A landing door frame of an elevator, an elevator and an elevator arrangement
The door frame with elongated illuminating panels addresses space and lighting issues, offering efficient visibility and signaling for elevator passengers, enhancing navigation and operational awareness.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- KONE OYJ
- Filing Date
- 2025-01-09
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-16
AI Technical Summary
Elevator landing door frames consume excessive space and poorly lit passages make it difficult for passengers to locate and identify elevators, especially in high-traffic areas, and existing solutions fail to provide efficient lighting and signaling.
A door frame with vertically and horizontally elongated illuminating panels that cover a significant portion of the passage, using LED strips to radiate light and provide directional and operational information, controlled by a system that adjusts color and intensity.
The solution creates a wide, easily visible lit area that enhances passenger visibility and signaling, guiding them to the elevator and providing operational information, even in poor lighting conditions.
Smart Images
Figure EP2025050448_16072026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] A LANDING DOOR FRAME OF AN ELEVATOR, AN ELEVATOR AND AN ELEVATOR ARRANGEMENT
[0002] Field of the invention
[0003] The invention relates to a landing door frame of an elevator. The elevator is preferably an elevator for transporting passengers and / or goods.
[0004] Background of the invention
[0005] An elevator typically comprises a car movable in a hoistway. The car can be entered from plurality of landings through a passage bordered by a door frame installed in an opening leading from the landing to the hoistway. A landing door is typically provided. The landing door is typically a sliding door mounted on the hoistway side so that it can move to close the passage when there is no car behind it.
[0006] The door frame is typically mounted so that it borders the passage at least from opposite horizontal sides and from above. The walls of the building are normally quite thick. The frame usually covers at least partially the side portions and upper portion of the opening forming a decorative and protective cover for the wall structure. For enabling effective utilization of the free area of the opening between the landing and the hoistway, the landing door frame should not consume much space. Thus, a large passage can be provided for a given opening.
[0007] The passage has formed a small intermediate space between the dwelling space of the building and the space of the elevator usable for the actual transportation. A drawback has been that the passage space has been poorly lit, due to being such an intermediate and small space.
[0008] Position of the elevator landing door has been indicated to the passengers in various different ways, such as by signs, or light signaling means. During high traffic hours and in larger lobbies, corridors or hallways of malls, the passengermay need to spot the elevator landing door from afar, from behind plurality of people or amongst many signals and building structures. A drawback has been the difficulty to provide a widely usable solution which can indicate in the aforementioned situations to the passenger where an elevator landing door is. A further drawback has been the difficulty to provide a widely usable solution which can indicate to the passenger various information relating to the elevator(s) of an elevator arrangement, such as identification of the elevator or information about its operations, such as direction or a waiting time thereof, for instance.
[0009] Brief description of the invention
[0010] The object of the invention is to introduce an improved landing door frame, an improved elevator and an improved elevator arrangement.
[0011] An object is particularly to introduce a solution by which one or more of the above-mentioned problems of prior art and / or drawbacks discussed or implied elsewhere in the description can be alleviated.
[0012] An object is particularly to introduce a solution where light can be effectively cast to the passage bordered by the elevator landing frame which passage is often otherwise poorly lit.
[0013] An object is particularly to introduce a solution by which an elevator can be provided with a wide lit area detectable well from afar and from many directions.
[0014] An object is particularly to introduce a solution by which an elevator can be provided with efficient and well detectable signaling abilities.
[0015] An object is particularly to introduce a solution by which a large passage between a hoistway and landing can be obtained.
[0016] It is introduced a new door frame for an elevator, for being installed in an opening extending between a hoistway and a landing of the elevator,comprising a vertically elongated first side frame part for covering a first side portion of the opening ; and a vertically elongated second side frame part for covering a second side portion of the opening ; and a horizontally elongated upper frame part for covering an upper portion of the opening ; wherein the frame parts border a passage extending between the side frame parts and below the upper frame part. Each said side frame part comprises a vertically elongated illuminating panel facing the passage for radiating light towards the passage, wherein the illuminating panel of each side frame part has a light radiating face portion visible from direction of the passage, which light radiating face portion covers majority, preferably at least 90 %, of the height of the passage and / or of the height of the side frame part in question.
[0017] With this kind of solution one or more of the above-mentioned objects can be facilitated. Preferable further details of the door frame are introduced in the following, which further details can be combined with the door frame individually or in any combination.
[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the height (Hf) of the light radiating face portion of each said vertically elongated illuminating panel is at least 2.0 meters (the height Hf preferably equals to the height (Hl) of the passage); and / or the width (Wf) of the light radiating face portion of each said vertically elongated illuminating panel is at least 5 cm, preferably more, at least 10 cm, most preferably at least 15 cm; and / or the area of the light radiating face portion of each said vertically elongated illuminating panel is at least 1000 cm2, preferably at least 2000 cm2, most preferably at least 3000 cm2.
[0019] In a preferred embodiment, said upper frame part comprises a horizontally elongated illuminating panel facing the passage for radiating light towards the passage from above, wherein the illuminating panel of said upper frame part has a light radiating face portion f3 visible from direction of the passage, which light radiating face portion covers majority, preferably at least 90 %, of the width (W) of the passage and / or of the length (L2) of the upper frame part.In a preferred embodiment, the length (Lf) of the light radiating face portion f3 of said horizontally elongated illuminating panel is at least 1.0 meters (the length (Lf) preferably equals to the width (W) of the passage); and / or the width Wf of the light radiating face portion of each said of said horizontally elongated illuminating panel, as viewed in direction perpendicular to the face portion f3, is at least 5 cm, preferably more, at least 10 cm, most preferably at least 15 cm; and / or the area of the light radiating face portion of said horizontally elongated illuminating panel is at least 500 cm2, preferably at least 1000 cm2, most preferably at least 1500 cm2.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment, each said radiating face portion is planar.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the whole light radiating face portion of each said illuminating panel is visible from direction of the passage and able to radiate light towards the passage.
