Method and computer program for activating a maintenance mode of a passenger transport system, passenger transport system, and controller for the passenger transport system

Abstract

A method for activating a maintenance mode of a passenger transport system (1) is described. The passenger transport system (1) comprises a control panel (20) having a push button (24), a switch (26), and an indicator light arrangement (21). The method comprises: receiving a first activation signal from the control panel (20), wherein the first activation signal is representative of the push button (24) having been pressed; starting at least one safety routine being configured for checking whether at least one safety condition of the passenger transport system (1) is fulfilled; sending a first lighting signal to the indicator light arrangement (21) when the safety condition is fulfilled, wherein the first lighting signal and the indicator light arrangement (21) are configured such that the indicator light arrangement (21) emits light having a first property upon receiving the first lighting signal; receiving a second activation signal from the control panel (20), wherein the second activation signal is representative of the switch (26) having been switched to a maintenance position of the switch (26); and sending a second lighting signal to the indicator light arrangement (21) upon receiving the second activation signal, wherein the second lighting signal and the indicator light arrangement (21) are configured such that the indicator light arrangement (21) emits light having a second property upon receiving the second lighting signal.

Description

[0001] Method and computer program for activating a maintenance mode of a passenger transport system, passenger transport system, and controller for the passenger transport system

[0002] The technology described herein generally relates to a method and a computer program for activating a maintenance mode of a passenger transport system, to the passenger transport system, and to a controller for the passenger transport system.

[0003] A passenger transport system may be configured for transporting passengers and / or other loads, e.g. goods, from one location of a building to another location of the building. The passenger transport system may be an elevator, an escalator or a moving pavement. An elevator serves for transporting passengers with an elevator car of the elevator throughout a hoistway within a building. Typically, a multiplicity of passengers and / or one or more goods may be accommodated within the elevator car and may then be transported from a starting floor to a destination floor in the building. During such travel, further passengers may enter or exit the elevator car during intermediate stops at other floors. An escalator also serves fortransporting passengers from a starting floor to a destination floor in a building, wherein the passengers are transported by moving stair or step elements of the escalator. A moving pavement may be seen as an escalator which extends in horizontal direction and which serves to transport the passengers from one location to another location within the same floor of the corresponding building.

[0004] It is known to configure a passenger transport system such that it comprises a normal mode in which passengers or another load may be transported by the passenger transport system, and a maintenance mode in which service- and maintenance tasks may be carried out by service and / or maintenance personal. Several functions of the passenger transport system which may be active during the normal mode may be blocked and / or disabled in the maintenance mode for protecting the maintenance personal during the maintenance. For example, a brake of the passenger transport system may be permanently activated in the maintenance mode, and / or several or all functions of a passenger interface of the passenger transport system may be blocked and / or disabled in the maintenance mode such that the passengers cannot control the passenger transport system via the passenger interface while the maintenance takes place. The other way round, other functions of the passenger transport system which may be blocked and / or disabled during the normal mode may be activated and / or enabled in the maintenance mode for supporting the maintenance personal during the maintenance. For example, in case of the passenger transport system being an elevator, opening or closing a landing door of the elevator although the elevator car is arranged below the landing door may be enabled in the maintenance mode only such that the maintenance personal may be able to enter a top of the car from through the opened landing door.

[0005] In general, the maintenance mode has to be activated by the maintenance personal. The activation of the maintenance mode should be possible in an easy and quick way such that there is no motivation for the maintenance personal to circumvent the activation of the maintenance mode for carrying out the maintenance. In addition, the activation of the maintenance mode should be safe and it must be secured that there is no danger or at least as less danger as possible for the maintenance worker.

[0006] Accordingly, there may be a need for a method and a computer program for activating a maintenance mode of a passenger transport system, which may enable to activate the maintenance mode quickly and easily and in a way that the security of maintenance personal carrying out the maintenance is secured. Further, there may be a need for a controller for the passenger transport system with the controller being configured to carry out the method, and / or for the passenger transport system comprising the controller.

[0007] Such need may be met with the subject-matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims as well as in the following specification and the associated figures.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the technology described herein, a method for activating a maintenance mode of a passenger transport system is described. The passenger transport system comprises a control panel having a push button, a switch, and an indicator light arrangement. The method comprises: receiving a first activation signal from the control panel, wherein the first activation signal is representative of the push button having been pressed; starting at least one safety routine being configured for checking whether at least one safety condition of the passenger transport system is fulfilled; sending a first lighting signal to the indicator light arrangement when the safety condition is fulfilled, wherein the first lighting signal and the indicator light arrangement are configured such that the indicator light arrangement emits light having a first property upon receiving the first lighting signal; receiving a second activation signal from the control panel, wherein the second activation signal is representative of the switch having been switched to a maintenance position of the switch; and sending a second lighting signal to the indicator light arrangement upon receiving the second activation signal, wherein the second lighting signal and the indicator light arrangement are configured such that the indicator light arrangement emits light having a second property upon receiving the second lighting signal.

[0009] According to a second aspect of the technology described herein, a controller for the passenger transport system is described. The controller comprises a memory and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory. The processor is configured for carrying out the method as described above and in the following.

[0010] According to a third aspect of the technology described herein, the passenger transport system is described. The passenger transport system comprises: the controller as described above and in the following; and the control panel having the push button, the switch, and the indicator light arrangement, and being communicatively coupled to the controller.

[0011] According to a fourth aspect of the technology described herein, a computer program for activating the maintenance mode of the passenger transport system is described. The computer program is configured such that, when being carried out by the processor of the controller, the method as described above and in the following is carried out by the controller. The computer program may be stored on the memory of the controller.

