JPH0680334A - Information device for elevator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve general purpose adaptability and extendability of an information device for elevator by enabling its use in the network of various application devices in the case of such an information device as setting one of the respective machine control devices as a master station and setting the remaining machine control devices and hall control devices as remote stations. CONSTITUTION:One of a plurality of elevator control device 5 is set as a master station(MS) 1, meanwhile, remaining elevator control devices 5 and hall control devices on respective floors are make to function as remote stations(RS) 2, 6-11, respective stations are connected together through information connectors 4 so as to construct a network, and further polydispersion of the information network is attained through two-way couples 3. Each station is provided with a low ranking layer protocol control means, meanwhile each remote station is provided with a flash memory for application which can be reloadable by a command from the master station 1, and a down load control part in which a new program is reloadable from the master station 1 for any changed remote station 2 so as to quickly deal with every customer's specification.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an elevator information device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an elevator hoistway, a hall controller and message device for each floor, a machine room unit control device, an elevator car controller, a monitoring board, and a group control device are used as a network station in the hoistway. Formed a kind of LAN for elevator,
Some have built a network within the hoistway.

However, in this, the transmission method and the interface portion differ for each function, and the network management by the unified protocol has not been sufficiently prepared.

In addition, whenever the system function is changed or the customer's specifications are modified, the software is modified or changed for all different kinds of programs having related parts as functions, and on the spot, ROMs containing new programs were manually replaced in each of the controllers and controllers associated with the associated network stations. Similarly, with regard to hardware as well, the board for realizing new functions, including the interface part, was completely recreated.

Further, the connection method is different even when the board is exchanged by changing the connector or the signal line, and it becomes complicated to construct a network as an elevator system as the variety of options and the new functions increase. Due to the mixed specifications, it took time to put together the system in order to fully utilize the functions that change with each specification.

[0006]

In the above-described conventional hoistway network system, a system for managing the networks by a common lower layer protocol is not adopted, and therefore, the transmission interface for each specification of the control device and the controller. I had to create all the software, including the processing for. In addition, since it is not a unified network, a system is required to be complicated, and a converter that interfaces with a device that operates through networks of different transmission methods is required. In addition, in the completed system, when the function of the system was changed or the customer's specifications were modified, software had to change or add the same processing to several programs of various devices, so production efficiency Was in decline. Further, even when the change program is re-installed in the actual site, the ROM has to be manually replaced in all of the plurality of related devices, and the workability is very poor. In the same way, in order to realize the function by the change in the hardware as well, even if there is no change in the interface part, all the devices are recreated due to the change in the upper function, so the production of the part without change is wasted. It was Furthermore, when the arrangement of connectors and signal lines is changed due to new production, the connection method is still different when the board is replaced, so that even cable terminal processing must be changed. Since the interface part with the lower layer protocol has not been standardized, it has been difficult to respond quickly to each complicated customer specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device which can be versatile and expandable, and which has undergone all changes from the master station in the network even if the program is changed due to a specification change or the like. An object of the present invention is to provide an elevator information device in which a new program can be rewritten by a download function and various application devices that realize the new function can be used in a network.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 uses one of the respective unit control devices arranged in a machine room of an elevator as a master station, and The remaining unit control device and the hall control device for each floor is configured as a remote station, and in the elevator information device that constitutes the elevator information network between the master station and the remote station, in the master station and the remote station An interface having extended terminals respectively arranged and common lower layer protocol control means, application programs respectively arranged in each of the remote stations, the contents of which are rewritable by a command from the master station, Ability to download new programs to remote stations that have all changed from the master station Means rewritable, an elevator information device having means for securing a line, the every event occurrence without being occupied line while processing for the particular remote station.

[0009]

According to the invention corresponding to claim 1, since the interface of the device serving as the station of the elevator network is unified and the transmission protocol is prepared, the network itself can be provided with versatility and expandability. Also,
Even if a program is changed due to a specification change or the like, a new program can be rewritten by the download function from the master station in the network to all the changed devices. Furthermore, it is possible to use it in the network simply by connecting various application devices that realize new functions to the expansion terminals of the interface part.

