GB2160687A

GB2160687A - Elevator call signalling system

Info

Publication number: GB2160687A
Application number: GB08511847A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tsutomu Sano; Shinji Murono; Kazuhiko Kawauchi
Original assignee: Hitachi Ltd
Current assignee: Hitachi Ltd
Priority date: 1984-05-15
Filing date: 1985-05-10
Publication date: 1985-12-24
Also published as: HK9989A; JPS60242188A; KR850008329A; GB2160687B; GB8511847D0

Abstract

In a system wherein an elevator 10 is caused to serve only when the hall buttons 18 of the elevator have been manipulated in a predetermined sequence; a manipulatory sequence stored in a memory 40 can be altered at will by the use of manipulatory buttons 20 disposed in an elevator caretaking room, and the elevator is caused to serve when the altered manipulatory sequence has agreed with the manipulatory sequence of the hall buttons, whereby the leakage of the manipulatory sequence is rendered difficult so as to limit the use of the elevator by persons other than specified users. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Elevator call signalling system The present invention relates to an elevator call signalling system, and more particularly to a call signalling system which can prohibit or limit service to persons other than specified users In recent years, as the scope of demand for elevators has spread, a demand for elevators to serve only specified users has increased besides conventional elevators to serve a large number of unspecified users.This is based on the fact that the use of an elevator by those other than specified persons is limited in, for example, a condominium, an apartment house or a women's dormitory, so as to make the entry into the building difficult, thereby intending to achieve the purpose of the prevention of crimes One of several generally known methods for limiting the use of the elevator by those other than the specified persons is a method which restricts call registrations. This is so constructed that only the specified uses can perform elevator call registrations, and various methods therefor have been known.There have been known, for example, a method wherein the use of a key is needed for the call registration and a method based on the socalled code manipulation wherein, as proposed in the official gazette of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 55-66468, a call cannot be registered unless the manipulations of pushbuttons for call registration conform to a predetermined sequence.

The method based on the code manipulation has the advantage of convenience of use without the trouble that the user must carry an additional article such as the key. Since, however, the key or the like is not required, anyone can manipulate the pushbuttons anyway. Once the manipulatory sequence is known for any reason, the original purpose of limiting the use of the elevator cannot be accomplished.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of the prior art system, and to provide an elevator call signalling system which can satisfy both the convenience of code manipulation and the limitation of service to persons other then specified users.

According to the present invention there is provided an elevator call signalling system having a manipulatory button device arranged to be installed in an elevator hall or cage and which serves a call of a corresponding floor when the manipulatory button device has been manipulated in a predetermined manipulatory sequence, a manipulatory sequence setting means to reset the manipulatory sequence, storage means to store the manipulatory sequence, selector means to alter the manipulatory sequence stored in said storage means into a manipulatory sequence applied from said manipulatory sequence setting means, and grant means to compare a sequence of the manipulations of said manipulatory button device with the manipulatory sequence stored in said storage means and to grant the call of the hall or cage the service of the elevator.

One embodiment of an elevator call signalling system according to the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the general arrangement of an elevator system; Figure 2 is a memory cap of a RAM in Fig.

1; Figure 3 is a flow chart of a program for resetting a code manipulating procedure; and Figure 4 is a flow chart of a program for deciding a call registration grant.

Now, an elevator call signalling system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to an illustrated embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention, in which numeral 1 designates elevator equipment, numeral 2 an elevator hall call registration apparatus, and numeral 3 an elevator control apparatus. This embodiment is such that the present invention is performed for a system wherein a plurality of pushbuttons for secret code manipulation are provided in the hall of each floor, and they are depressed in a predetermined sequence, whereby a hall call is allowed to be registered for the first time.

The elevator equipment 1 is a well-known one in which a cage 10 and a counterweight 11 are suspended from a pulley 1 3 by a rope 1 2 so as to be driven by a motor assembly 14.

On the other hand, hall call devices 1 6 are respectively installed in the floors 1 5r-1 5n of a building or the like furnished with the elevator equipment 1, and a cage call device 1 7 is installed within the cage 10.

The elevator hall call registration apparatus 2 is of the microcomputer control system, and it comprises a ROM (read only memory) 30, a RAM (random access memory) 40, an input/output device 50, an MPU (microprocessor unit) 60 and a clock generator 70.

The elevator control apparatus 3 receives various signals from the hall call devices 1 6 and the cage call device 1 7 in the elevator equipment 1, sensors for detecting the position of the cage 10, and so forth, and controls the motor assembly 14, etc. so as to operate the cage 1 0. The aspect of control in this case is the same as a well-known control system and for the sake of simplicity a detailed description thereof is omitted.

Next, numeral 1 8 indicates a pushbutton device for code manipulation which has a plurality of, for example, six pushbuttons and which is juxtaposed to each hall call device 16.

