Dynamic Elevator Car Panel Button Visibility Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator systems face confusion and inefficiency due to the visibility of locked floor call buttons in elevator cars, leading to incorrect call placement and reduced transport capacity, especially during peak hours, as passengers are unsure whether to use destination or floor call buttons.
Innovation Solution
Implement a method to dynamically change the display of floor call buttons in elevator car panels based on the current and next floor's call panel type, concealing or dimming buttons on destination call floors and keeping them visible on collective call floors, using real-time data and additional information like time and passenger ID to enhance clarity and access control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If floor call buttons are locked (passivated) on destination call panels, then the system can prevent redundant calls, but the visible locked buttons cause passenger confusion and uncertainty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the visual presence of locked floor call buttons from the car panel display. When the elevator is at a floor with a destination call panel, the corresponding floor call button is completely hidden (taken out) from the car panel, eliminating the visual confusion while maintaining the functional restriction through the destination call panel system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different display qualities to different floor call buttons based on local conditions. Each floor call button's visibility is independently controlled according to whether the corresponding floor has a destination call panel or not, creating localized adaptability in the user interface that resolves confusion at destination floors while maintaining usability at intermediate floors.
2Ease of operation
If floor call buttons remain visible on destination call panels, then passengers can see all buttons, but this causes confusion and reduces transport capacity during peak hours
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic reconfiguration of the car panel display based on the elevator's current location and the type of call panel at the destination floor. The display transitions between different states (visible buttons vs. hidden buttons) depending on the operational context, optimizing both usability and system efficiency at different times.
Solution Approach 2:
The visibility of floor call buttons is locally adapted based on the specific floor's characteristics. Floors with destination call panels have their corresponding car panel buttons hidden, while floors with collective call panels maintain visible buttons, creating localized optimization that prevents confusion without affecting overall system productivity.
3Device complexity
If locked floor call buttons are displayed, then the system maintains simple structure, but it creates unnecessary confusion and incorrect call placement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic visual element (locked button appearance) from the interface while maintaining the underlying control logic. The button is still functionally locked to prevent incorrect calls, but its visual representation is removed to eliminate confusion, achieving a balance between structural simplicity and operational reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a control mechanism that acts as an intermediary between the button hardware and the display. This intermediary layer dynamically determines button visibility based on the elevator's location and the destination floor type, allowing the physical button structure to remain simple while the visual interface adapts to prevent confusion and ensure accurate call routing.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention presents a solution for controlling the car panel (4) of an elevator car in an elevator system, which comprises at least one elevator, which serves at least one floor comprising a collective call panel (3a) and at least one second floor comprising a destination call panel (3). A plurality of views to be presented in a car panel (4) are recorded in the elevator system, of which views the view to be presented at any given time is selected on the basis of the floor data of the elevator car.