Electronic device managing system and elevator

Abstract

Provided are: an electronic device managing system that facilitates lifetime extension of an electronic device and reduces the maintenance cost; and an elevator.　This electronic device managing system comprises: a remaining lifetime calculation unit 19 that calculates, on the basis of lifetime calculation information which is for calculating the value of the remaining lifetime of an electronic device 2 provided to an apparatus 1 and which is acquired from an apparatus state acquisition unit 9 for acquiring the lifetime calculation information, the value of the remaining lifetime of the electronic device 2; a remaining lifetime storage unit 16 for storing the value of the remaining lifetime of the electronic device 2 calculated by the remaining lifetime calculation unit 19; a reference value storage unit 17 for storing the reference value for determining whether repairing of the electronic device 2 is required; and a reporting necessity determination unit 18 that compares the reference value stored in the reference value storage unit 17 and the value of the remaining lifetime of the electronic device 2 stored in the remaining lifetime storage unit 16, and, if the value of the remaining lifetime of the electronic device 2 is less than the reference value, outputs a reporting instruction to a reporting unit 12. The remaining lifetime storage unit 16 updates the value of the remaining lifetime of the electronic device 2 stored in the remaining lifetime storage unit 16 upon repairing of the electronic device 2.

Description

Electronic equipment management system and elevator

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electronic device management system and an elevator that reuses electronic devices installed in the device.

[0002] Electronic devices, such as circuit boards mounted on devices such as elevators, that have been in use for more than 10 years, experience end-of-life failures during their use due to the lifespan of the components that make up the electronic device. Patent Document 1 discloses a method for supporting the reuse of electronic device components, in which temperature sensors and operating time measurement sensors are attached to the components that make up the electronic device, usage history data is created, and when the electronic device is disassembled, the remaining lifespan of the components is calculated from the usage history data and registered in a reused parts database, so that when repairing another electronic device, parts with long remaining lifespans that are registered in the reused parts database are used.

[0003] JP 2012-58932 A

[0004] The electronic device component reuse support method described in Patent Document 1 utilizes components with a long remaining life when repairing another electronic device. Therefore, the other electronic device requires a storage space after repair. Furthermore, devices such as elevators, which have a long usage period, require multiple replacement of electronic devices during their usage period. This increases the cost of maintaining electronic devices.

[0005] The present disclosure aims to solve the above-mentioned problems by providing an electronic device management system and elevator that can extend the life of electronic devices and reduce maintenance costs by repairing and reusing them before they fail at the end of their lifespan.

[0006] The electronic device management system and elevator disclosed herein include a remaining life calculation unit that calculates the value of the remaining life of the electronic device based on life calculation information acquired from a device status acquisition unit that acquires life calculation information for calculating the value of the remaining life of the electronic device installed in the device, a remaining life memory unit that stores the value of the remaining life of the electronic device calculated by the remaining life calculation unit, a reference value memory unit that stores a reference value for determining whether the electronic device needs to be repaired, and an alarm necessity determination unit that compares the reference value stored in the reference value memory unit with the value of the remaining life of the electronic device stored in the remaining life memory unit, and outputs an alarm instruction to the alarm unit if the value of the remaining life of the electronic device is less than the reference value, and the remaining life memory unit updates the value of the remaining life of the electronic device stored in the remaining life memory unit when the electronic device is repaired.

[0007] The elevator according to the present disclosure is equipped with this electronic device management system to manage its operation.

[0008] The electronic device management system and elevator according to the present disclosure can extend the life of electronic devices by repairing and reusing them before they reach the end of their service life, thereby reducing maintenance costs for electronic devices.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electronic device management system that manages electronic devices in an elevator, as an example of an electronic device management system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining control of the electronic device management system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of observation of a temperature sensor as device status acquisition means of the electronic device management system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electronic device management system that manages electronic devices in an elevator, as an example of an electronic device management system according to a second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart explaining reuse of electronic devices in the electronic device management system according to a third embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a management control unit of the electronic device management systems according to the first to third embodiments.

[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] First Embodiment <Configuration of Electronic Device Management System 100> Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an electronic device management system 100 that manages electronic devices in an elevator, as an example of an electronic device management system.

[0012] The elevator 1 has a plurality of electronic devices. In the elevator 1, the electronic device 2 is, for example, a control panel 2a, and is installed in the machine room 3. The electronic device 2 may be installed in the hoistway 4 instead of the machine room 3. The electronic device 5 is, for example, a hoisting machine, and is installed in the machine room 3. The electronic device 5 may be installed in the hoistway 4 instead of the machine room 3. The electronic device 6 is, for example, a car operating panel, and is installed in the hoistway 4. The electronic device 7 is, for example, a door device, and is installed in the hoistway 4.

