EP1479635B1 - Control method and system to control the lighting of an elevator car - Google Patents

Abstract

A monitoring process for an elevator cabin lighting system comprises a light sensor (12) recognizing light (22) in the cabin and giving an evaluable sensor signal (SS). A light-influencing unit (14) is controlled by a signal (CS), sensor and control signals are processed and an information signal (IS) produced. An independent claim is also included for a monitoring system for the above process.

Description

The invention relates to a monitoring method for monitoring the lighting of an elevator car according to the preamble of claim 1, and to a monitoring system for carrying out these methods according to the preamble of claim 5.

Elevator cabs, in particular those provided only or even for the transport of persons, generally have a lighting device with which they can be illuminated. In some countries / lighting for lift cabs is even compulsory. To make sure that the lighting equipment works properly, always check that the elevator car is lit. In order to carry out such a check of the lighting efficiently, it is advantageous if an automatic monitoring system is available for this, which permits remote monitoring. This saves regular on-site inspections.

A good example of such a monitoring procedure is from the US 6147620 known.

In some countries, such as Germany, there are standards that set certain standards for monitoring the lighting of an elevator car.

One possible monitoring system has a light sensor which detects whether illumination light is present in the elevator car. A surveillance is in This monitoring system realized in that the light in the elevator car is turned off from time to time. Then the reaction of the light sensor is observed. It can then be made a statement about whether the lighting fixture and the sensor work together. It is a disadvantage of this monitoring system that the cabin light must be turned off. However, a shutdown of the cabin light can preferably be made only when the elevator is currently not occupied. A malfunctioning cabin lighting or a defective sensor may be detected with some delay.

However, the monitoring system described above has a serious disadvantage. If the sensor at the output shows that no light signal has been detected, it can not be concluded from this that the lighting device for the elevator car is actually defective. It is possible that the lighting device of the elevator car is defective or does not work as intended. But it is also possible that the lighting device is intact and works properly, but that there is a defect in one of the components of the monitoring system, in particular the light sensor itself. In order to detect such defects, it is unavoidable for this monitoring system to undertake a round-robin inspection to verify on-site that, in fact, the lighting equipment or a component of the monitoring system is not functioning properly.

It is an object of the present invention to propose a monitoring method for monitoring the lighting of an elevator car, a monitoring method for self-monitoring and a monitoring system for carrying out these methods, with which a faultless remote monitoring can be performed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a monitoring scheme that meets the appropriate standards.

The solution of this object is achieved according to the invention for the above-mentioned monitoring method according to the features of the characterizing part of claim 1 and for the above-mentioned monitoring system according to the features of the characterizing part of claim 5.

Advantageous developments are defined by the respective dependent claims.

The monitoring system according to the invention is a monitoring system which allows real remote monitoring. This monitoring system, like the previously known monitoring system, has a light sensor. In addition, the monitoring system has an influencing unit, which in the broadest sense can be called a modulator. The influencing unit can be controlled by means of a control signal in such a way that, in particular, it can carry out a change in the illumination light which changes in short time intervals, In other words, the characteristic of this illumination light to be detected by the light sensor may change. This influencing takes place before the illumination light or a part of the rays of the illumination light is detected by the light sensor. Since the light detected by the light sensor has been previously affected, the sensor signal provided by the light sensor is correlated with that part of the rays that were affected. The monitoring system further comprises a processing unit. The processing unit processes the sensor signal of the light sensor together with the control signal, such that it can be determined whether the sensor signal of the light sensor has a characteristic which corresponds to that of the control signal, or is correlated with the control signal. In this case, the sensor signal is considered "valid".

The processing unit finally provides an information signal determined by the result of the processing of the control signal and the sensor signal.

If the information signal indicates that the sensor signal of the light sensor corresponds to the control signal for the influencing unit, or is correlated with the control signal, then it can be concluded that there is neither a malfunction of any component of the monitoring system nor a failure of the light source.

If the information signal indicates that the sensor signal of the light sensor does not correspond to the control signal for the influencing unit, or is not correlated with the control signal, then it can be concluded that a malfunction of a component of the monitoring system is present, but that the illumination of the elevator car still works, because if the lighting fails, the light sensor would not be able to provide a sensor signal.

A variant of the new monitoring system has, in addition to the illumination device or light source for the illumination of the elevator car, a test light source which can be activated temporarily at any time independently of the operation of the elevator system. The test light source emits, for purposes of a self-test, a test light which, like the illumination light, can be influenced by the influencing unit before it is detected by the light sensor. The light sensor then provides a test sensor signal as described above with respect to the illumination light. This test sensor signal is processed by the processing unit together with the control signal for the influencing unit. If the test sensor signal and the control signal correspond, respectively the two signals are correlated with each other, then the monitoring system has no defect (the test sensor signal is designated as valid). By adding the test light, one obtains a monitoring system that is able to test the light sensor itself. If it results from this that the light sensor is in order, then the monitoring system can perform the lighting of the elevator car in the manner described above.

