METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ELEVATOR SYSTEM USING A COMPUTER-CONTROLLED MOBILE DEVICE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for controlling an elevator system using a computer-controlled mobile device. Furthermore, the invention relates to an evaluation unit designed to implement the proposed method, an elevator system, a computer program product, and a computer-readable medium comprising such a computer program product.

[0002] Elevators are used to transport people or goods between different floors, or levels, of a building or structure. Before an elevator is put into operation, it is usually necessary to adjust the respective stopping positions of an elevator car at each floor using an elevator control system so that a door threshold of the elevator car is as flush as possible with a door or floor threshold of the respective floor at each stopping position.

[0003] To measure the individual height deviations between the elevator car door threshold and the door or floor thresholds of the floors, a technician typically drives the elevator car from floor to floor, manually measuring and recording the individual height deviations. After measuring all floors, the technician manually enters the recorded measurements into the elevator control system.

[0004] It is known to record measured values ​​relating to an elevator system using a mobile device, such as a smartphone, or to display or set configuration data for configuring an elevator system using a mobile device.

[0005] WO 2018 / 050470 A1, for example, describes a method in which measured values ​​can be recorded via a sensor integrated into a mobile device as soon as it is detected that the mobile device is located near a shaft door of an elevator system. The measured values ​​can be transmitted to a central evaluation unit, such as a server, for analysis.

[0006] WO 2017 / 064191 A1 discloses an approach according to which position data of car stop positions of an elevator system can be displayed on a mobile device and changed through corresponding user inputs. The car stop positions can be measured using position measuring devices of the elevator system. The changed position data can then be transmitted to a configuration unit of the elevator system. JP2005 089046 A and JP 2010 189162 A disclose methods for controlling elevator systems according to the prior art.

[0007] Until now, measuring and setting the individual stop positions during commissioning of an elevator system has been a relatively complex and error-prone process, requiring well-trained personnel and a very careful approach. In particular, when manually recording and recording the measured values, reading errors or careless errors can hardly be avoided with sufficient reliability, so an additional control run is usually required to verify the stop positions set based on the measured values.

[0008] There may be a need, among other things, for a method for controlling an elevator system using a computer-controlled mobile device, in which the setting of stopping positions of an elevator car can be carried out in a simplified, faster, more cost-effective manner, and / or with a reduced risk of errors. Furthermore, there may be a need for a correspondingly configured evaluation unit and an elevator system communicating with such an evaluation unit, as well as for a computer program product configured to carry out the method and a computer-readable medium provided therewith.

[0009] Such a need can be met by the subject matter according to one of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims and the following description.

[0010] A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for controlling an elevator system using a computer-controlled mobile device. The elevator system can have an elevator shaft with a plurality of shaft thresholds, each assigned to a floor, an elevator car movable along the elevator shaft with a car threshold, and a control unit for moving the elevator car. The mobile device can have an evaluation unit designed to communicate with the control unit. The method comprises at least the following steps, preferably in the specified order. In a first step, information generated using at least one component of the mobile device as a result of a height deviation between the car threshold and a current shaft threshold located opposite the car threshold is received in the evaluation unit.In a second step, the information is evaluated and control information is generated to move the elevator car. Finally, in a third step, the control information is sent to the control unit to move the elevator car in such a way that the height deviation between the car threshold and the current shaft threshold is minimized.

[0011] A second aspect of the invention relates to an evaluation unit which is designed to carry out and / or control a method according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention.

[0012] A third aspect of the invention relates to an elevator system comprising an elevator shaft with a plurality of shaft thresholds, each assigned to a floor, an elevator car movable along the elevator shaft with a car threshold, and a control unit for moving the elevator car. The control unit is designed to communicate with an evaluation unit according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention.

[0013] A fourth aspect of the invention relates to a computer program product with computer-readable instructions which, when executed on a computer-controlled mobile device, instruct the device to carry out a method according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention.

[0014] A fifth aspect of the invention relates to a computer-readable medium on which a computer program product according to an embodiment of the fourth aspect of the invention is stored.

[0015] Possible features and advantages of embodiments of the invention may be considered, among other things and without limiting the invention, to be based on ideas and findings described below.

