Abstract: An elevator system in which plural elevator banks are present in a building, and a security gate through which a user should pass is defined for each bank, appropriate guidance can be given to the user without reducing the elevator operating efficiency. The elevator system includes a notifying device for notifying the user who passes through the security gate of information; an identifying mechanism determining, based on the identification information inputted from an inputting device when the user passes through the security gate, whether or not the user is a pre-registered person; and a determining mechanism determining whether or not the security gate through which the user, who is determined to be a pre-registered person by the identifying mechanism, passes is a normal gate for the user.

Abstract: An elevator group control apparatus performs operation control of a plurality of elevators by detecting a downward traffic flow ratio of traffic flows departing downward from floors higher than a prescribed main floor in the total traffic flow departing from one floor to another. If the downward traffic flow ratio is not less than a prescribed reference value, a standby mode for downward traffic flow is made effective, in which at least one elevator car is caused to be on standby on a floor higher than the main floor and at least one elevator car is caused to be on standby on the main floor.

Abstract: An elevator system having a double or multiple elevator cabins per elevator shaft can be controlled using a method, wherein at least one destination call is entered or at least one identification code is received on at least one call entry floor, said destination call or identification code designating an arrival floor; wherein at least one trip by at least one elevator cabin of the double or multiple elevator cabin from a departure floor to an arrival floor is determined for the destination call or identification code; wherein before determining a trip, it is determined whether at least one situation-specific parameter is fulfilled; and if said situation-specific parameter is fulfilled, at least one situation-compatible call assignment is determined for a trip having a floor difference of zero between the call entry floor and the departure floor or having a floor difference of zero between the destination floor and the arrival floor.

Abstract: An elevator access control system monitors a secure area, including an elevator landing, and controls an elevator system with at least one elevator car that is accessible from the elevator landing. Each elevator car of the elevator system has a door at the landing that provides access between the elevator car and the landing. The system includes an access monitoring device that detects the presence of non-authorized individuals within the secure area and produces a breach signal upon detecting one or more non-authorized individuals within or entering the secure area. Upon receiving the breach signal, an access system controller in communication with the access monitoring device initiates a security alert phase.

Abstract: An elevator cab accessory device having a control panel having a first timer and a first contactor, whereby the first timer operates the first contactor, an elevator door position sensor communicating with the first timer, and an occupant sensor communicating with the first timer, wherein the first timer operation is controlled by the elevator door position sensor and the occupant sensor, and a first elevator cab accessory communicating with the first contactor, whereby the first elevator cab accessory operation is controlled by the first contactor. A method for controlling elevator accessories and a method for installing an elevator cab accessory device.

Abstract: In a method, an evacuation state is activated, and the number of people awaiting evacuation on specific floors is determined. At least one of a number of elevator cars and of evacuation times needed for the evacuation of specific floors is calculated based on the capacity of the aforementioned one or more elevator cars and of the number of people awaiting evacuation, and floor-specific evacuation is controlled to one or more exit floors.

Abstract: Using a position detection device, a position of a person in a building area outside of an elevator system is detected. It is determined that the person has not actuated a destination call for the elevator system within a preset period of time. As a result of the determination, a security measure is activated.

Abstract: In a destination floor registration device 800, a boarding detection unit 804 detects a boarding of an elevator user; when no button operation by destination floor registration buttons 500 is performed after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since detection of the boarding, a voice destination floor registration unit 805 outputs from a voice output device 400 a message for prompting a passenger to pronounce a destination floor; a voice recognition unit 806 recognizes the destination floor pronounced by the passenger; and a voice destination floor registration unit 805 requests an elevator car control device 200 to register the destination floor recognized by the voice recognition unit 806.

Abstract: A system for sanitizing an enclosed structure has a plurality of sensors, a germicidal ultraviolet light source, and a controller. A first sensor detects the presence of humans or animals within the enclosed structure, and a second sensor detects the position of at least one door of the enclosed structure. The ultraviolet light source provides electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet range. The controller receives inputs from the first and second sensors and instructs emission or cessation of emission of the electromagnetic radiation based on the received input.

Abstract: An elevator cab accessory device having a control panel having a first timer and a first contactor, whereby the first timer operates the first contactor, an elevator door position sensor communicating with the first timer, and an occupant sensor communicating with the first timer, wherein the first timer operation is controlled by the elevator door position sensor and the occupant sensor, and a first elevator cab accessory communicating with the first contactor, whereby the first elevator cab accessory operation is controlled by the first contactor. A method for controlling elevator accessories and a method for installing an elevator cab accessory device.

