CN116323464A - System and method for operation of elevators and other devices - Google Patents

Abstract

Embodiments of a system and method for digitally controlling elevators and other access portals are described herein. More specifically, embodiments include systems and methods for retrofitting or assembling an elevator system with a digital control system that can be universally applied to elevator systems of virtually every manufacturer.

Description

System and method for operation of elevators and other devices

Technical Field

The present invention relates to systems and methods for operation of an elevator or other user access portal.

Cross Reference to Related Applications

The present application claims priority to and incorporates in its entirety each of the following: U.S. provisional patent application 63/0523,386 filed on 7/15/2020; U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 17/063729 filed on 10/6/2020; U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 17/228739, filed on day 13 of 4 of 2021; U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 17/228744, filed on day 13 of 4 of 2021; patent cooperation treaty patent application serial number PCT/US20/66679 filed on 12/22 2020.

Drawings

The following drawings and descriptions are provided to facilitate further description of the embodiments and should not be construed as limiting in any way. The drawings do not illustrate every embodiment of the present invention. Like elements are similarly numbered with reference to the figures.

Fig. 1.A.1 through 1.E.2 illustrate several examples of a universal digital control system according to one or more alternative embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a generic interface device in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a user mobile device display in accordance with one or more embodiments.

Fig. 4.a1-4.c2 illustrate several examples of generic floor arrangements in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a general device in accordance with one or more embodiments.

Fig. 6 illustrates an example of a universal digital control system in accordance with one or more embodiments, including as may be related to the embodiments shown in fig. 1. A.1-1. A.3 in some embodiments.

Fig. 7 illustrates an example of a universal digital control system in accordance with one or more embodiments, including as may be related to the embodiments shown in fig. 1.C.1 and 1.C.2 in some embodiments.

Fig. 8 illustrates an example of a universal digital control system in accordance with one or more embodiments, including as may be related to the embodiments shown in fig. 1. B.1-1. B.3 in some embodiments.

Fig. 9 illustrates an example of a universal digital control system in accordance with one or more embodiments, including as may be related to the embodiments shown in fig. 1.D.1 and 1.D.2 in some embodiments.

Fig. 10 illustrates an example of a universal digital control system in accordance with one or more embodiments, including as may be related to the embodiments shown in fig. 1.e.1 and 1.e.2 in some embodiments.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a universal digital control system that is employed to facilitate access control to one or more spaces.

Detailed Description

The present invention addresses several needs related to elevator and other portal access operations, as well as new and useful improvements in elevator and other portal access operations. Elevator systems are used worldwide and can be embodied in a range from very basic to highly advanced control systems. Increasingly expanding digital controls and digital interfaces provide many advantages to elevator users as well as elevator owners (e.g., owners of buildings having one or more elevator systems). However, there are inherently many limitations in worldwide installed elevator control systems-most elevator control systems include only very basic control systems. Some significant limitations are the technical limits of many installed elevator systems limited to the original control system of the elevator and/or the high cost limitations of upgrades to the proprietary control system of the original elevator control system manufacturer.

Thus, there is a need for a universally applicable digital retrofit or upgrade of elevator control systems that can be easily applied to a wide range of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) sourced elevator control systems and non-OEM sourced elevator control systems without incurring too much cost or complexity in equipment, installation and operation, while also providing a robust platform for future enhancements and advances in control systems. Furthermore, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention, there is a need for a digital control pack and assembly for newly created elevators. Furthermore, a separate elevator system health monitoring and reporting system is needed.

Aspects of certain embodiments of the present invention provide a "universal" independent elevator digital control system that can be inexpensively supplied and easily installed on virtually all existing elevator systems without compromising the underlying machinery and safe operation of the elevator system. Aspects of the invention may also be applied to new elevator installations or extensions and other digital portal control systems.

Additionally, aspects of certain embodiments of the invention provide that the universal independent control system, once installed, can be configured to operate in conjunction with the mobile telephone or other electronic device of the elevator user so that the elevator user can call the elevator and select a destination floor and be transported by the elevator via the user's mobile telephone (or other electronic device) without having to physically touch any input components of the elevator (separate from actually entering and riding the elevator). In the same manner, the user can communicate other commands or instructions to the elevator system, such as "close door", "keep door open", "stop elevator travel", etc., via the mobile phone or other electronic device, signaling an "alarm" and/or other typical elevator commands or instructions. In addition, data, messages, instructions, and other information from the general control system can be communicated or supplied to the user's mobile phone or other electronic device on which it can be displayed, prompting for user input, and/or sounding an audio signal or voice to facilitate use of the invention by disabled persons, and/or otherwise on the mobile phone or other electronic device. Further discussion of the non-contact control aspects of the universal control system will be presented below.

In some embodiments, some or all of the components of the system can employ intelligent technology to learn and automatically select user preferences (such as floor destinations) when the system detects the user's mobile phone. Various embodiments of the present system can alternatively include or omit various components, including as shown in some combinations of components shown herein.

Aspects of the invention may include a stand-alone system for upgrading an existing elevator system in a structure, wherein the existing elevator system comprises: a plurality of first floor devices, wherein individual first floor devices are positioned on respective floors of the structure, and each first floor device is configured to receive elevator passenger call input; a first elevator car control input panel at least one first elevator vertical position sensing system; an elevator controller that: receiving a signal corresponding to a passenger call input from a first floor device, receiving a signal corresponding to a passenger floor destination input from a car control input panel, and controlling travel and safe operation of an elevator; and a first communication system providing communication between the plurality of first floor devices and the elevator controller; and wherein the independent system is configured to receive signals corresponding to the passenger elevator call input and the passenger floor designation input and comprises: a plurality of second floor devices, wherein individual ones of the second floor devices are positioned on respective floors of the structure and configured to receive elevator passenger call inputs; an independent control assembly (referred to in some embodiments as a control device) in functional communication with the elevator controller, the second floor device, and the elevator vertical position sensing system and configured to: processing the received signals corresponding to the elevator passenger call input, the passenger floor destination input, and the elevator vertical position data, and generating an elevator car travel distance based on the processed signals; and generating command signals for transmission to the elevator controller to cause the elevator controller to provide elevator car service conforming to the generated travel distance of the elevator car; and dispatching the generated command signal to be transmitted to the elevator controller; and an independent interface assembly configured to trim command signals dispatched from the independent control assembly such that the trimmed command signals mimic signals received by the elevator controller from the first floor device and the car control input panel; and wherein the independent system is further configured such that the trimmed assigned command signal is transmitted to the elevator controller. In some embodiments, the control assembly (sometimes referred to as a "control device") may include and/or consist of a universal independent control device (as described herein). In some embodiments, the universal independent control device may include and/or consist of a control component (or control device).

Aspects of the invention may also include an independent system in which an elevator controller maintains direct control of travel and safe operation of an elevator car (including a control commonly referred to as a "safety chain control"), but also directs operation of the elevator car in response to command signals delivered to the elevator controller from an independent control assembly. Aspects of the invention may include a stand-alone system wherein at least one of the second floor devices is configured to receive a passenger service call request from an elevator passenger mobile phone. Aspects of the invention may also include a stand alone system further comprising a second elevator car device attached to the elevator car and configured to receive passenger floor destination input from the elevator passenger mobile phone. In some embodiments, the passenger floor destination input may be received by one or more second floor devices, including in some embodiments even before the passenger enters the elevator car.

Aspects of the invention can also include a second communication system that provides functional signal communication between the independent control assembly, each of the second floor arrangements, the second elevator car arrangement, and the independent interface assembly. In some embodiments, the second communication system may provide functional signal communication between each of the second floor devices, the second elevator car device, and the independent control component without utilizing the first communication system. Aspects of the invention may include a self-contained system further comprising a second elevator car vertical position sensing system in functional communication with a self-contained control assembly, and wherein the self-contained control assembly processes data from the second elevator car vertical position sensing system in generating an elevator car travel distance. Further aspects can include wherein the second communication system provides functional signal communication between the second elevator car vertical position sensing system and the independent control assembly without utilizing the first communication system.

Aspects of the invention may also include an independent system wherein at least one second floor device includes an independent control assembly. Aspects of the invention can also include an independent system wherein the second elevator car apparatus includes an independent control assembly. Aspects of the invention may also include a stand-alone system wherein the stand-alone control assembly is operatively connected to the second communication system and included in a device other than the second floor device or the second elevator car device.

Aspects of the invention may include a stand-alone system for upgrading an existing elevator system in a structure, wherein the existing elevator system comprises: an elevator car; a plurality of first floor devices, each of the first floor devices being positioned on a separate floor of the structure and configured to receive elevator passenger call input; a first elevator car control input panel positioned in the elevator car; at least one first sensing system for sensing the vertical position of the elevator; a first elevator controller that receives passenger call input from the first floor device and passenger control input from the first elevator car control input panel, and also controls travel and safe operation of the elevator; and a first communication system providing communication between the plurality of first floor devices, the first elevator car control input panel, the first sensing system, and the first elevator controller; the stand-alone system includes: a plurality of second floor devices, each of the second floor devices being positioned on a separate floor of a structure and each of the second floor devices being configured to receive elevator passenger call input; a second communication system configured to provide signal communication between each of the second floor arrangements and the first elevator controller and to provide signal communication with an elevator vertical position sensor system reporting or providing data regarding the vertical position of the elevator; and wherein each of the second floor devices may be configured to receive the passenger service request through the second communication system and to send a signal representing the received service request to the first elevator controller. Further aspects of the independent system may include a communication component configured to provide contactless data communication between at least one of the second floor devices and a portable electronic device controlled by an elevator passenger. In certain aspects of the stand-alone system, the portable electronic device may include a variety of mobile communications devices such as one or more mobile phones and the like.

In additional aspects, the system can include a stand-alone system having a second communication system configured to receive elevator vertical position data from the first elevator vertical position sensing system. In some aspects, the system may include a second vertical position sensor system and may also include an independent system having a second communication system configured to provide signal communication between various components of the independent system and, in some cases, with components of the first elevator system. In additional aspects, the system may include a second elevator car device attached to the elevator car and configured to receive passenger control inputs via the non-contact system. In some aspects, the system may be further configured to: a signal representative of passenger control input received at the second elevator car device is provided to the first elevator controller via the non-contact system. In some aspects, a signal representative of a passenger control input received at a second elevator car device via a non-contact system may be transmitted from an elevator car to a first elevator controller at least partially via a conductive wire line system extending from the elevator car to the first elevator controller in a structural hoistway (hoistway). In further aspects, the second communication system may include conductive wires disposed in an elevator hoistway of a structure housing the elevator system, and each of the second floor devices may be electrically connected to the conductive wires disposed in the elevator hoistway.

In certain embodiments, aspects of the invention may include one or more of the above-referenced embodiments, wherein the signal representative of the passenger control input received at the second elevator car device via the non-contact system is transmitted from the second elevator car device to the second communication system over the wireless communication system. Further, aspects may include wherein the second communication system includes a wireless data transmission/reception component in each of the second floor apparatuses that communicates with each other. In some embodiments, the second communication system may include wireless communication between one or more components of a stand-alone system. Additionally, aspects may include wherein the second elevator vertical position sensor system comprises a sensing system disposed in an elevator hoistway of the structure. In some embodiments, aspects may include wherein the second elevator vertical position sensor system includes a first cooperatively operating proximity sensor assembly configured in each of the second floor devices and a second cooperatively operating proximity sensor assembly disposed on the elevator car such that each second floor device accurately determines a vertical position of the second cooperatively operating proximity sensor when the elevator car approaches the respective second floor device and each floor device transmits a signal on the second communication system representative of the sensed elevator vertical position data.

In certain embodiments, aspects of the invention may include one or more of the above-referenced embodiments, wherein at least one of the second floor devices is disposed on a main floor of the structure and includes an intelligent electronic control assembly configured to: at least one elevator passenger mobile communication device, such as a telephone, is identified and floor selection commands provided from the passenger mobile telephone to the independent system are identified. Further, in some embodiments, the intelligent electronic control component may store the identified floor selection in a database in association with the identity of the respective identified mobile communication device. In some embodiments, the mobile communication device may be used to "push" the previously selected floor destination to a separate system in some cases as compared to a system in which the intelligent system initiates identification of the previously selected floor destination from the intelligent system's own database. Further aspects may include wherein the intelligent electronic control assembly is further configured to monitor proximity of at least one of the second floor devices in the following manner: when the passenger mobile phone is sensed in the vicinity of at least one of the second floor devices in the second case, the intelligent electronic control component: callback the stored identified floor selection associated with the passenger mobile phone; causing at least one of the second floor devices to send the recalled identified floor location to the passenger mobile phone via contactless communication; and upon confirmation from the passenger mobile phone via the contactless communication, sending a confirmed identified floor selection to the elevator controller via the second communication system to order the elevator car to travel to the confirmed identified floor.

