EP4653367A1

EP4653367A1 - Control of a movement of an elevator car

Info

Publication number: EP4653367A1
Application number: EP24177938.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Juha-Matti Aitamurto; Janne Salomäki; Asmo Tenhunen
Original assignee: Kone Corp
Current assignee: Kone Corp
Priority date: 2024-05-24
Filing date: 2024-05-24
Publication date: 2025-11-26

Abstract

An elevator system (100) is provided, the elevator system (100) comprising: an elevator car (110) configured to travel between landing floors (F1, F2); an elevator drive system (130) configured to operate the elevator car (110); an elevator controller (120) at least configured to operate the elevator drive system (130); wherein the elevator controller (120) is configured to, in response to a detection of a service request during an execution of an elevator service wherein the elevator car (110) is caused to travel from a departure floor (F1, F2) to a destination floor (F1, F2), generate (260) a control signal to set a new destination to the elevator car (110) so as to cause a modification of the travel of the elevator car (110) to the new destination. Also a method and a computer program are provided to.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention concerns in general the technical field of elevators. More particularly, the invention concerns a controlling of a movement of an elevator car.

BACKGROUND

Traditional elevators may be provided with safety contactors. They may be arranged in a power supply circuit of an elevator hoisting motor and safety brakes, and they may be opened in case a safety-related problem is detected. Opening of a safety contactor has the effect that power supply to the hoisting motor and the safety brakes ceases immediately, causing stopping of the elevator car.
As it is important, that such safety contactors are working properly, operating condition of them has been verified by opening the contactors while elevator car resides at a landing floor. A new elevator run in an opposite direction is not allowed before opening and closing of the contactors has taken place. This causes an additional delay in elevator operation and therefore increases elevator waiting times, especially in cases where there is an extra-long distance between adjacent landing floors.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide basic understanding of some aspects of various invention embodiments. The summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of exemplifying embodiments of the invention.
An object of the invention is to present an elevator system, a method and a computer program for managing a movement of an elevator car.
The objects of the invention are reached by an elevator system, a method and a computer program as defined by the respective independent claims.
According to a first aspect, an elevator system is provided, the elevator system comprising:

an elevator car configured to travel between landing floors;
an elevator drive system configured to operate the elevator car;
an elevator controller at least configured to operate the elevator drive system;
wherein the elevator controller is configured to, in response to a detection of a service request during an execution of an elevator service wherein the elevator car is caused to travel from a departure floor to a destination floor, generate a control signal to set a new destination to the elevator car so as to cause a modification of the travel of the elevator car to the new destination.

The elevator controller may be configured to generate the control signal to set the new destination to the elevator car in response to a detection that the elevator car is traveling away from a floor derivable from the service request.
Further, the elevator controller may be configured to cause the modification of the travel of the elevator car to the new destination by at least one of: providing an instruction to follow a predefined reference motion profile at least in terms of a deceleration to stop the elevator car to the new destination; requesting the elevator drive system to generate a predefined reference motion profile at least in terms of a deceleration to stop the elevator car to the new destination.
The elevator system may further comprise at least one user interface for generating the service request.
Still further, the elevator controller may be configured to generate a control signal to set the new destination to the elevator car in response to a detection that a priority of the service request exceeds a priority of a prior service request that caused the execution of the elevator service.
The new destination may be the original departure floor of the elevator car.
The execution of elevator service may refer to automatic elevator operation wherein elevator car is arranged to travel in a controlled manner from a departure floor to a destination floor in accordance with one or more service requests issued by elevator users.
Moreover, the elevator drive system may comprise solid state switches configured for operating at least the elevator drive system, and wherein the elevator system comprises a safety function associated with one or more of the solid state switches, and wherein the safety function is arranged to receive status information from a plurality of elevator components and configured to enable operation of the elevator car when the status information corresponds to a first operational status and to interrupt operation of the elevator car when the status information corresponds to a second operational status.
According to a second aspect, a method for managing a movement of an elevator car is provided, the method, performed by an elevator controller, comprises:

detecting a service request during an execution of an elevator service wherein the elevator car is caused to travel from a departure floor to a destination floor,
generating a control signal to set a new destination to the elevator car so as to cause a modification of the travel of the elevator car to the new destination.

