Elevator car button display and elevator control system

Abstract

To improve directing of passengers of an elevator system, and also to make it easier for the passengers to reach the desired destination, an elevator car button display (1) is proposed. The elevator car button display comprises a display (2) -which preferably is a LCD or an OLED display-associated to an elevator car button (3) that has been configured to control operation of an elevator car (110) via an elevator control system (150), wherein the information displayed on the display (2) is controllable by the elevator control system (150).

Description

[0001] Elevator car button display and elevator control system

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The invention relates to elevator car call button displays which may be located in a car operating panel or in a platform operating panel, for example, and to elevator control systems comprising a number of car button displays.

[0004] Background art

[0005] Elevator car buttons are used at car operating panels (COP) as well as platform operating panels (POP), to control the movement of an elevator car.

[0006] Objective of the invention

[0007] It is an objective to improve directing of passengers of an elevator system, and also to make it easier for the passengers to reach the desired destination. This objective can be achieved with the elevator car button display according to claim 1, and with the elevator control system according to claim 14.

[0008] The dependent claims describe advantageous aspects of the elevator car button display and of the elevator control system.

[0009] Advantages of the invention

[0010] An elevator car button display comprises a display - preferably is a LCD (liquid-crystal display) or an OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display - associated to an elevator car button that has been configured to control operation of an elevator car via an elevator control system. The information displayed on the display is controllable by the elevator control system. With this kind of elevator car button display, the information contents on the display associated to an elevator car button can be changed when necessary or desired, and in this manner, the directing of passengers of an elevator system may be improved.

[0011] Preferably, the button display is arranged in the elevator car button. In this manner, the information contents on the display in the elevator car button can be changed when necessary or desired, and in this manner, the directing of passengers of an elevator system may be improved.

[0012] The display may be arranged such that it is arranged to follow the movement of the elevator car button when the elevator car button is depressed. This facilitates the mechanical construction to be realized in a simple manner, avoiding mechanical constructions that might otherwise be more complicated.

[0013] The button display may be configured to, upon being depressed, to operate a switch in the elevator car button. In this manner, there may not need to be another member that would operate the switch.

[0014] The car button display may comprise a protective layer on top of the display. In this manner, the protective cover protects the display and thus the car button display may so be made more resistant against vandalism, for example. Preferably, the protective layer is transparent. This facilitates seeing the contents of the display.

[0015] The protective layer may comprise plastic. Plastic is cheaper to cut in the manufacturing process as compared with cutting glass.

[0016] The elevator car button may further comprise an etching, preferably indicating a desired movement direction or a desired floor number. This may support seeing impaired passengers to control movement of the elevator car.

[0017] The elevator car button may comprise braille writing or etching, preferably arranged in the protective layer. This may support seeing impaired passengers to control movement of the elevator car.

[0018] Alternatively to arranging the button display in the elevator car button, the button display may be arranged next to an elevator car button, such that there is a dedicated button display for each of a plurality of elevator car buttons. This may enable using a larger button display which thus can show more content on the display.

[0019] The elevator car button may be located in an operating panel (COP, POP) -preferably car operating panel (COP) or platform operating panel (POP)- and the display is advantageously connected, preferably over a wired connection, to a computer embedded in the operating panel (COP, LOP). In this manner, the computer controlling the contents of the display can be located close to the elevator car button which simplifies the connection, such as by reducing the required length of electric conductors.

[0020] The elevator car button may be located in an operating panel (COP, POP) -preferably car operating panel (COP) or platform operating panel (POP)- and the display may be connected, preferably over a wired connection, to an elevator control system, and preferably such that the contents of the display are configurable over a communication interface of the elevator control system. In this manner, the contents of the display may easily be updated or controlled via the elevator control system, which may offer better remote connectivity.

[0021] The computer and / or elevator control system may be used to program and / or display images or videos on the display.

[0022] The elevator control system comprises a number of car button displays according to any one of the preceding claims, each located in an operating panel -preferably car operating panel (COP) or platform operating panel (POP)-, and a control system, wherein the computer and / or elevator control system is configured to program and / or display images or videos on the displays.

[0023] The control system may be configured to display: i) an event information, such as a logo of a conference, on a display based on the direction of the location of the floor in which the event takes place, or based on the number of the floor in which the event takes place; and / or ii) floor destination availability related information on a display such that the information is automatically changed based on whether a given floor is available as a floor destination or not.

[0024] List of drawings

[0025] In the following, the invention is described in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiment in the appended drawings FIG 1 - 4, of which:

[0026] FIG 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary elevator system comprising a control system;

[0027] FIG 2 shows a car operator panel;

[0028] FIG 3 shows a platform operator panel;

[0029] FIG 4 illustrates an elevator car call button displays; and FIG 5 shows section IV-IV of the elevator car call button display of FIG 4.

