Elevator management systems and their on-site equipment
The elevator management system addresses unreliable position identification by using observation and detection units to manage uncertain states, enhancing the reliability of operation data and positioning.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024208464
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-29
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-07
- Estimated Expiration
- 2044-11-29
AI Technical Summary
Elevator operation reliability is compromised due to unreliable position identification by independent car position specifying devices, leading to inaccurate operation data.
An elevator management system with on-site equipment that includes observation devices, calculation units, detection units, and storage units to ensure reliable operation data by detecting uncertain states and storing data accordingly.
The system suppresses deterioration in the reliability of stored operation data by accurately identifying and managing uncertain states, ensuring precise elevator positioning and operation.
Smart Images

Figure 0007750365000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present disclosure relates to elevator management systems and their field equipment. [Background technology]
[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an example of an elevator car position specifying device. The car position specifying device acquires air pressure data from an air pressure sensor installed in the elevator car. The car position specifying device specifies the stopping floor of the car based on the air pressure sensor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7395433 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] However, because the car position identifying device in Patent Document 1 is a device independent of the elevator itself, the elevator continues to operate even when the car's position, such as the stopping floor, identified by the car position identifying device cannot be said to be reliable due to an abnormality occurring in the car position identifying device. During this time, the car's position identified and recorded by the car position identifying device may be unreliable, which may reduce the reliability of elevator operation data such as the car's position.
[0005] The present disclosure relates to solving such problems, and provides an elevator management system and on-site equipment thereof that can suppress deterioration in the reliability of stored operation data. [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] The on-site device for an elevator according to the present disclosure is installed in a building to which an elevator including a car that travels in a vertical direction is applied, and is included in a management system for the elevator, and includes: an observation device that is installed in the car and observes observation data including information about the travel of the car; a calculation unit that calculates operation data including a position of the car based on the observation data observed by the observation device when the car stops; a detection unit that detects a predetermined uncertain state in which the position of the car in the operation data calculated by the calculation unit may be uncertain; a normal storage unit that stores the operation data calculated by the calculation unit when the detection unit does not detect the uncertain state; and a temporary storage unit that stores the operation data calculated by the calculation unit when the detection unit detects the uncertain state. The observation device includes at least one of a barometric pressure sensor that measures the barometric pressure at the position where the car is located when the car stops, an acceleration sensor that measures the acceleration of the car in the vertical direction, and a camera that captures an image of the elevator shaft along which the car travels in the vertical direction. .
[0007] An elevator management system according to the present disclosure is a management system for an elevator including a car that travels in a vertical direction, and includes: a local device provided in a building to which the elevator is applied; and a management device that communicates with the local device. The local device includes: an observation device provided in the car that observes observation data including information about the travel of the car; a calculation unit that calculates operation data including a position of the car based on the observation data observed by the observation device when the car stops; a detection unit that detects a predetermined uncertain state in which the position of the car in the operation data calculated by the calculation unit may be uncertain; a normal storage unit that stores the operation data calculated by the calculation unit when the detection unit does not detect the uncertain state; and a temporary storage unit that stores the operation data calculated by the calculation unit when the detection unit detects the uncertain state. The observation device includes at least one of a barometric pressure sensor that measures the barometric pressure at the position where the car is located when the car stops, an acceleration sensor that measures the acceleration of the car in the vertical direction, and a camera that captures an image of the elevator shaft along which the car travels in the vertical direction. . [Effects of the Invention]
[0008] According to the elevator management system or its on-site equipment of the present disclosure, deterioration in the reliability of stored operational data is suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an elevator according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an elevator management system according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of information managed in a management system. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of a main part of a management system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an elevator management system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an elevator management system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 9] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system according to the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The following describes embodiments of the subject matter of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each drawing, identical or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are appropriately simplified or omitted. Note that the subject matter of the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and any component of the embodiments may be modified or omitted within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure.
[0011] Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an elevator 1 according to the first embodiment.
[0012] The elevator 1 is applied to a building 2. The elevator 1 is a device that transports users of the building 2 and the like between multiple floors of the building 2. A hoistway 3 for the elevator 1 is provided in the building 2. The hoistway 3 is a long space in the vertical direction that spans multiple floors. A landing 4 for the elevator 1 is provided on each floor of the building 2. The landing 4 is a location that leads to the hoistway 3. A landing door 5 is provided at each landing 4. The landing door 5 is a door that separates the landing 4 from the hoistway 3.
[0013] The elevator 1 includes a hoisting machine 6, a main rope 7, a car 8, a counterweight 9, and a control panel 10. The hoisting machine 6 includes a motor that generates drive torque and a sheave that rotates due to the drive torque generated by the motor. The hoisting machine 6 is disposed, for example, at the upper or lower part of the hoistway 3. The main rope 7 is wound around the sheave of the hoisting machine 6. The main rope 7 supports the load of the car 8 on one side of the sheave of the hoisting machine 6. The main rope 7 supports the load of the counterweight 9 on the other side of the sheave of the hoisting machine 6. When the sheave of the hoisting machine 6 rotates, the main rope 7 moves so that one side of the sheave of the hoisting machine 6 is wound up. The car 8 and the counterweight 9 are disposed in the hoistway 3. When the main rope 7 is moved by the hoisting machine 6, the car 8 and the counterweight 9 run in opposite directions in the vertical direction. The car 8 is a device that travels up and down the hoistway 3 to transport passengers and the like between multiple floors. The car 8 is equipped with a car door 11. The car door 11 is a door that separates the interior and exterior of the car 8. When the car 8 arrives at a floor, the car door 11 opens and closes in conjunction with a landing door 5 provided at the landing 4 of that floor so that passengers can board and disembark. The counterweight 9 is a device that is provided to balance the loads applied to both sides of the sheave of the hoisting machine 6 with the car 8. The control panel 10 is a device that controls the running of the car 8 through control of the hoisting machine 6, etc. The control panel 10 is connected to the hoisting machine 6, the car 8, etc. so as to be able to obtain operating information including the position of the car 8, etc. The control panel 10 is disposed, for example, at the top or bottom of the hoistway 3. When a machine room or the like for the elevator 1 is provided above the hoistway 3, the hoisting machine 6 and the control panel 10 may be arranged in the machine room.
[0014] A management system 12 is applied to the elevator 1. The management system 12 is a system that manages the elevator 1 by monitoring the operation status of the elevator 1, etc. The management system 12 may be an external system for the elevator that is added to an existing elevator 1, or may be an internal system that is part of an elevator system that includes the elevator 1. The management system 12 includes a local device 13, a management device 14, and a monitoring terminal 15.
[0015] The local device 13 is a device provided in a building 2 to which the elevator 1 is applied. The local device 13 is provided, for example, in the elevator 1 applied to the building 2. The local device 13 includes a car device 16 and an edge device 17. The car device 16 is provided in the car 8. The car device 16 moves up and down in the hoistway 3 as the car 8 travels. In this example, the car device 16 is provided at the top of the car 8. The car device 16 may be a device provided at the bottom of the car 8, or may be a plurality of devices provided at both the top and bottom of the car 8. The car device 16 is a device that acquires information such as the travel of the car 8. The edge device 17 is communicatively connected to the car device 16. The edge device 17 is provided, for example, in the hoistway 3. The edge device 17 may also be provided in another location in the building 2. The edge device 17 may be provided, for example, in the car 8 as an integrated device with the car device 16. The edge device 17 collects information acquired by the car device 16. The edge device 17 is connected to a communication network 18 so as to be able to communicate the collected information. The communication network 18 includes, for example, the Internet, a telephone network, or an optical communication network. The communication network 18 may include a local network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) within the building 2. The communication network 18 may also include a wired or wireless intranet.
