KR20060088881A - Elevator traffic control - Google Patents

Abstract

An elevator traffic flow control strategy utilizes the advantages of sector assignment channeling and destination entry systems. A controller (30) monitors a handling capacity (62) of the system to determine when it is advisable to override the sector assignments (52) to provide improved passenger service.

Description

Elevator traffic control {ELEVATOR TRAFFIC CONTROL}

The present invention generally relates to directing elevator cars and passengers to specific elevators in order to maximize the efficiency of the elevator system.

Elevator systems often include a plurality of cars moving between floors in a building to transport passengers or, optionally, cargo. Depending on the size of the building, the elevator system can provide a large amount of passenger traffic to a relatively large floor. In order to maximize the efficiency of an elevator system, various methods of controlling the movement of an elevator car are known.

In a way that increases the amount of traffic the elevator system can handle, channeling or sectoring where elevator cars are assigned to specific groups (ie sectors) of floors in the building so that each car returns to the lobby floor to accept new passengers. The same attempt is known. Various configurations and variations of the channeling system are known.

Other attempts are often referred to as destination-input-based systems. Such a system, for example, obtains information regarding the intended destination of the passenger at the lobby floor before the passenger enters the elevator car. Destination information is used by the system to direct passengers to a particular car. One advantage of this destination entry system is that it attracts passengers to the assigned cars in a way that is expected to minimize lobby congestion.

Channeling systems are desirable for quantitative efficiency, but do not always provide the best personalized service to passengers. On the other hand, destination entry systems are advantageous for individual service but often reduce the processing performance of the system during elevation.

To provide improved service among various traffic conditions, an improved apparatus that takes advantage of both channeling and destination layer input systems is needed.

In general, the present invention relates to an elevator traffic control system that utilizes channeling to maximize the processing performance of an elevator system, but selectively reverses the channeling method when the situation is suitable to maximize individual service for only one passenger. .

The system designed according to the invention comprises a plurality of elevator cars. The controller determines the processing performance of the elevator system. The controller determines the destination of at least one passenger and selectively reverses the sector allocation of at least one of the cars in response to the determined destination. Preferably, overturning sector allocation occurs when the determined processing performance is within the selected range.

In one example, the controller determines which car is the next car to depart and assigns passengers to the car so that the passengers can proceed to their chosen destination as soon as possible. In one example, the controller determines if a car has been assigned to a sector containing the passenger's destination floor and uses this car for passenger assignment.

Various features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be summarized as follows.

1 schematically illustrates an elevator system incorporating a traffic flow control method designed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 schematically shows a controller used with the embodiment of FIG.

3 is a flowchart summarizing an exemplary method for assigning a passenger to a car.

4A-4C schematically illustrate passenger car assignments using three different traffic flow control methods.

1 schematically shows an elevator system 20 having a plurality of elevator cars 22, 24, 26, 28. The controller 30 controls the movement of the car in a manner that maximizes the processing performance of the elevator system. Preferably, the controller 30 uses known channeling techniques, so that each car is assigned to a particular sector containing selected layers that can move. The controller 30 controls the display units 32, 34, 36 and 38, respectively, to show passengers the floor on which each car can arrive. In one example, the indicator is associated with each car at the lobby floor to help passengers board the appropriate car.

The illustrated example of FIG. 1 preferably includes a main destination floor input device 40 located in the main elevator system entrance floor or an appropriate portion of the building lobby. The main destination floor input device 40 includes a plurality of inputs 42 that allow passengers to indicate a desired destination floor. In one embodiment the input 42 is similar to the input on a car operating panel commonly found in elevator cars. The illustrated example includes indicators 44 and 46 that provide information to the passengers and potential passengers, such as a description of how to use the system to direct the passengers to the appropriate elevator car and provide an early indication of their desired destination. Other changes on the destination floor input device include 10 key keypads with arrows indicating the direction of the assigned car and a single display to display letters that match the letters displayed on the car, smart card scanners with a preprogrammed destination floor, or A speech recognition system having a language output indicating an assigned car. The primary destination input device 40 can take a variety of forms, and those skilled in the art will appreciate how to select appropriate components to meet the needs of their particular situation.

