EP3630663B1 - Storey position detection device of a lift assembly and method for generating a storey signal - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a floor position detection device of an elevator installation according to claim 1 and a method for generating a floor signal in an elevator installation according to claim 13.

The EP 2516304 B1 discloses the preamble of claims 1 and 13, and describes a floor position detection device of an elevator installation with a sensor unit and an evaluation device for generating a floor signal having two states. The sensor unit arranged on an elevator car has a total of five Hall sensors. In the area of a floor, a permanent magnet is arranged in such a way that when the floor is approached, the Hall sensors mentioned each output a floor position parameter that is dependent on the distance of the corresponding Hall sensor from the permanent magnet. Two of the Hall sensors are referred to as so-called main sensors, the floor position parameters of which are compared with one another to generate the floor signal. If the two floor position parameters of the two main sensors are the same size and the floor position parameters of the other Hall sensors meet specified conditions, the evaluation device changes the state of the floor signal. The three other Hall sensors are required in particular to ensure that the evaluation device only reacts when the permanent magnet is in the vicinity of the sensor unit.

In contrast, it is the object of the invention, in particular, to propose an inexpensive floor position detection device of an elevator installation and a method for generating a floor signal in an elevator installation, which can be implemented inexpensively. According to the invention, this object is achieved with a floor position detection device with the features of claim 1 and a method with the features of claim 13.

The inventive floor position detection device of an elevator installation has a sensor unit and an evaluation device for generating a two Floor signal having states. The floor signal can assume the two states “in the floor area” or “outside the floor area”, with other states also being conceivable. The sensor unit has a first Hall sensor for generating a first floor position parameter and a second Hall sensor for generating a second floor position parameter. The evaluation device is provided to generate the floor signal based on a comparison of the first and second floor position parameters. According to the invention, the evaluation device is provided to check whether the first and / or second floor position parameter is greater than a first threshold value and to generate the floor signal based on the result of the test mentioned.

The combination of comparing the two floor position parameters and checking whether one or both floor position parameters are greater than a first threshold value enables an inexpensive floor position detection device with which an exact determination of the position of the elevator car in relation to a floor of the elevator system is possible at the same time. By comparing the first and / or second floor position parameter with the mentioned first threshold value, it can be determined in a simple manner whether the floor position detection device is located in the area of a magnetic means or not. In this context, “located in the area of a magnetic means” should be understood to mean that a Hall sensor is located in a magnetic field of a magnetic means that the magnetic field leads to a significant or measurable increase in the sensor signal and thus in the floor position parameter.

The floor position detection device or the evaluation device transmits the floor signal via a communication link to an elevator control of the elevator installation. The elevator control uses the floor signal in particular for the precise positioning of an elevator car that can be moved in an elevator shaft on a floor or on a shaft door assigned to a floor. In order to identify the position of a floor in a direction of travel of the elevator car, at least one magnetic means is attached in the elevator shaft at a point characterizing the position of the floor. The magnetic means can, for example, be arranged on the shaft door assigned to the floor and the floor position detection device on the elevator car, in particular on a car door of the elevator car be. With the help of the floor signal, the elevator control can position the car door and thus the car exactly opposite the landing door of the floor. Said magnetic means can also be regarded as part of the floor position detection device.

If the magnetic means are arranged in the correct position in the elevator shaft and the floor position detection device in the correct position on the elevator car, the "in the floor area" state of the floor signal indicates that the elevator car is correctly positioned with respect to the floor. Then, in particular, the car door can be opened, which in particular also opens the shaft door assigned to the floor in a known manner. In this case, the state “outside the floor area” of the floor area indicates that the elevator car is not in the immediate vicinity of a floor or at least not quite correctly positioned with respect to the floor and that in particular the car door cannot be opened.

The terms “in the floor area” and “outside the floor area” are only exemplary designations for two different states of the floor signal.

In this context, a “floor position parameter” is to be understood as meaning, in particular, a sensor signal or a processed sensor signal from a Hall sensor that is generated by the magnetic field of a magnetic means. In this context, an “evaluation device” is to be understood in particular as an electronics unit for processing analog and / or digital electrical signals. In this context, “provided for this purpose” should be understood to mean in particular specially equipped, designed and / or programmed. In this context, a “magnetic means” is to be understood in particular as a means for generating a magnetic field, in particular a permanent magnet in a cylindrical or cuboid shape. The two mentioned two Hall sensors are preferably arranged at a known spatial distance from one another, as a result of which a very precise determination of the position of the floor can be achieved.

