Elevator Car Positioning via Bluetooth Signal Strength

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Solution Overview

Problem

Elevator systems face challenges in accurately determining the position of an elevator car within a hoistway, particularly when position information is lost or invalid, leading to inefficiencies and potential disruptions during recovery processes.

Innovation Solution

A Bluetooth MESH network system is implemented, where a first Bluetooth module traveling with the elevator car senses signal strength information from second Bluetooth modules placed along the hoistway, using pre-learned associations to determine and broadcast the car's position, enabling accurate and efficient position determination without requiring the elevator to move to the extremes of the hoistway.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the elevator car is driven to run to the bottommost or uppermost end of the elevator hoistway to recorrect position information, then the position information can be recovered, but the time required for position recovery increases and operational efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition information validityVSAvoidposition recovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-arranges Bluetooth modules at multiple fixed positions along the hoistway before the elevator operates. When position information is lost, the system immediately queries these pre-positioned modules for signal strength data, eliminating the need for the elevator to travel to extreme positions for recalibration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces Bluetooth modules as intermediary devices fixed at multiple positions along the hoistway. These modules serve as mediators between the elevator car and the control system, providing position information through signal strength measurements without requiring the elevator to physically move to reference positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If traditional position recorption methods are used, then position information can be recovered, but the elevator operation is disrupted and passenger experience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition information validityVSAvoidelevator operation continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Bluetooth modules are pre-installed at multiple fixed positions along the hoistway before elevator operation. When position information is lost, the system can immediately query these pre-positioned modules, enabling rapid position recovery without disrupting elevator operation or requiring passenger movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The Bluetooth modules act as intermediary devices that provide position information to the control system without requiring the elevator to stop or change its operational state. This allows position recovery to occur while the elevator remains in operation, maintaining service continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If Bluetooth modules are disposed at multiple fixed positions along the hoistway, then position information can be rapidly acquired, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition acquisition speedVSAvoidBluetooth module arrangement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the hoistway into multiple segments with Bluetooth modules disposed at fixed positions along the hoistway. This segmentation allows the system to use signal strength measurements from multiple discrete points to determine the elevator car's position, enabling rapid and accurate position acquisition through distributed sensing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

This solution allows for rapid and accurate acquisition of elevator car position information, enhancing operational efficiency and passenger experience by avoiding the need for traditional recorrection methods, and facilitating reliable data transmission over long hoistway lengths.

Implementation Method 1

the first Bluetooth module senses signal strength information of the Bluetooth signal it receives

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSignal strength sensing:

Data Source

PatentUS11440768B2Acquisition of position of elevator car

Publication Date: 2022.09.13 OTIS ELEVATOR CO

AI summary

Acquisition of position information of an elevator car. The system for acquiring the position information of an elevator car of the invention comprises: a first Bluetooth module travelling in an up-down direction of an elevator hoistway following the elevator car, and a second Bluetooth module disposed in the elevator hoistway; wherein the second Bluetooth module broadcasts a Bluetooth signal containing an identifier of the second Bluetooth module to the elevator hoistway, and the first Bluetooth module senses signal strength information of the Bluetooth signal it receives and determines the identifier corresponding to the second Bluetooth module broadcasting the received Bluetooth signal; the system is configured to determine the position information of the elevator car according to received signal strength information of the Bluetooth signal and a corresponding identifier.