Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus. In the method a target area is divided to a plurality of cells. A plurality of movement paths of mobile nodes are determined, each movement path comprising an origin cell and a target cell, the origin cell and the target cell being determined using a magnetic map of the target area. The durations of the plurality of movement paths are determined for an elevator user. A route topology data structure is formed using the plurality of movement paths and the durations of the plurality of movement paths, the data structure comprising for a plurality of cells an estimated time to reach an elevator location. An elevator call in a request cell is determined by a requesting mobile node.

Abstract: A brake controller, an elevator system and a method for performing an emergency stop are provided. The brake controller includes an input for connecting the brake controller to the DC intermediate circuit of the frequency converter driving the hoisting machine of the elevator, an output for connecting the brake controller to the electromagnet of the brake, a switch for supplying electric power from the DC intermediate circuit of the frequency converter driving the hoisting machine of the elevator via the output to the electromagnet of a brake, and also a processor with which the operation of the brake controller is controlled by producing control pulses in the control pole of the switch of the brake controller.

Abstract: Stall condition in an elevator is potentially dangerous situation if it causes slack to the ropes of the elevator. In such situation a counterweight or elevator car does not move even if the hoisting machine is still operating. This situation may be prevented by stopping the elevator as early as possible after detecting such stall condition. The detection of the stall condition is based on monitoring the torque generated by the hoisting machine of the elevator. When rapid change in the torque is detected a stall condition is suspected. The elevator may be stopped or an alarm may be launched when the stall condition is suspected.

Abstract: A method and system for generating automatic destination calls for an elevator system, in which system is a revolving door. A passenger approaching the revolving door or in a door sector of the revolving door is identified, a destination call to the home floor of the passenger is generated and the elevator serving the passenger is announced at the revolving door.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for monitoring and supervising the lubricant content of elevator ropes in an elevator, which includes at least a hoisting machine provided with a drive motor, the hoisting machine including at least a traction sheave, around which one or more elevator ropes are fitted side-by-side, which ropes move under the effect of friction along with the rotational movement of the traction sheave and at the same time move the elevator car. The lubricant content is monitored and supervised by the aid of a magnetic measuring device disposed in the immediate proximity of the traction sheave and the elevator ropes by collecting in the measuring device the metal dust detaching in connection with wear of the traction sheave and of the elevator ropes during operation of the elevator and by letting the metal dust switch on an alarm about a lubricant content of the elevator ropes that is too low.

Abstract: Method for handling erroneous calls in an elevator system, which includes at least one elevator, call-giving devices for registering calls on the floor levels and/or in the elevator car, and also a control system that responds to the aforementioned calls. One or more calls given by a passenger are registered, it is assessed on the basis of at least one criterion whether some call is erroneous, and at least one corrective action is performed for removing a call, or for rectifying the call data of a call, if the call is ascertained to be erroneous on the basis of the aforementioned criterion.

Abstract: An exemplary elevator system includes at least one elevator car. An access controller is configured to provide an access credential to a portable wireless communication device responsive to a request from that device indicating a desire for at least access to the elevator system. The access credential at least temporarily indicates that the desired access should be granted. A credential receiver is configured to obtain the provided access credential from the portable wireless communication device. An entry device allows the desired access responsive to the credential receiver obtaining the access credential.

Abstract: Provided is an electricity generating elevator, which includes a cage installed in a shaft formed in a building in order to carry passengers or loads, a drive unit vertically moving the cage along the shaft, and an electricity generation unit including a coil section installed on the cage and a magnetic force generator that is installed in the shaft so as to face the coil section and provides a magnetic force to the coil section so as to generate an induced electromotive force according to a change in a position of the coil section while the cage moves up and down. Thereby, the electricity generating elevator includes the coil section attached to the cage and the magnetic force generator arranged in the shaft at a position facing the coil section, so that electric energy can be produced by the coil section according to a change in a position of the cage while the cage vertically reciprocates in the shaft, and the produced electric energy can be used as a power source for vertically moving the cage.

Abstract: An elevator system is provided that includes an elevator car, a counterweight, a load bearing flexible member, a motor having a drive, and an elevator control system. The car and counterweight are operable to be translated within a hoistway. The load bearing flexible member extends between the elevator car and the counterweight. The motor is operable to move the load bearing member and thereby drive the elevator car and counterweight within the hoistway. The elevator motor and drive are configured to selectively produce regenerative power. The elevator control system includes a power manager unit and a power storage device. The power storage device includes a supercapacitor unit and a battery unit. The power manager unit is operable to selectively manage the flow of power between the power storage device and the motor drive, and the flow of regenerative power from the motor drive to the power storage device.