The evaluation device can in particular be designed as a programmable microcontroller which controls an output module, for example in the form of a so-called high-side switch or a so-called PNP transistor. The output module then generates the floor signal transmitted to the elevator control. It is also conceivable that the floor signal is transmitted directly from the evaluation device to the elevator control.

The individual components of the floor position detection device are in particular arranged together in a housing, preferably in a plastic housing. The plastic housing has, for example, a length of 60-120 mm in the direction of travel of the elevator car. The sensor unit can in particular also have more than two Hall sensors, for example three or four Hall sensors. In particular, the Hall sensors are arranged next to one another in such a way that they have a distance from the center of the sensor to the center of the sensor of 20-30 mm. The Hall sensors are arranged in such a way that, when the floor position detection device is installed, they are arranged next to one another in the direction of travel of the elevator car. The floor position detection device and the magnetic means are mounted in such a way that the Hall sensors have a distance perpendicular to the direction of travel of the elevator car of, for example, 5-25 mm from the magnetic means.

The first Hall sensor and the second Hall sensor are arranged in such a way that when a floor is approached, the approach can be derived from the first floor position parameter before the second floor position parameter. This means that when the floor position detection device approaches a floor and thus a magnetic means, the first floor position parameter increases before the second floor position parameter and thus indicates immersion in a magnetic field. The two Hall sensors are thus arranged in such a way that the first Hall sensor is immersed in the magnetic field of the magnetic means in front of the second Hall sensor.

The evaluation device is also provided to assign the status "in the floor area" to the floor signal if the second floor position parameter is greater than or equal to the first floor position parameter and at the same time the first and / or second floor position parameter, in particular the second floor position parameter, is greater than the aforementioned first threshold value. The first threshold value is selected in such a way that the floor position parameter is only greater than the first threshold value if the associated Hall sensor is in the area of the magnetic means, i.e. the floor position parameter has risen above the first threshold value due to the approach to the magnetic means.

In the described arrangement of the first and second Hall sensors, the second floor position parameter is then equal to or greater than the first floor position parameter when the magnetic means is located between the two Hall sensors. The position of the floor position detection device in relation to the magnetic means and thus in relation to a floor can thus be determined very precisely. The comparison of the two floor position parameters can only provide a meaningful result if at least one of the two Hall sensors is in the area of a magnetic means. If a Hall sensor is not in the area of a magnetic means, the floor position parameter it supplies fluctuates randomly around a so-called rest level. If two floor position parameters which randomly fluctuate around the quiescent level are compared with one another, the result of the comparison is also random and cannot be used to generate the floor signal. The additional condition, in addition to the comparison of the two floor position parameters, that the first and / or second floor position parameter must be greater than the first threshold value, ensures that the floor signal is only assigned the status "in the floor area" if the first and / or or second Hall sensor and thus the floor position detection device is located in the area of a magnetic means.

The described quiescent level of the Hall sensors can in particular also be used to establish the first threshold value. The first threshold value can be set, for example, to a multiple, for example three to five times, the quiescent level of the corresponding Hall sensor. The mentioned rest level can be fixed for a certain type of Hall sensor during the production of the Floor position detection device measured or determined after the installation of the floor position detection device in an elevator system in a so-called learning run. For example, when the Hall sensor is supplied with 2 V, the first threshold value can be between 20 and 40 mV.

The above-mentioned object is also achieved by a method according to the invention for generating a floor signal in an elevator installation. The floor signal can assume two states “in the floor area” or “outside the floor area”. A first floor position parameter is generated by means of a first Hall sensor and a second floor position parameter is generated by means of a second Hall sensor of a sensor unit, the first Hall sensor and the second Hall sensor being arranged in such a way that when approaching a floor the approach the first floor position parameter can be derived before the second floor position parameter. The floor signal is generated by an evaluation device based on a comparison of the first and the second floor position parameter. According to the invention, the evaluation device checks whether the first and / or second floor position parameter is greater than a first threshold value and generates the floor signal based on the result of the test mentioned. The evaluation device assigns the status "in the floor area" to the floor signal if the second floor position parameter is greater than or equal to the first floor position parameter and the first floor position parameter and / or second floor position parameter is greater than the first threshold value.