[0013] The electronic device 2 in the elevator 1 has another electronic device inside it. For example, the control panel 2a is provided with a circuit board 8 as an electronic device on which components such as an aluminum electrolytic capacitor are mounted. Similarly, the electronic devices 5, 6, and 7 are also provided with circuit boards as electronic devices on which components are mounted. For ease of explanation, the following describes the details of the electronic device management system 100, assuming that the circuit board 8 on the control panel 2a is an electronic device.

[0014] The control panel 2a includes a device status acquisition unit 9 as device status acquisition means for acquiring the operating status of the elevator 1, such as the operating time, operating frequency, and temperature inside the elevator 1. The device status acquisition means included in the device status acquisition unit 9 include a time sensor that records the operating time of the elevator 1, an operation counter that records the number of operations of the elevator 1, a temperature sensor that acquires the temperature inside the elevator 1, and a current sensor that monitors the current of the motor used to raise and lower the elevator 1 car. The device status acquisition means included in the device status acquisition unit 9 is not limited to the device status acquisition means described here, as long as it acquires information necessary to calculate the remaining life of the circuit board 8 (hereinafter referred to as life calculation information). Although the device status acquisition unit 9 is shown as being located inside the control panel 2a, it is not limited to being located inside the control panel 2a. For example, it may be located anywhere inside the elevator 1, other than the control panel 2a. In the case of a temperature sensor, the accuracy of the life calculation is improved when the temperature sensor is located near the electronic device whose life is to be calculated. Therefore, when a temperature sensor is installed at a location far from the target electronic device, it is necessary to determine a correction coefficient in advance to correct the output from the temperature sensor and increase the measurement accuracy of the temperature sensor. This is effective, for example, when the electronic devices are located far from each other and it is not possible to install a temperature sensor in each electronic device.

[0015] The electronic device management unit 10 manages the remaining life of the board 8, issues a notification to encourage replacement of the board 8 before the end of the board's life, and updates the remaining life of the board 8 after repair. The electronic device management unit 10 includes a management control unit 11 for calculating the remaining life of the board 8 provided in the control panel 2a. The electronic device management unit 10 also includes a notification unit 12 as notification means by which the management control unit 11 issues a notification to encourage repair due to the end of the board's life. Here, repair refers to replacement of components mounted on the board 8, i.e., repairing components on the board 8, or replacing the board 8 itself. The electronic device management unit 10 also includes management control units 21, 22, and 23 corresponding to the electronic devices 5, 6, and 7, respectively, having functions equivalent to those of the management control unit 11.

[0016] The management control unit 11 includes an information storage unit 15 as an information storage means, a remaining life storage unit 16 as a remaining life storage means, a reference value storage unit 17 as a reference value storage means, an alarm necessity determination unit 18 as an alarm necessity determination means, and a remaining life calculation unit 19 as a remaining life calculation means.

[0017] The information storage unit 15 stores equipment identification information for identifying the board 8, such as the individual name and individual number of the board 8, and device identification information, such as the individual name and individual number of the elevator 1 in which the control panel 2a on which the board 8 is mounted is installed. The remaining life calculation unit 19 calculates a value of the remaining life of the board 8 based on the life calculation information of the board 8 acquired by the device status acquisition unit 9. The remaining life storage unit 16 stores the value of the remaining life of the board 8 calculated by the remaining life calculation unit 19. The reference value storage unit 17 stores a reference value for determining whether or not repair of the board 8 is necessary. The notification necessity determination unit 18 compares the value of the remaining life of the board 8 stored in the remaining life storage unit 16 with the reference value of the board 8 stored in the reference value storage unit 17 to determine whether or not repair of the board 8 is necessary, and issues a notification instruction to the notification unit 12 if it determines that repair of the board 8 is necessary. When the substrate 8 is repaired, the value of the remaining life of the substrate 8 stored in the remaining life storage unit 16 is updated, that is, reset, via the remaining life input unit 20 .

[0018] <Operation of Electronic Device Management System 100> FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the control of the electronic device management system 100 according to the first embodiment.

[0019] In step S1, the information storage unit 15 stores device identification information such as an individual name and an individual number as information for identifying the board 8.

[0020] In step S2, the information storage unit 15 stores the device identification information of the elevator 1 in which the control panel 2a on which the board 8 is mounted is installed. The device identification information and the equipment identification information are associated with each other. The order of step S2 for storing the device identification information and step S1 for storing the equipment identification information may be reversed.

[0021] In step S3 , the remaining life calculation unit 19 acquires the life calculation information of the substrate 8 from the device status acquisition unit 9 .

[0022] In step S4, the remaining life calculation unit 19 calculates the value of the remaining life of the substrate 8 from the life calculation information of the substrate 8. The calculated remaining life value of the substrate 8 is stored in the remaining life storage unit 16 of the management control unit 11.

[0023] In step S5, the notification necessity determination unit 18 compares the reference value for determining whether or not repair of the substrate 8 is necessary, which is stored in the reference value storage unit 17, with the value of the remaining life of the substrate 8, which is stored in the remaining life storage unit 16, and if the value of the remaining life is less than the reference value (YES in step S5), it determines that repair of the substrate 8 is necessary and issues a notification instruction to the notification unit 12 to prompt repair of the substrate 8. If the answer is No in step S5 (i.e., if the value of the remaining life is equal to or greater than the reference value), it determines that repair of the substrate 8 is not necessary, and the process returns to step S3, where acquisition of life calculation information for the substrate 8 continues.