[0016] The management device 14 is a device that performs processes such as managing information in the management system 12. The management device 14 is located, for example, in an information center. The information center is a base for collecting and managing information about the elevator 1. In this example, the information center is located in a remote location in the building 2. The management device 14 communicates with external devices, for example, via a communication network 18. The management device 14 is, for example, a computer system consisting of one or more server devices, or a device including such a system. The multiple server devices that make up the management device 14 may be located in different locations. In this case, the multiple server devices communicate information with each other, for example, via the communication network 18. Some or all of the functions of the management device 14 may be implemented, for example, in a virtual machine on a cloud service, or by processing or storage resources on the cloud service.
[0017] The management device 14 communicates with the edge device 17, for example, via a communication network 18. The management device 14 collects information from an external service 19, for example, via the communication network 18. The external service 19 is an information providing service external to the management system 12. The external service 19 is, for example, a weather information providing service that distributes weather information. The weather information providing service is, for example, a system operated by a public institution that handles weather information, such as the Japan Meteorological Agency in Japan, a private company such as a weather information company, or other organization. The management device 14 acquires weather data from the external service 19. The weather data includes information such as the atmospheric pressure at the location where the building 2 is located. The atmospheric pressure in the weather data may be the ground surface atmospheric pressure at the location where the building 2 is located, or may be sea level atmospheric pressure converted to sea level. The atmospheric pressure in the weather data may be the atmospheric pressure at a representative point in the area where the building 2 is located, the average atmospheric pressure in the area, or the atmospheric pressure at a grid point in the area including the area.
[0018] The monitoring terminal 15 is an information processing terminal device that monitors the operation status of the elevator 1. The monitoring terminal 15 is installed, for example, in an information center. The monitoring terminal 15 is a device used by, for example, an operator working at the information center to monitor the operation status of the elevator 1.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the management system 12 for the elevator 1 according to the first embodiment.
[0020] The on-site device 13 includes an observation device 20 , a calculation unit 21 , a detection unit 22 , a first communication unit 23 , a first storage unit 24 , and an integration unit 25 .
[0021] The observation device 20 is a device that observes quantities or information representing the environment around the observation device 20 or other conditions as observation data. The observation device 20 is provided on the car equipment 16. The observation device 20 moves up and down the hoistway 3 as the car 8 travels and observes the observation data, so the observation data includes information about the travel of the car 8. The observation device 20 may be a single device equipped with one or more sensors, or may be multiple separable devices. In this example, the observation device 20 includes an air pressure sensor 26, an acceleration sensor 27, and a camera 28. The air pressure sensor 26 is a sensor that measures the air pressure at its own position. Since the air pressure sensor 26 moves up and down the hoistway 3 as the car 8 travels, the air pressure measured by the air pressure sensor 26 reflects information about the position of the car 8. The air pressure sensor 26 is fixedly attached, for example, to the top surface of the car 8. The acceleration sensor 27 is a sensor that measures the acceleration of its own movement. In this example, acceleration sensor 27 measures at least the acceleration in the vertical direction. Since acceleration sensor 27 moves up and down in hoistway 3 as car 8 travels, the acceleration measured by acceleration sensor 27 reflects travel information of car 8, such as its acceleration, speed, and position. Acceleration sensor 27 may be a three-axis acceleration sensor, for example. Acceleration sensor 27 may be fixedly attached to the top surface of car 8, or may be attached to car door 11, for example. Camera 28 is a device that captures images of hoistway 3, etc. Since camera 28 captures images of hoistway 3 while moving up and down in hoistway 3 as car 8 travels, the images captured by camera 28 reflect travel information of car 8. Camera 28 is fixedly attached to one or both of the top and bottom surfaces of car 8, for example. The observation device 20 may include a switch or a sensor provided on the car door 11 that observes whether the car door 11 is open or closed or the degree of opening of the car door 11 as observation data.
[0022] The calculation unit 21 is a part equipped with a function for calculating operation data of the elevator 1 based on the observation data observed by the observation device 20. The calculation unit 21 is provided in, for example, the edge device 17. The operation data is data that represents the operation history or operation status of the elevator 1. The operation data includes information on the vertical position of the car 8. In this example, the operation data includes information such as the number of trips, travel distance, and travel time of the car 8, as well as the number of times the car door 11 is opened and closed for each floor. The operation data may also include information such as the number of times the main rope 7 is bent.
[0023] The calculation unit 21 calculates the position of the car 8 based on, for example, the measurement values of the atmospheric pressure sensor 26 and the acceleration sensor 27. In this example, the calculation unit 21 calculates the position of the car 8 based on information acquired by the local device 13, without relying on information from the control panel 10 of the elevator 1. The calculation unit 21 calculates the position of the car 8 based on, for example, the difference between the atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure sensor 26 when the car 8 stops and a reference atmospheric pressure measured in advance by the atmospheric pressure sensor 26. Here, the difference between the two atmospheric pressures is expressed by the ratio or difference between the two atmospheric pressures. The reference atmospheric pressure is the atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure sensor 26 when the car 8 is located on the ground floor of the building 2. The ground floor is one of multiple floors preset in the building 2. The ground floor is, for example, an entrance floor where an entrance and exit to the building 2 is provided, or a main floor. For example, the calculation unit 21 may detect that the car 8 is stopped based on the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor 27, may detect that the car 8 is stopped because the air pressure measured by the air pressure sensor 26 is a constant value, or may detect that the car 8 is stopped based on an image of the elevator shaft 3 captured by the camera 28. The calculation unit 21 may calculate the position of the car 8 by, for example, integrating the measurement values of the acceleration sensor 27 over time. The calculation unit 21 may calculate the position of the car 8 based on the measurement values of the air pressure sensor 26 and the position of the car 8 based on the measurement values of the acceleration sensor 27 independently. The position of the car 8 calculated by the calculation unit 21 is, for example, one of multiple floors in the building 2.
[0024] The calculation unit 21 calculates information such as the number of runs, running distance, and running time of the car 8 based on, for example, the measurement values of the acceleration sensor 27. The calculation unit 21 calculates information such as the number of bends of the main rope 7 based on, for example, information such as the position of the car 8, the number of runs, running distance, and running time of the car 8 calculated based on observation data. The calculation unit 21 calculates information such as the number of times the car door 11 is opened and closed based on whether the car door 11 is opened or closed, or the opening degree of the car door 11, observed by an observation device 20 such as a switch or sensor provided on the car door 11. When the acceleration sensor 27 is provided on the car door 11, the calculation unit 21 may calculate information such as the number of times the car door 11 is opened and closed based on, for example, the horizontal acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor 27. The calculation unit 21 may determine the position of the car 8 calculated based on the observation data as the floor at which the car door 11 opens and closes. The calculation unit 21 may use the observation data itself as operation data. For example, the calculation unit 21 may use, as operation data, an image of the elevator shaft 3 taken by the camera 28 when the car 8 stops.