[0012] It shall be noted that possible features and advantages of embodiments of the technology described herein are described herein with respect to one of the above aspects and others with respect to another one of the above aspects. One skilled in the art will recognize that the features and / or the advantages may be suitably transferred from one of the aspects to another one of the aspect and / or from one embodiment to another embodiment, and that the features may be modified, adapted, combined and / or replaced, etc. in order to come to further embodiments of the technology described herein. The passenger transport system may be an elevator, an escalator, or a moving pavement. The passenger transport system may comprise a controller being communicatively coupled to the control panel. The method may be carried out at least in part by the controller. The passenger transport system may be configured to transport a load, e.g. one or more persons, in other words passengers, and / or one or more goods, within a building, e.g. from one area of the building to another area of the building, e.g. from one floor of the building to another floor of the building. The passenger transport system may be in a normal mode when transporting the load.

[0013] The passenger transport system may have to be inspected, in other words maintained, when a failure occurs and / or on a regular basis. However, when the passenger transport system is in its normal mode, several risks may be present for a maintenance worker carrying out the inspection, in other words maintenance. Therefore, the passenger transport system may be operated in a maintenance mode, in which one or more transport functions of the passenger transport system for transporting the load are blocked and / or not available in order to protect the maintenance personal, and / or in which one or more maintenance functions of the passenger transport system for inspecting the passenger transport system are activated and / or available.

[0014] The push button may have two different states. In a first state of the push button, the push button is not pressed and projects from the control panel about a certain amount, and in a second state of the push button, the push button is pressed at least partly into a control board of the control panel and may project from the control panel, in particular from the control board, less than in the first state.

[0015] The switch may also have two different positions. For example, when the switch is in a first position the passenger transport system may be in a normal mode, and when the switch is in a second position, the passenger transport system may be in the maintenance mode. The first position may be referred to as normal position and the second position may be referred to as the maintenance position. So, the switch may have been in its normal position before being switched to the maintenance position. The switch may be a knob, in particular a rotary knob, and the first position may correspond to a first angular position of the knob and the second position may correspond to a second angular position of the knob. The control panel may have a first label indicating the normal mode and a second label indicating the maintenance mode. The switch and the labels may be configured such that a pointer of the switch points towards the first label when the normal mode is active and towards the second label when the maintenance mode is active.

[0016] The indicator light arrangement may be configured for signalling different states and / or modes of the passenger transport system to the maintenance worker. The light having the first property may be referred to as first light. The light having the second property may be referred to as second light. The properties of the light emitted from the lighting arrangement may refer to a colour of the light, to a position at which the light is emitted from the control panel, and / or to the light being a continuous light or a flashlight. For example, the first light may have a first colour, may be emitted at a first position of the control panel, and may be a continuous light, and the second light may have a second colour, may be emitted at a second position of the control panel, and / or may be a flashlight.

[0017] The indicator light arrangement may comprise one, two or more light sources. The position at which the light is emitted and / or the colour of the light may be controlled by providing two or more of the light sources at different positions and by activating the light sources depending on their position. For example, a first light source of the light sources may be arranged at a first position of the control panel and a second light source of the light sources may be arranged at a second position of the control panel. In this case, when the light shall be emitted at the first position having the first colour, the first light source may be activated, and when the light shall be emitted at the second position having the second colour, the second light source may be activated.

[0018] The first light may signal to the maintenance worker that the safety condition is fulfilled and optionally that the switch may be turned to its maintenance position. The second light may signal to the maintenance worker that the passenger transport system is ready for the maintenance.

[0019] The safety condition(s) checked by the safety routine may be or may comprise a safety condition out of a group of safety conditions. The group of safety conditions may comprise: no load is currently transported by the passenger transport system; a brake of the passenger transport system is (actively or currently) working; no signal for opening the brake can be sent to the brake; an elevator door of an elevator car of the passenger transport system cannot be opened; and an elevator control for calling or sending the elevator car from one floor of a building to another floor of the building is inactive. The safety routine may check two or more of these safety conditions and may send the first light signal only when all of the checked safety conditions are fulfilled. The safety routine may be a safety algorithm as they are known in the field of passenger transport systems.

[0020] When the safety condition checked by the safety routine is not fulfilled, the method may be terminated. In this case, a termination signal may be sent to the indicator light arrangement before the termination. The termination signal may be representative of the passenger transport system not being ready for the maintenance. The termination signal and the indicator light arrangement may be configured such that the indicator light arrangement emits light having a termination property. The termination property may refer to the light having a predetermined colour or modulation. For example, the light being emitted to signal the termination of the method and thereby that the passenger transport system is not ready for maintenance may be a red or orange flashlight and may optionally be emitted from all light sources of the indicator light arrangement.

[0021] According to an embodiment, the light having the first property is emitted at a position of the control panel at which the push button is arranged. Alternatively or additionally, the light having the first property is emitted from a first light source of the indicator light arrangement. Alternatively or additionally, the light having the first property has a first colour, Alternatively or additionally, the light having the second property is emitted at a position of the control panel at which the switch is arranged. Alternatively or additionally, the light having the second property is emitted from a second light source of the indicator light arrangement. Alternatively or additionally, the light having the second property has a second colour. The first light source may be arranged in the first area. The second light source may be arranged in the second area.

[0022] That the light having the first property, i.e. the first light, is emitted at the “position of the control panel at which the push button is arranged” may mean that the first light is emitted from the push button itself or from a first area in which the push button is arranged on the control panel. For example, the first area may be completely illuminated by the first light or a circumference of the first area only may be illuminated by the first light. The push button may be arranged within the first area. The first area may be circular or cornered. The first colour may be red.