[0024] In step S6, the notification unit 12 receives a notification instruction from the notification necessity determining unit 18 and issues a notification to prompt repair of the board 8.

[0025] In step S7, a repair worker repairs the substrate 8.

[0026] In step S8, the remaining life value of the repaired board 8 stored in the remaining life storage unit 16 is updated, i.e., reset, via the remaining life input unit 20, and then the process returns to step S2. The reason for returning to step S2 is that if the repaired board 8 is attached to the control panel of an elevator other than the elevator 1, the repaired board 8 is associated with the device identification information of the other elevator.

[0027] Next, a method for calculating the remaining life value of the board 8 based on the life calculation information acquired by the device status acquisition unit 9 and used by the remaining life calculation unit 19 to calculate the remaining life of the board 8 will be described. Although there are many components mounted on the board 8, the aluminum electrolytic capacitor usually has the shortest life. The main factor that determines the life of an aluminum electrolytic capacitor is temperature. Here, an example will be described in which the remaining life value of an aluminum electrolytic capacitor mounted on the board 8 is calculated from the results of observation of the temperature of the board 8 by a temperature sensor, which serves as the device status acquisition means of the device status acquisition unit 9.

[0028] The remaining life value Z of an aluminum electrolytic capacitor can be expressed by Equation 1 and Equation 2 (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as Z).

[0029]

[0030] Here, L0 is the specified endurance time of the aluminum electrolytic capacitor (hereinafter, sometimes referred to simply as L0), T0 is the upper category temperature limit of the aluminum electrolytic capacitor (hereinafter, sometimes referred to simply as T0), Tx (x = a, b, c, ...) is the temperature during actual use (the temperature around the aluminum electrolytic capacitor), hx (x = a, b, c, ...) is the usage time at temperature Tx (x = a, b, c, ...), and Lx (x = a, b, c, ...) is the lifespan of the aluminum electrolytic capacitor at temperature Tx (x = a, b, c, ...). In Equation 1, when Z = 1, the remaining lifespan is 100%, and when Z = 0, the remaining lifespan is 0%. Furthermore, L0 and T0 are the specification values ​​of the aluminum electrolytic capacitor (i.e., the values ​​listed in the product specifications). The temperature sensor monitors temperature Tx (x = a, b, c, ...).

[0031] 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of observations made by a temperature sensor included in the device status acquisition unit 9 of the electronic device management system 100 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 3, the horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents temperature. For example, when the elevator 1 operates or the air temperature changes, the temperature Tx observed by the temperature sensor changes. Assuming that the time resolution of the output from the temperature sensor is Δt and the temperature sensor outputs temperatures Tx (x=a, b, c) observed in the order Ta, Tb, and Tc from a state where Z=1 indicates a remaining life of 100%, the usage times ha, hb, and hc in Equation 1 are each equal to the time resolution Δt. The remaining life value can be calculated using Equation 3, in which the time resolution Δt is substituted for the usage times ha, hb, and hc in Equation 1.

[0032]

[0033] By continuously calculating this, specifically by continuously observing the temperatures measured by the temperature sensors at intervals of a time resolution Δt, such as Ta, Tb, Tc, Te, Tf, Tg, and Th in Figure 3, it is possible to calculate the remaining life value of the aluminum electrolytic capacitor based on Equation 3. Furthermore, by reducing the time resolution Δt, the accuracy of calculating the remaining life value improves.

[0034] In this way, the temperature Tx observed by the temperature sensor in the device status acquisition unit 9 is input to the remaining life calculation unit 19. The remaining life calculation unit 19 calculates the remaining life value of the aluminum electrolytic capacitor mounted on the board 8 based on Equation 1. The calculated remaining life value of the aluminum electrolytic capacitor can be considered as the remaining life value of the board 8. Therefore, by calculating the remaining life value of the aluminum electrolytic capacitor, the remaining life value of the board 8 can be determined.

[0035] In the above description, an example was shown in which the board 8 uses the device status acquisition unit 9 having a device status acquisition means. However, for example, there are cases in which the board 8 is not provided with the device status acquisition unit 9, and the device status acquisition unit 9 is provided after the elevator 1 is installed. In such cases, the remaining life calculation unit 18 can calculate the value of the remaining life of the board 8 after the device status acquisition unit 9 is provided, but cannot calculate the value of the remaining life of the board 8 from before the device status acquisition unit 9 was provided. Therefore, the electronic device management system 100 cannot accurately determine the value of the remaining life of the board 8.