In certain embodiments, aspects of the invention may include one or more of the above-referenced embodiments, wherein at least one of the second floor arrangements is disposed on a main floor of the structure and includes an intelligent electronic control component operatively connected to a human recognition system such as a camera or hand scanning system and configured to: processing the data received from the identification system to identify the elevator passenger; in a first instance, identifying a floor selection call provided from the passenger to the independent system; storing data representing the identity of the elevator passenger in association with a floor selection call from the passenger; in a second instance, identifying a proximity of the passenger to the camera system based at least in part on the stored data representing the identity of the passenger; responsive to identifying the passenger in the second instance, transmitting, via the contactless system, a messaging proposing the associated stored floor selection; and causing the second communication system to signal the first elevator controller to transport the elevator car to the floor associated with the stored floor selection. In some embodiments, aspects may include at least one of the second floor devices being disposed on a main floor of the structure and managing system control for all of the second floor devices and the second communication system. Further, in some aspects, at least one of the second floor devices disposed on the main floor of the structure is configured to: at least a portion of the passenger service request received at any of the second floor devices is processed and a dispatch signal is sent to the first elevator controller via the second communication system such that the first elevator controller dispatches the elevator to the floor corresponding to the second floor device that received the passenger service request. Additionally, in some aspects, at least one of the second floor devices disposed on the main floor of the structure is configured to: tracking and storing operational data representing: an event log record of the identity of the passenger making the service request to the independent system; event log records of elevator car assignment and travel under guidance of the first elevator controller; and an event log record of maintenance services for the elevator system; access to the operational data by the management computing system is provided.

In certain embodiments, aspects of the invention may include one or more of the above-referenced embodiments, wherein at least one floor device disposed on the main floor comprises a control interface module that conditions passenger call input signals communicated from the at least one floor device to the first elevator controller to replicate or mimic passenger call input provided from the first floor device to the first elevator controller. In some aspects, the stand-alone system further comprises: a first communication subsystem located between at least a plurality of components of the independent system; and a second communication subsystem that communicates instructions to the elevator controller from a second floor device disposed on a main floor of the structure; and wherein the second communication subsystem transmits signals from the elevator controller to a second floor device disposed on the main floor; and wherein a second floor device disposed on the main floor transmits signals representing data of signals received from the elevator controller through the first communication subsystem. In some aspects, although the elevator controller receives passenger call input or passenger control input from a separate system, the elevator controller may govern travel and safe operation of the elevator. In some aspects, the control interface device in functional communication with each of the second floor devices is configured to: a separate signal is provided to each of the plurality of signal processing and communication devices of the first elevator controller. In some aspects, the second elevator car device is in functional electronic signaling connection with the first elevator car device. In some aspects, the system may further comprise: a temperature sensing device associated with an internal scan of the elevator car, the temperature sensing device in functional signaling connection with the second communication system; and a module of a component in functional signaling connection with the second communication system, the module configured to sense a body temperature of an individual entering the elevator car and to signal an alarm if the sensed body temperature exceeds a predetermined level. In some aspects, the control interface device is incorporated into at least one of the second plurality of floor devices. In some embodiments, one or more of the second plurality of floor devices is configured to: the passenger service request and the sensed floor position data are received from the second vertical position sensing unit and the received service request is sent to the elevator controller. In some aspects, the control interface device may be incorporated into a second independent car device configured to: the passenger service request and the sensed vertical position data are received from the second vertical position sensing system (or information is received from the first vertical position sensor system) and the received service request is sent to the elevator controller or to the first car device. In some aspects, the transmission of data from the second plurality of floor devices to the control interface device is independent of the first communication system. In some aspects of the invention, the first positioning sensor or sensor system and/or the second positioning sensor or sensor system may be connected in signal communication to one or more floor devices. In some other aspects, the first vertical position sensor system and/or the second vertical position sensor system can be connected in signal communication with an independent car device. In some other aspects, the second vertical position sensing system may be implemented through communication between the independent car device and one or more independent floor devices and their relative positions or through the use of information from the first vertical position sensing system.

In some aspects, a method of upgrading a first existing elevator system having components such as a plurality of first floor devices, an elevator control device, and a first communication system providing transmission of signals between the plurality of first floor devices and the elevator control device is provided, the method comprising: installing a second system at the existing elevator system, the second system comprising a plurality of second floor devices and a second communication system providing transmission of signals between the plurality of second floor devices and the elevator vertical position sensor system; connecting the second system to the first system such that the first system maintains direct control of the travel and safe operation of the elevator car and the second system inputs additional elevator user system calls/guides to the first system; and causing the first system to direct the elevator to travel under command from the second system. In some aspects, the second system may collect control information from a control mechanism of the first system and communicate at least a portion of the collected information to a user of the second system. In some aspects, the second system may process information received from the control mechanism and make decisions accordingly, and communicate information reflecting such decisions to elevator passengers via the secondary train.

Aspects of the invention include a method of upgrading an existing elevator system that already includes a floor installation, an elevator controller, a position sensor system, a car installation, and a first communication system, the method comprising: positioning at least one second floor device at one floor of the elevator installation; installing a second vertical position sensing system; installing a second car device; establishing a second communication system between at least one second floor device, a second vertical position sensing system, and a second car device; and installing a connection system between the first communication system and the second communication system. In a further aspect, the connection system may be an interface between the second communication system and the elevator controller. In some aspects, the connection system may be an interface between the second independent system and a plurality of button devices of the first system. In some aspects, the connection system may be an interface between the second independent system and the first car device. In some aspects, the interface may be used to provide analog signals from the second communication system to an electrical relay of the elevator controller. In some aspects, the interface may also be used to sense opening and closing of an elevator controller electrical relay under the direction of the elevator controller. In some aspects, the connection system includes a control interface device that receives signals from each of the second floor devices (and/or the second car devices) and sends analog signals to the relays of the elevator controller. In some aspects, the connection system includes a control interface device that receives signals from the second car device and sends communications to the elevator controller or the first car device consistent with those received signals. In some aspects, the method comprises the steps of: the control interface device is connected to the elevator controller electrical relays in a manner configured to sense the opening and closing of those relays. In some aspects, the connection system includes a control interface device that receives signals from each of the floor devices and/or the car devices and sends digital signals to the elevator controller.

In some embodiments, the invention includes aspects of a universal independent floor arrangement for positioning proximate an elevator system, the arrangement may have: a display adapted to display the direction of travel and the floor position of a particular elevator car; a data communication port for transmitting and receiving data communication to the elevator independent control device; and a communication system for communicating with a user mobile device proximate to the floor device; and a communication system for communicating with a separate second vertical position sensing system. In some aspects, the universal floor device may further include one or more of the following: a camera; and a processor adapted to: identifying a person approaching the device; detecting social distance of approaching people and improper wearing of mask, number of people entering elevator, number of people waiting for elevator, any offensive/suspicious behavior in elevator and/or near landing; a temperature sensor adapted to sense a temperature of each identified person; and a processing system for signaling an alarm if the sensed temperature of any identified person is outside a predefined range; and a processing system that processes each of the foregoing and signals to the elevator independent control.

In some embodiments, the present invention includes a universal car device that may be activated in some cases to detect the vertical position of an elevator car. The universal car device may have one or more of the following: a display adapted to display a traveling direction of the car and a floor position; a data communication port for transmitting and receiving data communication to the elevator independent control device; a data communication port for transmitting and receiving data communication with the first elevator car control input panel; a data communication component for communicating with one or more other components of the stand-alone system; and a communication system for communicating with a user mobile device in proximity to the general car device and/or one or more floor devices; and/or a communication system for communicating with a separate second position sensing unit. In some aspects, the universal car device may further include one or more of the following: a camera; and a processor adapted to: identifying a person approaching the device; detecting social distance of approaching people, number of people entering the elevator, any offensiveness/suspicious behavior in the elevator car; a temperature sensor adapted to sense a temperature of each identified person; and a processing system for signaling an alarm if the sensed temperature of any identified person is outside a predefined range; and a processing system for processing each of the foregoing and signaling to the elevator independent control; a processing system for detecting a distance between an independent car device and an independent floor device. In some embodiments, the universal second car device may determine or identify whether a passenger having selected a defined destination has or is boarding the car; or whether the passenger having selected the given destination has or has not been out of the elevator when the elevator car arrives at the given destination; or whether the passenger can hold the elevator door open with their hands busy holding the goods until the passenger authorizes the door to close.

In some embodiments, aspects of the present invention may include a method of upgrading an existing elevator system having a first hall floor device, a first car device, a first elevator controller, and a first communication system connecting the first hall floor device, the first car device, and the first elevator controller, the method comprising: installing a second control system comprising at least one second hall floor device and a second communication system; connecting the second system to the first system such that the first system maintains direct control of the operation of the elevator car; the second system inputs additional elevator user system calls/guides to the first system; the first system performs booting from the second system; the second system collects control information from the control mechanism of the first system and/or communicates at least a portion of the collected information to a user of the second system. In some aspects, the method may include: a second control system is installed, which may be non-contact, may enable biometric recognition (such as facial, etc.), may include an intelligent processing module to learn and predict various events, decisions and/or selections, etc. from running and user interactions, may have an interface with the user's mobile device, and the interface may automatically operate at one or more alternative second control systems at other locations.

In some embodiments, the system can be used as an "external" or "stand-alone" monitoring system that gathers data regarding events and other aspects of additional "pre-existing" elevator systems. This "external" or "independent" aspect of the system can provide information to elevator users and owners from the point of view of being "external" or "independent" of the existing elevator control system. Additional aspects are also described below.

Fig. 1.A.1, fig. 1a.2, fig. 1a.3 (and fig. 1.B.1, fig. 1.B.2, fig. 1.C.1, fig. 1.C.2, fig. 1.C.3, fig. 1.D.1 and fig. 1.E.1, fig. 1.e.2) show schematic diagrams of various embodiments of the invention as may be applied to an exemplary elevator system.

The components and aspects described in this paragraph are those of prior art exemplary elevator systems as generally shown in the sections of fig. 1.A.1 (it should be noted, however, that fig. 1.A.1 also shows aspects of certain embodiments of the invention). The components of the prior art exemplary elevator system shown in fig. 1.A.1 include the hoistway 14 of a building or the elevator car 12 in an elevator hoistway. Also shown in fig. 1.A.1 are exemplary floors 1 through 5 (shown at 16A-16E) served by an elevator, with a respective hoistway door 18 at each floor for accessing elevator car 12. Also not shown in fig. 1.A.1 but typically present in prior art elevator systems is a first vertical position sensing system that generates data representing or representing the vertical position of the elevator car 12 in the hoistway 14. In an exemplary system, elevator passengers can call an elevator from each floor by pressing an elevator call button (also not shown) on an elevator call panel (sometimes referred to as a "floor set") on each floor (not shown). Furthermore, the elevator passengers once inside the elevator car 12 can select a destination floor or a destination floor by selecting the destination floor on an inside elevator control panel (not shown) of the elevator car 12. The operation of the elevator is controlled by an elevator controller 20, which elevator controller 20 may historically be located in an elevator machine room (not shown). However, in many elevator designs there may be no formal machine room and/or the elevator controller 20 may be physically located in any number of locations operable in the vicinity of the elevator. The elevator controller 20 is responsive to elevator calls made from passengers located at any floor as well as to destination floor selections made by passengers via the internal elevator control panel. Additionally, elevator controller 20 manages the safe operation of the elevator by protocols defined in controller 20, such protocols including elevator car 12 travel, door opening and closing, loading of the elevator, and other security procedures in operation.

Also shown in fig. 1.A.1 through 1.E.2 are components of a stand-alone universal digital control system 10 or an elevator universal digital assistant ("EUDA") according to aspects of various embodiments of the invention. The term "universal" is not limiting, but rather describes that the differences caused by unique Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) designs or existing elevator control wiring or other elevator control data communications can be applied relatively universally to particular embodiments of existing or future elevator systems. Furthermore, the term "independent" when used in this disclosure and describing certain aspects of particular embodiments of the invention is not and should not be taken to define or apply to each component or embodiment of the invention. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, the term "independent" as used herein characterizes an assembly, system, or method as independent or substantially independent of a previously installed or individual elevator control system.

