Self-sustaining man-machine interface in the form of a floor control panel or a floor information panel for an elevator system

Abstract

A description is given of a human / machine interface (1) in the form of a floor operating panel (65) or a floor information panel (63) for a lift installation (51). The human / machine interface (1) has: - an interaction unit (3) that is configured, in response to actuation by a passenger (95), to generate input signals and / or to output output signals in a manner able to be perceived by the passenger (95); - a communication unit (5) that is configured to transmit the input signals to a lift controller (59) and / or to receive the output signals from the lift controller (59); and - a supply unit (7) that is configured to supply electrical energy to the interaction unit (3) and the communication unit (5); wherein the supply unit (7) has an energy conversion unit (23) and an electricity storage unit (25), wherein the energy conversion unit (23) is configured to convert kinetic energy available in the immediate surroundings of the human / machine interface (1) into electrical energy, and wherein the electricity storage unit (25) is configured to store the electrical energy converted by the energy conversion unit (23). The human / machine interface (1) is able to operate with energy autonomy, that is to say without a supply cable to a central power supply.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a human-machine interface in the form of a floor control panel or a floor information panel for an elevator system. The invention further relates to an elevator system with such a human-machine interface.

[0002] In elevator systems, at least one elevator car can typically be moved between different floor levels within an elevator shaft. A drive motor that moves the elevator car is controlled by an elevator control system. The elevator control system may also control other functionalities of the elevator system.

[0003] Each floor typically features human-machine interfaces in the form of landing operation panels (LOP) and / or landing information panels (LIP).

[0004] Using a floor control panel, a passenger can input information to the elevator system in the form of a signal. For example, by pressing a button on the floor control panel, the passenger can send a signal indicating that they wish the elevator car to travel to the floor where they are waiting. This signal is then forwarded to the elevator control system, which can then dispatch the elevator car to the requested floor.

[0005] A floor information panel can be used to display information, which is conveyed via output signals, to passengers in a way that is easily perceptible to them. For example, a suitable display or an audible announcement can inform passengers of the current location of the elevator car or the expected waiting time. The information to be displayed, i.e., the current location of the elevator car, can be provided by the elevator control system and transmitted to the floor information panel.

[0006] In conventional elevator systems, each of the numerous floor control panels and floor information panels required on the various floors is typically connected via cables to a central power supply and / or the elevator control system. The effort and material costs associated with installing such a large number of cables during an elevator system installation can be considerable.

[0007] There may be a need for an elevator system that reduces installation effort and / or material costs. Furthermore, there may be a need for a human-machine interface that can be used as a floor control panel or floor information panel in an elevator system and that reduces installation effort.

[0008] WO 2006 / 063 243 A2 discloses a human-machine interface in an elevator system that uses the kinetic energy from the door opening movement.

[0009] Such a need can be met by the human-machine interface and the elevator system according to one of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims and the following description.

[0010] According to a first aspect of the invention, a human-machine interface according to claim 1 is proposed. The human-machine interface comprises at least one interaction unit, one communication unit, and one power supply unit. The interaction unit is configured to generate input signals and / or output signals in a manner perceptible to the passenger in response to an action by a passenger. The communication unit is configured to transmit the input signals to an elevator control unit and / or to receive the output signals from the elevator control unit. The power supply unit is configured to supply the interaction unit and the communication unit with electrical energy. The power supply unit comprises at least one energy conversion unit and one electricity storage unit.The energy conversion unit is configured to convert non-electrical energy available in the immediate vicinity of the human-machine interface, such as mechanical energy, into electrical energy. The electricity storage unit is configured to store the electrical energy converted by the energy conversion unit. The human-machine interface includes a wind turbine, which is set into rotation by an airflow, and a generator coupled to a shaft of the wind turbine. In other words, the energy conversion unit can incorporate a small wind turbine. With appropriate structural design, such a wind turbine can also be called a windmill. The wind turbine is designed to be set into rotation by an incident airflow, i.e., a stream of moving air.For this purpose, the wind turbine can have turbine blades or turbine vanes that are subjected to the airflow, thereby exerting a torque on the entire wind turbine. Due to this torque, the wind turbine rotates around an axis of rotation. The shaft of the wind turbine runs along this axis of rotation, or coaxially to it.