[0016] As mentioned in the introduction, the height adjustment of an elevator car relative to the door openings of individual floors has so far been predominantly manual, which can be associated with a corresponding susceptibility to errors. In particular, the processes of applying a tape measure, reading measurements, recording the measurements, and finally entering the measurements into the elevator control system by a technician can lead to inaccuracies or errors that may require a subsequent check of the individual stopping positions of the elevator car and, if necessary, a new height adjustment with subsequent check. For example, it can happen that measured values ​​are accidentally swapped and assigned to the wrong floor.

[0017] Elevator controllers usually have an integrated human-machine interface (HMI), which the technician can use to enter or change configuration data. The human-machine interface typically features a display and a few input buttons for operating the elevator controller. Depending on the design of the human-machine interface, manually entering measured values ​​into the elevator controller can be cumbersome and therefore prone to errors. Therefore, appropriate training for the technician is usually required to ensure correct operation.

[0018] The entire process of height adjustment can therefore be very complex and time-consuming.

[0019] In summary, the approach presented here proposes to carry out the (fine) adjustment of individual stopping positions of an elevator car using a computer-controlled mobile device, in particular a smartphone, tablet or laptop.

[0020] A mobile device can generally be understood as a portable electronic device that can be easily carried by a technician. The mobile device can run an application specifically programmed for the (fine) adjustment of the stopping positions, also known as an app for short. Using this application and using wired and / or wireless data communication options typically available to a modern computer-controlled mobile device, the mobile device can be specifically configured to exchange data with a control unit controlling the elevator system. For example, the application can be programmed to send control commands for moving the elevator car to the control unit, so that the mobile device practically functions as a kind of remote control for the control unit.This means that the (fine) adjustment of the holding positions can be carried out without prior manual entry of correction values ​​into the control unit, which saves time and eliminates potential sources of error.

[0021] Furthermore, modern mobile devices are often equipped with sensors for measuring various physical quantities. These sensors can be used to advantage to measure, at least largely automatically, measured values ​​that were previously predominantly measured, read, and entered manually, and to transmit them to the control unit using the aforementioned data communication options. This eliminates the need for manual measurement of the height deviations between the car threshold and the shaft threshold, or more precisely, the (possibly repeated) reading, recording, and entering of individual measured values.

[0022] In other words, the entire process of adjusting the height of an elevator car, or more precisely the (fine) adjustment of the car threshold relative to the respective shaft thresholds of the individual floors, can be significantly accelerated, simplified, and made more convenient using the approach presented here. In particular, reading and input errors can be avoided through the direct data transmission between the mobile device and the control unit. This means that in most cases, additional learning or control runs, as have been common practice up to now, can be dispensed with. The approach presented here can also eliminate the potentially complicated handling of a control unit's user interface and thus also the corresponding training of technicians in cases where data required for the (fine) adjustment of the height position of the elevator car is sent directly from the mobile device to the control unit.

[0023] A car threshold can be understood as a threshold of the elevator car, in particular a door threshold of a car door. A shaft threshold can be understood as a threshold of the elevator shaft associated with a floor, in particular a door threshold of a shaft door. More generally, the shaft threshold can also be understood as the floor edge of a shaft opening through which the elevator car is accessible from a floor.

[0024] A control unit can be understood as a module with multiple electrical and / or electronic components for controlling various actuators of the elevator system, in particular, for example, a drive for moving the elevator car. The control unit can be designed to communicate with the mobile device via a wired and / or wireless data communication connection, such as a cellular, WLAN, or Bluetooth connection.

[0025] An evaluation unit can be understood as an electronic module integrated into the mobile device that is configured to execute a computer-controlled application for controlling the elevator system. The evaluation unit can be designed analogously to the control unit in order to communicate directly with the control unit via the wired and / or wireless data communication connection. Alternatively, data communication with the control unit can take place via a communication component of the mobile device that is arranged separately from the evaluation unit, whereby the evaluation unit can send the control information to the control unit via the communication component.

