Microperforated Elevator Door Indicator with Dynamic Lighting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional elevator systems lack an effective and user-friendly floor indicator that provides clear and intuitive information about the current location and direction of the elevator car, often relying on static and less visible indicators that can be prone to contamination and vandalism.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a dynamic floor indicator in the door leaf, featuring a microperforated indicator sector with light passage openings and actuatable light sources, which displays floor information and direction, ensuring visibility and durability while being vandal-proof and easy to clean.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a static floor indicator is used in the door leaf, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the visibility and user guidance are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of floor indicatorVSAvoidcomplexity of indicator system

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The floor indicator is transformed from a static display to a dynamic illuminated system. The door leaf incorporates actuatable light sources (LEDs or OLEDs) that can be selectively activated to display different floor numbers and direction indicators, enabling the indicator to change its visual output based on elevator position and movement direction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The indicator system utilizes different colors to convey different types of information. Blue LEDs/OLEDs display the current floor number, green LEDs/OLEDs indicate upward movement direction, and red LEDs/OLEDs indicate downward movement direction. This color-coding system provides intuitive visual guidance to users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Illumination intensity

If a transparent or open indicator sector is used, then the floor information is visible, but the surface is prone to contamination by dust and vandalism

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of floor indicatorVSAvoidcontamination and vandalism resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A transparent cover film is applied over the indicator sector to protect the light sources and display surface. This thin film barrier prevents dust accumulation and makes the surface vandal-proof while maintaining optical transparency, allowing the illuminated floor indicator to remain visible and legible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The indicator sector is designed with microperforations that allow controlled light transmission while creating a surface that is inherently resistant to contamination. The microperforated structure prevents dust buildup by allowing air flow and makes the surface easy to clean, converting the potential harm of an open surface into a benefit of self-cleaning properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If the door leaf is made opaque for fire safety, then fire safety requirements are met, but the indicator visibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire safety complianceVSAvoidvisibility of floor indicator

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The solution moves the light sources to another dimension - placing them behind the door leaf surface rather than on it. This allows the door leaf material itself to maintain its fire safety properties while the hidden light sources illuminate the floor indicator information through the transparent cover film, separating the safety function from the display function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides a visually advantageous and safe user interface, offering intuitive guidance and meeting stringent fire safety requirements, with the microperforation preventing contamination and allowing for easy maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

The microperforated indicator sector comprises a plurality of light passage openings with such small dimensions that they are barely visually perceptible at least at a distance of a few meters from the elevator user if the floor indicator is not activated or is in the idle state

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight transmission through microperforations: Porosity

Data Source

PatentUS12139373B2Elevator system

Publication Date: 2024.11.12 INVENTIO AG

AI summary

A landing door of an elevator system includes a door leaf equipped with an integrated floor indicator that signals to a person the floor on which an elevator car approaching the exit floor is currently located. The door leaf of the landing door has a wall element made of sheet metal with a microperforated indicator sector and actuatable light sources arranged in the indicator sector behind the wall element to form the floor indicator.