CA2313916A1 - Lift installation - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a lift installation with at least one lift cage (1) and a lift door (2, 3), wherein the lift door (2, 3) is constructed as a display surface (5), especially as a projection surface, for the representation of items of information of general kind. The lift door consists of a cage door (2) and a shaft door (3). An image is projected onto the shaft door (3) by a projector (4); a part of the surface of the shaft door (3) thus serves as a projection surface. The projector (4) is positioned in the vicinity of the ceiling (7) of a storey in front of the shaft access. The apparatus (4) is preferably mounted as close as possible, in compact manner, to the projection surface. Through a special optical system and a computer-assisted image distortion an image of good quality is produced even in the case of an extremely oblique projection at a small angle w. The observer of the information can stand at a spacing of about one metre in front of the projection surface without disturbing the projection.

Description

Lift Installation The invention proceeds from a lift installation with at least one lift cage and a lift door.
The time which a lift user spends in the lobby or on a storey waiting for a lift or spends in the cage during the journey is lost time. In order to use this time more effectively, it was proposed, for example in patent specification DE 195 13 390 or in patent specification CH
676 707, to display various items of information, for example with the help of monitors, on the storeys or in the cage.
The reproduction of films or generally of dynamic items of information in that case takes place by means of quite expensive display devices such as flat picture monitors, which are usually controlled from the machine room.
Means for the reproduction of static or dynamic items of information such as, for example, monitors, flat picture screens, television picture screens, placards, panels, etc., have to be specially positioned for that purpose at suitable locations of the lift installation and the building and require construction space. For the installing of such means, extra specific places of the lift installation and the building have to be crated and, moreover, can be used only for this purpose.
At a time where it is increasingly sought to save space above all in the field of lifts (cf, for example, lifts without machine rooms), it is certainly not of advantage to provide and reserve additional areas only for a single purpose.
If a lift user waits for a lift cage or has to activate the reservation of the cage, he or she normally stands in front of the lift door. In order to look at the items of information which are, for example, displayed at the wall near the lift door, he or she is obliged to take his or her view away from the lift door. That means that the attention of the lift user is for a while concentrated outside the lift door. This situation could have the consequence that the user overlooks the arrival of the lift or does not actuate the call button in time after the lift becomes free and he or she misses the lift.
The lift installation according to the invention with the at least one wall of the lift cage and/or at least one lift door, which is or are constructed for the representation of variable items of information, thereagainst has the advantage that the communication of information is space-saving and causes no undesired additional loss of time for users of the lifts and that static and/or dynamic items of information can be displayed in simple and inexpensive manner.
In this invention, there are denoted as variable items of information also, for example, static items of information which are displayed only at times, for example by switching on and switching off the projection apparatus.
Advantageous developments and improvements of the lift installation indicated in claim 1 are possible by the measures expressed in the dependent claims.
Particularly advantageous is the use of the shaft andlor cage door as projection surface, because the conventionally unused area takes over an additional useful function in this constructional execution.
A further advantage is to be seen in that a projection apparatus, especially a multi-media projector, is provided, by means of which an oblique projection, i.e. a projection at a small projection angle, can be realised. It is achieved by this form of embodiment that the viewer of the information surface is no longer disposed in the projection path if he or she stands too close to the projection surface.
All explained features are usable not only in the respectively indicated combination, but also in other combinations or alone without departing from the scope of the invention.
Different embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the schematic drawings and more closely explained in the following. There:
Fig. 1 shows a lateral sectional view of a first embodiment of the lift installation according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows a front view of the form of embodiment according to Figure 1, Fig. 3 shows a lateral sectional view of a second embodiment of the lift installation according to the invention, Fig. 4 shows a lateral sectional view of a third embodiment of the lift installation according to the invention, Fig. 5 shows a lateral sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the lift installation according to the invention, Fig. 6 shows an example of a projected image in the arrangement according to Fig. 5, Fig. 7 shows an illustration of the projection and the projector of the lift installation according to the invention, Fig. 7a shows a basic illustration of an aspect of the distortion, Fig. 8 shows an example of an entire program sequence of the projection, Fig, 9 shows a detail illustration of the lamp control from Fig. 8 and Fig. 10 shows a front view of a fifth embodiment of the lift installation according to the invention.
In Figs. 1 and 2 there is illustrated a lift cage 1 of a lift installation with a cage door 2, which is located on a storey, for example of a commercial building, opposite a corresponding shaft door 3. An image is projected by a projector onto the shaft door 3; a part of the surface of the shaft door thus serves as a projection surface 5.
According to the respective setting of the components, power and size of the projector 4, the entire shaft door could also be used as projection surface 5. In the embodiment according to Fig. 1, the projector 4 is positioned in the vicinity of the ceiling 7 of a storey 8 in front of the shaft access. Preferably, the apparatus 4 is to be mounted as close as possible, in compact manner, to the projection surface 5 so that the projection is possible even in small and narrow spaces.
Thanks to a special lens and a computer-controlled image distortion the projector 5 can project at a small projection angle w onto a vertical projection surface 5 items of information which can be read well and are clearly recognisable, such as, for example, slide transparencies, films, written data, pictures, designs, surface structures, data on systems for getting about the building, communications from the persons running the building, etc. An extremely oblique projection is thus made possible by this apparatus 4.
The projection angle w, i.e. the acute angle between the vertical axis A of the projection surface 5 and the beam path to the centre of the projection surface 5, coinciding in Fig. 1 with the longitudinal axis B of the projector, can preferably be selected to be smaller than 45 degrees and, in a preferred embodiment, amounts to 23 degrees. It is readily apparent that with this oblique projection lift users who are waiting in front of a lift door for the lift no longer stand in the middle of the projection beam if they find themselves too near to the projection surface. The viewers of the information can stand at, for example, a spacing of about one metre in front of the projection surface without disturbing the projection.
Moreover, they can view the information comfortably and read it well.
Since the information is projected directly at the shaft door, the lift user can read the information without having to deflect his or her view from the shaft door. In this manner and due to the opening of the lift door, i.e. opening of the display surface, he or she will not overlook the arrival of the lift.
By these measures there is used, as display surface, a normal lift component which on the one hand does not lose its main function and on the other hand takes over a further useful function. Thus, an additional surface is not needed for representation of the information, but there is simply better use made of that which is already present in every lift.
In the drawings there is shown only projection onto the shaft door; it is, however, clear that projection is possible in the same manner and with the same advantages within the lift cage 1, on the walls andlor on the cage door 2. In this case, too, the cage space is utilised in rational manner without being obliged to hang placards, panels, etc., or to mount monitors on the walls. If a wall or a cage door is not used as a projection surface, it can be used without problems for other purposes.
The projector 4 may in principle be positioned anywhere. Advantageously, it is arranged centrally or laterally, above or below the lift door at a short spacing from the projection surface. With the arrangement of Fig. 1, the oblique projection takes place by a projection beam oriented directly onto the projection surface.
The oblique projection can, moreover, also be realised in indirect manner with the assistance of auxiliary measures, for example with the assistance of a deflecting mirror 11.