[0026] Information generated using at least one component of the mobile device can, for example, be information generated as a result of user input, such as by touching a touch-sensitive screen of the mobile device, or by one or more integrated sensors of the mobile device. The user input can, for example, arise from a technician determining the height deviation between the car threshold and the current shaft threshold and, as a result of this determination, making a corresponding input in an application running on the mobile device, whereby corresponding information is generated and received in the evaluation unit. Specifically, the input can be a control command for moving the elevator car or a height deviation value measured by the technician.An integrated sensor can, for example, be an inclination sensor for measuring the inclination of the mobile device or an altitude sensor for measuring the height of the mobile device. The integrated sensor can, for example, be used to measure the altitude deviation and generate corresponding information, which is then received in the evaluation unit.

[0027] A height deviation can be understood as a vertical offset, i.e. an offset in a travel direction of the elevator car, between the car threshold and the current shaft threshold. In other words, the car threshold can be lowered or raised relative to the current shaft threshold when the elevator car is in a stop position, depending on the height deviation, so that a corresponding step is formed which can be an obstacle when entering or leaving the elevator car. By generating and sending corresponding control information, the elevator car can now be moved until the step disappears, i.e. until the car threshold and the current shaft threshold are approximately at the same height and thus form an almost stepless transition. Depending on the requirements, this adjustment can, for example, be carried out with an accuracy in the single-digit millimeter range and is therefore referred to as fine adjustment.

[0028] The control information may, for example, comprise one or more control commands generated based on a user input for controlling the control unit and / or sensor data generated by one or more sensors of the mobile device and / or data obtained by further processing this sensor data.

[0029] As already mentioned, the mobile device can have an inclination sensor. According to one embodiment, the information can comprise sensor data generated by the inclination sensor in a position of the mobile device in which the mobile device rests on the car threshold on the one hand and the current shaft threshold on the other, and thus has an inclination angle dependent on the height deviation between the car threshold and the current shaft threshold. The control information can comprise height deviation information determined based on the sensor data.

[0030] For example, the mobile device can be placed lengthwise or crosswise, or in another specified orientation, across a gap between the car threshold and the current shaft threshold in order to measure the angle of inclination using the inclination sensor. To measure the angle of inclination, a very precise orientation of the mobile device relative to the car threshold and the current shaft threshold can be specified. In particular, the orientation can be specified depending on the type of mobile device, i.e., its dimensions and shape. This ensures that the measurement of the angle of inclination is carried out under virtually identical measurement conditions on every floor.

[0031] The inclination angle can be measured with the mobile device in a stationary and / or changing position. The position of the mobile device can change during the inclination angle measurement, for example, if the elevator car is moved according to the height deviation while the mobile device rests on the car threshold and the current shaft threshold. The height deviation can thus be minimized in a closed control loop, in which the change in the height deviation is continuously fed back to the control unit.

[0032] The height deviation information can, for example, be a length value calculated from the sensor data, which indicates the vertical offset between the car threshold and the current shaft threshold. However, it is also possible for the height deviation information to include the sensor data itself or values ​​regarding the height deviation manually entered into the application by a user. The length value can be a measurement, for example, with the unit millimeters, or a ratio. Alternatively or additionally, the height deviation information can indicate a change in the length value calculated from the sensor data when the elevator car moves. For example, the height deviation information can indicate in this case whether the length value increases or decreases when the elevator car moves. It is also possible for the height deviation information to simply indicate whether the height deviation is positive or negative, i.e.whether the car threshold is above or below the current shaft threshold.

[0033] A particularly advantageous feature of this design is that it eliminates the need for a technician to manually record measured values, allowing access to sensor data, which can often be provided at no additional cost by an existing inclination sensor, especially when using a smartphone. Because the mobile device can be used as a measuring device without significant hardware modifications, no additional measuring devices, such as those that are part of the elevator system, are required for (fine) adjustment of the stop positions.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the height deviation information can indicate a first direction and / or a second direction. In this case, the control unit can be configured to move the elevator car in the first direction and / or the second direction depending on the height deviation information. The first and the second direction can be opposite to each other. For example, the control unit can be configured to move the elevator car in the first direction if the height deviation information indicates the second direction, i.e., for example, to raise the elevator car if the height deviation information indicates that the car threshold is below the current shaft threshold. Additionally or alternatively, the control unit can be configured to move the elevator car in the second direction if the height deviation information indicates the first direction, i.e.For example, lowering the elevator car if the height deviation information indicates that the car threshold is above the current shaft threshold. This allows the elevator system to be controlled in a direction-based manner to minimize the height deviation. This has the advantage of avoiding uncertainties associated with the most precise positioning of the mobile device relative to the car and shaft threshold, such as those that can occur when measuring absolute values ​​of the inclination angle.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the sensor data can be evaluated together with a predetermined target value range with respect to the angle of inclination.