[0011] The kinetic energy inherent in the rotating wind turbine can thus be transferred via the shaft to the generator coupled to the shaft. This generator is designed to convert at least some of the kinetic energy into electrical energy. For this purpose, for example, magnetic fields rotating with the shaft can be used in the generator to induce electric currents in coils.

[0012] The electrical energy associated with these electrical currents can then be supplied within the human-machine interface to other components, in particular to the electricity storage unit and / or to the interaction unit and the communication unit.

[0013] According to a second aspect of the invention, an elevator system is proposed which comprises an elevator shaft, an elevator car, a drive machine for moving the elevator car in the elevator shaft between different floor levels, an elevator control system for controlling functionalities of the elevator system in response to input signals and for outputting signals as information about a current state in the elevator system, and a human-machine interface according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention.

[0014] Possible features and advantages of embodiments of the invention can be considered, among other things and without limiting the invention, as being based on the ideas and findings described below.

[0015] The human-machine interface proposed herein can be designed in a largely similar way, both functionally and structurally, to conventional human-machine interfaces for elevator systems. In particular, the interaction unit can be configured to interact with passengers and receive information transmitted by the passengers as input signals, in order to then forward it to the elevator control system, or to receive information to be transmitted to the passengers from the elevator control system and then output it to the passengers.

[0016] In a configuration as a floor control panel, the human-machine interface can, for example, include one or more buttons that passengers can press to signal to the elevator system that the elevator car should be moved to the passengers' floor and / or in which direction a passenger wishes to travel. Instead of buttons, other sensors or interfaces can also be used through which passengers can input their call signal. For example, capacitive sensors can be provided that can be activated by passengers with a light touch. Sensor circuits can also be used that passengers can activate or operate using, for example, a key, an RFID chip, a smartphone, or another technical device.

[0017] In a configuration as a floor information panel, the human-machine interface can, for example, feature a display such as an LED display, a screen, or similar device, which can show passengers information about the elevator system. Alternatively or additionally to such a visual display, information can also be provided in other ways, such as audibly via a loudspeaker. Using the floor information panel, the elevator system can thus inform passengers, for example, about the current location of the elevator car.

[0018] To enable the human-machine interface to transmit input signals from a passenger to the elevator control system, and / or to transmit output signals containing information about the elevator system from the elevator control system to the human-machine interface, the human-machine interface is equipped with a communication unit. This communication unit can exchange input and output signals between the communication partners and, if necessary, pre-process them appropriately.

[0019] In an elevator system according to the second aspect of the invention, at least one of the human-machine interfaces proposed herein can be arranged on each of the different floors. Preferably, at least one floor control panel and / or one floor information panel is provided on each floor served by the elevator system. Thus, information concerning the elevator system can be provided to passengers arriving on each floor, and information to be transmitted by passengers, in particular call requests, can be received.

[0020] A central principle underlying the human-machine interface proposed herein is the provision of a dedicated power supply unit that provides electrical energy to other components of the human-machine interface. This power supply unit can be designed, on the one hand, to generate electrical energy by converting other forms of energy available in the immediate vicinity of the human-machine interface, and on the other hand, to store this electrical energy, at least temporarily.

[0021] The power supply unit includes an energy conversion unit capable of converting non-electrical forms of energy, such as kinetic energy, thermal energy, electromagnetic energy (like light), or other forms of energy, into electrical energy. Furthermore, the power supply unit includes an electricity storage unit, which allows the converted electrical energy to be stored and released at a later time.

[0022] The human-machine interface can be configured to operate solely based on the electrical energy provided by the power supply unit.

[0023] In other words, the human-machine interface can be designed in such a way that the power supply unit can provide all the electrical energy it requires for its operation in sufficient quantity and with sufficient reliability. This can be achieved, on the one hand, by designing the power supply unit to be sufficiently powerful to provide enough electrical energy. On the other hand, the other components of the human-machine interface, especially its interaction unit and communication unit, can be designed to be particularly energy-efficient. This makes it possible for the entire human-machine interface, with all its electrically operating components, to be powered solely by the power supply unit.