5 These embodiments are given in Figures 3 to 5.
In Fig. 3 the projector 4 is inserted into the shaft wall 9 and is so oriented that its longitudinal axis B stands perpendicularly to the vertical axis A of the shaft door 3. The projector 4 projects the information onto a mirror 11, which is disposed opposite thereto and inclined relative to the vertical and which in turn deflects the information to the shaft door.
Several positioning/installation variants of the projector 4 are possible according to the respective setting of the mirror 11 in relation to the lift door (2, 3) and the projector (4). The projector 4 could also be inserted directly into the door frame 10 of the lift doors.
In Fig. 4 the projector 4 is fastened, for example, above the door in a corner between ceiling 7 and shaft wall 9 of a storey and its longitudinal axis is parallel to the vertical axis of the door. By means of a mirror 11 inclined in a direction other than that in Fig. 3, an oblique projection onto the door can be produced here too.
In Fig. 5 the projector and the deflecting mirror are so arranged that, with minimal spacing between mirror 11 and shaft door 3, an oblique projection comes about onto approximately the whole surface of the shaft door. Through an optimal setting of the projector 4 and the mirror 11 in front of the projection surface the spacing between mirror 11 and shaft wall 9 amounts to at most 400 millimetres, in the embodiment 340 millimetres.
Apart from the described forms of embodiment, all conceivable variants of installation are possible, wherein the projector can be inserted inside or outside the existing building structure of the lift installation and accordingly can be covered well and discretely in compact manner without large expenditure, for example with the aid of a small cover panel 12 matching the overall building architecture.
Fig. 6 shows how an image M appears on the lift door in the special arrangement according to Fig. 5. In this case a strip 6 of about 10 centimetres is not illuminated at the door upper edge. As already stated, the entire surface of the lift door can be illuminated with other arrangements of the projector, the deflecting mirror or the optical relationships.
It is further apparent from Fig. 6 how by projection of different items of information, such as, for example, pictures, designs, surface structures, the design of the shaft doors or cage doors of the cage as well as the shaft walls could, for example, be periodically changed.
By the projection of different surface structures, the impression can be given, for example, that the lift door consists of wood, stainless steel, etc. Experiments have shown that it is possible to change the appearance of doors painted light grey or white even in daylight.
Thus, apart from the representation of pictures, also designs and surface structures are visible well. The design can be adapted in dependence on the wishes of the lift operator or lift user. That can take place, for example, automatically, manually or by remote control.
Thus, it would be conceivable that by this technique entire floor regions or shaft regions could be adapted, without cost, to the time of day or year.
In Fig. 7 there is shown a schematic illustration of the projection onto a projection surface 5 according to a further embodiment of the invention, from which the essential components of a projector 4 and the elements, which co-operate therewith, for carrying out the projection are recognisable. The objective is denoted by 13 and a receiving device for processed images by 14. The projector is controlled by the control unit 15 with the assistance of a timer 16, an infrared sensor 17 and a sensor 18 for recognition of the door movement. The timer 16 and the infrared sensor 17 serve the purpose of actuating a time-dependent or manual switching onward of the images.
The oblique projection is effected by a system in which three components are matched to one another and optimised. The three components are:
- the geometric arrangement of the projector 4 and projection surface 5, - the optical system with the objective 13, - the electronically processed items of information, for example pictures.
Through the special optical system that is used, i.e. through the objective 13 which is equipped with a special lens and which has a focal width matched to the geometric relationships, and a processing, which is dependent on geometric and optical parameters, of the images in a computer, a distorted image of high quality in optical respects and in brightness values is generated on the projection surface. Through a specific arrangement of the optical elements of the projector and an electronic processing of the information for artificial distortion thereof an oblique projection with a small angle w can thus be realised, by which the items of information of high quality can be displayed.
Whether a deflection of the light by a mirror 11 takes place or has to take place depends solely on the possibilities of mounting of the projector.
The principle of the distortion is schematically described by reference to Fig. 7a. The preliminary distortion is effected by electronic, preferably digital preliminary processing of the information material in a computer. A light source is denoted by LQ and an image original by BV. In the case of projection of the image original onto the display surface a strongly distorted image is normally produced without special modifications in the optical system. In order to correct this disadvantage, a special optical system and an electronic preliminary distortion of the images are employed.
The preliminary distortion and special lens have in principle three different effects:
- the image original BV is geometrically distorted in that the projected remote regions are laterally compressed in the direction P relative to the focal line BL1 closest to the projector, - the lateral wedges Z, which are produced by the ray path and contain no items of image information, are covered, - the light transmissibility of the image original BV increases from the focal line BL1 closest to the projector to the focal line BL2 furthest from the projector by the square of the distance, so that the light intensity remains the same over the entire projection surface.
For the sake of simplicity the focal lines are marked in Fig. 7a by straight lines, although in reality they are curved.
As projection surfaces there can preferably be used walls or doors of lift installations, which are, for example, painted light grey or white. Expediently, smooth surfaces are preferred. That means no active components are needed at the door and/or at the wall, but merely a suitable surface structure and surface colour.
Various lamps with different outputs can be used for the projector 4 according to the respective purpose, for example 150 watt or 250 watt halogen lamps or conventional lamps.
Flow charts of possible program sequences of the projection are illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. An entire program sequence is shown in Fig. 8. At the start 19 of the projection a first image is put in in step 20 and projected in step 21. If a preset time has elapsed, i.e. step 22, the next image is switched over to, i.e. step 23, and the process continues at step 21.
During the preset time an image can be selected by remote control in step 24 and put in in step 25, the process then being concluded in step 27 by projection of the image. If it is not desired to select the image in step 24 by remote control, the process continues with step 22.
In Fig. 9 there is illustrated a flow chart which shows a possible program sequence in relation to the light intensity of the projector lamp during closing and opening of the lift door. In step 28 it is checked whether the door is closed. In the case of the negative, the process is repeated. In the other case, the projection lamp radiates with full light intensity, i.e. step 29, up to the instant at which the door is opened, i.e. step 30.
When the door is opened, the lamp radiates with reduced light intensity, i.e. step 31, and the process can then continue at step 28.
Fig. 10 shows the embodiment in which, for reproduction of the information, a flat image screen 32 integrated in the lift door 3 constructed as display surface /
projection surface, is used. Instead of flat image screens, other display means can also be used, such as, for example, conventional image screens, monitors and television picture screens, but also thin foils radiated through from behind.
The communication of information according to the invention finds use with shaft doors, cage doors and cage walls, but also with other advertising surfaces in fields distinct from lifts.

