EP3124418A1 - Elevator controller with wireless access point - Google Patents

Abstract

An elevator control system (40) for an elevator installation comprising an elevator control unit (22, 36), the elevator control unit (22, 36) controlling the functions of the elevator installation and having a wireless access point (34, 38) such that a portable service computer (30) wirelessly operates Data communication connection (46, 48) with the elevator control unit (92, 36) can produce.

Description

The present invention relates to elevator systems for persons or payloads. In particular, the invention relates to an elevator controller having an elevator control unit and a wireless data communication connection to a service computer for configuration and maintenance.

For cost-effective operation of an elevator installation, alternative accounting models and operating concepts can increasingly be used. At the same time increasingly higher demands are made in terms of economic and thus cost-effective operation of elevator systems. For users of elevator systems, it may be advantageous to be billed by the operator or provider of such a system based on an actual use of the elevator system, for example, based on a covered conveyor line or cumulative movement times of an elevator car. For this, it may be necessary to provide a variety of information to enable more complex evaluations and business models.

In this context, it can also be important that maintenance and service can be carried out quickly and cost-effectively by suitably trained and instructed personnel. This may mean, for example, that an average service time of a service technician can be reduced, for example, during routine routine maintenance. Furthermore, it would be advantageous if, in the case of errors, rapid error detection and correction could be achieved.

At the same time very high and stringent safety requirements are placed on elevator systems, which are intended to protect both users of an elevator installation as well as maintenance personnel.

There may, inter alia, be a need for elevator systems, in particular elevator controls, which on the one hand permit new and more flexible billing models, reduce the operating costs and maintenance costs of a lift installation and at the same time meet the high safety requirements. Possible features and advantages of embodiments of the invention may be considered, inter alia, as being based on ideas and findings described below. One aspect of the operation of elevator installations, which in many cases represents a high proportion of the costs incurred during operation, is maintenance and service of the elevator installation. For this purpose, it has hitherto been customary for a service technician to connect a portable service computer via a cable connection to an elevator control unit, which is often located on an upper side of the cabin or else in a machine room of the elevator installation. For this purpose, it is necessary that the service technician physically in the elevator shaft or on an upper side of the elevator car has to rise. On the one hand, this can mean a considerable expenditure of time, on the other hand, this can also give rise to a certain risk for the service technician with regard to safety aspects.

Furthermore, it may be necessary to query operating data of an elevator installation, for example for billing purposes, at regular intervals. In the case of a large number of elevator installations, this can cause considerable time and cost overhead. For example, it may be necessary in certain cases to visit an elevator control unit located in the machine room and to connect it to the portable service computer for maintenance and service purposes. Especially for tall buildings, which are often equipped with so-called high-rise elevators, and thus a high number of floors would have to rise to the service technician physically into the engine room, which can mean a considerable amount of time. It would thus be desirable to provide a timely effective and user-friendly way of accessing the relevant information of the elevator control unit.

Such a need can be met by an elevator control according to the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. According to one aspect of the invention, an elevator control is proposed which comprises an elevator control unit which is designed to control functions of an elevator installation. This can be understood, for example, as an electronic assembly that controls all essential functions, for example a drive unit in the machine room and an operating unit in the elevator car. This elevator control unit can be arranged in one or more distributed units, for example on the elevator car, in the elevator shaft or in the engine room. The elevator control unit has a wireless access point configured to wirelessly establish a data communication connection to a portable service computer.

This wireless access point may be, for example, a wireless LAN access point, which may have an antenna unit which is arranged on an outside of the elevator control unit in terms of more favorable transmission and reception conditions. Various standards known in the art can be used here. Examples include WLAN or WiFi standards, such as IEEE 802.1x, Bluetooth, etc., but also standards based on optical transmission methods, which are based for example on infrared light or similar media. Another example is mobile radio standards such as LTE, UMTS, 3G, Edge or similar. In principle, all wireless data transmission methods can be used, which are suitable for one, the transfer relevant data volumes in consideration of the security requirements and on the other hand support the required ranges.

