Modular Voice-Control Elevator Retrofit With CAN Relay Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing voice-controlled elevator systems are impractical due to the varied needs of each building, leading to wasteful one-size-fits-all designs or expensive custom builds, and lack a modular approach to accommodate different building sizes and elevator complexities.
Innovation Solution
A modular apparatus with main boards and auxiliary output relay boards connected via a CAN bus, allowing for retrofitting any conventional elevator system, featuring identically fabricated main boards and expandable auxiliary boards to accommodate varying elevator operations, enabling voice control without extensive wiring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a one-size-fits-all voice-controlled elevator system is produced, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the system includes wasteful unused functionality for buildings with fewer floors
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into modular components: a base unit with essential voice recognition functionality and optional expansion modules that can be added based on building requirements. This segmentation allows the manufacturer to produce standardized base units at low cost while enabling customers to add only the functionality they need, eliminating waste of unused features.
Solution Approach 2:
The base unit is designed with universal functionality that can serve buildings of any size through optional expansions. The system can adapt to different building configurations by adding modules, making a single product design suitable for multiple应用场景 without manufacturing waste.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom-built voice-controlled elevator systems are produced for each building, then system adaptability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the system into standardized modular components, each building can be customized through selective assembly of modules rather than custom manufacturing. This maintains adaptability while using standardized parts to control manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a nested modular architecture where expansion modules can be added to or removed from the base unit. This allows the system to be scaled and adapted to different building requirements while maintaining a standardized core design that can be mass-produced.
3Reliability
If extensive wiring is used to connect voice control components, then system reliability is improved, but installation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces extensive physical wiring with wireless communication technology to connect voice recognition components with the elevator control system. This substitution maintains system reliability through robust wireless protocols while dramatically reducing installation complexity and cost.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If voice control functionality is added to existing elevators, then operational safety is improved by reducing contact, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retrofittable system is divided into independent modular units that can be installed separately in existing elevators. This modular approach adds voice control functionality without requiring complete system replacement, thereby improving safety while minimizing the increase in overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary communication interface that integrates with existing elevator control systems without requiring deep modifications. This intermediary layer adds voice control functionality while maintaining compatibility with legacy systems, limiting the increase in complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for retrofitting an elevator system to enable voice control includes a first main board installable within an elevator adjacent to an elevator button panel and two or more additional main boards installable on respective floors adjacent to respective elevator call panels, each of the main boards having a microphone circuit, a plurality of onboard output relays, and a processor operable to select an output relay in response to a voice command received by the microphone circuit and to output a signal to the selected output relay. One or more auxiliary output relay boards are installable within the elevator adjacent to the elevator button panel, each having a plurality of additional output relays selectable by the processor of the first main board. A controller area network (CAN) bus connects the first main board to the one or more auxiliary output relay boards.