In general, fig. 1.A.1 through 1.E.2 relate to aspects of certain embodiments of the present invention. Illustrative examples of certain aspects of various embodiments, such as those shown in fig. 1. A.1-1. E.2, are shown in fig. 6-10.

In some embodiments, the independent universal digital control system may include, among various other possible components, an independent universal hall floor device (described below), an independent universal position sensor system (described below), an independent car universal device (described below), one or more universal independent control devices (described below), a module that transmits data to and receives data from a user's mobile telephone and/or an owner's mobile telephone, an assembly and method that provides for monitoring and monitoring of an elevator system; the components and systems of the signals from the independent universal digital control system to the existing (first) elevator system are trimmed in such a way that the signals from the independent universal digital control system imitate the signals transmitted in the existing (first) elevator system.

Illustrative embodiment of FIG. 1.A.1

As described above, fig. 1.A.1 to 1.E.2 show schematic diagrams of various embodiments of the invention as may be applied to an exemplary elevator system. In fig. 1.A.1, an independent hall effect device ("HUFD") 24 is shown at the hall door 18 of each of floors 1 through 5 proximate to the corresponding floor. The HUFD 24 may be positioned to appear as a panel on a wall near the hoistway door 18. An embodiment of an independent universal positioning system ("IUPS") 23 is shown in fig. 1.A.1 as a laser system (or encoder or other sensor or wired system) that may extend vertically in hoistway 14 to determine the vertical position of elevator car 12. Fig. 1 a.1 also shows an individual car universal device ("ICUD") 25 in elevator car 12. ICUD 25 may be configured for wired or wireless communication with one or more HUFDs 24 and/or a universal independent control device ("UICD") 30 described below. ICUD 25 may be configured to receive wireless, optical, or other signals from user mobile phone 8 (or other user device). An exemplary signal received at ICUD 25 from mobile telephone 8 may be a user selection of a target or specified floor destination for an elevator. In addition, other signals, such as "emergency stop," "closing," "holding the door open," "opening the door," "calling for emergency services," etc., which are typically implemented via the elevator control panel, may be received by ICUD 25 and further communicated to components of independent system 10. In addition, ICUD 25 may receive signals from the various components of system 10 and send those signals to user mobile phone 8 and/or display the travel direction and floor position (and other information) of elevator car 12 and/or issue audio signals or voice communications on the display of ICUD 25.ICUD 25 and HUFD 24 may be battery powered or powered from a power source in elevator 12. As described more fully below, ICUD 25 may include battery backup and motion detectors, cameras, thermal cameras, and/or sensors, microphones, speakers, processors, and memory devices to facilitate the functionality of ICUD 25.

As also shown in fig. 1.A.1, the HUFD24 may be connected to a universal independent control device ("UICD") 30 in communication with the elevator controller 20. The wireline communication 32 provides signal communication between each of the HUFDs 24 of fig. 1.A.1, and the wireline communication 32 also extends to and provides signal communication from the HUFD24 to the UICD 30. In the embodiment of fig. 1.A.1, the UICD 30 is positioned in the elevator machine room close to the elevator controller 20 and connected to the elevator controller 20. In alternative embodiments, UICD 30 may be located in other locations or integrated into HUFD24 or ICUD 25 and/or communicate with elevator controller 20 via one or more wireline or wireless protocols. Additionally, as noted above in some embodiments, there is no formal machine room associated with the elevator system, and the elevator controller 20 may be located in various locations.

Furthermore, as shown in the embodiment of fig. 1.A.1, the wire line 32 communications from the plurality of HUFDs 24 can be easily installed within the hoistway 14 or hoistway, thereby providing a simple system for retrofitting the universal digital control system 10 to an existing elevator system. (it should be noted that the schematic of the embodiment of the invention shown in fig. 1.A.1 is shown as showing the wire 32 positioned outside of the hoistway 14. However, this representation is for clarity of the schematic only to show the wire 32 connections to each HUFD and to the UICD 30. However, in some embodiments the wire 32 may actually be positioned outside of the hoistway 14.) the wire 32 communication may comprise a simple direct string of two wires from multiple HUFDs 24 to the UICD 30, providing serial digital communication between the HUFDs 24 and the UICD 30. Each of the components of the universal independent digital control system 10 or a particular component can be provided with a battery backup to facilitate operation of the system 10 even in the event of an interruption of other electronic service to an elevator or building. In this way, each of the UICD 30, ICUD 25, IUPS 23 and plurality of HUFDs 24 can be provided with a battery backup. With battery backup in this manner, certain embodiments maintain their monitoring of the elevator system, maintain communication with and between the various components of the universal digital control system 10, maintain displays (such as shown below) in the HUFD24 and ICUD 25 (and, in some embodiments, other system components), and also maintain the ability to continue communication with the user mobile device 8, even when a power failure of the elevator control system or the entire building in which the elevator is housed occurs. In some embodiments, the wireline may include more than two wires, and in other embodiments, the wireline 32 may be replaced with wireless communication devices and functions and/or a combination of a wireline communication system and a wireless communication system. In some embodiments, UICD 30 receives data from IUPS 23 (via HUFD24 and wire line 32, wirelessly from HUFD24, wirelessly from IUPS 23, or wiredly from IUPS 23). Based on data from IUPS 23, UICD 30 (and/or other components of system 10 such as ICUD 25 or HFUD 24) may always know the vertical position of elevator car 12. A communication link from IUPS 23 to one or more components of system 10 is shown at 32. A. UICD 30 will also have received the call signals (and/or other data) from HUFD24 and/or from ICUD 25. The UICD 30 is used to communicate appropriate signals (call, destination floor, and/or other signals) to the elevator controller 20, but may also communicate data directly or indirectly back to the HUFD24 and/or ICUD 25, such as the vertical position of the elevator car 12, ETA of the elevator car 12 or destination floor being called, commanded floor destination from the elevator controller 20, and/or other data. All or part of such data, or other information of digital control system 10, may be displayed at HUFD24 and/or ICUD 25 and may also be transmitted to elevator user's mobile telephone 8. The UICD 30 can also be used to track data regarding elevator activity and events. UICD 30 may also include a communication port (wired or wireless) to communicate data. In some embodiments, UICD 30 may direct communications from system 10 to elevator users.

In some embodiments of control system 10, alternative components/embodiments of UICD 30 (or 130) may be utilized. Examples of aspects of certain embodiments of these components are shown in fig. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 and discussed more fully below. In general, these embodiments may utilize a universal interface device ("UID") 131 in place of UICD 30 (or 130). UID 131 may only primarily serve as an interface device to communicate with existing elevator 150 controllers (or controllers 20), and the intelligence of system 10 as discussed more fully below is embodied in one or more HUFDs 24 (or 124) or in a car device or in a control device or other component of the present system. In some embodiments, UID 131 is used to convert signals intended for transmission to existing elevator machine 150 or elevator controller 20, such as from EUDA control, ICUD 25 (or 125), or one or more HUFDs 24 (or 124), into an appropriate format and/or pin out of existing elevator machine 150 or elevator controller 20. In some embodiments, UICD 30 or UID 31 generates a signal for transmission to elevator machine 150 or elevator controller 20 that mimics a signal that might otherwise be transmitted to machine 150 or controller 20 through an elevator call button or elevator control panel. In some embodiments, such "mimicking" signals from the system 10 are indistinguishable to the machine 150 or the controller 20 from signals received from elevator call buttons or elevator control panels.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, the UICD 30 or UID 31 functionality can be built into other components, such as the HUFD 24 (and/or ICUD 25 and/or other components of system 10 such as an independent control device), such that the other components (or components of system 10) can communicate directly with existing elevator machines 150 or elevator controllers 20.

In other embodiments, data from IUPS 23 can be transmitted directly or indirectly to one or more HUFDs 24 and/or ICUDs 25 and/or UICDs 30 and/or other components of system 10 (see, e.g., schematic diagrams from fig. 6 through 10).

As also shown in fig. 1.A.1, the system 10 may also comprise a mobile telephone 8. The system may also include an application (or app) that can be downloaded to the user's mobile phone 8, which in some cases is referred to as an elevator universal digital assistant app 33. The user can be prompted to download app 33 when the user approaches an elevator, and app 33 can be downloaded wirelessly from HUFD 24 or other components of system 10. Alternatively, app 33 can be downloaded in other ways through various techniques (such as from an app store) or triggered when a user enters a building or structure. Additionally, app 33 can be loaded into mobile phone 8 for use wherever a user is at any of a plurality of elevator installations, so long as the "other" elevator system utilizes the EUDA system. Since the control system 10 can be universally adapted to virtually any elevator system, a single application 33 can be used at multiple elevator installations (using embodiments of the control system 10). Thus, in some embodiments, a single user may use the same mobile phone app 33 in almost every installation of the current universal independent digital control system 10. The HUFD 24 and ICUD 25 devices may include smart readers or other communication systems to interface with the user's mobile device 8. Such communication systems may include bluetooth and other local wireless data communication protocols and systems.

In some embodiments, system 10 may include a separate control component in functional communication with other components of system 10. The independent control assembly may be configured to process received signals corresponding to elevator passenger call input, passenger floor destination input, and elevator vertical position data and generate an elevator car travel distance based on the processed signals. The independent control assembly may generate a command signal for transmission to the elevator controller to cause the elevator controller to provide elevator car service conforming to the generated elevator car travel itinerary. The independent control components can further dispatch the generated command signals or signals representing the generated command signals so that they can be transmitted to the elevator controller. In some embodiments, UICD 30 (or 130) may include an independent control component. In some embodiments, one or more of the HUFDs 24 (or 124) may include independent control components. In some embodiments, ICUD 25 (or 125) may include an independent control component. In some embodiments, the independent control component may be included as a component other than the HUFD 24, the UICD 30, or the ICUD 25.

In some embodiments (such as an example in which only one passenger is present for system 10), the trip may be a direct response to a passenger's call for service. For example, if the elevator car is at floor 6 and no passengers are on it and in a stationary state and the passengers submit calls for service at the first floor, the trip generated may be a simple order to dispatch the elevator to the first floor for pick-up of the passengers. In such cases, the trip may include a simple assignment to floor 1, so the trip may be said to be "identified" (from the service call) and then sent to the elevator controller. However, even in this case, the travel may become more complex, and so may be said to be "generated" by the control assembly. For example, if during the travel of the elevator car to the first floor, a service call for a downlink service is entered from separate floors (e.g., example floor 4 and floor 3), the control component may generate a trip that adds to the stopping at both floor 4 and floor 3 and send the appropriate trip command to the elevator controller such that the elevator stops at floor 4 and floor 3 to pick up the downlink passenger at those floors. In this way it can be seen that the control assembly can receive and process inputs from service calls and destination floor destinations and also process data from the elevator vertical position sensing system to generate a travel itinerary meeting the passenger request while also complying with the commands of the service command protocol that may have been provided to the control assembly. In addition, where there are multiple elevators at a single facility, one or more control components may generate a separate trip for each elevator individually or cooperatively to provide optimized service to passengers present to the system. Furthermore, a trip may be generated that takes into account the priority of the passenger or the priority of the floor being served or other rules or priorities that may be defined and provided to the elevator controller from time to time as may be defined.

In some embodiments, the system may include a separate interface component configured to trim command signals dispatched from the separate control component such that the trimmed command signals mimic signals received by the elevator controller from the first floor device and the first car control input panel. In some embodiments, the system 10 is configured such that the trimmed assigned command signals from the independent interface components may be transmitted to the elevator controller. In some embodiments, the independent interface components may include UID 31 (or 131) and may include separate devices in system 10, or may include functionality otherwise embodied in other components of system 10, such as HUFD 24, ICUD 25, and/or UICD 30.

The illustrative embodiment of fig. 1.A.1 to 1. E.2.

The embodiments shown in fig. 1.A.1 to 1.E.2 are organized and labeled to conveniently illustrate various embodiments.

Fig. 1.A.1, 1.A.2 and 1.A.3 illustrate embodiments in which a separate IUPS 23 device (in some cases a separate positioning system that is not part of) is utilized as part of the system 10. As indicated by the annotations on the figures, each of these figures also shows a configuration in which a separate UID 31 or UICD 30 may optionally be included or omitted. Also, in each of these figures, as illustrated in the legend, the dashed lines indicate communications via wired, wireless, or pre-existing wire systems. Fig. 1.A.1 shows an embodiment with a separate IUPS 23 wherein the system 10 also comprises a HUFD 24 and an ICUD 25. Fig. 1.A.2 shows an embodiment with IUPS 23 alone but without any HUFD 24. Fig. 1.A.3 shows an embodiment that does not include ICUD 25.