The control signal may be generated in response to a detection that the elevator car is traveling away from a floor derivable from the service request.
Further, the modification of the travel of the elevator car to the new destination may be performed by at least one of: providing an instruction to follow a predefined reference motion profile at least in terms of a deceleration to stop the elevator car to the new destination; requesting the elevator drive system to generate a predefined reference motion profile at least in terms of a deceleration to stop the elevator car to the new destination.
The control signal may be generated in response to a detection that a priority of the service request exceeds a priority of a prior service request that caused the execution of the elevator service.
Moreover, the new destination may be the original departure floor of the elevator car.
According to a third aspect, a computer program is provided, the computer program comprising instructions to cause an elevator controller to execute the steps of the method according to the second aspect as defined above.
The expression "a number of" refers herein to any positive integer starting from one, e.g. to one, two, or three.
The expression "a plurality of" refers herein to any positive integer starting from two, e.g. to two, three, or four.
Various exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments of the invention both as to constructions and to methods of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
The verbs "to comprise" and "to include" are used in this document as open limitations that neither exclude nor require the existence of unrecited features. The features recited in dependent claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the use of "a" or "an", i.e. a singular form, throughout this document does not exclude a plurality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates schematically at least a part of an elevator system according to an example.
Figure 2 illustrates schematically a method according to an example.
Figure 3 illustrates schematically a travel situation of an elevator car according to an example.
Figure 4 illustrates schematically a computing apparatus according to an example.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLIFYING EMBODIMENTS