[0036] Even in such a case, for example, if the elevator 1 is repeating the same operation, the remaining life of the board 8 can be calculated by predicting the decrease in the remaining life before the installation of the device status acquisition unit 9 using the decrease in the remaining life calculated from a certain period after the installation of the device status acquisition unit 9. Below, a method for calculating the remaining life of the board 8 when the device status acquisition unit 9 is installed after the elevator 1 is installed will be described.

[0037] Here, it is assumed that the elevator 1 repeats the same operation every day. If the remaining life of the substrate 8 when the temperature sensor of the device status acquisition unit 9 is installed is Z_0, the remaining life value after the elevator 1 has been operating for one day is Z_1, and the decrease in the remaining life value for one day calculated by the remaining life calculation unit 19 is 0.001, the remaining life value Z_1 can be calculated using Equation 4.

[0038]

[0039] Here, for example, if the elevator 1 had been in operation for 500 days before the device status acquisition unit 9 was installed, the corrected remaining life value Z_1 of the substrate 8 can be calculated using equation 5.

[0040]

[0041] In the above explanation, the elevator 1 is operated for one day, but it is not limited to one day and may be, for example, one month or one year. Also, instead of the period of operation of the elevator 1 (examples here include the number of days, months, years, etc.), the number of times the elevator 1 is operated may be used.

[0042] Furthermore, if the decrease in the remaining life for a predetermined period calculated by the remaining life calculation unit 19 is known, the remaining life value of the substrate 8 may be calculated using the decrease in the remaining life for a predetermined period without using the apparatus status acquisition unit 9, specifically, without using the temperature Tx observed by the temperature sensor which is the apparatus status acquisition means. For example, if the remaining life value decreases by 0.001 per day, it may be assumed that the remaining life value decreases by 0.001 every day without using the temperature Tx observed by the temperature sensor.

[0043] Furthermore, if the period during which the elevator 1 repeats the same operation is unknown, the fixed period after the device status acquisition unit 9 is installed is changed to correct the decrease value of the remaining life.

[0044] For example, if the decrease in the remaining life value one day after the device status acquisition unit 9 is installed is 0.001, and the elevator 1 had been in operation for 500 days before the device status acquisition unit 9 was installed, the corrected remaining life value Z_1 of the substrate 8 is 0.499, but if the decrease in the remaining life value two days after the device status acquisition unit 9 is installed is 0.0015, the corrected remaining life value Z_2 of the substrate 8 is calculated using Formula 6.

[0045]

[0046] This corrected remaining life value Z_2 of the board 8 is repeatedly calculated three days and four days after the device status acquisition unit 9 is installed, and the remaining life value of the board 8 is corrected. Here too, the period for correction is not limited to one day, but may be one month or one year. Also, the number of times the elevator 1 is operated may be used instead of the period for which the elevator 1 is in operation.

[0047] As described above, when the remaining life value of the circuit board 8 calculated by the remaining life calculation unit 19 falls below the reference value stored in the reference value storage unit 17, the notification necessity determination unit 18 issues a notification instruction to the notification unit 12 to prompt repair of the circuit board 8. The content of the notification instruction issued by the notification necessity determination unit 18 to the notification unit 12 is the equipment identification information of the circuit board 8 and the device identification information of the elevator 1. The notification unit 12 issues a notification to prompt repair of the circuit board 8 mounted on the control panel 2a of the elevator 1.

[0048] While the above description illustrates an example in which the remaining life value of an aluminum electrolytic capacitor is calculated using a common mathematical formula, other mathematical formulas provided by companies that manufacture aluminum electrolytic capacitors may also be used. Furthermore, components other than the aluminum electrolytic capacitor mounted on the board 8 may affect the life of the board 8. In such cases, a similar solution can be achieved by calculating the remaining life values ​​of the components other than the aluminum electrolytic capacitor. It is also possible to calculate the remaining life values ​​of multiple components mounted on the board 8. Furthermore, it is also possible to calculate the remaining life values ​​of electronic devices such as the board 8 using digital twin technology, which recreates a model similar to the electronic device management system 100 in a virtual space.

[0049] Next, upon receiving the notification from the notification unit 12, the aluminum electrolytic capacitors on the board 8 whose remaining life values ​​have fallen below the reference value are replaced, i.e., the board 8 is repaired. Here, for the board 8 whose aluminum electrolytic capacitors have been replaced with new ones, the remaining life value is updated to 100%, i.e., Z = 1. On the other hand, if the aluminum electrolytic capacitors are replaced with new ones, for example, with aluminum electrolytic capacitors whose remaining life value is 50%, the remaining life value of the board 8 is updated to 50%, i.e., Z = 0.5.

[0050] The board 8 after replacing the aluminum electrolytic capacitor may be used again in the control panel 2 a of the elevator 1 , or may be used in the control panel of an elevator other than the elevator 1 .

[0051] Furthermore, if the replaced aluminum electrolytic capacitor is no longer in stock, it may be replaced with an equivalent aluminum electrolytic capacitor. When replacing with an equivalent aluminum electrolytic capacitor, the calculation method for the remaining life value of the board 8 stored in the remaining life calculation unit 19 is updated to a calculation method suitable for the equivalent aluminum electrolytic capacitor.