[0022] In a preferred embodiment, each light radiating face portion delimits the passage.
[0023] In a preferred embodiment, each light radiating face portion is parallel to the depth direction of the passage or inclined at most 45 degrees from facing at inclined angle towards the passage and the landing.
[0024] In a preferred embodiment, each said frame part comprises a housing at least partially accommodating the illuminating panel of the frame part in question. Preferably, the housing is an elongated profile structure.
[0025] In a preferred embodiment, each said frame parts are fixed via their housings to the wall.
[0026] In a preferred embodiment, each said elongated illuminating panel comprises one or more light sources, which are in particular one or more elongated light emitting strips oriented to extend in longitudinal direction of the elongated illuminating panel.In a preferred embodiment, each said illuminating panel comprises a layered structure for transmitting light emitted from the one or more light sources, in particular from the one or more light emitting strips, towards the passage.
[0027] In a preferred embodiment, each said illuminating panel, in particular the a layered structure thereof, comprises a first transparent or translucent plate comprising a front face facing towards the passage, and a first side face (si) and second side face (s2), which side faces (sl,s2) extend in longitudinal direction of the frame part, and an elongated light emitting strip extending along one or each of the side faces (sl,s2) and directed for emitting light through the side face(s) (sl,s2) into the first transparent or translucent plate.
[0028] In a preferred embodiment, each said illuminating panel, in particular a layered structure thereof, comprises on the back side of the transparent or translucent plate a reflective sheet or a reflective plate suitable for reflecting light (in particular all or at least majority of the light) radiating from the transparent or translucent plate towards back side thereof, back into the transparent or translucent plate. The reflective sheet or plate may have a mirror surface or it can be a completely white sheet or plate, in which case it is preferably a pvc plastic plate.
[0029] In a preferred embodiment, each said illuminating panel, in particular the a layered structure thereof, comprises a second transparent or translucent plate on the front side of the first transparent or translucent plate, at least one of these plates being a translucent plate. Said first and / or second transparent or translucent plate is preferably a plastic plate, most preferably an acrylic plastic plate comprising acrylate polymer material.
[0030] In a preferred embodiment, each said illuminating panel comprises a cover plate (18) in front of the layered structure, which is a transparent or translucent plate, preferably made of glass or plastic. The face of the cover plate (18 may be smooth or have possibly have some surface pattern.In a preferred embodiment, the elongated light emitting strip of at least the vertically elongated illuminating panels is an elongated LED-strip.
[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the elongated light emitting strip is an elongated LED- strip comprising LED units distributed along the length of the light emitting LED-strip, each unit comprising one or more diodes.
[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the LED- strip of at least the vertically elongated illuminating panels is an elongated rgb-LED strip able to emit multiple different colors.
[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the characteristics of the light emitted by successive portions of each elongated rgb-LED- strip are changeable by a controller independently of characteristics of the light emitted by other portions of the elongated LED- strip, said characteristics preferably including color and / or illuminance.
[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the elongated LED- strip of at least the vertically elongated illuminating panels is an elongated rgb-LED strip able to emit different colors by successive portions of the elongated rgb-LED- strip, the colors of each portion being controllable, in particular changeable, independently from the color(s) of other portions by a controller; and / or an elongated LED strip, possibly also a rgb-LED strip, able to produce different illuminances by successive portions of the elongated rgb-LED- strip, the illuminance produced by each portion being controllable, in particular changeable, by a controller independently from the illuminance produced by other portions.
[0035] It is also introduced a new elevator comprising a car, and a hoistway where the car is vertically movable and a landing, and an opening extending between a hoistway and the landing, and a door frame as defined anywhere above or in any of the claims of the application installed in the opening.With this kind of solution one or more of the above-mentioned objects can be facilitated.
[0036] Preferable further details of the elevator will be introduced in the following, which further details can be combined with the elevator individually or in any combination.
[0037] It is also introduced a new elevator arrangement comprising plurality of elevators as defined anywhere above or in any of the claims of the application.
[0038] With this kind of solution one or more of the above-mentioned objects can be facilitated.
[0039] Preferable further details of the elevator arrangement will be introduced in the following, which further details can be combined with the elevator arrangement individually or in any combination.
[0040] In a preferred embodiment of the door frame, an elevator or an elevator arrangement, the door frame or the elevator comprises a controller connected to and for controlling the LED- strips of at least the vertically elongated illuminating panels.
[0041] In a preferred embodiment of the door frame, an elevator or an elevator arrangement, the controller is connected to or comprised in a control system of the elevator or an elevator arrangement to which the elevator belongs, and the control system is configured to control the LED- strips of at least the vertically elongated illuminating panels of the elevator, in particular based on one or more parameters of the elevator and / or of an elevator arrangement to which the elevator belongs. The control system can be configured to provide and / or send control signals to the controller for example.
[0042] In a preferred embodiment of the door frame, an elevator or an elevator arrangement, the control system is configured to control the LED- strips of at least the vertically elongated illuminating panels of the elevator by changing the color or colors of the elongated rgb-LED- strips of the elongatedilluminating panels and / or illuminance of the elongated rgb-LED- strips of the elongated illuminating panels based on one or more parameters of the elevator and / or of an elevator arrangement to which the elevator belongs, in particular during operation of the elevator and / or the elevator arrangement.