The specific examples provided in the description given below should not be construed as limiting the scope and/or the applicability of the appended claims. Lists and groups of examples provided in the description given below are not exhaustive unless otherwise explicitly stated.
Figure 1 illustrates schematically at least some entities of an elevator system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The elevator system 100 comprises an elevator car that is configured to travel between landing floors F1, F2. The operation, such as a movement, of the elevator car 110 is controlled by an elevator controller 120 that generates one or more control signals to an elevator drive system 130 that, in turn, generates control to an electric motor 140 of a hoisting machine of the elevator system 100. The elevator drive system 130 controls an operation of the electric motor 140 by generating a variable-voltage, variable-frequency supply voltage causing rotating field to windings of the electric motor 140 by means of a frequency converter of the elevator drive system 130. As a result, the electric motor 140 causes a force that rotates a traction sheave 150 of the hoisting machine of the elevator system 100 and the rotational force is conveyed to the elevator car 110 through an elevator rope guided over the traction sheave 150, the rope thus connecting the elevator car 110 and a counterweight 160 in a known manner. As a consequence, the rotational force moves the elevator rope and, thus, the elevator car 110 travels upwards/downwards in an elevator shaft. Furthermore, the elevator system 100, and the hoisting machine, comprises machinery brakes 170 that may be controlled to brake a hoisting machine comprising the electric motor 140 and the traction sheave 150. The controlling of the operation of the machinery brakes 170 may be performed from a brake control unit of elevator drive system 130.
The elevator system 100 further comprises a safety function (not illustrated in Fig. 1) in connection with at least a number of solid state switches of the elevator drive system 130 and/or the machinery brakes 170 (the brake controller therein). The safety function receives status information from a plurality of elevator components, such as safety contacts and/or safety switches. While the elevator system 100 is in a normal operation mode, the safety function enables operation of the elevator car 110 when the status information corresponds to a first operational status and prevents operation of the elevator car when the status information corresponds to a second operational status. The first operational status may be determined, for example, when the status information indicates that all safety contacts/safety switches are closed, i.e. the normal elevator operation, such as a travel of the elevator car 110, is allowed. The second operational status, in turn, may be determined in case the status information indicates that at least one of the safety contacts/switches is open, i.e. the operation of the elevator system is disabled.
To disable elevator car 110 operation, the safety function may be configured to block control signals of the associated solid state switches. Correspondingly, to enable car operation the safety function may be configured to allow control signals to reach the respective switches, such that a rotating field may be generated in the electric motor 140 of the hoisting machine and opening of the safety brakes is possible. By means of the safety function a stopping of elevator car 110 is possible in a safe way by using solid state switches only, without any (mechanical) safety contactors as is the case in the prior art solutions.
In order to explain at least some aspects of the present invention it is hereby referred to Figure 2. Figure 2 illustrates schematically aspects relating to a method for managing a movement of an elevator car 110 in the elevator shaft. The description of at least some aspects of the present invention may be started by defining a situation at which the invention may be implemented to. Namely, in normal operational mode the elevator system operates so that the elevator controller 120 is arranged to receive service requests e.g. given by users through one or more user interfaces of the elevator, such as a landing call panel, a destination operation panel (DOP), a car operating panel (COP) or a user terminal, e.g. through the above-mentioned user interfaces or as a system call, and the elevator controller 120 is configured to arrange the elevator service to the requests. In practice, this means that the elevator controller 120 generates 220 a control signal, called as a first control signal in Figure 2, towards the elevator drive system 130 wherein the control signal carries data indicative at least of a destination floor. The destination floor refers to the destination into which the elevator car 110 is instructed to travel with the control signal. The control signal may also carry other data, such as data indicative of the departure floor as well as any other data. The control signal causes, e.g. based on data it carries, a generation of a reference motion profile, such as a refence velocity profile or a reference acceleration profile, or at least some parameters descriptive of the motion reference profile, in the elevator drive system 130 which profile defines a motion pattern for the elevator car 110 during the travel. The reference motion profile may be calculated for the elevator car 110 travel during the normal operation mode, e.g. such that elevator car leaves smoothly from a departure floor, accelerates to a maximum speed (also referred to as rated speed), and further decelerates from the maximum speed such that elevator car arrives smoothly at the destination floor. In response to the receipt of the data the elevator drive system 130 is configured to adjust supply voltage of the electric motor 150 such that elevator car 110 movement follows a desired reference motion profile. For example, the adjustment of the supply voltage of the electric motor 150 may be performed by means of a frequency converter of the elevator drive system 130 e.g. by using so-called motion control loop. As a result of the generation of the control to the electric motor 150 the elevator car 110 starts moving from the departure floor F1, F2 to the destination floor F1, F2 in accordance with the control data. For sake of completeness, it is also worthwhile to mention that the reference motion profile may even be determined by the elevator controller 120 and delivered to the elevator drive system 130 e.g. with the control signal causing a utilization of the delivered reference motion profile by the elevator drive system 130.