In the network in the hoistway, each station device has a common lower layer protocol control unit for transmission, the network interface system is unified, and the application software storage unit performing the function of each device is rewritten at the remote station. A flash ROM that can be used and an EEPROM that stores station address information are used.
By using M, the application software can be modified by changing the function of the system, etc. After changing the software of the master station device, simply by replacing the upper application ROM, a rewrite command is issued to the flash memory of each remote station device. Let's deal with new features. In addition, the interface section of each station connected to the network is equipped with an expansion terminal,
Information necessary for each terminal to realize its function is unified and passed through the I / O contact point and DPRAM to flexibly respond to changes in the station device. If only different functional parts are created, they can be easily incorporated in the network. To judge whether the transmission between networks is well transmitted,
This is performed by processing the information output from the expansion terminal of each remote station device and feeding it back to the master station device. In addition, as a transmission method for using a transmission line, for simultaneous broadcast communication that sends the same information to multiple remote stations all at once, or multiplexed communication that uses transmission lines virtually in parallel,
This is possible by placing a bidirectional coupler, which is a bidirectional switching device, in the network.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall block diagram showing a device configuration of an embodiment according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a master station (hereinafter referred to as a master station) 1 manages all networks in a hoistway, and any one of a plurality of elevator control devices 5 is provided in an elevator car 6. A remote control station (hereinafter referred to as a remote control station) 2 including a car guidance device 11 and other units and a monitoring panel 7, a message display device 8, a voice guidance device 9, and a waiting time display device 10 installed on each floor in the hoistway. As described above, the information connector 4 is physically connected to the network, and the bidirectional coupler 3 enables multi-branching of the information network, which is a network structure in the hoistway.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a master station interface portion which forms the core of the network of FIG. In FIG. 2, the information required for transmission from the elevator control panel 5 through the network is supplied from the expansion terminal (DP-RAM) 16 and the expansion terminal (I / O contact) 17 to perform control as the master station 1. CPU (MPU) 19, and upper application ROM 18 for storing application software for utilizing the functions of each remote station 2, program work (WRAM) 15, and E ² ROM 24 containing station address information , And is connected via a locus bus 25. In addition, as a part that supports transmission between networks, a protocol ROM 14 in which protocol data for unifying network interfaces is stored, a lower layer transmission control unit 13 that controls the transmission protocol, and a driver for transferring data to the network. The master station further includes a transmission check unit 21 for determining the transmission state, and a download control unit 20 for performing control for rewriting and updating the application program of the remote station. ing.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a remote station interface portion which constitutes the network of FIG. In FIG. 3, the information necessary for transmission from the remote terminal function unit through the network is supplied from the expansion terminal (DP-RAM) 16 and the expansion terminal I / O contact 17, and a part of the expansion terminal 16 is used as the master station 1. To the transmission check unit 21 of. In addition, a remote CPU unit 23 that controls the remote station 2, a flash memory 22 for a higher-level application that can store and rewrite application software for utilizing the function of each remote station 1, and a program work (WRAM) 15, E ² R containing station address information
It is connected with the OM 24 via a local bus. Further, as a part supporting the transmission between networks, a ROM 14 for protocol information in which protocol data for unifying the interface in the network is stored, a lower layer transmission control unit 13 for controlling the transmission protocol, and a data transfer to the network. It is composed of a transmission transformer 12 serving as a driver.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the expansion terminal (DP-RAM) incorporated in the interface portion of FIGS. In FIG. 4, the expansion terminal (DP-RAM) information structure 26 of each network station is a data signal,
It is composed of an address part, an interrupt signal, a read signal, and a read signal, and the I / O information structure 27 indicates that it is composed of input / output information that serves as mechanical contacts.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the bidirectional coupler 3 of FIG. 1 required for branching in constructing a network. The bidirectional coupler 3 is composed of a signal transmission section and a check signal section. In the information transmission section, an upper transformer section 29 near the master station 1 side and a lower transformer section 28 near the remote station end are connected in parallel. It is configured to be connected via the switch unit 30. On the other hand, in the check signal section, the check signal input from each remote station 2 is changed over by the changeover switch section 3
1 is sent to the transmission check unit 21 of the master station 2.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the message display 8 which is an example of the extended function connected to the extended terminal of FIG.
In FIG. 6, an interface section (I / O section) 32 and R
A message display unit 37 for displaying message contents connected via the AM unit, a character data ROM 35 for storing character data to be displayed, an address counter unit 36 for calculating a display position of the character data, and a remote interface unit. The display is controlled by the CPU (RPU) 33.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a voice guide 9 which is also an example of the extension function of FIG. In FIG. 7, an amplifier unit (AMP) for amplifying an audio signal connected via an interface unit (I / O unit) 38 and a DP-RAM unit 40.
Unit) 43, a speaker unit 44 for outputting voice, a voice data ROM 42 for storing voice data to be output, a PCM codec unit 41 for sampling and converting voice data into voice, and a remote CP of the interface unit 38.
The voice guide 9 is controlled by the U unit (RPU) 39.