[0043] In a preferred embodiment of the door frame, an elevator or an elevator arrangement, said parameters preferably include one or more of
[0044] a parameter for indicating movement direction of the car of the elevator traveling in the hoistway into which the passage leads; and / or
[0045] a parameter for indicating time remaining until a predetermined event of the elevator, the event being preferably that the car traveling in the hoistway into which the passage leads arrives to the landing; and / or
[0046] a color code representing one color from a group of colors, assigned by an elevator control system to the elevator and / or to the door frame, which color preferably differs from colors assigned by the elevator control system to other elevators and / or to door frames of other elevators of an elevator arrangement to which the elevator belongs.
[0047] Brief description of the drawings
[0048] In the following, the present invention will be described in more detail by way of example and with reference to the attached drawings, in which
[0049] Figure 1 illustrates schematically a front view of an elevator according to an embodiment comprising a door frame according to an embodiment.
[0050] Figure 2 illustrates schematically a left hand side inclined front view of the elevator of Figure 1.
[0051] Figure 3 illustrates schematically a right hand side inclined front view of the elevator of Figure 1.
[0052] Figure 4 illustrates preferred details of the first and second side frame parts.
[0053] Figure 5 illustrates preferred details of the upper frame part.Figure 6 illustrates preferred details of the structure of the frame parts of Figures 4-5, in particular preferred details of the cross section A-A thereof.
[0054] Figures 7-8 illustrate enlarged views of parts of Figure 6.
[0055] Figure 9 illustrates preferred details of the connection between a side frame part an the upper frame part.
[0056] Figure 10 illustrates preferred details of the opening of Figure 1 extending between the hoistway of the elevator and the landing (the frame parts and landing door not shown).
[0057] Figure 11 illustrates schematically preferred details of the elevator according to an embodiment (the frame parts and landing door not shown).
[0058] Figures 12 and 13 illustrate light effects wherein characteristics of the light produced by the illuminating panels of the first and second side frame parts are changing.
[0059] Figure 14 illustrates schematically preferred details of a control system of an elevator and of a connection between a controller and the light sources of the illumination panels.
[0060] Detailed description
[0061] Figures 1-3 illustrates an elevator 100 according to an embodiment. The elevator 100 comprises an elevator car (not shown) disposed in a hoistway (not shown) where it is vertically movable. The elevator 100 moreover comprises plurality of landings, one landing L being shown in Figures 1-3.
[0062] The elevator 100 comprises door frame 1 according to an embodiment installed in an opening O extending between a hoistway H and the landing L of the elevator 100. The door frame 1 comprises a vertically elongated first side frame part 11 covering a first side portion ol of the opening O and a vertically elongated second side frame part 12 covering a second side portiono2 of the opening 0, which first and second side portion ol,o2 of the opening 0 are opposing side portions of the opening. The door frame 1 moreover comprises a horizontally elongated upper frame part 13 covering an upper portion o3 of the opening 0. The side portions ol,o2 and the upper portion o3 of the opening 0 are formed by a wall w extending between the landing L and the hoistway H.
[0063] The frame parts 11,12,13 border a passage P extending between the side frame parts 11,12 and below the upper frame part 13. The passage P is such that a person can pass through it when entering or exiting an elevator car C disposed in the hoistway H, when the elevator car C is level with the landing L. The upper frame part 13 is connected to the upper end portions of the side frame parts 11,12 such that they together form a gate-like configuration. The first side frame part, second side frame part and the upper frame part 11,12,13 are moreover fixed to the first side portion ol, second side portion o2 and the upper portion o3 of the opening 0, respectively.
[0064] The elevator 100 moreover comprises an openable and closable landing door 22 between the hoistway H and the landing L. The landing door 22 is preferably, although not necessarily, a sliding door. It is preferably mounted on structures of the building, in particular preferably on the hoistway side, i.e. at least partially inside the hoistway H. The landing door 22 preferably comprises one or more (two illustrated) horizontally slidable door panels.
[0065] Each said side frame part 11,12 comprises a vertically elongated illuminating panel 11a, 12a facing the passage P beside it for radiating light from a side of the passage P towards the passage P, wherein the illuminating panel 11a, 12a of each side frame part 11,12 has a light radiating face portion fl,f2 visible from direction of the passage P, which light radiating face portion fl,f2 covers majority, preferably at least 90 %, of the height Hl of the passage P and / or of the height H2 of the side frame part 11,12 in question. Thus, the light radiating face portion fl,f2 is very tall, indicating efficiently the borders of the passage P, and utilizes effectively surface areas delimiting the passage P,which would otherwise be relatively useless. The light of these light radiating face portions fl,f2, facing in opposite directions can be easily seen from many angles, from afar, from behind other people, and in poor light conditions, and together they can show gatelike pair of light posts through which pair a person can pass and enter an elevator car. This also provides a means for lighting the otherwise dark space formed by the passage P.
[0066] In the preferred embodiment, moreover, said upper frame part 13 comprises a horizontally elongated illuminating panel 13a facing the passage P below it for radiating light towards the passage P from above. Also this illuminating panel 13a of the upper frame part 13 has a planar light radiating face portion f3. This light radiating face portion f3 covers majority, preferably at least 90 %, of the width W of the passage P and / or of the length L2 of the upper frame part 13. Thus, the light radiating face portion f3 is very wide indicating efficiently the borders of the passage P, and utilizes effectively surface areas delimiting the passage P, which would otherwise be relatively useless. The light radiating face portion f3, being large and in high position, its light can be easily seen from many angles, from afar, from behind other people, and in poor light conditions, and together with the light radiating face portions fl,f2 they can show gatelike lightshape with pair of light posts and an upper light bar through which pair of light posts and below which light bar a person can pass and enter an elevator car. This also provides an efficient means for lighting the otherwise dark space formed by the passage P.
