Operating elevator system in special mode of operation
By determining the special operating mode in the elevator system and displaying relevant information on the display part, the problem that the elevator system is difficult to provide relevant information on the operating mode in the case of fire or evacuation is solved, and safety and operation efficiency are improved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202411231383.3
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-09-06
- Filing Date
- 2024-09-04
- Publication Date
- 2025-03-07
AI Technical Summary
In the event of a fire or evacuation, it is difficult for the elevator system to effectively provide additional information related to the operating mode, affecting the safety and efficiency of firefighters and evacuation personnel.
By determining special operating modes (such as fire alarm mode and evacuation mode) in the elevator system, the corresponding content is displayed on the non-function display part and function display part of the elevator car, including the fire detector status, evacuation area, floor call priority, etc.
It is realized that in special operating mode, the elevator system can dynamically display relevant information, helping firefighters and evacuees operate the elevator more effectively, and improving safety and efficiency.
Smart Images
Figure CN119568853A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] Various examples generally relate to the field of elevator systems. In particular, some examples relate to solutions for operating an elevator system in a special operating mode. Background Art
[0002] In addition to normal use, elevator systems and their elevators can also be used in special situations, such as in fire alarm or evacuation situations. When firefighters use elevators to transport to floors, it would be useful for the firefighters to know additional information related to the fire situation. Similarly, when elevators are used to evacuate people, it would be useful to know additional information related to the evacuation. Summary of the invention
[0003] The scope of protection sought by various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure is set out by the independent claims. Exemplary embodiments and features described in this specification that do not fall within the scope of the independent claims, if any, should be interpreted as examples useful for understanding the various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0004] According to a first aspect, a method for providing operating mode related information in an elevator system including an elevator car is provided. The method comprises determining that the elevator system is operating in a special operating mode, the special operating mode comprising a fire alarm mode and / or an evacuation mode; determining content to be displayed on a non-functional display portion associated with the elevator car and a functional display portion associated with the elevator car based at least in part on the special operating mode; and causing content to be displayed on the non-functional display portion and the functional display portion.
[0005] In an implementation form of the first aspect, the elevator car comprises car call buttons, wherein the method further comprises causing at least one of the car call buttons to flash at a flashing frequency to indicate a floor call associated with the car call button, the flashing frequency indicating a priority of the floor call.
[0006] In an implementation form of the first aspect, the elevator car comprises car call buttons, wherein the method further comprises causing at least one of the car call buttons to apply a specific brightness level to indicate a floor call associated with the car call button, the brightness level indicating a priority of the floor call.
[0007] In an implementation form of the first aspect, determining that the elevator system operates in the special operating mode comprises determining that the elevator system operates in the special operating mode based at least partly on a signal indicating a fire alarm mode or an evacuation mode.
[0008] In an implementation form of the first aspect, the content displayed on the non-functional display portion includes at least one of the following: fire detector status; active alarm; evacuation area; fire service entrance level; evacuation exit floor; designated floor station; the status of the power supply; active floor call; the active time period of the active floor call; and the number of people waiting on at least one floor.
[0009] In an implementation form of the first aspect, the content displayed on the function display part includes at least one of the following: the possibility of driving the elevator car to the floor proposed by the elevator group controller; the possibility of making a car call to a floor included in the evacuation area; the possibility of making a car call to a floor from which a floor call has been received; the possibility of making a car call to a floor from which a passenger has been detected; the possibility of making a car call to a floor where the elevator door can be opened; the possibility of making a car call to the first service entrance floor; and the possibility of making a car call to the evacuation exit floor.
[0010] In an implementation form of the first aspect, the non-functional display part comprises a car display and the functional display part comprises a touch-sensitive display.
[0011] In an implementation form of the first aspect, the non-functional display portion comprises a first portion of the display and the functional display portion comprises a second portion of the display.
[0012] According to a second aspect, a device for providing information related to an operation mode in an elevator system including an elevator car is provided, the device comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, causing the device to at least perform: determining that the elevator system is operating in a special operation mode, the special operation mode comprising a fire alarm mode and / or an evacuation mode; determining content to be displayed on a non-functional display portion associated with the elevator car and a functional display portion associated with the elevator car based at least in part on the special operation mode; and causing content to be displayed on the non-functional display portion and the functional display portion.
[0013] In an implementation form of the second aspect, the elevator car includes car call buttons, wherein the at least one processor and the at least one memory store instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor cause the device to at least perform: causing at least one of the car call buttons to flash at a flashing frequency to indicate a floor call associated with the car call button, and the flashing frequency indicates the priority of the floor call.
