ELEVATOR TESTING USING AUTOMATIC SEQUENCE OF CAMERA PRESETS

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to elevator systems and, more particularly, to elevator inspection using automated sequencing of camera presets.

[0002] For inspection of an elevator system, a mechanic physically inspects the top and the bottom of an elevator car to inspect various components of the elevator system. Due to the confined nature of an elevator system, physical inspection of components of an elevator car can be difficult.

[0003] JP 2013 155019 A describes a device for checking illumination of an elevator that includes an imaging device for imaging the inside of the car under illumination light by the luminaires to output image data, and an image processing part of subjecting the image data to image analysis to detect brightness.BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention, an elevator system is provided in accordance with claim 1..

[0005] Further embodiments of the elevator system may include that the camera is a first camera and a second camera affixed to the at least one elevator car, wherein the second camera is operated by the controller. The controller is configured to automatically capture, from the second camera, media associated with the set of locations. And a transceiver transmits one or more sequences of the media captured from the second camera.

[0006] Further embodiments of the elevator system may include that the media comprises at least one of an image and a video.

[0007] Further embodiments of the elevator system may include that the media associated with the set of locations is captured at a first time and that the set of locations comprise locations associated with components of the at least one elevator car. The controller is configured to automatically capture, from the camera, second media associated with the set of locations, wherein the second media is captured at a second time. And that the second time is different from the first time. The controller is configured to compare the media to the second media to determine a change to at least one of the components of the at least one elevator car and transmit an alert based at least on the change to the at least one of the components.

[0008] Further embodiments of the elevator system may include that the controller is further configured to receive reference media associated with the set of locations, compare the media to the reference media to determine a change to at least one of the components of the at least one elevator car, and transmit an alert based at least on the change to the at least one of the components.

[0009] Further embodiments of the elevator system may include that the reference media comprises media captured during an inspection of one or more components associated with the set of locations.

[0010] Further embodiments of the elevator system may include that wherein the reference media comprises media of one or more components associated with the set of locations that are operating within normal tolerances.

[0011] Further embodiments of the elevator system may include that the one or more sequences of the media are transmitted periodically.

[0012] Further embodiments of the elevator system may include that the media transmitted periodically is according to an elevator inspection schedule.

[0013] Further embodiments of the elevator system may include that the elevator inspection schedule comprises the set of locations associated with the at least one elevator car.

[0014] Further embodiments of the elevator system may include that the one or more sequences of the media captured from the camera can be based at least in part on a type of inspection.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided in accordance with claim 14.

[0016] Further embodiments of the method may include that the camera is a first camera and further comprising capturing, from a second camera, media associated with the set of locations and transmitting a second sequence of media captured from the second camera.

[0017] Further embodiments of the method may include that the media comprises at least one of an image and a video.

[0018] Further embodiments of the method may include that the media associated with the set of locations is captured at a first time, wherein the set of locations comprise locations associated with components of the at least one elevator car. And automatically capturing, from the plurality of cameras, second media associated with the set of locations, wherein the second media is captured at second time, and wherein the second time is different from the first time. The media is compared to the second media to determine a change to at least one of the components of the at least one elevator car and an alert is transmitted based at least on the change to the at least one of the components.

[0019] Further embodiments of the method may include that the one or more sequences of the media are transmitted periodically

[0020] Further embodiments of the method may include that the media transmitted periodically is according to an elevator inspection schedule.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements. FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an elevator system that may employ various embodiments of the invention; FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of a computer system for use in implementing one or more embodiments of the invention; FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of a system for inspecting an elevator system according to one or more embodiments of the invention; FIG. 4 depicts a flow diagram of a method for inspecting an elevator system according to one or more embodiments of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] As shown and described herein, various features of the invention will be presented. Various embodiments may have the same or similar features and thus the same or similar features may be labeled with the same reference numeral, but preceded by a different first number indicating the figure to which the feature is shown. Thus, for example, element "a" that is shown in FIG. X may be labeled "Xa" and a similar feature in FIG. Z may be labeled "Za." Although similar reference numbers may be used in a generic sense, various embodiments will be described and various features may include changes, alterations, modifications, etc. as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, whether explicitly described or otherwise would be appreciated by those of skill in the art.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an elevator system 101 including an elevator car 103, a counterweight 105, a roping 107, a guide rail 109, a machine 111, a position encoder 113, and a controller 115. The elevator car 103 and counterweight 105 are connected to each other by the roping 107. The roping 107 may include or be configured as, for example, ropes, steel cables, and / or coated-steel belts. The counterweight 105 is configured to balance a load of the elevator car 103 and is configured to facilitate movement of the elevator car 103 concurrently and in an opposite direction with respect to the counterweight 105 within an elevator shaft 117 and along the guide rail 109.