[0030] Same reference numerals refer to same technical parts in each FIG.

[0031] Detailed description

[0032] 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.

[0033] The shaft 101 usually extends predominantly vertically, preferably with an inclination of less than 15°.

[0034] Car 110 and counterweight 102 are suspended from a suspension element 103, which is guided over one or more deflection rollers 104.

[0035] The design chosen for illustration corresponds to a 1: 1 suspension with 50% weight compensation; It is known to those skilled 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] The drive machine 120 may include a transmission.

[0038] 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 skilled in the art such as a hydraulic drive.

[0039] In the example shown, the drive machine 120 and traction sheave 105 are installed at the top of the elevator system 100.

[0040] 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. 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.

[0041] The drive components can form a unit with the elevator car 110.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] 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.

[0047] 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.

[0048] 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.

[0049] 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.

[0050] In an advantageous embodiment, the mains connection is three-phase.

[0051] In a further embodiment, the mains connection additionally comprises a neutral conductor.

[0052] The energy supply system 121 supplies the drive machine 120 with the energy necessary for operation.

[0053] The design depends on the way in which the drive machine 120 is operated.

[0054] In atypical embodiment, the drive machine 120 includes a permanent magnet synchronous motor.

[0055] 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.

[0056] 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.

[0057] 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 task of providing the correct coil wiring with a suitable supply through the mains connection 124.

[0058] Further combinations of drive machine 120 and energy supply system 121 are possible, so that the options mentioned are just examples.

[0059] The elevator system 100 further comprises at least one landing door 202 in each platform 203, and a car door 201 in the elevator car. Each landing platform comprises at least one platform operating panel POP and the car 110 comprises at least one car operating panel COP. The platform operating panels POP and the car operating panels COP are used to control movement of the elevator car 110 such that the platform operating panels POP and the car operating panels COP signal the depressing of any buttons to elevator control system 150.

[0060] In the car operating panel COP, elevator car buttons 3 are normally used to select a destination floor. The elevator car buttons 3 are traditionally standard electrical push buttons with the label of the floor printed or etched on the key cap. The printed or etched key cap can only give a static information that seldomly if at all, is changed.

[0061] FIG 2 shows a car operating panel (COP) comprising N elevator car button displays 1. These are arranged such that the car button display 1 for the lowermost platform is at the bottom, and the elevator car button display 1 for the topmost platform is at the top so that the destination information can be understood intuitively. It is also possible to arrange the elevator car button displays in two or three columns.

[0062] FG 3 shows a platform operating panel (POP) comprising two car button displays 1. These have been marked with arrows (up and down, respectively).

[0063] Common for the embodiments of FIG 2 and 3 is that each elevator car button display 1 comprises a display 2 (which preferably is an LCD or OLED display) associated to an elevator car button 3 that has been configured to control operation of the elevator car 110 via an elevator control system 150. The information displayed on the display 2 is controllable by the elevator control system 150. The car button display 1 is arranged in the elevator car button 3.

[0064] FIF 4 and 5 illustrate a possible structure of the car button display 1 in more detail. While FIG 4 shoes a car button display from above, FIG 5 shows the section IV-IV.

[0065] As can be seen, the button display 1 is arranged such that it is arranged to follow the movement of the elevator car button 3 when the elevator car button 3 is depressed.

[0066] The button display 1 is configured to, upon being depressed, to operate a switch, such as, by depressing a movable part 5 such that contacts SW1, SW2 short-circuit. The resilient member 4 returns the movable part 5 to its initial position upon removal of the depressing force. Alternatively, the switch may be implemented as piezoelectric switch or as an electro-optical switch, for example. The car buton display 1 comprises an optional protective layer 6 on top of the display 2. The protective layer 6 may be transparent and / or comprise plastic.

[0067] The elevator car buton 1 may comprise etching 8, preferably indicating a desired movement direction or a desired floor number. In addition to this, or alternatively, the elevator car buton 1 may comprise braille writing or etching 8, preferably arranged in the protective layer 6.

[0068] Instead of arranging the buton display 1 in the car buton 3, the buton display 1 may be arranged next to an elevator car buton 3, such that there is a dedicated buton display 1 for each of a plurality of elevator car butons 3.

[0069] The elevator car buton 3 is preferably located in an operating panel -preferably car operating panel COP or platform operating panel POP- and the display 2 is preferably connected, advantageously over a wired connection WC, to a computer embedded in the operating panel COP, LOP.

[0070] The elevator car buton 3 may be located in an operating panel -preferably car operating panel (COP) or platform operating panel (POP)- and the display 2 may be connected, preferably over a wired connection WC, to an elevator control system 150, and preferably such that the contents of the display 2 are configurable over a communication interface 151 of the elevator control system 150.

[0071] The computer and / or elevator control system 150 may thus be used to program and / or display images or videos on the display 2.