[0067] Figure 4 illustrates preferred details of the first and second side frame parts 11,12 and the illuminating panels 11a, 12a thereof as seen in direction x which is perpendicular to the face portion fl,f2 of the illuminating panel 11a, 12a.
[0068] The height Hf of the light radiating face portion fl,f2 of each said illuminating panel 11a, 12a is preferably at least 2.0 meters. The width Wf of the light radiating face f of each said illuminating panel 11a, 12a, as viewed in direction perpendicular to the light radiating face portion fl,f2, is at least 5 cm, preferably more, at least 10 cm, most preferably at least 15 cm. The area ofthe light radiating face portion fl,f2 of each said illuminating panel 11a, 12a is preferably at least 1000 cm2, preferably at least 2000 cm2, most preferably at least 3000 cm2.
[0069] As mentioned earlier, the light radiating face portion fl,f2 preferably covers at least 90 %, of the height Hl of the passage P. The height Hf of each said light radiating face portion fl,f2 preferably completely [100 %] or at least close to completely [more than 90 %] equals to the height Hl of the passage P.
[0070] As also mentioned earlier, the light radiating face portion fl,f2 preferably covers at least 90 % of the height H2 of the side frame part 11,12 in question. In Figure 4, a short end section of the side frame part 11,12 is illustrated in the upper end portion the height of which end section is not covered by the light radiating face portion fl,f2. This end section can be arranged to connect to an end portion of the upper frame part 13 and the height of this end section will be covered by the upper frame part 13.
[0071] Figure 5 illustrates preferred details of the horizontally elongated upper frame part 13 and the horizontally elongated illuminating panel 13a thereof as seen in direction z which is perpendicular to the face portion f3 of the illuminating panel 13a.
[0072] The length Lf of the light radiating face portion f3 of said horizontally elongated illuminating panel 13a is preferably at least 1 meters. The width Wf of the light radiating face f3 of said horizontally elongated illuminating panel 13a, as viewed in direction z perpendicular to the face portion f3, is at least 5 cm, preferably more, at least 10 cm, most preferably at least 15 cm.
[0073] The area of the light radiating face portion f3 of said horizontally elongated illuminating panel 13a is preferably at least 500 cm2, preferably at least 1000 cm2, most preferably at least 1500 cm2.
[0074] As mentioned earlier, the light radiating face portion f3 preferably covers at least 90 %, of the width W of the passage P. The length Lf of light radiatingface portion f3 as measured in direction x preferably completely [100 %] or at least close to completely [more than 90 %] equals to the width W of the passage P.
[0075] As also mentioned earlier, the light radiating face portion f3 preferably covers at least 90 % of the length L2 of the upper frame part 13. In Figure 5, a short end section of the upper frame part 13 is illustrated in each [left and right] end portion the length of which end section is not covered by the light radiating face portion f3. Each said end section can be arranged to connect to an end portion of a side frame part 11,12 and the length of this end section will be covered by the side frame part 11,12.
[0076] Figures 6-8 illustrate preferred details of the structure of the frame parts 11,12,13, in particular cross section A-A thereof.
[0077] Each said frame part 11,12,13 comprises a housing 19 at least partially accommodating the illuminating panel 11a, 12a, 13a of the frame part 11,12,13 in question. The housing 19 is an elongated profile structure, comprising back wall and side walls. The housing 19 is a channel profile open towards the passage P. Said frame parts 11,12,13 are fixed via their housings 19 to the wall w in particular to the respective portions ol,o2,o3 thereof.
[0078] Each said elongated illuminating panel 11a, 12a, 13a comprises one or more light sources 15, which are in particular one or more elongated light emitting strips 15a, 15b oriented to extend in longitudinal direction of the elongated illuminating panel 11a, 12a, 13a.
[0079] Each said illuminating panel 11a, 12a, 13a comprises a layered structure Ls for transmitting light emitted from the one or more light sources 15, in particular from the one or more light emitting strips 15a, 15b, towards the passage P.
[0080] Each said illuminating panel 11a, 12a, 13a, in particular the layered structure Ls thereof, comprises a first transparent or translucent plate 14 comprising a front face facing towards the passage P, a back face facing towards the bottom ofthe housing, and a first side face si and second side face s2, which side faces sl,s2 extend in longitudinal direction of the frame part 11,12,13, and an elongated light emitting strip 15;15a extending along one or each of the side faces sl,s2 and directed for emitting light through the side faces sl,s2 into the first transparent or translucent plate 14. This provides a structure that can be very compact in direction x of the despite being wide in direction z. Thus, the plate 14 is lit through its narrow sides sl,s2. Thus, the light sources need not be on the back side of the plate 14 and / or the layered structure Ls. Thus, the structure is able to form the panel such that the width W and height Hl of the passage P can be kept great despite great lighting ability. The panel has preferably an elongated light emitting strip 15;15a extending along both of the side faces sl,s2 and directed for emitting light through the side faces sl,s2 into the translucent plate 14. This facilitates eveness of the lighting effect when the width Wf of the light radiating face portion fl,f2,f3 is to be great, in particular when the width Wf is more than 5 cm, such as at least 10 cm for example.