Fig. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a UICD 30, the UICD 30 having a functional Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 34, the functional Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 34 having memory, processor, firmware and software and configured to receive and process data communications from one or more HUFDs 24 and may also receive and process data from other system 10 components such as IUPS 23 and ICUD 25. The PCB 34 may be configured to process the received signals and send signals to one or more of the analog interface board 36 or the serial interface board 38. Signals from either or both of the analog interface board 36 or the serial interface board 38 may then be transmitted to the elevator controller 20. In some embodiments, the signals from the UICD 30 to the elevator controller 20 may be designed to replicate or mimic those signals that the elevator controller 20 normally receives from an elevator call button or those signals from an elevator interior control panel that represent a specified or target floor (or other signals from an existing call button or control panel) selected by the elevator user on the interior control panel. Fig. 2 shows interface board 36 outputting signals "1", "2", "3", "4" and "5" corresponding to any illustrative floor 1 to floor 5 call signals or destination floor destinations. Thus, in certain embodiments, the signals (of elevator "call" and target or specified floor selection) communicated to elevator controller 20 (via UICD 30) from universal independent control system 10 are the same as or indistinguishable from those signals that would otherwise be received at elevator controller 20 from the first elevator call button or elevator internal control panel. Thus, the addition of the universal independent digital control system 10 of certain embodiments of the present invention is able to simply "override" the existing signals input to the elevator controller 20 and do so without altering any safety or operational steps designed to be programmed into the elevator controller 20 and followed by the elevator controller 20 once the elevator controller 20 has received a signal from a call button or an elevator internal control panel (or digital system 10). The universal independent control system 10 is also capable of communicating various other predefined signals (such as emergency stops or other signals) to the elevator controller 20 via the UICD 30. In some embodiments, UICD 30 or UID 31 (or UICD 30 and/or UID 31 functions) may be integrated into one or more HUFDs 24 and/or ICUDs 25, so that HUFDs 24 or ICUDs 25 may communicate directly with elevator controller 20 without using a separate UICD 30 or UID 31. In some embodiments, ICUD 25 with integrated UICD 30 or UID 31 functionality can be directly connected to the first communication system in the elevator car (such as in or by means of the circuitry and button circuitry of the elevator car control panel) and/or can also communicate with elevator controller 20 (or other components) via the second communication system. In some embodiments, HUFD24 with integrated UICD 30 or UID 31 functionality can connect directly to the first communication system at or in conjunction with the elevator call button of the respective floor of HUFD24 and/or can also communicate with elevator controller 20 (or other components) via the second communication system.

As an example, in some embodiments, the analog output of analog interface board 36 may be connected to a relay (not shown) of elevator controller 20. By way of illustration and background, in some embodiments, elevator controller 20 (not of the present invention) may control movement of elevator car 12 to a destination floor by outputting an analog signal to a connected relay assigned to the destination floor, with a separate relay dedicated to each floor served by the elevator. In some embodiments, when the present digital control system 10 is connected to such a relay set, separate conductive connections are made from the analog interface board 36 to each individual relay. Thus, analog outputs from, for example, analog interface board 36 corresponding to floor 3 may be connected by electrical conductors to the relays of elevator controller 20 assigned to floor 3. In the same manner, each other analog output from analog interface board 36 may be connected by an electrical conductor to an elevator relay corresponding to the appropriate analog output. In further illustration, when such an embodiment of the present control system 10 is connected to an appropriate relay, the control system 10 is able to send analog signals that repeat (or mimic) those signals that would otherwise be sent to the relay by the elevator controller 20 to guide the elevator car 12 to any floor assigned to the relay. In some embodiments, there is no difference in the analog signals received by the relays between those originating from the original controller 20 or the analog interface board 36 of the present invention. Thus, the addition of the universal independent digital control system 10 of certain embodiments of the present invention is able to simply "override" the existing signals input to the elevator controller 20 and do so without altering any security or operational tasks designed to be programmed into the elevator controller 20 once the elevator controller 20 has received signals from the call buttons or elevator internal control panel (or digital system 10) and followed by the elevator controller 20. It should also be noted that in some embodiments, the HUFD24 on a particular floor can be operatively connected to the call button circuitry of an existing call button on the particular floor. One or more signals, such as analog signals, from the HUFD24 to the call button circuit can then activate the call button circuit so that the call button circuit sends its "normal" call signal to the elevator controller 20 via the existing communication path of the call button to the controller 20. In this way, generally speaking, the elevator controller receives a standard signal from the call button via its standard communication path and is able to respond appropriately, but the call button circuit is actually activated by a signal from the HUFD24 on that particular floor. By these methods, the HUFD24 is able to effectively communicate with the controller 20 and direct the controller 20 via the existing communication system that extends between the respective call button and the controller 20. In such cases, the HUFD24 can provide a signal to the call button circuit that mimics the call button normal signal or otherwise activate the call button circuit such that a "call" signal is sent from a particular call button to the controller 20. In a similar manner, ICUD 25 can be operatively connected with several buttons or button circuits in an elevator car control panel. By activating the appropriate button circuits of the elevator control panel, instructions from system 10 (or more directly from ICUD 25) can be transmitted from system 10 to controller 20 via the elevator car control panel circuits and their respective signaling paths and signal inputs to controller 20.

Moreover, in some embodiments of the present invention, when a relay is activated, such as by one or more analog outputs from elevator controller 20 to the corresponding relay, the conductive connection from the output of analog interface board 36 to the corresponding relay also carries an electrical signal back to analog interface board 36. In this manner, in some embodiments, the digital control system 10 is informed of the activation of a particular relay by the elevator controller 20 (and the command of the controller 20 to send the elevator to a particular floor).

In a somewhat similar manner, the serial interface board 38 may be connected to appropriate connections in the elevator controller using digital input/output. The digital control system 10 is then able to send and receive digital signals to guide movement or tracking actions of the elevator car 12 that would otherwise be guided by the controller 20. Furthermore, in some embodiments, other communication systems or interfaces may be used between existing elevator systems (including, in some cases, controller 20).

Data received from elevator controller 20 and/or controller relays at analog interface board 36 and/or serial interface board 38 can be processed and/or transmitted to other components of digital control system 10.

Additionally, signals from the UICD 30 may be sent to one or more HUFDs 24 (and also to the ICUD 25), such as for control purposes and to support audio or visual output from the HUFD 24 (or ICUD 25), including outputs such as shown in fig. 4. In addition, HUFD 24 and/or ICUD25 may be capable of transmitting signals, such as Bluetooth, digital readers, and other known protocols, from universal digital control system 10 to user mobile device 8 via a local communication system.

Illustrative embodiments of fig. 1.B.1 and fig. 1.B.2 and fig. 1.B.3

Fig. 1.B.1, 1.B.2, and 1.B.3 illustrate an embodiment of a system 10 for determining a vertical position of an elevator car 12 via alternative techniques and systems (such as by triangulation between components of ICUD25 and corresponding HUFDs 24) different from those presented above. As alternatively shown, the vertical position may be determined by using components disposed on landings of floors and one or more supplemental components secured to elevator car 12.

Fig. 1.B.1 shows an embodiment utilizing inter alia HUFD 24, ICUD25, wherein the UICD 30 or UID 31 functionality is comprised in other components or otherwise provided in separate units. This embodiment illustrates a method of determining vertical position by the system 10 through triangulation between the HUFD 24 and the IUCD 25.

Fig. 1.B.2 shows another set of embodiments in which system 10 does not include ICUD25 but includes HUFD 24. The HUFD is functionally connected to sensor assemblies 26 and 28 (discussed below in connection with fig. 1. C.1). In some embodiments (see fig. 1. B.1), the UICD 30 or UID31 functionality may be embodied in one or more other components of the system, and other different UICD 30 or UID31 components may be omitted from the system. Furthermore, in some embodiments (see fig. 1. B.1), the respective HUFD 24 may be connected to an existing first floor button and thus to the elevator controller 20 (in which case either UICD 30 or UID31 may not be present) by an existing first system communication path or via wire or wireless 32, and the functionality of IUPS 23 (i.e., providing vertical position data of elevator car 12 to system 10) may be implemented by HUFD 24 and ICUD25 relative position triangulation. This is possible because the HUFD 24 contains information or identification of their relative floor installations or locations. In some embodiments, the HUFD 24 (fig. 1.B.2, 1.C.1, 1. C.2) may be connected to the sensor assembly 28 at the floor. In some embodiments (see fig. 1. B.1), ICUD25 may be connected to the first elevator car control panel and thus to elevator controller 20 by wire or wireless 31 (in which case there may not be a separate distinct UICD 30 or UID 31) and the vertical positioning of the elevator cars may be determined by HUFD 24 and ICUD25 using relative position triangulation. This is possible because the HUFD 24 contains information about their relative floor installations. In some embodiments, ICUD25 (FIG. 1.B.3, FIG. 1. D.2) may be functionally connected to sensor assemblies 26/28.

Fig. 1.B.3 shows an embodiment that does not include a HUFD 24, but utilizes an ICUD 25 that is functionally connected to a sensor assembly system 26/28 so as to be informed of the vertical position of the elevator car 12. ICUD 25 may also be functionally connected to one or more circuits or button circuits of an existing elevator car control panel to send its instructions or command signals to controller 20 via an existing elevator car control panel communication system. Alternatively, ICUD 25 may utilize other wired or wireless communication systems to send its command signals to controller 20.

Illustrative embodiments of FIGS. 1.C.1 and 1.C.2

Fig. 1.C.1 illustrates aspects of certain embodiments of the digital control system in which IUPS 23 includes a sensor assembly shown as one sensor assembly 26 and a supplemental other sensor assembly 28, the one sensor assembly 26 and the supplemental other sensor assembly 28 being shown attached to elevator car 12 and to hoistway door 18 on each floor, respectively. The second sensor assembly 28 of each floor communicates with the HUFD 24 (or 24.1) of the same floor. The one sensor assembly 26 and the other sensor assembly 28 are configured to accurately sense and report data to the HUFD 24 that indicates the position and direction of travel of the elevator car 12. In the embodiment of fig. 1.C.1 and 1.C.2, each second sensor 28 is connected to its respective HUFD 24 by wire line communication, but in alternative embodiments the second (and/or first) sensor can communicate with the HUFD 24 or other components of the universal digital control system 10 (including, but not limited to, an independent car universal device ICUD 25-described below-and/or a universal independent control device UICD 30) via one or more wireless protocols. In some embodiments, a combination of wired and wireless communication systems may be used to transfer signals or data from components 26 and 28 to other components of digital system 10.

It should be noted that the sensor units 26 and 28 (fig. 1.B.2, fig. 1.B.3, fig. 1.C.1, fig. 1.C.2, fig. 1. D.2) are only illustrative of certain IUPS 23 embodiments. Other configurations or types of sensors may be used in the various IUPS 23 embodiments to determine the vertical position of elevator car 12. A positioning system such as a laser may extend vertically in hoistway 14 to determine the vertical position of elevator car 12 and may be used as IUPS (see, e.g., fig. 1.A.1, 1.A.2, and 1.A.3, as well as fig. 6 and the accompanying description).

In some embodiments, the HUFD 24 may include a board that exchanges signals with a user's mobile telephone 8, such as shown in fig. 1.A, 1.B, 1.e. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the HUFD 24.1 (fig. 1. C) is a device comprising several elements, such as an HPI (hall position indicator) and or an HDI (hall direction indicator), integrated with a board that exchanges signals with a smart phone and wired or wireless to the active portion of the IUPS 28.

Illustrative embodiments of fig. 1.D.1 and 1.D.2

In some embodiments, the HUFD 24.2 (fig. 1. D) may include several elements integrated with a board that exchanges signals with the smart phone, such as an HPI (hall position indicator) and an HDI (hall direction indicator). In some embodiments, the positioning of the car is determined by triangulation between ICUD and HUFD (fig. 1. D.1). Fig. 1.D.2 illustrates aspects of certain embodiments of the digital control system in which IUPS 23 includes a sensor assembly shown as one sensor assembly 28 and a supplemental other sensor assembly 26, the one sensor assembly 28 and the supplemental other sensor assembly 26 being shown attached to elevator car 12 and to hoistway door 18 on each floor, respectively. Other sensor components 28 communicate with ICUD 25 via wire line communications, but in alternative embodiments, the second (and/or first) sensor can communicate with ICUD 25 or other components of universal digital control system 10 (including, but not limited to, HUFD 24-described below-and/or universal independent control device UICD 30) via one or more wireless protocols. In some embodiments, a combination of wired and wireless communication systems may be used to transfer signals or data from components 26 and 28 to other components of digital system 10.