FIG. 8 shows the master station CPU (MP
U) and a remote station CPU (RPU) are processing sequence diagrams. In FIG. 8, the master station CPU (MPU) and the remote station CPU (RP
The transmission method between U) and the application processing are as follows: a line request procedure 46 for finding an action for the network by the start procedure 45 and securing a line for transmission, and a start request procedure 47 for activating the upper application software.
Enables the upper application to be executed, and the processing is performed in the application processing procedure 48. When the processing is terminated or interrupted, the processing termination procedure 49 and the disconnection request procedure 50 for disconnecting the line are performed.
This results in a transmission sequence that releases the network. In addition, M. S. Is a master station (master station), R. S. Is a remote station (remote station)
Is.

FIG. 9 is a format diagram of station address information stored in each E ² ROM 24 of the network stations of FIGS. In FIG. 9, the information format written in the E ² ROM 24 as the station address information of each network station is the identification information at the time of simultaneous broadcast communication or inter-group transmission, with the first 2 bits as the group type 51. Yes, the others are composed of address information 52 used for address identification of the terminal.

FIG. 10 is a transmission information format diagram for realizing the transmission sequence. In FIG. 10, the transmission format information to be transmitted starts with a start signal 53 that causes an action to the network, and circuit service content information 54 that is information relating to circuit securing and disconnection and the network, and the source address of the transmission request. Information 55,
Transmission destination address information, which is the communication destination information, and transmission service type information 57 for determining the processing to be performed after the line is established.
Further, there is a process 58 on the application in the form of being sandwiched between an error detection unit 61 which determines whether or not there is an error in the transmission data and an end signal 62 which indicates the end of the process. The control of the other parts except the process 58 on the application is executed by the lower layer control unit 13, the protocol information ROM 14, and the E ² ROM 24 of the network station in FIG.

On the other hand, the application processing is processed by the remote CPU 23 and the upper application flash memory 22, and the transmission data format is different depending on the function, but is the data exchanged with the program processing identifier 59 which is the program processing instruction portion. Process 5 on application composed of certain process information section 60
8, the transmission format is composed of processes of the lower layer and the upper layer.

Next, the operation of the embodiment apparatus configured as described above will be described. In the elevator network in the hoistway, a command is transmitted from the elevator control panel 5 that is the master station 1 to the remote station 2 of the control panel 5 that controls the other units via the bidirectional coupler 3, and each control panel 5 sends a command. The remote station 2 has a wide variety of functions such as a guide device 11 for the car of the elevator car 6, a voice guide device 9 connected to the inside of the hoistway, a message display device 8, a waiting time display device 10, a monitoring panel 7, and the like. Master C of station 1
The number of connected devices is large for processing only by the PU 19, and the load increases as the number of connected devices increases. To avoid concentration of load, each remote station 2 has a processing remote CP.
U23 exists, and is operated by a start request from the master station 1.

Now, as a transmission sequence, the master station 1
Considering mainly the operation between the message display 8 and the car guide device 11 which are an example of the remote station 2, the master CPU 19 in the master station 1 according to the time management information from the master station 1 when the attendance time comes. The start signal 53 is input to the upper transformer section 29 side in the bidirectional coupler 3 connected by the information connector 4 via the transmission transformer section 12, and the group type information 51 in the station address information 56 is looked at, and the 4F Information is written, it is regarded as a simultaneous broadcast communication to the car guide device 11, and all the remote stations 2 whose group type information 51 in the station address information 56 in the E ² ROM 24 for station address information is 4 The parallel switch unit 30 connected to the lower transformer unit 28 connected to is turned on. The network connection between each control panel has already been completed when the elevator is turned on and off, so physical connection is similar for the devices connected to the 5 control panels, which are 2 remote stations. Line connection is possible.

