Elevator system and a method of using an elevator call management logic in an elevator system

Abstract

To improve quality of service in an elevator system and to enable unassisted use of elevators for disabled6persons, the elevator system (100) according to the invention comprises an elevator call management logic (151) and a display system (205; 2041, 2042,., 204N). The elevator call management logic (151) is configured to indicate a plurality of ordered elevator car (110) stops -that are preferably given through a number of landing operating panels (2041, 2042,., 204N) and / or a car operating panel (205) connected to the call management logic (151)- in their landing order using the display system (205; 2041, 2042,., 204N).

Description

[0001] Elevator system and a method of using an elevator call management logic in an elevator system

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The invention relates to elevator systems and elevator call management systems .

[0004] Technical background

[0005] When a person wants to use an elevator , he or she normally pushes an elevator call button on a landing platform . Upon being called, the elevator car then arrives at the landing platform, and after the elevator car has stopped, the car door and the platform door open and the person can step into the elevator car . Then he or she selects the floor to which he or she wants to travel , typically by pushing a button, after which the car door and the platform door close and the elevator car continues its j ourney .

[0006] Alternatively, the elevator may be waiting at a landing platform . If the car door and platform door are open, the person only needs to step in the elevator car and choose the destination . If they are not open, then usually, the call management logic of the elevator system opens the car door and platform door if the person at the landing platform pushes the elevator call button at the landing platform . In this situation, the elevator car does need to travel to a different landing platform in order to let the person embark the elevator car .

[0007] In real life situations , it is typical that there are multiple passengers willing to use the elevator even simultaneously . Some may embark or disembark the elevator car in small groups , while even within a group some may want to travel to one floor while some others may want to travel to another floors . And since elevators are used mainly in multi-store buildings and high rises , there are also passengers wanting to take an elevator ride in the other floors as well . Objective of the invention

[0008] The obj ective of the invention is to improve quality of service in an elevator system.

[0009] Alternatively, the obj ective of the invention can be formulated : how to enable riding with an elevator by a person not willing to touch the car operating panel or the landing operation panel , for example , because of health or hygienic reasons .

[0010] Both obj ectives can be achieved with an elevator system according to claim 1 , and with a method according to claim 15 .

[0011] The dependent claims describe advantageous aspects of the elevator system .

[0012] Advantages of the invention

[0013] Elevator system comprises an elevator call management logic and a display system . The elevator call management logic is configured to indicate a plurality of ordered elevator car stops -that are preferably given through a number of landing operating panels and / or a car operating panel connected to the call management logic- in their landing order using the display system . With the elevator system, the quality of service is improved because potential passengers get the information of how many stops and at which floors the expected elevator ride will contain and thus can make an informed decision whether to use the stairs instead of using the elevator .

[0014] It is generally known that any stop the elevator car makes will prolong the duration of any given elevator ride . If there are sufficiently many stops , taking the stairs would be a faster option at least for the healthy passengers ("healthy" in this context without any such disabilities or medical conditions that would prevent them from using the stairs ) . But the estimated time depends also on the length of the ride to be expected, i . e . how many floors below or above is the target of the ride .

[0015] In current elevator systems , this information is not available . Hence , a lot of guessing is necessary by the potential passengers . Given that the elevator system and especially call management system has the information available , it appears that before the present invention, making the information available in the call management system has not been possible in a convenient way . Recent improvements in the display capabilities of the car operating panels and landing operating panels have made the implementation of the present invention possible .

[0016] With regard to advantage relevant for the alternative formulation of the obj ective of the invention, a person that cannot ( or does not want to ) touch the car operating panel or landing operating panel needs certain information in order to be able to decide whether he or she can embark an elevator to be able to take a ride to his / her destination, or whether he / she will be riding the elevator to ad infinitum unless some one makes the elevator car to stop in the right level . Certain disabilities that enable moving by electric wheelchair, for example , while speaking or using of hands is limited, may cause the person not to be able to communicate with others to get assistance . It is thus an obj ective of the invention to enable the possibility of unassisted elevator ride also for disabled persons .

