Touch-Sensitive Destination Call Device for Elevator Floor Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing elevator systems face inefficiencies in destination call input, including slow operation, high error rates due to decimal numeric keypads, poor information provision to users, and limitations in handling three-digit floor numbers, especially in high-rise buildings and portable devices.

Innovation Solution

A touch-sensitive destination call-giving device with a sliding indicator that allows users to select floors by moving a touching point in opposite directions on a display, enabling quick and simple floor selection, reducing errors, and accommodating access control, suitable for both large and small displays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a decimal numeric keypad is used for floor selection, then any floor number can be entered, but the operation becomes slow and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefloor number input capabilityVSAvoidfloor selection speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The floor selection interface is segmented into individual floor buttons arranged vertically, each representing a specific floor. This allows users to select floors by simply tapping the corresponding button rather than sequentially entering multiple digits, dramatically reducing selection time while maintaining the ability to access any floor in the building.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

All possible floor options are prepared and displayed in advance on the interface. The system pre-arranges floor buttons in sequential order, so users can directly select their destination without performing any calculation or sequential digit entry, thereby eliminating delays associated with manual number composition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If a decimal numeric keypad is used for floor selection, then any floor number can be entered, but errors increase due to incorrect keying

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefloor number input capabilityVSAvoidfloor selection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The floor selection interface is segmented into individual floor buttons arranged vertically, each representing a specific floor. This allows users to select floors by simply tapping the corresponding button rather than sequentially entering multiple digits, dramatically reducing selection time while maintaining the ability to access any floor in the building.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides visual feedback by highlighting or indicating the currently selected floor button. This immediate feedback mechanism allows users to verify their selection before confirmation, preventing erroneous floor selections and enabling quick correction of mistakes without system errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If information about destination floor is provided only after entry, then security is maintained, but user experience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess control securityVSAvoiddestination floor information availability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system displays all available floor options and their corresponding information (such as floor numbers and names) in advance on the interface, allowing users to review and confirm their destination selection before actual elevator dispatch. This preliminary information provision enhances user experience while access control security is maintained through the requirement of explicit user confirmation or authentication for actual floor access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2917141B1Call-giving device, elevator system, method and computer program product
Publication Date: 2021.06.16 KONE OYJ
  • EP2917141B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2917141B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a destination call-giving device (1) for giving destination calls in an elevator system, which comprises means available to a user for selecting a destination floor from a plurality of floors that are in a certain sequence, and an output for communicating the selected destination floor to the control system of the elevator system, which means for selecting a destination floor comprise a touch-sensitive display (3) forming a user interface for presenting to the user information related to the selection of a destination floor and for receiving the input of the user. The destination floor is arranged to be selectable by the user from the aforementioned plurality of floors by moving a touch-sensitive point on a touch-sensitive display (3). The invention also relates to an elevator system, and to a method for giving a destination call, and to a computer program product.