WO2015169372A1

WO2015169372A1 - Semiotic lighting system and method providing semiotic lighting patterns

Info

Publication number: WO2015169372A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/059452
Authority: WO
Inventors: Raymond OGIENOYEVBEDE; Aki PARVIAINEN
Original assignee: Kone Corporation
Priority date: 2014-05-08
Filing date: 2014-05-08
Publication date: 2015-11-12

Abstract

The invention relates to a semiotic lighting system comprising a light emitting system, a controller and a data connection to a computer of an elevator system, wherein the controller is designed such that it controls the light output of the light emitting system depending on the data from the elevator system in that the intensity of the emitted light changes periodically and/or in that a data-specific colour is emitted. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method providing semiotic lighting patterns.

Description

SEMIOTIC LIGHTING SYSTEM AND METHOD PROVIDING SEMIOTIC

LIGHTING PATTERNS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a semiotic lighting system and a method providing semiotic lighting patterns. More particularly the invention relates to a system and a method providing semiotic lighting patterns of a panel or other parts of an elevator system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Since the first elevators there are systems featured informing passengers about the status of the elevator cars. Starting with lightbulbs under painted numbers or a clock hand-like mechanism, nowadays the information is shown using LED- patterns or modern displays. However, although the display technology did change over the years, the displayed matter stayed the same.

The state of the art is not optimal in that a passenger has to be in a special area around the display means to properly recognize the displayed signs.

Furthermore, in current elevator signal ization devices, especially in more complex systems including a huge number of such devices for multiple elevators, it could be fairly hard for some users to figure out which is the correct one signalled by a Destination Operator Panel DOP or a similar device, when just normal numbers or letters are used for indicating elevators. Additional device status messages, like e.g. "locked" could be misunderstood by persons who cannot see the screen properly or have a problem to understand the symbols or text used. AIM OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to disclose a solution, which eliminates or at least alleviates the drawbacks occurring in prior-art solutions presented above, and which enables a person to easily recognize and process information of an elevator system.

It is also an aim of the invention to disclose an elevator system which is optimized in regard to the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The system and the method according to the invention and preferred embodiments are characterized by the claims. Some further inventive embodiments are also presented in the descriptive section and in the drawings of the present application. The inventive content of the application can also be defined differently than in the claims presented below. The inventive content may also consist of several separate inventions, especially if the invention is considered in the light of expressions or implicit sub-tasks or from the point of view of advantages or categories of advantages achieved. In this case, some of the attributes contained in the claims below may be superfluous from the point of view of separate inventive concepts. The features of the various embody- ments of the invention can be applied within the scope of the basic inventive concept in conjunction with other embodiments. The invention refers to a semiotic lighting system comprising a light emitting system, a controller and a data connection to a computer of an elevator system, wherein the controller is designed such that it controls the light output of the light emitting system depending on the data from the elevator system in that the intensity of the emitted light changes periodically and/or in that a data-specific colour is emitted. The method providing semiotic lighting patterns, is based on the steps:

receiving data from an elevator system, and

controlling the light output of the light emitting system depending on the data from the elevator system such that the intensity of the emitted light changes periodically and/or such that a data-specific colour is emitted.

Due to this special light output, the semiotic lighting system provides easy and fast indication of the status of e.g. a Destination Operation Panel (DOP) or any other device to which the semiotic lighting system is connected. It may also use alternating and/or coloured light to communicate the direction of an elevator or an elevator alert status.

It is preferred that the semiotic lighting system is designed to inform a user about the state of a device of the elevator system, e.g. the state of a destination operation panel or a similar input panel, or the state of an elevator car. With a semiotic lighting pattern, the status of the device can be observed from a distance rather than moving to the device and checking it from its display screen. It is also preferred that the device is designed to inform a user about the direction of a special elevator, e.g. an elevator allocated to this user. The directions of allocated elevators are especially indicated with different colours, thus enhancing the fast recognition of the location of the elevator. It is also preferred that the device is designed to inform a user about alerts or errors, e.g. a fire hazard. Semiotic lighting patterns for a fire alert or similar alerts, help to enhance the visual recognition of the situation by the user.

The data received by the semiotic lighting system via the data connection to a computer of an elevator system comprises especially data from the group inputs into a DOP or a similar input device, position of an elevator car, position of an elevator, alerts, errors, and locked floors or similar status data.

The light emitting system comprises at least one light emitting module. Each light emitting module comprises one or more light emitting units.

A light emitting unit is preferably a light emitting diode (LED or OLED), an electroluminescent emitter (e.g. an Electroluminescent wire or Electroluminescent sheet), or an ordinary lamp.