[0017] Preferably, the elevator call management logic is configured to actualize the landing order upon receiving a landing call and to convey such actualization to the display system . In this manner, the quality of service can be further improved by enabling potential passengers to base their decisions on up-to-date information .

[0018] If the landing call received is directed to a landing platform between two landing platforms for which a landing has already been indicated, the elevator call management logic may be configured to actualize the landing order to indicate the respective elevator car stop between the two elevator car stops . In this manner, the service quality can be improved by detailing the in-the-ride experience that can thus be expected by the potential passenger and used in the decision making process whether or not to use the elevator at a given time .

[0019] The display system preferably comprises a car operating panel associated to an elevator car . The car operating panel preferably comprises an indicator showing elevator car current position and the indicated landings . In this manner , also the persons already in the elevator car receive improved quality of service . If they find out based on the use of present invention that the elevator ride will take longer based on the increased number of stops -the number of stops is not constant but may change after the j ourney has been initiated- they may decide to disembark the elevator car and continue via the stairs .

[0020] The display system preferably comprises a plurality of landing operating panels , each associated to a landing platform for an elevator car or for a plurality of elevator cars . In this manner, the persons waiting for the elevator car on landing platforms receive improved quality of service . If they find out based on the use of present invention that the elevator ride will take longer based on the increased number of stops , they may decide not to embark the elevator car and continue via the stairs .

[0021] The call management logic may be configured to activate a car stop ordered indicator at the landing operating panel located at the landing platform where the elevator call was given . In this manner, the persons making the elevator call will receive a response even in the situation that coming of the elevator car will take longer .

[0022] The call management logic may be configured to deactivate or keep deactivated a car stop ordered indicator at the landing operating panel located at the landing platforms where no elevator call was given .

[0023] Indicator for showing the current floor of an elevator car is moved on a display of the display system, especially on the car operating panel . In this manner, the passengers may get a better understanding of the scheduled stops of the elevator car ride and thus make an informed decision whether to stay onboard or to disembark the elevator car and continue through the stairs .

[0024] The stops may be scrolled in their landing order on a display of the display system . In this manner, the quality of service can be improved also on displays which are more limited from their display capacity . In particular , the stops in their landing order may be scrolled on displays of platform operating panels .

[0025] The scrolling may be performed conditionally, such as , when the number of stops exceeds a predefined value . Alternatively or in addition, the condition may be whether all stops can be displayed at once .

[0026] The call management logic may be configured to display the range of elevator car movement on landing operating panels for the current elevator car ride , however optionally excluding the landing operating panels at the landing platforms at which a car stop has been ordered from the landing platform, preferably displaying a half-range of elevator car movement for the excluded landing platforms . In this manner , the quality of service can be further improved .

[0027] The elevator call management logic can be used to indicate a plurality of ordered elevator car stops -that are preferably given through a number of landing operating panels and / or a car operating panel connected to the call management logic- in their landing order using the display system of the elevator system according to the first aspect of the invention .

[0028] List of drawings

[0029] In the following, the invention is described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings FIG 1 - 21 , of which :

[0030] FIG 1 shows an exemplary elevator system;

[0031] FIG 2 illustrates the initial situation of an example ride with the elevator system;

[0032] FIG 3 illustrates the car operating panel display in the situation of FIG 2 ;

[0033] FIG 4 illustrates a landing operating panel display in the situation of FIG 2 ;

[0034] FIG 5 illustrates the development of the exemplary ride of FIG 2 , when a further passenger prepares to make an elevator call ; FIG 6 and 7 illustrate the platform operating panel layout in the situation of FIG 5 ;

[0035] FIG 8 illustrates the development of the exemplary ride of FIG 2 , when the elevator car moves in the elevator shaft ;

[0036] FIG 9 shows the landing operation panel in the landing platform of the further passenger ;

[0037] FIG 10 shows the elevator car reaching the first landing platform where a landing has been scheduled;

[0038] FIG 11 - 13 illustrate the landing operating panel display in different landing platforms in the situation FIG 10 ;

[0039] FIG 14 illustrates how the exemplary ride continues ;

[0040] FIG 15 illustrates the landing operating panel display in the landing platform of the further passenger when the elevator car is landing there ;

[0041] FIG 16 - 18 illustrate the further passenger embarking the elevator car;

[0042] FIG 19 illustrates how the exemplary ride continues ;

[0043] FIG 20 illustrates the elevator car reaching a further landing where stop is programmed; and

[0044] FIG 21 illustrates how the exemplary ride continues .