[0072] An elevator control system comprises a number of car buton displays 1, each located in an operating panel - preferably car operating panel (COP) or platform operating panel (POP) -, and a control system 150. The control system 150 is configured to program and / or display images or videos on the displays 2.

[0073] In particular, the control system 150 may be configured to display: i) an event information, such as a logo of a conference, on a display 2 based on the direction of the location of the floor in which the event takes place, or based on the number of the floor in which the event takes place; and / or ii) floor destination availability related information on a display 2 such that the information is automatically changed based on whether a given floor is available as a floor destination or not.

[0074] In other words:

[0075] The proposed solution offers a way to customize the graphical image of the key caps providing extended information for the specific destination. This can be useful for public place, where floors may host different events or activities at different days or different times of the day.

[0076] Moreover, when a floor destination is disabled (e.g. during close time), the button may be updated with an image that describes why that floor can no longer be selected as a destination.

[0077] Elevator car pushbuttons are mechanically equipped with a LCD or an OLED display that covers the entire surface that faces the user. Each button has its own individual display. The button is activated by pushing the display. The display is protected by a plastic transparent cover so that the push action does not damage the display itself. The plastic cover may include Braille dots for helping visual impaired users.

[0078] The display is connected, preferably by wires or cables, to a computer embedded in the control panel or a control system. This computer or control system is used to program and display images or short videos.

[0079] Push button contacts remain traditional contacts.

[0080] A conference center hosts three different conference per week each one running at a different floor. The buttons on the elevators are programmed to display the logo of the conference, helping attendees to select the right floor.

[0081] A building hosts some offices at the first and second floor, and residential apartments at the upper floors. From 18:00 to 9:00, first and second floor buttons are disabled on the elevator. During opening hours the button display shows the number of the floor, and possibly the logo of the office, during closing hours the button display show the “CLOSED” label. An international hotel has buttons that show the room numbers and common floor with a rolling translation of the floor purpose.

[0082] 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

Claims1. Elevator car button display (1), comprising: a display (2) which preferably is a liquid-crystal display, LCD, or an organic light-emitting diode, OLED, display associated to an elevator car button (3) that has been configured to control operation of an elevator car (110) via an elevator control system (150), wherein the information displayed on the display (2) is controllable by the elevator control system (150).

2. The elevator car button display (1) according to claim 1, wherein: the button display (1) is arrangeable in the elevator car button (3).

3. The elevator car button display (1) according to claim 2, wherein: the display (2) is arranged such that it is arranged to follow the movement of the elevator car button (3) when the elevator car button (3) is depressed.

4. The elevator car button (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: the button display (1) is configured to, upon being depressed, to operate a switch (5, SW1, SW2) in the elevator car button (3).

5. The elevator car button (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 4, wherein: the car button display (1) comprises a protective layer (6) on top of the display (2).

6. The elevator car button (1) according to claim 5, wherein: the protective layer (6) is transparent.

7. The elevator car button (1) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein: the protective layer (6) comprises plastic.

8. The elevator car button (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 7, wherein: the elevator car button (1) comprises an etching (8), preferably indicating a desired movement direction or a desired floor number.

9. The elevator car button (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 7, wherein: the elevator car button (1) comprises braille writing or etching (8), preferably arranged in theprotective layer according to any one of the preceding claims 5 to 7.

10. The elevator car button display (1) according to claim 1, wherein: the button display (1) is arranged next to an elevator car button (3), such that there is a dedicated button display (1) for each of a plurality of elevator car buttons (3).

11. The elevator car button display (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the elevator car button (3) is located in an operating panel - preferably a car operating panel, COP, or a platform operating panel, POP - and the display (2) is connected, preferably over a wired connection, WC, to a computer embedded in the operating panel.

12. The elevator car button display (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the elevator car button (3) is located in an operating panel - preferably a car operating panel, COP, or a platform operating panel, POP - and the display (2) is connected, preferably over a wired connection, WC, to an elevator control system (150), and preferably such that the contents of the display (2) are configurable over a communication interface (151) of the elevator control system (150).

13. The elevator car button display (1) according to claim 11 and / or 12, wherein: the computer and / or elevator control system (150) is used to program and / or display images or videos on the display (2).

14. Elevator control system (150, 1) comprising: a number of car button displays (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, each located in an operating panel - preferably a car operating panel, COP, or a platform operating panel, POP -, and a control system (150) and wherein the computer and / or elevator control system (150) is configured to program and / or display images or videos on the displays (2).

15. The elevator control system (150, 1) according to claim 14, wherein: the control system (150) is configured to display: i) an event information, such as a logo of a conference, on a display (2) based on the direction of the location of the floor in which the event takes place, or based on the number of the floor in which the event takes place; and / or ii) floor destination availability related information on a display (2) such that theinformation is automatically changed based on whether a given floor is available as a floor destination or not.

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