[0036] An abort command can be generated and sent to the control unit to abort the process if the inclination angle lies within the specified setpoint range. The setpoint range can be selected so that the car threshold is approximately flush with the current shaft threshold after the elevator car has been adjusted, provided the inclination angle lies within the setpoint range. Depending on requirements, the setpoint range can, for example, include values ​​from 0 to 2 degrees. The setpoint range can also be selected so that the height deviation after the elevator car has been adjusted is a maximum of 2 mm, 5 mm, or 10 mm. This allows the process to be terminated automatically once the elevator car has been adjusted with sufficient accuracy.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the information can comprise a user input in an application executed by the mobile device for controlling the elevator system. The control information can comprise a control command to the control unit based on the user input. As already mentioned, the user input can, for example, be a touch of an operating section of a touch-sensitive screen of the mobile device or, alternatively or additionally, an actuation of a physical control button of the mobile device. The application can be configured to convert the user input into a corresponding control command readable by the control unit of the elevator system. The application can be written in any programming language and programmed with appropriate interfaces, for example in the form of control surfaces and / or input fields.The control command can, for example, specify a movement of the elevator car. Alternatively or additionally, the control command can also describe a height deviation value entered by the user, which can be used by the control unit to move the elevator car accordingly. This embodiment allows a technician to control the elevator system virtually anywhere, especially if the data communication between the mobile device and the control unit is wireless, as is usually the case with modern mobile devices.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the application can comprise a first interface for inputting an upward movement and / or a second interface for inputting a downward movement. A first control command can be generated to move the elevator car upwards if the input is made via the first interface, and / or a second control command can be generated to move the elevator car downwards if the input is made via the second interface. The interfaces can be designed, for example, as touch-sensitive control surfaces, also called buttons. The control surfaces can, for example, be arranged separately from one another and / or be visually differentiated from one another. This can greatly simplify operation of the application, and thus the control of the elevator system, particularly compared to user interfaces of conventional elevator controls.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the control command can specify a travel path and / or a travel direction and / or a travel duration and / or a travel speed of the elevator car. This allows the elevator car to be moved very precisely, for example, at a particularly low speed, depending on the requirements.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the control information can include floor information relating to a floor assigned to the current shaft threshold. The floor information can, for example, encode a floor number such as "first floor" or "second floor." This allows the control information to be automatically assigned to a specific floor. This avoids confusion, which can occur when manually entering measured values ​​and floor information.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the mobile device can have an altitude sensor. The information can include further sensor data generated by the altitude sensor. The floor information can be generated based on the further sensor data. The altitude sensor can, for example, be a barometer or a GPS sensor of the mobile device. Accordingly, the further sensor data can be air pressure data or geographical position data, which can be used to determine the altitude of the mobile device and thus the height of the car or shaft threshold. Thus, the floor information can be generated without the use of additional sensors, such as permanently installed magnetic sensors and corresponding code bands, as can typically be used in an elevator system.

[0042] Embodiments of the described method can advantageously be carried out with an evaluation unit according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention.

[0043] Such an evaluation unit can be enabled to carry out embodiments of the described method with the aid of an application programmed specifically for this purpose according to an embodiment of the third aspect of the invention.

[0044] According to the fourth aspect of the invention, a computer program product can be configured, when executed on the computer-controlled mobile device, to instruct the mobile device to execute or control the steps to be performed by the mobile device within the scope of the method described here. In other words, the computer program product of the fourth aspect of the invention can be regarded as the application with which the mobile device is programmed to be able to perform its task in the described method. The computer program product can be programmed in any computer language.