[0025] The detection unit 22 is a component equipped with a function for detecting an uncertain state. The detection unit 22 is provided, for example, in the edge device 17. The uncertain state is a pre-set state in which the position of the car 8 in the operation data calculated by the calculation unit 21 may be uncertain. The uncertain state includes, for example, a state in which an abnormal stop of the car 8 has occurred. An abnormal stop of the car 8 includes, for example, an abnormality in the stopping sequence when the car 8 stops, or an abnormality in the stopping position at which the car 8 stops. The detection unit 22 detects an abnormality in the stopping sequence, for example, when a change in the measurement value of the acceleration sensor 27 deviates from a pre-set acceleration profile. The detection unit 22 detects an abnormality in the stopping position based on, for example, the air pressure measured by the air pressure sensor 26 when the car 8 stops. Note that the detection unit 22 may also detect an abnormal stop of the car 8 based on an external signal output by equipment of the elevator 1, such as the control panel 10, in the event of an abnormality. When an abnormal stop of the car 8 is detected, there are cases where an actual abnormal stop has occurred and cases where an error has occurred in the calculation of the position of the car 8. Therefore, when an abnormal stop of the car 8 is detected, the position of the car 8 may be uncertain. The uncertain state may also include a state in which the current position of the car 8 is unknown, for example, when the field device 13 is started up for the first time, when it is restarted after maintenance work, or when it is started up after recovery from a power outage, or when a normal value is not stored as the reference atmospheric pressure. When the current position of the car 8 is unknown, the position of the car 8 calculated based on the movement of the car 8 may be uncertain. The uncertain state may also include, for example, a state in which the position of the car 8 based on the measurement value of the atmospheric pressure sensor 26 does not match the position of the car 8 based on the measurement value of the acceleration sensor 27.
[0026] The first communication unit 23 is a part that handles communication with the outside of the local device 13. The first communication unit 23 is provided in, for example, the edge device 17. The first communication unit 23 communicates information with, for example, the management device 14 via the communication network 18. The first communication unit 23 notifies, for example, the management device 14 of the detection of an uncertain state by the detection unit 22. The first communication unit 23 is an example of a notification unit that notifies the management device 14.
[0027] The first memory unit 24 is a unit equipped with a function for storing information. The first memory unit 24 is provided, for example, in the edge device 17. The first memory unit 24 stores, for example, information communicated by the first communication unit 23 with the management device 14. The first memory unit 24 includes a normal memory unit 29 and a temporary memory unit 30. The normal memory unit 29 stores operation data during normal operation. When the detection unit 22 does not detect an uncertain state, the normal memory unit 29 accumulates and stores observation data observed by the observation device 20 and operation data calculated by the calculation unit 21, such as measurement values of the air pressure sensor 26 and acceleration sensor 27 and calculated position information of the car 8. The temporary memory unit 30 temporarily stores operation data of the elevator 1 when the detection unit 22 detects an uncertain state. When the detection unit 22 detects an uncertain state, the temporary memory unit 30 accumulates and stores the observation data observed by the observation device 20 and the operation data calculated by the calculation unit 21, such as the measurement values of the air pressure sensor 26 and the acceleration sensor 27 and the calculated position information of the cage 8.
[0028] The integrating unit 25 is a part equipped with a function for performing an integration process of integrating the operation data stored in the temporary storage unit 30 with the operation data stored in the normal storage unit 29. The integrating unit 25 is provided, for example, in the edge device 17. The integrating unit 25 performs the integration process, for example, after the uncertain state detected by the detecting unit 22 is resolved. The integrating unit 25 performs the integration process, for example, after it is confirmed that the observation data and operation data acquired while the detecting unit 22 was detecting the uncertain state are valid.
[0029] The management device 14 includes a second communication unit 31, a second storage unit 32, a determination unit 33, and a generation unit .
[0030] The second communication unit 31 is a part responsible for communication with the outside of the management device 14. The second communication unit 31 communicates information with, for example, the local device 13 via the communication network 18. The second communication unit 31 receives notifications from the local device 13 at predetermined timing. The notifications from the local device 13 may be periodic notifications at predetermined intervals or irregular notifications when a predetermined event occurs. The notifications from the local device 13 include, for example, notifications of the detection of an uncertain state by the detection unit 22. The notifications from the local device 13 include, for example, information such as the reference atmospheric pressure used by the calculation unit 21 to calculate the position of the car 8. The notifications from the local device 13 may include, for example, observation data observed by the observation device 20 and operation data calculated by the calculation unit 21 at the time of notification, such as the atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure sensor 26 and the position of the car 8 calculated therefrom. The notifications from the local device 13 may include, for example, information such as the reference atmospheric pressure used by the calculation unit 21 to calculate the position of the car 8. The second communication unit 31 communicates information with the external service 19, for example, via the communication network 18. The second communication unit 31 acquires weather data, including the atmospheric pressure at the location where the building 2 is located, from the external service 19. The second communication unit 31 acquires the weather data at a predetermined timing. The weather data may be acquired from the external service 19 periodically at a predetermined cycle, or irregularly when a predetermined event occurs. The second communication unit 31 communicates information with the monitoring terminal 15. For example, when the second communication unit 31 receives a notification from the local device 13 that the car 8 has stopped abnormally, the second communication unit 31 transmits the notification information to the monitoring terminal 15. An operator who receives the notification through the monitoring terminal 15 may, for example, dispatch a maintenance worker to the building 2 where the elevator 1 is located.
[0031] The second memory unit 32 is a component equipped with a function for storing information. The second memory unit 32 stores, for example, information communicated by the second communication unit 31 between the local device 13 and the external service 19. The second memory unit 32 stores, for example, information such as observation data and operation data included in notifications from the local device 13. The second memory unit 32 stores, for example, information such as reference atmospheric pressure included in notifications from the local device 13. The second memory unit 32 stores, for example, information such as weather data acquired from the external service 19. When the weather data includes information on atmospheric pressure at multiple points, the second memory unit 32 stores, for example, the atmospheric pressure at the point closest to the location where the building 2 is installed, in association with the building 2. When the weather data represents current information, for example, actual measured values of atmospheric pressure, the second memory unit 32 may update and store the atmospheric pressure information associated with the building 2 each time weather data is acquired. When the weather data represents information for one or more future points in time, such as a forecast value of atmospheric pressure, the second storage unit 32 may store the atmospheric pressure at the point in time closest to the current time in association with the building 2.
[0032] The determination unit 33 is a part equipped with a function for determining the validity of the relationship between the observation data and operation data included in the notification from the local device 13. The determination unit 33 determines the validity of the relationship between the atmospheric pressure included in the observation data and the position of the car 8 included in the operation data, for example, based on whether the atmospheric pressure in the weather data and the reference atmospheric pressure included in the notification from the local device 13 are consistent. The determination unit 33 determines the consistency, for example, based on whether the difference between the atmospheric pressure in the weather data and the reference atmospheric pressure is outside a preset error range. When the atmospheric pressure in the weather data and the reference atmospheric pressure do not match, the position of the car 8 calculated based on the atmospheric pressure may be inaccurate, and the relationship between the observation data and the operation data may be invalid. The determination unit 33 may also determine the validity of the relationship between the observation data and the operation data using other methods.
[0033] The generation unit 34 is a part equipped with a function for generating correction information used to correct the calculation of operation data by the calculation unit 21. The correction information is generated based on, for example, the atmospheric pressure of weather data acquired from the external service 19. The correction information includes, for example, the atmospheric pressure of the weather data and a correction coefficient. The atmospheric pressure of the weather data is used, for example, to update the reference atmospheric pressure. The correction coefficient is used, for example, to correct the atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure sensor 26 on each floor, or the difference between the atmospheric pressure and the reference atmospheric pressure. The correction information is transmitted to the local device 13 via the second communication unit 31.
