Abstract: A communication terminal (MT) is equipped with a first communication unit (KOM1) for communicating with radio network base stations (DECTS) via a first radio interface (RI1), and with a second communication unit (KOM2) for communicating with a mobile radio network (MN) via a second radio interface (RI2). The terminal (MT) determines whether it has moved into the range covered by the radio network base stations. If it has moved into the range (RADECT) covered by a selected radio network base station (DECTS), it initiates a switch-over of the network-side routing of connection requests which are directed to the terminal (MT), and routes them via the selected radio network base station (DECTS). The initiation of the switch-over takes place by signalling the mobile radio network (MN).

Abstract: An elevator safety brake is provided comprising two cantilevers, a pivot, a spring, and a hold-off-engagement linkage. In one embodiment, the hold-off-engagement linkage is comprised of two upper struts, and two lower struts. When it is desired to slow or stop the elevator via the safety brake, the lower struts move from a first position in which the lower struts are substantially in alignment with one another and the cantilevers are in an open position, to a second position in which the lower struts are not substantially in alignment with one another and the cantilevers are in a closed position. When the cantilevers are in the closed position, the spring exerts a force via the cantilevers on the guide rail in order to decelerate the elevator.

Abstract: The invention provides an elevator system for controlling movement of an elevator car with respect to guide rails in an elevator hoistway, having a force-estimation or position-scheduled current command controller and a magnet driver circuit without the need for a flux sensor. The force-estimation or position-scheduled current command controller responds to a force command signal, and further responds to a sensed gap signal, for providing a force-estimation or position-scheduled current command controller signal as a current command to the magnet driver circuit. The magnet driver circuit responds to the force-estimation or position-scheduled current command controller signal, for providing a magnet driver circuit signal to control said horizontal movement of the elevator car with respect to the guide rail in the elevator hoistway, whereby the horizontal movement of the elevator car is controlled without sensing magnetic flux.

Abstract: The present invention provides a roller guide assembly for controlling the position of an elevator car in relation to guide rails of an elevator hoistway in an elevator system. The roller guide assembly includes at least one electromagnet means and at least one solenoid means. The at least one electromagnet means responds to an elevator car control signal from an elevator car controller, for providing at least one electromagnet force to adjust the position of the elevator car in relation to the guide rails of the elevator hoistway. The at least one solenoid means responds to the elevator car control signal, for providing at least one solenoid force that counterbalances said at least one electromagnet force for adjusting the position of the elevator car in relation to the guide rails of the elevator hoistway.

Abstract: A contactless position sensor uses at least a first magnetic flux source on one side of an object, wherein a sensor is responsive to the flux, for providing a sensed signal indicative of varying positions (x) of the first magnetic flux source and the object relative to each other, including a null position (g), wherein the sensed signal is related to the null position and the varying positions according to a relation (1/(g+x))-(1/(g-x)). An additional magnetic flux source can be provided on the other side of the object for providing additional flux sensed by the sensing means, wherein the first and second magnetic flux sources can be arranged to move in unison with respect to the object, or can be stationary while the object moves between them. The second flux source can be made stationary and its flux directed to either the object or to a second object with a fixed distance therebetween. Or, the second flux source can be dispensed with entirely and simulated by a bias signal.

Abstract: Static pressure sensing and free airstream temperature sensing is obviated in a method for determining aircraft velocity relative to an airmass by utilizing a static pressure and temperature component present in pressure variations sensed by a total pressure sensor located on a rotating arm mounted on the fuselage of an aircraft. A harmonic analysis of a quasi-sinusoidal total pressure variation includes a determination of steady state and both first and second harmonic components. These harmonic components are used to determine the static pressure, the free airstream temperature and the aircraft airspeed without separately sensing these parameters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for actively counteracting a disturbing force acting on a suspended elevator cab in a frame moving vertically in a hoistway is disclosed. A manifestation of the disturbing force such as acceleration is sensed and counteracted, for example, by effectively adding mass to the cab in proportion to the sensed acceleration. This may be accomplished by using an electromagnet actuator for actuating the suspended cab in response to a control signal from a control means which is in turn responsive to the sensed signal. Whatever type of actuator is used, it may be used as well to bring the suspended cab to rest with respect to a hoistway sill prior to transferring passengers. The control means may be analog or digital or a combination of both. A preferred analog-digital approach is disclosed in which the digital part is responsive to accelerometer signals, the analog part is responsive to a force command signal from the digital part and provides a position feedback signal in return.