A portable service computer can in this case each intelligent operating unit, which can use a service technician for communication or data exchange with the elevator control unit. In the simplest case, these can be wireless remote controls, for example with an extended control panel. Typically, laptop computers, tablet PCs with appropriate customized software can continue to be used, which have the corresponding radio interfaces or optical interfaces. Also possible are specially adapted service computers, which are not based on a commercially available computer or PC, but have specially adapted hardware and software for the maintenance of the relevant elevator. The service computers are designed such that they can be transported or moved by a service technician so that they are usually brought along by the service technician and can also be used in the area of the elevator installation, for example in the elevator shaft or in the elevator car. According to one example, the portable service computer is a telephone or a smartphone.

In addition to elevator systems in which an elevator car is movable in the vertical direction are basically all elevator and conveyor systems conceivable, including conveyor stairs, cable cars and the like, where persons or loads are moved.

One advantage can be seen in the fact that maintenance or service can already be carried out already in the area of the elevator car without a service technician having to climb onto the top of the elevator car or even having to get into the machine room. Frequently, in the case of previous elevator systems, the service technician had to carry a suitably fitting cable and corresponding adapters in order to carry out maintenance. The now wireless access to the elevator control unit also eliminates the need for a physical cable connection from the service computer to the elevator control unit. This can reduce a time and thus cost outlay in the maintenance and service of a lift system. Furthermore, a security of the elevator system can be increased because, for example, the service technician no longer has to climb onto an upper side of the elevator car and possibly also no longer has to be present in the machine room.

In one embodiment, the access point is configured to be active only when the elevator control unit is in a maintenance mode. In other words, the elevator control unit has at least two operating modes, which relate on the one hand to an operating mode in which an elevator is controlled in normal operation, and on the other hand to a maintenance mode which is activated by the service technician or by other triggering mechanisms and can, for example, provide additional functions to the service technician. In particular, these modes can serve to increase security in order, for example, to prevent undesired safety-related changes in the elevator control system from being made by user inputs, for example on the control panel in the elevator car. Thus, in the embodiment described here, the access point is deactivated as long as the elevator installation is in a mode other than the maintenance mode. Thus, in normal operation, it may be impossible to gain access to the elevator control unit via the wireless access point, for example in the absence of the service technician. The physical shutdown of the access point can be seen as a very effective and simple security measure as it prevents any wireless access due to inoperative hardware.

In one example, only one radio frequency unit of the access point is activated or deactivated, whereby an electronics or arithmetic unit of the access point remains in operation. This can have the advantage that a function of the wireless access point is available immediately after activation, since otherwise a time-consuming startup or booting of the module of the access point may be necessary. This can reduce a time required for maintenance.

According to one embodiment, the elevator control unit is arranged in a control cabinet and the control cabinet has a contact which activates the maintenance mode of the elevator control unit when actuated. This may, in one example, be a key switch in which the service technician inserts a key and where contact is made as the key is turned. This is often provided in elevator systems in order to prevent unauthorized access by third parties to safety-related components of the elevator installation. In another example, this may also be a motion detector configured to detect when a control cabinet is opened by a service technician.

According to one embodiment, the contact is arranged on a door of the control cabinet, that the contact is actuated when opening the door. This may mean that when a door is swung, for example after the door has been opened by a service technician, a door contact closes, thus activating the maintenance status and, if applicable, the wireless access point in the elevator control unit. Advantage of the door contact may be that an existing mechanism, for example in the context of existing security arrangements, can be used to control a maintenance mode. In addition, this can continue to have advantages in terms of durability and reliability, since such contacts can be made mechanically robust and durable.

According to one embodiment, the elevator control further comprises a hidden operating unit, which activates the maintenance state when actuated by a control signal to the elevator control unit. This can be, for example, a so-called hidden panel in the elevator car. This hidden panel can be understood as a hidden operating unit, which can often be invisible to a user in the elevator car. These are intended to provide access to extended functions of an elevator installation or an elevator control unit in the elevator car. The hidden attachment, usually in an interior of the elevator car, can be achieved for example by partially closable or lockable covers. In one example, in this hidden panel, a possibility is provided to connect a connection cable that enables a data communication connection between an elevator control unit and a portable service computer. This can be provided, for example, in addition to a wireless access to the elevator control unit. In one example, it may be provided that a secret number or a password can be entered via an operating unit in order to authorize a data access to the elevator control unit.

