Self-Powered Elevator Floor Panels Without Power Cabling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of numerous floor control and information panels in elevator systems is costly due to the need for extensive cabling to connect them to a central power supply and control system.
Innovation Solution
A human-machine interface for elevators that generates its own electrical power using local energy sources, such as kinetic, thermal, or electromagnetic energy, and stores it for use, eliminating the need for external power cables and enabling wireless communication with the elevator control system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If floor control panels and floor information panels are connected via cables to a central power supply, then reliable power supply and signal transmission are achieved, but installation effort and material costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The floor control panel generates its own electrical energy through the energy conversion unit (wind turbine) and stores it in the electricity storage unit, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for external power cables and central power supply connections
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable-based power transmission system with an autonomous energy generation system using a wind turbine and battery storage, eliminating the need for physical cable connections to the central power supply
2Reliability
If numerous cables are installed to connect floor panels to central control system, then signal transmission and power supply are ensured, but material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The floor control panel becomes self-powered through on-site energy conversion and storage, eliminating the need for extensive cable infrastructure and reducing material requirements for cables, connectors, and wiring infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the power supply function from the central system and relocates it to the local floor panel through integrated energy conversion and storage units, eliminating the need for power transmission cables
3Duration of action of stationary object
If traditional cable-based power supply is used, then consistent electrical energy supply is achieved, but installation time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The floor control panel autonomously generates and stores electrical energy, providing consistent power supply without requiring complex cabling infrastructure or central power supply connections
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the power supply system from the central control system by integrating energy conversion and storage units directly at each floor panel, creating independent modular units that eliminate cabling complexity
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
Significantly reduces installation and maintenance costs by eliminating the need for power and signal cables, while maintaining reliable operation through energy-efficient components and wireless communication.
Implementation Method 1
The energy conversion unit is configured to convert non-electrical energy available in the immediate vicinity of the human-machine interface, such as mechanical energy, into electrical energy
Implementation Method 2
The generator is designed to convert at least some of the kinetic energy into electrical energy. For this purpose, for example, magnetic fields rotating with the shaft can be used in the generator to induce electric currents in coils
Implementation Method 3
The electricity storage unit is configured to store the electrical energy converted by the energy conversion unit
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A description is given of a human/machine interface (1) in the form of a floor operating panel (65) or a floor information panel (63) for a lift installation (51). The human/machine interface (1) has: - an interaction unit (3) that is configured, in response to actuation by a passenger (95), to generate input signals and/or to output output signals in a manner able to be perceived by the passenger (95); - a communication unit (5) that is configured to transmit the input signals to a lift controller (59) and/or to receive the output signals from the lift controller (59); and - a supply unit (7) that is configured to supply electrical energy to the interaction unit (3) and the communication unit (5); wherein the supply unit (7) has an energy conversion unit (23) and an electricity storage unit (25), wherein the energy conversion unit (23) is configured to convert kinetic energy available in the immediate surroundings of the human/machine interface (1) into electrical energy, and wherein the electricity storage unit (25) is configured to store the electrical energy converted by the energy conversion unit (23). The human/machine interface (1) is able to operate with energy autonomy, that is to say without a supply cable to a central power supply.