Abstract: An assigned car information display apparatus for elevators is provided which is capable of providing a suitable display for a user by changing a representation method (such as a displayed graphic figure and color) of one and the same assigned car based on elevator user's attributes (such as a working department name, and personal preferences) even when the one and the same car is assigned to plural different destination floors. An assigned car information display device displays assigned car information for a specific user by changing, based on an attribute of a user, an attribute of the display screen when the assigned elevator car is displayed.

Abstract: An elevator system includes at least one elevator, call-giving appliances in elevator lobbies, and a device configured to detect contact patterns in an identification area on a floor surface of at least one elevator lobby. A user to be connected to a call given from the elevator lobby is classified based on the contact pattern, the type data of the call is associated with the call based on the classification, and the call and the type data is transmitted to the control system of the elevator system to control the elevators.

Abstract: In a method for controlling an elevator system, hints relating to potential elevator passengers are received from at least one observation point connected to the elevator system. Based on the hints, forecasts relating to potential elevator passengers are prepared, on the basis of which forecasts one or more anticipatory control actions are executed.

Abstract: Passive infrared detectors (20, 22, 24, 26, 28) carried by an elevator car (14) detect the presence of persons on top of or in the hoistway (12) below the elevator car (14). The passive infrared detectors (20, 22, 24, 26, 28) can also be used to detect open landing doors with no elevator present.

Abstract: In an elevator control device in which, when a verified person is authenticated as a registered person by an person authentication device, a security gate is opened to enable the movement into an elevator hall, even when a user cannot ride on an assigned car for some reason after passing through the security gate, the user is enabled to use an elevator. For this purpose, a hall destination floor registration device is provided in the elevator hall so that the user who is present in the hall registers his/her destination floor. A destination call is always registered automatically interlocking with the security gate, and when a predetermined condition is met, the destination floor registration of user made using the hall destination floor registration device is validated.

Abstract: An elevator system directs an elevator car to one or more particular floors based on a type of emergency that appears to be occurring in the car. The emergency is detected using one or more sensor units in or on the elevator car. The elevator system can direct the car to a floor that has equipment and/or personnel for handling the emergency.

Abstract: An elevator load bearing member (30) monitoring device includes a controller (42) that applies a selected electrical signal to tension members (32) of the load bearing member (30). In one example, connectors (40) are associated with ends of the load bearing member (30) to establish an electrical interface between the controller (42) and the tension members (32). The connectors (40) facilitate establishing electrical circuit loops along the tension members (32) such that only non-adjacent tension members are energized at a selected time. A variety of circuit configurations are disclosed. The applied electrical signal in one example has a potential that is negative compared to a ground potential of a hoistway in which the elevator belt is used. In another example, the electrical signal comprises a plurality of pulses and has a duty cycle that is on the order of about one percent.

Abstract: There is provided an elevator operation control device in which for an elevator provided with a destination floor reservation device in an elevator hall, disadvantages can be overcome reliably that a user who observes a predetermined riding rule cannot ride on the elevator because of a user who does not observe the riding rule and that the operation efficiency of elevator is lowered. For this purpose, the destination floor reservation device is provided in an elevator hall so that a user registers his/her own destination floor using the destination floor reservation device. Also, when a car stops at the elevator hall, a non-reservation user riding on the car without registering the destination floor using the destination floor reservation device is detected based on the information on the user having registered the destination floor using the destination floor reservation device and the information on the user in the car.

Abstract: A method of operating an elevator installation for transporting elevator users in a building area, including the steps of: detecting the position of elevator users in the building area, granting of an access authorization of the elevator users to building regions, triggering of a destination call by a detected elevator user, allocation of an elevator car serving the destination call or elevator call, boarding of an elevator car by at least one detected elevator user, if an elevator call was triggered triggering a car call by a detected elevator user, comparing whether the position of the elevator user that has boarded the elevator car corresponds with the position of the elevator user that has triggered the destination call, and determining whether the elevator user that has boarded the elevator car has an access authorization for a destination location corresponding with the destination call or elevator call.

Abstract: A method for monitoring an elevator controls an image capturing device located inside the elevator to capture a current image inside the elevator when a malfunction of the elevator is detected by one or more monitor devices. The method further analyzes the current image to determines if there are passengers trapped inside the elevator. In addition, the method generates a rescue message and sends the rescue message to an emergency response department through a network upon the condition that there are passengers trapped inside the elevator.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method of operating a stairlift, the stairlift having non-contact sensors to monitor the path along which the stairlift carriage is traveling, and to determine the presence of an obstruction on that path. Features of the stairlift in a ‘safe’ or ‘un-obstructed’ mode, including the path, may be stored as a ‘map’ in memory and sensor readings compared with the map as the carriage moves along the path. The invention allows the use of momentary commands to initiate and maintain movement of the stairlift.

