HK1228362B - Elevator system comprising a destination control system - Google Patents

Description

Elevator systems including destination control systems

Background Art

The most common call distribution method in elevator technology is the so-called continuous call distribution method, whereby up/down buttons are provided at each landing, and a hall light device is arranged on each elevator to provide information about the elevator's location and direction of movement. Current systems use destination call control, in which a passenger enters their destination floor on a destination operating panel, after which the destination control system immediately assigns the best elevator based on a predetermined cost function, which is displayed on the destination operating panel. Sometimes, the destination operating panel has separate devices for inputting and displaying data, but the input and output devices can also be combined and located on a touchscreen display, which is then used to input and display data to the passenger.

The present invention particularly relates to a customized destination control system (DCS) for cruise ships, where elevators in an upper group may serve different decks (floors), or users may need to be directed to an upper elevator group that is closer to them than the other two. In some embarkation situations, due to the high passenger flow capacity required, it is necessary to balance the passenger flow between the two elevator groups (e.g., port and starboard).

Especially in elevator systems used by users unfamiliar with the use of destination control systems, such as on cruise ships, problems can arise, especially during busy times, when passengers unfamiliar with the operation of the destination control panels block a small number of them, significantly reducing the efficiency of the destination control system. Another problem is that, especially on cruise ships with a large number of different decks, each served by a different elevator, further complicates elevator allocation. Particular problems arise during the boarding phase when a large number of passengers attempt to reach their destination, served only by a specific group of elevators.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, an object of the present application is to provide an elevator system using destination control, which provides high transport capacity and high efficiency, and also provides comfortable service for inexperienced users.

This object is solved by an elevator system according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the application are subject matter of the dependent claims.

In the following description, the terms deck, landing, and floor are used synonymously to refer to a floor served by an elevator system. DCS stands for Destination Control System. DOP stands for Destination Operating Panel. COP stands for Car Operating Panel.

According to the present invention, the elevator system not only includes features related to destination call control, namely, a destination operating panel at a landing, but also includes a car operating panel within the elevator that allows car calls to be issued within the elevator, a hall light device for each elevator that indicates the location and direction of movement of the corresponding elevator, and a signaling device that can be used in combination with the hall light device for each elevator to indicate the elevator's arrival at a landing. The car operating panel, hall light device, and signaling device are typical features of a continuous call distribution system. Accordingly, the elevator system combines the advantages of the increased efficiency of a destination control system with the ease of operation of a continuous call operation system, which can be used by inexperienced operators who are not familiar with the operation of a destination control system. In addition, each elevator thus has a range identifier that indicates a certain range of destinations served by the elevator, which helps find the correct elevator for a specific destination. Thus, a range identifier (e.g., color) is the same for all elevators with the same destination range (the same service landing).

The destination control system of the elevator system of the present invention is configured to allocate elevators to an elevator group according to the principle of continuous call allocation, but as a destination control system. This means that upon receiving a destination call via the DOP, the destination control system displays the elevators (of one or more elevator groups) serving the destination via the DOP, by indicating or displaying a corresponding range identifier indicating the range of destinations served by the corresponding elevator. Furthermore, the destination control system controls a hall door light device to indicate the position and direction of movement of all elevators, and is further configured to activate a signaling device when any elevator of at least one elevator group arrives at a landing. The DOP can optionally also be configured to indicate the allocated elevator in an instantaneous call allocation. This allocation mode is useful when the elevator system does not have significant passenger traffic.

After being informed of the range identifier by the DOP, the passenger can search for the next suitable elevator serving their destination (using the range identifier), and the hall light device indicates to them which of the suitable elevators will arrive, which is then indicated by the signaling device. This facilitates the use of elevator systems that include elevators with different destination ranges, even used by inexperienced passengers. This range identifier can be implemented, for example, by directly indicating the destination range served on a display screen above each elevator. The range identifier can also be a simple symbol or color that is the same for all elevators with the same destination range.

