SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING ELEVATORS IN AN ELEVATOR SYSTEM

• US 20120125719A1
• Filed: 07/12/2010
• Published: 05/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elsi Technologies Oy (MariCap Oy)
• Original Assignee: MariMils Oy (MariCap Oy)
• Inventors: Sundholm, Göran, Stevn, Palle
• Granted Patent: US 9,079,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 187/382
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/2458 For elevator systems with multiple shafts and a single car per shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/3476 Load weighing or car passenger counting devices B66B5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/102 Up or down call input
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/211 Waiting time, i.e. response time
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/212 Travel time
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/214 Total time, i.e. arrival time
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/215 Transportation capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/216 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/222 Taking into account the number of passengers present in the elevator car to be allocated
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/40 Details of the change of control mode
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 3/00 Applications of devices for indicating or signalling operating conditions of elevators
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 3/006 for guiding passengers to their assigned elevator car
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 50/00 Energy efficient technologies in elevators, escalators and moving walkways, e.g. energy saving or recuperation technologies

Abstract

System for controlling the elevators in an elevator system, which elevator system comprises a number of elevators (1A . . . 1H). The system comprises first sensor means (2, 2A . . . 2H), which are arranged in the waiting area of each elevator (1A . . . 1H) on each floor (F, F1, F2, F3 . . . Fn), which sensor means (2, 2A . . . 2H) are fitted to give information about the presence and number of passengers waiting for an elevator at least in the waiting area in question; means for controlling the elevators, which means are fitted to receive information from the sensor means (2, 2A . . . 2H) about the presence and number of passengers waiting for an elevator and to control the movement of the elevators of the elevator system utilizing the information received from the sensor means.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. System for controlling elevators in an elevator system, which elevator system comprises a number of elevators (1A . . . 1H), the system for controlling elevators comprises sensor means adapted to give information about the number of passengers waiting for an elevator, and means for controlling elevators adapted to control the movement of the elevators of the elevator system, characterized in that the system comprises first sensor means (2, 2A . . . 2H), which are arranged in the waiting area of each elevator (1A . . . 1H) on each floor (F, F1, F2, F3 . . . Fn), which sensor means (2, 2A . . . 2H) are fitted to give information about the presence and number of passengers waiting for an elevator at least in the waiting area in question;

and means for controlling the elevators, which means are fitted to receive information from the first sensor means (2, 2A . . . 2H) about the presence and number of passengers waiting for an elevator on each floor and to control the movement of the elevators (1A . . . 1H) of the elevator system utilizing the information received from the sensor means (2, 2A . . . 2H), and that the first sensor means (2, 2A . . . 2H) are planar sensors that operate capacitively.

13. System according to claim 12, characterized in that the system further comprises second sensor means (2′

), which are arranged in each elevator and are fitted to give information about the presence and number of passengers that are in the elevator.

14. System according to claim 12, characterized in that the system also comprises means (3) for guiding passengers.

15. System according to claim 13, characterized in that the second sensor means (2′

) are planar sensors that operate capacitively.

16. System according to claim 12, characterized in that the system further comprises means (5) at least in the elevator lobbies for giving a call to the elevator system.

17. System according to claim 12, characterized in that the system comprises guidance means (3, 3A . . . 3H), which are fitted to guide passengers at least according to the desired travel direction to the waiting areas of the elevators (1A, 1B, 1C, . . . 1H) in the elevator lobby.

18. System according to claim 12, characterized in that the guidance means (3, 3A . . . 3H) comprise a light-source band (3).

19. System according to claim 12, characterized in that the guidance means (3, 3A . . . 3H) comprise light sources (30), the indication of which is used to show express information.

20. System according to claim 12, characterized in that a sensor (2, 2A . . . 2H) is fitted onto the floor surface, into the floor, under the floor covering or as a part of the floor structure and/or on the ceiling surface, in the ceiling, above the ceiling covering or as a part of the ceiling structure.

21. System according to claim 12, characterized in that the light-source band (3) comprises light sources (30), which are LED light sources.

22. System according to claim 12, characterized in that the sensor means is a planar sensor web structure, which comprises a substrate, electrically conductive areas (21), which form sensor elements, which are formed onto the substrate, and conductors (22) to connect the sensor elements to the output connector (23), which sensor means is fitted by means of capacitive detection to monitor electrically conductive objects.

23. System according to claim 13, characterized in that the system also comprises means (3) for guiding passengers.

24. System according to claim 13, characterized in that the system further comprises means (5) at least in the elevator lobbies for giving a call to the elevator system.

25. System according to claim 14, characterized in that the system further comprises means (5) at least in the elevator lobbies for giving a call to the elevator system.

26. System according to claim 15, characterized in that the system further comprises means (5) at least in the elevator lobbies for giving a call to the elevator system.

27. System according to claim 13, characterized in that the system comprises guidance means (3, 3A . . . 3H), which are fitted to guide passengers at least according to the desired travel direction to the waiting areas of the elevators (1A, 1B, 1C, . . . 1H) in the elevator lobby.

28. System according to claim 14, characterized in that the system comprises guidance means (3, 3A . . . 3H), which are fitted to guide passengers at least according to the desired travel direction to the waiting areas of the elevators (1A, 1B, 1C, . . . 1H) in the elevator lobby.

29. System according to claim 15, characterized in that the system comprises guidance means (3, 3A . . . 3H), which are fitted to guide passengers at least according to the desired travel direction to the waiting areas of the elevators (1A, 1B, 1C, . . . 1H) in the elevator lobby.

30. System according to claim 16, characterized in that the system comprises guidance means (3, 3A . . . 3H), which are fitted to guide passengers at least according to the desired travel direction to the waiting areas of the elevators (1A, 1B, 1C, . . . 1H) in the elevator lobby.

31. System according to claim 13, characterized in that the guidance means (3, 3A . . . 3H) comprise a light-source band (3).