In accordance with the present invention, at some point when the elevator car 110 is traveling between the landing floors F1, F2, i.e. from the departure floor F1, F2 to the destination floor F1, F2, the elevator controller 120 detects 230 another service request, referred as a second service request or a runtime service request, during the execution of the elevator service from the departure floor F1, F2 to the destination floor F1, F2. In other words, the elevator controller 120 has received the second service request at some point of time, e.g. through the above-mentioned user interfaces either directly or from an elevator group controller if applicable, or as a system call, and it detects 230 that it shall be served. In response to the detection 230 of the second service request the elevator controller 120 is configured to evaluate 240 the second service call with respect to the first service call in a manner as described in the forthcoming description. Namely, the elevator controller 120 is configured to evaluate 240 if the floor F1, F2 in the second service request into the which the service is requested is in the same direction as the elevator car 110 is currently traveling or not. In other words, the elevator controller 120 is configured to detect if the elevator car 110 would reach the floor F1, F2 indicated in the second service request by continuing the travel to the destination floor F1, F2 indicated in the first service request. In case the evaluation generates such a detection, the elevator controller 120 may be configured to continue 250 the service execution for the first service request, i.e. continuing the travel of the elevator car 110 in the direction it is currently moving. In other words, the elevator controller 120 may be configured to take no specific actions with respect to a current operation of the elevator system 100 in question, but naturally it adjusts the reference motion profile so that the elevator car 110 starts decelerating at a defined position in the elevator shaft with respect to the destination floor F1, F2 so as to achieve a smooth approach and stop thereto. Naturally, it may be arranged that the elevator controller 120 may be configured to perform a predefined acknowledgement procedure with respect to the second service request so as to indicate that it is evaluated by the elevator controller 120 in a manner as schematically illustrated in Figure 2 and described herein. The acknowledgement procedure may comprise an association of an indicator, such as setting a predefined value, as an indication of the evaluation procedure. On the other hand, if the evaluation 240 generates an outcome indicative of that the elevator car 110 is traveling in an opposite direction with respect to the floor F1, F2 derivable from the second service request, i.e. away from the floor F1, F2 in question, the elevator controller 120 is configured to generate 260 a control signal to set a new destination to the elevator car 110 so as to cause a modification of the travel of the elevator car 110 to the new destination. The new destination refers herein to the floor derivable from the second service request.
For avoidance of doubt the above described situation is further explained by referring to Figure 3 schematically illustrating a travel situation of an elevator car when serving the first service request. For example, the elevator car 110 may have initiated its travel from the floor (cf. departure floor) denoted with F1 in Figure 3 and its destination floor may be F3 (indicated as D1 in Figure 3) in order to provide service in accordance with the first service request. In case the second service request comprises data that request service to a floor being in the same direction with the travel direction of the elevator car 110 from its current position point of view, e.g. the floor derived from the second service request is F4, the elevator controller 120 is configured to perform by continuing second service request is F0 into which the elevator service is requested to, the elevator controller 120 is configured to perform in the manner that the destination floor of the pending service may be modified and a respective control signal to cause the modification may be generated 260. As mentioned, Figure 3 is only illustrated for explaining the various options in more detail to avoid any confusions.
According to an embodiment the elevator controller 120 may be configured, prior to the step of evaluation 240, confirm that the service execution of the first service request is still pending, i.e. that the elevator car 110 has not reached the destination floor F1, F2 indicated in the first service request. This information may be obtained from the elevator drive system 130. Additionally or alternatively, this may e.g. be confirmed from a register arranged to maintain pending service requests, i.e. those that are still under serve. For example, the register may be a software implementation maintained in a data storage, such as in a memory, of the elevator controller 120 or in an external data storage accessible to the elevator controller 120 in which register at least information on the pending service calls is maintained. Alternatively or in addition, the elevator controller 120 may obtain position data descriptive of the position of the elevator car 110, or any other entity moving during the travel, and compare the information on the position to a position of the respective entity when the elevator car 110 has reached the destination floor F1, F2. If the position corresponding to the destination floor F1, F2 has not been reached, it may be concluded that the elevator car 110 is still traveling between the departure floor and the destination floor. The same may be concluded from sensor data descriptive of a movement of the elevator car 110, wherein the sensor data may be indicative of a speed or an acceleration of the elevator car 110. The determination with respect to the status of the service execution of the first service request may also be determined with any combination of the above-mentioned approach and this has an advantage that the accuracy may be increased.
In accordance with some embodiments of the invention the execution of the method may be made dependent on a priority of the service requests. For example, the service requests may be provided with a data field that is usable for indicating the priority of the service request wherein the priority information may e.g. express an urgency of the requested service. For example, there may be one priority value for so-called normal service requests and at least one another value for service requests having a higher, or lower, priority compared to the normal priority. Now, the elevator controller 120 may be configured to perform a detection if the priority of the second service requests is such that it requires, or allows, the modification of the destination address of the executed travel of the elevator car 110. For example, if the priority of the second service request is higher than the priority of the first service request that is served by the elevator system 100 for the time being, the generation 260 of the control signal for modifying the destination may be performed, otherwise not. The utilization of priorities of the service requests in the described manner improves an overall efficiency of the elevator system because the modification of the destination floor only occurs in special cases.
