Elevator Touchscreen Control for Direction and Destination Calls

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing elevator control systems struggle to adapt to diverse building-specific requirements, such as varying traffic volumes and elevator call types, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

An elevator control unit with a bus interface, memory unit, and display system that allows for on-site configuration of either direction call or destination call modes, using a touchscreen for intuitive selection and communication via a bus-independent interface to adapt to different elevator systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If different control technologies (up/down direction control and destination call control) are used in the same building, then building-specific requirements can be met, but device complexity and installation costs increase due to requiring two types of control devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to meet building-specific requirementsVSAvoidnumber of control device types

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The elevator control device is designed with a touchscreen display that can operate in multiple modes (up/down direction control mode and destination call control mode). The control device includes a processor that can execute different software configurations to provide either up/down direction control or destination call control functionality, allowing a single universal device to replace multiple specialized devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The control device allows dynamic switching between different operating modes (up/down direction control and destination call control) based on building requirements. The touchscreen interface and underlying software can be reconfigured to change the control mode, enabling the device to adapt its functionality rather than being fixed to a single mode.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If a single control device supports both up/down direction control and destination call control modes, then device versatility improves, but ease of operation may deteriorate due to mode switching and configuration complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle both control typesVSAvoiduser interface simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control device allows dynamic switching between different operating modes (up/down direction control and destination call control) based on building requirements. The touchscreen interface and underlying software can be reconfigured to change the control mode, enabling the device to adapt its functionality rather than being fixed to a single mode.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control device includes automated mode detection and switching capabilities. The processor can automatically determine the appropriate control mode based on configuration data or operational context, reducing the need for manual user configuration and simplifying operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If multiple specialized control devices are installed, then each device can be optimized for its specific function, but installation costs and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunction-specific optimizationVSAvoidinstallation costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The elevator control device is designed with a touchscreen display that can operate in multiple modes (up/down direction control mode and destination call control mode). The control device includes a processor that can execute different software configurations to provide either up/down direction control or destination call control functionality, allowing a single universal device to replace multiple specialized devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines previously separate control functions (up/down direction control and destination call control) into a single integrated control device. The touchscreen interface and processor work together to provide both control modes, consolidating what were previously separate hardware devices into one unified system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4547590B1Elevator and elevator control devices for different modes of operation

Publication Date: 2025.12.17 INVENTIO AG

Figure 1~2C
Figure 3A~4
Figure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to an elevator operating device (4), having a bus interface device (30), a memory device (32), a screen system (5, 37) and a control device (50). The storage device (32) stores configuration data and electronic instructions for selectable operating modes of the elevator operating device (4), wherein a first operating mode is designed for processing an elevator call that specifies a direction of travel and a second operating mode is designed for processing an elevator call that specifies a destination floor. The screen system is designed to depict a graphic user surface (36) on a touch-sensitive screen (5). The control device (50) is designed to read the configuration data and the electronic instructions for a selected operating mode from the memory device (32) and to operate the elevator operating device (4) according to the selected operating mode.