[0024] Accordingly, the proposed human-machine interface does not require any cable connections through which electrical energy from a central power supply would be distributed to various human-machine interfaces within the elevator system. Instead, the proposed human-machine interface can operate energy-autonomously, meaning it can generate the electrical energy it requires independently of an external power grid by locally converting energy available in its immediate vicinity in the form of other energy sources.

[0025] The elevator system according to the second aspect of the invention can thus be free of power lines for supplying electrical energy to each of the human-machine interfaces. Instead, electrical energy is not supplied to the human-machine interface from the outside, but generated internally within it. This eliminates the otherwise necessary effort of laying numerous, potentially long cables within the elevator system to supply its many human-machine interfaces with electrical energy from a central power source. This significantly simplifies the installation and / or maintenance of the elevator system. Material costs for supply cables and the associated expenses are also avoided.

[0026] The human-machine interface can, for example, be located in the elevator system on the frame of a floor door that separates the elevator shaft from a floor corridor.

[0027] Floor doors are installed in elevator systems at the transition between a floor corridor and the elevator shaft and can be opened or closed as needed. Among other things, they serve to prevent passengers from falling into the elevator shaft from a floor corridor if no elevator car is waiting on that floor. A floor door typically has a frame permanently attached to the building and door leaves that move relative to the frame. One or more floor control panels and floor information panels can be attached to or integrated into the frame.

[0028] This allows the human-machine interface to be easily installed in the elevator system, for example, together with the landing door. Furthermore, the human-machine interface, with its energy conversion unit, can be located both near an interior volume of the elevator shaft and near a volume that borders the landing door on the opposite side from a landing corridor. Thus, the energy conversion unit can utilize any available energy in both volumes and convert it into electrical energy.

[0029] In general, the energy conversion unit of the supply unit can be designed in different ways and use various energy sources to generate the required electrical energy.

[0030] For example, it would be conceivable to design the energy conversion unit using photovoltaic elements, i.e., solar cells. These photovoltaic elements could, for instance, convert natural or artificial light available in the vicinity of the elevator system into electrical energy.

[0031] Alternatively, the energy conversion unit could be designed to convert thermal energy into electrical energy. For this purpose, it could be equipped with thermocouples that could, for example, utilize temperature differences within the elevator system or in areas adjacent to the elevator system to generate electrical energy.

[0032] As another alternative, the energy conversion unit could convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. For this purpose, piezoelectric elements could be used, for example, which convert pressure exerted on them into electrical energy. This pressure could be generated, for instance, by passengers pressing a button on a floor control panel or by pressing down on the floor in front of the elevator while waiting for the car to board.

[0033] According to a further specified embodiment, the wind turbine can be accommodated in a channel element to be arranged between an elevator shaft and a floor corridor.

[0034] In other words, the wind turbine of the energy conversion unit can be arranged in a duct element, which can be positioned in an elevator system in such a way that it connects the elevator shaft with an adjacent building floor in such a way that air can circulate through this duct element from the elevator shaft to the building floor or in the opposite direction.

[0035] For this purpose, the duct element can, for example, be designed as a pipe within which the wind turbine can be housed. The longitudinal direction of the duct element can be coaxial with an axis of rotation of the wind turbine. The turbine blades or turbine vanes of the wind turbine can run perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the duct element, so that an airflow moving through the duct element is channeled onto these turbine blades or vanes, thus efficiently setting the wind turbine in motion.

[0036] In an elevator system according to the second aspect of the invention, the wind turbine can be arranged in a passageway between the elevator shaft and a floor corridor adjacent to the human-machine interface.

[0037] The passage duct can connect an interior volume within the elevator shaft with an exterior volume, for example, within a floor corridor adjacent to the elevator shaft, in such a way that air can circulate between the two volumes. This circulating air can then drive the wind turbine located within the passage duct. The wind turbine can, for example, be housed within the aforementioned duct element, and this duct element, in turn, can be located within the passage duct. The passage duct could, for example, be a passageway opening in the frame of a floor door.