In some embodiments, the system may perform its operations without the ICUD (fig. 1.A.3, fig. 1.B.2, fig. 1.C.2, fig. 1. E.2). In some embodiments, system 10 may also include ICUD 25 (FIG. 1.A.1, FIG. 1.A.2, FIG. 1.B.1, FIG. 1.B.3, FIG. 1.C.1, FIG. 1.D.1, FIG. 1.D.2, and FIG. 1. E.1). In some embodiments, the system may perform its operations without a HUFD according to fig. 1.A.2, 1.B.3, 1.E.1, and 1. E.2.

Illustrative embodiments of FIGS. 1.E.1 and 1.E.2

In some embodiments, such as that shown in fig. 1.E.1, system 10 may be configured to operate with ICUD 25 for command and or monitoring. In some such embodiments, communication from the user's mobile telephone 8 to the control system 10 may be accomplished wirelessly from outside or inside the elevator car 12 to other components of the control system in order to exchange only information or input data. In some other embodiments (see fig. 1. E.2), communication (data entry and monitoring) from the user's mobile phone 8 to the control system 10 may be accomplished wirelessly only with the UICD 30 device.

In some embodiments, data underlying the display in the floor position display (fig. 4) and elevator travel direction indicator 42 may be collected by IUPS 23 device and other sensor assemblies 26 and 28 (or other sensing units) and passed to HUFD 24 or to ICUD 25.

Fig. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a user mobile device 8 display using an application 33 in accordance with certain embodiments. In this particular case, the application 33 displays on the mobile device 8 of the particular user an indicator of the direction of travel of the elevator car 12, an indication that the current floor of the elevator car 12 has been sensed, the user's departure floor, the user's destination floor, the estimated time of arrival of the elevator car 12 to the user's destination floor calculated from the user's current floor, and an indication that access to the destination floor has been granted by the control system 10. The estimated time of arrival of elevator car 12 can be calculated by system 10 by tracking the position, direction, and speed of the elevator car (as determined by system 10) and correlating with data for any intermediate stops or travel directions of the elevator before it is expected to reach the user's floor. The message displayed on the mobile device may be customized.

Fig. 4 (including fig. 4.a1, fig. 4.a2, fig. 4.b1, fig. 4.b2, fig. 4.c1, and fig. 4.c2) illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a HUFD24 assembly according to certain aspects of the present invention. Shown is a floor position display 40 and or elevator travel direction indicator 42 and a micrometer/reader/transmitter 44. In some embodiments, data underlying the display in floor position display 40 and or elevator travel direction indicator 42 may be collected by IUPS 23 (or other sensing unit), passed to HUFD24/ICUD 25 and then sent through application 33 to be displayed on a particular user's mobile device 8. In some embodiments, HUFD24 (and ICUD 25) also includes audio capabilities including speakers and/or microphones that provide or collect audio information or use the audio capabilities of the user's mobile phone to send and receive messages to accommodate disabled persons. In some embodiments, a display may not be included in HUFD24, and information (such as the information shown in fig. 3 or 4) is displayed on user mobile device 8 through app 33. In some embodiments, information (such as the information shown in fig. 3 or fig. 4) is displayed on both the user mobile phone 8, the HUFD24, and/or the ICUD 25. The system 10 may interact with the user through an electronic device 8 of the user, such as a smart phone, by way of audio signals and/or visual signals (in some cases, messages directed to the user can be visually generated on the phone 8 and/or generated by an audio system of the mobile phone 8).

Fig. 4.a1 and 4.a2 illustrate aspects of two embodiments of the HUFD 24 assembly and display as may be configured for use on the bottom floor of an elevator installation. Thus, each of fig. 4.a1 and 4.a2 only shows the up-direction option of the elevator travel direction indicator 42. Fig. 4.a1 and fig. 4.a2 differ in the wireline communication arrangement of each embodiment. Fig. 4.A2 shows an embodiment of communication via a wire line 32 extending from the HUFD 24.2 as shown. Fig. 4.A1 shows an embodiment configured to communicate via both the wire 32 and the wire 29 which may extend to the supplementary second sensor assembly 28 (of alternative embodiment IUPS) and provide communication with the supplementary second sensor assembly 28. In a similar manner, fig. 4.B1 and 4.B2 show embodiments of HUFD displays as might be used on intermediate floors served by an elevator system. Also, fig. 4.C1 and 4.C2 show embodiments of HUFD displays as might be used on the top floor served by an elevator system. (it should be noted that in some embodiments, wireline 32 and wireline 29 may alternatively comprise a wireless communication system or a combination of wireline and wireless systems)

It can be seen that in some embodiments, the universal digital control system 10 can be economically retrofitted into existing elevator systems. In such a retrofit, no changes need to be made to the existing system of the elevator system other than the connection of the UICD 30 (or UID 30) to the elevator controller 20. It can then be seen that in some embodiments, the universal digital control system 10 is essentially self-contained. It may collect elevator car 12 position and direction of travel (or relative position from other IUPS23 sensing systems/units such as HUFD 24 and ICUD 25) from its own vertical position sensor assembly IUPS23 (or alternatively separate IUPS assemblies 26 and 28) and provide data communication between each HUFD 24 and UICD 30 (or UID 30) through one wire line connection 32 that is easily provided in hoistway 14. As noted above, HUFD 24 may also communicate wirelessly with ICUD 25 in elevator car 12. Furthermore, UICD 30 (or UID 30) may also communicate wirelessly directly with ICUD 25. Alternatively, communication between HUFD 24 and ICUD 25 and UICD 30 (or UID 30) may be accomplished through wireless communication. After retrofitting an elevator system with the universal digital control system 10 of certain embodiments, in addition to the UICD 30 (or UID 31) providing "piggybacked" or "stopover" data inputs to the elevator controller 20, the elevator controller 20 continues to operate with its preset operation and safety protocols that are unaffected by the addition of the universal digital control system 10. However, in many embodiments, the data input provided by IUCD 30 (or UID 31) to elevator controller 20 is the same as (or mimics) the data input and destination data signals that are otherwise provided to elevator controller 20 by pre-retrofitted (and post-retrofitted) elevator call buttons on each floor and sent to elevator controller 20 from a user input control panel in elevator car 12 by pre-retrofitting (and post-retrofitting). Thus, the universal digital control system 10 of particular embodiments can be "universally" applied to virtually any pre-existing elevator system in a very uncomplicated manner because the digital control system 10 is not plugged into any proprietary controls or protection facilities of the original elevator system. As also discussed herein, the system 10 can be configured to connect directly into call button circuits already present at each floor and/or into button circuits of an elevator car control panel. In this manner, the system 10 performs control, management, and tracking of all designs of the system 10 when the system 10 command signals are sent directly to the controller 20 via the floor call buttons and/or the existing communication channels of the elevator car control panel. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the universal digital control system 10 can be managed locally and does not require WIFI or cloud internet exchange to place elevator calls.

In some embodiments, ICUD 25 (and/or ICUD 125, e.g., from FIGS. 6-10) may include one or more of a display of elevator car 12 position, a display of elevator car 12 travel direction, a connection to IUPS 23, wireless communication to one or more HUFDs 24, wireless communication capabilities to user mobile phone 8 or other user devices, the ability to detect whether elevator car 12 lights are on or off, the ability to detect the presence of people or objects in elevator car 12, and/or a stand-alone battery backup for an ICUD.

The digital control system 10 and its components can be provided with "intelligent" digital capabilities to facilitate advanced and evolving digital services of the system. The system 10 is capable of providing intelligent features to owners and users of elevator systems to easily upgrade a previously "fooled" or non-advanced elevator system into a smart or "intelligent" elevator system. As an example of the intelligent function, the system 10 (or a component thereof such as the HUFD 24 or ICUD 25) is able to identify the mobile phone of a duplicate user of the system 10 and predict (based on previous user use of the elevator system) that a particular user will most likely wish to duplicate a particular destination floor selection. Thus, when the presence of a particular user approaching HUFD 24 or ICUD 25 is detected, system 10 is able to anticipate the most likely floor destination objective of the user, call an elevator to provide the anticipated elevator service, and notify the user's mobile device that the particular elevator is available (or arrives with an identified estimated arrival time) for the user's elevator travel. The user may enter the identified elevator car 12 and the system 10 can operate the appropriate elevator controls to deliver the user to his/her target destination floor without any action by the user. The system 10 is able to detect the user's entry and presence in the identified elevator car 12 and then proceed to close the door 18 and deliver the user to the destination floor. In some embodiments, the system 10 can wait for the user's confirmation of the "intelligently" identified target floor suggested by the system 10 before delivering the user. Because in many embodiments the application 33 can be universally identified and used by any elevator system in which the universal control system 10 has been installed, a user can access any such system 10 (whether or not the user has previously used the particular system 10), have the user's mobile device identified via the system's interface and communication with the user's application 33, and have the user be able to control (that particular user) an elevator system that was not previously used with his/her mobile device 8. Further, since the control system 10 may be intelligently enabled, after one or more uses by a particular user, the control system 10 may continue to suggest an intended elevator destination for that user, and possibly after one or more confirmations by the user, automatically continue to deliver the user to the intended destination floor without further prompting or input by the user. In embodiments where security measures are desired for the user to travel to a particular floor, registration of the user and his/her mobile device may be entered into the control system 10 before the user uses the system 10 to access the secured floor. Furthermore, tenants, residents or authorities of the secured floor can easily send a "pass authorization" to the intended visitor's mobile device 8 of the secured floor via text, email, global application service or other techniques, so that the application on the intended visitor's mobile device 8 can accept the sent and received "pass authorization" and communicate this "pass authorization" to the control system 10 when the authorized user approaches the HUFD of the particular system 10. Thus, the secured access to a particular floor can be easily controlled by the secured floor party without intervention of the premise security personnel or other intervention. In addition, the capability of a system 10 such as an ICUD is able to confirm that an authorized user (and no other people) has entered a particular elevator car before elevator car 12 is assigned to a secured floor. In some embodiments, the application may include an interface with scheduling or reservation software or the like such that "pass authorization" is automatically delivered to the mobile devices 8 of reserved guests to facilitate their automatic authorization to the secured floor. In addition, the application 33 can inform the authorized party of the target arrival times of authorized users to the vicinity of a particular building or elevator and of visitors to the secured floor. Additionally, such notification can be provided by the application 33 for the arrival of the user to an unsecured floor.

In some embodiments, the digital control system 10 may be configured to generate one or more alarms or other system actions/decisions when the presence of unauthorized persons is sensed in certain areas, such as an elevator car, elevator lobby, and/or other areas of a building or structure. In some embodiments, the digital control system 10 may be configured to implement certain actions upon detection of a security breach, or in situations such as when an elevator car may stop in a hoistway with passengers inside, or if suspicious behavior is detected near an arriving landing near an elevator door of a floor. Further, certain embodiments may also be configured to sense or detect proper mask wear, body temperature, biometric data identification (i.e., facial identification, etc.), presence or proximity detection or identification, social distance, limited mobility of the passenger or potential passenger, and take predetermined actions if such sensing or detection occurs. Providing such a flexibly adapted and programmed control system for the existing and relatively very "bare" control systems of many older elevator systems entails the advantages of minimal retrofitting or installation costs or difficulties, very low assembly costs, very high advancement and a platform that can be easily updated.

In some embodiments, all or part of the intelligent functionality of the system may be embodied in each HUFD 24, only one HUFD 24, in the UICD30, in the ICUD 25, or in any combination thereof. Some embodiments provide for various components of a general purpose processor implementation that can be assembled into the complete control system 10 and/or assembled in a plug-and-play manner, as well as variations in processor implementation selected among the arrangement of components in the system. In other embodiments, the control system 10 may include only a limited number of intelligent processor units, and the linked components of the system 10 communicate with and utilize the limited number of intelligent processors to achieve overall satisfactory system functionality at a lower overall component cost.