The explanations and further properties of the floor position detection device according to the invention also apply mutatis mutandis to the method according to the invention.

In an embodiment of the invention, the evaluation device is provided to postprocess a first sensor signal from the first Hall sensor and / or a second sensor signal from the second Hall sensor in order to determine the first and / or second floor position parameter. This enables a particularly high level of accuracy of the floor position detection device. The post-processing can take the form of filtering, for example a low-pass filter, for example.

The evaluation device is provided in particular to calibrate the first and / or second sensor signal. In this context, this should be understood to mean that the two sensor signals are converted into floor position parameters in such a way that both floor position parameters have the same maximum value. Different Hall sensors can also output different sensor signals at the same distance from the same magnetic means and thus the same magnetic field. The Hall sensors can therefore have a so-called scatter. This variation is compensated for by the post-processing described. It can thus be ensured that even with different floor position detection devices, the floor signal is always assigned the status "in the floor area" with almost exactly the same position of the floor position detection device in relation to the magnetic means and thus in relation to the floor.

The sensor signals are calibrated in particular in that a so-called calibration factor or gain factor assigned to a Hall sensor is stored in the evaluation device. In order to calculate the floor position parameter from the sensor signal of the Hall sensor, the evaluation device multiplies the value of the sensor signal by the calibration factor. This multiplication can also be implemented in an analog circuit. The calibration factors can be selected, for example, so that both floor position parameters have the same predetermined maximum value. This maximum value can be, for example, 200-400 mV when the Hall sensors are fed with 2 V. Determining the calibration factors is referred to herein as "calibration".

The calibration described can be carried out, for example, after the floor position detection device has been installed in an elevator system during a so-called learning trip. The elevator car with the floor position detection device arranged on it is moved slowly in the elevator shaft. The floor position detection device moves past a magnetic means and the evaluation device detects the sensor signals from the Hall sensors. It can determine the maximum sensor signals of the individual Hall sensors and perform the calibration as described. It is also possible that the Information from a further position detection system, for example an absolute position detection system, can be evaluated.

The calibration can also be carried out directly during the production of the floor position detection device. For this purpose, for example, the same magnetic means can be arranged one after the other at the same distance from the Hall sensors, the evaluation device determining the maximum sensor signal in each case. The evaluation device can then carry out the calibration as described. It is also possible for two magnetic means of the same type, which therefore generate the same magnetic field, to be arranged at the same distance in front of the Hall sensors at the same time and the evaluation device thus generates the maximum sensor signals.

In an embodiment of the invention, the evaluation device is provided to reassign the floor signal to the status “outside the floor area” after a change from the status “outside the floor area” to the status “in the floor area”. The floor signal thus only has an edge when the second floor position parameter is greater than or equal to the first floor position parameter and the first floor position parameter and / or the second floor position parameter is greater than the first threshold value. Thus, only two Hall sensors are advantageously required, which enables a particularly cost-effective and space-saving design of the floor position detection device. This refinement can be advantageous, for example, when the floor position detection device is intended to replace an older floor position detection device which generates such a floor signal. The period of time mentioned can have a duration between 1 and 100 ms, in particular 10 ms, for example.

In an embodiment of the invention, the sensor unit has a third Hall sensor for generating a third floor position parameter, which is arranged opposite the second Hall sensor so that when a floor is removed, the removal from the second floor position parameter can be derived before the third floor position parameter. This is to be understood as the fact that when the floor position detection device is removed from a floor and thus from a magnetic means, the second floor position parameter is before the third Floor position parameter drops. The two Hall sensors are thus arranged in such a way that the second Hall sensor moves away from the magnetic field of the magnetic means before the third Hall sensor. The evaluation device is also provided to assign the floor signal, based on the status “in the floor area”, the status “outside the floor area” if the third floor position parameter is greater than the second floor position parameter and the second and / or third floor position parameter is greater than a second threshold value.