[0034] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of information managed in the management system 12. As shown in FIG.
[0035] In the on-site device 13, the first storage unit 24 stores information for identifying the ground floor. In this example, the ground floor is set to the first floor. The first storage unit 24 stores the reference atmospheric pressure. The first storage unit 24 stores the correction coefficient. Note that if the first storage unit 24 does not have a function for retaining information when the power to the on-site device 13 is cut off, or if measurements of the reference atmospheric pressure and the like have not yet been performed, initial values may be set in advance in the on-site device 13 for the reference atmospheric pressure, the correction coefficient, and the like.
[0036] The reference atmospheric pressure is measured by the atmospheric pressure sensor 26, for example, during learning operation. Learning operation is an operation performed when the elevator 1 starts operating the management system 12, and is used to set up the management system 12. Learning operation is performed, for example, based on the operation of a maintenance worker. The maintenance worker stores the atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure sensor 26 when the car 8 is stopped on the ground floor during learning operation in the first memory unit 24 as the reference atmospheric pressure. During learning operation, the maintenance worker, for example, stops the car 8 at each floor. The maintenance worker stores the atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure sensor 26 when the car 8 is stopped on each floor during learning operation in the first memory unit 24 as saved atmospheric pressure, in association with the floor on which the car 8 is stopped. In this example, the first memory unit 24 stores the measured atmospheric pressure values stored in association with each floor and the reference atmospheric pressure as separate information.
[0037] In this example, the calculation unit 21 performs a correction by multiplying the ratio of the atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure sensor 26 to the reference atmospheric pressure by a correction coefficient, and then further multiplies the result by a conversion coefficient to calculate the height of the car 8 in the hoistway 3. The conversion coefficient is set, for example, based on a height measurement formula or the like. The calculation unit 21 may calculate the height of the car 8 without using the correction coefficient. The calculation unit 21 reads the reference atmospheric pressure and the correction coefficient from the first storage unit 24 to calculate the height of the car 8. The calculation unit 21 compares the height of the car 8 calculated based on the atmospheric pressure with a height set in advance for each floor, and calculates the floor whose height is closest to the height of the car 8 calculated based on the atmospheric pressure as the position of the car 8. The height of each floor is set in advance by a maintenance worker, for example, during learning operation. The calculation unit 21 may calculate the height of the car 8 in the hoistway 3 based on the atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure sensor 26 and the reference atmospheric pressure during learning operation. At this time, the maintenance person stores the height calculated by the calculation unit 21 in association with each floor in the first storage unit 24. The maintenance person may store the height of each floor in the first storage unit 24 based on the design value or other information.
[0038] During normal operation of the elevator 1, the calculation unit 21 acquires the air pressure measured by the air pressure sensor 26 when the car 8 stops. Using the air pressure measured at this time and information such as the reference air pressure and correction coefficient stored in the first storage unit 24, the calculation unit 21 calculates the floor at which the car 8 stopped as the position of the car 8. Here, the detection unit 22 does not detect an uncertain state. At this time, the normal storage unit 29 accumulates and stores, for example, the stopping floor calculated as operation data and the measured air pressure value observed by the observation device 20 as observation data when the car 8 stops at that floor. The normal storage unit 29 may also store other observation data observed at this time and other operation data calculated based on it.
[0039] The detection unit 22 determines whether the height of the car 8 in the elevator shaft 3 calculated by the calculation unit 21 based on the air pressure measured by the air pressure sensor 26 when the car 8 stops is within a predetermined stopping range for each floor. When the height of the car 8 is not within the stopping range for any floor, the detection unit 22 detects an abnormal stop of the car 8 as detecting an uncertain state. The detection unit 22 may detect an uncertain state as poor observation data when the difference between the stored air pressure at the stopping floor calculated by the calculation unit 21 as the position of the car 8 and the air pressure measured when the car 8 stops at that floor is outside a predetermined error range. In this case, the detection unit 22 may detect the uncertain state by multiplying the difference in air pressure by a predetermined correction parameter or the like.
[0040] The detection unit 22 may update the stored air pressure as needed during normal operation of the elevator 1. For example, the detection unit 22 updates the stored air pressure based on the air pressure measured by the air pressure sensor 26 every time the car 8 stops at the ground floor. The detection unit 22 updates the stored air pressure of the ground floor using the air pressure measured by the air pressure sensor 26. The detection unit 22 updates the stored air pressure of the first adjacent floor adjacent to the ground floor using a value obtained by adding the difference between the stored air pressures of the ground floor and the first adjacent floor before the update to the stored air pressure of the ground floor after the update. The detection unit 22 may multiply the difference between the stored air pressures before the update by a preset correction parameter or the like and add the result to the stored air pressure of the ground floor after the update. The detection unit 22 updates the stored air pressure of the second adjacent floor adjacent to the first adjacent floor using a value obtained by adding the difference between the stored air pressures of the first adjacent floor and the second adjacent floor before the update to the stored air pressure of the first adjacent floor after the update. At this time, the detection unit 22 may update the stored air pressure using a correction parameter, as with the first adjacent floor. The detection unit 22 also updates the stored air pressures of other floors by similarly sequentially adding the difference in stored air pressure between each floor. The difference in stored air pressure between each floor takes a positive or negative value depending on the hierarchical relationship of each floor. The detection unit 22 may also update the stored air pressure of a non-adjacent floor that is not adjacent to the ground floor by directly adding the difference in stored air pressure between the ground floor and non-adjacent floor before the update to the stored air pressure of the ground floor after the update. In this case, the detection unit 22 may update the stored air pressure using a correction parameter, as with the first-order adjacent floors, etc.
[0041] The first communication unit 23 notifies the management device 14 when the detection unit 22 detects an uncertain state due to, for example, startup of the local equipment 13, an abnormal stop of the car 8, or poor observation data from the observation device 20. The notification from the local equipment 13 includes, for example, information on the reference atmospheric pressure and the stored atmospheric pressure for each floor stored in the first storage unit 24. The notification may include, for example, some or all of the observation data observed when the uncertain state was detected and the operation data calculated based on the observation data. The notification may further include information indicating the details of the uncertain state detected by the detection unit 22.
[0042] In the management device 14, the second storage unit 32 stores information included in a notification when the notification is received from the local device 13. The second storage unit 32 stores, for example, information on the reference atmospheric pressure and the stored atmospheric pressure of each floor.
[0043] When receiving a notification from the local device 13, the determination unit 33 determines whether the difference between the atmospheric pressure in the weather data previously acquired from the external service 19 and the reference atmospheric pressure included in the notification from the local device 13 is outside a preset error range. The error range may be set with a certain margin to allow for differences in atmospheric pressure due to, for example, differences between the height of the point corresponding to the atmospheric pressure in the weather data and the height of the ground floor of the building 2. When the difference between the atmospheric pressure in the weather data and the reference atmospheric pressure is outside the error range, the determination unit 33 determines that the weather data and the reference atmospheric pressure do not match. On the other hand, when the difference between the atmospheric pressure in the weather data and the reference atmospheric pressure is within the error range, the determination unit 33 determines that the weather data and the reference atmospheric pressure match. The determination unit 33 may determine whether the stored atmospheric pressure and weather data, such as for the ground floor, are consistent.