Numeral 20 indicates a pushbutton device for code setting which is similarly provided with a plurality of, for example, six pushbuttons and which is installed in the caretaker's room, the elevator machinery room or the like of the building or the like provided with the elevator equipment 1 (if necessary, this pushbutton device is installed in each of a plurality of places).

Furthermore, numeral 21 denotes a display device which is juxtaposted to each push out ton device 20 and which displays the content of the code manipulation by the push button device 18, the content being set by the code setting pushbutton device 20 and being required for permitting elevator call registration.

The pushbutton devices 18, 20 and the display device 21 are coupled to the MPU 60 through the input/output device 50.

The MPU 60 is arranged to deliver a hall call registration grant signal G through the input/output device 50, while the elevator control apparatus 3 permits hall call registration by the hall call registration devices 1 6 only when it is supplied with this hall call registration grant signal G.

When the MPU 60 receives signals from the pushbutton device 1 8 as generated by the manipulation of this device, it detects the pushbuttons on which the input signals are based. It examines the sequence of the signals, and compares it with a manipulatory sequence written in the RAM 40 beforehand.

Only when both agree, the MPU delivers the hall call registration grant signal G thenceforth for a fixed period of time, for example, several tens of seconds.

Thus, according to this embodiment, only users who have depressed the plurality of pushbuttons of the pushbutton device 1 8 installed at each floor respectively, in the sequence set by the code setting pushbutton device 20 can call the cage 10, and the users of the elevator can be limited owing to the code manipulation system described above.

Next, the setting and altering procedure of the code manipulation featuring this invention will be explained.

The code setting pushbutton device 20 is coupled to the MPU 60 through the input/output device 50 as described above, so that the manipulatory states of the respective pushbuttons A-F of the pushbutton device 20 are monitored by the MPU 60 at all times.

Here, an example is mentioned in which the code manipulation is effected by depressing three of the six pushbuttons of the pushbutton device 1 8 in a predetermined sequence, and the ensuing description shall be made as such.

Fig. 2 shows memory areas of the RAM 40 for use in the operation of the above code manipulation system. The RAM comprises a code setting area A which stores therein the input sequence of three of the pushbuttons A F applied by the code setting pushbutton device 20 and a code manipulation input area B which writes therein the data of three pushbuttons applied by the pushbutton device 18 disposed in each of the floors 151-15ne Each time data is written into the code manipulation input area B, the MPU 60 compares the data of the code manipulation input area B with the corresponding data of the code setting area A respectively, and it generates the hall call registration grant signal G for a fixed period of time only when both the data signals are in agreement.

Next, the operation of setting data in the code setting area A will be described with reference to the flow chart in Fig. 3.

It is assumed that any one of the pushbuttons A-F of the code setting pushbutton device 20 has been selected and first depressed.

Then, the depression is detected by the MPU 60 (Step 81). At this time, data corresponding to the depressed pushbutton is stored in an address (POINTER + O) (Step 82), and an address indicated by the POINTER of the RAM 40 becomes (POINTER + 1) (Step 83).

When the second button is subsequently depressed (Step 81), the data of the pushbutton corresponding to the address (POINTER + 1) is similarly stored this time (Step 82).

When the third data has been similarly stored (Step 84), the address indicated by the POIN TER is set at the initial value, namely, the address in which the data of the first pushbutton is stored (Step 85).

Meanwhile, the code manipulation by the pushbutton device 18 and the operation of generating the hall call registration grant signal G on the basis of the manipulation will be described with reference to the flow chart in Fig. 4.

When one of the six pushbuttons of the pushbutton device 1 8 in any of the floors 15a-15n is first selected and depressed, the depression is detected by the MPU 60 (Step 91), data corresponding to this pushbutton is stored in the address (INPUT + 0) of the memory area B (Step 92), and an address indicated by INPUT becomes (INPUT + 1) (Step 93). When the second pushbutton is subsequently depressed (Step 91), the data of this pushbutton is similarly stored in the address (INPUT + 1) this time (Step 92).

Thenceforth, the data of the third pushbutton is similarly stored in an address (INPUT + 2) (Step 92).

When the three sources of data have been stored in the addresses (INPUT + O to IN PUT + 2) in this way, they are compared with the data previously set in the memory area A (Step 96). Only when the respectively corresponding data are in agreement, is the hall call registration grant signal G delivered for the fixed period of time (Step 97).

The user can therefore call the cage 10 and utilize the elevator by manipulating the hall call device 1 6 while this signal G is being delivered.

Thus, according to this embodiment, the content of the code manipulation required for permitting the elevator hall call registration can be readily altered anytime as required by the manipulation of the code setting pushbutton device 20. As a result, in a case where the content of the code manipulation is altered in a predetermined time unit, for example, every day or every week, the use of the elevator by persons other than those whose are given the permission of proper use can be reliably limited.

The display device 21 will now be ex plained.