[0052] The electronic device management unit 10 includes management control units 21, 22, and 23 that correspond to the electronic devices 5, 6, and 7 of the elevator 1, respectively, and have functions equivalent to those of the management control unit 11. Specifically, the management control unit 21 corresponds to the electronic device 5, the management control unit 22 corresponds to the electronic device 6, and the management control unit 23 corresponds to the electronic device 7, and they perform the same operations as the management control unit 11 described above.

[0053] <Effects of the Electronic Device Management System 100> As described above, the electronic device management system 100 according to the first embodiment calculates the remaining lifespan of electronic devices such as the board 8 of a device such as the elevator 1, issues a notification to prompt repair of the electronic device before the end of the device's lifespan, and updates the remaining lifespan of the electronic device after the electronic device is repaired. Therefore, by reusing repaired electronic devices before a lifespan failure occurs, the lifespan of the electronic devices can be extended. This reduces the maintenance costs of the electronic devices. It also reduces the maintenance costs of devices such as elevators.

[0054] Modification of the First Embodiment Next, a modification of the electronic device management system 100 according to the first embodiment will be described. This modification differs from the electronic device management system 100 described in the first embodiment in that device identification information, such as an individual name and individual number, that identifies the board 8 is recorded on the board 8 as an electronic device. The device identification information is recorded, for example, as a barcode or two-dimensional code. Similarly, device identification information, such as an individual name and individual number that identifies the electronic devices 2 (2a), 5, 6, and 7, is recorded on the electronic devices 2 (2a), 5, 6, and 7 installed in the elevator 1. The rest of the configuration is the same as or equivalent to the configuration of the electronic device management system 100.

[0055] As described above, according to this modification, in addition to the effects shown in the first embodiment, by reading the device identification information recorded on the electronic devices 2 (2a), 5, 6, 7, and board 8, it becomes easier to register them in the electronic device management system 100. It also becomes easier to associate them with the device identification information of devices such as elevators. It also becomes easier to ensure the traceability of the electronic devices 2 (2a), 5, 6, 7, and board 8.

[0056] Second Embodiment <Configuration of Electronic Device Management System 200> Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an example of an electronic device management system according to a second embodiment, which is an electronic device management system 200 for managing electronic devices in an elevator. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a plurality of components 54a, 54b, and 54c are mounted on a circuit board 50, which is an electronic device provided in a control panel 2a, and in that a device status acquisition unit 55 having device status acquisition units 55a, 55b, and 55c as device status acquisition means is provided corresponding to the plurality of components 54a, 54b, and 54c. Remaining life calculation units 58a, 58b, and 58c corresponding to the device status acquisition units 55a, 55b, and 55c, respectively, calculate the remaining life values ​​of the components 54a, 54b, and 54c. The remaining life values ​​of the parts 54a, 54b, and 54c calculated by the remaining life calculation units 58a, 58b, and 58c are stored in remaining life storage units 59a, 59b, and 59c provided in the remaining life storage unit 59, respectively.

[0057] In the first embodiment, a single aluminum electrolytic capacitor is shown as an example of a component mounted on the substrate 8 that can cause a reduction in lifespan, but typically, multiple components 54a, 54b, and 54c that can cause a reduction in lifespan are mounted on the substrate 50, as shown in FIG. 5. The multiple components 54a, 54b, and 54c may be aluminum electrolytic capacitors, but may also be components other than aluminum electrolytic capacitors that have a reduction in lifespan.

[0058] <Operation of Electronic Device Management System 200> In the following, for ease of explanation, the multiple components 54a, 54b, and 54c mounted on the substrate 50 will be described as aluminum electrolytic capacitors.

[0059] Based on the life calculation information for the board 50 acquired by the device status acquisition unit 55a, the remaining life calculation unit 58a calculates the remaining life value of the component 54a, which is an aluminum electrolytic capacitor. The calculated remaining life value of the component 54a, which is an aluminum electrolytic capacitor, is stored in the remaining life storage unit 59a. Similarly, based on the life calculation information for the board 50 acquired by the device status acquisition unit 55b, the remaining life calculation unit 58b calculates the remaining life value of the component 54b, which is an aluminum electrolytic capacitor. The calculated remaining life value of the component 54b, which is an aluminum electrolytic capacitor, is stored in the remaining life storage unit 59b. Similarly, based on the life calculation information for the board 50 acquired by the device status acquisition unit 55c, the remaining life calculation unit 58c calculates the remaining life value of the component 54c, which is an aluminum electrolytic capacitor. The calculated remaining life value of the component 54c, which is an aluminum electrolytic capacitor, is stored in the remaining life storage unit 59c. Note that the calculation of the remaining life value of the aluminum electrolytic capacitor can be performed using the method described in the first embodiment. For components other than aluminum electrolytic capacitors, the formula for calculating the remaining life value corresponding to that component is used.