[0045] The computer program product may be stored on any computer-readable medium. For example, the computer program product may be stored on a portable computer-readable medium such as a flash memory, a CD, a DVD, or the like. Alternatively, the computer program product may be stored on a fixed computer or server and downloaded from it, for example, via a network such as the Internet. In particular, the computer program product may be stored on computers that are part of a data cloud (cloud).

[0046] It should be noted that some of the possible features and advantages of the invention are described herein with reference to different embodiments of the control method, the evaluation unit configured to carry it out, and / or the elevator system communicating therewith. A person skilled in the art will recognize that the features can be combined, adapted, or exchanged as appropriate to achieve further embodiments of the invention.

[0047] Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein neither the drawings nor the description are to be interpreted as limiting the invention. Fig. 1 shows an elevator system and a computer-controlled mobile device for carrying out a method according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2shows an elevator system and a computer-controlled mobile device for carrying out a method according to a further embodiment of the invention. Fig. 3 shows a computer-controlled mobile device with an evaluation unit according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0048] The figures are merely schematic and not to scale.

[0049] Fig. 1shows an elevator installation 100 and a computer-controlled mobile device 102 for carrying out a method according to an embodiment of the invention. The elevator installation 100 comprises an elevator car 104, which is movable in an elevator shaft 106. The elevator shaft 106 is schematically indicated here by a wall with a shaft opening 108, which allows access to the elevator car 104, for example, from a floor of a building. In reality, the elevator shaft 106 can have a plurality of such shaft openings 108, depending on the number of floors of the building. The elevator car 104 is in a stop position relative to the shaft opening 108. In this case, a car threshold 110 of the elevator car 104 is slightly vertically offset from a shaft threshold 112 of the shaft opening 108, i.e., between the car threshold 110 and the shaft threshold 112 there is a height deviation 114, which is represented by a small step between the elevator car 104 and a floor 116 of the respective floor. In particular, the car threshold 110 and the shaft threshold 112 are each a door threshold. For example, in . Fig. 1 the car threshold 110 above the shaft threshold 112.

[0050] In the elevator car 104, there is a technician 118, such as a commissioning engineer, who travels from floor to floor to fine-tune the individual stopping positions of the elevator car 104 at the respective shaft openings 108. For this purpose, the technician 118 uses the mobile device 102, which in this example is his personal work smartphone. The mobile device 102 is designed to communicate with a control unit 120 of the elevator system 100. In particular, this communication takes place via a wireless data connection using mobile radio, WLAN and / or Bluetooth, as shown in Fig. 1 shown. A special application for controlling the elevator system 100 runs on the mobile device 102.

[0051] According to this exemplary embodiment, the application is configured with a first interface 122 and a second interface 124 for processing inputs from the technician 118. The two interfaces 122, 124 are designed here as separate touch-sensitive buttons that can be activated by touching a touch-sensitive screen 125 of the mobile device 102. The mobile device 102 is configured to generate a first control command 126 upon touching the button of the first interface 122 labeled "Up" and a second control command 128 upon touching the button of the second interface 124 labeled "Down." The control commands 126, 128 are sent wirelessly from the mobile device 102 to the control unit 120, which is designed to move the elevator car 104 upwards upon receiving the first control command 126 or downwards upon receiving the second control command 128.In this example, the technician 118 expediently presses the button of the second interface 124 to move the elevator car 104 downwards according to the height deviation 114 until the car threshold 110 is approximately level with the shaft threshold 112. The mobile device 102 or the application running on it thus functions as a type of remote control for the control unit 120.

[0052] Depending on the design of the application, the technician 118 can enter further information regarding the control of the elevator car 104 into the mobile device 102 in addition to the travel direction, in particular values ​​regarding a travel speed, a travel duration, or a travel path of the elevator car 104. These values ​​are sent to the control unit 120 in a similar way to the control commands 126, 128 and are further processed by the control unit 120 in a suitable manner to control the elevator car 104. Depending on the requirement for the accuracy with which the car threshold 110 is to be positioned relative to the shaft threshold 112 in the vertical direction, the technician 118 can, for example, move the elevator car 104 very slowly by making a corresponding input in the application in order to reduce the height deviation 114 to a target value range of a few millimeters, for example from 0 to a maximum of 2 mm.