[0081] Each said illuminating panel 11a, 12a, 13a, in particular a layered structure Ls thereof, comprises on the back side of the transparent or translucent plate 14 a reflective sheet 17 or a reflective plate 17, which reflective sheet 17 or reflective plate 17 is suitable for reflecting majority of light radiating from the transparent or translucent plate 14 towards back side thereof, back into the transparent or translucent plate 14.
[0082] Each said illuminating panel 11a, 12a, 13a, in particular the a layered structure Ls thereof, preferably further comprises a second transparent or translucent plate 16 on the front side of the first transparent or translucent plate 14, at least one of these plates 14,16 being a translucent plate. Translucent nature gives a plate 14,16 ability to scatter light emitted from the light sources so that the light will be transmitted evenly from a large area.
[0083] Said first and / or second transparent or translucent plate 14,16 is preferably a plastic plate, preferably an acrylic plastic plate comprising acrylate polymermaterial. Such a plate is durable and easy to modify to have a desired degree of opacity and / or color.
[0084] In the preferred embodiment, each said illuminating panel 11a, 12a, 13a moreover comprises a cover plate 18 in front of the layered structure Ls, which cover plate 18 is a transparent or translucent plate, preferably made of glass or plastic. The face of the cover plate 18 may be smooth or have possibly have some surface pattern.
[0085] In the preferred embodiment, the light radiating face portion fl,f2,f3 each said illuminating panel 11a, 12a, 13a is formed by the cover plate 18. In the illustrated preferred embodiments, there is only one cover plate 18. This is advantageous for achieving seamless structure, but alternatively one or more of said illuminating panels 11a, 12a, 13a could have two or more coplanar plates 18 placed in flush configuration. Should the illuminating panel 11a, 12a, 13a be formed without the cover plate 18, then the plate 16 would form the aforementioned light radiating face portion fl,f2,f3.
[0086] Preferably, the elongated light emitting strip 15a, 15b is in particular an elongated LED-strip. LED-strips are compact, durable, reliable, energy efficient, and have a powerful lighting ability. An elongated LED-strip provides an elongated light source, which is compact in directions perpendicular to its longitudinal direction. Thus, they are well suitable for the illuminating panel 11a, 12a, 13a of the present disclosure.
[0087] Preferably, the elongated LED- strips 15a, 15b are elongated rgb-LED strips [rgb here being short from red-green-blue] able to emit multiple different colors. Each rgb-LED strip preferably comprises led units each comprising a red, green and blue diode. Elongated rgb-LED- strips are known in the field of lighting, and commercially available. This kind of LED- strips 15a, 15b facilitate that the illuminating panels 11a, 12a can be used to emit colors as desired, which may be advantageous for signaling purposes. This ability can be utilized for example to signal to the passengers by the panels 11a, 12a a specific colorassigned to the elevator in question so that he / she can distinguish the doorway of the elevator 100 from the doorway of at least one other elevator, the corresponding illuminating panels of the at least one other elevator then preferably being configured to emit colors different than the colors of the panels 11a, 12a of the elevator 100.
[0088] The elongated rgb-LED- strips 15a, 15b of at least the vertically elongated illuminating panels 11a, 12a are moreover preferably of such type that each said elongated rgb-LED- strip 15a, 15b is able
[0089] to emit different colors by successive portions of the elongated rgb-LED- strip 15a, 15b, i.e. by portions which are successive in longitudinal direction of the rgb-LED strip, the colors of each portion being controllable, in particular changeable, independently from the colors of other portions by a controller 30; and / or
[0090] - to produce different illuminances by successive portions of the elongated rgb-LED- strip 15a, 15b, i.e. by portions which are successive in longitudinal direction of the rgb-LED strip, the illuminance produced by each portion being controllable, in particular changeable, by a controller 30 independently from the illuminance produced by other portions.
[0091] This kind of elongated rgb-LED- strips 15a, 15b facilitate that they can produce dynamic lighting effects where the characteristics of the light changes in different portions of the LED- strips 15a, 15b. The characteristics of the light emitted by successive portions of each elongated rgb-LED- strip 15a, 15b are changeable by a controller 30 independently of characteristics of the light emitted by other portions of the elongated LED- strip 15a, 15b, said characteristics preferably including color and / or illuminance.
[0092] This kind of LED- strips 15a, 15b facilitate that the illuminating panels 11a, 12a can be used for various signaling purposes of the elevator 100 and / or an elevator arrangement to which the elevator 100 belongs. For example, thelight color emitted or illuminance produced can be controlled during elevator operation based on one or more parameters of the elevator 100.
[0093] The elevator 100, and preferably in particular the door frame 1, comprises a controller 30 connected to and for controlling the LED- strips 15a, 15b of at least the vertically elongated illuminating panels 11a, 12a.
[0094] The controller 30 is preferably, although not necessarily, connected to or comprised in a control system 40 of the elevator 100 or an elevator arrangement to which the elevator 100 belongs, and the control system 40 is configured to control the LED- strips 15a, 15b of at least the vertically elongated illuminating panels 11a, 12a of the elevator 100, preferably in particular based on one or more parameters of the elevator 100 and / or of an elevator arrangement to which the elevator 100 belongs. The control system 40 can be configured to perform said controlling of the LED- strips 15a, 15b by aid of the controller 30. The control system 40 can be configured to provide and / or send control signals to the controller 30, for example.
[0095] Said controlling preferably comprises changing the color or colors of the elongated rgb-LED- strips 15a, 15b of the elongated illuminating panels 11a, 12a and / or illluminance of the elongated rgb-LED- strips 15a, 15b of the elongated illuminating panels 11a, 12a based on one or more parameters of the elevator 100 and / or of an elevator arrangement to which the elevator 100 belongs, in particular during operation of the elevator 100 and / or the elevator arrangement.