The signaling device for each elevator indicating its arrival at a landing can be either acoustic or visual. It can also be a combined signaling device that provides both an acoustic and visual signal of the elevator's arrival at a landing. In this regard, the signaling device can be combined with a hall door light system. This clear signaling allows passengers waiting in the lobby to clearly understand the arrival of an elevator, its direction of travel, and the corresponding elevator's destination range through a range identifier. Consequently, even if they haven't issued a destination call at the elevator system's destination operating panel, they can enter the correct elevator and issue their destination call via the car operating panel located within the elevator. This measure provides a hybrid system combining a destination control system with continuous call distribution, often referred to as conventional up/down button elevator systems, and significantly improves the elevator system's transportation capacity.

Thus, the elevator system of the present invention, with its hybrid dispatch system (continuous destination control), offers optimal efficiency because it provides elevator control with more information than conventional continuous call dispatch systems, in which destination floors are not announced and must be evaluated based on statistical data. Furthermore, the elevator system of the present invention provides improved passenger comfort for passengers unfamiliar with the destination control system, or in situations where the lobby is too crowded to utilize the instantaneous call dispatch of a DCS. Accordingly, the elevator system of the present invention also provides improved transportation efficiency during crowded lobby conditions or peak passenger flow situations, which normally reduce the efficiency of conventional destination control systems. The present invention is preferably configured for use on ships, such as cruise ships, which have numerous decks served by various elevators in the elevator system. On these cruise ships, a variety of inexperienced individuals, such as children, the elderly, and the disabled, must be transported. During peak passenger flow situations, such as embarkation, lunch, or dinner times, passenger traffic can be congested, making operation of a simple destination control system difficult.

The present application simplifies the use of DCS, taking into account many types of users (adults, children, elderly, disabled people) traveling in groups of varying sizes (single, double, family, group of friends), who may not be familiar with DCS or even the elevators in the group. Accordingly, the present invention increases the efficiency of DCS, improves the capacity of the elevator system and the comfort of the end user/customer.

Another advantage of the present invention is the simplification of use for less experienced elevator users and the efficient use of the elevators due to the continuous call distribution. In addition, the present invention simplifies the layout of the landing call stations so that if the elevators in the group have different upper/lower decks, no additional call buttons (FEB/FET) are required.

The present invention provides the following advantages:

1) When elevators serve different decks, guide users to the correct elevator that serves their destination deck.

2) If the groups serve different decks, the user is directed to the correct elevator group.

3) Direct users to a specific elevator group to balance the passenger flow of two (or more) groups.

4) Considering a wide range of users, effectively use the DCS (and elevators) on the cruise ship.

By displaying a range identifier common to all elevators serving a destination within the DOP (e.g., a color, text, or image), an inexperienced passenger can immediately identify the correct elevator for their destination. A regular hall lighting system with up/down lights and a signaling device with acoustic signals (such as a gong) and/or visual signals (such as up/down lights) signal the arrival of an elevator. When it arrives, a destination car call is automatically sent to the elevator and the signaling device illuminates. If several elevator groups are provided, the DOP may display the correct elevator group via a lobby map. If multiple elevator groups are provided within the elevator system, a multi-group control may be provided or several group controls may be arranged to interact via two-way communication to assign the optimal elevator to one of the groups. In this regard, the DCS, in conjunction with the group control, provides a service cost estimate, such as the expected waiting time, which then determines the elevator group or elevators within a group to be served and notifies the user/passenger.

Regarding directing users to specific elevator groups to balance passenger flow between two (or more) groups, this could be accomplished either through DOPs (preferably lightweight for easy and quick installation on the gangway) or through the ship's access control system, where all users must swipe their personal identifiers (typically ID cards) upon entering the gangway, sending a destination call to the elevator group control. The access control system can either send the destination floor where the user's cabin is located or simply a landing call. The latter option is preferred due to the long walking distance from the gangway to the elevator lobby (possibly 30-60 seconds for slow travelers) and because they may want to go directly to the restaurant/pool rather than their cabin. This guidance could be implemented as a separate display on the ceiling or manually by a person who receives instructions on where to direct passengers. Regardless, this function is more like crowd detection, with guidance specific to the group, such as "next elevator will arrive at lobby left," rather than to individuals. Crowd detection sensors could also be used here instead of destination calls.

