Elevator Car Monitoring With Sensor Fusion for Offset Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator safety systems face inaccuracies due to the limited reliability and accuracy of individual sensors, leading to potential false alarms or unsafe states, and the installation and maintenance of sensors are challenging due to their placement within the elevator shaft.
Innovation Solution
A method and safety system that utilize a combination of position and motion sensors, including a laser distance sensor and accelerometers or optical tracking sensors, to generate a dynamical system model using an estimation algorithm like a Kalman filter, which determines an estimated position, speed, and acceleration of the elevator car, while accounting for sensor offsets and reliability through a sensor fusion algorithm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple sensor types are combined to improve measurement accuracy, then the reliability of parameter evaluation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor types (position sensors and motion sensors) into a unified monitoring system that evaluates elevator car parameters. The sensors are integrated with a control unit that processes data from all sensors collectively, merging their functions to achieve more reliable parameter evaluation while managing system complexity through integrated architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system is designed to evaluate multiple parameters (position, speed, acceleration) using a single integrated system that processes data from various sensor types. The control unit performs universal evaluation functions across different sensor inputs, allowing the system to maintain high reliability without proportionally increasing complexity through specialized dedicated systems for each parameter.
2Measurement precision
If different sensor types are used to measure various parameters, then the measurement precision is improved, but the difficulty of installation and maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring system into distinct sensor modules (position sensors and motion sensors) that can be independently selected and installed based on specific measurement needs. Each sensor type is designed as a separate functional unit with standardized interfaces, allowing precise measurement of different parameters while simplifying installation and maintenance through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit serves as an intermediary that standardizes the interface between different sensor types and the evaluation system. It provides a unified data processing interface that accommodates various sensor outputs, thereby maintaining high measurement precision from different sensor types while simplifying installation and maintenance through standardized communication protocols and integrated processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of monitoring an elevator car in an elevator shaft includes acquiring position data indicative of a position of the elevator car, acquiring motion data indicative of a motion of the elevator car, and determining, from a dynamical system model, an estimated position of the elevator car. The dynamical system model describes a motion of the elevator car based on input variables that include the position data and the motion data. The method further includes determining an offset value indicative of a motion data offset, wherein the offset value is generated such that the dynamical system model fits the position of the elevator car indicated by the position data, determining a sensor reliability parameter based on the offset value, and providing output data including the sensor reliability parameter.