Elevator Safety Controller Remote Override for Passenger Rescue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator systems require manual intervention by a maintenance person to override safety controllers after an emergency stop, leading to prolonged trapping of passengers and inefficiency in rescue operations.
Innovation Solution
A remote computing device authenticates directly with the safety controller to override safety contacts, enabling authorized personnel to remotely re-enable elevator movement, thus allowing trapped passengers to be rescued quickly and efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a maintenance person manually inspects and rectifies the fault on site, then the safety of the elevator system is ensured, but the time required for passenger rescue is prolonged and operational efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
A remote computing device acts as an intermediary between maintenance personnel and the elevator safety controller. This device establishes a secure communication channel that allows remote authentication and override commands to be transmitted to the safety controller, enabling maintenance personnel to resolve safety contact issues without physically traveling to the elevator site, thus reducing rescue time while maintaining safety protocols
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical presence requirement with an electronic/digital communication system. Instead of requiring a maintenance person to physically access the elevator control panel and manually reset safety contacts, the system uses electronic authentication and digital command transmission to achieve the same safety override function remotely
2Ease of operation
If a maintenance person physically visits the elevator system to override safety contacts, then authorized access is confirmed, but the rescue operation becomes less efficient and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The elevator system incorporates self-service capabilities through automated safety contact restoration. The safety controller automatically receives authenticated override commands from remote computing devices and autonomously restores safety contacts without requiring manual physical intervention, making the system self-sufficient in handling rescue operations
3Reliability
If separate authentication is implemented for safety controller and elevator controller, then cyber security is enhanced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication system is segmented into separate credential sets for the safety controller and elevator controller. Each controller has its own distinct authentication mechanism and credential verification process, ensuring that compromising one controller does not automatically compromise the other, thereby enhancing overall system security through architectural segmentation
Data Source
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AI summary
An elevator system (20), comprises an elevator car (22), an elevator controller (40), configured to control operation of the elevator car (22), a safety controller (52) and a plurality of safety contacts connected to the safety controller (52), wherein the plurality of safety contacts monitor the elevator system (20). The safety controller (52) is configured to receive individual status information from each of the plurality of safety contacts and to prevent movement of the elevator car (22) when the individual status information received from one of the plurality of safety contacts indicates an unsafe condition of the elevator system (20). The safety controller (52) is configured to connect to a remote computing device, to receive first authentication information (500) from the remote computing device, and to authenticate the remote computing device if the first authentication information (500) meets an authentication condition. If the remote computing device is authenticated, to permit the remote computing device to override the safety controller (52) to enable movement of the elevator car (22).