WO2021240044A1

WO2021240044A1 - Solution for monitoring an operation of an elevator

Info

Publication number: WO2021240044A1
Application number: PCT/FI2020/050349
Authority: WO
Inventors: Goutham Saravana PANDIAN; Obulesu T
Original assignee: Kone Corporation
Priority date: 2020-05-25
Filing date: 2020-05-25
Publication date: 2021-12-02

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (200) for monitoring an output of at least one interactive area (300) of a car operating panel (600) of an elevator, the apparatus (200) comprises: a body part (210) for mounting the apparatus (200) at least in part over a number of the at least one interactive area (300) of the car operating panel (600); and at least one sensor unit (220) for indicating a detection of electromagnetic radiation emitted at least by the at least one interactive area (300) of the car operating panel (600). Some aspects of the invention relate to an elevator system and use of the apparatus in an elevator system.

Description

SOLUTION FOR MONITORING AN OPERATION OF AN ELEVATOR

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention concerns in general the technical field of elevators. More particularly, the invention concerns a solution for interoperating a plurality of elevators.

BACKGROUND

In various situations there are elevators from a plurality of manufacturers in place in the same building, or space, which are serving the same passengers. This kind of situation may e.g. occur permanently on purpose or temporarily due to a modernization project when one elevator system from a first manufacturer is replaced with another elevator system from a second manufacturer, but there is need to keep both systems in use as much as possible during the modernization project. In order to serve the passengers there is introduced solutions in which a communication between different elevators is arranged. This kind of implementation is illustrated in Figure 1 in which it is disclosed a first elevator system 100 and a second elevator system 200. The first elevator system comprises two elevators 110A, 110B and the elevators 110A, 110B are controlled by a first controller 120. The second elevator system 200, in turn, comprises one elevator 210 controlled by a second controller 220. In other words, the first controller 120 and the second controller 220 are arranged to control the respective entities, such as delivering elevator calls to the elevators 110A, 110B, 210.

In prior art solutions there are introduced implementations in which the controllers 120, 220 of different elevator systems 100, 200 are communicatively connected to each other, as shown in Figure 1 , in order to coordinate allocation of elevator calls between different elevators. This kind of arrangement may be implemented so that one of the controllers 120, 220 is defined as master controller and the others are defined as slave controllers. The solutions according to prior art are operative as such, but the problem arises if the slave controller decides to cancel any allocated call for any reason. This kind of operation causes a problem in the master controller because it does not receive the information on the cancellation and as a result the passenger(s) may experience dissatisfaction to the service. The root reason for the non-receipt of information may e.g. lie in that the elevator is set in a maintenance mode or there has occurred a failure preventing the delivery of information between the controllers 120, 220. Alternatively or in addition, the root reason may be a definition that the second elevator system 200 is not allowed to access a certain destination i.e. a floor indicated in a service call to the second controller 220. The above given reasons are only non-limiting examples and other reasons may exist.

Hence, there is need to introduce solutions which mitigate the problems in the prior art solutions and improve awareness of a service status of an elevator car. SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide basic understanding of some aspects of various invention embodiments. The summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of exemplifying embodiments of the invention.

An object of the invention is to present an apparatus, an elevator system and a use of an apparatus for monitoring a car operating panel of an elevator. The objects of the invention are reached by an apparatus, an elevator system and a use of an apparatus as defined by the respective independent claims.

According to a first aspect, an apparatus for monitoring an output of at least one interactive area of a car operating panel of an elevator is provided, the apparatus comprises: a body part for mounting the apparatus at least in part over a number of the at least one interactive area of the car operating panel; and at least one sensor unit for indicating a detection of electromagnetic radiation emitted at least by the at least one interactive area of the car operating panel.

For example, the body part may be arranged to be mountable with the at least one interactive area of the car operating panel, the at least one interactive area being a button shape extending outwards from a surface of the car operating panel.