[0044] When the determination unit 33 determines that the weather data and the reference atmospheric pressure or the stored atmospheric pressure are consistent, the management device 14 determines that the relationship between the observation data and the operation data is valid and outputs a recovery command to the local device 13 through the second communication unit 31. The second communication unit 31 is an example of a command unit that outputs a recovery command to the local device 13.
[0045] On the other hand, when the determination unit 33 determines that the weather data and the reference atmospheric pressure or the stored atmospheric pressure do not match, the generation unit 34 generates correction information. The correction information includes the atmospheric pressure of the weather data and a correction coefficient. The generation unit 34 calculates the correction coefficient so as to improve the accuracy of calculating the position of the car 8 by incorporating the specific conditions of the building 2. The correction coefficient is calculated, for example, based on experiments and simulations that take into account the conditions of the building 2, machine learning using historical information from other buildings with similar conditions, or other pre-set models. The generation unit 34 may calculate the correction coefficient using information such as atmospheric pressure and temperature from the weather data obtained from the external service 19. The generation unit 34 calculates the correction coefficient as, for example, a tuning parameter that improves the accuracy of calculating the position of the car 8. The correction information generated by the generation unit 34 is output to the first communication unit 23 of the local device 13 via the second communication unit 31 together with a recovery command.
[0046] When the first communication unit 23 receives a recovery command from the management device 14, the detection unit 22 cancels the detection of the uncertain state. Thereafter, the integration unit 25 determines that the uncertain state has been resolved and performs an integration process to integrate the operational data stored in the temporary storage unit 30 with the operational data stored in the normal storage unit 29. The integration unit 25 performs the integration process, for example, by adding the operational data accumulated and stored in the temporary storage unit 30 to the operational data accumulated and stored in the normal storage unit 29. When the recovery command includes correction information, the first storage unit 24 updates the reference atmospheric pressure stored therein with the atmospheric pressure of the meteorological data included in the correction information transmitted by the management device 14. The first storage unit 24 also updates the correction coefficient stored therein with the correction coefficient included in the correction information transmitted by the management device 14.
[0047] Next, an example of the operation of the management system 12 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system 12 according to the first embodiment.
[0048] The management device 14 acquires weather data from the external service 19 through the second communication unit 31 at a predetermined acquisition timing (S01). The acquisition timing may be, for example, a predetermined regular timing such as once or multiple times a day.
[0049] The management device 14 updates the information such as atmospheric pressure of the weather data stored in the second storage unit 32 with the information acquired from the external service 19 (S02).
[0050] During normal operation of the elevator 1, the calculation unit 21 of the local device 13 acquires observation data including the air pressure measured by the air pressure sensor 26 when the car 8 stops. The calculation unit 21 uses the acquired observation data to calculate operation data including the position of the car 8 (S03).
[0051] The on-site device 13 determines whether the detection unit 22 has detected an uncertain state (S04). If an uncertain state has not been detected, the on-site device 13 accumulates and stores the observed observation data and the operation data calculated based on the observed observation data in the normal storage unit 29 (S05). On the other hand, if an uncertain state is detected, the on-site device 13 accumulates and stores the observed observation data and the operation data calculated based on the observed observation data in the temporary storage unit 30 (S06). The first communication unit 23 notifies the management device 14 of the detection of the uncertain state by the detection unit 22 (S07).
[0052] When the determination unit 33 of the management device 14 receives a notification from the on-site device 13 that an uncertain state has been detected, the determination unit 33 determines whether the relationship between the observation data and the operation data is valid (S08). If the relationship between the two data is not determined to be valid, the generation unit 34 generates correction information (S09). Thereafter, the management device 14 outputs a restoration command to the on-site device 13 from the second communication unit 31 (S10). When the generation unit 34 generates correction information, the restoration command includes the correction information. Note that, in determining the validity, for example, if the determination unit 33 determines that the uncertain state is so severe that it cannot be resolved by correction using the correction information alone, the management device 14 may withhold output of the restoration command. At this time, the operation data calculated by the on-site device 13 regarding the operation of the elevator 1 while the uncertain state has not been resolved is accumulated and stored in the temporary storage unit 30.
[0053] The integration unit 25 of the local device 13 performs integration processing after receiving a restoration command from the management device 14 (S11). If the restoration command includes correction information, the first storage unit 24 updates information such as a correction coefficient using the correction information.
[0054] As described above, the management system 12 according to the first embodiment includes the on-site device 13. The on-site device 13 is provided in the building 2 to which the elevator 1 is applied. The on-site device 13 includes an observation device 20, a calculation unit 21, a detection unit 22, a normal storage unit 29, and a temporary storage unit 30. The observation device 20 is provided in the car 8. The observation device 20 observes observation data including information on the running of the car 8. The calculation unit 21 calculates operation data including the position of the car 8 based on the observation data observed by the observation device 20 when the car 8 stops. The detection unit 22 detects an uncertain state. The uncertain state is set in advance as a state in which the position of the car 8 in the operation data calculated by the calculation unit 21 may be uncertain. The normal storage unit 29 stores the operation data calculated by the calculation unit 21 when the detection unit 22 does not detect an uncertain state. The temporary storage unit 30 stores the operation data calculated by the calculation unit 21 when the detection unit 22 detects an uncertain state.
[0055] With this configuration, normal operation data when an uncertain state is not detected and operation data when an uncertain state is detected are stored separately in the normal storage unit 29 and the temporary storage unit 30. For example, if there is no continuity in operation data, such as the position of the car 8, before and after the detection of an uncertain state and the data before and after the detection are stored together, the discontinuity may cause invalid operation data, such as the number of times the car door 11 opens and closes for each floor. Even in such cases, separating the operation data before and after the detection of an uncertain state prevents the occurrence of invalid operation data due to data discontinuity. Furthermore, because operation data when an uncertain state is detected is also temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit 30, the complete loss of operation data during this period is avoided. In this way, the possibility of invalid data and data loss is reduced, thereby preventing a decrease in the reliability of the operation data stored in the local equipment 13.
[0056] The observation device 20 also includes a barometric pressure sensor 26 that measures the barometric pressure at its own position when the car 8 stops. The observation data includes the barometric pressure measured by the barometric pressure sensor 26. The detection unit 22 detects an uncertain state based on the position of the car 8 calculated by the calculation unit 21 from the barometric pressure in the observation data. The observation device 20 also includes an acceleration sensor 27 that measures the vertical acceleration of the car 8. The observation data includes the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor 27. The detection unit 22 detects the uncertain state based on the acceleration in the observation data. The detection unit 22 also detects the uncertain state when the local device 13 is started up. As a result, even if the calculated position of the car 8 cannot be said to be reliable due to an abnormal stop of the car 8 or poor observation data from the observation device 20, the operating data before and after the detection of such an uncertain state are separately saved. Even if the local device 13 does not know the current floor of the car 8, for example, immediately after starting up the local device 13, the operating data before and after the detection of such an uncertain state are separately saved. This prevents a decrease in the reliability of the operation data stored in the on-site device 13. Furthermore, since the on-site device 13 detects an uncertain state using its own observation device 20, for example, even when it is difficult to obtain information from the control panel 10 of the elevator 1, such as when the management system 12 is applied to an existing elevator 1, it becomes possible to separately store the operation data before and after the detection of the uncertain state.
