EP3009389B2 - Method for setting parameters of a lift assembly and lift assembly comprising a user interface for parameterization - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for parameterizing an elevator installation, information being displayed and entered via a user interface that is connected to a controller of the elevator installation in order to set a desired function of the elevator installation. Furthermore, the invention relates to an elevator system with a controller and a mobile part with a user interface for entering information for parameterizing the elevator system.

Elevator installations which have one or more elevator cars are known from the prior art. Elevator systems serve the purpose of transporting people and/or loads in a building from a stop on one floor to another stop on another floor. In order to make this technically possible, the elevator system has a large number of technical components such as the drive, elevator car, car doors and landing doors. In order to enable the interaction of all technical components, the elevator system also has a controller.

A construction of an exemplary elevator system and a method for controlling such an elevator system are already out DE 102 32 275 A1 famous. In addition revealed CN 103 466 401 A a parameter setting system for an elevator system which, in addition to a stationary server, also includes a mobile input and output unit in the form of a smartphone.

In order to achieve a desired operating behavior of the elevator system (functions such as approaching the floors), a fitter must parameterize the elevator system. Parameterization means that the fitter sets the desired function of the technical components of the elevator system. For example, the functioning of the positioning system must be set so that the stops are approached flush. A fitter is to be understood here as meaning any type of person who makes adjustments to the elevator system and not only operates it for the purpose of transportation. This can be, for example, a system installer, a controller installer or a service technician.

In order to enable the fitter to parameterize the elevator system, the controller has a user interface. A user interface is to be understood as meaning any input/output means, such as a screen with a keyboard or a touchscreen. Information is then displayed on this user interface and entered by the fitter in order to set a desired function of the elevator system. Information is to be understood as meaning any type of values that describe or influence the behavior of the elevator system (e.g. number of floors traveled to, legal regulations that must be observed, etc.).

The technical components are parameterized according to the state of the art according to the technical structure of the elevator system. For example, the exact function of the drive or the doors is set. For cross-component tasks, such as optimizing the energy consumption of the entire elevator system, the fitter must therefore independently navigate to a large number of component menus and make settings there. For example, he has to reduce the speed of the elevator car in a drive menu and optimize the standby consumption of the system in another menu in order to implement his actual task of "optimizing the energy consumption of the elevator system".

The fitter must therefore set the desired function for each individual component in a manufacturer-specific menu structure in order to be able to solve his overall task. He therefore has to navigate through a wide variety of menus and submenus and know the menu structure of the control exactly in order to be able to implement the desired task. Depending on the parameterization task, between five and eight different menus and submenus often come into play, some of which then have to be set in combination with tables. The fitter easily loses orientation and overview during this activity, so that it is difficult for him to optimally implement the desired task. In this respect, fitters contact the manufacturer's hotline relatively frequently to obtain appropriate help, or the elevator system is not ideally parameterized. This can lead to performance or functional losses.

The invention is therefore based on the object of making it easier for the fitter to set the parameters and thereby achieve optimal functioning of the elevator system more quickly and easily.

This object is achieved with the method according to claim 1 and with the elevator system according to claim 12. Advantageous developments of the method according to the invention and the elevator system according to the invention are described in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, the object is achieved in that a user is guided through the menu structure, broken down from the function to the component, in that the method for parameterizing the elevator system has the following steps:
In a first step, possible parameterization tasks of the user are displayed on the user interface.

In a second step, a concrete parameterization task is selected.

In a third step, a function menu relating to the parameterization task is displayed by the controller, which has input fields for information to be entered and has output fields that display information about the state of the system.

In a fourth step, the information to be entered for the parameterization task is entered in the input fields in the function menu. In addition, settings can be made to the components of the elevator system, and information about the current status of the system is displayed via the output fields 32a-e and the terminal assignment of the controller without changing the menu.

In a fifth step, the settings made are stored in the controller so that the elevator system then carries out the desired functions during operation.

The method according to the invention is therefore based on the knowledge that one can completely break away from the previous type of parameterization by no longer working from the technical component to the function, but vice versa, from the function to the component. This means that knowledge of the menu structure is no longer necessary. In this way, the above-described, highly complicated, previous parameterization is made considerably easier for the fitter and optimal functioning of the elevator is thus achieved more quickly and easily.

It is therefore essential to realize that the parameterization is not structured according to technical components, but according to concrete parameterization tasks. A parameterization task means that the fitter should optimize the elevator system, for example, in such a way that it uses as little energy as possible, transports a maximum number of passengers in a minimum of time, or performs the desired function in the event of a fire.