The DCS can use continuous DCS call distribution, whereby the user is notified of only a number of elevators serving his destination, and is notified by signaling before the next elevator serving his destination arrives at the landing. In principle, instant distribution can also be used, but this would reduce the efficiency of the user and user group too much.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, elevators with the same destination range are marked with the same range identifier, and the assigned elevator is indicated by its range identifier on the destination operating panel. This ensures that the passenger knows which elevator serves their destination. They can then wait for the next of these elevators to arrive in the direction of their destination, as indicated by the hall lighting and signaling devices. Thus, the advantages of destination call control and continuous call control are combined in a highly efficient manner, allowing passengers to focus only on the correct elevator serving their deck/landing.

The provision of range identifiers facilitates finding the correct elevator serving their deck or landing, because such range identifiers can be made easily noticeable, such as text, numbers or better yet, colors. If a color is used as a range identifier, this color can be easily remembered by passengers to easily find their elevator serving their destination floor or deck.

Range identifiers are placed near the elevator, for example, on its top or side, or around its landing door. If the range identifier is shown on a display, the group of elevators serving several different destination ranges can be selected/changed. The range identifier can also be a number or color painted on the wall where the landing door is located. This type of range identifier is easy for passengers to remember.

An elevator system may include one or more elevator groups, whereby multiple elevators in one group or multiple elevators in different groups serve different destinations. In the case of multiple groups, a multi-group control system may be provided in which the DCSs for the different elevator groups are combined. Alternatively, several elevator group controls may be provided that interact with each other to guide passengers between groups.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the range identifier is indicated on a display controllable by the elevator control or the destination control system.

By displaying this scope identifier on the display above the elevator, any desired type of scope identifier can be used, so that the scope identifier can be adapted to different user groups of the elevator system. This is particularly true if the ship is used in different regions of the world, so that the scope identifier is adapted to different languages.

Preferably, the destination operating panel and the car operating panel include an ADA keyboard, i.e. a decimal keyboard, which can be easily operated by disabled people. This is beneficial for children and disabled people to use the elevator system.

Preferably, the destination operating panel and the car operating panel include an identifier reader which activates the destination control system to automatically read the destination of the passenger who has presented the ID tag. The identifier reader may be a card reader or an RFID reader or any other corresponding identification tag reader.

The elevator system of the present invention can conveniently superimpose special call modes, such as emergency call mode and VIP call mode. The VIP call mode automatically switches the destination control system in the corresponding service mode through the use of personal identifiers, so that the corresponding passengers have a certain predetermined priority.

Of course, the hybrid elevator system of the present invention has applications not only on large cruise ships, but also in other places where different types of people and people with less experience use elevator systems, such as shopping malls, subway stations, and airports.

It should be emphasized again that the elevator system of the present invention does not have up/down buttons.

DCS can switch from continuous call allocation to instant call allocation, for example, in quiet times, for example, when a pair of elevators are out of service (at night). In this instant allocation, after the DOP places its destination call, the passenger is informed of his allocated elevator immediately on the DOP.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is hereinafter schematically described with the aid of the enclosed drawings.

In these drawings:

FIG1 shows a perspective view of an elevator lobby comprising a plurality of elevators with two different destination ranges,

FIG2 shows a view from inside the elevator towards the car door and the car operating panel, and

FIG3 is a schematic flow chart of elevator control having a destination control system that controls the function of a continuous call distribution system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG1 shows a perspective view of a landing lobby 12 at a landing of an elevator system 10, from which access is provided to at least five elevators 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22. In lobby 12, there are two destination operating panels 24 and 26, each comprising an input device for issuing a destination call, such as an ADA keyboard, and a display and/or touch screen for indicating to passengers the appropriate elevator serving the issued destination, preferably immediately after the destination call has been issued. Each of the five elevators 14-22 has a unique identifier 28, in this embodiment, letters A-E. Each elevator has a hall light unit at its top, which includes a first display 30 for the actual location of the elevator and a second display 32 for indicating the direction of movement of the elevator.