Abstract: An elevator call registering system includes: a responder configure to store therein user identification information; an interrogator configured to broadcast interrogator identification information, an authentication control apparatus configured to compare the user identification information read out from the interrogator with stored user identification information, and an elevator control apparatus.

Abstract: A method schedules elevator cars in a group elevator system in a building by first generating a set of probability distributions for arrivals of future passengers at any floor of the building, wherein the set of probability distributions are characterized by probabilistic variables that specify arrival information of the future passengers, wherein the arrival information includes a probability of service requests by the future passengers and a probability of possible times of the service requests. A schedule for the elevator cars is based on the set of probabilistic distribution. Then, the schedule is provided to a controller of the group elevator system to move the elevator cars according to the schedule.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control device for pressure control in a hydraulic system, especially of an elevator-system, the control device is adapted to control an output variable of an inverter supplying a hydraulic pump of the hydraulic system with electric energy, the output variable is adapted to adjust the speed of the hydraulic pump in order to at least partly compensate for a leakage of operating fluid in the hydraulic pump. Further, the invention relates to an elevator-system that includes a hydraulic pump, an inverter, and a control device which controls a supply of the hydraulic pump with electric energy from the inverter.

Abstract: A system is provided for damping vertical oscillations of an elevator car stopped at an elevator landing. The system includes an elevator traction sheave that receives a torque, a sensor that provides a sensor signal indicative of the torque, a controller that provides a control signal based on the sensor signal, and a motor that applies the torque to the sheave. Oscillations in the torque correspond to the vertical oscillations of the car stopped at the landing during a first (e.g., position control) mode of operation. The motor drives the sensor signal towards a baseline value in response to receiving the control signal during a second (e.g., constant torque control) mode of operation in order to reduce the vertical oscillations of the car.

Abstract: A call panel for an elevator including a call panel frame, an essentially planar front surface, a center panel connected to the call panel frame, and at least one call pushbutton also connected to the call panel frame. The at least one call pushbutton has teeth which fit into corresponding teeth of the call panel frame such that a gap between the at least one call pushbutton and the call panel frame is minimized.

Abstract: A battery powered elevator system in which the battery and power electronics needed to connect the battery to the machine driving the elevator system are mounted in close proximity within the hoistway of the elevator system to minimize power transmission losses.

Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, a plurality of storage media are arranged in a hoistway so as to be spaced from one another in a hoisting direction of a car. In the car, reading device that reads information stored in the storage media is mounted. The storage media are arranged in the hoisting direction at intervals different from one another. A safety monitor is configured to: execute an operation for detecting two storage media; measure an interval between the detected storage media based on a signal from movement detector; compare the measured interval between the storage media with stored intervals of the storage media: and to grasp the position of the car by using a result of the comparison and the information of the storage media, when a position of the car cannot be grasped.

Abstract: A drive device of an elevator includes a DC bus, a motor bridge connected to the DC bus for the electricity supply of the elevator motor, a control circuit with which control circuit the operation of the motor bridge is controlled by producing control pulses in control poles of high-side and low-side switches of the motor bridge, a brake controller, which comprises a switch for supplying electric power to an electromagnetic brake, a brake control circuit, with which the operation of the brake controller is controlled, an input circuit for the safety signal to be disconnected/connected from outside the drive device, drive prevention logic and brake drop-out logic connected to the input circuit and configured to prevent the passage of control pulses to the control poles of the high-side and/or low-side switches when the safety signal is disconnected.

Abstract: An elevator security system for a building includes data relating to a floor that a user may access in the building, a device in which the data is stored, a credential containing the data in a machine readable format and created by the user, and a first machine reader reading the credential and sending data therein to the device for querying whether the user may access the floor, the device allowing access to an elevator car for transport to the floor if the credential is in sync with the data stored in the device.

Abstract: An elevator security procedure is performed according to a security level of an elevator of a building including a plurality of residence units through an elevator security system. The elevator security system includes home gateways respectively installed at the plurality of residence units and a server coupled to the home gateways. The server may analyze a comparison result of passenger information of passengers in the elevator and member information of members of residence units associated with floors selected by the passengers in the elevator. The server may determine a security level of the elevator based on the analysis result. The server may perform a security procedure designated for the determined security level by controlling at least one of constituent elements of the elevator and smart devices coupled to the at least one of home gateways.

Abstract: An elevator device includes: a first reader, a second reader, a determination section, and a request output section. The first reader is provided in a hall of an elevator. The second reader is provided in a car of the elevator. In the case where identification information has been read by the first reader, the determination section determines whether or not the identification information has been read by the second reader before the reading thereof by the first reader. On the basis of the identification information read by the first reader, the request output section outputs a registration request for a call to a control section. In the case where the determination section determines that the identification information has been read by the second reader, the request output section does not output a registration request for a call corresponding to the identification information to the control section.