Abstract: Provided is an elevator group control system which is excellent in convenience and can prevent a decrease in operation efficiency even when an elevator is used by a group of a plurality of persons. For this purpose, there are installed in an elevator hall a destination operating panel by use of which users register their destination floors before boarding and a group boarding registering device for registering that users use an elevator as a group. The number of users expected when users use an elevator as a group is stored beforehand in a user head-count storage section. When registration of a destination floor by use of the destination operating panel has been performed at the same time with registration of a group use by use of the group boarding registering device, a car to be assigned to a hall car call is determined on the basis of the number of users stored in the user head-count storage section.

Abstract: In an elevator control system, an evacuation operation control section outputs a command for evacuation operation by an elevator in case of fire. Moreover, in case of fire, the evacuation operation control section controls opening and closing of a fire door adjacent to an elevator landing based on information from a passenger detector for detecting a passenger at the elevator landing and information on a fire situation in a vicinity of the elevator landing.

Abstract: An elevator cab accessory device having a control panel having a first timer and a first contactor, whereby the first timer operates the first contactor, an elevator door position sensor communicating with the first timer, and an occupant sensor communicating with the first timer, wherein the first timer operation is controlled by the elevator door position sensor and the occupant sensor, and a first elevator cab accessory communicating with the first contactor, whereby the first elevator cab accessory operation is controlled by the first contactor. Also disclosed is a method for controlling elevator accessories and a method for installing an elevator cab accessory device.

Abstract: An elevator cab accessory device having a control panel having a first timer and a first contactor, whereby the first timer operates the first contactor, an elevator door position sensor communicating with the first timer, and an occupant sensor communicating with the first timer, wherein the first timer operation is controlled by the elevator door position sensor and the occupant sensor, and a first elevator cab accessory communicating with the first contactor, whereby the first elevator cab accessory operation is controlled by the first contactor. Also disclosed is a method for controlling elevator accessories and a method for installing an elevator cab accessory device.

Abstract: A method for enabling the use of an elevator system by disabled persons includes detecting at least one position change of a user using at least one sensor, said position change being in the form of at least one signal and at least one reference signal. The signal is then compared to the reference signal. At lease one signal status change is generated when at least one predefined comparison result is fulfilled. For the generated signal state change, the elevator system is at least partially brought to an operating mode enabling the use thereof by disabled persons.

Abstract: A method and system for transporting people in a building using an elevator installation having at least one elevator cage determines a destination story based on the movement direction of people on an access story. The movement direction of one or more persons on an access story is detected using a movement direction sensor. The destination story may be based on detected movement and the access story on which the movement is detected. The elevator cage is entered by people on at least one first access floor (S1, S2). In order to increase the transport efficiency at least one target floor (S3, S4, S5, S6, S7) is associated with the access floor (S1, S2) in a fixed manner, in such a way that the elevator cage (11) travels from the first access floor (S1, S2) to the target floor (S3, S4, S5, S6, S7) associated therewith.

Abstract: In an elevator system including at least two elevator groups having at least one shared floor and destination call appliances on at least the shared floor for receiving destination calls from passengers, destination call appliances are connected to group controls of the elevator groups. Destination calls from passengers are divided between the elevator groups based on defined division criteria.

Abstract: An elevator system is obtained which is capable of assigning a suitable car by taking into consideration a change of a maximum speed or an acceleration according to the result of prediction of a change of a car load or a moving distance with respect to a hall call. In the elevator system having a group management control device (20), provision is made for a destination floor registration unit (11) that registers a destination floor according to a call into a call registration device (10) at the time of call registration, and an assignment control unit (21) that assigns a suitable car to a destination call registration request from the call registration device (10).

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.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an elevator rescue operation system to be used in a building in which a plurality of elevators are installed in parallel. The system includes a disaster detection unit configured to detect, when a disaster has occurred in the building, an occurrence site of the disaster, a zone setting unit configured to set a plurality of zones to which all the elevators are caused to respond on the basis of the disaster occurrence site detected by the disaster detection unit, and a rescue operation unit configured to individually cause an elevator to respond to floors in each zone set by the zone setting unit, the elevator being corresponding to the zone, thereby carrying out a through-car operation up to a refuge floor.

