Elevator control system

Abstract

To provide a control device for an elevator allowing a user who has eliminated a failure to receive a benefit.SOLUTION: The control device 3 includes a failure detection unit 31, a notification control unit 32, and a resolution determination unit 33. When the failure detection unit 31 detects the occurrence of a failure, the notification control unit 32 causes the notification device to notify a repair method for the failure. When the resolution determining unit 33 determines that the failure has been resolved after the notification of the repair method for the failure, the notification control unit 32 causes the notification device to notify of the reward information for providing the reward.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a control device for an elevator. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an elevator system. In the elevator system described in Patent Document 1, when an abnormality occurs, information including the details of the abnormality is notified to the user. If the abnormality is minor, the user can resolve the abnormality themselves. This eliminates the need for a staff member from a management center to visit the site. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-162390 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the elevator system described in Patent Document 1, the user can have the malfunction resolved by the user, but the user does not receive any benefit from the system. Therefore, the elevator system described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that it has to rely on the goodwill of the user.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. An object of the present disclosure is to provide an elevator control device that can benefit users who have resolved a malfunction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The elevator control device according to the present disclosure includes a fault detection unit that detects the occurrence of a fault, a notification control unit that, when the fault detection unit detects the occurrence of a fault, causes an alarm to notify a method for repairing the fault, and a resolution determination unit that determines whether the fault detected by the fault detection unit has been resolved. When the resolution determination unit determines that the fault has been resolved after the notification of the method for repairing the fault, the notification control unit causes the alarm to notify grant information for granting a reward. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] With the elevator control device according to the present disclosure, the user who has resolved the malfunction can benefit. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an elevator device including a control device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the control device in the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a form displayed on a user's mobile terminal by photographing a two-dimensional code. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of a form displayed on a user's mobile terminal by photographing a two-dimensional code. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of hardware resources of a control device. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of hardware resources of a control device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The following detailed description will be given with reference to the drawings. Duplicate descriptions will be simplified or omitted as appropriate. In each drawing, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

[0010] Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an elevator system 1 equipped with a control device 3 according to a first embodiment. The elevator system 1 includes a car 2 and the control device 3. The car 2 moves up and down in a hoistway 4. The hoistway 4 is a space formed in a building that extends up and down. The car 2 can stop at landings 5 ​​on multiple floors within the building.

[0011] In the example shown in Fig. 1, a display 6 is provided on the car 2. The display 6 is an example of an alarm provided on the car 2. Other devices such as an announcement device may be provided on the car 2 as an alarm. A plurality of devices may be provided on the car 2 as an alarm.

[0012] In the example shown in FIG. 1 , a display 7 is provided at each landing 5 at which the car 2 stops. The display 7 may be provided only at some of the landings 5 ​​at which the car 2 stops. For example, the display 7 may be provided only at the landings 5 ​​on the lobby floor. The display 7 is an example of an alarm provided at a landing 5. Other devices such as an announcement device may be provided at the landing 5 as an alarm. Multiple devices may be provided at one landing 5 as an alarm.

[0013] The elevator apparatus 1 preferably includes both an alarm provided in the car 2 and an alarm provided at the landing 5. The elevator apparatus 1 may include only one of the alarm provided in the car 2 or the alarm provided at the landing 5.

[0014] The control device 3 controls the operation of the car 2. When a call is registered, the control device 3 causes the car 2 to respond to the registered call. This allows elevator users to ride the car 2 and move from a hall 5 on one floor to a hall 5 on another floor. The control device 3 includes, for example, a memory unit 30, a fault detection unit 31, a notification control unit 32, and a resolution determination unit 33.

[0015] The control device 3 may include a maintenance management unit 34. The maintenance management unit 34 is a function that enables the elevator maintenance company to perform remote monitoring. For example, if a maintenance contract including remote monitoring is concluded with a maintenance company for the elevator device 1, the control device 3 is provided with the maintenance management unit 34, and the remote monitoring function by the maintenance management unit 34 is enabled. In such a case, the control device 3 can be accessed from a specific external device 9 via a network 8 such as the Internet. As an example, the external device 9 is a server device provided in an information center operated by the maintenance company. The external device 9 can send and receive signals to and from the control device 3.

[0016] On the other hand, in an elevator device 1 that does not have a maintenance contract including remote monitoring with a maintenance company, the control device 3 is not provided with the maintenance management unit 34. Or, even if the control device 3 is provided with the maintenance management unit 34, the remote monitoring function of the maintenance management unit 34 is not enabled. In such a case, the control device 3 cannot transmit and receive signals to and from the external device 9 via the network 8.

[0017] The functions of the elevator device 1 will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 2 to 4. Figure 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the control device 3 in the first embodiment.