Each light emitting module comprises at least one light emitting unit, especially one or more groups of light emitting units, preferably groups of different colour or colour-changing light emitting units. Preferably, light emitting modules comprise a number of electroluminescent wires or electroluminescent foils and/or LED-strips, wherein the LEDs especially emit different colours (e.g. a number of LEDs of different colour and/or colour-changing LEDs).

In a preferred embodiment, a light diffuser is arranged in front of at least one light emitting unit (e.g. LED), preferably in front of each light emitting unit.

In another preferred embodiment, which can be combined with the afore described embodiments, the LEDs, especially in groups of the same colours, are connected to a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) signal. In a preferred embodiment, a light emitting module is arranged on the back, the front, and/or the edge-sides of the part of the elevator system, e.g. a display panel or input means. Especially backside lighting offers the benefit that it does not take any space from the front surface of the part, and will be visible far from this part if the part is arranged in front of a reflecting surface. For example regarding a Destination Operator Panel (DOP) the light reflects/diffuses from the wall surface behind the DOP, wherein walls of elevator systems are often provided with a reflecting or diffusing surface.

In another embodiment, a light emitting module is designed to be at least a part of the background lighting of a display and/or the light emitting system comprises parts of the symbols displayed on a screen (e.g. arrows, geometric figures, or whole areas of a screen).

In an example, groups of LEDs are especially located behind and/or in front of the respective part of an elevator system, e.g. the Destination Operation Panel (DOP).

The controller controls the output of the light emitting system. Preferably, the controller comprises a processor, a microcontroller or similar means. The changing of intensity is preferably a periodic blinking, flashing or pulsating light emission.

The periodic change of the intensity of the emitted light differs from the state of the art, e.g. the changing of the floor numbers on displays in elevator cars in that the light emitting units of a light emitting module change their intensity periodically. Thus, each unit or at least a group of units of a light emitting module is blinking, flashing or pulsating. The frequency of intensity change is especially faster than once per 5 seconds, preferably faster than once per second.

In a preferred embodiment, the light emitting system is controlled such that in at least one light emitting module one light emitter or a group of light emitters is turned on earlier than at least another light emitter or another group of light emitters of the respective light emitting module - meaning a kind of running light. Especially, the controller and at least one light emitting module are designed such that they provide a moving light progression (e.g. a chaser light), preferably in a special direction.

In a preferred embodiment, the controller and the light emitting module in a DOP are designed such that they provide a moving light progression in the direction of an elevator that is displayed by the DOP, to alleviate a user to find this elevator.

Preferably, no light emitting module forms letters, numbers, arrows or similar symbols, especially none of these symbols if the light emitting module simply blinks/flashes/pulsates. However, there are embodiments preferred, where a light emitting module forms letters, numbers, arrows or similar symbols that are illuminated by the moving light progression or illuminated with different, data- specific colours. In a preferred embodiment, at least one, especially each elevator comprises a second light emitting module (e.g. at the doors, around the doors or at displays at the elevator), that emits light, especially in the same colour as the first light emitting module respective to the data of the elevator system. In this example, the light emitting system comprises at least two light emitting modules (one in at least one DOP, one in at least one elevator).

Preferably, the controller controls the whole light emitting system, at least the first light emitting module of the DOP and the second light emitting module so that the second light emitting module is synchronized with the first light emitting module (regarding time and/or colour), especially in the case that the first light emitting module shows the user the direction to the elevator.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one light emitting module is installed in at least one elevator car and shows the present floor with an individual colour. This is e.g. of an advantage, if the floors are marked with different colours, e.g. in car parks. By showing the individual colour of the floor, the elevator car is stopping and/or passing, the elevator system helps a user to find a special floor, even if the number of the floor is forgotten and only the colour is in mind.

The system and method of the present invention enhance signal ization devices by using colour lighting effects as part of the user information and can especially be combined with the traditional on/off type of effects. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, a known display device of an elevator system is combined with a semiotic lighting system of the present invention. With the described system it is possible to add intelligent lighting which can be controlled and used for increasing the usability of single devices like DOPs and especially also for linking different devices in new and improved way by utilizing coloured light effects. LIST OF FIGURES

In the following, the invention will be described in detail by the aid of examples of its embodiments, wherein:

- Fig. 1 presents a DOP comprising an embodiment of the present

invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 shows a DOP 1 comprising a system as described above. Two light emitting modules of a light emitting system are visible in figure 1 . The first light emitting module 2 is the border area of the DOP, where the shading should indicate that it is possible to illuminate this border in different colours or light intension. The second light emitting module 3 is the arrow that is visible on the screen, where the shading also should indicate that it is possible to illuminate this arrow in different colours or light intension. In addition, this DOP also shows normal information, e.g. the letter "A" for a special elevator that is assigned to a user using this DOP. The arrow indicates that the elevator can be found at the left side of the user. In a preferred embodiment, the illumination of the arrow (or the border area) may have a shape similar to the actual shading seen in the figure, where dark parts of the shading show unilluminated parts of the arrow (or border area) and white parts of the shading show illuminated parts of the arrow (or border area). These lighting patterns may move over the surface of the DOP, especially in the direction of the elevator, i.e. to the left.