The controller 30 assigns strict sector or channeling assignments when processing performance and passage speed information indicates that the situation is advantageous to provide more tailored service to at least one passenger that is more similar to the destination entry system than the sector system. It is desirable to overturn. The present invention combines the advantages of these two systems to maximize processing performance according to the required criteria. In addition, the apparatus of the present invention can minimize lobby congestion and provide passengers with services tailored to their personal preferences when traffic flow conditions enable such car assignments.

Controller 30 is schematically shown in FIG. In this example, the controller uses the information obtained from the main destination input device 40 to cause the car allocator module 50 to assign a passenger to the appropriate car. The modules shown schematically in FIG. 2 are for discussion purposes and may overlap software or components that perform the functions of one or more modules.

The controller 30 uses known channeling techniques to assign each elevator car to the appropriate sector. Sector allocator module 52 includes suitable programming, hardware, firmware, or a combination thereof to achieve the desired channeling of the elevator car. The car movement detection module 54 provides information to the sector module 52 regarding the position of the elevator car at all times of system operation. Sector allocator module 52 communicates with indicators 32-38 and elevator car release timer module 56, which is responsible for starting the elevator car to move to the appropriate floor after the determined lobby shutdown interval. . The controller 30 uses known techniques for monitoring elevator car movement and estimating arrival times at various locations in the dlTsms where the elevator car needs to move, including the lobby or main entrance floor.

The controller 30 also includes a passage speed estimator module 60 that uses information from the destination floor input device 40 to estimate the rate at which passage arrives at the elevator system. In one embodiment, the traffic speed estimator module 60 includes information related to the arrival speed of the passengers, the number of passengers currently waiting, the number of passengers inside the car and the speed at which the passengers arrive to use the elevator system. . This information is sent to the car allocator module 50 and the processing capability estimator module 62. The handling performance of an elevator system is based on the requirements for the elevator system and the current use of the elevator system. During peak movement periods, processing performance is near or maximal. During low usage cycles, processing performance is not used in its entirety and is likely to be more flexible in occupant assignment for elevator cars outside of stringent channeling dominance, which is intended to maximize the processing performance of the system.

The controller 30 may assign a car allocator 50 based on a comparison between the predicted performance of a system using different car assignments when appropriate information is provided from the traffic speed estimation module 60 and the processing performance estimation module 62. Includes a comparison module 64 to allow car allocation.

3 includes a flowchart 70 summarizing a decision process for assigning a car to one or more passengers. At 72, controller 30 first assigns car Y from the sector to which the passenger's input destination belongs. At 74, the controller 30 determines the expected departure time for the other car X. The notation DTX indicates the departure time for car X in FIG. If the DTX is less than the departure time DTY for the car Y determined at 76, the controller determines at 78 whether the passenger's destination floor is within the sector to which the car X is assigned. If so, the passenger is assigned to car X at 80. If not, a comparison between the processing performance of the elevator system and the selected threshold is determined at 82 to determine if the processing performance is within an appropriate range to reverse sector allocation of the channeling method. Assuming the processing performance is within the acceptable range, the passenger is assigned a car (X) at 80.

In one example, the function for determining processing performance is expressed as: [f = 1- (1 / MAX (1, c * MAX (DTY-DTX, 0)-(HCY-HCX) / MAX (HCX-TR, 0)) ), Where DTX is the time at which the car (X) is expected to leave the lobby, TR is the traffic speed currently experienced by the system at the lobby level, and HCY is the case of the passenger assigned to the car (Y). The predictive performance of the system, c is a constant.

Exemplary function f has an output between 0 and 1 which captures the usefulness of assigning passengers to car X instead of car Y. The function f should provide a result close to one when it is better to assign a passenger to car X and a result that is zero when it is better to assign a passenger to car Y.

The quota provided by function f is based on the reduction in lobby latency (DTY-DTX), the loss of processing performance (HCX-HCY) and the excess of processing performance (HCX-TR). In one example, the goal is to switch to car X if a sufficient reduction in lobby waiting time can be achieved with minimal loss of processing performance. The loss of processing performance becomes less important as long as a lot of excess processing performance is maintained.