[0053] Fig. 2shows the elevator system 100 and the computer-controlled mobile device 102 according to a further embodiment of the invention. The same situation is shown as in Fig. 1 , with the difference that in this case, a sensor system integrated into the mobile device 102 is used to detect the height deviation 114 or to control the elevator car 104. The detection of the height deviation 114 is therefore not carried out by the technician 118 himself, for example, by measuring the height deviation 114 or simply seeing it, but rather automatically by means of the mobile device 102 or the application running on it, specifically programmed for this purpose.

[0054] According to this exemplary embodiment, the mobile device 102 is designed to measure its inclination. This can advantageously be used to detect the height deviation 114. To do so, the technician 118 positions the mobile device 102 on the one hand on the car threshold 110 and on the other hand on the shaft threshold 112, so that the mobile device 102 has an inclination corresponding to the height deviation 114, which is measured by the sensors of the mobile device 102 as an inclination angle. Based on the inclination angle, the mobile device 102, or more precisely the application running thereon for controlling the control unit 120, calculates height deviation information 200 that indicates the height deviation 114. Depending on the embodiment, the height deviation information 200 includes an absolute value of the height deviation 114 or, alternatively or additionally, directional information that merely indicates a direction of the height deviation 114, for example, whether the car threshold 110, as in Fig. 2shown, positively, ie upwards relative to the shaft threshold 112, or negatively, ie downwards relative to the shaft threshold 112.

[0055] The mobile device 102 then sends the height deviation information 200 to the control unit 120, which is designed to evaluate the height deviation information 200 and to move the elevator car 104 up or down accordingly depending on the result of this evaluation. Fig. 2 The height deviation information 200 indicates the positive offset of the car threshold 110 relative to the shaft threshold 112. Accordingly, the control unit 120 moves the elevator car 104 downward in a direction opposite to this positive offset.

[0056] If, however, the height deviation information 200 includes an absolute length value calculated from the inclination angle with respect to the height deviation 114, this length value can be used by the control unit 120 to determine a corresponding travel path of the elevator car 104. In this case, the control unit 120 moves the elevator car 104 based on the height deviation information 200, for example, until the inclination angle measured by the mobile device 102 or the length value calculated from the inclination angle lies within a target value range that specifies the accuracy to be achieved during the fine adjustment of the elevator car 104.

[0057] When the setpoint range is reached, according to one embodiment, the mobile device 102 automatically sends an abort command 202 to the control unit 120 to terminate the method. For example, upon such an automatic abort of the method, the new stopping position of the elevator car 104 is automatically stored in the control unit 120.

[0058] It is also advantageous if the mobile device 102 additionally sends floor information 204 to the control unit 120, which informs the control unit 120 on which floor the elevator car 104 is currently located. Similar to the altitude deviation 114, the floor information 204 can also be determined using the sensors of the mobile device 102, for example, using an integrated barometer or an integrated GPS sensor. This enables, for example, an automatic assignment of the altitude deviation information 200 to the current floor.

[0059] Fig. 3shows the computer-controlled mobile device 102 with an evaluation unit 300, which is designed to carry out a method according to an embodiment of the invention. The evaluation unit 300 serves in particular to execute the application as described above with reference to the Figures 1 and 2 described.

[0060] According to this embodiment, the mobile device 102 comprises, on the one hand, an inclination sensor 302 for measuring the angle of inclination of the mobile device 102, and, on the other hand, an altitude sensor 304 for measuring a height of the mobile device 102. The inclination sensor 302 and the altitude sensor 304, the components of the Figures 1 and 2The sensors of the mobile device 102 mentioned above are each coupled to the evaluation unit 300, so that the inclination sensor 302 can send sensor data 306 relating to a measured inclination angle and the height sensor 304 can send further sensor data 308 relating to a measured height to the evaluation unit 300. The evaluation unit 300 is designed to generate the height deviation information 200 based on the sensor data 306 and send it to the control unit 120. It is also possible for the evaluation unit 300 to forward the sensor data 306 directly to the control unit 120 for further processing. Additionally or alternatively, the evaluation unit 300 is designed to generate the floor information 204 based on the further sensor data 308 and send it to the control unit 120.Here, too, it is conceivable that the evaluation unit 300 forwards only the further sensor data 308 to the control unit 120 instead of the floor information 204, so that the control unit 120 can determine the corresponding floor from the further sensor data 308.