The at least one sensor unit may be mounted to the body part. For example, wherein an output of the at least one sensing element of the at least one sensor unit may be monitored with a processing unit arranged in the body part. The processing unit may e.g. be arranged to generate an output signal to an elevator controller, the output signal indicating whether the at least one interactive area of the car operating panel emits electromagnetic radiation or not.

Moreover, the apparatus may further comprise a cover part detachably mountable on the body part.

The at least one sensing element of the sensor unit may be a color sensor.

Alternatively or in addition, the at least one sensing element of the sensor unit may be an image-capturing device.

According to a second aspect, an elevator system is provided, the elevator system comprising: at least one elevator comprising a car operating panel comprising at least one interactive area; and at least one apparatus according to the first aspect as defined above.

The elevator system may also be arranged to receive information from the at least one apparatus in an elevator controller operating as a master controller for the elevator system.

According to a third aspect, use of an apparatus in accordance with the first aspect as defined above is provided, wherein the use of the apparatus is performed in an elevator system comprising a first elevator sub-system and a second elevator sub-system for receiving status information of an elevator belonging to the second elevator sub-system in an elevator controller belonging to the first elevator sub-system (100).

The expression "a number of” refers herein to any positive integer starting from one, e.g. to one, two, or three.

The expression "a plurality of” refers herein to any positive integer starting from two, e.g. to two, three, or four.

Various exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments of the invention both as to constructions and to methods of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The verbs “to comprise” and “to include” are used in this document as open limitations that neither exclude nor require the existence of unrecited features. The features recited in dependent claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an”, i.e. a singular form, throughout this document does not exclude a plurality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates schematically an example of an elevator system according to a prior art.

Figure 2 illustrates schematically an example embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with some aspects of the invention.

Figure 3 illustrates schematically further aspects of an example embodiment in accordance with some aspects of the invention. Figures 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate schematically some non-limiting examples of fixing methods in accordance with some aspects of the invention.

Figure 5 illustrates schematically a further example embodiment of a fixing method in accordance with some aspects of the invention.

Figure 6 illustrate schematically a further example embodiment in accordance with some aspects of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLIFYING EMBODIMENTS

The specific examples provided in the description given below should not be construed as limiting the scope and/or the applicability of the appended claims. Lists and groups of examples provided in the description given below are not exhaustive unless otherwise explicitly stated.

Figure 2 illustrates schematically an example embodiment of an apparatus 200 in accordance with some aspects of the invention. The apparatus 200 is arranged to monitor an output of an interactive area of a car operating panel of an elevator and to generate an output indicative of the output of the indicative area of the car operating panel. The example embodiment of the apparatus 200 as schematically illustrated in Figure 2 comprises a body part 210 and at least one sensor unit 220. In accordance with the example, the body part 210 may be formed so that it may be mounted at least in part over the interactive area of the car operating panel. The mounting at least in part over the interactive area of the car operating panel refers at least to an arrangement in which the at least one sensor unit 220 may be brought in an operational vicinity with respect to the interactive area so as to enable a detection of electromagnetic radiation emitted at least by the interactive area of the car operating panel. In the implementation of the example as schematically illustrated in Figure 2 the at least one sensor unit 220 may be comprise necessary processing unit for obtaining measurement data from a sensing element of the sensor unit 220 as well as a communication interface for outputting the obtained measurement data from the sensor unit 220 e.g. under control of the processing unit. In other words, the mentioned entities may be integrated in a single chip powered in a desired manner in order to bring the apparatus into operation. In accordance with the invention the communication interface may be arranged e.g. in a wired manner or in a wireless manner. E.g. in case of wired implementation an applicable communication bus arrangement may be implemented to. For example, the communication interface may refer to so-called Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) applicable for short- distance communication. In case wireless communication is applied to any applicable wireless communication protocol may be applied to, such as a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi as non-limiting examples of short-range wireless communication. The powering of the apparatus 200, and especially the sensor unit 220, may be performed either by wiring it with external power source, such as with mains current, or arranging a power source, such as a battery, in the apparatus 200.