Abstract: An electromagnet actuator has an E-shaped core for coupling magnetic flux between the core and a blade of a hoistway rail. A pair of coils wound on the core provide the flux in such a way as to produce both side-to-side and front-to-back forces that can be controlled by varying the current to the pair of coils in each actuator on opposite sides of the car.

Abstract: An improved centering control for an elevator horizontal suspension having at least one actuator and includes a circuit for disabling the control or braking the actuator in response to an error signal indicative of the difference between a reference signal and a sensed signal indicative of the degree of centering of the car. Of course, both braking and disabling may be carried out instead of just one. For those cases in which two actuators are acting in concert to center the car, where the control is responsive to the error signal for only selecting one of the opposed actuators at a time, a small centering window is set up about the centered condition and part of the window is used to disable or brake one of the actuators and another part to disable or brake the other of the actuators. Again, both disabling and braking operations may be carried out at the same time with respect to a given actuator.

Abstract: Upon detection of a trapped passenger in an elevator car, a resident monitoring device initiates communication between the car and a telephone in the building and between the car and a remote monitoring center. Upon detection of the first responsive telephonic communication from either the remote monitoring center or the telephone in the building, voice communication is established therebetween. Upon detection of a second responsive telephonic communication from the second location to respond, voice communication is established between the car and the second location as well so that simultaneous communication may be conducted between the car, the remote monitoring center, and the telephone in the building. A building telephone has a keypad which can be used to select another car for voice communication with a trapped passenger by pressing a selected key. A telephone ring voltage source is provided for alerting building personnel of a trapped passenger.

Abstract: A method for controlling the dispatching of elevator cars, and apparatus for accomplishing the method. The method includes the steps of (a) receiving a hall call from a floor landing; (b) determining a current passenger load of an elevator car; (c) determining if a crowd signal is generated for the floor landing; and, if it is determined that a crowd signal is generated for the floor landing, (d) determining, from the current passenger load, if the elevator car is EMPTY. If it is determined that the elevator car is EMPTY, the method further includes the steps of (e) assigning an Empty Car Bonus to the elevator car; and (f) employing the Empty Car Bonus value in determining a Relative System Response for the elevator car. The Relative System Response is a function of a plurality of bonuses and penalties.

Abstract: Rail learning is combined with feedback in a control for improving ride quality in an elevator. For example, a pre-stored signal indicative of a horizontal deviation of the rail's surface from a vertical reference is retrieved and used along with a sensed signal indicative of a horizontal position (or other parameter indicative of a disturbance of the elevator) relative to the rail's surface (or a reference) for controlling an actuable horizontal suspension for reducing horizontal disturbances of the elevator while guiding an elevator vertically in a hoistway along a rail. As another example, a sensed force signal is averaged over a plurality of trips under differing load conditions and the average is pre-stored for retrieval at various vertical points in the hoistway and may be used, in combination with a feedback loop, to predict horizontal forces about to act on the car.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for counteracting a disturbing force acting on an elevator platform in a hoistway comprises sensing the acceleration and position of the platform and applying a force between the platform and the hoistway in proportion to the magnitude of the acceleration signal, in proportion to the integral of the acceleration signal and in proportion to the position signal. The second position signal may be obtained from an electromagnet actuator wherein the sensed current may be divided by a sensed flux density signal multiplied by a transformation signal to obtain position. A force feedback signal may be obtained by squaring the flux density.

Abstract: Method and apparatus is disclosed for operating an elevator system that includes a group of elevator cars servicing a plurality of floor landings divided into Sectors. The method includes the steps of, with a controller associated with each elevator car of the group, (a) determining when the elevator car has reached a Turn Around Point for returning the elevator car to a lobby; (b) initiating travel to the lobby; and (c) determining when the elevator car has reached a predetermined Sector Assignment Fixation Point. After reaching the predetermined Sector Assignment Fixation Point, the method further includes the steps of (d) communicating Sector-related information with other controller of other elevator cars of the group; and (e) based upon the communication, assigning to the elevator car a next Sector to be serviced after arrival at the lobby. A round-robin arbitration technique is disclosed for assigning Sectors among the elevator cars.