The start procedure 45 is started by the start signal 53 to the remote CPU 23 of the car guide device 11 in the elevator car 6 including the own machine, the line request of the line service content information 54, the transmission source address information 55, the station. The line request procedure 46 is executed between the master station 1 and the car guide device 11 by the address information 56, and the line is secured by the lower layer control unit 13 based on the information in the protocol information ROM 14 of the master station 1 and the remote station 2. To be done. afterwards,
A request to activate the application software for realizing the function is issued to the remote CPU 23 of the in-car guidance device 11 using the transmission service type information 57, and the program in the upper application flash memory 22 is activated.
When the application processing procedure 48 is entered, processing is performed using the work RAM 15. When processing information is exchanged between devices, it is transmitted using the program processing identifier 59 and the processing information section 60. However, the remote station 2 of this device is independent of the master station 1 until an application processing interruption request is issued thereafter. Application processing is performed.

In this case, if there is no problem in the transmission in the error detecting section 61, the end signal 62 releases the line by the end procedure 49 and the disconnection request procedure 50. Car guidance device 1
1 outputs "Good morning" to the guide device of the functional unit through the extension terminal 16 and the extension terminal I / O contact 17 by the application program processing. Similarly, in the message display 8, when 2F is described in the group type information 51, the group type information in the station address information as the E ² ROM information of the remote station 2 is used as the simultaneous broadcast communication to the message display 8. A line is secured for the device whose 51 is 2 through both couplers 3, and like the car guidance device 11, the start procedure 45, the line request procedure 46, the activation request procedure 47, and the application processing procedure of FIG. 48 is shown in FIG.
Based on the transmission information format of 0, the message display program in the upper application flash memory 22 is started, and the master station 1 is operated by the remote CPU 23.
And control independently. In the process, the message data is selected from the character data ROM 35 according to the information of the DP-RAM 34, the coordinates on the message display unit 37 are designated by the address counter unit 36, and the message designated by the output from the I / O unit 32 is designated. The coordinates of the display unit 37 are turned on. If it is during work, "Good morning" will be displayed. Further, in order to improve the reliability of the transmission information, a part of the signal of the DP-RAM 34 of each remote station 2 is returned to the changeover switch unit 31 in the bidirectional coupler 3, and the information from each station is converted into bit unit information. The data is converted and returned to the transmission check unit 21 of the master station 1 to check the transmission state.

Also in the transmission format of FIG. 10, the error detection unit 61 notifies the lower layer protocol control unit 13 of the error information generated at the line request procedure 46 or the disconnection request procedure 50, and an appropriate countermeasure (defective) is given. Remote station 2
Disconnection and network restructuring).

On the other hand, when the attendance time period ends, the master station 1 again executes the start procedure 45 and the line request procedure 46 to the target remote station 2 through the group broadcast communication, and the line service content information 54 A termination request for the application software is issued based on the disconnection request and the transmission service type information 57, and the remote CPU 23 of the remote station 2 terminates the application software for the car guide device 11 and the message display 8. The displayed "Good morning" message content disappears.
After that, if there is no abnormality in the information of the error detection unit 61, the end signal 62 is used to execute the end procedure 49 and the disconnection request procedure 50 to release the line.

The voice guide 9 will be described as another remote device. When the elevator car 6 is in a fully occupied condition when the state of the elevator car 6 is reached, the voice guide 9 of the elevator control panel 5 communicates with the remote station 2. A line is secured in the transmission sequence of FIG. 8 based on the transmission format of FIG. 10, an application activation request is issued to the remote CPU 39, and the voice guidance program in the flash memory 22 is activated. The I / O unit 38 outputs a voltage sufficient to activate the amplifier unit 43, and the DP-RAM 40 selects appropriate audio data from the audio data ROM 42.
The PCM codec unit 41 samples the voice data, converts it into voice and inputs it to the amplifier unit 43, and the speaker 4
4. From voice, output "Please use the next elevator for the last person." After that, when it is no longer full, the application software is terminated and the termination procedure 49,
The line is released by the disconnection request procedure 50.