[0057] The on-site device 13 also includes a first communication unit 23 and an integration unit 25. When the detection unit 22 detects an uncertain state, the first communication unit 23 notifies the management device 14 of the observation data observed by the observation device 20 and the operation data calculated by the calculation unit 21. The management device 14 includes a determination unit 33 and a second communication unit 31. The determination unit 33 determines the validity of the relationship between the observation data and the operation data included in the notification from the on-site device 13. When the determination unit 33 determines that the relationship between the observation data and the operation data is valid, the second communication unit 31 outputs a recovery command to the on-site device 13. After receiving the recovery command from the management device 14, the integration unit 25 performs an integration process to integrate the operation data stored in the temporary storage unit 30 with the operation data stored in the normal storage unit 29. As a result, after the validity is confirmed in the management device 14, the separately stored operation data before and after the detection of the uncertain state is integrated. This further improves the reliability of the integrated operation data.
[0058] The management device 14 also includes a generation unit 34. The generation unit 34 generates correction information used to correct the calculation of operation data by the calculation unit 21. The correction information includes a correction coefficient used to correct the observation data observed by the observation device 20. The second communication unit 31 outputs the correction information generated by the generation unit 34 to the on-site equipment 13 along with a recovery command. The calculation unit 21 calculates the operation data after correcting the observation data with the correction coefficient. In this way, the observation data used by the on-site equipment 13 to calculate the position of car 8 is corrected by the correction information generated by the management device 14. This makes the position of car 8 calculated based on the observation data more accurate. Note that the calculation unit 21 does not need to use the correction information to correct information that is not affected by differences in the position of car 8, such as the running time of car 8.
[0059] The operation data may include first data that is affected by the position of the car 8 and second data that is not affected by the position of the car 8. The first data may include, for example, the number of times the car door 11 is opened and closed for each floor. The second data may include, for example, the running time of the car 8. In this case, the on-site device 13 may store the first data and the second data in the normal storage unit 29 and the temporary storage unit 30 when the detection unit 22 detects an uncertain state. That is, the normal storage unit 29 stores both the first data and the second data of the operation data when the detection unit 22 does not detect an uncertain state. Furthermore, the normal storage unit 29 stores the second data of the operation data even when the detection unit 22 detects an uncertain state. The temporary storage unit 30 stores the first data of the operation data when the detection unit 22 detects an uncertain state. In this way, narrowing down the data to be stored separately makes it easier to perform processes such as integration processing.
[0060] Furthermore, the first storage unit 24 may store the stored air pressure associated with the ground floor as the same information as the reference air pressure. In other words, the local device 13 may treat the stored air pressure associated with the ground floor and stored in the first storage unit 24 as the reference air pressure used as a basis for calculating the position of the car 8. In this case, when the car 8 stops at the ground floor, the first storage unit 24 updates and stores the reference air pressure with the air pressure measured by the air pressure sensor 26.
[0061] The first storage unit 24 may also include multiple temporary storage units 30. In this case, when an uncertain state is detected, the local device 13 stores operational data, etc. in one of the temporary storage units 30. Here, before the uncertain state is resolved, another uncertain state may occur for other reasons. In this case, the local device 13 further separates and stores operational data, etc. after the occurrence of the other uncertain state in another temporary storage unit 30. In other words, the first storage unit 24 hierarchically separates and stores the operational data each time an uncertain state occurs. The integration unit 25 sequentially integrates the operational data that has been hierarchically separated and stored in the reverse order of the separation.
[0062] Next, an example of the hardware configuration of the management system 12 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a hardware configuration diagram of the main part of the management system 12 according to the first embodiment.
[0063] The main components of the management system 12 include, for example, an edge device 17 and a management device 14. Some or all of the functions of the management system 12 may be implemented by a processing circuit. The processing circuit includes at least one processor 100a and at least one memory 100b. The processing circuit may include at least one dedicated hardware in addition to or in place of the processor 100a and the memory 100b.
[0064] When the processing circuit includes a processor 100a and a memory 100b, each function of the management system 12 is realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. At least one of the software and firmware is written as a program. The program is stored in the memory 100b. The processor 100a realizes each function of the management system 12 by reading and executing the program stored in the memory 100b. The program may be a program package including multiple subprograms, modules, libraries, or the like. The program may also be called a program product.
[0065] The processor 100a is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), processing device, arithmetic unit, microprocessor, microcomputer, or DSP. The memory 100b is configured by, for example, a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM, or EEPROM.
[0066] Where the processing circuitry comprises dedicated hardware, the processing circuitry may be implemented, for example, as a single circuit, multiple circuits, a programmed processor, parallel programmed processors, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.
[0067] Each function of the management system 12 can be implemented individually by a processing circuit. Alternatively, all functions of the management system 12 can be implemented collectively by a processing circuit. Some of the functions of the management system 12 may be implemented by dedicated hardware, and other parts may be implemented by software or firmware. In this way, the processing circuit implements each function of the management system 12 by dedicated hardware, software, firmware, or a combination of these.
[0068] Embodiment 2 In the second embodiment, differences from the example disclosed in the first embodiment will be described in particular detail. For features not described in the second embodiment, any of the features of the example disclosed in the first embodiment may be adopted.
[0069] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the management system 12 for the elevator 1 according to the second embodiment.
[0070] The on-site device 13 of the management system 12 includes an observation device 20, a calculation unit 21, a detection unit 22, a first communication unit 23, a first storage unit 24, an integration unit 25, and a correction unit 35.
[0071] The correction unit 35 is a part equipped with a function for correcting the operation data stored in the temporary storage unit 30. The correction unit 35 is provided in, for example, the edge device 17. The correction unit 35 self-corrects the operation data stored in the temporary storage unit 30 based on the operation data calculated by the calculation unit 21 when the detection unit 22 detects an uncertain state. The correction unit 35 self-corrects the operation data, for example, when a push-up or push-down occurs at the position of the car 8 calculated by the calculation unit 21.
[0072] Here, the self-correction of operation data by the correction unit 35 will be explained using an example of a seven-stop elevator 1 that can stop at each of the first to seventh floors of a building 2. In this example of the elevator 1, the first floor is set to the ground floor.
[0073] For example, when an uncertain state is detected, such as when the local device 13 is started, the local device 13 does not know the exact position of the car 8. At this time, the calculation unit 21 calculates one of the floors as the provisional position of the car 8. In this example, the calculation unit 21 calculates the first floor, which is the ground floor, as the provisional position of the car 8. Meanwhile, the actual position of the car 8 at the time the uncertain state is detected is assumed to be the fourth floor. In this way, the position of the car 8 recognized by the local device 13 in the temporary storage unit 30 does not match the actual position of the car 8. In this example, the position of the car 8 known by the local device 13 is not used for controlling the running of the car 8, etc. For this reason, the control panel 10 of the elevator 1 performs normal operation by accurately knowing the position of the car 8 using sensors or switches of the elevator 1 itself.
[0074] Thereafter, the control panel 10 causes the car 8 to travel two floors downward in response to user calls during normal operation. The calculation unit 21 calculates the travel of the car 8 two floors downward as operational data, for example, based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor 27. At this time, the actual position of the car 8 is the second floor, but the position of the car 8 recognized by the local device 13 in the temporary storage unit 30 corresponds to the second basement floor. Here, the second basement floor does not actually exist and is below the first floor, the lowest floor, so a push-down occurs, in which the local device 13 recognizes that the car 8 is on a floor below the lowest floor that does not exist. When such a push-down occurs, the correction unit 35 corrects the position of the car 8 recognized by the local device 13 in the temporary storage unit 30 to the first floor, the lowest floor. Similarly, in the case where a push-up occurs in which the local equipment 13 recognizes that there is a car 8 on a floor above the top floor that does not exist, the correction unit 35 corrects the position of the car 8 that the local equipment 13 recognizes in the temporary memory unit 30 to the top floor.
