Elevator Control Component ID Verification System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Elevator manufacturers face the issue of pirate products being used in elevator controls, which affects business turnover, reliability, and safety, as well as the image of the manufacturer, due to the introduction of low-quality components.

Innovation Solution

A system that includes an authorization section in the elevator control to verify the IDs of essential electronic components against a reference list, preventing operation if mismatched or unauthorized components are detected, and an updating mechanism to ensure only approved parts are used by connecting to a service tool or central database for ID management and updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pirate products are used to replace essential components in elevator control, then cost is reduced, but reliability and safety deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of elevator controlVSAvoidcost of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by equipping essential electronic components with unique identification means (ID tags, authorization chips, or memory storage) before they are installed in the elevator control system. The control unit is pre-programmed with reference identification data for authorized components. This preliminary identification setup enables the system to automatically verify component authenticity during operation, preventing the use of pirate products while maintaining reliability without requiring costly manual verification processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If authorization verification system is implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety of elevatorVSAvoidcomplexity of control system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by designing an authorization system where the elevator control unit automatically performs verification of component authenticity without requiring external intervention. The control unit reads identification data from components, compares it against stored reference data, and autonomously determines whether to permit operation. This self-verification mechanism enhances safety while minimizing added complexity, as the system handles the entire authorization process internally without requiring additional manual checking procedures or complex external verification infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2784015B1System and method to prevent the use of pirate products in an elevator control
Publication Date: 2020.06.03 KONE OYJ
  • EP2784015B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention refers to a system (10) and to a method to prevent the use of pirate products in an elevator control, the system comprising at least one elevator control (12), an updating means (17, 18) and a connection (14, 16, 17) between the elevator control and said updating means, the elevator control comprises essential electronic components (20, 22, 24, 26, 28) provided with their own ID means (30, 32, 34, 36), and an authorization section, which is configured to read the IDs of the essential electronic components, comprises a reference list with allowed IDs, a comparator and a switching logic configured to issue an authorization signal for the elevator control to start or prevent operation of the elevator control depending on the comparison result of the comparator, whereby the connection between the elevator control and said updating means is configured to initiate the elevator control to update the IDs of the essential electronic components in the elevator control.