[0014] In an implementation form of the second aspect, the elevator car includes car call buttons, wherein the at least one processor and the at least one memory store instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor cause the device to at least perform: causing at least one of the car call buttons to apply a specific brightness level to indicate a floor call associated with the car call button, and the brightness level indicates the priority of the floor call.
[0015] In an implementation form of the second aspect, determining that the elevator system operates in the special operating mode comprises determining that the elevator system operates in the special operating mode based at least in part on a signal indicating a fire alarm mode or an evacuation mode.
[0016] In an implementation form of the second aspect, the content displayed on the non-functional display portion includes at least one of the following: fire detector status; active alarm; evacuation area; fire service entrance level; evacuation exit floor; designated floor station; status of power supply; active floor call; active time period of the active floor call; and the number of people waiting on at least one floor.
[0017] In an implementation form of the second aspect, the content displayed on the function display part includes at least one of the following: the possibility of driving the elevator car to the floor proposed by the elevator group controller; the possibility of making a car call to a floor included in the evacuation area; the possibility of making a car call to a floor from which a floor call has been received; the possibility of making a car call to a floor from which a passenger has been detected; the possibility of making a car call to a floor where the elevator door can be opened; the possibility of making a car call to the first service entrance floor; and the possibility of making a car call to the evacuation exit floor.
[0018] In an implementation form of the second aspect, the non-functional display part comprises a car display and the functional display part comprises a touch-sensitive display.
[0019] In an implementation form of the second aspect, the non-functional display portion comprises a first portion of the display and the functional display portion comprises a second portion of the display.
[0020] According to a third aspect, there is provided an elevator car comprising: at least one display configured to provide a non-functional display portion and a functional display portion; and an apparatus according to the second aspect.
[0021] According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to perform the method of the first aspect.
[0022] According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising a computer program, the computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to perform the method of the first aspect.
[0023] According to a sixth aspect, there is provided an apparatus for providing information related to an operation mode in an elevator system including an elevator car. The apparatus comprises means for: determining that the elevator system is operating in a special operation mode, the special operation mode comprising a fire alarm mode and / or an evacuation mode; determining content to be displayed on a non-functional display portion associated with the elevator car and a functional display portion associated with the elevator car based at least in part on the special operation mode; and causing content to be displayed on the non-functional display portion and the functional display portion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate examples of the present invention and together with the description help explain the principles of the present invention. In the drawings:
[0025] Figure 1 A flow chart of a method according to an example embodiment is shown.
[0026] Figure 2 A block diagram of an apparatus according to an example embodiment is shown.
[0027] Figure 3A A system according to an example embodiment is shown.
[0028] Figure 3B A system according to another example embodiment is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] The various examples and embodiments discussed below illustrate a solution in which a non-functional display portion associated with an elevator car and a functional display portion associated with the elevator car can be used to provide additional information in a fire situation and / or evacuation situation. The functional display portion can also enable passengers (e.g., firefighters) to control the elevator car in a special operating mode.
[0030] Figure 1 A flow chart of a method according to an example embodiment is shown. An example embodiment may provide a solution for providing operation mode related information in an elevator system including an elevator car. The method may be implemented, for example, by a device such as an elevator controller or an elevator group controller or some other controller of the elevator system.
[0031] At 100, it may be determined that the elevator system is operating in a special operating mode, the special operating mode including a fire alarm mode and / or an evacuation mode. For example, the special operating mode may be determined in response to a signal indicating a fire alarm condition or an evacuation mode condition.
[0032] At 102, content to be displayed on a non-functional display portion associated with the elevator car and on a functional display portion associated with the elevator car may be determined based at least in part on the special operating mode. The information displayed on the non-functional display portion may be informational and / or status information by its nature, i.e., information that does not require any selection to be made. The information displayed on the functional display portion may be information from which a user in the elevator car can make selections and / or floor calls, i.e., the functional display portion may provide selectable information. In an example embodiment, the non-functional display portion may include a non-touch-sensitive display portion, and the functional display portion may include a touch-sensitive display portion. In an example embodiment, the non-functional display portion and the functional display portion may be part of a single display. In another example embodiment, the non-functional display portion and the functional display portion may be implemented as separate displays. In an example embodiment, the non-functional display portion may be a car display, and the functional display portion may be a touch-sensitive display.