[0096] In one preferred alternative, said parameters preferably includes a parameter for indicating movement direction of the car C of the elevator 100 traveling in the hoistway H into which the passage P leads.
[0097] In this case, when the parameter is a parameter for indicating direction, and indicates the direction of the car C to be upwards direction, the successive portions pn-pn+i of the elongated rgb-LED- strips 15a, 15b of the elongated illuminating panels 11a, 12a are controlled by the controller 30 and / or thecontrol system 40 to start to emit a predetermined color and / or to start to produce a predetermined illuminance in order from the lower end of the elongated rgb-LED- strips 15a, 15b towards the upper end thereof so that the predetermined color and / or predetermined illuminance advances upwards. This is illustrated in Figures 12 and 13. In this embodiment, the controller 30 and / or the control system 40 controls the elongated rgb-LED- strip such that a portion pn starts to emit a predetermined color and / or starts to produce a predetermined illuminance and at a later moment the portion pn+i which is higher than said portion pn, starts to emit said predetermined color and / or starts to produce said predetermined illuminance. This creates an upwards moving lighting effect, which can be interpreted by the passenger to indicate the direction of the car C of the elevator 100 to be upwards. For simplicity, the effect has been described by only two successive portions but the number of portions could be very high and the height of the portions small. In Figures 12 and 13, the rgb-LED- strips 15a, 15b are not visible as such but the reference numerals point to a level where the portion pn,pn+i is positioned. In Figures 12 and 13, the different lighting characteristics of the successive portions, are shown as visible from direction of the passage P, and illustrated schematically by different density of the hatching. When the parameter for indicating direction indicates the direction of the car C to be downwards direction, the order is inverted.
[0098] In another preferred alternative, said parameters include a parameter for indicating time remaining until a predetermined event of the elevator 100, the event being preferably that the car C traveling in the hoistway H into which the passage P leads arrives to the landing. In this case, the successive portions pn-pn+i of the elongated rgb-LED- strips 15a, 15b of the elongated illuminating panels 11a, 12a are controlled by the controller 30 and / or the control system 40 to start to emit a predetermined color and / or to start to produce a predetermined illuminance in order from the lower end of the elongated rgb-LED- strips 15a, 15b towards the upper end thereof so that the predetermined color and / or predetermined illuminance advances upwards. The speed of thisadvancing is controlled by the controller 30 and / or the control system 40 according to change of time remaining until said predetermined event of the elevator 100. This creates an upwards moving lighting effect, which can be interpreted by the passenger to indicate information of speed of the progress of the elevator 100, and how close in time the event is. This is particularly usable for roughly indicating to the passenger progress of the waiting time. The illustration of Figures 12 and 13 applies also to this embodiment where the parameter indicates time. Also in this embodiment, for simplicity, the effect has been described by only two successive portions but the number of portions could be very high and the height of the portions small.
[0099] In another preferred alternative, said parameters include a color, more particularly a color code representing one color from a group of colors, assigned by an elevator control system 40 to the elevator 100 and / or to the door frame 1, which color differs from colors assigned by the elevator control system 40 to other elevators and / or to door frames [located at the same landing L] of other elevators of an elevator arrangement to which the elevator 100 belongs. Thus, the assigned color can be used by the elevator control system to indicate the passenger the correct elevator and / or passage which the elevator control system intends the passenger to use. The elevator arrangement may comprise a destination operating panel via which the elevator control system 40 is configured to receive a destination information or a destination call and to assign the passenger one or the elevators of the elevator arrangement and a color and / or a color code matching with the color and / or color code of the elevator assigned to the passenger in question. After this, the door frame 1, in particular the illuminating panels 11a, 12a thereof, radiates e.g. controlled by the controller 30 and / or the control system 40, light the color of which matches with the color of the assigned color. Thus, the passenger can be guided efficiently to the passage of the specific elevator of the elevator arrangement assigned to him / her which needs to be used for getting to the specific destination informed by the passenger via the destination operating panel.In an embodiment of the elevator arrangement, the elevator arrangement comprises plurality of elevators 100 as defined anywhere above. Then each said elevator comprises a door frame 1 as described referring to Figures 1-9 installed in an opening O extending between a hoistway H and a landing L of the elevator 100 in question.
[0100] The light panels, in particular, preferably at least the vertically elongated illuminating panels 11a, 12a of different elevators of the elevator arrangement are independently controllable by a controller 30 of the door frame 1 and / or by the control system 40 of the elevator arrangement, in particular so that the illuminating panels 11a, 12a of the door frame 1 of any one elevator 100 of the arrangement can be controlled to radiate to its passage P light with characteristics, such as color and / or illuminance and / or light effects, differing from the characteristics of the light radiated by illuminating panels 11a, 12a of the door frames 1 of the other elevators 100 of the arrangement to their corresponding passages.