In one embodiment, the wireless access point includes an authorization unit configured to control access to the elevator control unit based on authorization data from a portable service computer. This can have the advantage that, on the one hand, unauthorized access by unauthorized third parties to the elevator control unit can be prevented. Furthermore, the possibility can advantageously be created that different groups of persons are assigned different sets of access rights. According to one example, a set of access rights is provided for service technicians of contracted third party companies that only allow basic functions. In another level, a set of access rights is provided for specialized professionals, which includes an extended set of access rights. For example, another level may be provided that allows development engineers full access to all functions of the elevator control unit.

In one embodiment, the portable service computer authorizes the access point using an electronic certificate. In other words, an electronic signature or an electronic certificate can be installed on the portable service computer with which the portable service computer authorizes itself at the authorization unit of the wireless access point. This can have the advantage that a comparatively inexpensive and also reliable and proven in practice safety mechanism can be provided.

In one embodiment, a first elevator control unit having a first access point is disposed on an elevator car. Furthermore, a second elevator control unit is arranged with a second access point in a machine room of the elevator installation. In other words, each of the two elevator control units has its own wireless access point. These may, for example, be connected to one another via a cable connection by means of a data communication connection. The engine room can be arranged, for example, at a vertically upper end of an elevator shaft, for example in the region of a roof of a building, but also at other shaft-like areas of the elevator shaft, such as in a cellar or basement. For this purpose, it may be advantageous in some cases to arrange control functions, which relate for example to a drive unit of the elevator installation, spatially close to this drive unit and to arrange functions which primarily relate to functions in the area of the elevator car, such as operating functions, spatially close to the elevator car. In the embodiment described herein, the first and second elevator control units are each configured to establish a wireless data communication connection to the portable service computer. In other words, the portable service computer can optionally establish a connection to the first elevator control unit on the elevator car and / or also a data communication connection to the second elevator control unit in the engine room. This can have the advantage that access to an elevator control unit, which is arranged in the machine room, can also be made, for example, by a service technician located in the elevator car. This can save a way to the engine room, which can save time, especially in very high buildings, so high-rise elevator systems. An embodiment of the access point of the second elevator control unit in the engine room can be carried out so that high-frequency technology, a stable wireless connection to the remote portable service computer can be constructed. In one example, the second access point and / or the first access point has an antenna unit with directional characteristic, so that radio-frequency energy is selectively emitted in a specific direction, in this case the direction of the portable service computer, or received from this direction.

In one embodiment, the first elevator control unit and the second elevator control unit are configured to establish a wireless data communication connection with one another via their wireless access points. This may mean that, for example, parallel or redundant to an already existing cable connection between the two elevator control units an additional data communication connection is made wirelessly. This can increase the security of the elevator installation, since in case of failure of one of the data connections via the respective other data connection, a communication between the elevator control unit can be maintained.

In one embodiment, a transmission power and / or a radio standard of the access point are selected such that the wireless data communication between the access point and the portable service computer outside the elevator car or outside an elevator shaft is interrupted. If, for example, a transmission power of the access point is limited to a few microwatts, reliable data communication is only possible in the immediate spatial environment of the access point. With larger distances, a field strength of the radio signal decreases in such a way that a data communication connection does not come about. Since the different transmission methods and radio standards have different propagation characteristics due to their frequencies and modulation methods, a range can also be influenced by the choice of the radio standard. An advantage can be seen in particular in increased security, since third parties can not gain access to safety-related control units outside of a building without authorization, but must be located directly in the building in the vicinity of the elevator shaft or the elevator car.

According to one embodiment, the elevator car has a detection unit that is configured to detect a portable service computer in the elevator car. In one example, the portable service computer has an RFID, ie a radio-sensitive chip, which identifies a hardware of the service computer with respect to the detection unit in the elevator control. This detection unit may, for example, be hidden behind a wall of the elevator car. Thus, according to one example, a portable service computer, for example a tablet PC, can be held close to a wall area behind which the detection unit is not visibly arranged. The detection unit detects, for example, the presence of a service computer or can verify an identity of a service computer. This can allow only selected devices approved by the operator of the elevator system to be accepted as portable service computers by the elevator control unit, thus preventing access by unauthorized persons and service computers.