This means that it is possible to reliably and precisely detect with just one additional Hall sensor when the floor position detection device and thus the elevator car are again removed from a magnetic means and thus from a floor. The floor position detection device is therefore particularly cost-effective.

In particular, it is checked whether the second floor position parameter is greater than the second threshold value. The second threshold value can in particular be the same size as the first threshold value. For the generation of the third floor position parameter from the third sensor signal of the third Hall sensor, the same applies as for the generation of the first and second floor position parameter.

In an embodiment of the invention, the sensor unit has a third Hall sensor for generating a third floor position parameter and a fourth Hall sensor for generating a fourth floor position parameter. The third Hall sensor and the fourth Hall sensor are arranged in such a way that when a floor is removed, the removal from the third floor position parameter can be derived before the fourth floor position parameter. The evaluation device is provided to assign the status "outside the floor area" to the floor signal if the fourth floor position parameter is greater than the third floor position parameter and the third and / or fourth floor position parameter is greater than a third threshold value.

The area in which the floor signal has the state “in the floor area” when driving past a magnetic means and thus a floor can thus be set very flexibly. For example, it can be set so that the said area has a length of 20-30 mm. The flexibility is achieved by assigning the status "in the floor area" as a function of the first and second floor position parameters and resetting to the status "outside the floor area" as a function of the third and fourth floor position parameters. Setting and resetting are therefore independent of each other.

In particular, it is checked whether the third floor position parameter is greater than the third threshold value. The third threshold value can in particular be the same size as the first and / or second threshold value. For the generation of the third and fourth floor position parameters from the third and fourth sensor signals of the third and fourth Hall sensors, the same applies as for the generation of the first and second floor position parameters. In particular, there is also post-processing; in particular, the sensor signals are calibrated.

In an embodiment of the invention, the evaluation device is provided to carry out an automated calibration when all sensor signals are greater than a fourth threshold value.

As a result of the automated implementation of the calibration, the evaluation device does not have to have an input interface with which a calibration can be started. The evaluation device can thus be implemented simply and inexpensively.

To carry out the calibration, four similar magnetic means, that is to say magnetic means with the same magnetic field, can be arranged at the same distance from the four Hall sensors, for example at the end of the production of the floor position detection device. The distance is chosen so that all four sensor signals are safely greater than the fourth threshold value. If this condition is met, the evaluation device automatically carries out a calibration. For this purpose, a calibration factor is determined for each Hall sensor, with which the respective sensor signal is multiplied when generating the floor position parameter. The calibration factors are determined in such a way that all floor position parameters have the same maximum value. It would also be possible that the Calibration factors are determined so that only the first and second, as well as the third and fourth floor position parameters each have the same maximum values.

The fourth threshold value can in particular be the same size as the first, second and / or third threshold value.

With a correct determination of the fourth threshold value, it can never happen in real operation of the floor position detection device in an elevator system that all four floor position parameters are greater than the fourth threshold value. It is therefore impossible that a new calibration is carried out in real operation.

In an embodiment of the invention, the floor position detection device has a voltage supply device which supplies the Hall sensors and the evaluation device with the same supply voltage. A simple and inexpensive voltage supply device can thus be used.

The supply voltage mentioned can be between 1 and 4 V, in particular 2 V, for example.

The output module can be supplied with a different supply voltage, in particular a higher supply voltage of 24 V, for example.

The floor position detection device according to the invention and an elevator control are components of an elevator control system of an elevator installation. The elevator control system includes, in particular, further sensors and actuators and is used to control the entire elevator installation.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention emerge from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the drawings, in which identical or functionally identical elements are provided with identical reference symbols.

Fig. 1

einen Teil einer Aufzuganlage mit einer Aufzugkabine, an welcher eine Stockwerkpositionserkennungsvorrichtung angeordnet ist, in einem Aufzugschacht,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung einer Stockwerkpositionserkennungsvorrichtung,

Fig. 3

Verläufe von Stockwerkspositionskenngrössen und einem Stockwerksignal bei einer Vorbeifahrt einer Aufzugkabine mit einer der Stockwerkpositionserkennungsvorrichtung gemäss Fig. 2 an einem ein Stockwerk kennzeichnenden Magnetmittel,

Fig. 4

eine schematische Darstellung einer alternativen Stockwerkpositionserkennungsvorrichtung und

Fig. 5

Verläufe von Stockwerkspositionskenngrössen und einem Stockwerksignal bei einer Vorbeifahrt einer Aufzugkabine mit einer der Stockwerkpositionserkennungsvorrichtung gemäss Fig. 4 an einem ein Stockwerk kennzeichnenden Magnetmittel.