In some further embodiments it may be arranged that in response to detection of the second service request, the state of the execution of the elevator service currently provided is evaluated prior to the generation of the control signal to modify the travel to the new destination. This may correspond to a situation in which the evaluation generates a detection of the state that the elevator car is already decelerating. In such a situation the modification may be cancelled since it does not remarkably reduce the time required to change the travel direction and on the other hand to change the travel direction immediately even when the elevator car is already decelerating a heavy braking is required and that may be unconformable or even dangerous if there are passengers inside the elevator car. In even more sophisticated approach the state in the destination floor may be taken into account before deciding if the modification is to be done even if the elevator car is already decelerating for entering the destination floor. For example, the controller 120 may be provided with an access to data that indicates the situations in various floors and upon a detection that the modification of the destination is required and a detection that the elevator car is already decelerating, an inquiry to data storage may be performed to determine the situation in the original destination floor. In case it turns out that it is recommendable, e.g. it is dangerous for any reason, to land at the original destination floor, the modification is allowed in spite of the ongoing deceleration.
The result of the modification of the destination floor F1, F2 of the elevator system 100 to comply with the information in the second service request in accordance with the present invention is that the elevator controller 120 causes the elevator car 110 to travel to the opposite direction to the direction the elevator car 110 is traveling to serve the first service request. In other words, the second service request, i.e. the runtime request, causes the elevator car 110 to change its travel direction. Thus, the generation 260 of the control signal to modify the destination initiates a procedure to change the direction of the travel wherein the movement of the elevator car 110 is first decelerated and the travel to the opposite direction is initiated. The generation 260 of the control signal is communicatively delivered to the elevator drive system 130 wherein the data in the control signal is analyzed and the control towards the electric motor 140 is generated in the corresponding manner as described in the foregoing description. In practice, the frequency converter of the elevator drive system 130 generates, by performing switching of the solid state switches arranged as an inverter bridge to generate a variable-voltage, variable-frequency supply voltage causing rotating field to the windings of the electric motor 140 so as to change the direction of movement in a controlled way by means of the velocity control loop. As regards to the deceleration phase in the direction change the elevator drive system 130 may apply a deceleration portion of the reference velocity profile provided to the elevator drive system 130 so to achieve a controlled stopping of the elevator car in a position in the elevator system from the speed, such as from a maximum travel speed, at which the elevator car 110 is moving. The elevator controller 120 may also be configured to cause defining a deceleration profile by the elevator drive system 130 in the described situation and thus cause the elevator drive system 130 to apply it in the direction change.
As described in the foregoing description the elevator system 100 according to the invention is based on a safety function associated with a number of switches, cf. solid state switches, of the elevator drive system 130 and/or the machinery brake system 170. As a result, the modification of the travel of the elevator car 110 may be arranged in a situation that the elevator is operating in a normal mode that is detected by the safety function by receiving status information from a plurality of elevator components and by enabling an operation of the elevator car 110 when the status information corresponds to a first operational status, cf. e.g. normal operational status in which all the safety contacts / safety switches are closed, and to interrupt operation of the elevator car 110 when the status information corresponds to a second operational status, such that an operational anomaly of the elevator is detected, or it is detected that a predefined number of the elevator components are malfunctioning, i.e. one or more of the safety contacts / switches is open. The approach as described herein is based on that the control signal(s) are allowed to reach the respective safety contacts / switches when the operation is enabled and by maintaining this even if the direction of the travel is modified prevents activation of the machinery brakes. In some embodiments it may be arranged that the elevator controller 120 detects, e.g. with an inquiry, the state of the safety function prior to the generation of the control signal to set the new destination as described so as to confirm if the setting of the new destination is even possible due to the operational state of the elevator system 100.
In accordance with some embodiments it may be arranged that the elevator controller 120 is configured to maintain information on the destination floor F1, F2 in accordance with the information derived from the first service request even if the detection of the second service request causes a modification of the travel direction, and, thus, the destination, as described. This may e.g. refer to a situation that the elevator car 110 initiates its travel from a certain departure floor F1, F2 towards a certain destination floor F1, F2 and during the runtime, i.e. during the travel, the second service request is detected wherein the information in the second service request is such that it causes the generation of a control signal to modify the original destination floor F1, F2 to correspond to the original departure floor F1, F2, i.e. the one from which the elevator car 110 initiated its travel. This means that the elevator car 110 is returned to the departure floor F1, F2. Now, in response to that the elevator car 110 has landed to the original departure floor F1, F2 that has been set to the destination of the travel through the procedure according to the method of the present invention, the elevator controller 120 may be configured to re-modify the destination so that the original destination from the first service request is returned as the destination of the travel. In other words, the elevator controller 120 may be configured to store, at least temporarily, the departure floor and the destination floor so as to apply these in further control of the elevator car 110 in at least some special situations. Such a special situation may be the one as described, i.e. the elevator car 110 is instructed to travel back to the departure floor. Such a situation may e.g. occur when the elevator car 110 leaves a floor and soon after the departure a user calls the elevator service from the same floor e.g. with a call button arranged at the landing. Thus, the elevator car 110 may be returned to the floor in question to pick up users who missed the first travel in an efficient manner with the present invention since the operation during the change of the travel direction is speeded up. The same situation may e.g. occur if a passenger in the elevator car 110 wishes to return back to the departure floor F1, F2 and indicates this e.g. through the car operating panel during the runtime of the elevator car 110 and, therefore, the original destination floor F1, F2 is advantageous to maintain.
