Elevator commission system and commissioning method

Abstract

The invention relates to an elevator commission system (1) of an elevator (2) with an elevator car (2), and to a commissioning method of an elevator (6), wherein the car (2) can be displaced in an elevator shaft (10) between various floors (5) of a building. The elevator commission system comprises a scanner (3) being capable of being mounted at the car (2), a controller (7), and a plurality of fixtures (9), each of them is located at one of the floors (5) and connected wired or wirelessly with the controller (7), wherein every fixture (9) comprises a unique graphic code (4) for identifying itself, and wherein the respective fixtures (9) and the scanner (3) are arranged in this manner that the scanner (3) can scan the graphic code (4) of the fixture (9) when the car (2) during its commissioning trip sequentially passing the respective fixtures (9), and the controller (7) may identify the individual fixture (9) based on the received graphic code (4).

Description

[0001] Elevator commission system and commissioning method

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to an elevator commission system of an elevator with an elevator car, and to a commissioning method of an elevator, as well as to an elevator comprising such an elevator commission system or being capable of carrying out such a commission method.

[0004] The elevator is normally installed in a building with several floors, with a stopping station for the elevator car being provided on each floor, wherein the elevator car moves between different floors in order to transport passengers or items. Generally, on every floor there is at least one fixture provided. Such a fixture may serve various purposes. For example, a fixture may be provided in a form of a landing operation panel (LOP) and may be used by users in order to call an elevator car of the elevator system to come to the floor where the fixture is installed or to a specific floor. Such a LOP typically comprises one or more call buttons or other means for determining a user's request. Other kinds of fixtures may serve for providing information to a user. For example, such fixtures like Landing Indicating Panel (LIP) may comprise a display, lights, indicators, loudspeakers etc. and may indicate information for example about a current position of the elevator car and / or its moving direction. Other fixtures may be provided within the floors of the building for further purposes.

[0005] On the other hand, in order to correctly control a motion of the elevator car, an elevator control must know the position of the LOP which a user has operated. Only when the elevator control knows the position of such a fixture, the elevator control can drive the car to the floor where the user is waiting.

[0006] Typically, all LOPs serving for a same or similar purpose of an elevator are identical in hardware. Accordingly, when installing the elevator, every fixture may be mounted at any of the various floors within the building. This may save costs and simplify logistics. However, after installation the elevator control can initially not distinguish between the various LOPs which are located at different floors, so it is necessary to identify the position of each of the LOPs.

[0007] Conventionally, identifying the position of such a fixture has been carried out by means of several switches being included into each of the fixtures wherein the switching state of the switches provided for a unique identification pattern upon which the elevator control could distinguish between the various fixtures. In such conventional approach, a technician has to manually set the several switches of every fixture on every floor. Configurations manually carried out in such manner required a high outlay in terms of time and personnel. Furthermore, the switches represented costly components.

[0008] There may be a need for an elevator system which is able to enable determining of position of fixtures located at various floors in a simple manner. Particularly, there may be a need for such elevator arrangement in which position information determination may be provided with minimum human labor, i.e. preferably automatically. Furthermore, there may be a need for an elevator arrangement in which such position information determination may be provided at relatively low cost and / or at short time.

[0009] Such a need may be met with the subject-matter of the independent claims of the present application. Beneficial embodiments are defined in the dependent claims and described in the following specification.

[0010] According to the first aspect of the present invention, an elevator commission system of an elevator is provided, wherein the elevator comprises a car which is displaceable in an elevator shaft between various floors of a building. The elevator commission system comprises a scanner, which can be mounted at the car, for example, on the roof of the car, a controller, and a plurality of fixtures. Each of these fixtures is for locating at one of the floors and capable of being connected wired or wirelessly with the controller and comprises a unique graphic code for identifying itself. A graphic code can be, for example, barcode, QR-code. The respective fixtures and the scanner are arranged in this manner so that the scanner may scan the graphic code of the fixture when the car during its commissioning trip (learning trip) sequentially passing the respective fixtures. The controller is able to identify the individual fixture based on the received graphic code. By means of such an elevator commission system, individual fixtures among a plurality of fixtures can be identified in a simple manner and assigned to their corresponding floor.