[0045] Detailed description

[0046] FIG 1 shows an exemplary elevator system 100 , which can usually be found in this form in buildings , but also in ships or other vertically extending structures . The elevator system includes an elevator car 110 , often also referred to as a car, and a counterweight 102 in a shaft 101 .

[0047] The shaft 101 usually extends predominantly vertically, preferably with an inclination of less than 15 ° . Car 110 and counterweight 102 are suspended from a suspension element 103 , which is guided over one or more deflection rollers 104 .

[0048] The design chosen for illustration corresponds to a 1 : 1 suspension with 50% weight compensation; It is known to those s killed in the art that there are numerous types of suspension with a different number or configuration of deflection rollers , counterweights and suspension elements are possible .

[0049] The suspension element 103 is guided over a traction sheave 105 which is driven by drive machine 120 . For this purpose , the traction sheave 105 is mechanically connected to the drive machine 120 , so that the drive machine 120 can transmit mechanical energy to it .

[0050] The drive machine 120 may include a transmission .

[0051] Instead of a traction sheave 105 , a drive drum or a direct drive may also be possible . Other possibilities to drive an elevator car are known to the person s killed in the art such as a hydraulic drive .

[0052] In the example shown, the drive machine 120 and traction sheave 105 are installed at the top of the elevator system 100 .

[0053] Typically, these and other parts of the drive are provided in a separate engine room ( not shown) , but the elevator system 100 can also be designed without an engine room .

[0054] Alternatively, the engine room or the location where the drive components are accommodated can also be located in other positions that do not necessarily have to be in close proximity to the elevator shaft 101 .

[0055] The drive components can form a unit with the elevator car 110 .

[0056] The drive machine 120 typically also functions as a brake in order to enable controlled travel of the elevator car 110 even in the event of mechanical energy being released .

[0057] The braking function can be guaranteed by the drive machine 120 in various ways , for example by a mechanical brake , which can also act as a parking brake , or by an electromotive brake , also known as a dynamo brake , as well as a direct current or countercurrent brake .

[0058] The drive machine 120 is connected to the energy supply system 121 via electrical conductors 122 . The number of conductors depends on the type of drive machine 120 . For example , in the case of a separately excited synchronous motor, it may be necessary to provide an excitation current in addition to the rotating field, while this is not the case for asynchronous motors , direct current motors with commutators or permanent magnet synchronous motors .

[0059] The wiring of the motor also influences the number of conductors required, e . g . in contrast to a star connection, a delta connection, eliminates the need for a neutral conductor .

[0060] In addition, the electrical conductors 122 can also be sensor lines or data connections that provide the energy supply system 121 with information about corresponding operating states of the drive machine 120 . Numerous other drive forms and wiring options are known to those skilled in the art , so they will not be discussed in more detail here .

[0061] The energy supply system 121 is connected to the electrical conductors 123 to a network connection 124 , which is , for example , a building power network . The network connection provides electrical energy to the energy supply system 121 . The network connection 124 can, for example , also be powered alone by a dedicated generator, for example an emergency generator .

[0062] Preferably, the network connection 124 (which preferably is the mains connection) feeds the energy supply system 121 with a substantially constant nominal voltage and frequency .

[0063] Depending on how the energy supply system 121 is designed, different designs are also possible for the electrical conductors 123 , for example with one or more , for example three , external conductors .

[0064] In an advantageous embodiment , the mains connection is three- phase . In a further embodiment , the mains connection additionally comprises a neutral conductor .

[0065] The energy supply system 121 supplies the drive machine 120 with the energy necessary for operation .

[0066] The design depends on the way in which the drive machine 120 is operated .

[0067] In a typical embodiment , the drive machine 120 includes a permanent magnet synchronous motor .