[0023] The light having the second property may be referred to as second light. That the light having the second property is emitted at the “position of the control panel at which the switch is arranged” may mean that the second light is emitted from the switch itself or from a second area in which the switch is arranged on the control panel. For example, the second area may be completely illuminated by the third light or a circumference of the second area only may be illuminated by the third light. The switch may be arranged within the second area. The second area may be circular or cornered. Preferably, the first and second areas do not overlap each other. The second colour may be orange or yellow.

[0024] According to an embodiment, the first lighting signal and the indicator light arrangement are configured such that, upon receiving the first lighting signal, the indicator light arrangement emits the light having the first property and light having a third property, and the light having the third property is emitted at a position of the control panel at which the switch is arranged. The light having the third property may be referred to as third light. That the light having the third property is emitted at the “position of the control panel at which the switch is arranged” may mean that the third light is emitted from the switch itself or from a third area in which the switch is arranged on the control panel. For example, the third area may be completely illuminated by the third light or a circumference of the third area only may be illuminated by the third light. The switch may be arranged within the third area. The third area may be circular or cornered. Preferably, the first and third areas do not overlap each other. The second and third area may overlap each other. For example, the second and third areas correspond to each other. In other words, the third light may be emitted from the second area. The third light may signal to the maintenance worker that the switch can be turned to its maintenance position.

[0025] According to an embodiment, the light having the third property is emitted from the second light source of the indicator light arrangement, and / or the light having the third property has a third colour. The third colour may be green. The third light may be a continuous light or a flashlight. According to an embodiment, the method comprises: receiving a pull-out signal from the control panel, wherein the pull-out signal is representative of the push button having been pulled out from its pressed position; and sending a third lighting signal to the indicator light arrangement, wherein the third lighting signal and the indicator light arrangement are configured such that the indicator light arrangement emits light having a fourth property upon receiving the third lighting signal. For example, the push button may be in its first state after been pulled out from its pressed position. The light having the fourth property may be referred to as fourth light. The fourth light may signal to the maintenance worker that the passenger transport system is ready for the maintenance. In this case, the second light may signal to the maintenance worker that the push button may be pulled-out from its first or pressed position.

[0026] According to an embodiment, the light having the fourth property is emitted at a position of the control panel at which the push button is arranged, and / or the light having the fourth property is emitted from the first light source of the indicator light arrangement, and / or the light having the fourth property has a fourth colour. That the light having the fourth property is emitted at the “position of the control panel at which the push button is arranged” may mean that the fourth light is emitted from the push button itself or from the first area in which the push button is arranged on the control panel. For example, the first area may be completely illuminated by the fourth light or a circumference of the first area only may be illuminated by the fourth light. The fourth colour may correspond to the third colour. The fourth colour may be green, for example. The fourth light may be a continuous light.

[0027] According to an embodiment, the third lighting signal and the indicator light arrangement are configured such that, upon receiving the third lighting signal, the indicator light arrangement emits the light having the fourth property and light having a fifth property, and the light having the fifth property is emitted at a position of the control panel at which the switch is arranged. The light having the fifth property may be referred to as fifth light. That the light having the fifth property is emitted at the “position of the control panel at which the switch is arranged” may mean that the fifth light is emitted from the switch itself or from the second area in which the switch is arranged on the control panel. For example, the second area may be completely illuminated by the fifth light or a circumference of the second area only may be illuminated by the fifth light. The fifth light may signal to the maintenance worker that the passenger transport system is ready for the maintenance.

[0028] According to an embodiment, the light having the fifth property is emitted from the second light source of the indicator light arrangement, and / or the light having the fifth property has a fifth colour. The fifth light may have the same colour as the second light. The fifth colour may be orange or yellow, e.g. corresponding to the second colour. However, in contrast to the second light, the fifth light may be a continuous light. For example, the light source emitting the second light as a flashlight may switch to emit the light having the same colour as a continuous light as the fifth light.

[0029] According to an embodiment, the method comprises, before receiving the first activation signal: sending a fourth lighting signal to the indicator light arrangement, wherein the fourth lighting signal and the indicator light arrangement are configured such that the indicator light arrangement emits light having a sixth property upon receiving the fourth lighting signal. The light having the sixth property may be referred to as sixth light. The sixth light may signal to the maintenance worker that the control panel is active and / or ready for use. The fourth lighting signal may be sent to the indicator lighting arrangement when the passenger transport system is activated or, in case of the passenger transport system being an elevator, when a landing door for accessing a car of the elevator or a top of the car is opened. In the latter case, an opening signal may be received, with the opening signal being representative of the landing door being opened. The opening signal may be generated by a sensor for monitoring a state of the landing door.

[0030] According to an embodiment, the light having the sixth property is emitted at a position of the control panel at which the push button is arranged, and / or the light having the sixth property is emitted from the first light source of the lighting arrangement, and / or the light having the sixth property has a sixth colour. That the light having the sixth property is emitted at the “position of the control panel at which the push button is arranged” may mean that the sixth light is emitted from the push button itself or from the first area in which the push button is arranged on the control panel. For example, the first area may be completely illuminated by the sixth light or a circumference of the first area only may be illuminated by the sixth light. The sixth colour may be green, e.g. corresponding to the first colour. However, in contrast to the first light, the sixth light may be a flashlight. According to an embodiment, the passenger transport system is an elevator comprising an elevator car for transporting a load; the safety condition comprises that no load is currently transported within the elevator car; and the fulfilment of the safety condition is checked by a camera of the elevator, with the camera being arranged within the elevator car and being configured for monitoring whether any load is present within the elevator car or not. For example, the camera may capture an image of an interior of the elevator car and may generate corresponding image data, upon receiving an imaging signal from the controller. The image data may be received by the controller and the controller may carry out an image analysis on the image data for checking whether the load is present within the elevator car or not.

