Elevator Door Sensor with Integrated Long-Range Gateway
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyance systems, such as elevator systems, face challenges in communicating effectively with remote systems due to low signal propagation within buildings, necessitating the use of short-range communication methods and additional gateway devices.
Innovation Solution
A sensing system with a long-range communication module integrated into a sensing apparatus attached to an elevator car's door, capable of processing and transmitting sensor data via long-range wireless protocols directly to a remote network when signal strength is sufficient, eliminating the need for intermediate gateway devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If short-range communication is used to transmit sensor data from the elevator system, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for additional gateway devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sensor data processing functionality with the long-range communication capability into a single integrated device mounted on the elevator car. This merging eliminates the need for separate gateway devices while maintaining reliable data transmission, directly resolving the contradiction between communication reliability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing apparatus acts as an intermediary device that collects sensor data locally and transmits it directly to the remote system using long-range wireless communication. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for intermediate gateway devices, reducing system complexity while maintaining communication reliability
2Reliability
If short-range communication with gateway devices is used, then communication reliability is improved, but installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging sensor data processing and long-range communication into a single integrated apparatus, the patent simplifies installation to just one device on the elevator car, eliminating the need to install and configure multiple gateway devices throughout the building
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the communication functionality from the building's fixed infrastructure and relocates it to the moving elevator car. This extraction allows the system to use the elevator car itself as the transmission platform, simplifying installation by eliminating the need for building-specific gateway installations
3Device complexity
If long-range communication is used to transmit sensor data directly from the elevator system, then device complexity is reduced, but signal propagation reliability deteriorates due to low signal strength into buildings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic signal selection, where the sensing apparatus automatically switches between long-range wireless communication (when signal strength is adequate) and short-range communication through building gateways (when signal strength is insufficient). This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by selecting the most reliable communication method based on real-time conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system periodically assesses signal strength and adjusts its communication method accordingly. This periodic monitoring and switching between communication modes ensures reliable data transmission while maintaining simple device architecture, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and signal propagation reliability
4Reliability
If additional gateway devices are installed for short-range communication, then signal propagation reliability is improved, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions (sensor data collection, processing, and long-range communication) into a single integrated apparatus on the elevator car, eliminating the need for multiple gateway devices and reducing the total number of components in the system
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing apparatus on the elevator car serves itself by collecting sensor data and transmitting it directly to the remote system using its own integrated long-range communication capability. This self-service approach eliminates the need for intermediary gateway devices, reducing component quantity while maintaining reliability
Data Source
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AI summary
A sensing apparatus (210) for monitoring a conveyance system (101) is provided. The sensing apparatus (210) includes: a controller; at least one sensor in communication with the controller, the at least one sensor configured to detect sensor data (202) of the conveyance system and communicate the sensor data (202) to the controller; and a long-range communication module in communication with the controller, the long-range communication module being configured to transmit the sensor data to a remote system (280) through a wireless network (250) via long-range wireless communication protocol (204), wherein the long-range communication module is located within the sensing apparatus (210).