[0068] In this case , the energy supply system 121 is typically a frequency converter , which feeds the drive machine 120 in a multi-phase manner with a variable frequency, which is ideally dependent on the current operating state of the drive machine 120 and is coordinated therewith .

[0069] Other versions are particularly known from older elevator systems , for example the motor of the drive machine 120 can be a direct current motor that is fed by a rectifier, for example a converter , this rectifier forming the energy supply system 121 or part of it .

[0070] A particularly simple design of the energy supply system 121 is possible if the drive machine 120 comprises an asynchronous motor since the supply system 121 only has the tas k of providing the correct coil wiring with a suitable supply through the mains connection 124 .

[0071] Further combinations of drive machine 120 and energy supply system 121 are possible , so that the options mentioned are j ust examples .

[0072] FIG 2 illustrates the initial situation of an example ride with the elevator system 100 . Three persons have embarked the elevator car 110 in the building entrance level P0 . The example ride is in a building with 8 floors above ground ( floors 1 to 8 ) , and one basement floor ( -1 ) . The number of floors above ground and the number of basement floors can of course be different in a real building . The persons choose to ride to floors 2 , 6 and 8 , by pressing car operating panel buttons 105 in a known manner, for example . The buttons are communicated to call management logic 151 . The elevator call management logic 151 updates the car operating panel 205 display by illuminating on the display the landing platforms 32i , 322 , 32s to which elevator car 110 stops were ordered . The car operating panel 205 display may further have fields for actual level (" 0 displayed in FIG 3 ) , as well as the direction where the elevator car 110 is moving or about to move ("up" arrow displayed in FIG 3 ) .

[0073] All landing operation panels 204 may in the situation of FIG 2 look like shown in FIG 4 . The landing operation panels 205 have a current elevator car level indicator 41 , elevator car direction indicator 42 , and elevator car stop order indicator .

[0074] It is thus understood that the elevator system 100 comprises a display system that comprises the car operation panel 205 as well as the landing operation panels 204 . Of the latter there is at least one in each landing platform . The display system can be controlled by the call management logic 151 .

[0075] FIG 5 illustrates the development of the exemplary ride of FIG 2 . A further passenger prepares to make an elevator call and approaches landing operating panel 2044 in the fourth floor (which corresponds to landing platform 2034 ) . The landing operating panels 204 are typically located at or next to landing doors , i . e . landing operating panel 2044 is preferably located at or next to landing door 2024 .

[0076] He / she then presses the car stop button 44 which sends a landing call to call management logic 151 which, upon receiving the landing call confirms the receipt of the landing call by lighting the car stop button 44 of the landing platform 2044 where the car stop button 44 was pressed, or by in other suitable manner . As illustrated in FIG 7 , at the other landing platforms 204i ( for all i except i = 4 ) , the car stop button 44 is not lit . Further, the call management logic 151 shows the range of the elevator car 110 ride on the other landing platforms 204i ( for all i except i = 4 ) i . e . that the elevator car 110 is going to move between 2ndlevel and 8thlevel while on the landing platform 2044 where the stop was ordered, the range of the elevator car 110 ride is displayed only up to the respective landing platform, i . e . that the elevator car 110 is going to move between 2ndlevel and 4thlevel . The purpose of the range display is that it may facilitate the potential passengers to make an informed decision whether or not to press the stop button or preferably take a walk through the stairs .

[0077] FIG 8 illustrates the development of the exemplary ride of FIG 2 , when the elevator car 110 has progressed to first level in the elevator shaft 101 . The current level indicator 41 is respectively updated to value "1" . In the landing operation panel 2044 at landing platform of floor 4 , the car stop button 44 is illuminated . The elevator car stop order indicator 43 shows a half-range on the landing operation panel 2044 ( cf . FIG 9 ) .

[0078] FIG 10 shows that when the elevator car 110 has reached level 2 which is the first landing platform 2032 for which a landing has been scheduled .

[0079] The landing operating panel 2042 in the respective landing platform 2032 is controlled by the call management logic 151 controls to be animated ( cf . FIG 11 ) by toggling elevator car direction indicators after each other i . e . lighting the up arrow, then switching it off and lighting the down arrow, and repeating this for some time to catch attention of any persons at the landing platform . The full range is displayed in the elevator car stop order indicator 43 .

