Elevator Display System Estimated Arrival Time

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users experience anxiety when registering a target floor using a distant target floor registration unit, worrying that the assigned elevator car may have already departed before they reach it, leading to potential re-registration needs.

Innovation Solution

An elevator display system that includes a target floor registration unit and an elevator controller, which assigns the most suitable elevator car and computes an estimated arrival time, displaying this information to the user, allowing them to move confidently to the elevator without worrying about the car's departure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If the target floor registration unit is installed at a distance from the assigned elevator car, then the user can register the target floor with more time to spare, but the user experiences anxiety that the elevator car may have already departed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser waiting timeVSAvoidelevator arrival reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides continuous feedback to the user by displaying real-time elevator position information and estimated arrival time on the target floor registration unit. This feedback mechanism reduces user anxiety by keeping them informed about the elevator's status and expected arrival, resolving the contradiction between having time to reach the elevator and ensuring reliable arrival.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and displaying the estimated arrival time before the user actually reaches the elevator. This advance information provision allows users to plan their movement to the elevator without anxiety, as they know the expected arrival time in advance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the elevator controller retains the elevator car at the floor until the estimated arrival time elapses, then the user can reach the elevator without re-registration, but the elevator system efficiency may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser operation convenienceVSAvoidelevator system efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial retention - the elevator car is held only for the specific duration needed to allow the user to reach it (until the estimated arrival time elapses), rather than indefinite retention. This partial action provides sufficient convenience to users while minimizing impact on overall system efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The retention duration is dynamically adjusted based on the estimated arrival time parameter. The elevator controller modifies the holding time parameter according to real-time conditions, balancing user convenience with system efficiency by retaining the elevator only as long as necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8069957B2Elevator display system providing an indication of an estimated arrival of an elevator car

Publication Date: 2011.12.06 OTIS ELEVATOR CO

AI summary

An elevator target floor registration unit, which displays an estimated amount of time until an assigned elevator car arrives, reduces feelings of uneasiness. Various target floor registration units by which a user may register a target floor are installed on respective floors of a building. The target floor registration units are connected to an elevator controller via an interface. The elevator controller: (a) assigns a most suitable elevator car corresponding to a user's target floor registered using the target floor registration unit; (b) computes an expected waiting time for the elevator assigned to arrive at the floor of the aforementioned registration; and (c) sends said pieces of information on the elevator assignment and the expected waiting time to aforementioned target floor registration unit in order to display them.