An example of a computing apparatus configurable to implement the operation in accordance with the invention is schematically illustrated in Figure 4. The computing apparatus may correspond to the elevator controller 120 and be configured to perform at least the method according to the invention as described with the examples in the foregoing description. Thus, the computing apparatus of Figure 4 may be configured to manage an operation of an elevator system 100 in relation to service requests. For sake of clarity, it is worthwhile to mention that the block diagram of Figure 4 depicts some components of an apparatus that may be employed to implement the functionality of the computing apparatus. The apparatus of Figure 4 comprises a processor 410 and a memory 420. The memory 420 may store data, such as pieces of data as described, but also computer program code 425 causing the operation in the described manner. In at least some embodiments, the computing apparatus 400 may further comprise a communication interface 430, such as a wireless communication interface or a communication interface for wired communication, or both to communicate with other entities as described. The communication interface 430 may thus comprise one or more modems, antennas, and any other hardware and software for enabling an execution of the communication e.g. under control of the processor 410. Furthermore, I/O (input/output) components may be arranged, together with the processor 410 and a portion of the computer program code 425, to provide a user interface for receiving input from a user, such as from a technician, and/or providing output to the user of the apparatus when necessary. In particular, the I/O components may include user input means, such as one or more keys or buttons, a keyboard, a touchscreen, or a touchpad, etc. The I/O components may include output means, such as a loudspeaker, a display, or a touchscreen. The components of the computing apparatus may be communicatively connected to each other via data bus that enables transfer of data and control information between the components.
The memory 420 and at least a portion of the computer program code 425 stored therein may further be arranged, with the processor 410, to cause the computing apparatus to perform at least a portion of a method as is described herein. The processor 410 may be configured to read from and write to the memory 420. Although the processor 410 is depicted as a respective single component, it may be implemented as respective one or more separate processing components. Similarly, although the memory 420 is depicted as a respective single component, it may be implemented as respective one or more separate components, some, or all of which may be integrated / removable and / or may provide permanent / semi-permanent / dynamic / cached storage.
The computer program code 425 may comprise computer-executable instructions that implement functions that correspond to steps implemented in the method when loaded into the processor 410 of the respective system, such as the computing apparatus. As an example, the computer program code 425 may include a computer program consisting of one or more sequences of one or more instructions. The processor 410 is able to load and execute the computer program by reading the one or more sequences of one or more instructions included therein from the memory 420. The one or more sequences of one or more instructions may be configured to, when executed by the processor 410, cause the computing apparatus, such as a computer, to perform a method as described. Hence, the apparatus may comprise at least one processor 410 and at least one memory 420 including the computer program code 425 for one or more programs, the at least one memory 420 and the computer program code 425 configured to, with the at least one processor 410, cause the apparatus implementing the computing apparatus to perform the method.
The computer program code 425, or at least some portion of it, may be provided e.g. a computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable non-transitory medium having the computer program code 425 stored thereon, which computer program code 425, when executed by the processor 410 causes the computing apparatus to perform the method. The computer-readable non-transitory medium may comprise a memory device or a record medium, such as a CD-ROM, a DVD, a Blu-ray disc, or another article of manufacture that tangibly embodies the computer program. As another example, the computer program may be provided as a signal configured to reliably transfer the computer program.
Still further, the computer program code 425 may comprise a proprietary application, such as computer program code for causing an execution of the method in the manner as described in the description herein.
Any of the programmed functions mentioned may also be performed in firmware or hardware adapted to or programmed to perform the necessary tasks.
For sake of completeness it is worthwhile to mention that the entity performing the method in the role of the computing apparatus may also be implemented with a plurality of apparatuses, such as the one schematically illustrated in Figure 4, as a distributed computing environment. For example, one of the apparatuses may be communicatively connected with the other apparatuses, and e.g. share the data of the method to cause another apparatus to perform at least one other portion of the method. As a result, the method performed in the distributed computing environment may e.g. generate the control signal as described. The functionalities of the computing apparatus as described may also be integrated to an entity configured also to perform other operations.
The specific examples provided in the description given above should not be construed as limiting the applicability and/or the interpretation of the appended claims. Lists and groups of examples provided in the description given above are not exhaustive unless otherwise explicitly stated.