Show:

Fig. 1

a part of an elevator installation with an elevator car, on which a floor position detection device is arranged, in an elevator shaft,

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a floor position detection device,

Fig. 3

Profiles of floor position parameters and a floor signal when an elevator car is passing by with one of the floor position detection devices according to FIG Fig. 2 on a magnetic means identifying a floor,

Fig. 4

a schematic representation of an alternative floor position detection device and

Fig. 5

Profiles of floor position parameters and a floor signal when an elevator car is passing by with one of the floor position detection devices according to FIG Fig. 4 on a magnetic means characterizing a floor.

According to Fig. 1 an elevator system 10 has an elevator cage 14 that can be moved in an elevator shaft 12. The elevator cage 14 is suspended from a suspension element 16 in the form of a rope or a belt and can be driven up and down in the elevator shaft 12 by means of a drive machine (not shown), i.e. in one direction of travel 13 become. The elevator system 10 is controlled by an elevator controller 18, which is in signal connection with the drive machine, among other things, via communication connections (not shown).

In the elevator shaft 12, a magnetic means 22 in the form of a permanent magnet is arranged at a point 20 characterizing a floor. The magnetic means 22 is surrounded by a magnetic field 24, which is represented symbolically with the aid of some magnetic field lines. The magnetic means 22 identifies the floor in the vertical direction, that is to say in the direction of travel 13 of the elevator car 14. It can be arranged, for example, on a shaft door (not shown).

A floor position detection device 26, which is in communication with the elevator control 18, is arranged on the elevator car 14 and their structure in Fig. 2 is shown in more detail. The floor position detection device 26 is arranged on the elevator car 14 in such a way that it has a horizontal distance of between 5 and 25 mm from the magnetic means 22 when it is passing the magnetic means 22. For this purpose, the floor position detection device 26 can be arranged, for example, on a car door (not shown).

The floor position detection device 26 and the elevator control 18 are components of an elevator control system of the elevator installation 10. The elevator control system comprises in particular further sensors and actuators, not shown.

According to Fig. 2 the floor position detection device 26 has a first Hall sensor 28, a second Hall sensor 30, a third Hall sensor 32 and a fourth Hall sensor 34, which are arranged side by side. The four Hall sensors 28, 30, 32 and 34 form a sensor unit 35. If the floor position detection device 26 is arranged on the elevator car 14, the four Hall sensors 28, 30, 32, 34 are arranged next to one another in the direction of travel 13 so that they all have the same horizontal distance from the magnetic means 22.

Sensor signals from the four Hall sensors 28, 30, 32, 34 are forwarded to an evaluation device 36, which is designed as a programmable microprocessor. The evaluation device 36 initially calculates four floor position parameters from the sensor signals mentioned and combines them to form a floor signal, which it forwards to an output module 38. The output module 38 amplifies the floor signal and forwards it to the elevator control 18. The course of the floor position parameters and the floor signal are shown in Fig. 3 shown.

To calculate the floor position parameters, the evaluation device 36 calibrates the sensor signals from the four Hall sensors 28, 30, 32, 34. For this purpose, the evaluation device 36 multiplies each sensor signal by an associated calibration factor. The calibration factors are determined when the floor position detection device 26 is calibrated at the end of the production of the floor position detection device 26. For this purpose, one of four identical magnetic means is placed at a fixed distance in front of the four Hall sensors 28, 30, 32, 34 arranged. The mentioned distance is chosen so that each of the four sensor signals of the four Hall sensors 28, 30, 32, 34 surely exceeds a fourth threshold value. As soon as the evaluation device 36 detects that all four sensor signals are greater than the fourth threshold value, it automatically starts a calibration. The calibration factors are determined in such a way that during the calibration each floor position parameter resulting from the multiplication of the sensor signal by the associated calibration factor has the same value of, for example, 300 mV.