[0031] According to an embodiment, the indicator light arrangement comprises a first light source being arranged at a first area in which the push button is arranged, and a second light source being arranged at a second area in which the switch is arranged. Optionally, each of the light sources may be able to emit light having different colour, e.g. green, red, orange, and / or yellow, and / or to emit the light as a flashlight or a continuous light.

[0032] In the following, advantageous embodiments of the technology described herein will be described with reference to the enclosed drawings. However, neither the drawings nor the description shall be interpreted as limiting the technology described herein.

[0033] Fig. 1 shows a cutaway side view of a passenger transport system, according to an embodiment of the technology described herein.

[0034] Fig. 2 shows a control panel of a passenger transport system in a first state, according to an embodiment of the technology described herein.

[0035] Fig. 3 shows the control panel of figure 2 in a second state, according to an embodiment of the technology described herein.

[0036] Fig. 4 shows the control panel of figure 2 in a third state, according to an embodiment of the technology described herein. Fig. 5 shows the control panel of figure 2 in a fourth state, according to an embodiment of the technology described herein.

[0037] Fig. 6 shows a flow-chart of a method for activating a maintenance mode of a passenger transport system, according to an embodiment of the technology described herein.

[0038] The figures are only schematic and not to scale. Same reference signs refer to same or similar features.

[0039] Fig. 1 shows a cutaway side view of a passenger transport system 1, according to an embodiment of the technology described herein. The passenger transport system 1 may be configured for transporting one or more passengers and / or goods from one floor 10 to another floor 10 of a building or from one position to another position within the same floor of the building. In this embodiment, the passenger transport system 1 is an elevator. However, in other embodiments of the present invention, the passenger transport system 1 may be an escalator or a moving pavement. The passenger transport system 1 may be in a normal mode when transporting the load.

[0040] The passenger transport system 1 may have to be inspected, in other words maintained, when a failure occurs and / or on a regular basis. Therefore, the passenger transport system 1 may be operated in a maintenance mode, in which one or more transport functions of the passenger transport system 1 for transporting the load are blocked and / or not available, and / or in which one or more maintenance functions of the passenger transport system 1 for inspecting the passenger transport system 1 are activated and / or available.

[0041] The building may have an elevator hoistway 3. The elevator comprises an elevator car 5. The elevator car 5 is displaceable, e.g. vertically, arranged within the elevator hoistway 3. The elevator car 5 is mechanically coupled to a counterweight 2 of the elevator via at least one suspension element 4, for example a rope or belt. The suspension element 4 may be guided between the elevator car 5 and the counterweight 2 via one or more deflection rollers 12. The suspension element 4 and thus the elevator car 5 and the counterweight 2 are movable by means of a motor (not shown) of the elevator, whereby the displacement of the elevator car 5 may be realized. The motor may be controlled by means of a control unit 16. The control unit 16 may be arranged on top of a ceiling of the elevator hoistway 3. However, the control unit 16 may also be arranged at another location of the elevator, for example on top of the elevator car 5.

[0042] The elevator car 5 may be configured for accommodating the person(s) and / or load(s) to be transported. The elevator car 5 has a car opening 6 through which the persons can enter or leave the elevator car 5, or through which the loads can be brought into or taken out of the elevator car 5. The elevator car 5 has a car door 7 for exposing or closing the car door opening 6. The elevator car 5 may comprise a balustrade 18 on top of the elevator car 5. The balustrade 18 may be configured for securing maintenance personal against falling off the top of the elevator car 5.

[0043] The elevator hoistway 3 may comprise a hoistway opening 9 at each floor 10 to provide access to respective floors 10 of the building starting from the elevator car 5. A landing door 11 may be arranged at each of these hoistway openings 9. In the normal mode of operation of the elevator, when the elevator car 5 is located at one of the floors 10, the corresponding hoistway opening 9 may be located opposite the car door 7. With car door 7 open and landing door 11 open, the elevator car 5 may then be entered or exited from the corresponding floor 10.

[0044] Functions of the passenger transport system 1 being controlled by the control unit 16 may for example be any function regarding a movement of that part of the passenger transport system 1 which transports the passenger(s) and / or which grants or denies an access to that part of the passenger transport system 1 which transports the passenger(s). For example, in case of the elevator, the function may be a movement of the car 5, e.g. in vertical direction. This function may be controlled by the control unit 16 via the motor for lifting the elevator car 5. Alternatively, in case of the elevator, the function may be a movement of one or more of the doors 7, 11 of car 5 or the hoistway 3. Alternatively, in case of an escalator or moving pavement, the function may be a movement of the moving parts of the moving pavement on which the passengers stand while being transported.

[0045] The passenger transport system 1 comprises a control panel 20 being configured for activating the maintenance mode of the passenger transport system 1. The control panel 20 may be arranged at different positions at the passenger transport system 1 or close to the passenger transport system 1. For example, in case of the elevator as the passenger transport system 1, the control panel 16 may be arranged next to the landing doors 11 of the elevator hoistway 3, within the elevator car 5 of the elevator, on top of the elevator car 5, e.g. at the balustrade 18, or in a pit of the elevator hoistway 3. Alternatively, in case of the escalator or moving pavement as the passenger transport system 1, the control panel 20 may be arranged at or close to a first end of the escalator or, respectively moving pavement, to a second end of the escalator or, respectively moving pavement opposite to the first end, and / or at one or more positions between the first and second ends (not shown). The control panel 20 may be communicatively coupled to the control unit 16.

