KR20050084817A - Elevator cab locating system including wireless communication - Google Patents

Abstract

An elevator system (20) includes wireless communicating portions (40, 42a-42c) that communicate with each other to provide elevator cab (22) position information within a hoistway (24). In one example, a first communicating portion (40) is supported on the elevator cab (22) that generates a trigger signal that is received by a second communicating portion (42a-42c) at a selected position along the hoistway (24). The second communication portion (42a-42c) generates an ultrasound signal that is received by the first communicating portion (40). A characteristic of the received locating signal, such as the timing between the trigger signal and the receipt of the locating signal, provides position information regarding the cab within the hoistway.

Description

Elevator Car Positioning System with Wireless Communication {ELEVATOR CAB LOCATING SYSTEM INCLUDING WIRELESS COMMUNICATION}

The present invention relates generally to elevator systems. In particular, the present invention relates to a positioning system for determining the position of one or more elevator system components.

In general, elevator systems include cars that move in, for example, a platform within a building or between different floors. The controller operates the machine to move the elevator car to the required position in the hoistway. In order to accurately move the car to the platform, it is required to determine the location information. In addition, for this determination it is necessary to be able to determine the position in the hoistway at any time without having to move the car.

Various devices have been proposed or implemented to determine elevator car locations. Most such systems suffer from the drawback that they are expensive. In addition, many such systems do not provide the level of precision required over the life of the system. Systems requiring regular maintenance or service introduce more and unnecessary costs. Another difficulty associated with the known system is the need for special hoists or relatively large internal hoist devices.

One example system uses an elevator motor, a governor or an encoder attached to one or more sheaves. Such devices do not always provide the required precision due to the sliding or mechanical wear of the parts involved. In addition, encoder based systems require a relatively complex adjustment algorithm to compensate for the difference between the actual reading and the encoder reading of the floor area where the car is placed on the platform. Another drawback of some such systems is that it is impossible to immediately determine the position of the car within the hoistway in the event of a power outage.

Other systems use vanes or other markings in the hoistway. Such devices introduce additional components, costs, materials and labor and do not necessarily provide the required level of precision.

Although those skilled in the art are working to improve, there are additional challenges that must be overcome. For example, conventional attempts to use wireless signal transmission for position detection have suffered from precision issues, insufficient updater speed, and undesirable high cost. There is a need for a reliable, economical, precise and effective system for positioning elevator cars within the hoistway. The present invention meets the needs in a unique manner and overcomes the disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art.

1 schematically shows an elevator system comprising a positioning device designed according to the invention.

2 schematically illustrates two communication units and wireless communication between them in an exemplary system designed in accordance with the present invention.

In general, the present invention relates to a wireless communication device for determining the position of an elevator car in a hoistway. The first communication unit is supported on the elevator car. The second communication unit is supported at the selected position in the hoistway. In most cases, the plurality of second communication units are intentionally placed along the hoistway. Wireless communication indicative of the distance between the communication units provides information regarding the position of the elevator car in the hoistway.

In an exemplary system designed according to the present invention, the first communication unit includes a first transceiver supported on an elevator car. The first transceiver generates a trigger signal. The second communication unit includes a second transceiver supported at a known position selected for the hoistway. The second transceiver generates a position signal in response to the trigger signal. The first transceiver receives a position signal. The controller determines the position of the car in the hoistway based on the characteristics of the received position signal.

In one example, the trigger signal is a radio frequency signal while the position signal is an ultrasonic signal. In one example, the duration of the ultrasonic signal received by the first transceiver is characterized by determining the position of the car within the hoistway. The distance between the first and second transceivers and the known properties of the ultrasonic position signal provide a relationship between the timing of the ultrasonic signal reception and the position of the elevator car.

In one example, the first transceiver portion is in wireless communication with a remote position controller that makes a position determination. In another example, the first transceiver is wired to a controller programmed for positioning.

In one example, all landings along the hoistway have door frames that support corresponding second transceivers. Preferably, the second transceiver may be installed in the door frame before being transported to the building location. As such, the position of the second transceiver relative to the hoistway can be controlled economically and accurately.

Various features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from generally preferred embodiments of the following detailed description. The drawings with detailed description are briefly described below.

1 schematically shows an elevator system 20 in which elevator car 22 moves in hoistway 24 in a conventional manner. As is known, for example, the car 22 preferably moves to various landings 26, 28, 30 to move passengers or cargo between different floors within a building.

The controller 32 controls the machine (not shown) to cause the desired movement of the elevator car 22 in the hoistway 24. The car 22 is supported in the hoistway 24 in a known manner using known parts (not shown).

