Elevator system

Abstract

This elevator system is provided with: a monitoring device which is provided in a car and monitors the operating state of an elevator; and a communication device that is connected to the monitoring device and wirelessly communicates with a base station. The monitoring device is configured to perform a radio wave inspection for inspecting the intensity of the radio waves received by the communication device when the car stops at the floor, and detect the floor where the intensity of the radio waves satisfies a reference and the floor where the intensity of the radio waves does not satisfy the reference. The monitoring device resets the communication device when performing radio wave inspection.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an elevator system. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the existing elevator monitoring system disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, the monitoring device is configured to, each time a request signal from the center device is received, store the position of the car of the elevator device at the timing at which the request signal is received as a specific car position, in a case where a report signal cannot be transmitted to the center device, select a retry car position from among the plurality of stored specific car positions, control the control device so that the car is positioned at the retry car position, and transmit the report signal to the center device again in a state where the car is positioned at the retry car position.

[0003] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0004] PATENT DOCUMENT

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-202922 SUMMARY

[0006] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0007] Sometimes a monitoring device that monitors an elevator is provided above a car. In this case, communication is performed by a communication device connected to the monitoring device, but there is a problem that a floor where the radio wave condition is poor cannot be detected.

[0008] The present disclosure was made in order to solve the above-described problem. An object of the present disclosure is to provide an elevator system capable of detecting a floor where the radio wave condition is poor.

[0009] MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0010] The elevator system of the present disclosure has a monitoring device provided to a car and monitoring the operation state of an elevator, and a communication device connected to the monitoring device and performing wireless communication with a base station, wherein the monitoring device is configured to, when the car stops at a floor, perform radio wave checking to check the strength of the radio wave received by the communication device, and detect a floor where the strength of the radio wave satisfies a reference and a floor where the strength of the radio wave does not satisfy the reference.

[0011] EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

[0012] According to the present disclosure, an elevator system capable of detecting a floor where the radio wave condition is poor can be provided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 is a diagram showing an elevator system of Embodiment 1.

[0014] Figure 2is a block diagram showing the structure of an elevator system.

[0015] Figure 3 is a block diagram of a monitoring device.

[0016] Figure 4 is a radio wave reception status management table stored in a storage device of a monitoring device.

[0017] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of Embodiment 1.

[0018] Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example of the structure that realizes the functions of the control device and the center device in Embodiment 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. Common or corresponding elements in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description will be simplified or omitted. The structure shown in the embodiments shown below shows an example of the technical idea of the present disclosure, can be combined with other known technologies, and can also combine multiple technical ideas described in the present disclosure. In addition, a part of the structure can also be omitted or changed within the scope of the main idea of the present disclosure.

[0020] Embodiment 1

[0021] Figure 1 is a diagram showing an elevator system 1 of Embodiment 1. As shown in Figure 1 , an elevator 3 is provided in a building 2. A car 4 of the elevator 3 is provided to move up and down in a shaft 12 by a hoisting machine not shown. The shaft 12 penetrates each floor of the building 2. In Figure 1 , the floors are 1st to 3rd floors.

[0022] The elevator system 1 of the present embodiment has a monitoring device 5 provided to the car 4 to monitor the operation state of the elevator 3. The monitoring device 5 is provided, for example, above the car 4.

[0023] A control device 6 controls the operation of the car 4. The monitoring device 5 can also not be connected to the control device 6. Since the monitoring device 5 can also not be connected to the control device 6, the monitoring device 5 can monitor the elevator 3 manufactured by another company.

[0024] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the elevator system 1. A modem 7 of, for example, 4G is connected to the monitoring device 5. The modem 7 is an example of a communication device that performs wireless communication with a base station 9 of a communication network 8. The monitoring device 5 is connected to a center device 10 that is a server via the modem 7, the base station 9, and the communication network 8. The center device 10 is provided in a monitoring center 11 located in a building different from the building 2.

