Elevator Floor Position Detection via Multi-Sensor Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor position detection devices for elevator systems cannot accurately determine the precise position of an elevator car relative to a door threshold, limiting their ability to ensure correct door alignment and operation.
Innovation Solution
A floor position detection device with a sensor unit comprising multiple sensors generates a floor signal with distinguishable states corresponding to sub-areas of the floor area, using magnetic means to detect the car's position and transmit signals to an elevator control system for precise alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single sensor is used to detect floor position, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision of the elevator car position relative to the door threshold is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The floor area is divided into multiple sub-areas (first sub-area and second sub-area) using multiple sensors. Each sensor detects a specific sub-area, and by comparing the outputs of multiple sensors, the system achieves more precise position detection within the floor area, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the floor position detection device is made backward compatible with existing systems, then the adaptability is improved, but the ability to detect multiple positions within the floor area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The floor signal is designed to be dynamic and adaptable: it can assume a first state for existing single-position detection applications (maintaining backward compatibility) and a second state for new multi-position detection applications (improving measurement precision). This dynamic signal design allows the same device to serve both legacy and advanced functions.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to detect sub-areas, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The evaluation device is designed with multi-functionality: it processes signals from multiple sensors to detect different sub-areas, generates differentiated floor signals for various positions, and maintains compatibility with existing single-sensor systems. This universal design allows one device to perform multiple functions, improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate detection of the elevator car's position relative to a floor, allowing for correct door alignment and operation, even after power failures, and accommodating weight changes during loading/unloading.
Implementation Method 1
In order to identify the position of a floor in a direction of travel of the elevator car, at least one magnetic means is attached in the elevator shaft at a location characterizing the position of the floor
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a floor position detection device for an elevator system (10). The floor position detection device is used to determine a position of a car of the elevator system relative to a floor. The floor position detection device has a sensor unit (35) and an evaluation device (36) for producing a floor signal (56) having at least two states, wherein: the floor signal (56) can adopt at least one "outside the range of the floor" state outside a range of a floor and a "within the range of the floor" state within the overall range of the floor; the sensor unit (35) has at least two sensors (28, 30, 32, 34) which each produce a floor position characteristic value (48, 50, 52, 54); and the evaluation device (36) is configured to produce the floor signal (56) on the basis of a comparison between at least two of the floor position characteristic values (48, 50, 52, 54). The floor signal (56) can also adopt at least two mutually distinguishable states within the range of a floor, wherein each of these mutually distinguishable states corresponds to a partial range of the range of a floor, the partial ranges fully covering the range of a floor.