The floor position detection device 26 also has a voltage supply device 40 which supplies the four Hall sensors 28, 30, 32, 34, the evaluation device 36 and the output module 38 with a supply voltage. The voltage supply device 40 supplies the four Hall sensors 28, 30, 32, 34 and the evaluation device 36 with the same supply voltage of 2 V and the output module 38 with a different supply voltage of 24 V. The voltage supply device 40 and thus the floor position detection device 26 are used for this purpose supplied with an input voltage of 24 V.

In the Fig. 3 are courses of floor position parameters and a floor signal when driving past the magnetic means 22 of the elevator car 14 and thus the floor position detection device 26 from top to bottom. The curve 48 shows the first floor position parameter of the first Hall sensor 28, the curve 50 the second floor position parameter of the second Hall sensor 30, the curve 52 the third floor position parameter of the third Hall sensor 32 and the curve 54 the fourth floor position parameter of the fourth Hall Sensor 34. The curve 56 shows the course of the floor signal. The floor signal 56 can assume the state “outside of the floor area” and “in the floor area”, wherein in the Fig. 3 the state "outside the floor area" is marked with "0" and the state "in the floor area" is marked with "1".

The floor position parameters 48, 50, 52 and 54 each rise from a quiescent level when the Hall sensor 28, 30, 32 and 34 in question comes into the area of the magnetic means 22, that is, when it is immersed in the magnetic field 24. They are at their maximum when the Hall sensors 28, 30, 32 and 34 in question are exactly at the height of the Magnetic means 22 is located in order to fall back to the rest level when removed from the magnetic means 22. From the size of the associated floor position parameters 48, 50, 52 and 54, conclusions can be drawn about the distance between the associated Hall sensor 28, 30, 32, 34 from the magnetic means 22 in the direction of travel 13.

The first Hall sensor 28 and the second Hall sensor 30 are arranged such that when the floor position detection device 26 approaches the magnetic means 22 and thus a floor, the approach can be derived from the first floor position parameter 48 before the second floor position parameter 50. This can be seen from the fact that the first floor position parameter 48 increases before the second floor position parameter 50. The evaluation device 36 then assigns the floor signal 56, starting from the status “outside the floor area”, the status “in the floor area” when the second floor position parameter 50 is greater than the first floor position parameter 48 and at the same time the second floor position parameter 50 is greater than a first threshold value 58.

The third Hall sensor 32 and the fourth Hall sensor 34 are arranged such that when the floor position detection device 26 is removed from the magnetic means 22 and thus from a floor, the removal from the third floor position parameter 52 can be derived before the fourth floor position parameter 54. This can be seen from the fact that the third floor position parameter 52 decreases before the fourth floor position parameter 52 after reaching the maximum. The evaluation device 36 then assigns the floor signal 56, starting from the status “in the floor area”, the status “outside the floor area” when the fourth floor position parameter 54 is greater than the third floor position parameter 52 and at the same time the third floor position parameter 52 is greater than a second threshold value 60, which is identical to the first threshold value 58.

The magnetic means 22 and the floor position detection device 26 are arranged so that the floor signal then has the status "in the floor area" when the elevator car 14 is positioned opposite a floor in such a way that the car door and thus also the shaft door can be opened at the same time.

The numbering used for the Hall sensors and thus the floor position parameters applies when driving past the magnetic means from top to bottom as described. When driving past from bottom to top, the numbering is reversed. It is also possible for the floor position detection device to have only three instead of four Hall sensors. In this case, the evaluation device assigns the floor signal, based on the status “in the floor area”, the status “outside the floor area” as a function of the second and third floor position parameter. The evaluation device thus evaluates the second floor position parameter in addition to the third floor position parameter and the third one in addition to the fourth floor position parameter.

In Fig. 4 is one for the floor position detection device 26 from Fig. 2 alternative floor position detection device 126 is shown. The floor position detection device 126 is constructed similarly to the floor position detection device 26, so that only the differences between the two floor position detection devices will be discussed. Similar or equivalent components are in the Fig. 4 with a reference number increased by 100 than in the Fig. 2 marked.

The sensor unit 135 of the floor position detection device 126 only has a first Hall sensor 128 and a second Hall sensor 130, which are also arranged next to one another.