[0080] On 4thlevel i . e . on landing platform 2034 the car stop button is illuminated ( cf . FIG 12 ) . The full range is displayed in the elevator car stop order indicator 43 . On the landing operation panels 203i of all other landing platforms 203i , i . e . i<>2 , 4 the full range is displayed ( cf . FIG 13 ) in the elevator car stop order indicator 43 .

[0081] After the person disembarked the elevator car 110 in landing platform 2032 , the elevator car 110 continues its j ourney in the elevator shaft 101 . When the elevator car 110 has reached the 3rdlevel , the call management logic 151 updates current elevator car level indicator 41 in the car operating panel 205 and all landing operating panels 204 .

[0082] Upon the elevator car 110 reaching level 4 i . e . landing platform 2034 , the call management logic 151 controls the landing operating panel 2044 in the respective landing platform 2034 to be animated ( cf . FIG 17 ) by toggling elevator car direction indicators after each other i . e . lighting the up arrow, then switching it off and lighting the down arrow, and repeating this for some time to catch attention of any persons at the landing platform. Only the remaining range is displayed in the elevator car stop order indicator 43 . In the other landing operating panels 204i , i<>4 , also the remaining range only is displayed .

[0083] FIG 19 illustrates how the exemplary ride continues with the passenger from the 4thlevel until 6thlevel . There , the passenger who embarked from the 4thlevel disembarks the elevator car 110 with the person that had ordered the ride to 6thfloor . So only one person remains in elevator car ( cf . FIG 19 , 20 ) . The elevator car 110 continues its j ourney from level 6 to level 8 ( cf . FIG 21 ) .

[0084] To summarize with other words , elevator system 100 comprises an elevator call management logic 151 and a display system which comprises in addition to car operating panel 205 also the group of the landing operating panels 204i , 2042 , • • • , 204N.

[0085] The elevator call management logic 151 is configured to indicate a plurality of ordered elevator car 110 stops -that are preferably given through a number of landing operating panels 204i , 204i , . . . , 2 04Nand / or a car operating panel 205 connected to the call management logic 151- in their landing order using the display system .

[0086] The elevator call management logic 151 is configured to actualize the landing order upon receiving a landing call and to convey such actualization to the display system .

[0087] If the landing call received is directed to a landing platform between two landing platforms for which a landing has already been indicated, the elevator call management logic 151 is configured to actualize the landing order to indicate the respective elevator car stop between the two elevator car stops .

[0088] The display system preferably comprises a car operating panel 205 associated to an elevator car 110 . The car operating panel 205 may comprises an indicator 31 showing elevator car 110 current position and the indicated landings 32i , 322 , 32s , ....

[0089] The display system preferably comprises a plurality of landing operating panels 204i , 2042 , • • • , 204N, each associated to a landing platform 203i , 2032 , • • • , 203Nfor an elevator car 110 or for a plurality of elevator cars . The call management logic 151 is preferably configured to activate a car stop ordered indicator 41 at the landing operating panel 204i , 2042 , • • • , 204Nlocated at the landing platform 203i , 2032 , • • • , 203Nwhere the elevator call was given .

[0090] The elevator call management logic 151 may be configured to deactivate or keep deactivated a car stop ordered indicator 41 at the landing operating panel 204i , 2042 , . . . , 204Nlocated at the landing platforms 203i , 2032 , • • • , 203Nwhere no elevator call was given .

[0091] Indicator 31 for showing the current floor of an elevator car may be moved on a display of the display system, especially on the car operating panel 205 .

[0092] The stops in their landing order may be scrolled on the displays of the display system, especially on such narrower displays to which the information would not fit without scrolling .

[0093] The stops in their landing order may be scrolled on displays of platform operating panels .

[0094] The scrolling may be performed conditionally, such as , when the number of stops exceeds a predefined value .

[0095] The condition may be whether all stops can be displayed at once .