In the example of FIG. 3, the result of function f is compared with the threshold disclosed by U [0,1]. This notation is intended to describe a random number function. In this example, the random number function selects a number between 0 and 1. The use of random number generators is known and those skilled in the art will be able to incorporate these functions in systems designed according to the present invention. Random number generators are known mechanisms that allow highly discrete processes (such as elevator car assignments) to react in a way that is measured against step change conditions. Using a random number generator, the system can require periodic actions that can cause regularly occurring problems that can be perceived by regular users of the system.

Random number generation will most likely affect scenarios where the result of function f is somewhere in the middle of the possible range. For example, when there is no excess processing capability, the value of f will be very close to zero. Thus, despite the random number occurrence, the threshold U is almost certainly higher than zero so that the car assignment does not override the normal sector allocation of the elevator system.

On the other hand, if excess performance is present, the value of function f will be close to 1, so that the random number generator will not hinder the performance of overriding normal sector allocation to make passenger car assignments.

If the comparison result at 82 indicates that overriding sector allocation (ie, making an exception to the rule) is a bad idea, the controller continues to compare at 84 with the next car in the elevator system. When all possible cars have been processed, the assignment of the passenger to the car Y is transmitted to the passenger via one of the indicators 44 or 46 and can be reflected in the appropriate indicators 32 to 38 depending on the situation.

Upon reading this description, one skilled in the art will be able to program the elevator system controller to perform the functions described above. Similarly, those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure may select from commercially available computers, processors, electronics, hardware, firmware, software or combinations thereof to implement a controller that performs the functions described above.

Other functions to determine processing power and justification for overriding sector allocation are within the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art who are familiar with the present application will understand what factors to consider and how to review the factors to best meet the needs of their particular situation.

In another example, the control method of the present invention refers to the situation where passengers bypass the initial destination entry device and enter their destination using only the car operating panel in the elevator car. According to one example, the controller determines whether this destination input is appropriate within the sector of the car selected by the passenger. If the intended destination of the passenger is outside the assigned sector of the car, the controller uses the method of the present invention to determine whether to accept overturning the normal sector allocation. Under circumstances where processing performance allows for sector allocation to be reversed, the cars will be controlled in such a way as to move the passengers to their intended destination even if they are not within the normal sector provided by the car.

In one example, when a passenger bypasses an early destination entry device and simply selects a floor in the car using the car operation panel, the passenger's destination floor has the lowest priority when the destination floor deviates from the assigned sector of the car. Is given. This embodiment provides more motivation for passengers to use early destination input devices, enhancing the lift system's ability to manage traffic flow in the most efficient and effective manner.

4A-4C illustrate one advantage of a system designed according to the present invention. 4A schematically illustrates a plurality of passengers entering their destination prior to entering an elevator car. In this example, elevator car 22 is assigned to sectors used in layers 3 to 5 and car 24 is assigned to sectors used in layers 6 to 8. Passengers 90 are shown from left to right in the order in which they arrive at the main destination input device 40. Each passenger is shown to be at their intended destination.

In this example, four first passengers are led to the car 22 due to the sector assignment associated with the destination of their choice. The next two passengers attempt to move to the 8th and 6th floors, respectively. These are led to the car 24. The next passenger tries to move to the fifth floor and is led to the car 22. The last passenger attempts to move to the seventh floor and is led to the car 24. One disadvantage of this strict sector allocation is that four first passengers must wait for the passengers to move to the fifth floor before the car 22 leaves the lobby. This additional waiting time may make some passengers uncomfortable depending on the situation.

4C illustrates an example car assignment using a destination input based system. In this example, five first passengers are assigned to the car 22. The last three passengers are assigned to the next car 24. In this example, sector allocation has not been made to the cars in advance so that the car 22 moves to the third, fourth and eighth floors, and the car 24 moves to the fifth, sixth and seventh floors. The example of FIG. 4C provides an improved waiting time for four first passengers compared to FIG. 4A. However, the performance of this system is reduced because the car 22 must move all floors up to the eighth floor before returning to the lobby to accommodate additional passengers. In addition, passengers traveling to the eighth floor must feel waiting for stops on the third and fourth floors before finally arriving at the eighth floor, which may result in inconvenience.

