Elevator Safety Signal Conversion for Fewer Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator systems often require multiple general-purpose sensors and actuators, leading to complexity, cost, and inefficiency due to overlapping processing and control functions, and existing safety systems do not efficiently integrate with existing elevator drives without increasing sensor count.
Innovation Solution
A safety system for elevators that includes a sensor unit generating a first signal format, a signal converter converting it to a second format compatible with a safety controller, and a safety controller determining emergency conditions based on the converted signal, reducing the need for additional sensors by integrating with existing elevator drive units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple general-purpose sensors and actuators are used for elevator safety systems, then the system can detect various parameters, but the device complexity and cost increase due to overlapping processing and control functions
Solution Approach 1:
The existing drive unit sensors are made multi-functional by adding a signal converter that enables them to serve both the drive unit and the safety controller. The sensor unit originally designed for drive control is adapted to provide safety monitoring functions through format conversion, eliminating the need for separate dedicated safety sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
A signal converter is introduced as an intermediary component between the sensor unit and the safety controller. This converter translates sensor signals from the first format (suitable for drive unit) to the second format (suitable for safety controller), enabling existing sensors to communicate safety-relevant information without requiring additional sensing hardware.
2Measurement precision
If separate sensors are used for each application in the elevator system, then specific measurement requirements are met, but the manufacturing cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor unit is designed with multi-functionality to serve both drive control and safety monitoring applications. By maintaining the original sensor configuration for precise measurement while adding a signal conversion layer, the system achieves dual purposes without requiring additional sensors or increasing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The signal format is changed rather than the physical sensor configuration. The signal converter transforms the electrical signal parameters (format, protocol) to make them compatible with different systems, allowing the same physical sensor to provide precise measurements for multiple applications without hardware modification.
3Device complexity
If existing elevator drive units are integrated with safety systems, then the number of sensors is reduced, but signal format compatibility issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The signal converter acts as an adaptable intermediary that handles format compatibility between the drive unit and safety controller. It receives signals in the first format from the drive unit sensor and converts them to the second format required by the safety controller, enabling seamless integration without modifying the existing sensors or controllers.
Data Source
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Figure 2A~2B
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AI summary
A safety system (50) of an elevator (100) provided herein may comprise a safety controller (10), a sensor unit (12) configured to generate a first sensor signal indicating a travelling parameter and to provide the first sensor signal to an elevator drive unit (30) of the elevator (100), and a signal converter (14) connected to the sensor unit (12) and configured to convert the first sensor signal into a second signal in a second format compatible with the safety controller (10) and to provide the second signal in the second format to the safety controller (10). The safety controller (10) may be configured to receive the second signal in the second format and to determine, based on the second signal, if there is an emergency condition.