Elevator Control Virtual Signal Generation for Door-Open Safety Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elevator apparatuses require an additional test mode to verify the function of preventing the car from starting under a door-open state, as they are not designed to be in this state, necessitating a masked operation circuit for normal operation mode testing.
Innovation Solution
An elevator apparatus with a virtual door-open/closed signal generation means and virtual car-position signal generation means allows for the simulation of a door-open state in test mode, enabling the verification of the function without actually bringing the car into a door-open state, by generating dummy signals to the means for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the elevator apparatus is designed to prevent the car from starting under a door-open state, then safety is improved, but the ability to test this function in normal operation is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a virtual door-open/closed signal generation means to create a simulated (copied) door-open state signal during testing. Instead of requiring the actual door to be open, the system generates a virtual signal that mimics the door-open condition, allowing the prevention function to be tested in normal operation without physical door opening. This copying approach resolves the contradiction by enabling safe testing while maintaining the safety function.
2Ease of operation
If an additional test mode is provided to verify the prevention function, then testing capability is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the test mode functionality into the existing normal operation mode by using a mode determination means that identifies whether the system is in test mode or normal operation mode. The virtual door-open/closed signal generation means is integrated into the existing control circuitry, and the prevention function operates under both modes using the same basic architecture. This merging approach improves testing capability without significantly increasing device complexity, as the same hardware serves dual purposes.
Data Source
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AI summary
An elevator apparatus includes: door opening/closing detection means (2, 3); car-position detection means (1) for detecting whether or not the car is present within a preset allowable range of car running under the door-open state; means (4) for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state, for determining a state in which the car starts under the door-open state to stop the car when at least one of the car door and the landing door is in the door-open state and the car position is out of the allowable range of car running under the door-open state, based on the results of detection by the door opening/closing detection means (2, 3) and the car-position detection means (1); and virtual-signal generation means (6, 7) for generating a virtual signal for virtually creating the state in which the car starts under the door-open state when being operated in a test mode, in which, when the means for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state determines the state in which the car starts under the door-open state based on the results of detection by the door opening/closing detection means (2, 3) and the car-position detection means (1) and in preferential consideration of the virtual signal generated by the virtual-signal generation means (6, 7) in the test mode, the means (4) for preventing the car from starting under the door-open stops a car (10).