[0061] In addition, the evaluation unit 300 is coupled to the touch-sensitive screen 125 via an input processing unit 310. The input processing unit 310 is designed to convert the inputs of the technician 118 into corresponding input data 312 that can be evaluated by the evaluation unit 300.

[0062] Based on these data 306, 308, 312, the evaluation unit 300 generates control information 314 suitable for processing by the control unit 120. Depending on the design, the control information 314 includes, as already described, for example, the control commands 126, 128, the abort command 202, the height deviation information 200, and / or the floor information 204. Additionally or alternatively, the control information 314 includes the sensor data 306, the further sensor data 308, and / or the input data 312 for external processing by the control unit 120.

[0063] Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of a method 400 according to an embodiment of the invention. The method 400 can be used, for example, with the elevator system 100 and the mobile device 102, as described in Figures 1 to 3 described.

[0064] The method 400 comprises a first step 410 in which information, such as the input information 112, the sensor data 306 and / or the further sensor data 308, i.e. information that was generated as a result of the height deviation 114 by means of one or more components of the mobile device 102, such as the screen 125, the inclination sensor 302 and / or the height sensor 304, is received in the evaluation unit 300.

[0065] Subsequently, in a second step 420, the evaluation unit 300 evaluates this information accordingly to generate the control information 314.

[0066] Finally, in a third step 430, the evaluation unit 300 sends the control information 314 to the control unit 120 so that the control unit 120 can move the elevator car 104 up or down accordingly using the control information 314 to minimize the height deviation 114.

[0067] In addition, and partly with a choice of words that differs from those used so far, possible properties, details and / or advantages of embodiments of the invention can be described as follows.

[0068] For the precise adjustment of a car floor encompassing the car threshold 110 during commissioning of the elevator system 100, a mobile phone with a corresponding application is used as the mobile device 102. The technician 118 travels with the elevator car 104 from floor to floor and places the mobile phone 102 over the car threshold 110, such as a door threshold of the elevator car 104, and a current shaft threshold 112, such as a door threshold of a current floor. Inclination sensors 302 in the mobile phone 102 then measure an inclination and calculate a deviation between a car position and a floor position. This deviation, together with a current floor position, is sent via a wireless communication connection such as WLAN or Bluetooth to an elevator controller in the form of the control unit 120, which adjusts the car position accordingly.

[0069] Alternatively or in addition to an automatic adjustment of the elevator car 104 by the control unit 120, the technician 118 can also tap a corresponding button in the picking application, for example, in the form of an up or down button, to correct the deviation between the car and floor position. The application sends this input information, previously also referred to as input data 312, together with the current floor position via the wireless communication connection to the control unit 120, which adjusts the car position according to the input information.

[0070] As already mentioned, technician 118 would typically have traveled from floor to floor with elevator car 104, measured the deviation between the car and floor positions with a tape measure, and recorded the measurements. After measuring all floors, he would have entered the recorded measurements into the elevator control system via a user interface. Under certain circumstances, a further verification trip would have been necessary.

[0071] In contrast, the approach presented here offers the advantage of eliminating the need for manual measurement and input of measured values ​​via a user interface. This prevents errors during measurement and input. Instead, the floor positions are stored in the application of the mobile phone 102 and are sent to the control unit 120 along with the sensor-detected measured values ​​of the deviation. The resulting adjustment of the car can be directly observed by the technician 118. This makes order picking significantly faster and less prone to errors.

[0072] InIn a first variant, the mobile phone 102 is placed on a transition between the thresholds of the car and the landing door in order to measure an inclination angle of the mobile phone 102 using the inclination sensor 302 integrated into the mobile phone 102. Based on the inclination angle, the height deviation 114 between the two thresholds 110, 112 is then calculated.

[0073] The calculated height deviation 114 is then transmitted to the control unit 120. The control unit 120 moves the elevator car 104 based on the height deviation 114, for example, until the mobile phone 102 is in a horizontal position, ie, an inclination angle of approximately 0 degrees is calculated.