[0046] The passenger transport system 1 may comprise a camera 19. The camera 19 may be configured for checking whether a passenger and / or any other load are currently transported by the passenger transport system 1. In case of the elevator as the passenger transport system 1, the camera 19 may be arranged within the elevator car 5 and may be configured such that the whole interior of the elevator car 5 may be monitored by the camera 19.

[0047] Fig. 2 shows the control panel 20 of the passenger transport system 1 in a first state, according to an embodiment of the technology described herein. The control panel 20 may comprise a control board 22 and may be communicatively coupled to a controller 23. The controller 23 may be configured for activating the maintenance mode of the passenger transport system 1. The controller 23 may be integrated into a housing of the control panel 20. Alternatively, the controller 23 may be a component of the control unit 16. Alternatively, the controller 23 may be a dedicated and / or separate entity of the passenger transport system 1. The controller 23 may comprise a memory 25 and a processor 27 communicatively coupled to the memory 25. The processor 27 may be configured for carrying out the method as described below.

[0048] The control panel 20 comprises a push button 24, a switch 26 and an indicator light arrangement 21. The push button 24 may have a two different states. In the first state of the push button 24, the push button 24 is not pressed and projects from the control board 22 about a certain amount. The switch 26 may also have two different positions. For example, in the first state of the control panel 20, the switch 26 is in a first position and the passenger transport system 1 may be in a normal mode. The first position of the switch 26 may be referred to as normal position of the switch. So, the switch 26 is in its normal position before being switched to a maintenance position of the switch 26, as explained below. The switch 26 may be a knob, in particular a rotary knob, and the first position may correspond to a first angular position of the knob.

[0049] The control panel 20 may have a first label 38 (e.g. “R”) indicating the normal mode of the passenger transport system 1 and a second label 40 (e.g. “I) indicating the maintenance mode of the passenger transport system 1. The switch 26 and the labels 38, 40 may be configured such that a pointer 28 of the switch 26 points towards the first label 38 when the normal mode is activated and towards the second label 40 when the maintenance mode is activated.

[0050] The indicator light arrangement 21 may be configured for signalling different states and / or modes of the passenger transport system 1 to the maintenance personal. The indicator light arrangement 21 may comprise one, two or more light sources, e.g. a first light source 34 and a second light source 36. The position at which the light is emitted by the indicator light arrangement 21 and / or a colour of the light may be controlled by providing two or more of the light sources 34, 36 at different positions and by activating the light sources 34, 36 depending on their position. For example, the first light source 34 may be arranged at a first position of the control panel 20 and the second light source 36 may be arranged at a second position of the control panel 20. In this case, when the light shall be emitted at the first position having a first colour, the first light source 34 may be activated, and when the light shall be emitted at the second position having the second colour, the second light source 36 may be activated. The first light source 34 may be arranged at a first area 30 in which the push button 24 is arranged, and the second light source 36 may be arranged at a second area 32 in which the switch 26 is arranged. The first and / or second area 30, 32 each may be circular or cornered shaped. Optionally, each of the light sources 34, 36 may be able to emit light having different colours, e.g. green, red, orange, and / or yellow, and / or to emit the light as a flashlight or a continuous light.

[0051] In the first state of the control panel 20, the push button 24 is not pressed and the switch is oriented such that the pointer 28 points towards the first label 38, indicating that the passenger transport system 1 is in its normal mode. In the first state of the control panel 20, light may emitted by the indicator light arrangement 21, as explained with respect to figure 6. Fig. 3 shows the control panel 20 of figure 2 in a second state, according to an embodiment of the technology described herein. In the second state of the push button 24, the push button 24 is pressed at least partly into the control board 22 of the control panel 20 and may project from the control panel 20, in particular from the control board 22, less than in the first state. In the second state of the control panel 20, light may emitted by the indicator light arrangement 21, as explained with respect to figure 6.

[0052] Fig. 4 shows the control panel of figure 2 in a third state, according to an embodiment of the technology described herein. In the third state, the push button 24 is still pressed, but the switch 26 is in a second position in which the switch 26 has been rotated such that the pointer 28 points towards the second label 40, indicating that the passenger transport system 1 is in the maintenance mode. The second position may be referred to as the maintenance position of the switch 26. In case of the switch 26 being the knob, the second position may correspond to a second angular position of the knob. In the third state of the control panel 20, light may emitted by the indicator light arrangement 21, as explained with respect to figure 6.

[0053] Fig. 5 shows the control panel of figure 2 in a fourth state, according to an embodiment of the technology described herein. In the fourth state, the push button is not pressed anymore and may be in the same position as shown in figure 2 and the switch 26 is still in the same position as shown in figure 4. In the fourth state, the light emitted by the indicator light arrangement 21 is different from the light emitted in the third state, as explained with respect to figure 6.

[0054] In the following, different light signals activating correspondingly different light sources for emitting light having correspondingly different properties are explained, with respect to the different states of the control panel 20 explained above. The properties of the light emitted from the indicator light arrangement 21 may refer to a colour of the light, to a position at which the light is emitted from the control panel 20, and / or to the light being a continuous light or a flashlight. The different light signals and different lights, in particular properties, are differentiated from each other in this description by names like e.g. “first”, “second”, “third”, etc. These names are only chosen to distinguish the different light signals and lights from each other and do not have any relation to an order or priority in which the light signals are sent or the lights are emitted. In fact, the names were chosen such that the corresponding numbers appear in the right order within the claims to provide a clear set of claims. However, in the following description this order is changed, because not all steps of the method described below are obligatory steps and may be mentioned in the appended claims later than in the following description.