[0033] At 104, content may be caused to be displayed on the non-functional display portion and the functional display portion. This enables a solution in which information and selection possibilities may be dynamically presented on the non-functional display portion and the functional display portion based at least in part on a particular mode of operation. For example, in the case of a fire alarm when evacuation is not required, the information may be different than in the case where evacuation is still required. Furthermore, the information provided by the non-functional display portion and the functional display portion may change dynamically during a fire alarm mode and / or an evacuation mode.
[0034] In an exemplary embodiment, the elevator car may additionally include a car call button. At least one of the car call buttons may be configured to flash at a flashing frequency to indicate a floor call associated with the car call button, the flashing frequency indicating the priority of the floor call. This enables passengers (e.g., firefighters) to visually indicate which floor call has the highest priority. For example, the car call button with the highest flashing frequency may indicate the first issued floor call, i.e., the floor call that has been active for the longest time. In another example, the flashing frequency may indicate the priority order of the floor calls received by the elevator group controller. Since the elevator group controller is able to see the overall situation associated with multiple elevators, it can use this information when determining the priority of the floor calls. In another example, instead of using a flashing car call button, a car call button may be made to apply a specific brightness level to indicate the floor call associated with the car call button. The brightness level associated with the car call button then indicates the priority of the floor call. For example, a higher brightness level of a car call button may indicate a higher priority than a lower brightness level of a car call button.
[0035] In an exemplary embodiment, the content displayed on the non-functional display portion may include at least one of the following: fire detector status; active alarm; evacuation area; fire service entrance level; evacuation exit floor; designated landing; the status of the power supply; active floor call; the active period of the active floor call; and the number of people waiting in at least one floor. In other words, the information displayed on the car display can be informational or status information by its nature. In an exemplary embodiment, the car display can be configured to display information determined by the elevator controller or elevator group controller using machine learning. For example, machine learning can be used to determine what information should be displayed on the car display and in what order based on the available information related to the fire and / or evacuation situation and the information available to the elevator controller or elevator group controller.
[0036] In an exemplary embodiment, the content displayed on the function display portion may include at least one of the following: a selection possibility of driving the elevator car to a floor proposed by the elevator group controller; a selection possibility of making a car call to a floor included in the evacuation area; a selection possibility of making a car call to a floor from which a floor call has been received; a selection possibility of making a car call to a floor from which a passenger has been detected; a selection possibility of making a car call to a floor from which the elevator door can be opened; a selection possibility of making a car call to a first service entrance floor; and a selection possibility of making a car call to an evacuation exit floor. In other words, the touch-sensitive display may be configured to display information from which a user can select. In an exemplary embodiment, the touch-sensitive display may be configured to display selection possibilities that have been determined by an elevator controller or an elevator group controller using machine learning. For example, machine learning may be used to determine what information and selection possibilities should be displayed on the touch-sensitive display and in what order based on available information related to the fire and / or evacuation situation and information available to the elevator controller or the elevator group controller.
[0037] Figure 2 A block diagram of a device 200 according to an example solution is shown. The device 200 may include, for example, elevator controller or elevator group controller functionality. The device 200 includes one or more processors 202, and one or more memories 204 including computer program code 206, and / or a communication interface 208 for wired and / or wireless communication. Although the device 200 is depicted as including only one processor 202, the device 200 may include more than one processor. In an example embodiment, the memory 204 is capable of storing instructions, such as an operating system and / or various applications.
[0038] In addition, the processor 202 is capable of executing stored instructions. In an example embodiment, the processor 202 may be embodied as a multi-core processor, a single-core processor, or a combination of one or more multi-core processors and one or more single-core processors. For example, the processor 202 may be embodied as one or more of a variety of processing devices, such as a coprocessor, a microprocessor, a controller, a digital signal processor (DSP), a processing circuit with or without an accompanying DSP, or a variety of other processing devices, including integrated circuits, such as, for example, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a microcontroller unit (MCU), a hardware accelerator, a dedicated computer chip, etc. In an example embodiment, the processor 202 may be configured to perform hard-coded functions. In an example embodiment, the processor 202 may be embodied as an executor of software instructions, wherein the instructions may specifically configure the processor 202 to perform the algorithms and / or operations described herein when executing the instructions, for example, with respect to Figure 1 Steps for discussion.
[0039] The memory 204 may be embodied as one or more volatile memory devices, one or more non-volatile memory devices, and / or a combination of one or more volatile memory devices and non-volatile memory devices. For example, the memory 204 may be embodied as a semiconductor memory (such as a mask ROM, a PROM (programmable ROM), an EPROM (erasable PROM), a flash ROM, a RAM (random access memory), etc.).