Claims (9)

1. Lift installation with at least one lift cage and a lift door, wherein at least one wall of the lift cage and/or at least one lift door is constructed as a display surface of the representation of variable items of information.

2. Lift installation according to patent claim 1, characterised in that the display surface is a projection surface.

3. Lift installation according to patent claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the lift door comprises a cage door or a shaft door, wherein the display surface is at least a part of the surface of the cage door or shaft door.

4. Lift installation according to one of patent claims 1 to 3, characterised in that at least one equipment for transmission of the items of information to the display surface is provided and is, for example, a projector.

5. Lift installation according to patent claim 4, characterised in that the projector comprises means to enable an oblique projection onto the projection surface at an acute angle.

6. Lift installation according to patent claim 5, characterised in that the said means consist of a special lens and a computer-assisted unit for distortion of the items of information in order to shorten the projection angle and to project items of information onto the projection surface.

7. Lift installation according to patent claim 4, characterised in that the equipment for transmission of the items of information to the lift door constructed as a projection surface comprises a video apparatus, a compact disc drive or a television apparatus, wherein flat picture screens or foils integrated in the lift door are provided for the reproduction of the items of information.

8. Equipment for oblique projection, especially for lift installations, characterised in that distorted items of information can be projected by a special lens and a computer-controlled unit onto a projection surface at an acute angle.

9. Equipment for oblique projection according to patent claim 8, characterised in that it is constructed as a multi-media projector.