Elevator Passenger Counting via Load Change Ranges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator systems face inaccuracies in passenger counting due to the ambiguity in weight signals from load weighting devices, as a single passenger's weight can be misinterpreted as multiple passengers, and vice versa.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize traffic intensity to define passenger load change ranges, allowing for more accurate passenger counting by detecting stepwise changes in passenger load and associating them with specific passenger counts based on traffic conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a load weighting device is used to estimate passenger count, then additional information about passenger weight is provided, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to distinguish between single heavy passenger and multiple lighter passengers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter used for passenger counting from weight-based to a hybrid approach combining weight changes with traffic intensity patterns. By monitoring stepwise changes in passenger load and comparing them against predefined load change ranges associated with different traffic intensities, the system resolves the ambiguity of weight-based counting while maintaining the simplicity of load cell measurement.
2Measurement precision
If traffic intensity-based passenger load change ranges are applied, then passenger detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic adjustment of passenger load change ranges based on detected traffic intensity. The system monitors elevator usage patterns to identify high-traffic periods, then dynamically switches between different sets of load change ranges (first set for low traffic, second set for high traffic). This dynamic adaptation improves accuracy during varying operational conditions without requiring a completely complex system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-defines multiple sets of passenger load change ranges corresponding to different traffic intensity levels before operation begins. These predetermined ranges are stored in the system and automatically selected based on detected traffic patterns, eliminating the need for real-time complex calculations and reducing processing complexity while maintaining high detection accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A solution for estimating the number of persons entering or leaving an elevator car, wherein a stepwise change in passenger load is detected based on a passenger load signal relating to the elevator car, and the change in a passenger count is estimated based on passenger load change ranges depending on traffic intensity and the stepwise change in the passenger load.