[0018] The control device 3 determines whether a failure has occurred (S101). The failure detection unit 31 detects the occurrence of a failure. The failures detected by the failure detection unit 31 may include minor failures that do not require the elevator to be stopped. For example, the failure detection unit 31 may detect, as a failure, an event in which the door of the car 2 can be closed but the time it takes to close is longer than normal (a reference time). The failure detection unit 31 may also detect an on failure of a direction button provided at the landing 5. When the failure detection unit 31 detects the occurrence of a failure, a determination of Yes is made in S101.

[0019] If the determination in S101 is Yes, the notification control unit 32 causes an alarm to notify a repair method for the fault detected by the fault detection unit 31 (S102). As an example, a correspondence table between the contents of the fault and the repair method for that fault is stored in the storage unit 30. The notification control unit 32 may identify a repair method according to the contents of the fault detected by the fault detection unit 31 based on the correspondence table.

[0020] In S102, the repair method may be notified from an alarm provided in the car 2, or from an alarm provided at the landing 5. The repair method may be notified from both the alarm provided in the car 2 and the alarm provided at the landing 5. For example, in S102, the notification control unit 32 causes the display unit 7 to display a message saying, "If a foreign object is caught in the threshold, remove it," as a method for repairing the malfunction. If the malfunction detection unit 31 detects the occurrence of an on-failure of a direction button provided at the landing 5, the notification control unit 32 may cause the display unit 7 to display a message saying, "Try pressing the direction button several times in succession," as a method for repairing the malfunction.

[0021] Furthermore, in addition to the repair method, the alarm may also notify of important repair instructions. For example, in S102, the notification control unit 32 causes the display 7 to display a message such as "When checking for foreign objects on the threshold, be careful not to get caught in the door." as important repair instructions. If the failure detection unit 31 detects an ON failure of a direction button provided at the landing 5, the notification control unit 32 may cause the display 7 to display a message such as "When pressing the direction button, be careful not to press it too hard." as important repair instructions. An elevator user at the landing 5 can see the repair method displayed on the display 7 and fix the malfunction if they believe they can perform the repair.

[0022] Furthermore, if S101 returns Yes, the resolution determination unit 33 determines whether the fault detected by the fault detection unit 31 has been resolved (S103). For example, the fault is resolved when the user removes a foreign object that has been caught in the threshold. After the method for repairing the fault is notified, the resolution determination unit 33 determines that the fault has been resolved, resulting in a Yes determination in S103.

[0023] If S103 returns Yes, the notification control unit 32 causes the alarm to notify the grant information (S104). The grant information is information for granting a reward to an elevator user. In a preferred example, the grant information includes a two-dimensional code. The grant information may be notified by an alarm provided in the car 2, or may be notified by an alarm provided in the hall 5. The grant information may be notified by both an alarm provided in the car 2 and an alarm provided in the hall 5. For example, in S104, the notification control unit 32 causes the display 6 or the display 7 to display the grant information including the two-dimensional code. Preferably, the grant information is notified by the alarm that notified the repair method in S102.

[0024] Any method may be used for elevator users to receive a reward based on the grant information. For example, the two-dimensional code included in the grant information is a code for accessing a form for sending personal information to the elevator manufacturer or an affiliated company of the manufacturer. Users can access the form by photographing the two-dimensional code displayed on the display 7 with their mobile device.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a form displayed on a user's mobile device by scanning a two-dimensional code. As shown in FIG. 3, the form includes a field for entering personal information. FIG. 3 shows an example in which registered users must enter their login ID as personal information, while unregistered users must enter their name and contact information as personal information. By entering personal information and pressing the OK button, users can move to a screen for receiving a reward.

[0026] The reward that the user can receive as a reward for fixing the malfunction may be anything. For example, the reward may be points that can be used in a payment service that is installed or can be installed on a mobile terminal. The reward may be a digital service coupon that can be used in a commercial facility where the elevator device 1 is installed. The reward may be a service coupon issued at a service counter in the commercial facility. The user may be given multiple options for the reward.

[0027] In this example, when the user presses the OK button shown in Fig. 3, the input personal information is sent to a server device managed by the elevator manufacturer or an affiliated company of the manufacturer. At this time, information other than the personal information input by the user may also be sent to the server device.

[0028] For example, the attached information may include information about a fault detected by the fault detection unit 31. Hereinafter, this information may also be referred to as fault information. The fault information preferably includes at least information for identifying the elevator, the details of the fault detected by the fault detection unit 31, and the date and time of the fault. The information for identifying the elevator may be an identification code assigned to each elevator device. The details of the fault may be an error code used to identify the fault in the elevator device 1. The fault information may also include other information.

