TH30358A - A complete device for scanning and detecting elevator call buttons. - Google Patents

Abstract

DC60 (30/04/40) is a complete unit for scanning and illuminating call button switches in elevator cabins. It comprises individual switches and lighting circuits for each floor served by the elevator cabin, and control circuits connecting these circuits in a horizontal/column matrix arrangement. To scan, it detects triggered switches and illuminates the corresponding call button. Each individual circuit contains a switch module that responds to the scan signal from the control circuit by generating a signal that triggers the call button switch located there. The control circuit then generates an illumination signal for each individual circuit for the registered call, activating the LED and lighting the corresponding call button. The control circuit generates the scan signal, reads the switch trigger signal, and generates the illumination signal during separate timed cycles. The pulse-holding modules in each individual circuit respond to the illumination signal. To maintain LED brightness levels for longer than a predetermined cycle time, the switches, lighting circuits, and control circuits operate together to generate and respond to signals triggered by switches of varying sizes. When utilizing access control switches to lock down selected floors, a system for scanning and illuminating elevator call buttons consists of individual switches and lighting circuits for each floor served by the elevator, and control circuits connecting these circuits in a horizontal/column matrix configuration. This scans the triggered switches and illuminates the corresponding call buttons. Each individual circuit contains a module of switches that responds to a scan signal from the control circuit by generating a signal triggered by the located call button. The control circuit then generates an illumination signal for each individual circuit for the registered call, activating the LED and illuminating the corresponding call button. The control circuit generates a scan signal, reads the switch-driven signal, and generates an illumination signal during separate timed cycles. Pulse-holding modules within each circuit respond to the illumination signal to maintain the LED brightness level for a duration exceeding the timed cycle. The switches, illumination circuits, and control circuits operate collaboratively to generate and respond to switch-driven signals of varying sizes, utilizing access control switches to lock down selected building floors.

Claims (19)