Preferably also the elevator may comprise a light emitting module that shows its position by emitting coloured light, if the user looks in the direction of the arrow or the moving lights.

In an example, the status of the DOP is indicated with constant red and green lights for locked and unlocked status respectively. A sleep status is indicated with pulsating blue light when DOP is open and pulsating red light when it is locked.

The directions of elevators are indicated with different colours. Each colour of the LED matches the colour the direction arrow is displayed on the DOP screen. Direction colours are displayed as a slow blinking light until the guidance page of the DOP is exited.

In case of an emergency, the border area may indicate this, e.g. with flashing red light. An implemented alert system with semiotic light is e.g. a fire alert system which is indicated with a fast blinking red light. Although fig. 1 shows a combination of conventional technique, directing elements and undirected light emission, all these elements could be installed separately in parts of an elevator system. Thus, coloured arrows indicating an (allocated) elevator can be also be used without LED light splash on the border or as background lighting. Of course it is possible to show only one coloured arrow or more than one coloured arrow at a time, or coloured arrows to all elevators with the arrow of a selected elevator blinking or otherwise highlighted.

Claims

1 . Semiotic lighting system comprising a light emitting system, a controller and a data connection to a computer of an elevator system, wherein the controller is designed such that it controls the light output of the light emitting system depending on the data from the elevator system in that the intensity of the emitted light changes periodically and/or in that a data-specific colour is emitted.

2. Semiotic lighting system as claimed in claim 1 ,

characterized in that the semiotic lighting system is designed to inform a user about the state of a device of the elevator system, preferably the state of a destination operation panel or a similar input panel, or the state of an elevator car, the direction of a special elevator, alerts or errors, wherein the data received by the semiotic lighting system via the data connection to a computer of an elevator system comprises especially data from the group inputs in a DOP or a similar input device, position of an elevator car, position of an elevator, alerts, errors, and locked floors or similar status data.

3. Semiotic lighting system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light emitting system comprises at least one light emitting module, wherein each light emitting module comprises one or more light emitting units, wherein a light emitting unit is preferably a light emitting diode (LED or OLED), a electroluminescent emitter or an ordinary lamp, and wherein the light emitting module preferably comprises one or more groups of light emitting units, preferably groups of different colour or colour-changing light emitting units, especially a number of electroluminescent wires or Electroluminescent foils and/or LED-strips, wherein the LEDs especially emit different colours.

4. Semiotic lighting system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a light d iff user is arranged in front of at least one light emitting unit.

5. Semiotic lighting system as claimed in one of claims 3 or 4,

characterized in that at least one light emitting module is arranged on the back, the front, and/or the edge-sides of the part of the elevator system, and/or at least one light emitting module is designed to be at least a part of the background lighting of a display, wherein the light emitting system preferably comprises parts of the symbols displayed on a screen.

6. Semiotic lighting system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the changing of intensity is preferably a periodic blinking, flashing or pulsating light emission.

7. Semiotic lighting system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light emitting system is controlled such that in at least one light emitting module one light emitter or a group of light emitters is turned on earlier than at least another light emitter or another group of light emitters of the respective light emitting module, wherein the controller and at least one light emitting module are preferably designed such that they provide a moving light progression, preferably in a special direction.

8. Semiotic lighting system as claimed in one of claims 3 to 7,

characterized in that at least one, especially each, elevator comprises a light emitting module that emits light, especially in the same colour as the first light emitting module.

9. Semiotic lighting system as claimed in one of claims 3 to 8,

characterized in that at least one light emitting module is installed in at least one elevator car and shows the present floor with an individual colour.

10. Elevator system characterized in that it comprises a semiotic lighting system as claimed in one of the preceding claims.

1 1. Method providing semiotic lighting patterns, characterized by the steps: - receiving data from an elevator system,

- controlling the light output of the light emitting system depending on the data from the elevator system such that the intensity of the emitted light changes periodically and/or such that a data-specific colour is emitted.

12. Method as claimed in claim 1 1 , characterized in that the method is executed with a semiotic lighting system as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9.