[0038] The presented approach exploits the fact that, particularly in tall buildings with long elevator shafts, there is typically an air pressure difference between the interior volume of the elevator shaft and the adjacent exterior volume on the floor. Typically, on lower floors, the air pressure in the elevator shaft is lower than on the surrounding floor, whereas on higher floors, the air pressure in the elevator shaft is higher than on the surrounding floor.

[0039] Accordingly, a total airflow is often observed, flowing into the elevator shaft on the lower floors and exiting the shaft on the upper floors. This total airflow can be influenced by prevailing temperature and / or air pressure conditions within the building and may, if necessary, flow in the opposite direction.

[0040] The total airflow can preferably be directed or channeled on each of the floors through the passageway provided there between the floor corridor and the elevator shaft, and drive the wind turbine provided therein.

[0041] Overall, this allows the prevailing air pressure differences and resulting air currents within the building to be used to locally convert the kinetic energies contained therein into electrical energy using the wind turbine in the energy conversion unit.

[0042] The electrical energy provided by the energy conversion unit can then be made available to other components of the human-machine interface as consumers, if needed.

[0043] However, since it can be assumed that the energy conversion unit cannot always provide sufficient electrical energy or power to meet the current power demands of these components, the human-machine interface also includes an electricity storage unit. This electricity storage unit allows the provided electrical energy to be stored, at least temporarily.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the electricity storage unit can include a battery.

[0045] Such a battery is sometimes also called a rechargeable battery. A battery can reversibly convert electrical energy into chemical energy. This chemical energy can be stored and converted back into electrical energy when needed. Batteries can store sufficiently large amounts of energy to power the human-machine interface autonomously. Furthermore, batteries can be provided relatively inexpensively and operate reliably over long periods.

[0046] Alternatively or additionally, the electricity storage unit can include a supercapacitor.

[0047] Supercapacitors are sometimes also called supercaps or ultracapacitors. Supercapacitors are electrochemical capacitors. Compared to batteries of the same weight, supercapacitors typically have a significantly lower energy density, but their power density is about 10 to 100 times higher. Supercapacitors can therefore be charged and discharged much faster. They also withstand far more switching cycles than is typically the case with batteries.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the communication unit is configured to wirelessly exchange input and / or output signals with the elevator control system. In the elevator system equipped with a human-machine interface, both the elevator control system and the human-machine interface can be configured to wirelessly exchange input and output signals.

[0049] In other words, the proposed human-machine interface can not only eliminate the need for extensive cable runs to obtain its electrical power, but also implement wireless data and signal communication. For this purpose, both the human-machine interface's communication unit and the elevator control system can be equipped with transmit and receive modules, enabling the exchange of input and output signals between the two communication partners. This wireless data and signal exchange can occur using electromagnetic waves, for example, via radio waves. Depending on the distances to be bridged between the communication partners and / or the amount of data and signals to be transmitted, various wireless communication technologies and / or protocols can be employed.The use of wireless communication thus eliminates the need for complex wiring between each of the human-machine interfaces on the one hand and the central elevator control on the other.

[0050] As already indicated above, the human-machine interface and the units used in it can also be optimized to consume as little electrical energy as possible during operation.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the communication unit can, for example, be configured to become active only in response to an input signal.

[0052] In other words, the consumption of electrical energy in the human-machine interface can be reduced by, in particular, activating its communication unit only when needed and otherwise leaving it in a sleep mode, for example.

[0053] Whether a need currently exists can be recognized, for example, by the detection of an input signal by the human-machine interface. The human-machine interface can use its interaction unit to detect such an input signal. This interaction unit may be equipped with sensors that can detect when a passenger wishes to transmit an input signal.

[0054] For example, a passenger can press a button on a floor control panel, and this can be recognized as an input signal, whereupon the communication unit can be activated to ultimately transmit the input signal to, for example, the elevator control system.

[0055] The sensors can also be implemented in other ways or in other locations. For example, a floor information panel can have sensors in addition to an output unit such as a display, which can be used to detect, for instance, the presence of a passenger waiting in front of the elevator. The detection of the passenger can be interpreted as an input signal and in turn trigger the activation of the communication unit.