It should be understood that some of the possible features and advantages of the invention are described herein with reference to different embodiments. A person skilled in the art will recognize that the features can be suitably combined, adapted or replaced in order to arrive at further embodiments of the invention.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine vereinfachte Darstellung eines Aufzugssystems mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Aufzugsteuereinheit und einem portablen Servicerechner.
• Fig. 2 zeigt in vereinfachter schematischer Darstellung eine Übersicht verschiedener Datenkommunikationsverbindungen einer erfindungsgemäßen Aufzugsteuereinheit.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which neither the drawings nor the description are to be construed as limiting the invention.

• Fig. 1 shows a simplified representation of an elevator system with an elevator control unit according to the invention and a portable service computer.
• Fig. 2 shows a simplified schematic representation of an overview of various data communication links of an elevator control unit according to the invention.

The figures are only schematic and not to scale. Like reference numerals designate like or equivalent features throughout the several figures

Fig. 1 shows an elevator system 10 with an elevator controller 40 according to the invention with an elevator shaft 12 in which is arranged to be movable in an elevator car 14 vertical direction. Via a cable system 16, the elevator car 14 is connected to a drive unit 18, which is arranged in a machine room 20. In the example shown here, the machine room 20 is located at a vertically upper end of the elevator shaft 12. The cable system 16 may have in addition to ropes or cable systems and all other suspension means commonly used in elevator construction. At a top of the elevator car, a first elevator control unit 22 is mounted. This can be connected to an operating unit 24 in an interior of the elevator car 14 via a cable connection (not shown). The operating unit 24 may be, for example, a keypad on an inner wall of the elevator car 14, which can be operated by the user of the elevator. In addition, a so-called hidden panel 26 or hidden control unit in the elevator car 14 is arranged.

Furthermore, in the example shown here, the elevator car 14 has a detection unit 28. This is designed to detect or identify a portable service computer 30. For this purpose, according to one example, an RFID 32 can be attached to the service computer 30, which can be activated and recognized by the detection unit 28 for authorization purposes. A second elevator control unit 36 is located in the machine room 20. This second elevator control unit 36 has a second wireless access point 38. In one example, an antenna unit of the second wireless access point 38 is configured to have a high frequency radiation direction in the direction of the elevator shaft 12. The first elevator control unit 22 has a first wireless access point 34. The portable service computer 30 is, as shown here in the example, positioned in the area of the elevator car.

A transmission power or a radio standard of the first and second wireless access point 34, 38 is selected so that when positioning the portable service computer 30 outside an environment of the elevator shaft 12 and an elevator car 14, a data communication connection to the wireless access points 34, 38 is no longer possible. The first elevator control unit 22 on the upper side of the elevator car 14 can also be arranged in a control cabinet (not shown). This control cabinet may, for example, have a contact which is actuated when a door of the control cabinet is opened and thus activates a maintenance state of the elevator control unit 22, 36. The ability to establish a wireless data communication link from the portable service computer 30 via the first and second wireless access points 34, 38 to the elevator control units 22, 36 obviates the need for, for example, a service technician to access the top of the elevator car 14 for maintenance and service work. As a result, such maintenance or service can take place from the elevator car 14.

In Fig. 2 3 schematically and simplified illustrate various data communication links of an elevator control 40 according to the invention with elevator control units 22, 36. Here, only the relevant components are shown from the point of view of a data exchange or information exchange, the structural and structural details of the elevator installation 10 are not shown here for reasons of clarity. First, a first elevator control unit 22 with a first wireless access point 34 is shown. These can, for example, as in Fig. 1 shown by way of example, be mounted on an upper side of an elevator car 14. A second elevator control unit 36 having a second wireless access point 38 may be located in, for example, a machine room 20 (see FIG Fig. 1 ) can be arranged. The two elevator control units 22, 36 are connected via a connecting cable 42 suspended in the elevator shaft 12. This connection cable 42 may be integrated, for example, in a cable system 16 or similar support means. As a result, it may be possible to implement various functions on different elevator control units 22, 36. Via a first data communication connection 44, the wireless access points 34, 38 establish a connection with one another which can serve as a backup or redundant connection to the existing connection via the connection cable 42.

