Elevator Touchscreen Interface for Waiting Time and Car Occupancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator systems lack the ability to provide passengers with comprehensive information about waiting times and occupancy levels within the elevator car, limiting user experience and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An elevator operating device with a touch-sensitive screen system that displays graphical user interfaces, including a waiting time symbolization along the screen's circumference and occupancy levels, allowing passengers to input travel directions and receive additional information about elevator car status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional elevator operating devices with only up/down buttons are used, then the device complexity is low, but the user-friendliness and information provision are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (travel direction input, waiting time display, occupancy information) into a single integrated elevator operating device with a unified graphical user interface, eliminating the need for separate information devices while enhancing user-friendliness
Solution Approach 2:
The elevator operating device performs multiple functions: it serves as both a control device for inputting travel requests and an information display device showing waiting times and occupancy status, making it a universal device that replaces multiple specialized devices
2Loss of information
If additional information devices are added to provide waiting time and occupancy information, then the information provision is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the information display function into the existing elevator operating device, combining control functions and information provision in one device, thereby avoiding the need for additional separate information devices and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The elevator operating device is designed as a multi-functional device that both controls elevator calls and provides real-time information about waiting times and occupancy, eliminating the need for specialized information display devices
3Device complexity
If a single graphical user interface is used for both travel input and information display, then the device complexity is reduced, but the information clarity and user attention required may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The graphical user interface is segmented into distinct functional areas: a first area for travel direction input with intuitive symbols and a second area for information display showing waiting time and occupancy, allowing clear separation of functions while maintaining a unified interface design
Solution Approach 2:
Different areas of the graphical user interface are designed with distinct visual characteristics and information densities appropriate to their function, with the travel input area emphasizing simplicity and the information display area providing detailed real-time data
Data Source
AI summary
An elevator operating device for inputting a travel request on a floor of a building has a touch-sensitive screen system, which has a screen region that is visible to a passenger, and a central control device. The central control device controls the screen system in a first mode, to display a first graphical user interface, and in a second mode, to display a second graphical user interface. The first graphical user interface comprises one or two travel direction symbols. The second graphical user interface comprises an edge zone for symbolizing a waiting time until the elevator car arrives on the floor, and a center zone for symbolizing an occupancy of the elevator car by passengers, wherein a displayed degree of filling of the center zone symbolizes an occupancy of the elevator car.