[0056] Overall, this means that the communication unit can only be operated when needed and can otherwise be taken out of service to save energy.

[0057] Further measures can be taken in the human-machine interface to minimize its electrical energy consumption. For example, low-power technologies can be used in the communication unit. Similarly, sensors or displays with particularly low power consumption can be used in the interaction unit.

[0058] Overall, the use of the energy-autonomous human-machine interface proposed herein offers several advantages for the equipped elevator system. For example, installation costs during construction and maintenance during operation can be significantly lower than with conventional elevator systems, as there is no need to lay or maintain long power cables within the elevator system to a central power supply. Furthermore, by establishing wireless communication between the human-machine interface and the elevator control system, the otherwise necessary signal transmission cables can be eliminated. This also avoids the costs associated with such power and signal transmission cables.Furthermore, the elevator system as a whole has a lower consumption of externally supplied electrical energy, since the floor control panels and floor information panels of the elevator system are self-powered and therefore do not need to be supplied by a central power supply.

[0059] It is noted that some of the possible features and advantages of the invention are described herein with reference to different embodiments of the human-machine interface on the one hand and an elevator system equipped therewith on the other. A person skilled in the art will recognize that the features can be suitably combined, adapted, or exchanged to arrive at further embodiments of the invention.

[0060] Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, whereby neither the drawings nor the description are to be interpreted as limiting the invention. Fig. 1 shows a sectional view through an elevator system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 shows a front view of a floor door with human-machine interfaces according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a human-machine interface according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 shows a sectional view through a door frame of a floor door with a human-machine interface arranged therein according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0061] The figures are schematic only and not to scale. Identical reference symbols in the different figures denote identical or equivalent features.

[0062] Fig. 1 Figure 51 shows an elevator system 51 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The elevator system 51 comprises an elevator shaft 53 in which an elevator car 55 and a counterweight 69 can be moved vertically between different floors 61. The elevator car 55 and the counterweight 69 are held by rope-like support elements 67. The rope-like support elements 67 can be moved by means of a drive pulley 71 of a drive motor 57, thereby moving the elevator car 55 and the counterweight 69 in opposite directions. The drive motor 57 is controlled by an elevator control unit 59.

[0063] Each of the 61 floors has a floor door 73 that separates an interior volume in the elevator shaft 53 from an exterior volume in a floor corridor 93 of each floor 61.

[0064] Each of the floor doors 73 is provided with human-machine interfaces 1 in the form of a floor information panel 63 and a floor control panel 65.

[0065] Using the floor information panel 63, a passenger 95 can, for example, be shown on which floor the elevator car 55 is currently located. For this purpose, the floor information panel 63 can, for example, output signals that it receives from the elevator control unit 59 in a way that is perceptible to the passenger 95.

[0066] Passenger 95 can operate the floor control panel 65 to, for example, call the elevator car 55 to their floor 61. When activated, the floor control panel 65 can generate a corresponding input signal and transmit it to the elevator control unit 59.

[0067] Fig. 2 Figure 73 shows a door 73 on a floor 61 or in a corridor 93. The door 73 has a door frame 75 and two door leaves 77 that can be moved relative to this door frame 75 and thus opened and closed.

[0068] Above the door leaves 77, a human-machine interface 1 in the form of a floor information panel 63 is arranged in the door frame 75. The floor information panel 63 has an output unit 13 in the form of a display 15, which can, for example, be configured using an LED matrix 79. The output unit 13 can, for example, display information about the floor 61 where the elevator car 55 is currently located.

[0069] The floor information panel 63 also features an air slot 81, which opens into a passage 85 that extends through the door frame 75. The passage 85 thus connects the external volume within the floor corridor 93 with the internal volume within the elevator shaft 53.