A portable service computer 30 maintains a second data communication connection 46 with the second wireless access point 38 of the second elevator control unit 36. Accordingly, additionally or alternatively, a third data communication connection 48 between the portable service computer 30 and the first wireless access point 34 of the first elevator control unit 42. In the portable service computer is this a wireless adapter 50 is provided which is configured to communicate with the wireless access points 34, 38. A detection unit 28 is configured to detect or identify the portable service computer 30. Alternatively, a portable service computer 30 may be implemented in the form of a tablet PC or smartphone 52. Accordingly, in this case, the second and third data communication links 46, 48 would exist between the wireless access points 34, 38 and the tablet PC or smartphone 52. To authorize access to the elevator control unit 22, 36, the access points 34, 38 each have an authorization unit 52 on. For this purpose, for example, an electronic certificate (not shown) may be installed on the portable service computer 30.

Finally, it should be noted that terms such as "comprising,""comprising," etc., do not exclude other elements or steps, and terms such as "a" or "an" do not exclude a multitude. It should also be appreciated that features or steps described with reference to any of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be considered as limiting.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

elevator system

12

elevator shaft

14

car

16

cable system

18

drive unit

20

engine room

22

first elevator control unit

24

Operating unit in the elevator car

26

hidden control panel (hidden panel)

28

detection unit

30

portable service computer

32

RFID

34

first wireless access point

36

second elevator control unit

40

elevator control

42

connection cable

44

first data communication connection

46

second data communication connection

48

third data communication connection

50

wireless adapter

52

authorization unit

Claims (12)

Elevator control (40) comprising
an elevator control unit (22, 36) configured to control functions of an elevator installation (40);
wherein the elevator control unit (22, 36) comprises a wireless access point (34, 38) configured to wirelessly establish a data communication connection (46, 48) to a portable service computer (30). The elevator controller (40) of claim 1, wherein the access point (34, 38) is configured to be active only when the elevator control unit (22, 36) is in a maintenance mode. Elevator control (40) according to claim 2, wherein the elevator control unit (22, 36) is arranged in a control cabinet and the control cabinet has a contact which activates the maintenance mode of the elevator control unit (22, 36) when actuated. Elevator control (40) according to claim 3, wherein the contact is arranged on a door of the control cabinet, that the contact is actuated when opening the door. The elevator control (40) of claim 2, further comprising a hidden control unit (26) which, upon actuation by a control signal to the elevator control unit (22, 36), activates the maintenance mode. The elevator controller (40) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wireless access point (34, 38) comprises an authorization unit (52) configured to access the elevator control unit (22, 36) based on authorization data from a portable service computer (30). to control. The elevator controller (40) of claim 6, wherein an authorization of the portable service computer (30) at the access point (34, 38) is performed using an electronic certificate. Elevator control (40) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a first elevator control unit (22) having a first access point (34) on an elevator car (14) and a second elevator control unit (36) with a second access point (38) in a machine room (20). the elevator installation (10) is arranged;
wherein the first (22) and the second elevator control unit (36) respectively are configured to establish a wireless data communication connection (46, 48) to the portable service computer (30). The pullout control system (40) of claim 8, wherein the first elevator control unit (22) and the second elevator control unit (36) are configured to establish a wireless data communication connection (44) with each other via their wireless access points (34, 38). Elevator control (40) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a transmission power and / or a wireless standard of the access point (34, 38) are selected such that the wireless data communication (46, 48) between the access point (34, 38) and the portable service computer (30) outside the elevator car (14) or outside an elevator shaft (12) is interrupted. Elevator control (40) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elevator car (14) has a detection unit (28) which is designed to detect a portable service computer (30) in the elevator car (14). An elevator control system comprising an elevator control (40) according to any one of the preceding claims and a portable service computer (30) adapted to establish with the elevator control unit (22, 36) the wireless data communication link (46, 48).

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