[0055] Fig. 6 shows a flow-chart of a method for activating the maintenance mode of the passenger transport system 1, according to an embodiment of the technology described herein. The method may be carried out at least in part by the controller 23 and / or the control unit 16.

[0056] In an optional step S2, which may be carried out in case of the passenger transport system 1 being the elevator 1, an opening signal may be received, with the opening signal being representative of a landing door 11 being opened, through which the maintenance personal may enter the elevator car 5 or the pit of the elevator hoistway 3. The opening signal may be generated by a sensor (not shown) for monitoring a state of the corresponding landing door 11.

[0057] In an optional step S4, a fourth lighting signal may be sent to the indicator light arrangement 21, wherein the fourth lighting signal and the indicator light arrangement 21 may be configured such that the indicator light arrangement 21 emits light having a sixth property upon receiving the fourth lighting signal, e.g. as in the first state of the control panel 20 shown in figure 2. The fourth lighting signal may be sent to the indicator light arrangement 21 upon receiving the opening signal. The light having the sixth property may be referred to as sixth light. The sixth light may signal to the maintenance worker that the control panel 20 is active and / or ready for use, and / or that the push button 24 can be pressed. The fourth lighting signal may be sent to the indicator light arrangement 21 when the passenger transport system 1 is activated or, in case of the passenger transport system 1 being the elevator, when one of the landing doors 11 for accessing the elevator car 5 or a top of the elevator car 5 is opened.

[0058] The light having the sixth property may be referred to as sixth light. The sixth light may be emitted at a position of the control panel 20 at which the push button 24 is arranged. Alternatively or additionally, the sixth light may be emitted by the first light source 34. Alternatively or additionally, the sixth light has a sixth colour. That the sixth light may be emitted at the “position of the control panel 20 at which the push button 24 is arranged” may mean that the sixth light may be emitted from the push button 24 itself or from the first area 30 in which the push button 24 is arranged. For example, the first area 30 may be completely illuminated by the sixth light or a circumference of the first area 30 only may be illuminated by the sixth light, as shown in figure 2. The sixth colour may be green, for example. The sixth light may be a flashlight, for example.

[0059] In a step S6, a first activation signal from the control panel 20 may be received, wherein the first activation signal may be representative of the push button 24 having been pressed, e.g. as shown in figure 3.

[0060] In a step S8, at least one safety routine may be started. The safety routine may be configured for checking whether at least one safety condition of the passenger transport system 1 is fulfilled. The safety condition(s) checked by the safety routine may be or may comprise a safety condition out of a group of safety conditions. The group of safety conditions may comprise: no load is currently transported by the passenger transport system 1; a brake (not shown) of the passenger transport system 1 is working; no signal for opening the brake can be sent to the brake; the car door 7 of the elevator car 5 cannot be opened; and an elevator control (not shown) for calling or sending the elevator car 5 from one floor 10 to another floor 10 is inactive. The safety routine may be a safety algorithm as they are known in the field of passenger transport systems. The safety routine may run on the controller 23 and / or the control unit 16. For example, the controller 23 may communicate with the control unit 16 to check whether the safety condition(s) is fulfilled or not.

[0061] When the safety condition checked by the safety routine is not fulfilled, the method may be terminated. In this case, a termination signal may be sent to the indicator light arrangement 21. The termination signal may be representative of the passenger transport system 1 not being ready for the maintenance. The termination signal and the indicator light arrangement 21 may be configured such that the indicator light arrangement 21 emits light having a termination property. The termination property may refer to the light having a predetermined colour or modulation. For example, the light being emitted to signal the termination of the method and thereby that the passenger transport system 1 is not ready for maintenance may be a red or orange flashlight and may optionally be emitted from all light sources 34, 36 of the indicator light arrangement 21 (not shown in the figures).

[0062] In case of the passenger transport system 1 being the elevator the safety condition may comprise that no load is currently transported within the elevator car 5. The fulfilment of this safety condition may be checked by the camera 19. For example, the camera 19 may capture an image of an interior of the elevator car 5 and may generate corresponding image data, upon receiving an imaging signal from the controller 23. The image data may be received by the controller 23 and the controller 23 may carry out an image analysis on the image data for checking whether any passengers and / or loads are currently present within the elevator car 5 or not.

[0063] In a step S10, a first lighting signal may be sent to the indicator light arrangement 21 when the safety condition is fulfilled, wherein the first lighting signal and the indicator light arrangement 21 are configured such that the indicator light arrangement 21 emits light having a first property upon receiving the first lighting signal. In step S8, the safety routine may check two or more of these safety conditions and in step S 10 the first light signal may be sent only when all of the checked safety conditions are fulfilled.

[0064] The light having the first property may be referred to as first light. For example, the first light may have a first colour, may be emitted at a first position of the control panel 20, and may be a continuous light. The first light may be emitted at a position of the control panel 20 at which the push button 24 is arranged. For example, the first area 30 may be completely illuminated by the first light or a circumference of the first area 30 only may be illuminated by the first light. Alternatively or additionally, the first light may be emitted by the first light source 34 of the indicator light arrangement 21. Alternatively or additionally, the colour of the first light may be referred to as first colour and may be red.

[0065] The first light may signal to the maintenance worker that the safety condition is fulfilled and optionally that the switch 26 can be turned to its maintenance position.

[0066] Optionally, the first lighting signal and the indicator light arrangement 21 may be configured such that, upon receiving the first lighting signal, the indicator light arrangement 21 emits the light having the first property and light having a third property. In this case, the first light may be emitted after the push button 24 has been pressed and before the safety conditions are checked and the light having the third property may be emitted after it has been checked that the safety conditions are fulfilled, as shown in figure 3.