[0060] The remaining life storage unit 59 stores the smallest remaining life value among the remaining life values ​​calculated by the remaining life storage units 59a, 59b, and 59c. Thereafter, the same process as that shown in the flowchart of the first embodiment in FIG. 2 is performed. For a circuit board 50 that requires repair and is notified by the notification unit 12, the components that require repair are replaced, and the remaining life values ​​of the repaired components are updated. For example, if the circuit board 50 is repaired by replacing all of the aluminum electrolytic capacitors 54a, 54b, and 54c, the remaining life values ​​of the repaired components 54a, 54b, and 54c are updated, i.e., reset, via the remaining life input unit 20. If the circuit board 50 is repaired by replacing only some of the components 54a, 54b, and 54c, the remaining life values ​​of the replaced components are updated. For example, if only the component 54a is replaced, the remaining life value of the component 54a is updated, and the remaining life values ​​of the unrepaired components 54b and 54c are not updated. As a result, the remaining life of the substrate 50 becomes an appropriate value.

[0061] <Effects of the Electronic Device Management System 200> As described above, the electronic device management system 200 according to the second embodiment calculates the remaining lifespan of each of a plurality of components mounted on an electronic device that may shorten the lifespan, replaces components that require repair, and resets the remaining lifespan value. This enables detailed management of the remaining lifespan of electronic devices. This reduces the maintenance costs of electronic devices. It also reduces the maintenance costs of devices such as elevators.

[0062] In the above-described second embodiment, device status acquisition units 55a, 55b, and 55c are provided corresponding to the plurality of components 54a, 54b, and 54c, respectively. However, it is not necessary to provide device status acquisition units 55a, 55b, and 55c individually, and they may be provided in one location.

[0063] Embodiment 3. <Configuration of Electronic Device Management Systems 100 and 200> In Embodiments 1 and 2, electronic devices whose remaining lifespan falls below a reference value are repaired. Repaired electronic devices (e.g., boards 8 and 50 in Embodiments 1 and 2) can be used in elevators other than elevator 1, for example. However, if the number of elevators with usable electronic devices decreases due to removal or other reasons, repaired electronic devices will become excess inventory. Therefore, in order to properly manage electronic device inventory, it is important to decide whether to repair electronic devices and then stock them for reuse, or to dispose of them without repair. Electronic device management systems 100 and 200 have the function of properly managing the inventory of such electronic devices. A method for properly managing electronic device inventory is described below.

[0064] <Operation of Electronic Device Management Systems 100, 200> Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the reuse of electronic devices in the electronic device management systems 100, 200 according to the third embodiment. Fig. 5 explains the timing of collection, repair, and disposal of electronic devices. Here, the term "electronic devices" applies to all electronic devices constituting the elevator 1 as a device. For example, in the first embodiment, this corresponds to the electronic device 2 (control panel 2a), the circuit board 8, and the electronic devices 5, 6, and 7. In the second embodiment, this corresponds to the electronic device 2 (control panel 2a) and the circuit board 50.

[0065] In Fig. 5, the area where elevators (including elevator 1) are maintained is divided into areas A, B, C, ..., X. Areas A, B, C, ..., X are determined in advance. The collection time, repair, and disposal of electronic devices are determined for each area. The following explanation uses area A as an example, but the same applies to areas B, C, ..., X.

[0066] First, the symbols used as parameters in FIG. 5 will be explained. In FIG. 5, T_A is the time required to retrieve an electronic device (hereinafter referred to as electronic device A) from an elevator (hereinafter referred to as device) in area A and repair it. N is the number of electronic devices A in stock in area A. L_A(n) is the nth remaining lifespan value of electronic devices A operating in area A, in ascending order of the shortest remaining lifespan. L(n) is the remaining usage period of the device in which electronic device A with remaining lifespan L_A(n) is installed. X is the number of electronic devices A operating in area A such that L_A(n) ≥ L(n). Y is the number of electronic devices A operating in area A such that L_A(n) < L(n). α is the remaining lifespan value at which immediate replacement is deemed necessary (corresponding to the reference value stored in the reference value storage unit 17). β is the number of spare devices in area A.

[0067] In step S1, if there is no stock of electronic device A in region A, it is necessary to replenish it. Therefore, N=0 is set to determine whether stock replenishment is necessary, and if N=0, that is, if there is no stock of electronic device A (Yes in step S1), the process proceeds to step S2, and if there is stock of electronic device A (No in step S1), the process proceeds to step S3.

[0068] In step S2, if N=0 and electronic device A is out of stock (Yes in step S1), for example, an operator replenishes the stock of electronic device A, and the process returns to step S1.

[0069] In step S3, it is determined whether the remaining life value L_A(1) of electronic device A, which has the shortest remaining life value in region A, is less than the remaining life value α at which replacement is deemed necessary. If it is less than the remaining life value α (L_A(1) < α) (Yes in step S3), proceed to step S5; if it is not (L_A(1) ≧ α) (No in step S3), proceed to step S4.