[0070] A further human-machine interface 1 in the form of a floor control panel 65 is provided in the door frame 75 to the side of the door leaves 77. The floor control panel 65 has two pushbuttons 83, which can be pressed by the passenger 95, for example, to call the elevator car 55. The pushbuttons 83 each act as sensors 11 of an input unit 9. By pressing a pushbutton 83, the passenger 95 can thus generate an input signal, which can then be forwarded by the human-machine interface 1 to the elevator control unit 59, enabling it to move the elevator car 55 to the desired floor 61. The floor control panel 65 also has an air slot 81, which opens into a through-duct 85.

[0071] Fig. 3 Figure 1 schematically shows an exemplary structure of a human-machine interface 1. The human-machine interface 1 has an interaction unit 3, a communication unit 5 and a supply unit 7.

[0072] Depending on whether the human-machine interface 1 is designed as a floor information panel 63 or as a floor control panel 65 or as a combination of both panel types, the interaction unit 3 can have different components.

[0073] For example, an input unit 9 can be provided in the interaction unit 3, via which the passenger 95 can generate input signals to transmit information to the elevator system 51. The input unit 9 can, for example, include a sensor 11 that can detect an actuation or a touch by the passenger 95.

[0074] Alternatively or additionally, an output unit 13 can be provided in the interaction unit 3, through which information can be output to passenger 95. For this purpose, the output unit 13 can, for example, include a display 15 to output the information as a signal in a way perceptible to passenger 95. Alternatively, the output unit 13 can also present the information in another way, for example, in the form of an acoustic output, and for this purpose, for example, include a loudspeaker.

[0075] The human-machine interface 1 further comprises a logic unit 17, which can be used, for example, to process input and / or output signals. For this purpose, the logic unit 17 can, for example, include a data processing unit with a processor (CPU) and possibly a data storage unit.

[0076] The communication unit 5 serves to exchange input and / or output signals, for example, with the elevator control unit 59. For this purpose, the communication unit 5 has a preferably wireless transmitter-receiver unit 19. This transmitter-receiver unit 19 can transmit the various signals, for example, as radio signals to another transmitter-receiver unit 91 on the elevator system 59 (see also Fig. 1 ) transmit or receive from it.

[0077] The supply unit 7 of the human-machine interface 1 has an energy conversion unit 23 and an electricity storage unit 25 as well as a power management unit 21.

[0078] The energy conversion unit 23 is designed to convert energy available in a non-electrical form in the immediate vicinity of the human-machine interface 1 into electrical energy. This electrical energy can then be forwarded to the power management unit 21. The power management unit 21 can forward this electrical energy partially or completely directly to energy-consuming components of the human-machine interface 1, such as the communication unit 5, the interaction units 3, and / or the logic unit 17.Alternatively or additionally, the power management unit 21 can forward the electrical energy partially or completely to the electricity storage unit 25, in which the electrical energy can be temporarily stored and, if required, retrieved again at a later time by the power management unit 21 and made available to the other components of the human-machine interface 1.

[0079] In the illustrated example, the energy conversion unit 23 is designed to convert kinetic energy in the form of an airflow 89 into electrical energy. For this purpose, the energy conversion unit 23 has a small wind turbine 27, which is set into rotation by the airflow 89. A shaft 28 of the wind turbine 27, rotating about an axis of rotation, is connected to a generator 29. The generator 29 produces an electric current due to its rotation. This electric current can optionally be rectified in the power management unit 21 or by means of an additional rectifier.

[0080] Furthermore, in the example shown, the electricity storage unit 25 is equipped with an accumulator 31 and / or a supercapacitor 33 in order to be able to store the electrical energy provided by the energy conversion unit 23.

[0081] Fig. 4 Figure 1 illustrates how the human-machine interface 1 can be arranged in the frame 75 of the floor door 73. A passage 85 can be provided in the frame 75. A channel element 87, for example in the form of a pipe, can be integrated into the passage 85. The wind turbine 27 and the generator 29 of the energy conversion unit 23 are then housed in the channel element 87. The wind turbine 27 is arranged such that an airflow 89 through the channel element 87 sets it in rotation.