Figure 3 illustrates schematically an example of the apparatus 200 suitable for matching with an interactive area 300 of a car operating panel in accordance with some aspects of the invention. The interactive area 300 in the non-limiting example as illustrated in Figure 3 is a button-type user interface. For example, the car operating panel to be monitored may comprise a plurality of similar kind of interactive areas 300 wherein one or more interactive areas 300 may be equipped with a respective apparatus 200 as described. In the non-limiting example of the apparatus 200 as depicted in Figure 3 the sensor 220 is depicted in a manner that the sensing element 310, the processing unit 320 and the communication interface 330 are separate entities communicatively connected to each other.

Regarding a mounting of the apparatus 200 with the interactive area 300 of the car operating panel the body part 210 of the apparatus 200 is advantageously designed to match with the interactive area 300. In other words, in case the interactive area 300 is implemented with the button-type design, the body part 210 of the apparatus 200 may be designed as a cup-form cover to the interactive area 300. There, the inner diameter of the cup may be selected so that it matches with an outer diameter of the button-type interactive area 300 extending outwards from a surface of the car operating panel so that the apparatus 200 may be tightly fixed with the interactive area 300. Alternatively or in addition the respective parts, i.e. the interactive area 300 and the apparatus 200, may be shaped so that the shaping of the parts allows an appropriate fixing together. Still further, some non-limiting examples may use additional parts, such as any applicable fixing means, like as one or more screws, glue, one or more clamps, a cover part, or anything similar for fixing the apparatus in a position that the sensing device 310 may detect if at least interactive area 300 generates electromagnetic radiation or not at a certain instant of time.

Figures 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate schematically some non-limiting examples of fixing methods for mounting the apparatus 200 with an interactive area 300 of the car operating panel. The interactive area 300 is implemented as a button- type solution being a cylinder shape structure. More specifically, in the example embodiment of Figure 4A the fixing of the entities is arranged by designing the entities so that a body part 210 of the apparatus 200 being a cylinder shape wherein flange sections 410 are shaped so that they have shoulders extending over a structure of the interactive area 300 when the apparatus 200 is pushed towards the interactive area 300 for mounting the apparatus 200 at least in part over the interactive area 300. In this kind of example embodiment the apparatus is preferably made flexible so that in response to pushing the apparatus 200 towards the interactive area 300, the structure of the apparatus 200 is flexible so as to enable the shoulders to overpass an outer part of the interactive area 300 to bring the entities to a contact with each other. The solution as schematically illustrated in Figure 4B is based on a thread solution wherein an outer surface (i.e. male flange) of the cylindrical shaped interactive area 300 is provided with threads 420 into which counter-threads 430 arranged on an inner surface (female flange) of the cylindrical shaped apparatus 200. Flence, in order to mount the apparatus 200 with the interactive area 300 in the solution of Figure 4B, the apparatus 200 may be rotated into the contact with the interactive area 300 by means of the mutually matched threads in the respective entities. Figure 4C illustrates schematically a still further example embodiment in which the interactive area 300 is provided with one or more receiving portions 440, such as mounting channels, in order to receive respective mounting spike 450 for establishing the mutual contact with the entities. Naturally, dimensions of the receiving portions 440 and the mounting spikes 450 are selected so as to enable the fixing in the described manner. The solution of Figure 4C may also be implemented so that the mounting spike 450 is an external element to the apparatus 200 and the apparatus 200 is provided with a respective channel to the mounting channel 440, wherein the external mounting spike is provided through a surface of the apparatus 200 facing outwards from the interactive area 300 towards the receiving portions 440 of the interactive area 300 to enable the mounting. In this kind of arrangement the external mounting spike may e.g. be a screw and at least some of the channels arranged for the screw may be provided with applicable threads.