The display device 21 functions to display the code manipulation set by the code setting pushbutton device 20. It is therefore controlled so as to display data read out from the code setting area A of the RAM 40 by the MPU 60. By way of example, the display device 21 comprises three character display units, which display the first to third pushbuttons successively from the left.

Accordingly, when the code manipulation is to be set anew by the use of the code setting pushbutton device 20, the content of the code manipulation presently set can be checked with the display device 21, and reliable code setting can be effected.

In addition, in such a case where the content of the code manipulation already set was forgotten, it can be reconfirmed with the display device 21, and the apprehensions can be eliminated that the use of the elevator by the proper users will be limited inappropriately.

Although not explained in the above embodiment, a further check function may well be given in case of the code manipulation by the pushbutton device 1 8 disposed in each of the floors 15a-15n, so as to place more reliable restrictions on the use of the elevator.

As the content of the check on this occasion, it is considered by way of example that an error is decided when the code manipulation has not been completed within a predetermined period of time since the start of the manipulation or that an alarm is operated when the errors have recurred in excess of a predetermined number of times.

While, in the foregoing embodiment, the content of the code manipulation has been the combination of the sequential manipulations of the three pushbuttons, it is a matter of course that the present invention is not restricted thereto but that it can be performed in any desired code mode. It is also a matter of course that an arrangement adapted to select code modes at will may well be employed.

Furthermore, while in the embodiment the code manipulation has been applied in order to permit the hall call registration, it is needless to say that the present invention may well be performed as requiring code manipulation in order to permit a cage call registration or as being applied to both the hall and cage call registrations.

Yet further, while in the embodiment the pushbutton device 1 8 has been disclosed se parately from the hall call device 16, they can be used in common as disclosed in the official gazette of Japanese Patent Application Laidopen No. 55-66468. That is, only one of either of the pushbutton device 1 8 and the hall call device 1 6 is provided, and as soon as the manipulatory sequence thereof is in agreement with the stored sequence, the call of the corresponding floor is registered. Of course, this applies also to the cage call device 1 7 is disposed within the cage 10.

As set forth above, according to the present invention, in a case where the code manipulation system is applied in order to limit the use of an elevator by persons other than appropriate users, the content of code manipulation can be altered as desired at need and with ease. Therefore, the disadvantages of the prior art are obviated, and the undesirable use of the elevator by the persons other than the appropriate users can be reliably limited without losing convenience based on the code manipulation system.

Therefore there has been disclosed an elevator call signalling system comprising means to reset a manipulatory sequence for code manipulation, means to store the manipulatory sequence, and means to alter the manipulatory sequence stored in the storage means into the manipulatory sequence applied from the setting means, so that when a pushbutton device installed in a hall or a cage has been manipulated, the sequence of the manipulations of pushbuttons is compared with the altered manipulatory sequence stored in the storage means, so as to cause the elevator to serve the call of the hall or the cage.

Claims

1. An elevator call signalling system having a manipulatory button device arranged to be installed in an elevator hall or cage and which serves a call of a corresponding floor when the manipulatory button device has been manipulated in a predetermined manipulatory sequence, a manipulatory sequence setting means to reset the manipulatory sequence, storage means to store the manipulatory sequence, selector means to alter the manipulatory sequence stored in said storage means into a manipulatory sequence applied from said manipulatory sequence setting means, and grant means to compare a sequence of the manipulations of said manipula tory button device with the manipulatory sequence stored in said storage means and to grant the call of the hall or the cage the service of the elevator.

2. An elevator call signailing system according to Claim 1, wherein the grant means is arranged to grant the service when the sequence of the manipulations of said manipulatory button device agrees with the manipulatory sequence stored in said storage means.

3. An elevator call signalling system according to Claim 1, wherein the grant means is arranged to register the hall call or the cage call of the floor corresponding to manipulated manipulatory buttons of said manipulatory button device.

4. An elevator call signalling system according to Claim 3, wherein said grant means is arranged to grant the registration of the hall call or the cage call for a fixed period of time.

5. An elevator call signalling system according to Claim 1, wherein said manipulatory sequence setting means is installed in a caretaker's room or a. machinery room of the elevator.

6. An elevator call signalling system according to Claim 1, wherein said manipulatory button device includes a plurality of manipulatory buttons, and said manipulatory sequence setting means includes the same number of manipulatory buttons as that of said manipulatory buttons constituting said manipulatory button device.

7. An elevator call signalling system according to Claim 1, wherein display means to display the manipulatory sequence stored in said storage means is disposed in a caretaker's room or a machinery room of the elevator.

8. An elevator call signalling system according to Claim 1, wherein said manipulatory button device is arranged near and separately from hall call buttons or cage call buttons.

9. An elevator call signalling system according to Claim 1, wherein said manipulatory button device is also used as hall call buttons or cage call buttons.

10. An elevator call signalling system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.