck system (e.g., using its sensor camera) tells that there is someone in the car, the stuck detection system may be considered to be faulty.
[0049] FIG2 shows an example method according to an example embodiment of the invention. In the example method, the presence of a person in the elevator car is determined by at least one detection device (such as a sensor) and / or a control device of the elevator system and / or based on information derived from at least one detection device and / or a control device of the elevator system. In the example method, occupancy status information related to the presence of a person in the elevator car is then received from the entrainment detection system at the elevator control system. In the example method, the received occupancy status information of the retention detection system is compared with the presence of a person determined by the elevator control system. In the example method, a malfunction of the retention detection system is determined based on the presence of a person in the elevator car determined by the elevator control system being different from the presence of a person in the elevator car determined by the retention detection system.
[0050] In one embodiment of the invention, the device or unit includes a wireless data communication device using wireless communication technology (such as 3G, 4G and 5G) for transmitting information used by the system, such as system related status information, information about passenger presence, detention related information collected by the elevator system and / or the detention detection system. In one embodiment of the invention, the information can be collected and sent to a remote cloud system where it can be analyzed.
[0051] The processor of the control unit or controller is at least configured to implement some functions of the present invention. The implementation of the solution of the present invention can be achieved by arranging the processor to execute at least a part of the computer program code stored in the memory, at least a part of which enables the processor and thus the elevator control unit to implement one or more method steps described. Therefore, the processor is arranged to access the memory and retrieve and store any information therefrom. For the sake of clarity, the processor herein refers to any unit suitable for processing information and controlling the operation of the elevator control unit and other tasks. The operation can also be implemented with a microcontroller solution with embedded software. Similarly, the memory is not limited to a certain type of memory, but any memory type suitable for storing the described multiple pieces of information can be applied in the context of the present invention.
[0052] The embodiments of the present invention described herein before in conjunction with the drawings and the summary of the present invention presented herein can be used in any combination with each other. At least two embodiments can be combined together to form another embodiment of the present invention.
[0053] The specific examples provided in the description given above should not be construed as limiting the applicability and / or interpretation of the appended claims.The lists and groups of examples provided in the description given above are not exhaustive unless expressly stated otherwise.
Claims
1. A method for detecting a failure of an elevator detention detection system in an elevator control system, the method comprising: - determining the presence of a person in the elevator car (10) by means of at least one detection device of the elevator system, such as a sensor and / or a control device and / or based on information derived from at least one detection device and / or a control device of the elevator system, - receiving occupancy status information related to the presence of a person in the elevator car (10) from a retention detection system (30) at the elevator control system (20), - comparing the occupancy status information received from the detention detection system (30) with the presence of a person determined by the elevator control system (20), and - determining a malfunction of the retention detection system (30) based on the presence of a person in the elevator car (10) determined by the elevator control system (20) being different from the presence of a person in the elevator car determined by the retention detection system (30).
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The elevator control system (20) and / or an elevator control unit of the elevator control system comprises an input for receiving occupancy status information from the hold detection system (30).
3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein: The presence of a person in the elevator car (10) is at least partly determined by the state of the elevator and / or by determined events which occur only due to the presence of a person in the elevator car, such as the door being closed and an elevator call being made in the car, or the elevator being in operation or having a registered call and the call not being cancelled due to an elevator malfunction or power failure.
4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The presence of a person in the elevator car (10) is determined at least in part by an elevator car load value, such as an elevator car load value that does not indicate an empty elevator car.
5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The detection device is arranged to the elevator car (10) and comprises an elevator door safety device which indicates traffic on the elevator door, such as a light curtain indicating that a person has entered the elevator car.
6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The elevator detention detection system (30) is a system separate from the elevator control system (20).
7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The method also includes sending an alarm and / or notification based on a detected failure of the elevator stuck detection system (30), and / or entering a fault state of the elevator.
8. An elevator control system, wherein the elevator control system (20) is configured as follows: - determining the presence of a person in the elevator car (10) by means of at least one detection device of the elevator system, such as a sensor and / or a control device and / or based on information derived from at least one detection device and / or a control device of the elevator system, - receiving occupancy status information related to the presence of a person in the elevator car (10) from a retention detection system (30) at the elevator control system (20), - comparing the occupancy status information received from the detention detection system (30) with the presence of a person determined by the elevator system (20), and - determining a malfunction of the retention detection system (30) based on the presence of a person in the elevator car (10) determined by the elevator control system (20) being different from the presence of a person in the elevator car determined by the retention detection system (30).
9. The elevator control system according to claim 8, wherein: The elevator control system (20) and / or an elevator control unit of the elevator control system (20) comprises an input for receiving occupancy status information from the hold detection system (30).
10. The elevator control system according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein: The elevator control system (20) is configured to determine the presence of a person in the elevator car at least in part by the state of the elevator and / or by determined events, which can only occur due to the presence of a person in the elevator car, such as the door is closed and an elevator call is made in the car, or the elevator is running or the elevator has a registered call and the call has not been cancelled due to an elevator malfunction or power failure.
11. The elevator control system according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein: The elevator control system (20) is configured to determine the presence of a person in the elevator car (10) at least in part by an elevator car load value, such as an elevator car load value that does not indicate an empty elevator car.
12. The elevator control system according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein: The detection device is arranged to the elevator car (10) and comprises an elevator door safety device configured to indicate traffic on the elevator door, for example a light curtain configured to indicate that a person has entered the elevator car (10).
13. The elevator control system according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein: The elevator detention detection system (30) is a system separate from the elevator control system (20).
14. The elevator control system according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein: The elevator control system (20) is configured to send an alarm and / or a notification and / or enter a fault state of the elevator based on a detected fault of the elevator stuck detection system (30).
15. An elevator system (100), comprising: at least one elevator car (10), a motor configured to move the elevator car, and An elevator control system (20) configured to control the elevator (100) and / or the motor, wherein the elevator control system is an elevator control system (20) according to any one of claims 8 to 14.
16. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
17. A computer readable medium comprising a computer program according to claim 16.