[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment in respect of the first aspect of the invention, the fixtures can be implemented as landing operation panels (LOP) and / or Landing Indicating Panels (LIP) of the elevator, and / or the controller is also an elevator controller of the elevator, for example, the main controller of the elevator for controlling the car driving.

[0012] In order for the scanner which is inside the shaft to be able to scan the graphic code, according to an advantageous embodiment in respect of the first aspect of the invention, such fixtures are respectively installed in a shaft door on each floor so that their graphic codes are visible from inside of the elevator shaft and the front panel of each fixture is visible and accessible from outside of the elevator shaft.

[0013] According to a further advantageous embodiment in respect of the first aspect of the invention, the scanner is a video camera, a 3D-camera, or a time-of-flight (ToF) camera, which is able to communicate with the controller for informing the scanned graphic code of the fixture in relation to the corresponding floor. Using a 3D-camera or a ToF-camera is advantageous that other application functions can be also integrated in the camera, for instance, such a camera can be implemented for ranging (distance measurement), speed measurement, or face recognition. In case of a ToF-camera, the graphic code can be projected as a floating image so that into the air, such a code thus can be generated dynamically. After commissioning, there is no need to show the graphic code anymore. In accordance with which kind of the scanner is used, the graphic code can be accordingly printed or pasted on the rear side of the fixture facing the elevator shaft. Alternatively, the graphic code can be projected from the fixture into the air inside the elevator shaft.

[0014] According to another advantageous embodiment in respect of the first aspect of the invention, the fixture may send its identification information to the controller when the fixture is powered on. That means the camera can communicate its identification information, for example its serial Number (SN) or identification code (ID) to the controller. Then the controller may compare the identification information received from a fixture with the scanned graphic code of a fixture and its located floor, which are received from the scanner, in order to check whether this fixture is the correct one and located at a correct floor.

[0015] According to the second aspect of the present invention, a commissioning method of an elevator is provided, wherein the elevator comprises a car which is displaceable in an elevator shaft between various floor of a building. A plurality of fixtures, each of them is located at one of the floors and connected wired or wirelessly with a controller. To identify the fixtures, each of them is assigned with a unique graphic code which is scanned by a scanner mounted at the car when the car during its commissioning trip sequentially passing the respective fixtures, and the controller receives the scanned respective graphic codes and identifies the individual fixture based on the received graphic code.

[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment in respect of the second aspect of the invention, the fixtures are implemented as landing operation panels (LOP) and / or Landing Indicating Panels (LIP) of the elevator, and / or the controller is an elevator controller (for example, a main controller) of the elevator for controlling the car driving.

[0017] According to a further advantageous embodiment in respect of the second aspect of the invention, the fixtures are respectively installed in a shaft door on each floor so that their graphic codes are visible from inside of the elevator shaft and the front panel of each fixture is visible and accessible from outside of the elevator shaft.

[0018] According to a further advantageous embodiment in respect of the second aspect of the invention, a video camera, a 3D-camera, or a time-of-flight camera is used as the scanner, which communicates with the controller to inform the scanned graphic code of the fixture in relation to the corresponding floor. In accordance with which kind of the scanner is used, the graphic code is accordingly printed or pasted on the rear side of the fixture facing the elevator shaft. Alternatively, the graphic code is projected from the fixture into the air inside the elevator shaft.

[0019] According to another advantageous embodiment in respect of the second aspect of the invention, the fixture sends its identification information to the controller when the fixture is powered on. So the camera communicates its identification information, for example its serial Number (SN) or identification code (ID) to the controller. Then the controller will compare the identification information received from a fixture with the scanned graphic code of a fixture and its located floor, which are received from the scanner, in order to check whether this fixture is the correct one and located at a correct floor. If according to the identification information and to the scanned graphic code different fixtures are identified, or the identified fixture is not a correct fixture installed on the correct floor where this fixture should be, the controller may generate a notification information and request the elevator to carry out a commission trip again.

[0020] According to the third aspect of the present invention, an elevator comprises an elevator commission system according to the first aspect of the present invention or is able to carry out a commissioning method according to the second of the present invention.

[0021] It should be noted that some of the possible features and advantages of the invention are described herein with reference to various embodiments both of the illumination device and of a method for illuminating an elevator shaft of an elevator system. A person skilled in the art will recognize that the features can be suitably combined, adapted, or replaced in order to arrive at further embodiments of the invention.