[0040] At least one memory 204 may store program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor 202, cause the device 200 to perform the functions of the various embodiments discussed herein. Furthermore, in an embodiment, at least one of the processor 202 and the memory 204 may constitute a means for implementing the functions discussed. For example, the device 200 may be configured to determine that the elevator system is operating in a special operating mode, the special operating mode including a fire alarm mode and / or an evacuation mode, determine content to be displayed on a non-functional display portion associated with the elevator car and a functional display portion associated with the elevator car based at least in part on the special operating mode, and cause the content to be displayed on the non-functional display portion and the functional display portion. The computer program may include instructions that, when executed by at least one processor 202, cause the device 200 to perform any of the methods described above. Furthermore, a computer-readable medium may include a computer program.
[0041] Figure 3A A system according to an example embodiment is shown. The system includes an elevator car 300 of an elevator system. The elevator car 300 includes a non-functional display portion 302 (e.g., a car display) and a functional display portion 304 (e.g., a touch-sensitive display 304). The system also includes a device 200 communicatively connected to the non-functional display portion 302 and the functional display portion 304. The device 200 can be configured to determine that the elevator system is operating in a special operating mode, the special operating mode including a fire alarm mode and / or an evacuation mode, determine content to be displayed on the non-functional display portion 302 and the functional display portion 304 based at least in part on the special operating mode, and cause the content to be displayed on the non-functional display portion 302 and the functional display portion 304.
[0042] Figure 3B A system according to another example embodiment is shown. The system comprises an elevator car 300 of an elevator system. Figure 3B The system shown in Figure 3A The system shown in Figure 3BIn the example embodiment, the non-functional display portion 302 and the functional display portion 304 have been implemented using a single display. Both the non-functional display portion 302 and the functional display portion 304 may be touch-sensitive, but the touch-sensitive feature may be applied only to the functional display portion 304. In another example embodiment, a single display 306 may include the non-touch-sensitive display portion 302 and the touch-sensitive display portion 304 separately.
[0043] The examples discussed above may be implemented with software, hardware, application logic, or a combination of software, hardware, and application logic. Example devices may store information related to the various methods described herein. The information may be stored in one or more memories, such as a hard disk, a solid-state drive (SSD), an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a RAM, etc. One or more databases may store information for implementing the examples. The database may be organized using data structures (e.g., records, tables, arrays, fields, graphs, trees, lists, etc.) included in one or more memories or storage devices listed herein. The methods described with respect to the examples may include appropriate data structures for storing data collected and / or generated by the methods of the devices and subsystems of the examples in one or more databases.
[0044] The components of the examples may include computer-readable media or memory for storing instructions programmed according to the teachings and for storing data structures, tables, records and / or other data described herein. In the example, the application logic, software or instruction set is maintained on any of various conventional computer-readable media. In the context of this document, "computer-readable media" may be any medium or component that can contain, store, communicate, propagate or transmit instructions for use by an instruction execution system, device or equipment (such as a computer) or in combination with an instruction execution system, device or equipment (such as a computer). Computer-readable media may include computer-readable storage media, which may be any medium or component that can contain or store instructions used by an instruction execution system, device or equipment (such as a computer) or in combination with an instruction execution system, device or equipment (such as a computer). Computer-readable media may include any suitable medium that participates in providing instructions to a processor for execution. Such media may take many forms, including but not limited to non-volatile media, volatile media, transmission media, etc.
[0045] Although the basic novel features applied to the preferred examples thereof have been shown and described and pointed out, it should be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the described devices and methods may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. For example, all combinations of those elements and / or method steps that are explicitly intended to perform substantially the same function in substantially the same manner to achieve the same results are within the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, it should be recognized that the structures and / or elements and / or method steps shown and / or described in conjunction with any disclosed form or example can be incorporated into any other disclosed or described or suggested form as a general matter of design choice. In addition, in the claims, the device-plus-function clause is intended to cover the structure described herein as performing the function, and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.
[0046] Applicants hereby disclose separately each individual feature described herein and any combination of two or more such features, as long as these features or combinations can be performed based on the present specification as a whole according to the common knowledge of those skilled in the art, regardless of whether these features or combinations of features solve any problems disclosed herein, and do not limit the scope of the claims. Applicants point out that the disclosed aspects / embodiments may consist of any such individual features or combinations of features. In view of the foregoing description, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the scope of the present disclosure.