The information signals can be used to trigger an optical or audible alarm, which can. If necessary. Also be switched to a mobile device an operator. A service call can also be made. Other reactions can also be triggered, for example to comply with the requirements of a standard.

To avoid false sensor signals, the light sensor is preferably arranged so that it is sensitive only to light emitted by the illumination device (or the test light source) of the elevator car. Other light, for example, temporary ambient light, briefly caused by a passenger of the elevator car light, for example when lighting a smoking article, or light below a certain intensity should not be detected by the sensor as possible, to avoid interference.

The light sensor can also be preceded by corresponding filters in order to suppress stray light.

It is further advantageous to arrange the light sensor so that it can not be arbitrarily or involuntarily shielded so that no light hits him.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the light sensor is designed such that it only provides a signal when the intensity of the detected light is within certain limits.

The influencing unit can, as already mentioned, be designed as a modulator.

The modulator can be designed as LCD modulator.

The control signal for the influencing unit is advantageously provided by the processing unit.

The test light source can also be controlled by or via the processing unit

Figur 1A

ein Überwachungssystem nach der Erfindung, in schematischer Darstellung;

Fig.1B

die Wirkungsweise des in Fig. 1A gezeigten Überwachungssystems, dargestellt in fünf Graphen; und

Figur 2

ein weiteres Überwachungssystem nach der Erfindung.

The invention is described in detail below with reference to embodiments illustrated in the drawings.
Show it

Figure 1A

a monitoring system according to the invention, in a schematic representation;

1B

the operation of the monitoring system shown in Fig. 1A, shown in five graphs; and

FIG. 2

another monitoring system according to the invention.

The same, or the same effect, constructive elements are provided in all figures with the same reference numerals, even if they are not executed in detail the same.

FIG. 1A shows a first overall system with an illumination system 1 to be monitored and a monitoring system 10 designed according to the invention. The illumination system 1 has a light source 2, which serves to illuminate an elevator car (not shown). The illustrated illumination system 1, or the light source 2, is monitored by means of the monitoring system 10. The monitoring system 10 comprises a detection unit in the form of a light sensor 12, an influencing unit 14 and a processing unit 16, as well as electrical conductor arrangements 20.1, 20.2 and 20.3, which may for example also be designed as light guides.

A processing unit 16 is connected to the influencing unit 14 via the first conductor arrangement 20.1 and to the light sensor 12 via the second conductor arrangement 20.2. Via a third conductor arrangement 20.3 an information signal IS is provided.

The light source 2 emits during the illumination of the elevator car illumination light 22 with first optical properties. Specifically, only a certain portion of the beams emitted by the light source 2, also designated 22, is used for the monitoring process. The influencing unit 14, or their function is controlled by a control signal CS. The control signal CS originates in the present embodiment of the processing unit 16, but this is not necessarily the case. What is important is that the control signal CS, or information about the control signal CS, is available to the processing unit 16, since the control signal CS, or information about the control signal CS, is required for evaluation / processing of the signal SS, as described below becomes.

The influencing unit 14 is designed so that lighting light 22 striking it is influenced such that the emergent light 23 is changed from the illuminating light 22, this change preferably being a periodic change. The exiting light 23 may change, for example, in short time intervals.

The duration of change in the emergent light 23 depends on the nature of the influencing unit 14 and may be a temporal, spatial or other type of change. Preferably, the influencing unit 14 is a modulator that modulates the illuminating light 22 by, for example, a light-dark keying.

The influencing unit 14 thus influences the illumination light 22 or changes its properties. The influenced or modified light is referred to as emergent light or as influenced light 23. This influenced light 23 is detected by the light sensor 12. The light sensor 12 now sets the processing unit 16, a sensor signal SS, which is correlated with the light 23 and the properties of the light 23. The processing unit 16 processes the two signals available to it, namely the control signal CS and the sensor signal SS, and it provides an information signal IS based on the processed signals CS and SS, which indicates any malfunctioning of the illumination device 1 or light source 2 and / or the monitoring system 10 information.

The information signal IS enables a statement as to whether illuminating light 22 is present and whether the sensor signal SS is a valid signal.

The mode of operation of the monitoring system is shown in FIG. 1B, in each case as a function of time t. At the top, the course of the not yet influenced light 22 is shown. Initially, light 22 is emitted, which for simplicity is assumed to have a constant intensity. After a certain period of time, no light 22 will be emitted, either because the elevator car is no longer in use or because the light source 2 is defective. As a control signal CS for controlling the influencing unit 14, a square-wave signal is used in the example shown. This is independent of whether light 22 is emitted. The control signal CS causes the influencing unit 14 to modify the light 22 so that the light 23 results. As long as light 22 reaches influencing unit 14, starting from influencing unit 14, light 23 is obtained Characteristic is uniquely influenced by the control signal CS. As soon as no light 22 reaches the influencing unit, no light 23 is obtained. The light 23 reaches the light sensor 12, which in response provides the sensor signal SS. When the light sensor 12 operates properly, there is a correlation between the light 23 and the sensor signal SS.