[0024] The roping 107 engages the machine 111, which is part of an overhead structure of the elevator system 101. The machine 111 is configured to control movement between the elevator car 103 and the counterweight 105. The position encoder 113 may be mounted on an upper sheave of a speed-governor system 119 and may be configured to provide position signals related to a position of the elevator car 103 within the elevator shaft 117. In other embodiments, the position encoder 113 may be directly mounted to a moving component of the machine 111, or may be located in other positions and / or configurations as known in the art.

[0025] The controller 115 is located, as shown, in a controller room 121 of the elevator shaft 117 and is configured to control the operation of the elevator system 101, and particularly the elevator car 103. For example, the controller 115 may provide drive signals to the machine 111 to control the acceleration, deceleration, leveling, stopping, etc. of the elevator car 103. The controller 115 may also be configured to receive position signals from the position encoder 113. When moving up or down within the elevator shaft 117 along guide rail 109, the elevator car 103 may stop at one or more landings 125 as controlled by the controller 115. Although shown in a controller room 121, those of skill in the art will appreciate that the controller 115 can be located and / or configured in other locations or positions within the elevator system 101.

[0026] The machine 111 may include a motor or similar driving mechanism. In accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, the machine 111 is configured to include an electrically driven motor. The power supply for the motor may be any power source, including a power grid, which, in combination with other components, is supplied to the motor.

[0027] Although shown and described with a roping system, elevator systems that employ other methods and mechanisms of moving an elevator car within an elevator shaft, such as hydraulic and / or ropeless elevators, may employ embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is merely a non-limiting example presented for illustrative and explanatory purposes.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown an embodiment of a processing system 200 for implementing the teachings herein. In this embodiment, the system 200 has one or more central processing units (processors) 21a, 21b, 21c, etc. (collectively or generically referred to as processor(s) 21). In one or more embodiments, each processor 21 may include a reduced instruction set computer (RISC) microprocessor. Processors 21 are coupled to system memory 34 (RAM) and various other components via a system bus 33. Read only memory (ROM) 22 is coupled to the system bus 33 and may include a basic input / output system (BIOS), which controls certain basic functions of system 200.

[0029] FIG. 2 further depicts an input / output (I / O) adapter 27 and a network adapter 26 coupled to the system bus 33. I / O adapter 27 may be a small computer system interface (SCSI) adapter that communicates with a hard disk 23 and / or tape storage drive 25 or any other similar component. I / O adapter 27, hard disk 23, and tape storage device 25 are collectively referred to herein as mass storage 24. Operating system 40 for execution on the processing system 200 may be stored in mass storage 24. A network communications adapter 26 interconnects bus 33 with an outside network 36 enabling data processing system 200 to communicate with other such systems. A screen (e.g., a display monitor) 35 is connected to system bus 33 by display adaptor 32, which may include a graphics adapter to improve the performance of graphics intensive applications and a video controller. In one embodiment, adapters 27, 26, and 32 may be connected to one or more I / O busses that are connected to system bus 33 via an intermediate bus bridge (not shown). Suitable I / O buses for connecting peripheral devices such as hard disk controllers, network adapters, and graphics adapters typically include common protocols, such as the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI). Additional input / output devices are shown as connected to system bus 33 via user interface adapter 28 and display adapter 32. A keyboard 29, mouse 30, and speaker 31 all interconnected to bus 33 via user interface adapter 28, which may include, for example, a Super I / O chip integrating multiple device adapters into a single integrated circuit.

[0030] In exemplary embodiments, the processing system 200 includes a graphics processing unit 41. Graphics processing unit 41 is a specialized electronic circuit designed to manipulate and alter memory to accelerate the creation of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display. In general, graphics processing unit 41 is very efficient at manipulating computer graphics and image processing and has a highly parallel structure that makes it more effective than general-purpose CPUs for algorithms where processing of large blocks of data is done in parallel. The processing system 200 described herein is merely exemplary and not intended to limit the application, uses, and / or technical scope of the present disclosure, which can be embodied in various forms known in the art.