Figure 5 illustrates a further example embodiment in which the apparatus 200 further comprises a cover part 510 as separate entity used for positioning the sensor part of the apparatus 200 in an operational position with respect to the interactive area 300. In other words, the apparatus 200 may be positioned between the interactive area 300 and the cover part 510. The cover part 510 may be mounted with the interactive area 300 with the corresponding fixing solutions, or mechanisms, as discussed in the context of Figures 4A-4C wherein the apparatus 200 is designed so as to enable the mounting. In some embodiments the cover part 510 may be designed so that it comprises a cradle structure on an inner surface facing the apparatus 200 so as to house the apparatus 200 when fixing it over the interactive area 300. Advantageously, the cover part 510 of the apparatus 200 may be detachably mountable so as to enable a removal of the apparatus 200 from the interactive area 300 if needed.

As discussed in the foregoing description the apparatus 200 may comprise at least one sensing element 310 for detecting electromagnetic radiation. The processing unit 320 may be arranged to generate an output signal to an elevator controller wherein the output signal may indicate whether the interactive area 300, or a predefined portion of it, of the car operating panel emits electromagnetic radiation or not. The at least one sensing element 310 may be selected so that the output signal is generated to indicate a presence of electromagnetic radiation in response to an amount of the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the interactive area 300 exceeds a trigger level defined by the characteristics of the at least one sensing element 310. Depending on the application area in a selection, or an adjustment, of the sensing element 310 any background radiation may be taken into account so as to generate as accurate detection on a status of the interactive area 300 as possible. Still further, the selection of the at least one sensing element 310 shall be made so that it is suitable for detecting the electromagnetic radiation in a frequency band the interactive area 300 emits it.

Still further, in some example embodiments the at least one sensing element 310 may be selected so that it may generate different output signals in accordance to the frequency band of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the interactive area 300. This kind of sensing element 310 may be required if the interactive area 300 emits the electromagnetic radiation at different frequency bands, e.g. if it is arranged to provide output with different colors. Alternatively or in addition, the apparatus 200 may comprise a plurality of sensing elements 310 wherein the different sensing elements 310 may detect different frequencies. Hence, based on the output signal it is possible to detect the output of the interactive area 300. For example, in this kind arrangement the at least one sensor may be a color sensor.

In some further example embodiments the at least one sensor may be an image capturing device, such as a camera, wherein the sensing element 310 is arranged to capture images at predefined intervals, or in response to a predefined operation, such as a receipt of a control signal from an external entity, and deliver the captured images to an entity arranged to analyse them. The entity may e.g. be the processing unit 320 of the apparatus 200, or any external processing unit to the apparatus 200, such as an elevator controller.

Still further, some example embodiments may be implemented so that an apparatus 200 is arranged to monitor a plurality of interactive areas 300 of a car operating panel. This may e.g. be arranged so that a body part 210 is implemented so that it extends over a predefined number of interactive areas 300 of the car operating panel and is suitable for mounting the apparatus 200 at least in part over the interactive areas 300 of the car operating panel. In this kind of example embodiment the apparatus 200 may comprise one or more sensing elements 310, or sensor units 220, for detecting the electromagnetic radiation emitted by at least one of the interactive areas 300 arranged to be monitored by the apparatus 200 in question. Advantageously, the apparatus may be implemented so that it is possible to identify the at least one interactive area 300 emitting the electromagnetic radiation from the output signal of the apparatus 200. This kind of example embodiment may be implemented so that the body part 210 covers some or even all interactive areas 300 of the car operating panel, or even the whole car operating panel.

Still further, in some example embodiments the apparatus 200 may be implemented so that a passenger entering an elevator car wherein the apparatus 200 is mounted over one or more interactive areas 300 of the car operating panel may provide a destination call through the apparatus 200 to a respective interactive area. This may be implemented e.g. by implementing at least the body part 210 of the apparatus 200 flexible so that the passenger, by providing a force to the apparatus 200, may cause the apparatus 200 to bend towards the interactive area 300 of the car operating panel so as to cause an activation of the respective interactive area 300 on the car operating panel.