During the rewriting work, when an elevator maintenance worker or a service man issues a rewriting instruction to the master station 1 through the external console, the rewriting work mode at the time of updating the program is entered, and the operation is one of the remote stations 2. When a program change occurs in the waiting time display device 10, the master CPU 19 causes the remote CP in the waiting time display device 10 to operate.
A start signal 53 is issued to U23, and a start procedure 45,
Line service content information 54 and transmission source address information 5
5. According to the station address information 56, the line request procedure 46 is executed with the waiting time indicator 10 to secure the line. Then, in the start request procedure 47, the transmission service type information 5
7, the download mode is selected, a rewrite signal is issued to the flash memory 22 under the management of the download control unit 20 of the master station 1 without activating the application software in the flash memory 22 of the remote station 2.
The application program having the contents of the upper application ROM 18 of the master station 1 is transmitted over the secured line to the upper application flash memory 22 of the remote station 2 of the waiting time display 10 and the contents are rewritten. The error check of the transmission information is performed by the error detection unit 61, and when an error occurs, the flash memory 22 is written again. After completion of normal writing, 62 end signal causes 49 end procedure, 50
Perform the disconnection request procedure and release the line. Unlike the normal application processing operation, when the download is executed, the processing is executed with the line occupied, thereby improving the reliability of transmission. After that, if the same process as the application starting process between the master station 1 and the message display 8 described above is executed by a start request from the master station 1 to the waiting time display device 10, one function of the network in the hoistway is obtained. Can be used as Of course, if group broadcast is used, the target remote station 6
Can be written to simultaneously.

At the time of updating the hardware function, the signal arrangements of the DP-RAM 16 and the I / O contact 17 which are expansion terminals are
Under the condition that the expansion terminal standard of FIG. 4 is unified, it is created as a hardware function unit having different functions such as the message display unit 8 and the voice guide 9, and the function unit of the remote CPU 23 is controlled by the above-mentioned download method. By writing the software that can be used in the flash memory 22 for the upper application, it becomes possible to immediately deal with it as one connecting station of the network in the hoistway.

According to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained. That is, a common lower layer protocol control unit 13 is provided for the interface part connected to the network.
By managing and controlling the system, the system can be unified and expandable, and flexibly deal with the hoistway network flexibly to meet various customer requests. Even for the already completed system, it is sufficient to change only the application part of the master station even when the function of the program is changed or the customer's specification is modified, and even when the changed program is re-installed in the actual site, The workability can be improved simply by resetting only the ROM of the master station and rewriting the new program in the other devices by the download control unit 20. Similarly, in order to realize the function by changing the hardware as well, only the higher-level function needs to be changed, and the interface expansion terminal is also standardized, which increases versatility and facilitates connection, reducing wasteful work time. It is possible to

[0033]

According to the present invention, versatility and expandability can be provided, and even if a program is changed due to a specification change or the like, a device in which all changes are made by the master station in the network. On the other hand, it is possible to provide an elevator information device in which a new program can be rewritten by a download function and various application devices that realize the new function can be used in a network.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall block diagram showing an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a master station interface portion which forms the core of a network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a remote station interface portion which constitutes a network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an expansion terminal configuration table for clearly showing the function expansion terminals incorporated in the interface portion.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a bidirectional coupler required for branching in constructing a network.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a message display unit which is an example of an extended function connected to an extension terminal.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a voice guide that is an example of an extension function.

FIG. 8 is a transmission sequence diagram when processing is performed between a master station and a remote station.

FIG. 9 is a format diagram of station address information stored in each EEROM of a network station.

FIG. 10 is a transmission information format diagram for realizing a transmission sequence.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Master station (master station), 2 ... Remote station (remote station), 3 ... Bidirectional coupler, 4 ...
Information connector, 13 ... Lower layer protocol control unit, 20 ...
Download control unit, 22 ... Flash memory for upper applications.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. One of the unit control devices installed in the machine room of the elevator is configured as a master station, and the remaining unit control devices and hall control devices for each floor are configured as remote stations. , In an elevator information device forming an elevator information network between the master station and the remote station, an interface having extension terminals respectively arranged in the master station and the remote station, and a common lower layer protocol control means, An application program, which is provided in each of the remote stations, and whose contents can be rewritten by a command from the master station, and a new program is downloaded to the remote stations that have undergone any changes from the master station. Means that can be rewritten by a function, and even during processing for the specific remote station Elevator information device having means for securing a line, a not occupy the line for each event occurrence.