Elevator car with a car operation panel

Abstract

The present invention relates to elevator car (1) equipped with a car operation panel (5) and an elevator comprising such elevator car (1). The elevator car (1) comprises: a bottom (2); a ceiling (3); and a plurality of sidewalls (4a, 4b), wherein at least one of the sidewalls (4a) comprises a car operation panel (5). The car operation panel (5) is constructed to serve as a part of this sidewall (4a) in appearance so that a front face panel (5a) of the car operation panel (5) is flush or substantially flush with this sidewall (4a), wherein on the remaining part of this sidewall (4a) there is a groove channel (6) extending along one side of the car operation panel (5) to visually separate the COP (5) from the rest of this sidewall (4a).

Description

[0001] Elevator car with a car operation panel

[0002] The present invention relates to elevator car equipped with a car operation panel and an elevator comprising such elevator car.

[0003] Elevators generally comprise one or more elevator cars, sometimes also referred to as elevator cars. Such elevator car may be accessed by passengers and may be displaced along a travel path in order to transport the passengers to various levels or floors within a building.

[0004] Generally, the elevator car is configured as a load carrying structure composed of structure components. Typically, the elevator car has a bottom and a ceiling and one or more sidewalls extending between the bottom and the ceiling. Conventionally, the structure components of the elevator car are made with metal such as steel or alloys. For example, the elevator car has normally a rectangular bottom and ceiling with four sidewalls extending in between so that the side walls surrounding an interior space of the elevator car.

[0005] In modem elevators, improved aesthetics and functionality are becoming more and more important. Typically, the elevator car comprises a car operation panel (COP). The COP serves as a human-machine interface (HMI) via which passengers may input e.g. an intended destination floor or may initiate specific functions such as triggered car door closure / opening, alarm functions, etc. For example, the COP may comprise several push buttons to be pressed by passengers for destination floor selection and / or function triggering. Alternatively, the COP may comprise other types of buttons such as for example capacitance-sensitive sensors. Furthermore, the COP may comprise a display or touchscreen on which for example selected destination floors may be indicated.

[0006] Conventionally, a COP is often a separate component that protrudes from an interior wall of an elevator car. Such a COP is easily impacted, difficult to clean, and will disrupt the visual harmony in the elevator car and limit the useful space inside it.There may be a need for an elevator car with improved functionality. Particularly, there may be a need for an elevator car providing improved human-machine interface functionalities, reduced system costs and / or increased aesthetics. Furthermore, there may be a need for an elevator comprising such elevator car.

[0007] At least some of such needs may be met by the subject matter of one of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims and in the following specification.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the invention, an elevator car is proposed. The elevator car comprises a bottom, a ceiling and a plurality of sidewalls. Therein, at least one of the sidewalls comprises a COP. The elevator car is characterized in that the COP is constructed to serve as a part of the side wall in appearance so that a front face panel of the COP is flush or nearly flush with the sidewall. In other words, the COP appears to be a part of the sidewall, wherein the sidewall may either have a recessed area to accommodate the COP or consist directly of the COP and the remaining part of this sidewall, on which there is a groove channel extending along one side of the COP. Along the groove channel, the COP is visually separated from the rest of this sidewall. This car arrangement solves the above problems, while enhancing the beauty of the car and ensuring the elevator’ appearance stylish and modem. In such an elevator car, the COP does not protrude from the sidewall, maintaining a sleek and uniform appearance together. The groove channel adds to the aesthetic appeal of the car inside while providing a clear demarcation between the COP and the sidewall portion, also allowing passengers to recognize the COP from the wall.

[0009] According to an embodiment in respect of the first aspect of the invention, the front face panel comprises a touch-sensitive display screen for providing input and / or output function of the car operation panel. Such a COP enables users to interact directly with an elevator system by touching the screen while also displaying information visually. The front face panel may detect user’s input through touch gestures, such as tapping, swiping, or pinching, using technologies like resistive or capacitive touch sensing. Depending on the input or the current state of the elevator system, the display can show a graphical-user-interface (GUI), help information, error messages, and other operational data, etc., so that users can directly interact with the COP or the elevator system.According to an embodiment in respect of the first aspect of the invention, the front face panel of the COP presents a reflective or semi-reflective surface when the car operation panel is in a standby mode. And the COP is activated to display information on the front face panel when the car operation panel is out of the standby mode.

