Elevator Ride Quality Sensor with Smart Device Diagnostics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current elevator diagnostic systems make it challenging for mechanics to access ride quality insights in a timely manner.

Innovation Solution

An elevator system that includes a sensor configured to sense ride characteristics, such as ride quality, and a smart device that communicates with the sensor over a wireless ad hoc network, allowing for data collection and scheduling of diagnostics based on sensor trends.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If current elevator diagnostic systems are used, then the system structure is simple, but mechanics cannot access ride quality insights in a timely manner

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime to access ride quality dataVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the diagnostic functionality into separate modular components: sensors mounted in the elevator car, a communication module, and a remote interface accessible via smart devices. This segmentation allows mechanics to access ride quality data remotely without requiring complex centralized diagnostic equipment, resolving the contradiction between fast data access and system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a communication module as an intermediary between the sensors and the remote interface. This intermediary handles data transmission and processing, enabling timely access to ride quality insights while keeping the overall system architecture simple and manageable through standardized communication protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If sensors are installed in the elevator car, then ride quality data can be collected, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveride quality data availabilityVSAvoidsystem component count
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor system is designed to collect multiple types of ride quality data (vibration, acceleration, noise) using a integrated sensor array. This multi-functional approach ensures comprehensive ride quality information is captured while avoiding the need for separate specialized sensors for each parameter, thus minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The sensors are equipped with onboard processing capabilities that allow them to perform preliminary data filtering and analysis. This self-service functionality reduces the data processing burden on external systems and ensures that only relevant ride quality information is transmitted, maintaining data availability while keeping the overall system complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If real-time data access is implemented, then service efficiency improves, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic data sampling and transmission instead of continuous real-time streaming. Sensors collect ride quality data at predetermined intervals and transmit aggregated results, which maintains service efficiency by providing timely diagnostic information while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous data transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts sampling frequency and data transmission parameters based on ride quality conditions. During normal operation, data collection occurs at lower frequencies to conserve energy, while during abnormal conditions, the system increases sampling rates and transmission frequency, optimizing the balance between service efficiency and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3643668B1System for tracking elevator ride quality
Publication Date: 2025.05.14 OTIS ELEVATOR CO
  • EP3643668B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3643668B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3643668B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is an elevator system including an elevator car 210, a sensor 220 operationally connected to the elevator car, and a smart device 230 configured to: display collected sensor data, instruct the sensor to dynamically collect sensor data, displaying dynamically collected data, thereby dynamically illustrating trends in the sensed data. Further disclosed is a method of collecting sensor data in an elevator system using one or more features and elements of the disclosed elevator system, wherein the method includes display collected sensor data, instructing the sensor to dynamically collect sensor data, and displaying dynamically collected data, thereby dynamically illustrating trends in the sensed data.