In some embodiments, the digital control system 10 can thus upgrade a previous "fool" elevator system to an "intelligent" elevator system that can identify a passenger mobile device or other device when a user or passenger approaches a building. The system 10 can then reserve elevator service by downloading applications onto the user's mobile device 8 (or other electronic device). For passengers requiring secure access to service, in some embodiments, control system 10 can confirm access permissions of the passenger and provide elevator service when the passenger approaches HUFD 24 or enters car ICUD 25. In some embodiments, the control system 10 is able to communicate to the user's mobile device 8 the availability of elevator service provided for user service as well as the floor location and direction of travel of the elevator (as well as other information). Furthermore, in some embodiments, the control system 10 facilitates a completely contactless user experience so that an elevator user can fully call and command an elevator simply by using the user's mobile telephone 8. Thus, a very simple elevator can be provided cheaply, quickly and efficiently with an advanced digital non-contact control system that upgrades the elevator to the highest-level digital experience-i.e. an experience that can be continuously updated through simple steps of updating the software and/or some firmware of the control system 10.

Because of its independent, stand-alone design (independent of the pre-retrofit elevator control system), the control system 10 is also capable of showing and or detecting anomalies in elevator system operation, thereby providing a series of intelligent reports or alerts to individual building or elevator stakeholders depending on the type of application of the control system (which may be selected based on various stakeholder configurations). In some aspects, the control system 10 can function as an "external" or "stand-alone" supervisor due to its independent, stand-alone design. Thus, in some embodiments, control system 10 may be considered a physician who constantly monitors the health of the elevator system in which it has been installed. Since the control system 10 can have its own IUPS 23 (acceleration, vibration and noise sensor) extract the controller 20 signals and information, and it is able to continuously accurately ascertain performance and data analysis capabilities of potential problems in the elevator system that would otherwise not be possible to detect in the elevator system without a professional checking the system.

The control system 10 improves the reliability of the previous fool elevator operation over time because it may have no moving parts, is digital, and converts the previous fool operation of the elevator system into an intelligent elevator digital system. The control system 10 acts as a parallel reliable system, actually monitoring the fooled elevator-transforming the whole user experience for elevator service into an elevator experience that is preferably intelligent and digitally implemented. The control system 10 can be economically designed and manufactured so as to be universally applicable to various designs of original equipment elevator service. Because the control system 10 is modular and smart, it can support value added upgrade functions and features that provide value to stakeholders when additional services and/or digital capability development may be desired.

The control system 10 can also provide independent performance analysis of the elevator system such as the number and duration of runs in each direction and floor destination, the number and stopping accuracy of door/lock opening and closing at each floor, noise inside the car or due to door operation and car and door vibration. Furthermore, with digital sensors in the machine room or other elevator installation space, the control system 10 is able to log and confirm the presence of a maintenance technician in the elevator machine room or other elevator installation space. Additionally, the control system 10 is able to log passenger information including information such as the direction and position of the elevator. The system 10 can provide time savings, for example, by subscribing ahead to the elevator to the point of use and providing information such as ETA to the dispatch floor and ETA to the destination floor. Each or each of the HUFD or ICUD may incorporate cameras, motion sensors, temperature sensors, proximity sensors, light sensors, microphones, micrometers, and associated digital processors and software to facilitate a number of smart or intelligent system controls or features. For example, the system 10 can provide security advantages such as aggressive behavior recognition (and when recognized, can trigger locking or unlocking a door when desired), passenger biometric data recognition (i.e., facial recognition, etc.), surveillance camera operation, and phone number recognition of the customer. The control system 10 can also be provided with health and safety features including detection, recording and/or alerting of predetermined body temperature, predetermined social distance, quality detection and air health conditions, and driving air health functions. The control system 10 can also provide safety in use such as activation of lights in the elevator car 12 and other safety features such as delay in closing the elevator doors 18 based on user conditions such as detection of a wheelchair, a child cart or slow moving person, a stretcher, a case on a landing and/or removal.

In some embodiments, digital control system 10 may be designed to avoid any connection with elevator car 12 (separate from elevator car 12, in some embodiments, attachment of ICUD 25 to the interior of elevator car 12), thus eliminating any need for running wiring through flex cable 31 typically used (in typical pre-existing elevator systems) to communicate with elevator car 12.

Because control system 10 may include its own independent battery backup system and its own elevator position sensing system, it can be used to reliably provide accurate actual position of elevator car 12 in the event of a building outage or emergency stop of the elevator. Thus, emergency personnel or other personnel approaching the elevator system can easily identify the exact location of the stopped elevator car 12 (such as from the display of the HUFD 24 or via communication with the application 33 of the people moving device 8) without entering the hoistway or opening the door 18. In the same way, the user is informed via a smart phone or other device whether the elevator is down and where the taxi is down.

The universal control system 10 can provide an equivalent form of existing tactile buttons that replace pre-retrofit elevator systems, can provide a smart building management system, can provide software and means to control access to a building, and can be used to provide independent monitoring of elevator operation.

In some embodiments, the control system 10 has only a single attachment or connection point to the pre-retrofit elevator system. The single connection point may include data communication between UICD 30 (or UID 31) and elevator controller 20. In some embodiments, the control system 10 has one or more attachments or connection points to a pre-retrofit elevator system. This alternative single connection point or connection between UICD 30 (or UID 31) and ICUD 25 may be by way of a pre-existing car operating panel mounted inside elevator car or HUFD 24 and a pre-existing hall button mounted at the landing, or in other embodiments ICUC 25 can be connected to the pre-existing car operating panel and HUFD 24 can be connected to the pre-existing hall button. In some embodiments, the control system may have only a single point of attachment, connection, or communication with the pre-retrofit elevator system—this single point may be directly or indirectly input to the elevator controller 20.

In some embodiments, control system 10 can be applied with an appropriate interface to existing elevator controls of a multi-elevator building or installation.

In some embodiments, the control system may not include the use of ICUD 25 (see, e.g., fig. 1.A.3, 1.B.2, 1.C.2, and 1. E.2). In some embodiments, the use of ICUD 25 provides the desired additional functionality not provided by HUFD 24. An example of an advantageous use of ICUD 25 in control system 10 is an implementation with duplex or multiplexed installation of elevators (2 or more than 2 elevators at a location). In some embodiments, ICUD 25 does not require a connection through the flexible cable 31 of the elevator system, but in some embodiments, such a connection may be utilized. ICUD 25 may include one or more of the following intelligent features or functions: location, orientation, car position sensor connection, field alphanumeric programmable location name or number, (and detection of phone/tag identification, social distance, passenger biometric data identification (i.e., facial identification, etc.), body temperature, mask proper wear, etc.), wireless communication with the HUFD 24 and/or smart phone, or remote commands from the client device, and can be combined with functions such as detecting lights in the car on, detecting presence inside the car, etc. In some embodiments, ICUD 25 may communicate wirelessly with HUFD 24 to exchange data regarding the position and direction of the car, as well as other information. In some embodiments, ICUD 25 may also receive calls from user mobile devices 8 within elevator car 12. In some embodiments, ICUD 25 may utilize an already existing elevator car 12 power supply (such as in the top of elevator car 12) to maintain power in an independent battery backup configured with ICUD 25. In some embodiments, ICUD 25 may be adapted to be positioned anywhere inside or outside of the car. Positioning may incorporate non-contact means to prevent closing of the door when an object is detected in the door closing path to increase enhanced safe operation. In some embodiments, ICUD 25 may be connected directly in parallel to a pre-existing car operating panel positioned inside the car. In this case, ICUD 25 may exchange data directly with HFUD 24 or a device of the client.

Fig. 6-10 illustrate examples of a universal digital control system 10 in accordance with one or more embodiments and may reflect the embodiments referenced on each of the figures or other embodiments. Shown is control system 10 including HUFD 124, IUPS 142, ICUD125, UICD 130, UID 131, and linking application 144. UICD 130 or UID 131 communicates with an existing elevator machine 150 controller via link 148. When IUD 131 or IUCD 130 is omitted and incorporated into HUFD 124 and/or ICUD125, line 148 may represent a connection to a pre-existing elevator system (which may be a controller or car operating panel or hall button). Communication path 146 illustrates a communication link (again, taking into account wired or wireless communications) that enables data flow between HUFD 124, IUPS 142, ICUD125, and UICD 130 or IUD 131. It should be noted that fig. 6-10 are merely illustrative and do not specifically specify the sequence of data communications between components of the system. Alternatively, fig. 6-10 may be viewed as indicating in what order the various components are connected to the communication path 146 or if they are connected via a mesh or similar hierarchical structure, the communication path 146 enables data flow generally through or to the various components. The communication path 146 may include both wired and wireless components.

Fig. 6-10 illustrate examples of a universal digital control system 10 in accordance with one or more embodiments. Shown is control system 10 including HUFD 124, IUPS 142, and UICD 130 or IUD 131, and linking application 144. UICD 130 communicates with an existing elevator machine 150 controller via link 148. Communication path 146 illustrates a communication link that enables data flow between or among HUFD 124, IUPS 142, and UICD 130 or IUD 131. Comparing the embodiments shown in fig. 6-10 may include only one HUFD 124.

In embodiments such as fig. 6, 8, 9, and 10, UID 131 primarily serves as an interface device for communicating with existing elevator machine controllers 150. In some embodiments, such as those shown in different figures, external UID 131 is not utilized. Alternatively, components of system 10 may interface with existing floor devices of a pre-existing elevator system and or with pre-existing car panels (and signals from digital system 10 are delivered to existing elevator machine 150 or elevator controller 20. Additionally, in some embodiments as shown in the different figures, UID 131 functionality may also be embedded into one or more of HUFDs 124 or ICUP 125 such that signals from embedded UIDs may be sent directly from embedded UIDs 131 to elevator controller 20 (and/or to call button circuits and/or elevator car control panel button circuits at the respective floors). In some such embodiments, UID 131 is used to convert signals (from one or more of HUFDs 124 or ICUP 125 intended to be sent to existing elevator machine 150 or elevator controller 20) into an appropriate format and/or pin outputs of existing elevator machine 150 or elevator controller 20.

In some embodiments, one or more HUFDs 124 may embody most of the intelligence of system 10. One or more HUFDs 124 may include UICD 130 or UID 131 and data may flow between one or more HUFDs 124 and elevator machine 150 and/or elevator controller 20 via communication path 146 or other communication paths or systems. The figures illustrate both wired and wireless communication solutions.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a general digital control system or components thereof in accordance with one or more embodiments. Shown are exemplary HUFDs 224 and/or ICUDs 125 in the function/tool view. As also shown in fig. 5, HUFD 224 also includes sensors 260, which sensors 260 may include any number of sensors and/or sensor types, which may include, but are not limited to, cameras (both still and video), temperature sensors, proximity sensors, motion sensors, light sensors, microphones, antennas, microphones, and other sensors. Data from one or more sensors may be delivered to processor 268 and/or to HUFD 224 or other components of control system 10. The processor 268 may analyze data from one or more sensors and perform a wide variety of processes such as detecting human presence, detecting other presence, detecting movement, detecting and analyzing temperature of an object (including living beings), speed of movement of an object, proximity of an object, number of individual objects, level of light, change in light, biometric characteristics. Processor 268 may also analyze or process data from other components of system 10 as well as from other sources. Additional functional/tool components of HUFD 224 include communication with user module 262, communication with system module 264, display 266, data storage 270, and battery backup 272. The functionality of each or many components of HUFD 224 may be combined with the functionality of other components of HUFD/ICUD 224. Communication with user module 262 may facilitate communication with a user, including voice recognition, recognition of visual signals from a user or from a user's phone, recognition of wireless signals and electronic signals, and communication with a user (such as via user mobile device 8), among others. In some embodiments, the functionality of HUFD/ICUD224 may be used to provide local communication with a user, analysis of elevator door floor proximity, security and alerting of problems in elevator door floor proximity, passenger biometric data identification (i.e., facial identification, etc.), object identification, temperature inspection and verification, movement detection analysis, signaling, and related alerting. In some embodiments, HUFD/ICUD224 processes all or virtually all local decisions for the floor and then sends a signal to UID 131 or UICD 30 to signal elevator controller 20. In some embodiments, one or more HUFDs/ICUDs 224 may include UID 131, UICD 130, or other capabilities to communicate with elevator controller 20 (without including a separate UID 131 or UICD 130 in the system). In this manner, and by way of example, HUFD/ICUD224 is able to detect the proximity presence of a potential user that is "known" to the system or that is not yet "known" to the system. The HUFD/ICUD224 can establish communication with the user's mobile phone, can recognize the user's face, can audibly or visually greet the user, can suggest or call the elevator and target destination for the user based on the system's analysis of the user's previous use of the system and communicate it to the user via any, many or all communication system options, the HUFD/ICUD224 can alert that the sensed temperature exceeds a predefined limit and take the resulting decisions or actions, such as, for example, prohibiting the elevator door from opening and thus the elevator from entering into or exiting out to floors where people with elevated temperatures appear, refusing to "call" the elevator for users with elevated temperatures, and alert the user to the temperature of the user, alert the building to the user's temperature, alert other users or people in the vicinity of the HUFD/ICUD224, and can send messages to the building management department. In some embodiments, HUFD/ICUD224 may process any requests made by the user and send them (if approved by HUFD/ICUD 224) to control system 10 to call an elevator or otherwise respond to the requests. In some of these embodiments, the HUFD/ICUD224 then need not have any connection to broadband or even to the internet, but rather by using its own sensors and communication with the user (and, in some cases, other devices in the control system 10), the HUFD/ICUD224 can make virtually all decisions needed to handle local user requirements and system/building security protocols, and can send an elevator "call" signal to the control system 10 once the HUFD/ICUD224 approves these. HUFD/ICUD224 is capable of performing any of the processes/actions described in this disclosure for HUFD/ICUD224 (and UICD 130 or UID 131).