[0067] The light having the third property may be emitted at a position of the control panel 20 at which the switch 26 is arranged. The light having the third property may be referred to as third light. That the third light may be emitted at the “position of the control panel 20 at which the switch 26 is arranged” may mean that the third light is emitted from the switch 26 itself or from a third area in which the switch 34 is arranged on the control panel 34. For example, the third area may be completely illuminated by the third light or a circumference of the third area only may be illuminated by the third light. The switch 34 may be arranged within the third area. The third area may be circular or cornered. Preferably, the first and third areas do not overlap each other. The second and third area 36 may overlap each other. For example, the second and third areas 36 correspond to each other, as shown in figures 2 to 6. In other words, the third light may be emitted from the second area 36. The third light may be emitted from the second light source 36 of the indicator light arrangement 21. Alternatively or additionally, the third light may have a third colour. The third colour may be green. The third light may be a continuous light or a flashlight.

[0068] The third light may signal to the maintenance worker that the switch 26 can be turned to its maintenance position.

[0069] In a step S12, a second activation signal from the control panel 20 may be received. The second activation signal may be representative of the switch 26 having been switched to the maintenance position of the switch 26, as shown in figure 4.

[0070] In a step S14, a second lighting signal may be sent to the indicator light arrangement 21 upon receiving the second activation signal. The second lighting signal and the indicator light arrangement 21 may be configured such that the indicator light arrangement 21 emits light having a second property upon receiving the second lighting signal. The light having the second property may be referred to as second light. The second light may be emited at the position of the control panel 20 at which the switch 26 is arranged. In particular, the second light may be emited from the switch 26 itself or from the second area 32 in which the switch 26 is arranged on the control panel 20. For example, the second area 32 may be completely illuminated by the third light or a circumference of the second area 32 only may be illuminated by the third light, as shown in figure 4. Alternatively or additionally, the light having the second property has a second colour. The second colour may be orange or yellow. Alternatively or additionally, the second light may be emited by the second light source 36. The second light may be a flashlight.

[0071] The second light may signal to the maintenance worker that the passenger transport system 1 is ready for the maintenance, when optional steps S16 and S 18 are not to be carried out.

[0072] In an optional step SI 6, a pull-out signal from the control panel 20 may be received. The pull-out signal may be representative of the push buton 24 having been pulled out from its pressed position, e.g. as shown in figure 5. For example, the push buton 24 may be in its first, or in other words “initial”, state after been pulled out from its pressed position.

[0073] In an optional step SI 8, which may be carried out when optional step S16 has been carried out, a third lighting signal may be sent to the indicator light arrangement 21. The third lighting signal and the indicator light arrangement 21 may be configured such that the indicator light arrangement 21 emits light having a fourth property upon receiving the third lighting signal. The light having the fourth property may be referred to as fourth light.

[0074] The fourth light may signal to the maintenance worker that the passenger transport system 1 is ready for the maintenance. In this case, the second light may signal to the maintenance worker that the push buton 24 can be pulled-out from its first or pressed position.

[0075] The light having the fourth property may be referred to as fourth light. The fourth light may be emited at a position of the control panel 20 at which the push buton 24 is arranged. Alternatively or additionally, the fourth light may be emited by the first light source 34. Alternatively or additionally, the fourth light may have a fourth colour. That the fourth light may be emitted at the “position of the control panel 20 at which the push button 24 is arranged” may mean that the fourth light may be emitted from the push button 24 itself or from the first area 30 in which the push button 24 is arranged on the control panel 20. For example, the first area 30 may be completely illuminated by the fourth light or a circumference of the first area 30 only may be illuminated by the fourth light, as shown in figure 5. The fourth colour may correspond to the third colour. The fourth colour may be green, for example. The fourth light may be a continuous light.

[0076] Optionally, the third lighting signal and the indicator light arrangement 21 may be configured such that, upon receiving the third lighting signal, the indicator light arrangement 21 emits the fourth light and light having a fifth property, wherein the light having the fifth property may be emitted at a position of the control panel 20 at which the switch 26 is arranged. The light having the fifth property may be referred to as fifth light. That the fifth light may be emitted at the “position of the control panel 20 at which the switch 26 is arranged” may mean that the fifth light may be emitted from the switch 26 itself or from the second area 32 in which the switch 26 is arranged on the control panel 20. For example, the second area 32 may be completely illuminated by the fifth light or a circumference of the second area 32 only may be illuminated by the fifth light, as shown in figure 5.

[0077] The fifth light may be emitted by the second light source 36. Alternatively or additionally, the fifth light may have a fifth colour. The fifth light may have the same colour as the second light. The fifth colour may be orange or yellow, e.g. corresponding to the second colour. However, in contrast to the second light, the fifth light may be a continuous light. For example, the second light source 36 emitting the second light as a flashlight may switch to emit the light having the same colour as a continuous light as the fifth light.

[0078] The fifth light may signal to the maintenance worker that the passenger transport system 1 is ready for the maintenance and / or that the switch 26 may be turned back to its normal, first, or initial position.

[0079] A computer program for activating the maintenance mode of the passenger transport system 1 may be configured such that, when being carried out by the processor 27 of the controller 23, the method as described above is carried out by the controller 23. The computer program may be stored on the memory 25 of the controller 23. The computer program may be stored on a computer readable medium. The computer-readable medium may be a hard disk, an USB (Universal Serial Bus) storage device, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) or a FLASH memory. The computer-readable medium may also be a data communication network, e.g. the Internet, which allows downloading a program code. In general, the computer-readable medium may be a non-transitory or transitory medium.