Abstract: In an elevator system, an operation of a car is controlled by an operation control section. When a specific user in the car is certified by personal authentication of a personal authentication section after a landing call registration operation is performed by a user through a landing call operation section provided on a landing, the operation control section counts registered specific floors present in a traveling direction of the car according to the landing call registration operation in the registered specific floors based on registered floor information received from the personal authentication section, and performs a destination floor registration with the registered specific floor being a destination floor of the car if the number of the counted registered specific floors is one.

Abstract: An elevator system has a hoistway (4) and an elevator car (2) arranged to travel vertically within the hoistway, the hoistway is provided with a sensing arrangement such as an infrared curtain (10, 12) for detecting the presence of a person on top of the car as the car approaches the top of the hoistway (8). The elevator system is arranged to limit further upward movement of the car in the event that a person is detected.

Abstract: A method of operating an elevator installation for transporting elevator users in a building area, including the steps of: detecting the position of elevator users in the building area, granting of an access authorization of the elevator users to building regions, triggering of a destination call by a detected elevator user, allocation of an elevator car serving the destination call or elevator call, boarding of an elevator car by at least one detected elevator user, if an elevator call was triggered triggering a car call by a detected elevator user, comparing whether the position of the elevator user that has boarded the elevator car corresponds with the position of the elevator user that has triggered the destination call, and determining whether the elevator user that has boarded the elevator car has an access authorization for a destination location corresponding with the destination call or elevator call.

Abstract: Elevators (104) in a group elevator system (100) are controlled to facilitate transport of a large item (LI). A destination entry input device receives an input from a passenger (102) indicating that the passenger (102) has a large item (LI) to be transported in the group elevator system (100). The passenger (102) with the large item (LI) is assigned to an elevator (104) having capacity to accommodate the passenger (102) and the large item (LI).

Abstract: A method for monitoring an elevator controls an image capturing device located inside the elevator to capture a current image inside the elevator when a malfunction of the elevator is detected by one or more monitor devices. The method further analyzes the current image to determines if there are passengers trapped inside the elevator. In addition, the method generates a rescue message and sends the rescue message to an emergency response department through a network upon the condition that there are passengers trapped inside the elevator.

Abstract: An elevator control system (24) provides elevator dispatch and door control based on passenger data received from a video monitoring system. The video monitoring system includes a video processor (16) connected to receive video input from at least one video camera (12). The video processor (16) tracks objects located within the field of view of the video camera, and calculates passenger data parameters associated with each tracked object. The elevator controller (24) provides elevator dispatch (26), door control (28), and security functions (30) based in part on passenger data provided by the video processor (16). The security functions may also be based in part on data from access control systems (14).

Abstract: A wireless, portable call request entry kiosk (14) has a control panel (19) with keys (20, 21) and a display panel for entering calls and informing passengers of the responding elevator. The kiosk has wireless communication (42, 56) with a building (43) where the kiosk is located, to transmit call requests to a dispatching controller (48). The kiosk operates on a rechargeable source such as a battery (51). A sensor (52) determines a lull in traffic, causing the kiosk to operate in a low power consumption mode.

Abstract: An elevator system comprising a hoistway (4) and an elevator car (2) arranged to travel vertically within the hoistway, the hoistway is provided with a sensing arrangement such as an infra-red curtain (10,12) for detecting the presence of a person on top of the car as the car approaches the top of the hoistway (8). The elevator system is arranged to limit further upward movement of the car in the event that a person is detected.

Abstract: In a building, a service zone including a plurality of floors is set. The building is provided with an elevator that is assigned to the floors in the service zone as service floors. In an event of a fire in the building, an evacuation support apparatus for the elevator controls the operation of the elevator to convey those stranded in the building to an evacuation floor. The evacuation support apparatus has an emergency control device and an evacuation guidance device. The emergency control device has a rescue floor setting portion for setting at least a predetermined one of the service floors as a rescue floor, and an evacuation operation command portion for controlling the elevator such that evacuation operation is performed to vertically reciprocate a car between the rescue floor and the evacuation floor.

Abstract: An evacuation support system for a double-deck elevator allows people stranded in a building to evacuate to an evacuation floor upon an occurrence of a fire in the building including a plurality of floors. The evacuation support system includes an evacuation support apparatus including a rescue floor setting mechanism, and a double-deck elevator including a connected car including an upper car and a lower car which are vertically connected to each other. The rescue floor setting mechanism determines two adjacent floors among respective floors satisfying a predetermined condition as candidate rescue floors and sets, based on a floor on which the fire occurs, at least any one of the candidate rescue floors as the rescue floor. The double deck elevator performs an evacuation operation for moving the connected car in a reciprocating manner between the rescue floor and the evacuation floor based on a command from the evacuation support apparatus.