[0101] The controller 30 can be positioned inside the frame 1 or in its proximity. Figure 6 illustrates one possible place where the controller 30 can be positioned. Here, it is positioned inside one of the frame parts 11a, 12a, 13a, in particular inside the housing 19 of one of the frame parts 11a, 12a, 13a, more specifically on the back side of the layered structure Ls. As also illustrated in Figure 6, the door frame 1 can also comprise electric cables 20 for transmitting electricity and / or electric signals to the controller 30 and / or to the illuminating panels 11a, 12a, 13a and / or between the controller 30 and the illuminating panels 11a, 12a, 13a, which cables 20 are preferably arranged to pass inside one or more of the frame parts 11a, 12a, 13a. Here, the cables 20 are arranged to pass inside the housing 19 of at least one of the frame parts 11a, 12a, 13a more specifically inside the housing 19 of at least one of the frame parts 11a, 12a, 13a, and preferably more specifically on the back side of the layered structure Ls of the frame part 11,12,13 in question.Figure 9 illustrates preferred details of the connection between the upper end portions of the side frame parts 11,12 and the upper frame part 13. In this case, there is a bracket 21 fixed to the upper end portion the side frame part 11 and to the upper frame part 13 as well as a bracket 21 fixed to the upper end portion the side frame part 12 and to the upper frame part 13. The bracket 21 will be hidden when the illuminating panels 11a, 12a, 13a are present.
[0102] In general, in this application majority means more than 50 %.
[0103] In general, each said radiating face portion fl,f2,f3 is preferably planar.
[0104] In general, each light radiating face portion fl,f2,f3 is preferably continuous and seamless, but alternatively one or more of the light radiating face portions fl,f2,f3 may have a seam, particularly if the light radiating face portion fl,f2,f3 of the illuminating panel 11a, 12a, 13a in question needs to be formed by two or more coplanar plates 16,18 placed in flush configuration.
[0105] In general, preferably the whole light radiating face portion fl,f2,f3 of each said illuminating panel 11a, 12a, 13a is visible from direction of the passage P and able to radiate light towards the passage P.
[0106] In general, preferably each said light radiating face portion fl,f2,f3 delimits the passage P.
[0107] In general, there can be a common controller 30 for one or more, even all of the illuminating panels 11a, 12a, 13a of the door frame 1. However, this is not necessary since alternatively the illuminating panels 11a, 12a, 13a could have each its own controller. There is preferably a common controller 30 for the illuminating panels 11a, 12a when these are to show changing light effects.
[0108] In general, preferably each said light radiating face portion fl,f2,f3 is parallel to the depth direction z of the passage P or inclined at most 45 degrees from depth direction z of the passage P facing at inclined angle towards the passage P and the landing L.In general, the door frame 1 and / or the elevator 100 may additionally comprise a projector arranged to project light to the floor j and / or to the face of the landing door 22 positioned between the landing L and the hoistway H. The light projected by the projector can be of the same color as the light radiated by at least the panels 11a, 12a. This facilitates further noticeability of the passage P.
[0109] In general, some features, functions or abilities have been described to apply at least to the vertically elongated illuminating panels 11a, 12a. However, all described in this manner preferably, although not necessarily, also apply to the illuminating panel 13a.
[0110] It is to be understood that the above description and the accompanying Figures are only intended to teach the best way known to the inventors to make and use the invention. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The above-described embodiments of the invention may thus be modified or varied, without departing from the invention, as appreciated by those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.
Claims
23Claims1. A door frame (1) for an elevator (100), for being installed in an opening (O) extending between a hoistway (H) and a landing (L) of the elevator (100), comprisinga vertically elongated first side frame part (11) for covering a first side portion of the opening (O); anda vertically elongated second side frame part (12) for covering a second side portion of the opening (O); anda horizontally elongated upper frame part (13) for covering an upper portion of the opening (0);wherein the frame parts (11,12,13) border a passage (P) extending between the side frame parts (11,12) and below the upper frame part (13), characterized in that each said side frame part (11,12) comprises a vertically elongated illuminating panel (11a, 12a) facing the passage (P) for radiating light towards the passage (P), wherein the illuminating panel (11a, 12a) of each side frame part (11,12) has a light radiating face portion (fl,f2) visible from direction of the passage (P), which light radiating face portion (fl,f2) covers majority, preferably at least 90 %, of the height (Hl) of the passage (P) and / or of the height (H2) of the side frame part (11,12) in question.
2. A door frame (1) according to claim 1, whereinthe height (Hf) of the light radiating face portion (fl,f2) of each said vertically elongated illuminating panel (11a, 12a) is at least 2.0 meters, wherein the height (Hf) preferably equals to the height (Hl) of the passage (P); and / orthe width (Wf) of the light radiating face portion (fl,f2) of each said vertically elongated illuminating panel (11a, 12a) is at least 5 cm, preferably more, preferably at least 10 cm, most preferably at least 15 cm; and / orthe area of the light radiating face portion (fl,f2) of each said vertically elongated illuminating panel (11a, 12a) is at least 1000 cm2, preferably at least 2000 cm2, most preferably at least 3000 cm2.
3. A door frame (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said upper frame part (13) comprises a horizontally elongated illuminating panel (13a) facing the passage (P) for radiating light towards the passage (P) from above, wherein the illuminating panel of said upper frame part (13) has a light radiating face portion (f3), which light radiating face portion (f3) covers majority, preferably at least 90 %, of the width (W) of the passage (P) and / or of the length (L2) of the upper frame part (13).
4. A door frame (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the length (Lf) of the light radiating face portion (f3) of said horizontally elongated illuminating panel (13a) is at least 1.0 meters, wherein the length (Lf) preferably equals to the width (W) of the passage (P); and / orthe width (Wf) of the light radiating face portion (f3) of said horizontally elongated illuminating panel (13a), as viewed in direction perpendicular to the face portion (f3), is at least 5 cm, preferably more, preferably at least 10 cm, most preferably at least 15 cm; and / or the area of the light radiating face portion (f3) of said horizontally elongated illuminating panel (13a) is at least 500 cm2, preferably at least 1000 cm2, most preferably at least 1500 cm2.