[0075] Thereafter, the control panel 10 causes the car 8 to travel one floor further downward in response to a call from a user during normal operation, etc. The calculation unit 21 calculates that the car 8 has traveled one floor downward. At this time, the actual position of the car 8 is the first floor, but the position of the car 8 recognized by the local device 13 in the temporary storage unit 30 corresponds to the first basement floor. When a downward thrust occurs again, the correction unit 35 again corrects the position of the car 8 recognized by the local device 13 in the temporary storage unit 30 to the first floor, which is the lowest floor. At this point, the position of the car 8 recognized by the local device 13 in the temporary storage unit 30 and the actual position of the car 8 match, but the local device 13 cannot be sure that a further downward thrust will not occur. For this reason, the correction unit 35 continues self-correction.
[0076] Thereafter, the control panel 10 causes the car 8 to travel six floors upward in response to user calls during normal operation. The calculation unit 21 calculates that the car 8 has traveled six floors upward. At this time, the actual position of the car 8 and the position of the car 8 recognized by the local device 13 in the temporary storage unit 30 are both the seventh floor. Because the temporary storage unit 30 recognizes that the car 8 has stopped at both the first floor, which is the lowest floor, and the seventh floor, which is the highest floor, the local device 13 determines that no further downward thrusts will occur. At this time, the correction unit 35 completes self-correction.
[0077] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system 12 according to the second embodiment.
[0078] The management system 12 according to the second embodiment performs the same processes as the management system 12 according to the first embodiment in steps S01 to S06 and steps S08 to S11. In step S12 after step S06, the correction unit 35 of the on-site device 13 performs self-correction based on the operation data calculated by the calculation unit 21. In step S07a after the self-correction is completed, the first communication unit 23 notifies the management device 14 that the detection unit 22 has detected an uncertain state. The notification may include information indicating the content of the self-correction made by the correction unit 35.
[0079] As described above, the on-site device 13 of the management system 12 according to the second embodiment includes the correction unit 35. The correction unit 35 corrects the operational data stored in the temporary storage unit 30 based on the operational data calculated by the calculation unit 21 when the detection unit 22 detects an uncertain state. Since integration processing and the like are performed after the self-correction by the correction unit 35, the reliability of the integrated operational data is further improved.
[0080] Embodiment 3 In the third embodiment, differences from the examples disclosed in the first or second embodiment will be described in particular detail. For features not described in the third embodiment, any of the features of the examples disclosed in the first or second embodiment may be adopted.
[0081] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the management system 12 for the elevator 1 according to the third embodiment.
[0082] The on-site equipment 13 of the management system 12 includes an observation device 20, a calculation unit 21, a detection unit 22, a first communication unit 23, a first memory unit 24, an integration unit 25, a display unit 36, and an operation unit 37.
[0083] The display unit 36 is a part equipped with a function to display information outside the field device 13. The display unit 36 is, for example, a monitor lamp using an LED (Light Emitting Diode) or a 7-segment display. The display unit 36 may be an interface connected to a maintenance terminal device used by a maintenance staff and outputting a display signal to the maintenance terminal device. The display unit 36 is provided in one or both of the car device 16 and the edge device 17. The display unit 36 displays information to the maintenance staff of the elevator 1. The operation unit 37 is a part equipped with a function to accept operations from outside the field device 13. The operation unit 37 is, for example, a rotary switch or a button. The operation unit 37 accepts operations by the maintenance staff. The operation unit 37 may be an interface connected to a maintenance terminal device used by a maintenance staff and accepting an operation signal from the maintenance terminal device. The operation unit 37 is provided in one or both of the car device 16 and the edge device 17. The display unit 36 and the operation unit 37 are provided adjacent to each other in the field device 13, for example.
[0084] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system 12 according to the third embodiment.
[0085] The management system 12 according to the third embodiment performs the same processes as the management system 12 according to the first embodiment from step S03 to step S06. In step S13 after step S06, the display unit 36 of the on-site device 13 displays to the maintenance worker that the detection unit 22 has detected an uncertain state. The display unit 36 may display the uncertain state even when the maintenance worker is not in the building 2. The maintenance worker is dispatched to the building 2 in response to an instruction from an operator at the information center or for periodic inspection of the elevator 1. The maintenance worker determines whether the operational data stored in the temporary storage unit 30 is valid based on the display on the display unit 36 or the like. Then, in step S14, the operation unit 37 of the on-site device 13 accepts a restoration operation by the maintenance worker. The restoration operation may include a manual correction operation of the operational data, such as the position of the car 8, stored in the temporary storage unit 30. Then, in step S11b, the integration unit 25 of the on-site device 13 performs an integration process after the restoration operation by the maintenance worker.
[0086] As described above, the on-site device 13 of the management system 12 according to the third embodiment includes the correction unit 35 and the operation unit 37. The display unit 36 displays to the maintenance personnel that the detection unit 22 has detected an uncertain state. The operation unit 37 accepts an operation by the maintenance personnel. The integration unit 25 performs an integration process after the operation unit 37 accepts a restoration operation by the maintenance personnel. As a result, after the validity is confirmed by the maintenance personnel, the separately stored operational data before and after the detection of the uncertain state is integrated. This further improves the reliability of the integrated operational data.