[0022] Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings; neither the drawings nor the description should be interpreted as limiting to the invention.

[0023] In the drawings:

[0024] Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an elevator commission system according to the invention,

[0025] Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a commissioning method according to the present invention.

[0026] Fig. 1 shows an elevator 6 with an elevator commission system 1. An elevator car 2 of the elevator 6 can move in an elevator shaft 10 between various floors 5 of a building. The elevator commission system 1 comprises a scanner 3 mounted on the top of the elevator car 2, a controller 7, and a plurality of fixtures 9. The fixture 9 can be constructed as a landing operation panel (LOP) or a Landing Indicating Panel (LIP) of the elevator 6. On the other hand, the controller 7 can function also as an elevator controller 7’ of the elevator 6 for controlling the car 2. Each of the fixtures 6 is located at one of the floors 5 and communicable connected with the controller 7. Every fixture 9 comprises a unique graphic code 4, for example, a QR-code.

[0027] The scanner 3 can be a video camera or a 3D-camera, which is able to communicate with the controller 7 for informing the scanned QR-code 4 of the fixture 9 in relation to the corresponding floor 5 on which the fixture 9 is installed. The graphic code 4 can be printed or pasted on the rear side of the fixture 9 facing the elevator shaft 10. If the scanner 3 is a time-of-flight (ToF) camera, the graphic code 4 accordingly can be projected from the fixture 9 into the air inside the shaft 10 so that the code 4 can be also generated dynamically. That means, after commissioning, the graphic code 4 will not be displayed. In order to make it possible for the scanner 3 to scan such unique QR-codes 4, the fixture 9 is installed in a shaft door 8 on a floor 5 so that the QR-code 4 is visible from inside of the elevator shaft 10, and the front panel of the fixture 9 is visible and accessible from outside of the elevator shaft 10. Therefore, after the elevator 6 is switched into its inspection / maintenance operation mode, the scanner 3 may scan the QR-code 4 of the respective fixtures 9 when the car 2 during its commissioning trip sequentially passing all fixtures 9. Then the controller 7 may identify the individual fixtures 9 based on the received graphic codes 4 from the scanner 3. Furthermore, the fixtures 9 may also send their identification information like its own serial Number (SN) or identification code (ID) to the controller 7 when after the commission trip the fixture 9 is powered on. Then the controller 7 will compare the identification information with the graphic codes 4 of a fixture 9 received from the respective fixtures 9, regarding the corresponding floors 5 on which the fixture is located, so that it is possible to check whether a correct fixture 9 is installed on the correct floor 5.

[0028] In Fig. 2 a block flow diagram chart is illustrated for an embodiment of a commissioning method of an elevator 6 which is shown in Fig. 1 according to the invention. To identify the fixtures 9, each of them is assigned with a unique graphic code 4, the following method steps are to be carried out, each method step being marked with "S":

[0029] SI: the elevator 6 is switched into its inspection / maintenance operation mode so that the elevator car 2 will be displaced in a predefined start position, usually the lowest or the highest floor, wherever the car 2 is at the time of the switching,

[0030] S2: the car 2 begins its commission trip from the start position,

[0031] S3: a scanner 3 mounted at the car 2 scans sequentially the unique graphic codes 4 of the fixtures 9, when the car 2 passes the respective fixtures 9,

[0032] S4: the fixture 9 informs the controller 7 of the scanned graphic code 4 of the fixture 9 and the corresponding floor 5 on which this fixture 9 is located,

[0033] S5: the individual fixture 9 sends its identification information such as SN or ID to the controller 7, for example, when the fixture 9 is powered on and the car 2 has finished the commission trip,

[0034] S6: the controller 7 will compare the identification information with the scanned graphic code of the fixture 9 and its location (which floor), to check whether this fixture 9 is the correct one and located on a correct floor 5,

[0035] S7: if in accordance with the identification information and the scanned graphic code it cannot identify the same fixture 9, or the identified fixture 9 is not a correct fixture 9 installed on the correct floor where this fixture 9 should be, the controller 7 may generate a notification information and request the car 2 to take a commission trip once again. It should lastly be noted that terms such as “having,” “comprising,” etc. do not preclude other elements or steps, and terms such as “a” or “an” do not preclude a plurality of elements or steps. It should also be noted that features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the above embodiments can also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims should not be considered limiting.

