Elevator Destination Call Control for Overcrowding Prevention

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing elevator systems with destination call control face inefficiencies due to unscheduled passengers boarding, leading to overcrowding and increased waiting times, as the current bypass function cannot activate if the floor is the destination of a passenger in the elevator car.

Innovation Solution

The elevator system employs a destination call control method that assumes additional passengers based on stored data and sensor feedback, adjusting space requirements dynamically to optimize call allocation and route planning, thereby preventing overcrowding and minimizing waiting times.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the bypass function is activated to prevent overcrowding in the elevator car, then the passenger capacity utilization is improved, but the waiting time for passengers on intermediate floors increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger capacity utilizationVSAvoidwaiting time for passengers

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary route planning that anticipates potential overcrowding scenarios before they occur. By pre-calculating alternative routes and considering expected passenger numbers at each floor, the system proactively prevents the need for bypass activations, thereby maintaining both capacity utilization and acceptable waiting times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The route planning is dynamically adjusted based on real-time feedback from sensor systems that monitor actual passenger numbers. The system continuously adapts the route plan during elevator operation, allowing it to respond to changing conditions and avoid the rigid bypass decision that causes increased waiting times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the bypass function is activated to omit scheduled stops, then the elevator car can avoid stopping when full, but the efficiency of the elevator system decreases due to delayed passenger transport

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of overcrowdingVSAvoidelevator system efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary route planning that anticipates potential overcrowding scenarios before they occur. By pre-calculating alternative routes and considering expected passenger numbers at each floor, the system proactively prevents the need for bypass activations, thereby maintaining both capacity utilization and acceptable waiting times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Sensor systems provide real-time feedback on actual passenger numbers, which is fed back to the control system. This feedback loop allows the system to adjust route plans dynamically, preventing overcrowding while maintaining system efficiency by avoiding unnecessary bypass activations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If passengers input new elevator calls to ensure boarding, then the reliability of passenger transport is improved, but the number of elevator calls and system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger transport reliabilityVSAvoidnumber of elevator calls

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary route planning that anticipates potential overcrowding scenarios before they occur. By pre-calculating alternative routes and considering expected passenger numbers at each floor, the system proactively prevents the need for bypass activations, thereby maintaining both capacity utilization and acceptable waiting times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Sensor systems provide real-time feedback on actual passenger numbers, which is fed back to the control system. This feedback loop allows the system to adjust route plans dynamically, preventing overcrowding while maintaining system efficiency by avoiding unnecessary bypass activations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12297073B2Route planning on the basis of expected passenger number

Publication Date: 2025.05.13 INVENTIO AG

AI summary

In an elevator System with a destination call control device, a first destination call being input on a floor by a first passenger at a first point in time is evaluated in order to determine first call information comprising data on a call input floor and/or a destination floor. The first call information determines if a number of additional passengers are to be assigned to the first destination call resulting in an additional space requirement in an elevator car handling the first destination call. Information on the additional space requirement is generated if a number of additional passengers are to be assigned to the first destination call. If this is the case, the first destination call is allocated with the aid of an allocation algorithm by using information on the additional space requirement in order to transport the first passenger from the call input floor to the destination floor.