[0010] According to an embodiment in respect of the first aspect of the invention, the front face panel includes three screen areas, the first area for displaying available floors and one or more registered destination floors, wherein other features of a destination floor such as for example names of habitants, companies or shops located on this floor may be visualized. The second area for indicating the current operation of the elevator car, wherein a current location of the car, about a current speed of the moving car, etc. can be also displayed. And the third area for presenting information for passengers, wherein any kind of advertisement or entertainment and leisure information may be displayed, for example, it can be used as an animation gallery for exhibitions of world-famous paintings and artworks. And such displayed information can be changed overtime. Advantageously, these three screen areas are arranged vertically in sequence, especially in a sequence of the first, the third and the second screen area from bottom to top of the COP. Such a sequence is in line with human height and visual comfort.

[0011] According to an embodiment in respect of the first aspect of the invention, a background of the front face panel is presented as morning light, daylight or starry sky depending on the current time, when the elevator car is in a normal operation mode. Then the COP dynamically adjusts its background to reflect different times of day so that passengers will not feel uncomfortable due to sudden changes in their environment.

[0012] According to a further embodiment in respect of the first aspect of the invention, on the front face panel different light pattern are respectively presented before, during and / or after an elevator ride. Distinct light patterns are displayed before, during, and after an elevator ride to provide visual care and enjoyment in relation to ride progress. For instance, using warm colors before staring an elevator trip; calming and soothing colors during the trip; and colors that match the time or external environment at end of the trip.According to a further embodiment in respect of the first aspect of the invention, in the groove channel is constructed to accommodate one or more elevator accessories, such as a camera, a light illumination means, a lock means, a loudspeaker and / or a microphone. Thus, these accessories can be easily accessed, repaired, and replaced, while also saving effective space inside the COP. For instance, the light illumination mean may indicate a movement performance of the elevator car in real-time, including the moving direction, the speed, acceleration and deceleration, so such illumination can be used as a dynamic indicator reflecting the moving performance of the elevator car. In this way, passengers can intuitively feel the movement of the car, which helps alleviate anxiety in a small, confined space and discomfort caused by accelerated movement. For instance, if a passenger suffering from motion sickness such as motion sickness, such a visual illumination may help the passenger more on reducing risk of getting sick during elevator rides. And the lock means is provided for Firefighters, rescue workers and / or service personal who has a special key to this lock to operate the elevator car during emergencies.

[0013] According to a further embodiment in respect of the first aspect of the invention, the COP has a width of at least 30% of the width of the side wall, in particular up to about half the width of the sidewall. This proportional of the COP ensures optimal visibility and accessibility while maintaining aesthetic balance within the car. Vertically, COP may extend along more than 90% or at least 95% of the height of the side wall, preferably have substantially the same height of the sidewall.

[0014] In summary, the approach above not only improves aesthetics of an elevator car but also optimizes functionality by incorporating advanced features of a COP, such as information displaying, dynamic lighting, and accessories fixing, etc. As the COP also serves as a part of a sidewall of an elevator car, a separate device forming the COP can be dispensable. Thereby, costs of the elevator car can be reduced, vandalism to the COP may be avoided.

[0015] According to a second aspect of the invention, an elevator comprising an elevator car according to an embodiment of the above first aspect of the invention is proposed.

[0016] Some principles or benefits of embodiments of the present invention may be seen as being based, inter alia and without restricting a scope of the invention, on the following ideas and recognitions:It shall be noted that possible features and advantages of embodiments of the invention are described herein partly with respect to an elevator car and partly with respect to an elevator comprising such elevator car. One skilled in the art will recognize that the features may be suitably transferred from one embodiment to another, and features may be modified, adapted, combined and / or replaced, etc. to come to further embodiments of the invention.

[0017] In the following, advantageous embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the enclosed drawing. However, the drawing is only schematic and not to scale, neither the drawing nor the description shall be interpreted as limiting the invention.

[0018] Fig. 1 shows an elevator car according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 shows a COP displaying information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Fig. 3 shows a COP-Illumination according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 shows a COP-Illumination according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Fig. 1 shows an elevator car 1 of an elevator (not shown). The elevator car 1 comprises a bottom 2, a ceiling 3 and three sidewalls 4a, 4b enclosing an interior space of the elevator car 1. Another side of the elevator car 1 may be opened and closed by a car door 10. At least one of the sidewalls 4a comprises a COP (car operation panel) 5 that also serves as a part of this sidewall 4a in appearance so that a front face panel 5a of this COP 5 is flush or at least approximately flush with this side wall 4a. The width of the COP 5 is at least 30% of the width of the sidewall 4a, especially up to about half the width of the sidewall 4a.