Fig. 1.A, 1.B, 1.C, 1.D, and 1.e illustrate examples of a universal digital control system 10, or components thereof, in accordance with one or more embodiments. Many of the components in fig. 1.A are the same as shown in fig. 1.B, fig. 1.C, fig. 1.D, fig. 1.e. However, as already discussed, fig. 1.A shows IUPS 23 as a positioning system that can be located anywhere in hoistway 14 (and may include a laser or encoder, etc.) and that can very accurately determine the position of elevator car 12. Data from IUPS 23 is shown being transmitted to UICD 30 via wire line 32a, although wireless communication may also be used between IUPS 23 and UICD 30. As noted above, in some embodiments, no separate UICD 30 or UID 31 is required, and the UICD 30 or UID 31 functions are embodied in other components of system 10, such as in one or more HUFD/ICUDs 224. In some such embodiments, data from IUPS 23 may be transferred to any or all other components of the system, such as via communication link 146 or other links in some cases.

Importantly, in some embodiments, the control system 10 is capable of utilizing existing systems of existing elevators. For example, in some embodiments, the control system 10 is able to collect information from existing elevator vertical position systems rather than utilizing independent universal position systems 23 or 123, and use the collected vertical position information in the operation of the control system 10.

In some embodiments, the control system may include a unique independent universal system 1010 consisting of the HUFD24 at each floor or only some (or one) of those floors served by a particular elevator system. Some embodiments may include a HUFD24 with embedded information that permits elevator position and direction information to be displayed independently of the elevator control system. In some embodiments, one or more of the HUFDs 24 may include a reader transmitter or similar device that interfaces with a user's smart phone. In some embodiments, ICUD 25 may be wirelessly connected to one or more HUFDs 24 and may have a reader transmitter or similar device connected to the user's smart phone. In some embodiments, the control system may include an IUPS 23 that enables the HUFD24 to detect the position of the elevator car independently of or without any interference with a pre-existing or conventional elevator system. In some embodiments, the control system may include IUPS 23 that enables ICUD 25 to detect the position of an elevator car independently of or without any interference with a pre-existing or conventional elevator system. In some embodiments, control system 10 may include only one electrical interface with the elevator system, and the electrical interface may be from UICD 30 or UID 31 to elevator controller 20. In some embodiments, control system 10 may enable control system 10 to perform command and monitoring functions through additional existing elevator machines. In some embodiments, the smart phone application in the mobile device 8 may receive data from the control system 10 and the received data originates only from the control system 10 and does not refer to data from another existing elevator control system. In some embodiments, the smart phone application in the mobile device 8 may send data to the control system 10 to control the operation of the elevator system via the control system 10 without accessing manual elevator call buttons or elevator interior control panel buttons.

In some embodiments, control system 10 may be modular, wherein various components readily identify other installed control system 10 components (such as HUFD 24, ICUD 25, UICD 30, and other components), and in some embodiments provide components of a substantially plug and play variety. Furthermore, the various embodiments may provide different levels of advancement in the ability and processing of the several components of the control system 10. Such modular embodiments, particularly those having different levels of processing advancement in the various system components, allow for easy connection of the various components, with component cost factors matching the required processing advancement capabilities of the particular components of the system being assembled for installation.

For example, in some embodiments, HUFD 24 provides relatively simple functions to communicate with user mobile telephone 8, ICUD 25 and UICD 30, whereas UICD 30 performs tracking of elevator car 12 position data from IUPS 23, communication with elevator controller 20, formulation of signals back to HUFD 24 and ICUD 25, and tracking and logging of elevator performance data.

For example, in some embodiments, UID 131 primarily only serves as an interface device to communicate with existing elevator machines 150, while the intelligence (or control components) of system 10 is embodied in one or more HUFDs 124 (where one or more HUFDs 124 perform tracking of elevator car 12 position data from IUPS 123, communicate with UID 131, communicate with ICUD 125, communicate with other HUFDs 124, and track and log elevator performance data). The log record may be visible everywhere, including the user's smart phone, and the information is downloaded when 8 is connected to WIFI.

For example, in some embodiments, each HUFD 24 may include relatively advanced processing capabilities to provide processing-intensive capabilities, such as passenger biometric data identification (i.e., facial identification, etc.) at each floor location, and in other embodiments, ICUD 25 may be capable of performing the same relatively advanced processing capabilities to provide processing-intensive capabilities, such as passenger biometric data identification (i.e., facial identification, etc.). In some of these embodiments, UID 131 may be relatively non-advanced, and the primary controls of system 10 control component functions, and data tracking and logging may be performed by one or more relatively advanced HUFDs 24 (or ICUDs 25).

For example, in some embodiments, one HUFD 24 (and/or ICUD 25) may include relatively advanced processing capabilities to provide processing intensive capabilities, such as passenger biometric data identification (i.e., facial identification, etc.) at one floor, such as a main floor or ground floor, etc. Additional HUFDs 24 on other floors may be relatively less advanced than one HUFD 24 on a main or ground floor that performs primary system 10 controls, inter-component communications, and data tracking and logging.

In some embodiments, the invention may include a system wherein a device not attached to an elevator car controls operation of the system. For example, in some embodiments, the devices that are not attached to either floors or elevator cars control the operation of the system. For example, in some embodiments, the means for controlling the operation of the system may be associated with a vertical position sensing system or may be located elsewhere with respect to the elevator system.

In some embodiments, communications from elevator passengers, whether service calls from various floors or destination floor destination inputs-or other passenger commands (e.g., stop, hold door, close door, etc.), may be received directly at ICUD25 without first being received at HUFD 24. In some such embodiments, it may not be necessary to include a separate HUFD 24. In some embodiments of this manner, system 10 may include ICUD25 of a control component in communication with the vertical position sensing system, the ICUD25 configured to receive passenger service call requests, target floor destination inputs (and, in some cases, other passenger inputs), the ICUD25 further in functional communication with an elevator controller and to direct elevator car travel and service, wherein the elevator controller is responsive to the guidance from ICUD25 but maintains control of travel and safe operation of the elevator.

While specific embodiments have been described in this specification in terms of certain embodiments, it should be understood that in certain embodiments either or both of the first communication system or the second communication system may include wireless communications.

It should be understood that certain embodiments of the present invention may include a self-contained elevator control system to be used or installed in an elevator system, wherein the first elevator system does not include all of the components of the first elevator system as otherwise described herein. Furthermore, it should be understood that certain embodiments of the present invention may include all or some of the components or aspects of the presently described independent elevator control system applied to newly built or rebuilt elevator systems, wherein the components of the presently described independent elevator system include only floor installations and/or only elevator installations and/or only vertical position sensor systems in the newly built. Illustratively, in an exemplary newly-built elevator system, the primary floor device may include a HUFD and/or the primary elevator car control panel device may include an ICUD and the primary vertical position sensor system may include an IUPS. In some such embodiments, the new elevator system may be configured without using floor devices other than the HUFD, and/or the elevator control panel device may include substantially only ICUD, and/or the new elevator system may rely primarily on IUPS rather than a different system for vertical position sensing. Similarly, in a rebuilding scenario, existing floor devices, elevator control panel assemblies, and/or vertical positioning assemblies may be disabled or removed, and the rebuilding elevator system may be functionally configured using one or more of HUFD, ICUD, and/or IUPS. Additionally and in some cases, as alternative embodiments, various HUFDs, ICUDs, and/or IUPS may replace the first system (or otherwise existing) floor arrangement, elevator control panel, and/or vertical positioning system, wherein the replaced first system components may be disabled, removed, replaced, or left intact, while one or more HUFDs, ICUDs, and/or IUPS components or functions may be inserted into the existing elevator system.

In some embodiments, the EUDA type controller functionality can be embodied in a new equipment elevator controller (in this case referred to as a EUDA-enabled controller). In some embodiments, the EUDA-enabled controller can be installed in conjunction with the new elevator system and can be in functional communication with the EUDA floor device and the EUDA elevator car device via wireless connections and without physical wiring between the EUDA floor device, the EUDA elevator car device, and the EUDA-enabled controller. The EUDA enabled component can then control the elevator system while also providing all of the other EUDA enabled features described in this application.

In some embodiments, the controller supporting the EUDA may be installed in an existing elevator system and communicate wirelessly with the EUDA floor installation and the EUDA car installation that have similarly been installed at the existing elevator system. The EUDA enabled component can then control the elevator system while also providing all of the other EUDA enabled features described in this application.

In some embodiments, the EUDA system may derive the number of passengers in a particular elevator car. The estimated number of passengers in the elevator car can then be used to estimate the weight of the passengers or load in the elevator car. This estimated weight can then be used by the EUDA system to protect and/or implement safety features, such as alerting and possibly taking appropriate action (such as not allowing the elevator doors to close or not allowing the elevator car to travel) for weight overload situations, or providing guidance that some passengers should exit the car for weight or safety reasons, or other appropriate action. In some embodiments, the EUDA system may detect the presence of cargo, packages, or other inanimate objects in an elevator car and generate an estimated weight of such objects in an EUDA calculation for the weight loading of the elevator car.

In some embodiments, the EUDA system may use the number of mobile phones detected in the elevator car to estimate the number of passengers in the elevator car. In some embodiments, the EUDA system may use sensors, such as cameras, thermal sensors, or other sensors, to estimate the number of passengers in the elevator car. Based on the estimated number of elevator passengers in the elevator car, the EUDA system may calculate an estimated weight of the estimated total number of passengers (such as by using one or more preset weight values associated with each type of passenger detected in the elevator car).

In some embodiments, the EUDA system or health device/system as described herein may use the derived number of passengers and/or estimated weight loading in the elevator car and accumulate the derived loading data in the operational database for service, safety, maintenance, and/or other reasons. Additionally, data relating to the cumulative weight load and the elevator weight load carried by the elevator can be transmitted to systems other than the direct elevator system.

In some embodiments, the EUDA system can be used to skip floors (i.e., not stop and open doors at one or more skipped floors) in situations where the EUDA system has determined that the elevator car is full (such as because an estimated weight of a specified passenger or cargo is reached) and no goal is present in the elevator car to skip passengers that exit the elevator car at the skipped floors, regardless of the operating protocol of the elevator system which may be reversed.

In some embodiments, the EUDA system may optimize the transportation mode of the elevator car based on the EUDA's knowledge of the location and destination requests of the elevator user and passengers at the floor and in the elevator car. In some embodiments, the EUDA system may further identify the number of people waiting for elevator service on one or more floors and use this identified number in the EUDA calculation to optimize elevator travel and transportation operations.

In some embodiments, the EUDA system may be used to detect and provide an indication and/or notification of a "shutdown" or "trapped passenger" condition to a service or rescue operation call center.

In some embodiments, the EUDA system is able to identify a passenger (e.g., via phone ID, facial recognition, or other) and ascertain whether the identified passenger is boarding an appropriate elevator car targeted for the passenger's destination floor (including, such as in a multi-car elevator system). Furthermore, in some embodiments, the EUDA system can identify and alert a passenger if (as ascertained by the destination floor requested by a particular passenger) the passenger exits the elevator car at an incorrect floor.

In some embodiments, the EUDA system may enable recognition of voice commands that keep the landing door open or closed, such as if the user's hand is otherwise occupied (such as because of holding a parcel, child, animal cord, pushing a stroller, wheelchair, etc.). Once enabled, the EUDA can use the recognized voice command, in some cases in conjunction with the recognition of a particular passenger (such as via recognition of a mobile phone, facial recognition, or other means), to provide passenger request input to the EUDA system for elevator travel or other operations.