In addition, each elevator has a range identifier display 34 that indicates a specific range of destinations served by that elevator. This range identifier can be, for example, text, numbers, or colors, or, in the illustrated embodiment, a graphic representation of a circle or a cross. Each range identifier represents a specific range of destinations for the corresponding elevator. Thus, information showing the relationship between range identifiers and served destinations is available on the DOP and ultimately anywhere in the elevator lobby. In the depicted embodiment, the range identifier is displayed on the range identifier display 34, and it is even possible to directly indicate the corresponding elevator's destination range, such as "decks 10 to 24."

All devices shown in FIG1 are connected to an elevator control or elevator group control, which includes a destination control system as shown in FIG3. Accordingly, the elevator system of the present invention performs continuous destination control without up/down buttons based on destination operating panels 24 and 26, thereby issuing a destination call and displaying the possible elevators that can serve the call with their range identifiers. The destination control system also controls the first and second displays 30 and 32 of the hall light device, as well as a destination range display 34 and an acoustic signaling device 35 that indicates the arrival of an elevator at a landing.

FIG2 shows a view from the interior of an elevator 14-22 to a car door 36. A car operating panel (COP) 38 is located in the car wall to the side of the car door 36, through which a COP destination can be entered, for example, via a decimal keypad 40 provided on a touch screen of the COP 38 or via a separate keyboard. If the car operating panel 38 is a touch screen, an ADA keyboard 40 can be displayed on the panel. The car operating panel 38 can also indicate the next destination of the elevator in the direction of travel. In addition, an acoustic signaling device 42, typically a speaker or gong, is provided in the car to notify special visually impaired persons of the car's destination and the car's next stop.

FIG3 shows a car group control 50 including a destination control system 52, which performs immediate call distribution, typically in conjunction with the destination call system. The destination control system 52 can be integrated into the elevator group control or can be a separate component, such as a plug-in module for the elevator control. The destination control system 52 communicates with various devices via two serial buses 54 and 56, to which the various components of the elevator system are connected. The first serial bus 54, connected to the elevator group control 50, is connected to the destination operating panels 24 and 26, the first display 30 of the hall light system, the second display 32, and the acoustic signaling device 35. The second display 32, which indicates the direction of elevator movement, can also serve as a signaling device in this connection, so that when the elevator arrives at a landing, one or both arrows on the second display 32 flash for a period of time, along with an acoustic signal from the acoustic signaling device 35.

The first serial bus 54 is further connected to the car operating panel 38 and to the speakers 42 located within the elevator.

The elevator group control 50 communicates with the elevators 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 of the elevator group via a second bus 56 (preferably a serial bus). Communication between the elevator group control 50 and the elevators 14-22 can occur in such a way that the different components of the elevators (such as motors, brakes, door drives, etc.) are directly controlled by the elevator group control 50, or in such a way that each elevator 14-22 has its own unique elevator control that communicates with the different components of the elevator. In this case, communication between the elevator group control 50 and the elevator controls of the different elevators 14-22 only includes control sequence and status information of the different elevators and handshaking.

The destination control system of the elevator system of the present invention typically attempts to assign the best elevator based on an evaluation principle of a cost function including, for example, passenger ride time, passenger waiting time, total ride time, energy consumption, transport capacity, and the like.

Of course, the elevator system may include several sensors, such as load sensors in the cars and personnel sensors in the lobby 12, to obtain information about the car load and passenger flow in the elevator system. This data can be used together with the data issued by the destination operating panels 24, 26 and the car operating panel 38 to improve the handling capacity of the elevator system and its service quality.

The invention may be varied within the scope of the appended patent claims.The above-mentioned embodiments may be combined with one another as long as this is technically feasible.