[0074] In a second variant, the elevator car 104 is controlled by the application, more precisely by the technician 118, who, via a corresponding input in the application, specifies to the control unit 120 how far and in which direction the elevator car 104 should be moved so that the two thresholds 110, 112 are aligned. The mobile phone 102 communicates directly with the control unit 120, for example, via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Communication via a cloud is also conceivable.

[0075] It is also possible for the mobile phone 102 to independently determine a current floor position and transmit this height information, previously also referred to as floor information 204, to the control unit 120.

[0076] For example, the mobile phone 102 can also provide feedback automatically as soon as it is in the horizontal position, which means that the measurement is complete.

[0077] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as "having," "comprising," etc., do not exclude other elements or steps, and terms such as "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be considered as limitations.

Claims

1. Method (400) for controlling an elevator system (100) using a computer-controlled mobile device (102), wherein the elevator system (100) comprises an elevator shaft (106) having multiple shaft thresholds (112) each assigned to one floor, an elevator car (104) which has a car threshold (110) and can be moved along the elevator shaft (106), and a control unit (120) for moving (400) the elevator car (104), wherein the mobile device (102) has an evaluation unit (300) which is designed to communicate with the control unit (120), wherein the method (400) comprises: receiving (410), in the evaluation unit (300), information (306, 308, 312) generated using at least one component (122, 124, 125; 302, 304, 310) of the mobile device (102) as a result of a height deviation (114) between the car threshold (110) and a current shaft threshold (112) located opposite the car threshold (110), wherein the information (306, 308, 312) comprises an input by a user (118) in an application executed by the mobile device (102) for controlling the elevator system (100), wherein the control information (314) comprises a control command (126, 128) to the control unit (120) on the basis of the input by the user (118); evaluating (420) the information (306, 308, 312) and generating control information (314) for moving (400) the elevator car (104); and sending (430) the control information (314) to the control unit (120) in order to move the elevator car (104) in such a way that the height deviation (114) between the car threshold (110) and the current shaft threshold (112) is minimized.

2. Method (400) according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device (102) has an inclination sensor (302), wherein the information (306, 308, 312) comprises sensor data (306) which were generated by the inclination sensor (302) in a position of the mobile device (102) in which the mobile device (102) rests both on the car threshold (110) and on the current shaft threshold (112) and thus has an inclination angle which is dependent on the height deviation (114) between the car threshold (110) and the current shaft threshold (112), wherein the control information (314) comprises height deviation information (200) determined on the basis of the sensor data (306).

3. Method (400) according to claim 2, wherein the height deviation information (200) indicates a first direction and / or a second direction, wherein the control unit (120) is configured to move the elevator car (104) in the first direction and / or the second direction depending on the height deviation information (200).

4. Method (400) according to either claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the sensor data (306) are evaluated together with a predetermined target value range with regard to the inclination angle, wherein a termination command (202) for terminating the movement (400) is generated and sent to the control unit (120) if the inclination angle is within the predetermined target value range.

5. Method (400) according to claim 1, wherein the application comprises a first interface (122) for inputting an upward movement and / or a second interface (124) for inputting a downward movement, wherein a first control command (126) is generated in order to move the elevator car (104) upward when the input is made via the first interface (122) and / or a second control command (128) is generated in order to move the elevator car (104) downward when the input is made via the second interface (124).

6. Method (400) according to either claim 1 or claim 5, wherein the control command (126, 128) predetermines a movement path and / or a movement direction and / or a movement duration and / or a movement speed of the elevator car (104).

7. Method (400) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control information (314) comprises floor information (204) with regard to a floor assigned to the current shaft threshold (112).

8. Method (400) according to claim 7, wherein the mobile device (102) has a height sensor (304), wherein the information (306, 308, 312) comprises further sensor data (308) generated by the height sensor (304), wherein the floor information (204) was generated on the basis of the further sensor data (308).

9. Evaluation unit (300) which is designed to carry out a method (400) according to any of claims 1 to 8.

10. Computer program product having computer-readable instructions which, when executed on a computer-controlled mobile device (102), instruct the device to carry out a method (400) according to any of claims 1 to 8.

11. Computer-readable medium on which a computer program product according to claim 10 is stored.