[0080] Finally, it should be noted that the term “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and the “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. Also elements described in association with different embodiments may be combined. It should also be noted that reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0081] List of reference signs

[0082] 1 passenger transport system

[0083] 2 counterweight

[0084] 3 elevator hoistway

[0085] 4 suspension element

[0086] 5 elevator car

[0087] 6 car opening

[0088] 7 car door

[0089] 8 car door drive

[0090] 9 hoistway opening

[0091] 10 floor

[0092] 11 landing door

[0093] 12 deflection roller

[0094] 16 control unit

[0095] 18 balustrade

[0096] 19 camera

[0097] 20 control panel

[0098] 21 indicator light arrangement

[0099] 22 control board

[0100] 23 controller

[0101] 24 push button

[0102] 25 memory

[0103] 26 switch

[0104] 27 processor

[0105] 28 pointer

[0106] 30 first area

[0107] 32 second area

[0108] 34 first light source

[0109] 36 second light source

[0110] 38 first label

[0111] 40 second label

Claims

Claims:

1. Method for activating a maintenance mode of a passenger transport system (1), the passenger transport system (1) comprising a control panel (20) having a push button (24), a switch (26), and an indicator light arrangement (21), the method comprising: receiving a first activation signal from the control panel (20), wherein the first activation signal is representative of the push button (24) having been pressed; starting at least one safety routine being configured for checking whether at least one safety condition of the passenger transport system (1) is fulfilled; sending a first lighting signal to the indicator light arrangement (21) when the safety condition is fulfilled, wherein the first lighting signal and the indicator light arrangement (21) are configured such that the indicator light arrangement (21) emits light having a first property upon receiving the first lighting signal; receiving a second activation signal from the control panel (20), wherein the second activation signal is representative of the switch (26) having been switched to a maintenance position of the switch (26); and sending a second lighting signal to the indicator light arrangement (21) upon receiving the second activation signal, wherein the second lighting signal and the indicator light arrangement (21) are configured such that the indicator light arrangement (21) emits light having a second property upon receiving the second lighting signal.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the light having the first property is emitted at a position of the control panel (20) at which the push button (24) is arranged, and / or the light having the first property is emitted from a first light source (34) of the indicator light arrangement (21), and / or the light having the first property has a first colour, and / or the light having the second property is emitted at a position of the control panel (20) at which the switch (26) is arranged, and / or the light having the second property is emitted from a second light source (36) of the indicator light arrangement (21), and / or the light having the second property has a second colour.

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first lighting signal and the indicator light arrangement (21) are configured such that, upon receiving the first lighting signal, the indicator light arrangement (21) emits the light having the first property and light having a third property, and the light having the third property is emitted at a position of the control panel (20) at which the switch (26) is arranged.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein the light having the third property is emitted from the second light source (36) of the indicator light arrangement (21), and / or the light having the third property has a third colour.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising: receiving a pull-out signal from the control panel (20), wherein the pull-out signal is representative of the push button (24) having been pulled out from its pressed position; and sending a third lighting signal to the indicator light arrangement (21), wherein the third lighting signal and the indicator light arrangement (21) are configured such that the indicator light arrangement (21) emits light having a fourth property upon receiving the third lighting signal.

6. Method according to claim 5, wherein the light having the fourth property is emitted at a position of the control panel (20) at which the push button (24) is arranged, and / or the light having the fourth property is emitted from the first light source (34) of the indicator light arrangement (21), and / or the light having the fourth property has a fourth colour.

7. Method according to one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the third lighting signal and the indicator light arrangement (21) are configured such that, upon receiving the third lighting signal, the indicator light arrangement (21) emits the light having the fourth property and light having a fifth property, and the light having the fifth property is emitted at a position of the control panel (20) at which the switch (26) is arranged.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein the light having the fifth property is emitted from the second light source (36) of the indicator light arrangement (21), and / or the light having the fifth property has a fifth colour.

9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising, before receiving the first activation signal: sending a fourth lighting signal to the indicator light arrangement (21), wherein the fourth lighting signal and the indicator light arrangement (21) are configured such that the indicator light arrangement (21) emits light having a sixth property upon receiving the fourth lighting signal.

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein the light having the sixth property is emitted at a position of the control panel (20) at which the push button (24) is arranged, and / or the light having the sixth property is emitted from the first light source (34) of the lighting arrangement, and / or the light having the sixth property has a sixth colour.

11. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the passenger transport system (1) is an elevator comprising an elevator car (5) for transporting a load; the safety condition comprises that no passenger and no load is currently transported within the elevator car (5); and the fulfilment of the safety condition is checked by a camera (19) of the elevator, with the camera (19) being arranged within the elevator car (5) and being configured for monitoring whether any passenger or load are present within the elevator car (5) or not.

12. Controller (23) for a passenger transport system (1), the controller (23) comprising a memory (25) and a processor (27) communicatively coupled to the memory (25), with the processor (27) being configured for carrying out the method in accordance with one of the preceding claims.

13. Passenger transport system (1), comprising: the controller (23) according to claim 12; and the control panel (20) having the push button (24), the switch (26), and the indicator light arrangement (21), and being communicatively coupled to the controller (23).

14. Passenger transport system (1) according to claim 13, wherein the indicator light arrangement (21) comprises a first light source (34) being arranged at a first area (30) in which the push button (24) is arranged, and a second light source (36) being arranged at a second area (32) in which the switch (26) is arranged.

15. Computer program for activating a maintenance mode of a passenger transport system (1), the computer program being configured such that, when being carried out by the processor (27) of the controller (23) according to claim 12, the method according to one of claims 1 to 11 is carried out by the controller (23).

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