[0029] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing another example of a form displayed on a user's mobile terminal by photographing a two-dimensional code. Fig. 4 shows the state in which the screen shown in Fig. 3 has been scrolled down. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the user photographs the two-dimensional code displayed on the display 7 with the mobile terminal, and the malfunction information is read into the mobile terminal. In this example, when the user presses the OK button, the malfunction information contained in the two-dimensional code is sent together with the personal information entered in the form to a server device managed by the elevator manufacturer or an affiliated company of the manufacturer.

[0030] If this reward system is managed by a maintenance company of the elevator device 1, the personal information entered in the form may be transmitted to a server device managed by the maintenance company.

[0031] In the example shown in this embodiment, when the occurrence of a fault is detected by the fault detection unit 31, a method for repairing the fault is displayed, for example, on the display 7. Then, a user who repairs the fault by looking at the repair method displayed on the display 7 can receive a reward by following the grant information displayed on the display 7 in S104. Therefore, the response to the fault does not depend solely on the goodwill of the user, and the user who resolves the fault can receive a certain amount of benefit.

[0032] In this embodiment, an example has been described in which a user can access a form such as that shown in Fig. 3 by photographing a two-dimensional code displayed on the display 7 with their own mobile terminal. As another example, if application software related to the elevator device 1 is pre-installed on the user's mobile terminal, the application software may be automatically launched when the user photographs the two-dimensional code with their mobile terminal.

[0033] In order to encourage the user to repair the malfunction more proactively, the notification control unit 32 may cause the alarm to notify the user in S102 that a reward will be given to the person who repairs the malfunction, along with the method for repairing the malfunction. In this example, it is also possible to notify the user at the same time that the reward is given to the person who repairs the malfunction.

[0034] As another example, the reward given to the user may be determined according to the type of malfunction repaired. For example, when points are given as a reward, 200 points may be given for repairing a specific malfunction, and 100 points may be given for repairing a different malfunction.

[0035] 5 is a diagram showing an example of hardware resources of the control device 3. The control device 3 includes, as hardware resources, a processing circuit 40 including a processor 41 and a memory 42. The processing circuit 40 may include multiple processors 41. The processing circuit 40 may include multiple memories 42.

[0036] In this embodiment, the units denoted by the reference numerals 30 to 34 represent functions possessed by the control device 3. The function of the storage unit 30 is realized by a memory 42. The functions of the units denoted by the reference numerals 31 to 34 can be realized by software written as a program, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. The program is stored in the memory 42. The control device 3 realizes the functions of the units denoted by the reference numerals 31 to 34 by executing the program stored in the memory 42 using a processor 41 (computer).

[0037] The processor 41 is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), etc. The memory 42 may be a semiconductor memory or the like.

[0038] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing another example of hardware resources of the control device 3. In the example shown in Fig. 6, the control device 3 includes a processing circuit 40 including a processor 41, a memory 42, and dedicated hardware 43. Fig. 6 shows an example in which some of the functions of the control device 3 are realized by the dedicated hardware 43. It is also possible to realize all of the functions of the control device 3 by the dedicated hardware 43. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 elevator device, 2 car, 3 control device, 4 elevator shaft, 5 landing, 6 display, 7 display, 8 network, 9 external device, 30 memory unit, 31 fault detection unit, 32 notification control unit, 33 resolution determination unit, 34 maintenance management unit, 40 processing circuit, 41 processor, 42 memory, 43 dedicated hardware

Claims

1. a fault detection unit that detects the occurrence of a fault; a notification control unit that, when the failure detection unit detects the occurrence of a failure, causes an alarm to notify a method for repairing the failure; a resolution determination unit that determines whether the fault detected by the fault detection unit has been resolved; Equipped with The notification control unit is an elevator control device that, when the resolution determination unit determines that the failure has been resolved after the method for repairing the failure has been notified, causes the alarm to notify grant information for granting a reward.

2. The alarm is a display provided in a car or at a landing where the car stops, The elevator control device according to claim 1, wherein the notification control unit causes the display device to display the additional information including a two-dimensional code.

3. 3. The elevator control device according to claim 2, wherein the two-dimensional code is a code for accessing a form for transmitting personal information to the elevator manufacturer or an affiliated company of the manufacturer.

4. the attached information includes fault information regarding a fault detected by the fault detection unit, The elevator control device according to claim 3, wherein the failure information is transmitted together with personal information entered in the form.

5. 5. The elevator control device according to claim 1, wherein, when the fault detection unit detects the occurrence of a fault, the notification control unit causes the alarm to notify a method for repairing the fault as well as a notice that a reward will be given to a person who repairs the fault.

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