Some further aspects relate to an elevator system applying the apparatus 200 as described. As discussed in the foregoing description a car operating panel of an elevator may be equipped with a number of apparatuses 200 as described. For example, Figure 6 illustrates schematically a car operating panel 600 comprising a plurality of interactive areas 300 may be equipped with a number of apparatuses 200. In the non-limiting example of Figure 6 each interactive area 300 is equipped with a dedicated apparatus 200 in order to enable individual monitoring of the interactive areas 300. In other words, the use of the apparatuses 200 in the described manner enable a monitoring of the car operating panel 600 and to understand a service status of an elevator car in question based on information received from the car operating panel. Still further, the apparatuses 200 as described may be used in an elevator environment as schematically illustrated in Figure 1 wherein there are two separate elevator sub-systems e.g. from different manufacturers and which shall cooperate together in an appropriate manner. In order to provide status information from an elevator car belonging to a second elevator system to an elevator controller of the first elevator system the apparatuses 200 may be applied in the car operating panel 600 of the elevator car. The apparatuses 200 may be arranged to deliver information obtained with the sensors 310 to an elevator controller, such as the elevator controller 120 of the first elevator sub- system 100, for determining the status information with respect to elevator calls, and e.g. on their allocation between different entities. Advantageously, the information obtained by the apparatuses 200 may be delivered to a master controller and the information may be delivered either directly or indirectly e.g. through other elevator controllers, such as through a slave controller. The specific examples provided in the description given above should not be construed as limiting the applicability and/or the interpretation of the appended claims. Lists and groups of examples provided in the description given above are not exhaustive unless otherwise explicitly stated.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1 . An apparatus (200) for monitoring an output of at least one interactive area (300) of a car operating panel (600) of an elevator, the apparatus (200) comprises: a body part (210) for mounting the apparatus (200) at least in part over a number of the at least one interactive area (300) of the car operating panel (600), at least one sensor unit (220) for indicating a detection of electromagnetic radiation emitted at least by the at least one interactive area (300) of the car operating panel (600).

2. The apparatus (200) of claim 1 , wherein the body part (210) is arranged to be mountable with the at least one interactive area (300) of the car operating panel (300), the at least one interactive area (300) being a button shape extending outwards from a surface of the car operating panel (600).

3. The apparatus (200) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one sensor unit (220) is mounted to the body part.

4. The apparatus (200) of claim 3, wherein an output of the at least one sensing element (310) of the at least one sensor unit (220) is monitored with a processing unit (320) arranged in the body part (210).

5. The apparatus (200) of claim 4, wherein the processing unit (320) is arranged to generate an output signal to an elevator controller, the output signal indicating whether the at least one interactive area (300) of the car operating panel (600) emits electromagnetic radiation or not.

6. The apparatus (200) of any of the preceding claims, the apparatus (200) further comprising a cover part (510) detachably mountable on the body part (210).

7. The apparatus (200) of any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one sensing element (310) of the sensor unit (220) is a color sensor.

8. The apparatus (200) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one sensing element (310) of the sensor unit (220) is an image-capturing device.

9. An elevator system comprising at least one elevator comprising a car operating panel (600) comprising at least one interactive area (300), at least one apparatus (200) according to any one of the claims 1 -8.

10. The elevator system of claim 9, wherein the elevator system is arranged to receive information from the at least one apparatus (200) in an elevator controller (120, 220) operating as a master controller for the elevator system.

11 . Use of an apparatus (200) according to any one of claims 1 -8 in an elevator system comprising a first elevator sub-system (100) and a second elevator sub system (200) for receiving status information of an elevator belonging to the second elevator sub-system (200) in an elevator controller (120, 220) belonging to the first elevator sub-system (100).