The controller 32 determines the position of the car 22 in the hoistway 24 based on the information collected by the first wireless communication unit 40 supported to move with the car 22. The illustrated example schematically shows a communication unit 40 mounted in a car. Other locations may be used, such as on associated brackets or car-supporting structural members.

The plurality of second communication sections 42 are supported at selected locations along the hoistway 24 to provide car position information as will be described below. In the example shown, each second communication section 42 is supported on a door frame 36 comprising known parts. One advantage of the system is that the second communication section 42 can be installed in a prefabricated door frame before being transported to the building location in which the elevator system 20 is installed. By installing the second communication section 42 in this way in advance, various system economics can be realized. For example, the device of the present invention does not require any hoistway modifications or any special device in the place where the elevator system is installed. The first communication unit 40 may be preinstalled on the car, and the second communication unit 42 may be preinstalled on the door frame.

In the example shown, the first communication unit 40 is associated with an embedded module 44 on the elevator car 22. The connection 46 is shown schematically in FIG. 1 so that the power connection, the communication connection or both appear. In one example, the first communication unit 40 is wired to the module 44 to be powered. In one example, delivering a signal indicative of the elevator car location is also accomplished with a wire connection. In another example, the communication between the first communication unit 40 and the embedded module 44 is wireless communication.

The embedded module 44 is connected via a conventional wiring device 48 to communicate with the controller 32. In addition to conventional communication between the controller 32 and the electronic components on the car 22, the system of the present invention provides the controller 32 with elevator car location information collected from the communication between the communication units 40, 42. .

2 schematically illustrates an exemplary method of communication of a system designed in accordance with the present invention. The first communication unit 40 includes a transceiver having a transmission unit 50. In one example, the transmitter 50 generates a radio frequency communication signal 52 which is sent to the second communication unit 42.

In the example shown, the radio frequency signal 52 has a first element 54 which is received by the power generation unit 56 of the second communication unit 42. The generator 56 preferably includes known components that receive a radio frequency signal and transform it into available energy. In another example, the second communication unit 42 is powered by a battery, building power (wired) or a combination of such known powers.

The second element of the radio frequency signal 52 is the trigger signal 58 received by the trigger portion 60. When the transmitter 50 generates the trigger signal 58, the second communication unit 42 within the selected range of the car 22 generates a position signal in response to the trigger signal 58. As such, the exemplary implementation of the system of the present invention limits power consumption and signal generation within the selected proximity range of the elevator car 22 at the second communication section 42, making the exemplary apparatus more efficient.

Based on the trigger signal 58, the trigger unit 60 preferably comprises a position signal 64, in which the transmitter 62 of the second communication unit 42 is received by the receiver 66 of the first communication unit 40. To generate. In the example shown, each second communication section 42 has a unique identification section, and the position signal 64 preferably comprises information corresponding to the identification section of the element sending the signal. Referring to Fig. 1, for example, the second communication section 42A has a different identification section than that associated with reference numeral 42B or 42C. Preferably a sufficiently large set of identifiers are chosen to ensure uniqueness.

In an exemplary system designed in accordance with the present invention, transmitter 62 sends a plurality of position signals in response to each trigger signal. In this example, the position signals are combined for position determination. Such devices have the advantage of increasing the signal-to-noise ratio, positional accuracy, or both.

The presently preferred embodiment includes an ultrasonic transmitter as the transmitter 62. Therefore, the position signal 64 is an ultrasonic signal transmitted at a known speed in the hoistway. Based on the timing between the trigger signal 58 and the reception of the position signal by the receiver 66, the position of the first communicator 40 relative to the appropriate second communicator 42 can be determined. Since the position of the first communication unit 40 embedded in the car 22 is known in relation to the structure of the car, this position information also provides the position of the car 22 in the hoistway. In one example, additional system parameters such as car speed and local temperature are estimated from the position signal 64 to enhance the precision of the determined car position.

Ultrasound is a good choice because it is believed to provide the most accurate positioning. Other exemplary types of electromagnetic energy, such as radio frequency signals, microwave signals, infrared signals, ultraviolet or visible light transmission, can be used in systems designed in accordance with the present invention. Those skilled in the art who understand this description will be able to select the type of signal and the method of control that best works for a particular situation.

Since the elevator car 22 moves through the hoistway or remains fixed, the positional information can be continuously determined by the controller 32 as necessary.

