Universal Digital Elevator Control Retrofit
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator control systems often have limitations due to their proprietary nature and high upgrade costs, restricting the ability to implement advanced digital controls and health monitoring systems across various existing elevator systems without significant complexity or expense.
Innovation Solution
A universal independent digital control system that can be easily installed on existing elevator systems, allowing for touchless operation via mobile devices, health monitoring, and integration with smart technologies to learn user preferences, while maintaining compatibility with diverse OEM systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If proprietary control systems are used in existing elevators, then the original manufacturer can maintain control over the system, but upgrade costs become prohibitively high and implementation of advanced digital controls is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device that interfaces between the existing elevator control system and digital communication networks. This intermediary enables advanced digital controls, health monitoring, and smart technology integration without requiring replacement of the original proprietary control system, thereby reducing upgrade costs while improving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed to be universal and multi-functional, capable of working with various OEM elevator systems while providing multiple functions including digital controls, health monitoring, and smart technology integration. This universality allows the system to adapt to different elevator platforms without requiring proprietary, system-specific solutions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If proprietary control systems are upgraded with advanced digital controls, then functionality is improved, but system complexity and installation difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into modular components: the existing elevator control system remains separate and unchanged, while the new digital control features are implemented through independent modules that interface with the original system. This segmentation reduces overall system complexity by maintaining clear boundaries between legacy and new functionalities.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary device serves as a bridge between the simple existing control system and the complex digital control requirements. This intermediary handles the complexity of digital communication, health monitoring, and smart technology integration internally, presenting a simplified interface to both the original system and end users.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing elevator systems are retrofitted with new control systems, then advanced features are enabled, but installation time and operational disruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediary device is designed to interface with existing elevator control systems without requiring extensive modifications to the original infrastructure. This approach enables touchless operation and other advanced features to be installed rapidly by connecting the intermediary to available system interfaces, minimizing installation time and operational disruption.
4Reliability
If comprehensive health monitoring is implemented in elevator systems, then system reliability is improved, but data processing requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The health monitoring system implements continuous feedback loops that monitor elevator system parameters and provide real-time diagnostics. This feedback mechanism enables proactive maintenance and reliability improvement by detecting potential issues before they cause failures, while the intermediary device processes and analyzes the data efficiently to minimize information loss and processing load.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of systems and methods for digital control of elevator and other access gateways are described herein. More specifically, embodiments comprise systems and methods for retrofitting or outfitting elevator systems with digital control systems that can be universally applied to virtually every manufacturer's elevator systems.