The confusing and complicated parameterization steps that are necessary according to the prior art are eliminated by the parameterization method according to the invention. Rather, the fitter simply selects the parameterization task he wants and can then make all the settings that are necessary for this task in a single corresponding function menu.

Since information about the current status of the elevator system is also displayed in this function menu, the fitter also has immediate feedback on how his settings affect the system. In this way he can immediately see which terminals of the controller are occupied without changing the menu.

It can be advantageous here that, after selecting a parameterization task, which is preferably referred to as "fire operation", a function menu for parameterizing the operating behavior of the elevator in fire operation is displayed.

Such parameterization is necessary so that the elevator system can carry out the desired functions in the event of a fire and the country-specific legal regulations are observed.

In a further development, it can be provided that after selecting a parameterization task relating to door settings, at least one function menu, preferably referred to as a "door table", is displayed, in which the setting of the door function includes at least one of the following steps: "Select floor", "Select door side", "Appropriate door type select", "Select door coupling".

When parameterizing the elevator system, the fitter must set which doors are to be operated for each floor. This works effectively with this function menu. First, the floor is selected. If the elevator has multiple doors on multiple sides, then the appropriate door side and door type are selected. If several doors are to be opened at the same time (e.g. to allow passage), the door coupling can also be set.

It can be advantageous for the display of the user interface to use a mobile part that is spatially separate from the elevator and its controller and is wirelessly connected to the controller.

Such a handset has the advantage that the fitter can move freely in and around the elevator system and is not tied to the position of the controller. A type of tablet computer with a touchscreen, for example, or any other input/output device can be used as a handset.

In a further development, after selecting a floor-related function menu with a mobile part positioned in portrait format, floor-spanning information is displayed in such a way that it relates to the vertical section of the elevator system, preferably showing several floors. This gives the fitter a good overview.

It can also be advantageous that, after selecting a floor-related function menu, details on the currently selected floor are displayed for a handset positioned in landscape format. In this way, the fitter receives all the detailed information he needs for this floor.

In this case, it is advantageous if the change in the display from floor-overlapping information to floor-related information is preferably triggered by rotating the handset by approximately 90°.

This possibility of changing the display by rotating the handset provides the fitter with an effective means of quickly and intuitively switching between different display forms. For example, an overview of all floors of the elevator system from the basement to the top floor could be displayed in portrait format. If a floor is now selected and the handset is then rotated by 90° into landscape format, special floor information for this one floor is displayed. This could be, for example, the exact door settings, door couplings and the like.

It can be advantageous that at least one A "favorites symbol" is displayed and activated in the function menu and this function menu is assigned to a favorites menu as a result. This allows the fitter to put together his personal favorites menu. An even faster parameterization of the elevator system is possible.

It can be advantageous for a "help" symbol to be displayed in at least one function menu and for a menu explanation to be called up by activating it. Such a help symbol can make the fitter's work much easier. For example, frequently asked questions can be listed there. As a result, the fitter gets quick help and at the same time does not have to use the cost-intensive resources of a hotline. At the same time, this prevents the fitter from making the wrong settings, for example because menus or information are unclear to him, but he still makes settings without asking the hotline. The psychological hurdle of calling up a menu explanation is significantly lower than calling a hotline. This further improves the quality of the parameterization.

It can be advantageous for a “split screen” symbol to be displayed on the user interface and for the user interface to be optically divided into two sub-control units that can be operated independently of one another by activating the symbol. This split-screen function offers the advantage that the fitter has two user interfaces that can be operated independently of one another, which gives him even greater flexibility in parameterization.

As a further development, the possible parameterization tasks (30, 40) are displayed on the user interface (24), broken down by topic. This makes it easier for the fitter to find the parameterization task he is looking for, especially when there is a large number of parameterization tasks. For example, subject areas such as "Info and diagnosis", "Settings", "Give travel commands", "User", "Commissioning and testing", "System optimization" or "Elevator group" should be provided.

With such a structure, a maximum number of parameterization tasks can be assigned to a minimum number of main topics. At the same time, the main topics mentioned enable an intuitive parameterization of the elevator system, since the fitter who is to carry out a parameterization task can easily and clearly assign this parameterization task to one of the main topics mentioned.