[0021] On the other part of this sidewall 4a, there is a groove channel 6 extending along one side of the COP 5 to separate the COP 5 visually from the rest of the sidewall 4a. This groove channel 6 can accommodate various elevator accessories 9, such as a camera 9a, an illumination light 9b, a lock mechanism 9c, a loudspeaker, and / or a microphone 9d. For instance, the lock means 9c is provided for firefighters, rescue workers, and / or servicepersonal to operate the elevator car 1 during emergencies. Additionally, the lock means 9c can function as a switch to call a destination floor that requires special accessibility. The light illumination mean 9b can be utilized to indicate a movement performance of the elevator car 1 in real-time, including the moving direction, speed, acceleration and deceleration etc.

[0022] Fig. 2 illustrates a COP 5, whose front face panel 5a exhibits a mirror-like or reflective surface when the COP 5 is in standby mode. Upon exiting the standby mode, the COP 5 will be activated and display information on the front face panel 5a. The front face panel 5a may comprise or consist of a touchscreen 7. According to this embodiment, the touchscreen 7, or an area on the front face panel 5a including the touchscreen, is divided into three screen areas: 8a, 8b, and 8c. In the first area 8a, all or part of the available destination floors are listed. The second area 8b indicates the current operation status of the elevator car 1. The third area 8c displays various information for passengers. As shown in Fig. 2, the elevator car is currently on floor “-1” and will drive to a destination floor “2”.

[0023] Fig. 3 shows that the background of the front face panel 5a of the COP 5 may dynamically change to reflect the current time of day, displaying scenes such as morning light, daylight, or a starry sky when the elevator car 1 is in normal operation mode. This adaptive background adjustment helps passengers feel more comfortable by avoiding sudden changes in their environment. The embodiment according to Fig. 3a shows that the COP 5 has a background of a starry sky when the elevator car driving in the evening.

[0024] Moreover, as shown in Fig. 4, different light patterns 1 lb can be displayed on the front face panel 5a at various stages of the elevator ride to enhance passenger experience. For example, warm colors are shown before the start of the elevator trip, calming and soothing colors are displayed during the ride, and a color which matches the time of day or external environment are presented at the end of the trip. These distinct light patterns provide visual comfort and enjoyment, correlating with the progress of the ride.

[0025] Finally, it should be noted that the term “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and the “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. Also elements described inassociation with different embodiments may be combined. It should also be noted that reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

Claims

- 8 -Claims:

1. Elevator car ( 1), comprising:a bottom (2);a ceiling (3); anda plurality of sidewalls (4a, 4b), wherein at least one of the side walls (4a) comprises a car operation panel (5);characterized in thatthe car operation panel (5) is constructed to serve as a part of this sidewall (4a) in appearance so that a front face panel (5a) of the car operation panel (5) is flush or substantially flush with this sidewall (4a), wherein on the remaining part of this sidewall (4a) there is a groove channel (6) extending along one side of the car operation panel (5) to visually separate the COP (5) from the rest of this sidewall (4a).

2. Elevator car (1) according to claim 1, whereinthe front face panel (5a) comprises a touch-sensitive display screen (7) for providing input and / or output function of the car operation panel (5).

3. Elevator car (1) according to claim 1 or 2, whereinthe front face panel (5a) of the car operation panel (5) presents a reflective or semi-reflective surface when the car operation panel (5) is in a standby mode.

4. Elevator car (1) according to claim 3, whereinthe car operation panel (5) is activated to display information on the front face panel (5a) when the car operation panel (5) is out of the standby mode.

5. Elevator car (1) according to claim 4, whereinthe front face panel (5a) includes three screen areas (8a, 8b, 8c), the first area (8a) for displaying available floors and one or more registered destination floors, the second area (8b) for indicating the current operation of the elevator car (1), and the third area (8c) for presenting information for passengers.

6. Elevator car (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein- 9 -a background of the front face panel (5a) is presented as morning light, daylight or starry sky depending on the current time, when the elevator car (1) is in a normal operation mode.

7. Elevator car (1) according to any of claims 1 to 6, whereinon the front face panel (5a) different light pattern are respectively presented before, during and / or after an elevator ride.

8. Elevator car (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7, whereinin the groove channel (6) is constructed for accommodating one or more elevator accessories (9), such as a camera (9a), a light illumination means (9b), a lock means (9c), a loudspeaker and / or a microphone (9d).

9. Elevator car (1) according to claim 8, whereinthe light illumination mean (9b) is for indicating a movement performance of the elevator car (1) in real-time, including the moving direction, the speed, acceleration, and deceleration of the movement.

10. Elevator car (1) according to claim 9, whereinthe lock means (9c) is provided for Firefighters, rescue workers and / or service personal to operate the elevator car (1) during emergencies.

11. Elevator car according to one of the preceding claims, whereinthe width of the car operation panel (5) is at least 30% of the width of the sidewall (4a), especially up to about half the width of the side wall (4a).

12. Elevator comprising an elevator car (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11.

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