In one example, one second communication unit 42 is coupled to each platform along the hoistway. As such, the second communication units are spaced apart to provide a distance of about 3.5 m between the second communication units. This provides certain advantages, such as limiting the power consumption of the ultrasonic transmitter 62. Since only a few of the second communication units 42 are triggered at any given time, the amount of propagation interference between the ultrasonic waves is reduced. Another advantage is that the time delay associated with ultrasonic transmission is reduced, which is less than 10 ms in the example system. In addition, since the time delay (related to the distance between the communication units 40, 42) is made smaller, a higher position updater speed is feasible as the car 22 approaches each floor area (ie, the platform). do. Intentionally positioning the second communication units 42 along the hoistway in a system designed according to the invention enables a resolution within 1 mm. For example, an inexpensive commercially available 1/340 ms resolution timer allows the system of the present invention to calculate the travel distance of a wave, very accurately calculating the elevator car position.

An important advantage of the present invention is that there is no deformation of the hoistway and no device required. The apparatus of the present invention is useful for any of various types of elevator systems. In addition, the wireless communication device of the present invention provides greater precision, higher position updater speed throughout the hoistway as the car approaches the hoistway, and continues to provide elevator car location information to the controller as needed.

When the door frame 36 is installed and all the other parts are operated, the car 22 travels through the hoistway with the controller 32 in the running mode, so that the position of each second communication unit 42 and Identification can be confirmed. After passing the single running mode, the controller 32 enables as many positions as possible that are required to achieve the desired elevator system operation.

The description is illustrative rather than limiting in nature. Changes and modifications to the disclosed examples will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of legal protection given to this invention is determined only by examining the following claims.

Claims (16)

A system for determining the position of the elevator car 22 in the hoistway 24, A first transceiver 40 supported for movement with the elevator car generating a trigger signal 58, A second transceiver 42 which generates a position signal 64 received by the first transceiver in response to a trigger signal and is supported at a position selected for the hoistway; And a controller (32) to determine the position of the car in the hoistway based on the characteristics of the received position signal. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger signal 58 is a radio frequency signal and the position signal 64 is an ultrasonic signal, The characteristic of the position signal used to determine the position is the time at which the position signal travels between the second transceiver and the first transceiver. The method of claim 1, wherein the first transceiver (40) includes a transmitter (50) for generating an energizing signal and a trigger signal received by the second transceiver (42), The second transceiver uses the energizing signal (54) for electrical energy causing the position signal (64). 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the trigger signal (50) and the energizing signal (54) comprise radio frequency signals transmitted simultaneously, the signals being modulated one by one. The method of claim 1, comprising a plurality of second transceivers 42A, 42B, 42C, each second transceiver having a respective identification portion, The position signal 69 includes information corresponding to the identification unit, The controller 32 uses the identification information when determining the position of the car 22. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller (32) recognizes each second transceiver (42A, 42B, 42C) during a running pass in the hoistway (24). An elevator car 22 configured to move within the hoistway 24, A first wireless communication unit 40 supported to move with the elevator car, A plurality of second wireless communication units 42 supported at a position selected for the hoistway; A controller 32 that uses information relating to wireless communication between the communication units to determine the position of the elevator car in the hoistway, An elevator system (20) in which the first communication unit (40) and the second communication unit (42) transmit signals (52, 54) wirelessly to each other. 8. A system according to claim 7, comprising a plurality of door frames (36) configured to be supported along the hoistway, wherein at least one second communication section (42) is supported on each door frame. The method of claim 7, wherein the first communication unit 40 includes a transceiver (50, 66) for transmitting a radio frequency trigger signal 58, The second communication unit (42) generates a position signal (64) in response to the trigger signal. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the position signal (64) comprises an ultrasonic signal. 10. The first communication unit (40) according to claim 9, wherein the first communication unit (40) generates a radio frequency energizing signal (54) received by the power generation unit (56) of the second communication unit (42), and the power generation unit transmits a position signal (64). To generate electrical energy based on the energizing signal. 10. The system according to claim 9, wherein each second communication section (42) has a respective identification section and the position signal (64) includes information corresponding to the identification section. Of elevator car 22 in hoist 24 in elevator system 20 having a first wireless communicator 40 supported to move with the elevator car and at least one second wireless communicator 42 at a location selected for the hoistway. How to determine location, Generating a trigger signal 58 by using the first wireless communication unit 40; Generating a position signal 64 in response to the trigger signal using the second communication unit 42; Determining the position of the elevator car (22) in the hoistway (24) based on the characteristics of the position signal (64) received by the first communication unit (40). 14. A method according to claim 13, comprising using a radio frequency signal as a trigger signal (58) and using an ultrasonic signal as a position signal (64). 14. A method according to claim 13, comprising coupling a unique identifier to each of the plurality of second communication portions (42) and including the identification information in the position signal (64). The method of claim 13, further comprising: generating an energizing signal 54 using the first communication unit 40; Converting the energizing signal into electrical energy in the second communication unit (42) to generate a position signal (64).