Elevator Passenger Interface Visual Item Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator destination entry systems fail to account for the actual space requirements of passengers carrying large items or additional people, leading to potentially crowded elevator cars.
Innovation Solution
A passenger interface device provides visual representations of items that will accompany a passenger, allowing them to select the appropriate representation, and a controller determines the required space based on predetermined information, ensuring car assignments with adequate space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If destination entry systems assign elevator cars based on algorithms without space information, then car assignment efficiency is improved, but elevator cars may become crowded
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by collecting space requirement information from passengers before car assignment is made. The passenger interface device obtains information about large items or additional people before the controller assigns an elevator car, allowing the assignment algorithm to account for space needs in advance rather than reacting to overcrowding conditions.
2Loss of information
If visual representation selection interface is added to passenger interface, then space requirement information is obtained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses visual representations (images or icons) as simplified copies that represent different space requirement categories. Instead of requiring complex input methods, passengers select from predefined visual representations depicting large items or additional people, which the controller then maps to corresponding space allocations. This copying approach simplifies the interface while still capturing necessary information.
3Ease of operation
If car assignment considers space requirements, then passenger comfort is improved, but assignment processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments space requirements into discrete, predefined categories represented by different visual representations. Rather than calculating continuous space measurements, the controller assigns space based on selected categories (e.g., small item, large item, additional person). This segmentation simplifies the assignment algorithm and reduces processing time while still accommodating different space needs.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary elevator destination entry system includes a passenger interface device that presents a visual representation of at least one item that will accompany a passenger on an elevator car. The passenger interface allows the passenger to select the visual representation. A controller is configured to receive indications of passenger requests for elevator service and an indication from the passenger interface device regarding a selected visual representation. The controller determines an amount of space within an elevator car required to accommodate the item based on predetermined space information corresponding to the selected visual representation. The controller assigns a car to a passenger request based on a determination that the assigned car will have adequate space to accommodate the passenger and the item.