[0025] Figure 3 is a block diagram of the monitoring device 5. As shown in Figure 3 the monitoring device 5 has a CPU 5a, a RAM 5b as a storage device, a ROM 5c as a storage device, a wireless communication section 5d, a display section 5e, an operation section 5f, and an acceleration sensor 5g.

[0026] The monitoring device 5 detects a failure of the elevator 3 using the acceleration sensor 5g. For example, in a case where the acceleration sensor 5g detects that the car 4 is emergency stopped, the monitoring device 5 detects a failure of the elevator 3. Further, in a case where the car 4 does not depart when the door of the car 4 is detected to be closed by a door sensor, the monitoring device 5 detects a failure of the elevator 3.

[0027] The monitoring device 5 can detect which floor the car 4 is located at by the acceleration sensor 5g. For example, in a case where the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor 5g is inverted upward and downward, it can be detected that the car 4 is located at the uppermost floor or the lowermost floor. Further, the monitoring device 5 can detect how many floors the building is by counting the number of times of stopping at an intermediate floor. Also, the monitoring device 5 can detect how many floors it is located at by detecting the distance moved from the uppermost floor or the lowermost floor using the acceleration sensor 5g.

[0028] The monitoring device 5 performs a radio wave check of checking the strength of the radio wave received by the modem 7 when the car 4 stops at a floor, detects a floor where the strength of the radio wave satisfies a criterion and a floor where the strength of the radio wave does not satisfy the criterion. Thereby, the monitoring device 5 can report to the center device 10 when moving to a floor where the radio wave condition is good. Further, by automatically reporting to the center device 10 the information of the floor where the radio wave condition is not good, it is possible to grasp in advance the risk that the elevator 3 cannot report in a case where a failure occurs at the floor where the radio wave condition is not good.

[0029] The monitoring device 5 omits the radio wave check in a case where the radio wave check is performed at the same floor within a certain time. Thereby, it is possible to avoid unnecessarily frequently performing the radio wave check.

[0030] The monitoring device 5 resets the power supply of the modem 7 when performing the radio wave check. Thereby, the modem 7 re-performs the position registration and the like, and thus it is possible to more accurately detect the radio wave condition of the floor.

[0031] In a case where the car 4 moves before the radio wave check is completed, the monitoring device 5 is set to be processed without performing the radio wave check. Thereby, it is possible to re-perform the radio wave check when stopping at the floor next time.

[0032] If the monitoring device 5 detects a floor where the radio wave strength does not meet the reference standard, it will notify the user of the detected floor when docking at another floor. If this notification is unsuccessful, it will repeat the notification when docking at yet another floor. This ensures reliable notification.

[0033] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing the radio wave reception status management table stored in the storage device of monitoring device 5. (Example) Figure 4 As shown, the storage device of the monitoring device 5 can store the date and time of radio wave reception failure and the date and time of radio wave reception success for each floor.

[0034] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation in Implementation Method 1. Figure 5 In step S1, the monitoring device 5 determines whether the car 4 has stopped at a floor. If the car 4 has stopped at a floor, it determines whether the date and time of successful radio wave reception at that floor is within a certain date and time. If the date and time of successful radio wave reception at that floor is within a certain date and time, it is considered that no radio wave check is needed, and therefore, the process proceeds to step S8. If the date and time of successful radio wave reception at that floor is not within a certain date and time, the process proceeds to step S3, and the monitoring device 5 begins the radio wave check. Next, it determines whether the car 4 has moved during the radio wave check. If the car 4 has moved, the process in this flowchart ends. If the car 4 has not moved during the radio wave check, it determines whether the radio wave strength meets the benchmark (step S5).

[0035] If the radio wave strength does not meet the reference, the monitoring device 5 records the history of radio wave reception failure (step S6), ending the processing of this flowchart. Conversely, if the radio wave strength meets the reference, the monitoring device 5 records the history of successful radio wave reception (step S7). Next, the monitoring device 5 determines whether there is a history of radio wave reception failure (step S8). If there is a history of radio wave reception failure, the monitoring device 5 reports the existence of the history of radio wave reception failure along with the floor information to the central device 10 (step S9). The monitoring device 5 determines whether the report is successful (step S10), and if the report is successful, deletes the history of radio wave reception failure (step S11).