[0031] Thus, as configured in FIG. 2, the system 200 includes processing capability in the form of processors 21, storage capability including system memory 34 and mass storage 24, input means such as keyboard 29 and mouse 30, and output capability including speaker 31 and display 35. In one embodiment, a portion of system memory 34 and mass storage 24 collectively store an operating system coordinate the functions of the various components shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is merely a non-limiting example presented for illustrative and explanatory purposes.

[0032] Turning now to an overview of technologies that are more specifically relevant to aspects of the disclosure, during elevator maintenance and inspection operations, an elevator mechanic must occasionally inspect the top of an elevator car and the bottom of the elevator car. This may require the elevator mechanic to exit the elevator car and enter the elevator hoistway.

[0033] Turning now to an overview of the aspects of the disclosure, one or more embodiments address the above-described shortcomings of the prior art by providing cameras for automated elevator inspections. Cameras located on the top and / or the bottom of an elevator car are arranged to capture images and video of components of the elevator car. For example, a camera could focus on a roller and / or counter weight to allow for inspection by an elevator mechanic. The cameras can automatically capture images or video for these components on an elevator car and transmit, via a transceiver, to an elevator mechanic utilizing a user device such as a laptop, mobile phone, and the like. The capture images and videos are transmitted to the user in a specific sequence that allows the user (e.g., mechanic) to inspect the components of the elevator car. Some common inspection points for an elevator include, but are not limited to, cleanliness of the top and bottom of the car, inspection box, rollers, and oil level indicators, water / cleanliness of the pad, the counterweight, governors, and tension devices. For example, some bottom of the car inspection points include rollers, safety links, compensation chains, travelling cable joints, S hooks, belt tracking, guides ( rolling / sliding), and the like. Top of the car inspections points include rollers, oil level, guides (e.g., rolling / sliding), top of car cleanliness, top of car box, and any special equipment on top of car that needs regular checks (e.g., more than what is mandated by code or otherwise). Inspection points for the general hoistway include views of machines in the hoistway, almost entire rope as the elevator moves in the hoistway, hoistway door and door locks, door sills, and the like. The bottom of car and hoistway pit points of interest also include cleanliness, water leaks, buffers, governor tension devices, and the governor sheave, and any equipment in hoistway pit. Each of the cameras are arranged to capture images and video of the different elevator components. Or, in alternate embodiments, the cameras are adjustable to pan, zoom, and focus on multiple components. Images and video can be captured and transmitted in one or more sequences to a user. For example, one type of sequence can be specific to a certain type of inspection. Another type of sequence can be user-specific (e.g., the user defines the sequence of images and video).

[0034] Turning now to a more detailed description of aspects of the present disclosure, FIG. 3 depicts a system 300 for inspecting an elevator system. The system 300 includes an elevator car 304 at least one camera(s) 310 located on or around the elevator car 304. The system 300 also includes a controller 302, a network 320, a database 310, and a user device 308.

[0035] In one or more embodiments, the controller 302 can be implemented on the processing system 200 found in FIG. 2. Additionally, a cloud computing system can be in wired or wireless electronic communication with one or all of the elements of the system 300. Cloud computing can supplement, support or replace some or all of the functionality of the elements of the system 300. Additionally, some or all of the functionality of the elements of system 300 can be implemented as a node of a cloud computing system. A cloud computing node is only one example of a suitable cloud computing node and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of embodiments described herein.

[0036] In one or more embodiments, the controller 302 is operable to control the cameras 310 and capture images and video from each of the cameras 310 to store in a database 310 or transmit directly to a user device 308 via the network 320. In one embodiment, the cameras 310 may be controlled and images and video captured through the cloud server 320, user device 308, or some other remotely located device. The user device 308 can include a device carried by a user, such as a smart phone, PDA, tablet, laptop, etc. The cameras 310 can be mounted in an elevator system at locations such as, for example, the top of a hoistway, the bottom of a hoistway, the top of an elevator car 304, the bottom of the elevator car 304, a machine room, or any other location in the elevator system, including within the elevator car 304.