[0070] In step S5, the electronic device A in area A is removed from stock and replaced with the electronic device A in L_A(1). The replaced electronic device A in L_A(1) proceeds to step S6 and thereafter, where it is repaired to be added to the inventory in area A, or is discarded, and then the process returns to the start (details of steps S6 and thereafter will be described later). By repeating these steps, there will be no electronic device A in area A whose remaining life value is less than α.

[0071] Next, when there are no electronic devices A in area A whose remaining lifespan is less than α, in step S4, if the remaining lifespan value L_A(N+1) of the (N+1)-th shortest electronic device A operating in area A is less than the sum of the period T_A required to recover and repair electronic device A from the equipment in area A and the remaining lifespan value α at which replacement is determined to be necessary (L_A(N+1) < T_A + α) (Yes in step S4), proceed to step S5; if not (L_A(N+1) ≧ T_A + α) (No in step S4), return to step S1.

[0072] In this way, by taking into consideration the period T_A required to recover and repair electronic device A from the equipment in area A, it becomes possible to replace electronic device A, which has a remaining life L_A(N+1), at an appropriate time before it reaches the remaining life α.

[0073] Next, steps S6 and subsequent steps are described below: Step S6 and subsequent steps are for determining whether to repair or dispose of the collected electronic device A, and, if repaired, the area in which the electronic device A will be stored in stock.

[0074] First, in step S6, it is determined whether or not inventory is required in region A from which electronic device A was collected. Specifically, whether or not inventory is required in region A is determined by determining Y≧X+N−β. Here, X indicates the quantity of electronic device A operating in region A whose remaining lifespan value is longer than the remaining usage period of the device in which electronic device A is installed. Also, Y indicates the quantity of electronic device A operating in region A whose remaining lifespan value is shorter than the remaining usage period of the device in which it is installed. If the answer is Yes in step S6, proceed to step S7. If the answer is No in step S6, proceed to step S8 to determine whether or not inventory is required in region B.

[0075] The reason why region A determines whether inventory is necessary based on Y ≧ X + N - β is as follows: In region A, electronic devices A whose remaining lifespan is longer than the remaining usage period of the device, i.e., electronic devices A for which L_A(n) ≧ L(n), are collected and repaired when the device is no longer in use, and are then added to region A's inventory. Note that if Y ≧ X + N were to be satisfied here, there would be a shortage of electronic devices A in region A in the event that electronic devices A break down for reasons other than their lifespan. Therefore, here, the spare inventory quantity β is taken into account and the determination is made based on Y ≧ X + N - β.

[0076] In step S7, the electronic device A collected in area A is repaired and stored in inventory in area A, and then the process returns to the start.

[0077] In step S6, if Y<X+N-β (No in step S6), there is no need to stock repaired electronic device A in region A, so it is stocked in another region. The inventory determination for another region is performed in the order shown in FIG. 5 , such as steps S8 and S9 for region B, and steps S10 and S11 for region X (X=C, D, E, ..., X) in region C. Note that the order of regions A, B, C, ..., X is arbitrary. For example, priority may be given to regions with a large number of devices undergoing maintenance. Note that the processing in steps S8 and S9, and steps S10 and S11 are the same as steps S6 and S7, and therefore will not be described here.

[0078] Finally, if there is no need to replenish the stock of electronic equipment A in areas A to X, the process proceeds to step S12, where the collected electronic equipment A is disposed of without being repaired, and then the process returns to the start.

[0079] Regarding repair of electronic device A, for example, electronic device A may be repaired so that the remaining lifespan of electronic device A after repair is equal to or greater than Min_L(n), which is the minimum remaining usage period of the device in which electronic device A is installed in area A.

[0080] <Effects of the Electronic Device Management Systems 100, 200> As described above, the electronic device management systems 100, 200 according to the third embodiment allow for repair and reuse of electronic device A in a predetermined area such as area A, taking into consideration the remaining lifespan of electronic device A and the time required for recovery of electronic device A from the device and repair. This avoids unnecessary repairs to electronic device A, allowing for appropriate management of electronic device inventory. This further reduces the maintenance costs of electronic devices. It also further reduces the maintenance costs of devices such as elevators.

[0081] Furthermore, electronic device A replaced for repair is repaired and stocked for reuse in region A or another region (regions B to X), or is discarded if no longer needed, allowing for more appropriate inventory management of electronic device A. This further reduces the maintenance costs for electronic devices. It also reduces the maintenance costs for elevators and other equipment.

[0082] In the above embodiment, the elevator 1 is used as the device, but the present invention is not limited to the elevator 1 and can be applied to all devices that use electronic devices that have factors that shorten the lifespan, such as refrigerators, air conditioners, robots, factory automation equipment, in-vehicle equipment, and power generation plants.