5. A door frame (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each said light radiating face portion (fl,f2,f3) is planar.
6. A door frame (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each said elongated illuminating panel (11a, 12a, 13a) comprises one or more light sources (15; 15a, 15b), which are in particular one or moreelongated light emitting strips (15a, 15b) oriented to extend in longitudinal direction of the elongated illuminating panel (11a, 12a, 13a).
7. A door frame (1) according to claim 6, wherein each said illuminating panel (11a, 12a, 13a) comprises a layered structure (Ls) for transmitting light emitted from the one or more light sources (15;15a,15b), in particular from the one or more light emitting strips (15a, 15b), towards the passage (P).
8. A door frame (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each said illuminating panel (11a, 12a, 13a), in particular a layered structure (Ls) thereof, comprises a first transparent or translucent plate (14) comprising a front face facing towards the passage (P), and a first side face (si) and second side face (s2), which side faces (sl,s2) extend in longitudinal direction of the frame part (11,12,13), and an elongated light emitting strip (15; 15a) extending along one or each of the side faces (sl,s2) and directed for emitting light through the side face(s) (sl,s2) into the first transparent or translucent plate (14).
9. A door frame (1) according to claim 8, wherein each said illuminating panel (11a, 12a, 13a), in particular a layered structure (Ls) thereof, comprises on the back side of the transparent or translucent plate (14) a reflective sheet or plate (17) suitable for reflecting light radiating from the transparent or translucent plate (14) towards back side thereof, back into the transparent or translucent plate (14).
10. A door frame (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each said illuminating panel (11a, 12a, 13a), in particular a layered structure (Ls) thereof, comprises a second transparent or translucent plate (16) on the front side of the first transparent or translucent plate26(14), at least one of these plates (14,16) preferably being a translucent plate.
11. A door frame (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each said illuminating panel (11a, 12a, 13a) comprises a cover plate (18) in front of the layered structure (Ls), which is a transparent or translucent plate, preferably made of glass or plastic.12.A door frame (1) according to any of the preceding claims 6-11, wherein the elongated light emitting strip (15a, 15b) of at least the vertically elongated illuminating panels (11a, 12a) is an elongated LED-strip.13.A doorframe (1) according to claim 12, wherein the LED-strip (15a, 15b) of at least the vertically elongated illuminating panels (11a, 12a) is an elongated rgb-LED-strip able to emit multiple different colors.
14. A door frame (1) according to any of the preceding claims 12-13, wherein the elongated LED-strip (15a, 15b) of at least the vertically elongated illuminating panels (11a, 12a) isan elongated rgb-LED-strip able to emit different colors by successive portions (pn,pn+i) of the elongated rgb-LED- strip (15a, 15b), the colors of each portion (pn,pn+i) being controllable, in particular changeable, independently from the color(s) of other portions (pn,pn+i) by a controller (30); and / oran elongated LED-strip able to produce different illuminances by successive portions (pn,pn+i) of the elongated rgb-LED- strip (15a, 15b), the illuminance produced by each portion (pn,pn+i) being controllable, in particular changeable, by a controller (30) independently from the illuminance produced by other portions (pn,pn+i).
15. An elevator (100) comprising a car (C) and a hoistway (H) where the car (C) is vertically movable, and a landing (L), and an opening (O)27extending between a hoistway (H) and the landing (L), and a door frame (1) as defined in any of the preceding claims installed in the opening (0).
16. An elevator arrangement comprising plurality of elevators (100) as defined in claim 15.
17. A door frame (1), an elevator (100) or an elevator arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the door frame (1) or an elevator (100) comprises a controller (30) connected to and for controlling the LED-strips (15a, 15b) of at least the vertically elongated illuminating panels (11a, 12a).
18. A door frame (1), an elevator (100) or an elevator arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the controller (30) is connected to or comprised in a control system (40) of the elevator (100) or an elevator arrangement to which the elevator (100) belongs, and the control system (40) is configured to control the LED-strips (15a, 15b) of at least the vertically elongated illuminating panels (11a, 12a) of the elevator (100), preferably in particular based on one or more parameters of the elevator (100) and / or of an elevator arrangement to which the elevator (100) belongs.
19. A door frame (1), an elevator (100) or an elevator arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the control system (40) is configured to control the LED- strips (15a, 15b) of at least the vertically elongated illuminating panels (11a, 12a) of the elevator by changing the color or colors of the elongated rgb-LED- strips (15a, 15b) of the elongated illuminating panels (11a, 12a) and / or illuminance of the elongated rgb- LED-strips (15a, 15b) of the elongated illuminating panels (11a, 12a) based on one or more parameters of the elevator (100) and / or of an28elevator arrangement to which the elevator (100) belongs, in particular during operation of the elevator (100) and / or of the elevator arrangement.
20. A door frame (1), an elevator (100) or an elevator arrangement according to any of the preceding claims 18-19, wherein said one or more parameters preferably include one or more ofa parameter for indicating movement direction of the car (C) of the elevator (100) traveling in the hoistway (H) into which the passage (P) leads; and / ora parameter for indicating time remaining until a predetermined event of the elevator (100), the event being preferably that the car (C) traveling in the hoistway (H) into which the passage (P) leads arrives to the landing (L); and / ora color code representing one color from a group of colors, assigned by an elevator control system (40) to the elevator (100) and / or to the door frame (1), which color preferably differs from colors assigned by the elevator control system (40) to other elevators and / or to door frames of other elevators of an elevator arrangement to which the elevator (100) belongs.