For example, a liquid crystal system (LCD) can be used as the influencing unit 14, which either passes or blocks the light 22, depending on the control by the control signal CS. As already mentioned, for example, a square wave signal is assumed as the control signal CS for the influencing unit 14. The influencing unit 14 thereby alternately darkens or transparent during a time unit. So there is temporarily no or substantially less light 23.

For the light sensor 12, light 23 is only available if the influencing unit 14 acts transparently, and of course only on condition that the light source 2 emits light 22. The light 23 thus also forms a kind of rectangular function, which can be shifted in time relative to the control signal CS, but is correlated with this.

The course of the sensor signal SS, which is correlated with the light 23, also corresponds to a kind of rectangular function, in a case in which no malfunctions occur.

The information signal IS allows a 'yes' statement if everything is functioning properly, otherwise the information signal allows a 'no' statement. The 'yes statement' is indicated in FIG. 1B with a logical '1' and the 'no statement' with a logical '0'.

FIG. 2 shows a further arrangement according to the invention, which is suitable for monitoring, in addition to the function described in connection with FIG. 1, also the entire system consisting of the illumination system 1 and the monitoring system 10. For this purpose, the monitoring system 10 has, in addition to the components shown in FIG. 1, a test light source 102. The test light source 102 is independent of the light source 2 and connected in the present embodiment via a conductor arrangement 20.4 with the processing unit 16, which is not absolutely necessary. The test light source 102 emits test light 122, which is influenced by the influencing unit 14 and changed to light 23 in the same way as the illumination light 22.

The operation of the arrangement according to FIG. 2 is as follows: With the aid of the test light source 102, it is determined whether the monitoring system 10 is operating properly, irrespective of the function of the light source 2. If the monitoring system 10 is found to be functioning properly, so it can be used for continuous remote monitoring of the lighting system 1, as above is described. In this case, the signal SS provided by the sensor 12 is then the usual sensor signal, not the test information signal TSS, and the signal provided by the processing unit 16 is the usual information signal IS, not the test information signal TIS.

Claims (10)

1. Monitoring method for monitoring a lighting system of a lift cage, wherein a light sensor (12) for receiving illumination light (22) is inserted into the lift cage and makes available a sensor signal (SS) which can be evaluated in order to establish whether illumination light (22) was detected, characterised in that:

   - the illumination light (22) to be received from the light sensor (12) is subjected to an influencing controlled by a control signal (CS),

   - a processing of the sensor signal (SS) and of the control signal (CS) is carried out and

   - an information signal (lS) is provided on the basis of the processing and enables a statement whether illumination light (22) was received and whether the sensor signal (SS) is a valid signal.
2. Monitoring method according to claim 1, characterised in that a self-test is carried out, which comprises the following steps:

   - switching on a test light source (103) which emits a test light (122),

   - subjecting the test light (122) to the influencing, which is controlled by a control signal (CS), before it is received by the light sensor (12),

   - providing a test sensor signal (TSS) and

   - processing the test sensor signal (TSS) and the control signal (CS) so as to provide a test information signal (TIS) which enables a statement whether the controlled influencing and the light sensor (12) function.
3. Monitoring method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a modulator which modulates the illumination light (22) and/or the test light (122) is controlled in drive by the control signal (CS).
4. Monitoring method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that a reaction is triggered if the sensor signal (SS) is not a valid signal.
5. Monitoring system (10) for monitoring the illumination of the lift cage, comprising a light sensor (12) which is constructed for the purpose of receiving illumination light (22) and making available a sensor signal (SS), which is correlated with the received illumination light (22) and which can be evaluated in order to establish whether illumination light (22) was received, characterised in that the monitoring system (10) comprises:

   - an influencing unit (14) in order to influence the illumination light (22) to be received from the light sensor (12), which influencing unit (14) is controllable by means of a control signal (CS),

   - a processing unit (16) for processing the sensor signal (SS) and the control signal (CS) and for output of an information signal (IS) which enables a statement whether illumination light (22) was detected and whether the sensor signal (SS) is a valid signal.
6. Monitoring system (10) according to claim 5, characterised in that:

   - it comprises a test light source (102) by which a test light (122) can be emitted, which can be influenced by the influencing unit (14) before it is received by the light sensor (12), wherein

   - the light sensor (12) is constructed for the purpose of making available a test sensor signal (TSS) which is correlated with the test light (122) after influencing by the influencing unit (14), and

   - the processing unit (16) is constructed for the purpose of processing the test sensor signal (TSS) and the control signal (CS) and making available a test information signal (TIS) which enables a statement whether the controlled influencing by the influencing unit (14) and the light sensor (12) function.
7. Monitoring system (10) according to one of claims 5 and 6, characterised in that the influencing unit (14) is controllable by the processing unit (16).
8. Monitoring system according to claim 6, characterised in that the test light source (102) is switchable by the processing unit (16).
9. Monitoring system (10) according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterised in that the influencing unit (14) is a modulator which, controlled by the control signal (CS), modulates the illumination light (22) and/or the test light (122).
10. Monitoring system (10) according to one of claims 5 to 9, characterised in that it is connected with a further system in order to trigger a reaction if the sensor signal (SS) is not a valid signal.

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