Claims (19)

1. An elevator system (10) including at least one elevator group control (50) having a destination control system (DCS) (52), said elevator system comprising: - At least one group of elevators, including elevators with different destination ranges (14-22), - At each floor station (12), the Destination Operation Panels (DOPs) (24, 26) include an input device for issuing destination calls. - The car control panel (COPs) (38) located inside the elevator has an input device (40) for entering destination calls. - The hall door lighting fixtures (30, 32) for each elevator indicate the direction of movement of the corresponding elevator. - Signal devices (32, 35) for each elevator indicate when the elevator has arrived at floor (12). The destination control system controls the hall light devices (30, 32) to indicate the direction of movement of the elevators (14-22), and the destination control system is further configured to activate the signal devices (32, 35) when a group of elevators (14-22) arrive at a floor. The destination control system (52) is configured to, after issuing a destination call, display a range identifier (34) of the elevators (14-22) serving the destination at the destination operation panel, the range identifier indicating the destination range of the elevator, and to indicate the next arriving elevator by activating its signal devices (32, 35) before the elevator arrives at the floor (12). The range identifier (34) for each elevator in the elevator system is located in its vicinity. 2. The elevator system (10) according to claim 1, installed on a ship, and the landing (12) is the deck of the ship. 3. The elevator system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elevators (14-22) serving the destination are displayed on the destination operation panel (24, 26) together with their range identifiers (34). 4. The elevator system according to claim 3, wherein the elevators (14-22) serving the destination are displayed in the lobby map by the destination operation panel (24, 26). 5. The elevator system according to claim 3, wherein the assigned elevator (14-22) is displayed on the destination operation panel (24, 26) by its unique number (28) and its range identifier (34). 6. The elevator system according to any one of claims 1-2 and 4-5, wherein the range identifier (34) is a color. 7. The elevator system according to any one of claims 1-2 and 4-5, wherein each destination control panel (24, 36) and/or car control panel (38) includes an ADA keypad (40). 8. The elevator system according to any one of claims 1-2 and 4-5, wherein each destination control panel (24, 36) and/or car control panel (38) includes an identifier reader (25, 39). 9. The elevator system of claim 8, wherein after a unique identifier is read by the identifier reader (25, 39), the destination control system (52) is configured to load pre-stored destination data based on the identifier. 10. The elevator system according to any one of claims 1-2, 4-5 and 9, wherein the hall door lighting device (30, 32) and the signal device (32, 35) include a common second display (32) for the direction of movement. 11. The elevator system according to any one of claims 1-2, 4-5 and 9, wherein the signaling device (32, 35) includes an acoustic signaling device (35). 12. The elevator system according to any one of claims 1-2, 4-5 and 9, wherein the destination control system uses sensor data for optimal call allocation. 13. The elevator system of claim 12, wherein the sensor data includes load data and passenger flow data from the elevator group control (50). 14. The elevator system of claim 12, wherein the elevator group control (50) is connected to the load sensor of the elevator (14-22). 15. The elevator system of claim 12, wherein the elevator group control (50) is connected to passenger sensors at the landing (12) and/or within the elevators (14-22). 16. The elevator system of claim 12, wherein the destination control system (52) uses a cost function for the call allocation, wherein different service parameters are taken into account. 17. The elevator system of claim 16, wherein the different service parameters include passenger waiting time, passenger travel time, and energy consumption. 18. The elevator system according to any one of claims 1-2, 4-5, 9 and 13-17, wherein the destination control system (52) is configured to switch instant call allocation principles, wherein an elevator is allocated immediately after a destination call has been entered via the destination operation panel, wherein the allocated elevator is displayed on the corresponding destination operation panel (24, 26) on which the destination call has been issued. 19. The elevator system according to any one of claims 1-2, 4-5, 9 and 13-17, wherein the hall light device (30, 32) for each elevator is configured to indicate the position of the corresponding elevator, wherein the destination control system further controls the hall light device (30, 32) to indicate the position of the elevator (14-22).