[0096] The call management logic 151 may be configured to display the range of elevator car movement on landing operating panels 204i for the current elevator car 110 ride , however optionally excluding the landing operating panels at the landing platforms 203j at which a car stop has been ordered from the landing platform, preferably displaying a half-range of elevator car movement for the excluded landing platforms .

[0097] In the method of using an elevator call management logic 151 in an elevator system 100 , the elevator call management logic is used to indicate a plurality of ordered elevator car 110 stops -that are preferably given through a number of landing operating panels 204i , 2042 , . . . , 204Nand / or a car operating panel 205 connected to the call management logic 151- in their landing order using the display system of the elevator system 100 .

[0098] The invention should not be understood to be limited only by the below claims , but the invention is to be understood to include all their legal equivalents and the combinations of the embodiments presented .

Claims

Claims :

1. Elevator system (100) , comprising: an elevator call management logic (151) and a display system (205; 204i, 2042, ... , 204N) , wherein the elevator call management logic (151) is configured to indicate a plurality of ordered elevator car (110) stops -that are preferably given through a number of landing operating panels (204i, 2042, . .., 204N) and / or a car operating panel (205) connected to the call management logic (151)- in their landing order using the display system (205; 204i, 2042, ... , 204N) , wherein the display system (205; 2041, 2042, ..., 204N) comprises a car operating panel (205) associated to an elevator car (110) , and wherein the car operating panel (205) comprises an indicator (31) showing elevator car (110) current position and the indicated landings (321, 322, 323, ... ) .

2. The elevator system (100) according to claim 1, wherein: the elevator call management logic (151) is configured to actualize the landing order upon receiving a landing call and to convey such actualization to the display system (205; 204i, 2042, . .., 204N) .

3. The elevator system (100) according to claim 2, wherein: if the landing call received is directed to a landing platform between two landing platforms for which a landing has already been indicated, the elevator call management logic (151) is configured to actualize the landing order to indicate the respective elevator car stop between the two elevator car stops .

4. The elevator system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the display system (205; 204i, 2042, . . . , 204N) comprises a plurality of landing operating panels (204i, 2042, ■ ■ ■ , 204N) , each associated to a landing platform (203i, 203i, . .. , 203N) for an elevator car (110) or for a plurality of elevator cars .

5. The elevator system (100) according to claim 4, wherein: the call management logic (151) is configured to activate a car stop ordered indicator (41) at the landing operating panel (204i, 204i, . .., 204N) located at the landing platform (203i, 203i, . . . , 203N) where the elevator call was given.

6. The elevator system (100) according to claim 5, wherein: the call management logic (151) is configured to deactivate or keep deactivated a car stop ordered indicator (41) at the landing operating panel (204i, 2042, . . . , 204N) located at the landing platforms (203i, 2032, . .. , 203N) where no elevator call was given .

7. The elevator system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: indicator (31) for showing the current floor of an elevator car is moved on a display of the display system (205; 204i, 2042, . .. , 204N) , especially on the car operating panel (205) .

8. The elevator system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the stops in their landing order are scrolled on a display of the display system (205; 204i, 2042,. . . , 204N) .

9. The elevator system (100) according to claim 8, wherein: the stops in their landing order are scrolled on displays of platform operating panels (204i, 2042, . . . , 204N) .

10. The elevator system (100) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein: the scrolling is performed conditionally, such as, when the number of stops exceeds a predefined value.

11. The elevator system (100) according to claim 10, wherein: the condition is whether all stops can be displayed at once.

12. The elevator system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the call management logic (151) is configured to display the range of elevator car movement on landing operating panels (204i) for the current elevator car (110) ride, however optionally excluding the landing operating panels at the landing platforms (203) at which a car stop has been ordered from the landing platform, preferably displaying a half-range of elevator car movement for the excluded landing platforms .

13. A method of using an elevator call management logic (151) in an elevator system (100) , wherein: the elevator call management logic is used to indicate a plurality of ordered elevator car(110) stops -that are preferably given through a number of landing operating panels (204i, 2042, . .. , 204N) and / or a car operating panel (205) connected to the call management logic (151)- in their landing order using the display system (205; 204i, 204i, . .., 204N) of the elevator system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 12.

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