[0037] In one or more embodiments, the cameras 310 can be any type of camera that can be used to generate video and / or still frame images. The cameras 310 can capture any type of video images such as, for example, infrared images, depth, image, and the like. The cameras 310 can be wired or wireless cameras that can connect to the controller 302 through a wired or wireless network connection. The cameras 310 mentioned herein are only examples of suitable camera types and are not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the cameras.

[0038] In one or more embodiments, the controller 302, cloud server, 320, user device 308, and / or any other desired node can capture a series of images and videos (i.e., media) for a set of locations corresponding to components and areas of interest on or around the elevator car 304. The controller 302 captures the media and transmits the media arranged in one or more sequences for review by a mechanic for inspection of the elevator car 304. The sequences are pre-set sequences. For example, the media can be transmitted and displayed on a user 308 device and cycled every 10 seconds for review by the user. The set of locations are pre-set in the sequence to allow for review by the mechanic. The media capture by the cameras 310 can be done periodically or can be upon a user request. Capturing the media periodically can be done according with prescribed maintenance and / or elevator inspection code requirements. Code requires an inspection every 6 months which can trigger the capturing of media related to certain required inspection components every 6 months. In addition, elevator codes may require an inspection every year related to certain components which could trigger the capturing of media related to those components on a yearly basis. In one embodiment, capturing the media periodically can be done in accordance with any desired code interval. In addition to the pre-set locations, a user can request specific locations for the cameras to focus on based on input to the user device 308. For example, a user may request another angle of a roller on the elevator car 304. The controller 302 could automatically adjust a camera 310 near the requested roller to obtain the proper angle or view. Or the user could adjust the camera 310 by inputting commands into the user device 308. In one or more embodiments, the cameras are operable to pan, zoom, adjust angles, and otherwise maneuver to view multiple locations on the elevator car 304.

[0039] In one or more embodiments, the controller 302, cloud server 320, user device 308, or some other remotely located device can automatically notify a user via the user device 308 of a scheduled inspection of the elevator car 304. The controller 302 can transmit a sequence of images or videos of a set of locations on or around the elevator car 304 and as the user is viewing each image or video, the user can input a confirmation of the inspection as the sequence is cycling. For example, a sequence of pre-set images may be presented to the mechanic and as each image is reviewed by the user, the user can input into the user device 308 an indication that the pre-set image passes the inspection, fails the inspection, or requires a follow up. The user can also save one or more of the images or videos for further review by the user or have the images or videos be sent to another user such as a manager or another mechanic for review. The sequences of images and videos are stored in the database 310 and can be accessed by multiple user devices 308 via the network 320.

[0040] In one or more embodiments, the controller 302 cloud server 320, user device 308, or some other remotely located device can store images of components for the elevator car 304 that have been accepted by the mechanic as being in good operating condition. These images can be utilized as reference images for one or all of the components of the elevator car 304. The reference images can be stored in the database 310 for access at another time. For example, the reference images may be obtained while a mechanic is on site working on the elevator car 304 and has deemed that all components of the car 304 are operating within normal tolerances. The controller 302 can capture new images of the set of locations from the cameras 310 at a later time and compare these new images to the reference images for the corresponding locations. These new images can be captured at a specific time, periodically, or as requested by a mechanic. The controller 302 can compare the new images to the reference images using image analyzation techniques, to determine any changes between the reference images and the new images. A comparison score can be obtained based on the changes between the images. This may be performed by comparing pixel values at the same locations in the new image and the reference image, or by any other known image comparison tool. A difference in pixel value at one location in the new image and the reference image indicates a change between the new image and the reference image. The absolute values of all the pixel differences between new image and the reference image may then be summed to generate a comparison score. The pixel comparisons may be made, for example, based on change in color, change in brightness, etc.

[0041] In one or more embodiments, if the comparison score exceeds a threshold value, the controller 302 can generate an alert and send the alert to the user device 308. The threshold value can be adjusted by the user. Multiple threshold values can be set to determine the type of alert sent to the user. For example, exceeding a larger threshold value may generate an alert sent more frequently or sent to multiple user devices 308 to amplify the severity of the change to the component image.