Claims
1. A method for providing operating mode related information in an elevator system including an elevator car (300), the method comprising: determining that the elevator system is operating in a special operation mode, the special operation mode comprising a fire alarm mode and / or an evacuation mode; determining content to be displayed on a non-functional display portion (302) associated with the elevator car (300) and a functional display portion associated with the elevator car (300) based at least in part on the special operating mode; as well as The content is displayed on the non-functional display portion (302) and the functional display portion (302).
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the elevator car (300) comprises a car call button (306), wherein the method further comprises: At least one of the car call buttons (306) is caused to flash at a flashing frequency to indicate a floor call associated with the car call button, the flashing frequency indicating a priority of the floor call.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the elevator car (300) comprises a car call button (306), wherein the method further comprises: At least one of the car call buttons (306) is caused to apply a specific brightness level to indicate a floor call associated with the car call button, the brightness level indicating a priority of the floor call.
4. The method of any one of claims 1-3, wherein determining that the elevator system is operating in a special operating mode comprises determining that the elevator system is operating in the special operating mode based at least in part on a signal indicating the fire alarm mode or the evacuation mode.
5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the content displayed on the non-functional display portion (302) comprises at least one of the following: Fire detector status; Activity alerts; Evacuation areas; Fire service entrance level; Evacuation exit floor; Specify the landing station; The status of the power supply; Event floor call; The activity period of the active floor call; as well as The number of people waiting on at least one floor.
6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the content displayed on the function display portion (304) includes at least one of the following: The possibility of driving the elevator car (300) to a floor selected by the elevator group controller; Option to make car calls to floors included in the evacuation zone; Option to make a car call to a floor from which a floor call has been received; Option to make a car call to the floor where a passenger has been detected; Option to make a car call to the floor with the elevator door open; Option to make a car call to the first service entrance floor; and Option to make a car call to the evacuation exit floor.
7. An apparatus (200) for providing information related to an operation mode in an elevator system including an elevator car (300), comprising: at least one processor (202); as well as at least one memory (204) storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor (200), cause the device (200) to at least: determining that the elevator system is operating in a special operation mode, the special operation mode comprising a fire alarm mode and / or an evacuation mode; determining content to be displayed on a non-functional display portion (302) associated with the elevator car (300) and a functional display portion (304) associated with the elevator car (300) based at least in part on the special operating mode; as well as The content is displayed on the non-functional display portion (302) and the functional display portion (304).
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the elevator car (300) comprises a car call button (306), and wherein the at least one memory (204) stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor (200), cause the apparatus (200) to at least: At least one of the car call buttons (306) is caused to flash at a flashing frequency to indicate a floor call associated with the car call button, the flashing frequency indicating a priority of the floor call.
9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the elevator car (300) comprises a car call button (306), wherein the at least one memory (204) stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor (200), cause the apparatus (200) to at least: At least one of the car call buttons (306) is caused to apply a specific brightness level to indicate a floor call associated with the car call button, the brightness level indicating a priority of the floor call.
10. The apparatus of any one of claims 7-9, wherein determining that the elevator system is operating in a special operating mode comprises determining that the elevator system is operating in the special operating mode based at least in part on a signal indicative of the fire alarm mode or the evacuation mode.
11. The device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the content displayed on the non-functional display portion (302) comprises at least one of the following: Fire detector status; Activity alerts; Evacuation areas; Fire service entrance level; Evacuation exit floor; Specify the landing station; The status of the power supply; Event floor call; The activity period of the active floor call; as well as The number of people waiting on at least one floor.
12. The device according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the content displayed on the function display portion (304) comprises at least one of the following: The possibility of driving the elevator car (300) to a floor selected by the elevator group controller; Option to make car calls to floors included in the evacuation zone; Option to make a car call to a floor from which a floor call has been received; Option to make a car call to the floor where a passenger has been detected; Option to make a car call to the floor with the elevator door open; Option to make a car call to the first service entrance floor; and Option to make a car call to the evacuation exit floor.
13. The device according to any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein: The non-functional display portion (302) comprises a car display, and the functional display portion (304) comprises a touch-sensitive display; or The non-functional display portion (302) includes a first portion of the display, and the functional display portion (304) includes a second portion of the display.
14. An elevator system, comprising: An elevator car (300) comprising at least one display configured to provide a non-functional display portion (302) and a functional display portion (304); and The device (200) according to any one of claims 7 to 13.
15. A computer program comprising instructions which, when said program is executed by at least one processor, cause a device (200) to perform a method according to any one of claims 1-6.