4B shows an example where the method of the present invention over initial sector allocation has been used to improve passenger service without degrading the processing performance of the system. In the example of FIG. 4B, there is some excess processing capability such that there is a possibility to reverse the strict sector allocation from FIG. In this example, four first passengers are assigned to car 22 and four second passengers are assigned to car 24. The difference between FIG. 4B and FIG. 4A is that a passenger traveling to the fifth floor switches from car 22 to car 24. This car assignment represents a reversal of the normal sector assignment from Fig. 4A in which car 22 is assigned to a sector comprising five layers. One advantage of the allocation of FIG. 4B is that the passenger has an improved lobby wait time because the car 22 can leave without having to wait for the passenger to travel to the fifth floor. Passengers traveling to the sixth, seventh and eighth floors experience only a small inconvenience of stopping on the fifth floor as compared to what they experience under the scenario of FIG. 4A.

4A-4C illustrate how the equipment of the present invention incorporates the combined advantages of the original sectoring system and the original destination layer input based system. The present invention includes the recognition that the full processing power of the channeling method is not always required and sometimes the extra performance possible can be exchanged to reduce passenger service time. The present invention includes monitoring the system's excess throughput and evaluating the degradation in processing performance that may occur due to the occupant being assigned to a car that departs sooner rather than to a car assigned to the sector that includes the passenger's intended destination. . According to the above example, the tendency to assign passengers to the next fastest starting car is generally inversely proportional to the excess processing performance and inversely to the reduction in processing performance resulting from the allocation being an exception to the sector method.

The description is illustrative rather than limiting in nature. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications or variations of the disclosed examples are within the spirit of the invention. The scope of legal protection given to this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.

Claims (20)

How to control the passage of the elevator system, Assigning a plurality of elevator cars to individual sectors, Determining processing performance of the elevator system, When the determined processing performance is within a selected range, selectively overturning the sector allocation of at least one of the cars in response to the destination indication from the at least one passenger. 2. The method of claim 1 including initially assigning a car to one passenger based on the sector to which the destination class belongs, and then reallocating the passenger to another car having a departure time earlier than the first assigned car. 3. The method of claim 2 including reassigning a passenger to another car if the processing capability is within a selected range. 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the destination indication includes reassigning a passenger to the other car when the other car is in the assigned sector. 3. The method of claim 2 including repeatedly reallocating a passenger to another car having a departure time earlier than the currently assigned car. 2. The method of claim 1 including determining a value of processing performance and comparing the determined value for a selected threshold. 7. The method of claim 6 including using a randomly generated number from a selected range, such as a threshold. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein when the processing capability is below a selected threshold, sector allocation is reversed. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the selected threshold corresponds to heavy traffic and the performance is close to maximum performance. Elevator system, Plural lifts Kawa, A controller for determining the processing performance of the elevator system, determining the destination of at least one passenger, and selectively overturning the sector allocation of at least one of the cars in response to the determined destination when the determined processing performance is within the selected range. Including lift system. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the controller determines the departure time of each car from the base layer, initially assigns the car to the passenger based on the sector to which the destination floor belongs, and to another car with a departure time earlier than the first assigned car. Elevator system to reassign passengers. 12. The elevator system of claim 11, wherein the controller reassigns the passenger to another car when the processing capability is within the selected range. 12. The elevator system of claim 11, wherein the controller reassigns the passenger to another car when the destination instruction is in a sector to which another car is assigned. 12. The elevator system of claim 11, wherein the controller repeatedly reassigns the passenger to another car having a departure time earlier than the currently assigned car. The elevator system of claim 10, wherein the controller determines a value of processing performance and compares the determined value against a selected threshold. The elevator system of claim 15, wherein the controller uses a randomly generated number from within a selected range, such as a threshold. 11. The elevator system of claim 10, wherein the controller overturns sector allocation when processing performance is below a selected threshold. 18. The elevator system of claim 17, wherein the selected threshold corresponds to heavy traffic and the performance is close to maximum performance. 11. The passenger vehicle of claim 10, comprising a major destination input location on the outside of an elevator car that can be used by the passenger to provide destination indications, wherein the controller determines whether the passenger entered the destination indication at the primary input location. Elevator system prioritizing the movement of the. 11. The elevator system of claim 10, wherein the passengers include an indicator for providing the passengers with an indication of the assigned car.

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