Abstract: An image monitoring apparatus for an elevator includes an image recording section configured to record a sequence of images of an interior of a car photographed by a camera, with a delay between the recording of successive images in the sequence. The apparatus also includes a detecting section configured to detect, based on an image in the sequence of images of the interior of the car, a violent behavior of a passenger in the car, and a display unit arranged in the interior of the car and configured to display the sequence of images of the interior of the car when the violent behavior of the passenger in the car is detected. The image recording section is further configured to reduce the delay between the recording of the successive images in the sequence of images when the violent behavior of the passenger in the car is detected.

Abstract: In an image monitoring apparatus for an elevator, image recording means records an image in a car photographed by a camera, and monitors based on the image in the car whether or not there is a violent behavior of a passenger in the car. The image recording means makes a recording density of the image in the car higher than usual when the violent behavior of the passenger in the car is detected. The operation control means homes the car on a predetermined floor when the violent behavior of the passenger in the car is detected by the image recording means.

Abstract: In an elevator monitoring system, an operation monitoring apparatus receives operation condition data from a group supervisory control device so as to display operation conditions of elevators on a monitor. The operation monitoring apparatus and the interphone base device can telephone-communicate with each other. The operation monitoring apparatus detects that a passenger within a car of at least one of the elevators cannot perform an interphone communication based upon the operation condition data and information of communication conditions with respect to the interphone terminal devices, which are received from the interphone base device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a monitoring device for a elevator system, including an optical sensor unit, which receives light emitted by a external light source existing in the vicinity of the elevator system and which transforms the light into contrast information and an evaluation unit, which evaluates the contrast information in order to monitor the elevator system. The present invention relates further to a method for monitoring a elevator system, including the steps of receiving light emitted by a external light source existing in the vicinity of the elevator system, transforming the light into contrast information, evaluation of the contrast information in order to monitor the elevator system, recognizing a situation of the elevator system and triggering of a reaction adapted to the situation.

Abstract: In an image monitoring apparatus for an elevator, an image recording unit records an image in a car photographed by a camera, and monitors based on the image in the car whether or not there is a violent behavior of a passenger in the car. The image recording unit makes a recording density of the image in the car higher than usual when the violent behavior of the passenger in the car is detected. The operation control unit homes the car on a predetermined floor when the violent behavior of the passenger in the car is detected by the image recording unit.

Abstract: In an image monitoring apparatus for an elevator, an image recording unit records an image in a car photographed by a camera, and monitors, based on the image in the car, whether or not there is a violent behavior of a passenger in the car. The image recording unit makes a recording density of the image in the car higher than usual when the violent behavior of the passenger in the car is detected. The operation control unit homes the car to a predetermined floor when the violent behavior of the passenger in the car is detected by the image recording unit.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program for determining the number of passengers riding on a vehicle in real time is presented. A total weight of passengers on the vehicle is divided by an estimated weight of each of the passengers to estimate how many passengers are on the vehicle in real time.

Abstract: For entry of calls in an elevator system, a destination call is entered outside the elevator car if the starting floor is a floor with intensive departing traffic. On other floors, a collective-control up or down call is entered traditionally and then a destination call in the elevator car. An identified regular customer may be allowed to select and confirm a destination floor from among one or more preprogrammed alternatives. Destination preprogrammed floors most frequently used are stored, the starting floor being fixed. Preprogrammed floors can be set for several different starting floors separately. For occasional customers system or regular customers going to floors other than preprogrammed floors, a call is entered as a destination call in the elevator lobby on floors with intensive departing traffic and as an up or down call according to collective control in the elevator lobby and on other floors.

Abstract: A method and system for effectively identifying an incoming peak traffic situation in an elevator system is provided. To allow faster detection of a peak traffic condition, use is made of both information obtained from traditional peak hour identification and history data obtained from statistics regarding the numbers of passengers. Traditional peak hour identification monitors the car weight and the number of calls in real time. Statistics provide information regarding typical rush hours in the building. In the method of the present invention, the number of passengers gathering on the lobby floor is forecast on the basis of statistics at the moment when the next elevator is at the lobby floor, ready to take in passengers. When the forecast number of passengers exceeds the car load threshold value for traditional peak hour identification, an incoming peak traffic mode can be activated reliably already on the basis of a single peak elevator.