1. The complete device for generating elevator call signals and indicating registered calls consists of: a manually driven push-button switch device for initiating the call; a push-button illumination device for the switch; an input device for a time-delayed illumination signal (first signal from the aforementioned illumination source); and a terminal block circuit connected between the illumination device and the input device, responding to the illumination signal to generate an output signal for a predetermined period, and then a second period longer than the first. The illumination device responds to the output signal to illuminate the push-button for approximately the second predetermined period. 2. The device fulfilling claim number 1 herein, the said switching device, shall be connected in series by a resistor to the aforementioned input device, such that when a scan signal is applied to the aforementioned input device and the said switching device is roused, the rousing signal generated by the switch will be generated at the aforementioned input device. 3. The device fulfilling claim number 2 consists of an access control switch connected across the aforementioned resistor, whereby when the access control switch is opened, the signal driven by the switch is of magnitude one, and when the access control switch is opened again, the signal driven by the switch is of magnitude two. 4. The device fulfilling claim number 3, herein referred to as scale one, will have a value of approximately five volts, and the device referred to as scale two will have a value of approximately 0.8 volts. 5. The device fulfilling claim number 1, hereby identified as the illuminating device for the aforementioned push button, contains at least one LED. 6. The instrument fulfills claim number 1 herein. The previously defined period, the first period mentioned, is an approximate part of the second period and the previously defined period. The second period mentioned shall be approximately one second. 7. The complete device for generating the elevator call signal and indicating the registered call consists of: a switching device comprising a switch with a pair of contacts and a manually driven push button for linking these contacts; a lighting device for illuminating the aforementioned push button; an input device connected to the aforementioned contacts for an illumination symbol with a predetermined duration; a first signal from the illumination signal source; and a pulse-holding circuit connected between the input device and the illumination device, which responds to the illumination signal to generate an output signal with a second predetermined time period, longer than the first. The illumination device responds to the output signal for illuminating the push button for approximately the same duration as the second predetermined time period. Finally, a control device connected to the input device of the switching device generates a scan signal to one of the switch contacts when the switching device is activated. The said device, when stimulated, will generate the aforementioned illuminating signal to the so-called input device, which then responds to the signal stimulated by the switch mentioned above. 8. The completed device under claim 1, herein called the input device, consists of a first terminal connected to one of the aforementioned contacts. The aforementioned control device generates what is called a sweep signal at the first terminal and receives what is called a signal driven by a switch at the second terminal. 9. The device fulfilling claim number 8 herein, the control device, will generate what is called an illumination signal at the first and second terminals mentioned above. 10. The device fulfilling claim number 1, herein the case, the control device shall generate a so-called sweep signal during the first cycle, receive a so-called switch-driven signal during the second cycle, and generate a so-called illumination signal during the third cycle. 11. The instrument fulfilling claim number 10 herein shall have a period of time longer than the periods of the first, second, and third cycles mentioned above. 12. The complete device for generating elevator call signals and indicating registered calls consists of: a group of manually driven push-button devices; each of these switch devices has an illuminating device to light the push-buttons of the aforementioned switch devices; an input device connected to the aforementioned switch devices for a predetermined illuminating signal; a first signal from the illuminating signal source; and a pulse-capturing circuit connected between the input device and the illuminating device, which responds to the illuminating signal to generate an output signal with a predetermined period, a second period longer than the first. The illuminating device responds to this output signal to illuminate the push-buttons for approximately the same duration as the second predetermined period. The first group of horizontal lines and the second group of column lines; and a control device connected to the input device of each switch device by a line called a horizontal line. And one line, called a column line, the control device will generate a scan signal on the aforementioned horizontal line and receive a signal driven by a response switch on the aforementioned column line. When one of the related switches is triggered, the control device will generate the illumination signal mentioned above on the aforementioned horizontal line and the aforementioned column line to the input device connected to one of the triggered switches, which then responds to the signal driven by that switch. 13. The device fulfilling claim number 12 herein, the control device, will generate a so-called sweep signal during the first cycle, receive a so-called switch-driven signal during the second cycle, and generate a so-called illumination signal during the third cycle. 14. The instrument fulfilling claim number 12, herein the case of the control device, generates what is called a sweep signal on the first horizontal line group mentioned above during the time of the first cycle mentioned above, and reads the second column line group mentioned above during the time of the second cycle mentioned above to receive what is called a switch-driven signal. The control device then generates the aforementioned sweep signal and alternates between reading the column line mentioned above and the other signal. 15. The instrument fulfilling claim 14, hereby, the control device responds to a signal driven by the aforementioned switch to generate the aforementioned sweep signal on one of the selected lines in the first column group, during the time of the fourth lap, and reads the lines in the second column group, during the time of the fifth lap. Receiving the signal driven by the aforementioned switch, the control device generates the aforementioned sweep signal and alternately reads the lines in the column group for each line in the horizontal group in a sequential manner to identify one of the aforementioned triggered switches. 16. The device fulfilling claim number 14 herein shall generate a signal driven by the aforementioned switch of magnitude one, which represents the call signal, when access to the floor is allowed in conjunction with the aforementioned triggered switch, and the signal driven by the aforementioned switch shall generate a signal of magnitude two, which represents the floor lockdown signal, when access to the floor is denied in conjunction with the aforementioned triggered switch. 17. The complete device pursuant to claim No. 16 herein, the control device consists of a first sliding register connected to the aforementioned column line for the aforementioned call signal and a second sliding register connected to the aforementioned column line for receiving the aforementioned call signal and the aforementioned floor lockout signal. 18. The instrument fulfilling claim 17 herein, the control device, consists of a third sliding register connected to the aforementioned horizontal line for generating the aforementioned scan signal. 19. The device fulfilling claim 17 herein, the control device, consists of a third sliding register connected to the aforementioned horizontal line for generating the aforementioned illumination signal, and a sliding register connected to the aforementioned column line for generating the aforementioned illumination signal. The control device generates the aforementioned illumination signals on the aforementioned lines of the aforementioned horizontal and column lines together with each switch of the aforementioned driven switching device. (Clause 19, page 5, figure 3)