An evaluation device 136 determines a floor signal from the sensor signals of the two Hall sensors 128, 130. The course of the floor position parameters and the floor signal are shown in Fig. 5 shown.

In the Fig. 5 are courses of floor position parameters and of a floor signal when driving past the magnetic means 22 of the elevator car 14 and thus the floor position detection device 126 from top to bottom. Curve 148 shows the first floor position parameter of the first Hall sensor 28 and curve 50 shows the second floor position parameter of the second Hall sensor. The curve 156 shows the course of the floor signal. The floor signal 156 can assume the state “outside of the floor area” and “in the floor area”, in which Fig. 5 the state "outside the floor area" is marked with "0" and the state "in the floor area" is marked with "1".

The floor position parameters 148 and 150 each rise from a quiescent level when the Hall sensor 128, 130 in question comes into the area of the magnetic means 22, that is, when it is immersed in the magnetic field 24. They have their maximum when the Hall sensor 128, 130 in question is exactly at the level of the magnetic means 22 in order to drop back to the rest level when the magnetic means 22 is removed. The distance of the associated Hall sensor 128, 130 from the magnetic means 22 in the direction of travel 13 can thus be inferred from the size of the associated floor position parameter 148, 150.

The first Hall sensor 128 and the second Hall sensor 130 are arranged such that when the floor position detection device 126 approaches the magnetic means 22 and thus a floor, the approach can be derived from the first floor position parameter 148 before the second floor position parameter 150. This can be seen from the fact that the first floor position parameter 148 increases before the second floor position parameter 150. The evaluation device 136 then assigns the floor signal 156, starting from the status “outside the floor area”, the status “in the floor area” when the second floor position parameter 150 is greater than the first floor position parameter 148 and at the same time the second floor position parameter 150 is greater than a first threshold value 158. After a definable time span of, for example, 1 and 100 ms, in particular 10 ms, after the described change of the floor signal 156 from the state “outside the floor area” to the state “in the floor area”, the evaluation device 136 sets the floor signal 156 back to the state “outside” of the floor area "back.

The numbering used for the Hall sensors and thus the floor position parameters applies when driving past the magnetic means from top to bottom as described. When driving past from bottom to top, the numbering is reversed.

Finally, it should be pointed out that terms such as “having”, “comprising”, etc. do not exclude any other elements or steps and that terms such as “a” or “an” do not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be pointed out that within the scope of protection of the appended claims, features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the above exemplary embodiments, can also be used in combination with other features or steps of other exemplary embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be regarded as a restriction.

Claims (13)

1. Floor position detection device of a lift installation (10) having a sensor unit (35, 135) and an evaluation unit (36, 136) for generating a floor signal (56, 156) which has two states,
   wherein

   - the floor signal (56, 156) can assume the two states "in the range of the floor" or "outside the range of the floor",

   - the sensor unit (35, 135) has a first Hall effect sensor (28, 128) for generating a first floor position characteristic value (48, 148) and a second Hall effect sensor (30, 130) for generating a second floor position characteristic value (50, 150) and

   - the evaluation unit (36, 136) is intended for generating the floor signal (56, 156) based on a comparison of the first floor position characteristic value (48, 148) and the second floor position characteristic value (50, 150),

   wherein the first Hall effect sensor (28, 128) and the second Hall effect sensor (30, 130) are arranged in such a manner that, when approaching a floor, the approach can be derived from the first floor position characteristic value (48, 148) before the second floor position characteristic value (50, 150),
   characterized in that
   the evaluation unit (36) is intended for

   - verifying whether the first floor position characteristic value (48, 148) and/or second floor position characteristic value (50, 150) is greater than a first threshold value (58, 158),

   - generating the floor signal (56, 156) on the basis of the result of the mentioned verification and