[0042] FIG. 4 depicts a flow diagram of a method for inspecting an elevator system according to one or more embodiments. The method 400 includes receiving, by a processor, a request to inspect an elevator car in an elevator system, wherein a plurality of cameras are affixed to the elevator car, as shown at block 402. At block 404, the method 400 includes capturing, from the plurality of cameras, media associated with a set of locations, wherein the set of locations are associated with the at least on elevator car. The method 400, at block 406, includes transmitting, a sequence of media captured from each of the plurality of cameras to controller 302 for processing as described herein.

Claims

1. An elevator system (101) comprising: at least one elevator car (103, 104); a camera (310) affixed to the at least one elevator car (103, 304), wherein the camera (310) is operated by a controller (115, 302); and wherein the controller (115, 302) is configured to: automatically capture, from the camera (310), media associated with a set of locations, wherein the set of locations are associated with the at least one elevator car (103, 304); and transmit, by a transceiver, one or more sequences of the media captured from the camera (310), characterised in that: the one or more sequences of the media captured from the camera (310) can be based at least in part on a user input; and the set of locations are pre-set in the sequence to allow for review by a user, and a user can request specific locations for the camera (310) to focus on based on the user input.

2. The elevator system (101) of claim 1, wherein the controller (115, 302) captures the media and transmits the media arranged in one or more sequences for review by a user for inspection of the elevator car (103, 304).

3. The elevator system (101) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the camera is a first camera (310); and further comprising: a second camera (310) affixed to the at least one elevator car (103, 304), wherein the second camera (310) is operated by the controller (115, 302); and wherein the controller (115, 302) is configured to: automatically capture, from the second camera (310), media associated with the set of locations; and transmit, by a transceiver, one or more sequences of the media captured from the second camera.

4. The elevator system (101) of any preceding claim, wherein the controller (115, 302) automatically adjusts the camera(s) (310) or the camera(s) (310) is adjusted based on user input.

5. The elevator system (101) of any preceding claim, wherein the camera(s) (310) is operable to pan, zoom, adjust angles and otherwise maneuver to view multiple locations on the elevator car (103, 304).

6. The elevator system (101) of any preceding claim, wherein the media comprises at least one of an image and a video.

7. The elevator system (101) of any preceding claim, wherein the media associated with the set of locations is captured at a first time; wherein the set of locations comprise locations associated with components of the at least one elevator car (103, 304); wherein the controller (115, 302) is further configured to: automatically capture, from the camera(s) (310), second media associated with the set of locations, wherein the second media is captured at a second time; wherein the second time is different from the first time; compare the media to the second media to determine a change to at least one of the components of the at least one elevator car (103, 304); and transmit an alert based at least on the change to the at least one of the components.

8. The elevator system (101) of any preceding claim, wherein the controller (115, 302) is further configured to: receive reference media associated with the set of locations; compare the media to the reference media to determine a change to at least one of the components of the at least one elevator car (103, 304); and transmit an alert based at least on the change to the at least one of the components.

9. The elevator system (101) of claim 8, wherein the reference media comprises media captured during an inspection of one or more components associated with the set of locations.

10. The elevator system (101) of claim 8 or 9, wherein the reference media comprises media of one or more components associated with the set of locations that are operating within normal tolerances.

11. The elevator system (101) of any preceding claim, wherein the one or more sequences of the media are transmitted periodically.

12. The elevator system (101) of Claim 11, wherein the media transmitted periodically is according to an elevator inspection schedule; and optionally wherein the elevator inspection schedule comprises the set of locations associated with the at least one elevator car (103, 304).

13. The elevator system (101) of any preceding claim, wherein the one or more sequences of the media captured from the camera(s) (310) can be based at least in part on a type of inspection.

14. A method for inspecting an elevator system (101), the method comprising: receiving, by a processor, a request to inspect an elevator car (103, 304) in an elevator system (101), wherein a camera (310) is affixed to the elevator car (103, 304); capturing, from the camera (310), media associated with a set of locations, wherein the set of locations are associated with the elevator car (103, 304); and transmitting, a sequence of media captured from the camera (310), wherein the sequence of media captured from the camera (310) can be based at least in part on a user input; and wherein the set of locations are pre-set in the sequence to allow for review by a user, and a user can request specific locations for the camera (310) to focus on based on the user input.

15. The method of Claim 14, wherein the camera is a first camera (310); and further comprising: capturing, from a second camera (310), media associated with the set of locations; and transmitting a second sequence of media captured from the second camera (310).