[0082] As in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4As indicated, the draft 89 can be caused by pressure differences that may exist within a building between the external volumes of the floor corridors 93 and the internal volume of the elevator shaft 53. Typically, on lower floors 61, a draft 89 flows from a floor corridor 93 into the elevator shaft 53, and then, on upper floors 61, flows again as a draft 89 from the elevator shaft 53 into the respective floor corridors 93. The draft 89 can be caused, for example, by the difference in height within the elevator shaft 53 and / or by different temperatures within the building. Movements of the elevator car 55 within the elevator shaft 53 can also cause a draft 89.

[0083] Overall, it is assumed that on each of the floors 61, an airflow 89 flows through the energy conversion units 23 of human-machine interfaces 1 located there with sufficient frequency to provide enough energy for the operation of the entire human-machine interface 1 after conversion into electrical energy.

[0084] Each of the human-machine interfaces 1 can therefore operate autonomously in terms of energy. Consequently, it is not necessary to lay supply cables, for example from a central power supply to each of the human-machine interfaces 1.

[0085] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as "comprising," "encompassing," 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 from other embodiments described above. Reference numerals in the claims are not to be considered as limitations.

Claims

1. Human-machine-interface (1) in the form of a landing operation panel (65) or a landing information panel (63) for a lift installation (51), wherein the human-machine-interface (1) has: - an interaction unit (3) that is configured, in response to actuation by a passenger (95), to generate input signals and / or to output output signals in a manner able to be perceived by the passenger (95); - a communication unit (5) that is configured to transmit the input signals to a lift controller (59) and / or to receive the output signals from the lift controller (59); and - a supply unit (7) that is configured to supply electrical energy to the interaction unit (3) and the communication unit (5); wherein the supply unit (7) comprises an energy conversion unit (23) and an electricity storage unit (25), wherein the energy conversion unit (23) is configured to convert kinetic energy available in the immediate surroundings of the human-machine interface (1), wherein the energy conversion unit (23) comprises a wind turbine (27) to be set in rotational motion by the draft (89) and a generator (29) coupled to a shaft (28) of the wind turbine (27), and wherein the electricity storage unit (25) is configured to store the electrical energy converted by the energy conversion unit (23).

2. Human-machine-interface according to claim 1, wherein the human-machine-interface (1) is configured to operate solely on the basis of the electrical energy provided by the supply unit (7).

3. Human-machine-interface according to claim 2, wherein the wind turbine (27) is accommodated in a duct element (87) to be arranged between a lift shaft (53) and a landing corridor (93).

4. Human-machine-interface according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the electricity storage unit (25) comprises an accumulator (31).

5. Human-machine-interface according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the electricity storage unit (25) comprises a supercapacitor (33).

6. Human-machine-interface according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the communication unit (5) is configured to wirelessly exchange the input signals and / or the output signals with the lift controller (59).

7. Human-machine-interface according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the communication unit (5) is configured to become active exclusively in response to an input of an input signal.

8. Lift installation (51) having: a lift shaft (53); a lift cabin (55); a drive machine (57) for moving the lift cabin (55) in the lift shaft (53) between levels of different landings (61); a lift controller (59) for controlling functionalities of the lift installation (1) in response to input signals and for outputting output signals as information about a current state in the lift installation (51); a human-machine-interface (1) according to any of the preceding claims.

9. Lift installation according to claim 9, wherein at least one human-machine-interface (1) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 8 is arranged on each of the different landings (61).

10. Lift installation according to any of claims 9 and 10, wherein the human-machine-interface (1) is arranged on a door frame (75) of a landing door (73) which separates the lift shaft (53) from a landing corridor (93).

11. Lift installation according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the lift installation (51) is devoid of power lines for supplying electrical energy to each of the human-machine-interfaces (1).

12. Lift installation according to any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the energy conversion unit (23) comprises a wind turbine (27) to be set in rotation by the flow of air (89) and a generator (29) coupled to a shaft (28) of the wind turbine (27), and wherein the wind turbine (27) is arranged in a passage duct (85) between the lift shaft (53) and a landing corridor (93) adjacent to the human-machine-interface (1).

13. Lift installation according to any of claims 9 to 13, wherein the lift controller (59) and the human-machine-interface (1) are configured to wirelessly exchange the input signals and the output signals with one another.

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