   - assigning to the floor signal (56, 156) the state "in the range of the floor" when the second floor position characteristic value (50, 150) is greater than or equal to the first floor position characteristic value (48, 148) and the first floor position characteristic value (48, 148) and/or second floor position characteristic value (50, 150) is greater than the first threshold value (58, 158).
2. Floor position detection device according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the evaluation unit (36, 136) is intended for assigning the state "in the range of the floor" to the floor signal (56, 156) if the second floor position characteristic value (50, 150) is greater than the first threshold value (58, 158).
3. Floor position detection device according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that
   the evaluation unit (36, 136) is intended for post-processing a first sensor signal of the first Hall effect sensor (28, 128) and/or a second sensor signal of the second Hall effect sensor (30, 130) for determining the first floor position characteristic value (48, 148) and/or the second floor position characteristic value (50, 150).
4. Floor position detection device according to claim 3,
   characterized in that
   the evaluation unit (36, 136) is intended for calibrating the first and/or second sensor signal.
5. Floor position detection device according to any of claims 1 to 4,
   characterized in that
   the evaluation unit (136) is intended for assigning the floor signal (156) a specifiable time span after a change from the state "outside the range of the floor" to the state "in the range of the floor" and again to the state "outside the range of the floor".
6. Floor position detection device according to any of claims 1 to 4,
   characterized in that
   the sensor unit (35) has a third Hall effect sensor (34) for generating a third floor position characteristic value (52), which is arranged opposite the second Hall effect sensor (32) in such a manner that, when moving away from a floor, the moving away can be derived from the second floor position characteristic value (50) before the third floor position characteristic value (52), and the evaluation unit (36) is intended to assign to the floor signal (56) the state "outside the range of the floor" if the third floor position characteristic value (52) is greater than the second floor position characteristic value (50) and the second floor position characteristic value (50) and/or third floor position characteristic value (52) is greater than a second threshold value (60).
7. Floor position detection device according to any of claims 1 to 4,
   characterized in that the
   sensor unit (35) has a third Hall effect sensor (32) for generating a third floor position characteristic value (52) and a fourth Hall effect sensor (34) for generating a fourth floor position characteristic value (54), and the third Hall effect sensor (32) and the fourth Hall effect sensor (34) are arranged in such a manner that, when moving away from a floor, the moving away can be derived from the third floor position characteristic value (52) before the fourth floor position characteristic value (54), and the evaluation unit (36) is intended to assign to the floor signal (56) the state "outside the range of the floor" if the fourth floor position characteristic value (54) is greater than the third floor position characteristic value (52) and the third and/or fourth floor position characteristic value (52, 54) is greater than a third threshold value (58).
8. Floor position detection device according to claim 6 or 7,
   characterized in that
   the evaluation unit (36) is intended for calibrating the third and/or fourth sensor signal.
9. Floor position detection device according to claim 8,
   characterized in that
   the evaluation unit (36) is intended for automatically carrying out a calibration if all sensor signals are greater than a fourth threshold value.
10. Floor position detection device according to any of claims 1 to 9,
    characterized by
    a voltage supply unit (40) which supplies the Hall effect sensors (28, 30, 32, 34; 128, 130) and the evaluation unit (36, 136) with the same supply voltage.
11. Lift control system of a lift installation having a floor position detection device according to any of claims 1 to 10.
12. Lift installation having a lift control system according to claim 11.
13. Method for generating a floor signal in a lift installation,
    wherein

    - the floor signal (56, 156) can assume two states "in the range of the floor" or "outside the range of the floor",

    - a first floor position characteristic value (48, 148) is generated by means of a first Hall effect sensor (28, 128) and a second floor position characteristic value (50, 150) is generated by means of a second Hall effect sensor (30, 130) of a sensor unit (35, 135) and

    - the floor signal (56, 156) is generated by an evaluation unit (36, 136) based on a comparison of the first floor position characteristic value (48, 148) and the second floor position characteristic value (50, 150),

    - wherein the first Hall effect sensor (28, 128) and the second Hall effect sensor (30, 130) are arranged in such a manner that, when approaching a floor, the approach can be derived from the first floor position characteristic value (48, 148) before the second floor position characteristic value (50, 150),

    characterized in that
    the evaluation unit (36, 136)

    - verifies whether the first floor position characteristic value (48, 148) and/or second floor position characteristic value (50, 150) is greater than a first threshold value (58, 158),

    - generates the floor signal (56, 156) based on the result of the mentioned verification, and

    - assigns to the floor signal (56, 156) the state "in the range of the floor", if the second floor position characteristic value (50, 150) is greater than or equal to the first floor position characteristic value (48, 148) and the first floor position characteristic value (48, 148) and/or second floor position characteristic value (50, 150) is greater than the first threshold value (58, 158).

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