[0083] Furthermore, in recent years, there has been an issue of what to do when production of electronic devices mounted on equipment with long service life such as the elevator 1 is discontinued. According to the electronic device management systems 100 and 200 shown in the above embodiments, it is possible to secure necessary electronic devices by reusing electronic devices, and therefore it is possible to deal with the situation even when production of electronic devices is discontinued.

[0084] Next, a description will be given of the hardware configuration of the management control units 11, 52 included in the electronic device management systems 100, 200 according to the above-described first to third embodiments. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the management control units 11, 52 of the electronic device management systems 100, 200 according to the first to third embodiments. Fig. 6 shows a hardware configuration in the case where the functions of the management control units 11, 52 described in the first to third embodiments are realized by using hardware that executes a program.

[0085] The management control units 11 and 52 described in the first to third embodiments each include a processor 91 that executes various processes, a memory 92 that serves as a main memory, and a storage device 93 that stores information. The processor 91 may be a computing device such as an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The memory 92 may be a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), or an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory). The storage device 93 stores programs for executing the processes of the management control units 11 and 52. The processor 91 reads the programs stored in the storage device 93 into the memory 92 and executes them. The processor 91 reads the programs stored in the storage device 93 into the memory 92 and executes them, thereby realizing the functions of the management control units 11 and 52 described in the first to third embodiments.

[0086] The configurations shown in the above embodiments are merely examples of the content, and may be combined with other known technologies, and parts of the configurations may be omitted or modified as long as they do not deviate from the gist of the invention.

[0087] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Elevator, 2 Electronic device, 2a Control panel, 3 Machine room, 4 Hoistway, 5 Electronic device, 6 Electronic device, 7 Electronic device, 8 Board, 9 Device status acquisition unit, 10 Electronic device management unit, 11 Management control unit, 12 Notification unit, 15 Information storage unit, 16 Remaining life storage unit, 17 Reference value storage unit, 18 Notification necessity determination unit, 19 Remaining life calculation unit, 20 Remaining life input unit, 21 Management control unit, 22 Management control unit, 23 Management control unit, 100 Electronic device management system

Claims

1. a remaining life calculation unit that calculates a remaining life value of the electronic device based on life calculation information acquired from a device status acquisition unit that acquires life calculation information for calculating a remaining life value of the electronic device provided in the device; a remaining life storage unit that stores the value of the remaining life of the electronic device calculated by the remaining life calculation unit; a reference value storage unit that stores a reference value for determining whether or not the electronic device needs repair; a notification necessity determination unit that compares the reference value stored in the reference value storage unit with a value of the remaining life of the electronic device stored in the remaining life storage unit, and outputs a notification instruction to a notification unit if the value of the remaining life of the electronic device is less than the reference value; The electronic device has a plurality of components, the remaining life calculation unit calculates a remaining life value for each of the plurality of components based on the life calculation information acquired from the device status acquisition unit; the remaining life storage unit stores a value of a remaining life of a part having a smallest remaining life value among the remaining life values ​​of the plurality of parts, and when the electronic device is repaired, updates the value of the remaining life of the electronic device with the remaining life value of the part having the smallest remaining life value stored in the remaining life storage unit. Electronic device management system.

2. an information storage unit that stores device identification information for identifying the electronic device and device identification information of the device, and the notification necessity determination unit outputs the device identification information and the device identification information to the notification unit together with the notification instruction. The electronic device management system according to claim 1 .

3. The device identification information is an individual name and an individual number of the electronic device, and the device identification information is an individual name and an individual number of the device. The electronic device management system according to claim 2 .

4. The device identification information is recorded in a barcode or a two-dimensional code and provided in the electronic device. The electronic device management system according to claim 2 .

5. The repair of the electronic device comprises: When the remaining life value of the electronic device is less than the reference value that requires repair, the electronic device is replaced with a repaired electronic device that is in stock in a predetermined area; When the remaining life value of the electronic device exceeds the reference value that requires repair and is less than the sum of the reference value and the period from when the electronic device is retrieved from the device to when it is repaired, the electronic device is replaced with the repaired electronic device that is in stock in the predetermined area. The electronic device management system according to claim 1 .

6. The electronic device replaced with the repaired electronic device is, when the quantity of electronic devices in the predetermined area whose remaining lifespan is shorter than the remaining useful life of the device is Y, the quantity of electronic devices whose remaining lifespan is longer than the remaining useful life of the device is X, the number of electronic devices in stock in the predetermined area is N, and the number of spare electronic devices in stock in the predetermined area is β, Y≧X+N−β (first condition) If the first condition is satisfied, the electronic device is repaired and stored in stock, and if the first condition is not satisfied, the electronic device is repaired in a region other than the predetermined region, Y≧X+N−β (second condition) and if there is a region among the other regions that satisfies the second condition, repair the electronic device in the region that satisfies the second condition and store it in stock, and if there is no region that satisfies the second condition, dispose of the electronic device without repairing it. The electronic device management system according to claim 1 .

7. An electronic device management system according to any one of claims 1 to 6 that is installed and controls operation. Elevator.