[0087] To summarize the above explanation, possible configurations of the technology according to the present disclosure include the configurations listed below as appendices. (Appendix 1) The on-site device is installed in a building where an elevator including a car that travels in the vertical direction is used, and is included in a management system for the elevator, an observation device provided in the car and configured to observe observation data including information on the running of the car; a calculation unit that calculates operation data including a position of the car based on the observation data observed by the observation device when the car stops; a detection unit that detects a predetermined uncertain state in which there is a possibility that the position of the car in the operation data calculated by the calculation unit is uncertain; a normal storage unit that stores the operation data calculated by the calculation unit when the detection unit does not detect the uncertain state; a temporary storage unit that stores the operation data calculated by the calculation unit when the detection unit detects the uncertain state; The on-site equipment of the elevator control system is provided with: (Appendix 2) the observation device includes an air pressure sensor that measures the air pressure at its own position when the car stops; the observation data includes atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure sensor, the detection unit detects the uncertain state based on the position of the car calculated by the calculation unit from the atmospheric pressure of the observation data. On-site equipment for elevator control systems as described in Appendix 1. (Appendix 3) the observation device includes an acceleration sensor that measures the acceleration of the car in a vertical direction, the observation data includes acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor, the detection unit detects the uncertain state based on the acceleration of the observation data. Local equipment for elevator control systems as described in Appendix 1 or Appendix 2. (Appendix 4) The detection unit detects the uncertain state when the on-site device is started. On-site equipment for an elevator control system as set forth in any of Appendix 1 to Appendix 3. (Appendix 5) a display unit that displays to a maintenance person that the detection unit has detected the uncertain state; 5. A field device for an elevator control system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising: (Appendix 6) an operation unit that accepts operations by the maintenance technician; an integration unit that performs an integration process to integrate the operational data stored in the temporary storage unit with the operational data stored in the normal storage unit after the operation unit receives a restoration operation by the maintenance worker; 10. The on-site equipment of an elevator control system according to claim 5, comprising: (Appendix 7) the operational data includes first data that is affected by the position of the car and second data that is not affected by the position of the car; the normal storage unit stores both the first data and the second data when the detection unit does not detect the uncertain state, and stores the second data when the detection unit detects the uncertain state; the temporary storage unit stores the first data when the detection unit detects the uncertain state; On-site equipment for an elevator control system as set forth in any of Appendix 1 to Appendix 6. (Appendix 8) a correction unit that corrects the operational data stored in the temporary storage unit based on the operational data calculated by the calculation unit when the detection unit detects the uncertain state; 8. A field device for an elevator control system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising: (Appendix 9) An elevator management system that includes a car that travels up and down, On-site equipment installed in the building to which the elevator is applied; a management device that communicates with the on-site devices; Equipped with The on-site equipment includes: an observation device provided in the car and configured to observe observation data including information on the running of the car; a calculation unit that calculates operation data including a position of the car based on the observation data observed by the observation device when the car stops; a detection unit that detects a predetermined uncertain state in which there is a possibility that the position of the car in the operation data calculated by the calculation unit is uncertain; a normal storage unit that stores the operation data calculated by the calculation unit when the detection unit does not detect the uncertain state; a temporary storage unit that stores the operation data calculated by the calculation unit when the detection unit detects the uncertain state; Equipped with Elevator management system. (Appendix 10) The on-site equipment includes: a notification unit that notifies the management device of the observation data observed by the observation device and the operation data calculated by the calculation unit when the detection unit detects the uncertain state; an integration unit that performs an integration process to integrate the operational data stored in the temporary storage unit with the operational data stored in the normal storage unit; Equipped with The management device a determination unit that determines the validity of a relationship between the observation data and the operation data included in the notification from the on-site device; a command unit that outputs a recovery command to the on-site device when the determination unit determines that the relationship between the observation data and the operation data is valid; Equipped with the integration unit performs the integration process after receiving the recovery command from the management device. An elevator management system as described in Appendix 9. (Appendix 11) The management device a generation unit that generates correction information used to correct the calculation of the operational data by the calculation unit; Equipped with the correction information includes a correction coefficient used to correct the observation data observed by the observation device, the command unit outputs the correction information generated by the generation unit to the on-site device together with the return command; the calculation unit corrects the observation data with the correction coefficient and then calculates the operation data. 10. An elevator control system as described in Appendix 10. [Explanation of symbols]
[0088] 1 elevator, 2 building, 3 elevator shaft, 4 landing, 5 landing door, 6 hoisting machine, 7 main rope, 8 car, 9 counterweight, 10 control panel, 11 car door, 12 management system, 13 on-site equipment, 14 management device, 15 monitoring terminal, 16 car equipment, 17 edge device, 18 communication network, 19 external service, 20 observation device, 21 calculation unit, 22 detection unit, 23 first communication unit, 24 first memory unit, 25 integration unit, 26 atmospheric pressure sensor, 27 acceleration sensor, 28 camera, 29 normal memory unit, 30 temporary memory unit, 31 second communication unit, 32 second memory unit, 33 judgment unit, 34 generation unit, 35 correction unit, 36 display unit, 37 operation unit, 100a processor, 100b memory, 200 dedicated hardware
Claims
1. The on-site device is installed in a building where an elevator including a car that travels in the vertical direction is used, and is included in a management system for the elevator, an observation device provided in the car and configured to observe observation data including information on the running of the car; a calculation unit that calculates operation data including a position of the car based on the observation data observed by the observation device when the car stops; a detection unit that detects a predetermined uncertain state in which there is a possibility that the position of the car in the operation data calculated by the calculation unit is uncertain; a normal storage unit that stores the operation data calculated by the calculation unit when the detection unit does not detect the uncertain state; a temporary storage unit that stores the operation data calculated by the calculation unit when the detection unit detects the uncertain state; Equipped with The observation device is an air pressure sensor that measures the air pressure at the car's own position when the car stops; an acceleration sensor that measures the acceleration of the car in the vertical direction; and A camera that captures images of the elevator shaft through which the car travels in the vertical direction. Including at least one of Local equipment for elevator control systems.
2. the observation device includes the barometric pressure sensor, the observation data includes atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure sensor, the detection unit detects the uncertain state based on the position of the car calculated by the calculation unit from the atmospheric pressure of the observation data. A field device for an elevator control system according to claim 1.
3. the observation device includes the acceleration sensor, the observation data includes acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor, the detection unit detects the uncertain state based on the acceleration of the observation data. A field device for an elevator control system according to claim 1.
4. The detection unit detects the uncertain state when the on-site device is started. A field device for an elevator control system according to claim 1.
5. a display unit that displays to a maintenance person that the detection unit has detected the uncertain state; 5. The on-site equipment of an elevator control system according to claim 1, comprising:
6. an operation unit that accepts operations by the maintenance technician; an integration unit that performs an integration process to integrate the operational data stored in the temporary storage unit with the operational data stored in the normal storage unit after the operation unit receives a restoration operation by the maintenance worker; The on-site equipment of the elevator control system according to claim 5, comprising:
7. The operation data includes first data that is affected by the position of the car and second data that is not affected by the position of the car, the normal storage unit stores both the first data and the second data when the detection unit does not detect the uncertain state, and stores the second data when the detection unit detects the uncertain state; the temporary storage unit stores the first data when the detection unit detects the uncertain state; A field device for an elevator management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
8. a correction unit that corrects the operational data stored in the temporary storage unit based on the operational data calculated by the calculation unit when the detection unit detects the uncertain state; 5. The on-site equipment of an elevator control system according to claim 1, comprising:
9. An elevator management system that includes a car that travels up and down, On-site equipment installed in the building to which the elevator is applied; a management device that communicates with the on-site devices; Equipped with The on-site equipment includes: an observation device provided in the car and configured to observe observation data including information on the running of the car; a calculation unit that calculates operation data including a position of the car based on the observation data observed by the observation device when the car stops; a detection unit that detects a predetermined uncertain state in which there is a possibility that the position of the car in the operation data calculated by the calculation unit is uncertain; a normal storage unit that stores the operation data calculated by the calculation unit when the detection unit does not detect the uncertain state; a temporary storage unit that stores the operation data calculated by the calculation unit when the detection unit detects the uncertain state; Equipped with The observation device is an air pressure sensor that measures the air pressure at the car's own position when the car stops; an acceleration sensor that measures the acceleration of the car in the vertical direction; and A camera that captures images of the elevator shaft through which the car travels in the vertical direction. Including at least one of Elevator management system.
10. The on-site equipment includes: a notification unit that notifies the management device of the observation data observed by the observation device and the operation data calculated by the calculation unit when the detection unit detects the uncertain state; an integration unit that performs an integration process to integrate the operational data stored in the temporary storage unit with the operational data stored in the normal storage unit; Equipped with The management device a determination unit that determines the validity of a relationship between the observation data and the operation data included in the notification from the on-site device; a command unit that outputs a recovery command to the on-site device when the determination unit determines that the relationship between the observation data and the operation data is valid; Equipped with the integration unit performs the integration process after receiving the recovery command from the management device. The elevator management system according to claim 9.
11. The management device a generation unit that generates correction information used to correct the calculation of the operational data by the calculation unit; Equipped with the correction information includes a correction coefficient used to correct the observation data observed by the observation device, the command unit outputs the correction information generated by the generation unit to the on-site device together with the return command; the calculation unit corrects the observation data with the correction coefficient and then calculates the operation data. The elevator management system according to claim 10.
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