On the device side, the object is achieved by an elevator system with a controller and a mobile part with a user interface for entering information for parameterizing the elevator system, the elevator system having at least one data memory and one computing unit that are configured in such a way that the method described above can be carried out using a can be executed on the data storage stored data processing program.

The controller is a computer on whose computing unit runs a data processing program that sends control signals to the technical components of the elevator system as output values. This controls the elevator components in the desired way (e.g. frequency converters, doors, signals). In addition, the controller receives signals from sensors in the elevator system (e.g. light barrier). The desired function of the elevator system is only achieved through the interaction of control, actuators (e.g. motor) and sensors (e.g. light barrier).

In order to set the way in which the elevator system works, the relevant information is stored in the control using the user interface. The user interface can be any input and output device, for example a touch screen or a screen with a keyboard.

It can be advantageous for the user interface to be connected to the controller of the elevator system via a cable or wireless connection, with the processing unit of the controller acting as a web server and the user interface as a web interface using a standard browser on a control unit, preferably a mobile unit so that the parameterization procedure can be carried out.

Such a structure has the advantage that any technical device on which a standard browser is running can be used as the control panel. For example, it is also possible to use a normal smartphone with a screen to parameterize the elevator system. Thanks to the wireless connection, the fitter can also move freely in and around the elevator system and, for example, check directly at specific locations parallel to the parameterization on the control panel whether the technical components are then actually executing the set tasks.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer Aufzugsanlage mit einer Aufzugssteuerung;

Fig. 2

eine Detailansicht der Aufzugssteuerung aus Fig. 1, mit angeschlossenem Mobilteil zur Parametrierung der Aufzugsanlage

Fig. 3

ein Flussdiagramm dass die Schritte des erfindungsgemäßen Parametrierungsverfahrens darstellt;

Fig. 4

eine Draufsicht auf das Mobilteil bei angezeigtem Funktionsmenü "Brandfallbetrieb";

Fig. 5

eine Draufsicht auf das Mobilteil bei angezeigtem Funktionsmenü "Türtabelle";

The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawings. It shows, for example:

1

a schematic representation of an elevator installation with an elevator controller;

2

a detailed view of the elevator control 1 , with a connected handset for parameterizing the elevator system

3

a flow chart that shows the steps of the parameterization method according to the invention;

4

a top view of the handset with the "fire mode" function menu displayed;

figure 5

a top view of the handset with the displayed "Door table" function menu;

In 1 an elevator system 1 with an elevator controller 2 is shown. 1 is only intended to provide an overview that shows that a large number of technical components such as storey doors, elevator car doors, elevator car, drive, etc. are controlled by the elevator system controller 2 .

2 shows a detailed view of the elevator control 2 1 , with a connected handset 23 for parameterizing the elevator system 1. The elevator controller 2 is wirelessly connected to the handset 23 by means of WLAN 22. The controller 21 is connected to the technical components (drive, doors, etc.) of the elevator installation 1 in order to control them. In the present case, the controller 21 is arranged in a control cabinet. However, it can also be installed at any other suitable location in the elevator system. The controller 21 is here a computer with a data memory and a processing unit in order to be able to record, store, process and output data.

In the present case, the handset 23 is a portable minicomputer, the front of which consists of a touch-sensitive screen (touchscreen) that forms a user interface 24 . This touchscreen is used to output and input information from/to the mobile part 23 and then from/to the controller 21 .

As in 3 shown, the fitter first activates the user interface 24 of the control panel. Possible parameterization tasks 30 , 40 are then displayed on user interface 24 . In the present case, these are, for example, the "fire operation" 30 parameterization task and the "door table" 40 parameterization task.

The function menu "Fire operation" 31 is then displayed to him, as is the case, for example, in 4 is shown. This function menu has input fields (31a-31d) for information to be entered and output fields (32a-32e) which display information about the status of the elevator system 1. For example, in the input field 31a the standard used to activate the fire operation is entered and, for example, in the output field 32e it is displayed whether a fire detector is connected to the terminal of the controller 21 .

In addition to the settings in function menu 31, the fitter can also make settings on the components of the elevator system. For example, a fire alarm could be connected to the terminals of the controller 21. In return, the installer immediately receives feedback from the controller 21 in the function menu 31, e.g. in the output field 31e, that the fire alarm has been successfully connected.

Once all the settings have been made in the function menu 31, they are stored in the controller 21 by pressing the "Save and Back" input field 25. The behavior of the elevator system 1 in the event of a fire can thus be parameterized quickly and easily.