Claims

Claims:

1. Elevator commission system (1) of an elevator (6) with a car (2) being displaceable in an elevator shaft (10) between various floors (5) of a building, comprising:- a scanner (3) for mounting at the car (2),- a controller (7),- a plurality of fixtures (9), each of them is for locating at one of the floors (5) and capable of being connected wired or wirelessly with the controller (7), wherein each fixture (9) comprises a unique graphic code (4) for identifying itself, and wherein the respective fixtures (9) and the scanner (3) are arranged in this manner that the scanner (3) is able to scan the graphic code (4) of the fixture (9) when the car (2) during its commissioning trip sequentially passing the respective fixtures (9), and- the controller (7) being capable of identifying the individual fixture (9) based on the received graphic code (4).

2. Elevator commission system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the fixtures (9) are landing operation panels, LOP, and / or Landing Indicating Panels, LIP, of the elevator (6), and / or the controller (7) is an elevator controller (7’) of the elevator (6).

3. Elevator commission system (1) according to claim 2, wherein the fixtures (9) are respectively installed in a shaft door (8) on each floor (5) so that their graphic codes (4) are visible from inside of the elevator shaft (10) and the front panel of each fixture (9) is visible and accessible from outside of the elevator shaft (10).

4. Elevator commission system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the scanner (3) is a video camera, a 3D-camera, or a time-of-flight camera, which is able to communicate with the controller (7) for informing the scanned graphic code of the fixture (9) in relation to the corresponding floor (5).

5. Elevator commission system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the graphic code (4) is printed or pasted on the rear side of the fixture (9) facing the elevator shaft (10), or the graphic code (4) is projected from the fixture (9) into the air inside the elevator shaft (10).

6. Elevator commission system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fixture (9) is able to send its identification information to the controller (7) when the fixture (9) is powered on.

7. Elevator commission system (1) according to claim 6, whereinthe controller (7) is able to compare the identification information with the scanned graphic code for checking whether the individual fixture (9) is correct one and located on a correct floor (5).

8. Commissioning method of an elevator (6) with a car (2) being displaceable in an elevator shaft (10) between various floors (5) of a building, wherein a plurality of fixtures (9), each of them is located at one of the floors (5) and connected wired or wirelessly with a controller (7), and to identify the fixtures (5), each fixture (9) is assigned with a unique graphic code (4) which is scanned by a scanner (3) mounted at the car (2) when the car (2) during its commissioning trip sequentially passing the respective fixtures (9), and the controller (7) identifies the individual fixture (9) based on the received graphic code (4).

9. Commissioning method according to claim 8, wherein the fixtures (9) are implemented as landing operation panels, LOP, and / or Landing Indicating Panels, LIP, of the elevator (6), and / or the controller (7) is an elevator controller (7’) of the elevator (6).

10. Commissioning method according to claim 8, wherein the fixtures (9) are respectively installed in a shaft door (8) on each floor (5) so that their graphic codes (4) are visible from inside of the elevator shaft (10) and the front panel of each fixture (9) is visible and accessible from outside of the elevator shaft (10).

11. Commissioning method according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein a video camera, a 3D-camera, or a time-of-flight camera is used as the scanner (3), which communicates with the controller (7) to inform the scanned graphic code of the fixture (9) in relation to the corresponding floor (5).

12. Commissioning method according to any of claims 8 to 11, wherein the graphic code (4) is printed or pasted on the rear side of the fixture (9) facing the elevator shaft (10), or the graphic code (4) is projected from the fixture (9) into the air inside the elevator shaft (10).

13. Commissioning method according to any of claims 8 to 12, wherein the fixture (9) sends its identification information to the controller (7) when the fixture (9) is powered on.

14. Commissioning method according to claim 13, wherein the controller (7) compares the identification information with the scanned graphic code to check whether the individual fixture (9) is correct one and located on a correct floor (5).

15. Elevator (6) having an elevator commission system (2) according to any of claims 1 to 7 or being capable of carrying out a commissioning method according to any of claims 8 to 14.

Images