Claims

An elevator system (100), comprising:
an elevator car (110) configured to travel between landing floors (F1, F2),

an elevator drive system (130) configured to operate the elevator car (110),

an elevator controller (120) at least configured to operate the elevator drive system (130),

wherein the elevator controller (120) is configured to, in response to a detection of a service request during an execution of an elevator service wherein the elevator car (110) is caused to travel from a departure floor (F1, F2) to a destination floor (F1, F2), generate (260) a control signal to set a new destination to the elevator car (110) so as to cause a modification of the travel of the elevator car (110) to the new destination.
The elevator system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the elevator controller (120) is configured to generate (260) the control signal to set the new destination to the elevator car (110) in response to a detection that the elevator car (110) is traveling away from a floor (F1, F2) derivable from the service request.
The elevator system (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the elevator controller (120) is configured to cause the modification of the travel of the elevator car (110) to the new destination by at least one of: providing an instruction to follow a predefined reference motion profile at least in terms of a deceleration to stop the elevator car (100) to the new destination; requesting the elevator drive system (130) to generate a predefined reference motion profile at least in terms of a deceleration to stop the elevator car (110) to the new destination.
The elevator system (100) according to any of the preceding claims, the elevator system (100) further comprises at least one user interface for generating the service request.
The elevator system (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the elevator controller (120) is configured to generate a control signal to set the new destination to the elevator car (110) in response to a detection that a priority of the service request exceeds a priority of a prior service request that caused the execution of the elevator service.
The elevator system (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the new destination is the original departure floor of the elevator car (110).
The elevator system (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the execution of elevator service refers to automatic elevator operation wherein elevator car (110) is arranged to travel in a controlled manner from a departure floor to a destination floor in accordance with one or more service requests issued by elevator users.
The elevator system (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the elevator drive system (130) comprises solid state switches configured for operating at least the elevator drive system (130), and wherein the elevator system (100) comprises a safety function associated with one or more of the solid state switches, and
wherein the safety function is arranged to receive status information from a plurality of elevator components and configured to enable operation of the elevator car (110) when the status information corresponds to a first operational status and to interrupt operation of the elevator car (110) when the status information corresponds to a second operational status.
A method for managing a movement of an elevator car (110), the method, performed by an elevator controller (120), comprises:
detecting a service request during an execution of an elevator service wherein the elevator car (110) is caused to travel from a departure floor (F1, F2) to a destination floor (F1, F2),

generating (260) a control signal to set a new destination to the elevator car (110) so as to cause a modification of the travel of the elevator car (110) to the new destination.
The method according to claim 9, wherein the control signal is generated (260) in response to a detection that the elevator car (110) is traveling away from a floor (F1, F2) derivable from the service request.
The method according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the modification of the travel of the elevator car (110) to the new destination is performed by at least one of: providing an instruction to follow a predefined reference motion profile at least in terms of a deceleration to stop the elevator car (100) to the new destination; requesting the elevator drive system (130) to generate a predefined reference motion profile at least in terms of a deceleration to stop the elevator car (110) to the new destination.
The method according to any of the preceding claims 9-11, wherein the control signal is generated (260) in response to a detection that a priority of the service request exceeds a priority of a prior service request that caused the execution of the elevator service.
The method according to any of the preceding claims 9-12, wherein the new destination is the original departure floor of the elevator car (110).
A computer program comprising instructions to cause an elevator controller (120) to execute the steps of the method according to any of claims 9 to 13.