Elevator Safety Communication via Serial-Parallel Conversion
Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator systems face challenges with long and heavy cables used for transmitting electrical power and control signals, which are prone to sway and oscillation, particularly in high-rise elevators, necessitating complex cabling arrangements.
Innovation Solution
A communication system that transmits safety information over a single communication channel, using a first node to convert parallel safety information into a serial form for transmission and back to parallel form, reducing the need for multiple cables and enabling wireless or wired communication without physical channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If parallel communication channels are used for transmitting safety information, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and cabling requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The safety information is segmented into two separate parts transmitted through two parallel communication channels. Each channel carries a portion of the safety data, and both channels are required to confirm successful transmission before the complete safety information is considered received. This segmentation maintains reliability while allowing for independent verification of each channel's functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety information is copied and transmitted through two parallel communication channels simultaneously. By creating redundant copies of the safety data and sending them through separate channels, the system ensures that if one channel fails, the other can still deliver the critical safety information, thereby maintaining high reliability without requiring complex error correction mechanisms.
2Length of stationary object
If long cables are used to connect elevator control cabinet to elevator car, then coverage is improved, but weight and susceptibility to sway increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical cable-based communication system with a wireless communication system. Instead of using physical cables to transmit control signals and safety information between the elevator control cabinet and the elevator car, the invention employs wireless transmission technologies such as radio frequency communication. This substitution eliminates the weight and sway issues associated with long cables while maintaining full communication coverage throughout the elevator shaft.
3Length of stationary object
If long cables are used in high-rise elevators, then coverage is improved, but stability deteriorates due to sway and oscillation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable system with a wireless communication system that transmits signals through electromagnetic fields rather than physical conduits. This eliminates the stability problems caused by cable sway and oscillation in high-rise elevators, as wireless signals are not affected by mechanical movement or positioning of physical cables within the elevator shaft.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect, there is provided a communication system for transmitting safety information in an elevator system. The communication system comprises a first node; and a second node; wherein the first node is configured to receive first safety information from a first safety node via two parallel communication channels, to convert the received first safety information into a serial form for transmission in a first safety message over a single communication channel between the first node and the second node and to transmit the first safety message to the second node over the single communication channel; and the second node is configured to receive the first safety message and to convert the first safety information in the first safety message back into the parallel form for transmission via two parallel communication channels to a second safety node.