Portable Smart Device for Elevator Cabin Position Learning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elevator systems require substantial hardware and installation efforts to determine absolute cabin positions, leading to high costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A method using a portable smart device with a sensor to detect localising characteristics within the elevator shaft during a learning procedure, allowing for the correlation of absolute positions without fixed installation, reducing hardware costs and installation efforts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional markers and sensors are installed in the elevator shaft to determine absolute cabin positions, then position detection accuracy is improved, but hardware costs and installation efforts increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a portable smart device with sensor as a temporary copy of the permanent detection system. During the learning phase, the portable device detects localizing characteristics and communicates absolute positions to the controller, enabling the system to learn position references without requiring permanent sensor installation. This copying approach reduces hardware complexity while maintaining position detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a preliminary learning phase where the portable smart device is attached to the cabin to detect and communicate absolute positions before normal operation begins. This preliminary action allows the controller to store correlation data between detected positions and cabin positions, eliminating the need for complex permanent sensor installations during the main operational phase.
2Reliability
If permanent sensors and markers are fixedly installed in the elevator shaft, then position determination reliability is improved, but installation efforts and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a static permanent sensor installation to a dynamic portable detection approach. The portable smart device can be attached and detached as needed during the learning phase, and the system adapts by storing the learned position correlations in the controller. This dynamic approach maintains reliability through consistent position determination while significantly improving installation ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable smart device serves itself by detecting localizing characteristics and automatically communicating absolute positions to the controller during the learning phase. The system performs self-calibration by storing correlation data between detected positions and cabin positions, eliminating the need for complex manual installation and calibration procedures.
3Measurement precision
If substantial hardware components are provided for position detection, then measurement precision is improved, but hardware costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive permanent sensor installations with a portable smart device that can be reused across multiple installations. The portable device with sensor acts as a temporary, cost-effective solution for the learning phase, eliminating the need for substantial permanent hardware components while maintaining measurement precision through accurate position detection and correlation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise determination of absolute cabin positions with reduced costs and efforts, as the portable smart device can be easily attached and detached from the elevator cabin, using markers or optical sensors for detection, and transmitting data wirelessly for correlation.
Implementation Method 1
A detector for detecting the markers, i.e. for example a magnetic field detector such as a Hall sensor, may then be arranged at the elevator cabin.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A method for determining multiple absolute cabin positions of an elevator cabin (3) within a shaft (11) of an elevator arrangement (1) using a portable smart device (29) such as a smart phone comprising a sensor (35) such as a camera (37) is proposed. The method comprises the following steps: - displacing the elevator cabin (3) along the shaft (11) during a learning procedure with the portable smart device (29) being releasable attached at a predetermined position at the elevator cabin (3), - detecting localising characteristics (39) at each of multiple locations during the learning procedure, the localising characteristics indicating an absolute position within the shaft (11), wherein the localising characteristics may be generated by markers (33) such as QR- codes and may be detected using the sensor (35) of the portable smart device (29), - communicating an information indicating the absolute positions detected during the learning procedure from the portable smart device (29) to an elevator controller (13), and - correlating each of the absolute positions detected during the learning procedure to one of the multiple absolute cabin positions and storing derived correlation data.