In figure 5 the function menu "door table" 41 is also shown. Here the fitter can set the correct function of all doors in the elevator system. To do this, for example, he selects the floor to be set in the input field 41a. He then selects the required door side for this floor in input field 41b. He then selects the desired door type in the input fields 41c - 41e and the required door coupling in the input fields 41f - 41h. The installer repeats the above steps for the remaining floors if necessary. By actuating the "Save and Back" input field 25, the entries are then stored in the control and the function menu 41 is exited again.

Thus, in each case in a single function menu 31 or 41, all the settings that are necessary for parameterizing the fire operation or the doors have been made. The fitter therefore does not have to navigate through a large number of different and confusing component menus (e.g. storey doors, cabin doors, etc.). He can thus carry out his parameterization task quickly, easily and completely without having to switch to different menus. This ultimately ensures optimal functioning of the elevator system and the system is also ready for operation more quickly.

Reference list:

1:

elevator system

2:

elevator control

21:

steering

22:

wireless connection

23:

handset

24:

user interface

25:

"Save and Back" input field

30:

Parameterization task fire operation

31 :

Function menu fire mode

31a - 31d:

Input fields in the fire mode function menu

32a - 32e:

Output fields in the fire mode function menu

40:

Parameterization task door table

41 :

Function menu door table

41a - 41h:

Input fields in the door table function menu

Claims (13)

1. Method for parameterizing an elevator system (1), information being displayed and entered via an operator interface (24) which is connected to a control (21) of the elevator system (1) in order to set a desired function of the elevator system (1),
   characterized in that
   a user is guided from the function to the component through the menu structure in a structured manner by displaying possible parameterization tasks (30, 40) of the user on the user interface (24) in a first step;
   a concrete parameterization task (30) is selected in a second step;
   in a third step, a function menu (31) relating to the parameterization task is displayed by the controller (21), which has input fields (31a - 31d) for information to be entered and output fields (32a - 32e) which display information about the status of the system;
   in a fourth step, the information to be entered for the parameterization task in the function menu (31) is entered into the input fields (31a - 31d), settings can be made on the components of the elevator system and information about the current status of the system is displayed via the output fields (32a - e) and the terminal assignment without changing the menu;
   the settings made are stored in the control (21) in a fifth step so that the elevator system (1) subsequently executes the desired functions in operation.
2. Method according any of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   after selecting a parameterization task (30), preferably referred to as "fire mode", a function menu (31) for parameterizing the operating behavior of the elevator in fire mode is displayed.
3. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   after selecting a parameterization task (40) relating to door settings, at least one function menu (41), preferably referred to as "door table", is displayed, in which setting the door function comprises at least one of the steps of selecting floor, selecting door side, selecting applicable door type, selecting door coupling.
4. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   a handset (23) which is spatially separated from the elevator and its control is used to display the user interface and which communicates wirelessly (22) with the control (21).
5. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   after selecting a floor-related function menu for a handset (23) positioned in portrait format, information relating to all floors is displayed such that it refers to the vertical section of the elevator system (1), preferably showing several floors.
6. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   after selecting a floor-related function menu for a handset (23) positioned in landscape format, details of the currently selected floor are displayed.
7. Method according to claim 6,
   characterized in that
   the change of the display from floor-spanning information to floor-related information is preferably triggered by turning the handset by approximately 90°.
8. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   for at least one function menu, a "Favorite icon" is displayed and activated, thereby assigning this function menu to a favorites menu.
9. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   for at least one function menu, a "Help" icon is displayed and activated, thus calling up a menu explanation for the current topic.
10. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    a "split-screen" symbol is displayed and activated on the user interface (24) and the user interface (24) is thus optically divided into two operating units which can be operated independently of one another.
11. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the possible parameterization tasks (30, 40) are displayed on the user interface (24), structured according to subject areas.
12. Elevator system (1) with a control system and a handset (23) with a user interface (24) for entering information for parameterizing the elevator system (1),
    characterized in that
    the elevator system (1) comprises at least one data memory and a computing unit which are configured such that the method described above can be carried out by means of a data processing program stored on the data memory.
13. Elevator system (1) according to claim 12,
    characterized in that
    the user interface (24) is connected to the control (21) of the elevator system (1) via a cable or a wireless connection (22), wherein the computing unit of the control (21) functions as a web server and the user interface (24) is displayed as a web interface using a standard browser, on an operating panel, preferably a handset (23), so that the parameterization procedure can be carried out according to one of claims 1 to 11.

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