In some embodiments, the EUDA system is capable of sensing conditions that support triggering an audible or inaudible alarm or a wireless alarm, for example, upon sensing a dangerous condition of a passenger. In some embodiments, the EUDA can identify the presence of more than one passenger in the elevator car and then can implement special sensing and analysis protocols to provide protection or alerting for one or more passengers (such protocols may include monitoring passenger behavior to detect threats or other unacceptable behavior by one passenger). In some embodiments, the EUDA system may also activate speech recognition when more than one passenger is detected in the elevator car, such that if the passenger verbally shoens or requests assistance or provides other identifiable verbal cues to the EUDA system, the speech recognition can identify a concurrent alert.

In some embodiments, the EUDA system can modify existing elevator controller protocol systems, such as existing "down set", "up set", "full set" or "single action button (SAPB)" or other protocols, to cause the elevator system to operate according to more advanced or customized protocols as recommended by the EUDA software or elevator management. In some embodiments, the protocol implemented by the EUDA system may vary by time of day, day of the week, or according to other sensed conditions associated with the elevator system.

Aspects of the invention include a method of upgrading an existing elevator system, wherein the existing elevator system includes an elevator car and a first elevator controller that processes signals from a first passenger input device and directs travel of the elevator car according to at least one elevator command protocol, and wherein the method of upgrading an existing elevator system includes installing a separate control device in functional communication with the existing elevator system. Additional aspects of the invention may include one or more methods of this paragraph (or other paragraphs) wherein the independent control device receives signals from a second set of passenger input devices (which may, in some embodiments, receive or transmit and receive communications from the passenger mobile electronic devices). Further aspects of the invention may include one or more methods of this paragraph (or other paragraphs) wherein the independent control device processes signals from the second set of passenger input devices and sends command signals to the first elevator controller such that the first elevator controller causes the elevator car to travel vertically to the floor in accordance with the command signals sent by the independent control device. Additional aspects of the invention can include one or more of the methods of this paragraph (or other paragraphs) wherein the first elevator controller maintains safety and operational control of the elevator car despite the elevator car being driven in accordance with the command signals sent by the independent control devices. Further aspects of the invention may include one or more methods of this paragraph (or other paragraphs) wherein the independent control device may direct the first elevator controller to drive the elevator car according to an elevator command protocol different from a protocol followed by the first elevator controller without intervention of the independent control device. Further aspects of the invention may include one or more methods of this paragraph (or other paragraphs) wherein the independent control device may direct the first elevator controller to cause the elevator car to travel according to an elevator command protocol that is different from a command protocol to which the first elevator controller was configured prior to installing the independent control device in functional communication with the first elevator controller. Further aspects of the invention may include one or more methods of this paragraph (or other paragraphs) wherein the independent control device may direct the first elevator controller to drive the elevator car according to one or more protocols of President, SAPB, down-set, up-set, and or full-set selection. Additional aspects of the invention may include one or more methods of this paragraph (or other paragraphs) in which

In some embodiments, aspects of the invention include a method of: upgrading or customizing the run command protocols of existing elevator systems by implementing independent control means that receive passenger requests and/or destination floor designations, processing those requests or designations using a different run command protocol than the one that the existing elevator system is configured to implement without intervention of the independent control means; and issuing an elevator travel command to the existing elevator system according to the upgraded or customized operating command protocol while enabling the existing elevator system to continue to operate according to its existing safety and operating protocols. Such upgraded or customized run command protocols may include President, SAPB, downset, upset, and or corpus or other known or customized protocols. The individual control devices can be modified relatively easily by changing or upgrading the software of the control device. Such changes or upgrades may be accomplished through various known techniques such as remote upgrades via the internet or other communication systems or local upgrades of software. Because the independent control device does not affect the existing safety and operating systems and protocols of the existing elevator system, changes or upgrades to the software of the independent control device can be made without affecting the mechanical and safe operation of the existing elevator system.

For clarity, in some embodiments, components of the independent system may be described as an additional system (or "piggyback" system) onto an existing elevator control system. Thus, the user may use a stand-alone system or an existing system to input a call or instruction. If a passenger makes a service call at the first system floor installation, the call made via the existing floor installation button will be diverted directly to the existing (first) elevator controller and the elevator response to this service call is governed by the protocol of this (first) elevator controller, whereas the passenger service call made via the EUDA system will be diverted to the independent control device and the elevator travel itinerary can be controlled by the protocol of the independent elevator controller or other software-while the safety and operating controls are still handled by the existing elevator controller. Additionally, if a passenger issues a floor destination assignment via the first system car device, the floor destination assignment issued via the existing car device button will be diverted directly to the existing (first) elevator controller and the elevator response to the floor destination assignment can be governed by the protocol of the (first) elevator controller. Alternatively, if the passenger issues a floor destination designation via a second (independent) system, such as via communication with a second (independent) car device and/or a second (independent) floor device and/or another second (independent) device, e.g., via signals from the passenger moving device to the second (independent) component, the elevator travel can be controlled by the protocol or other software of the independent elevator controller-while the safety and travel controls are still handled by the existing elevator controller.

In some embodiments, aspects of the invention may include a system in which an independent component, in some cases referred to as an "independent health device," may be attached to an elevator system, may be configured for data communication with a vertical position sensing system, and may monitor and store performance data of an elevator car. In some embodiments, the independent health device may be in functional communication with an existing elevator system to receive (and possibly store) data representing each call received by the elevator system for service, each destination floor destination received by the system associated with a particular service call, and performance data related to the elevator system. The performance data may include one or more of the following: each call received by the system for elevator service, each destination floor destination associated with a call for elevator service, the actual travel time of the elevator for each service run, the time and date of each run of the elevator system, the speed of each movement of the elevator car, the cumulative travel time of the elevator car, the cumulative travel distance of the elevator car, any alarms generated by any component of the elevator system, the identity and travel history of each elevator passenger in the elevator, the accuracy of the stop position of the elevator car at each floor, the operation of the elevator door, the on or off condition of the lights in the elevator. The independent health device may analyze aspects of the performance data, including analysis in view of a predetermined performance threshold, and store the analysis results. The independent health device may communicate performance data and/or analysis results with certain devices of the first elevator system and/or with devices that are not part of the first elevator system. In some embodiments, the independent health device may be in functional communication with or include an independent vertical position system that is independent of the first or existing elevator vertical position sensing system. In some embodiments, the independent health device may serve the function of monitoring elevator system performance but not controlling elevator operation. In some embodiments, the independent health device may be used as an elevator monitoring system independent of other existing elevator systems. In some embodiments, the independent health device may generate and/or transmit an alert to a component external to the basic functional components of the elevator system when certain analytical calculations of the independent car device indicate that aspects of the performance data have exceeded or exceeded a predetermined performance threshold. In some embodiments, such alarms are automatically transmitted to components external to the basic functional components of the elevator system. In some embodiments, such alarms may be used to suspend or minimize operation of the elevator system. In some embodiments, the independent health device may generate and transmit periodic performance reports for the elevator system.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments is intended to be illustrative of the scope of the invention and is not intended to be limiting. It is intended that the scope of the invention should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. It will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the systems and methods discussed herein may be implemented in a variety of embodiments, and that the foregoing discussion of certain of these embodiments does not necessarily represent a complete description of all possible embodiments. Rather, the detailed description of the drawings, and the drawings themselves, disclose at least one preferred embodiment, and may disclose alternative embodiments.

Claims (15)

1. A self-contained system for upgrading an existing elevator system in a structure, wherein the existing elevator system comprises:

a plurality of first floor devices, wherein individual first floor devices are positioned on respective floors of the structure, and each first floor device is configured to receive elevator passenger call input;

A first elevator car control input panel;

a first elevator vertical position sensing system;

a first elevator controller that: receiving a signal corresponding to a passenger call input from the first floor device; receiving a signal corresponding to a passenger floor destination input from the car control input panel; and controlling the travel and safe operation of the elevator; and

a first communication system providing communication between the plurality of first floor devices and the first elevator controller;

the independent system is configured to receive signals corresponding to passenger elevator call inputs and passenger floor designation inputs and includes:

a second elevator car device attached to the elevator car and configured to receive elevator passenger floor destination input;

an independent control assembly in functional communication with the first elevator controller and the second elevator vertical position sensing system and configured to:

processing signals received from the second elevator vertical position sensing system corresponding to elevator passenger call input, passenger floor destination input, and elevator vertical position data, and generating an elevator car travel distance based on the processed signals; and is also provided with

Generating a command signal for sending to the first elevator controller to cause the first elevator controller to provide elevator car service conforming to the generated elevator car travel itinerary; and

dispatching the generated command signal to be transmitted to the first elevator controller; and

a separate interface assembly configured to trim command signals dispatched from the separate control assembly such that the trimmed command signals mimic signals received by the first elevator controller from the first floor device and the first car control input panel; and is also provided with

Wherein the independent system is further configured to cause the trimmed assigned command signal to be transmitted to the first elevator controller.

2. The independent system of claim 1 wherein the first elevator controller maintains direct control of travel and safe operation of the elevator car but also directs operation of the elevator car in response to the command signal delivered to the first elevator controller from the independent control assembly.

3. The stand-alone system of claim 2, further comprising: a plurality of second floor devices, wherein individual second floor devices are positioned on respective floors of the structure and are configured to receive passenger call input at the respective floors; and a second communication system providing signal communication between each of the second floor devices and the second elevator car device.

4. The independent system of claim 3 wherein the second elevator car arrangement comprises the independent control assembly.

5. A self-contained system according to claim 3, wherein the self-contained control assembly is embodied in a second floor arrangement.

6. The independent system of claim 3, wherein the independent control assembly is embodied in a device other than one of the second elevator car device or the second floor device.

7. The independent system of claim 3 wherein the independent system determines the vertical position of the elevator car by triangulation between the second elevator car device and at least one second floor device.

8. A method of upgrading an existing elevator system,

the existing elevator system includes a first elevator controller, a first elevator passenger input device, and an elevator car, the first elevator controller configured to: directing vertical travel operation of the elevator system according to a protocol defined in the first elevator controller;

the method includes installing a second elevator control in functional communication with the first elevator controller, and wherein the second elevator control receives a signal representative of a passenger input provided from a passenger mobile wireless device, the second elevator control configured to: guiding elevator travel according to one or more protocols defined in the second elevator control;

Wherein elevator vertical travel operation is performed in accordance with a protocol defined in the first elevator controller for passenger input signals received at the first elevator passenger input device and elevator vertical travel operation is performed in accordance with a protocol defined in the second elevator control for passenger input received at the second elevator control from a passenger mobile wireless device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first elevator controller maintains direct control of travel and safe operation of the elevator car regardless of whether the elevator travel operation is performed according to a protocol defined in the first elevator controller or according to a protocol defined in the second elevator control.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a protocol defined in the first elevator controller is different from a protocol defined in the second elevator control.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the second elevator control device: generating an elevator travel itinerary in response to a passenger input received from a passenger mobile device and according to a protocol defined in the second elevator control device, and transmitting an elevator travel guide to the first elevator controller to cause the first elevator controller to operate the elevator travel according to the generated elevator travel itinerary.

12. A method of upgrading a first existing elevator system having a plurality of first floor devices, an elevator control device, and a first communication system providing transmission of signals between the plurality of first floor devices and the elevator control device, the method comprising:

installing a second system at the existing elevator system, the second system comprising a plurality of second floor devices, a second elevator car device, an independent control module, and a second communication system providing transmission of signals between the plurality of second floor devices and the second elevator car device,

each of the second floor devices and the second elevator car are configured to: transmitting and receiving contactless communication with the mobile phone of the elevator passenger,

the independent control module is configured to: processing signals received from the mobile phones of the elevator passengers and vertical position data from a vertical position sensing system and generating elevator travel command signals;

connecting the second system to the first system

Such that the first system maintains direct control of travel and safe operation of the elevator car while the second system provides an elevator travel command signal to the first system that is consistent with elevator passenger input; and

Such that the first system directs elevator travel in accordance with the elevator travel command signals generated from the independent control assembly.

13. The method of claim 12, the method further comprising:

a second vertical sensing system is installed in functional association with the second system, and wherein the control module processes vertical position data from the second vertical position sensing system when generating the elevator drive command signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second elevator vertical position sensing system determines the vertical position of the elevator car by triangulating between the second elevator car device and at least one second floor device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the second vertical position sensing system comprises a first element attached at each floor served by the elevator and a second cooperating element attached to the elevator car.

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