[0036] As explained above, according to this embodiment, floors with poor radio wave conditions can be detected, and when moving to a floor with good radio wave conditions, a notification is sent to the central device 10. Furthermore, by automatically notifying the central device 10 of floors with poor radio wave conditions, the risk of the elevator 3 failing to send a notification in case of a malfunction at a floor with poor radio wave conditions can be anticipated.

[0037] In a case where the monitoring device 5 is able to communicate with the control device 6, the car 4 can also be caused to move to a floor where the electric wave condition is good at the time when the monitoring device 5 collects data. Thereby, it is possible to more reliably prevent the reception failure of the electric wave at the time when the monitoring device 5 collects data.

[0038] Figure 6 is a drawing showing an example of a structure that realizes the functions of the control device 6 and the center device 10 in Embodiment 1. Each function of the control device 6 and the center device 10 is realized by, for example, a processing circuit. The processing circuit can also be a dedicated hardware 600. The processing circuit can also have a processor 601 and a memory 602. It can also be that a part of the processing circuit is formed as the dedicated hardware 600, and the processing circuit also has the processor 601 and the memory 602. In Figure 6 In the example shown, a part of the processing circuit is formed as the dedicated hardware 600. Further, in Figure 6 In the example shown, the processing circuit has the processor 601 and the memory 602 in addition to the dedicated hardware 600.

[0039] A part of the processing circuit that is at least one dedicated hardware 600 is, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0040] In a case where the processing circuit has at least one processor 601 and at least one memory 602, the functions of each part of the control device 6 and the center device 10 are realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware.

[0041] The software and the firmware are described in the form of a program, and stored in the memory 602. The processor 601 reads out and executes the program stored in the memory 602, thereby realizing the functions of each part. The processor 601 is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a central processing device, a processing device, an arithmetic device, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP. The memory 602 is, for example, a nonvolatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, an EPROM, and an EEPROM, or a magnetic disk, a floppy disk, an optical disk, a high-density disk, a mini disk, and a DVD.

[0042] Thus, the processing circuit can realize the functions of the control device 6 and the center device 10 by hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. In addition, each function of the control device 6 and the center device 10 can be realized by a plurality of devices in cooperation, or by a single device. Further, at least a part of each function of the control device 6 and the center device 10 can also be installed on a server or the like on an external network.

[0043] Explanation of Reference Signs

[0044] 1: elevator system; 2: building; 3: elevator; 4: car; 5: monitoring device; 5a: CPU; 5b: RAM; 5c: ROM; 5d: wireless communication section; 5e: display section; 5f: operation section; 5g: acceleration sensor; 6: control device; 7: modem; 8: communication network; 9: base station; 10: center device; 11: monitoring center; 12: hoistway; 600: dedicated hardware; 601: processor; 602: memory.

Claims

1. An elevator system, the elevator system having: A monitoring device, installed in the elevator car, monitors the elevator's operating status; and A communication device, which is connected to the monitoring device, communicates wirelessly with the base station. in, The monitoring device is configured to perform a radio wave check when the car stops at a floor, checking the strength of the radio waves received by the communication device, and detecting floors where the radio wave strength meets the benchmark and floors where the radio wave strength does not meet the benchmark.

2. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein, The monitoring device resets the communication device during the radio wave inspection.

3. The elevator system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, If the car moves before the radio wave check is completed, the monitoring device is set to not perform the radio wave check.

4. The elevator system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, When the monitoring device detects a floor where the intensity of the radio waves does not meet the benchmark, it shall report the situation when it stops at other floors.

5. The elevator system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The monitoring device has an acceleration sensor, which is used to detect which floor the car is on.

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