Abstract: An electronic stepper for indicating floor position has initialization switches set by a serviceman for indicating a reference floor position. Whenever the car goes by the reference position in the hoistway, the corresponding reference floor is output. The electronic stepper may be mounted on a printed circuit board having a floor display for use by the serviceman. Various toggle switches may be provided for use by the serviceman in setting up and checking operation. Power checking means may be provided for initiating nonvolatile storage of the current floor position in the event of a brown-out or other power failure. Watchdog circuitry may be provided for checking on the health of the signal processor and a circuit for watching the watchdog may also be provided. A timed window signal may also be provided for indicating the end of the time at which a stopping sequence must be initiated in order to be able to stop at the approaching floor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for actively counteracting a disturbing force acting on a suspended elevator cab moving vertically in a hoistway is disclosed. A manifestation of the disturbing force such as acceleration is sensed and counteracted, for example, by effectively exerting counterforces against the cab. The magnitude and phase of the counterforce is selected according to the magnitude and phase of the system response to a disturbing force. The invention may be carried out using an electromagnet actuator for actuating the suspended cab in response to a control signal from a control means which is in turn responsive to the sensed signal. The control means may be analog or digital or a combination of both. A preferred analog-digital approach is disclosed in which the digital part is responsive to accelerometer signals, the analog part is responsive to a force command signal from the digital part and provides a force feedback signal for comparison to the force command signal.

Abstract: A semi-active secondary suspension comprises a relatively large actuator for handling low-frequency forces such as those caused by uneven passenger distribution, etc., by means, for example, of a position control loop. A pair of such suspensions on opposite sides of the car or rail can be made to act in concert, for example, by actuating only one at a time. An inner loop can be added to the position control for each secondary suspension to restore its actuator to a selected preload position when not being used as an actuator. The semi-active secondary suspension is made fully active by adding a relatively small actuator for handling higher frequency dynamic forces. A roller guide embodiment has rollers pivotally mounted on links which are spring-biased toward the rail blades. The relatively large actuators are connected to the link springs to slowly increase or decrease the preload force on the spring acting on the links to counter low frequency disturbances.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for actively counteracting a disturbing force acting on a platform moving vertically in a hoistway is disclosed. A manifestation of the disturbing force such as rotational acceleration or translational accelerations indicative thereof is sensed and counteracted, for example, by effectively adding mass to the platform in proportion to the sensed acceleration. The rotations of the platform may be about a vertical axis, one or more horizontal axes or equivalents thereof. Counteraction may but need not be accomplished using an electromagnet actuator for actuating the platform in response to a control signal from a control means which is in turn responsive to the sensed signal. Whatever type of actuator is used, it may be used as well to bring the platform to rest with respect to a hoistway sill prior to transferring passengers. The control means may be analog or digital or a combination of both.

Abstract: A method of operating an elevator system includes the steps of specifying and storing at least one profile describing at least one elevator operational characteristic, including an elevator security function specifying a landing or landings for which hall calls are not to be responded to and a landing or landings for which car calls are not to be responded to. The profile has a start time, an end time, and a day or days of the week specified therefor during which time the profile is to be activated. A next step repetitively determines a current time and a current day of the week and compares the current time and current day of the week to the specified start time, end time, and day or days of the week associated with the at least one stored profile. Responsive to an equality condition, the method includes a further step of transmitting information to a controller of at least one elevator car within a group of elevator cars.

Abstract: Automatic and manual adjustment of a new elevator system installation is accomplished by means of a service tool for interacting with software resident in the elevator system whereby various control parameters such as the feed forward gain of the drive system, the start time delay for delaying initiation of a start torque profile for bypassing the velocity loop during starting, the polarity of the feedback signals, e.g., armature current, velocity, motor field current, and other parameters, may be adjusted automatically, while others, such as the impedance of an elevator brake, may be adjusted by a technician responding to automatic prompts.