Abstract: Whenever the elevator cage (2) enters a landing zone at each target stop floor, the landing zone calculator (32) generates discriminate signals (32b, 32c, 32d) indicative of whether the cage lands from a normal distance or from one of abnormal distances (far away or not far away from the normal distance) detected by limit switches (27 to 30). Then, the landing pattern generator (34) calculates a landing pattern representative of the reference speed proportional to a distance from the current position to the target stop position of the motor shaft on the basis of the output of the landing zone calculator (32) and the detected motor shaft position. Therefore, whenever the moving cage enters the landing zone, the cage is controlled in such a way that the cage speed can be reduced gradually with the approach of the motor shaft angular position to a target stop angular position thereof.

Abstract: An elevator drive circuit is used for maintaining the voltage across first and second serially connected capacitors having first and second ends. The circuit comprises an active stabilizer for substantially maintaining a predetermined value of the voltage at a connection node of the capacitors. The active stabilizer provides compensation in response to deviations from the predetermined value of the voltage at the connection node.

Abstract: A linear motor for operating an elevator door is energized using a bang-bang control strategy (10) wherein three-phase AC utility mains (16) are connected (29) directly to the linear motor primary (14) by means of a motor control (12) in response to control signals (26) provided under the direction of a control strategy (10), which may be microprocessor-based. Commands (24) from an elevator controller to open/close the elevator door cause the system to operate the doors and a sensor (22) provides feedback (28) by means of which the control (10) is able to determine switch points for switching the AC mains.

Abstract: An elevator position determination system for determining the position of an elevator car disposed in the elevator hoistway includes a transceiver disposed on the elevator car for generating a query signal and a transponder disposed in the elevator hoistway for providing an identification signal in response to the query signal, wherein, the elevator position determination system determines the elevator car position in response to the identification signal.

Abstract: An operating panel (5) for an elevator car, containing car call buttons (7), signalling devices and other signs representing information. The control panel of the elevator car is replaced with a touchscreen display (1) incorporating a passage control feature. The touchscreen display (1) is also used as a maintenance tool for the checking of elevator equipment.

Abstract: An improved group management control method for an elevator capable of efficiently performing a group management control of an elevator based upon the building condition by deciding a corresponding car to be allocated in accordance with a predetermined hall call based upon a traffic flow and the fuzzy theory which are differ from the characteristics of each building, which includes the steps of a traffic flow collecting step for collecting information concerning a current traffic flow occurred at each hall call and car; a traffic flow study step for studying information collected at the traffic flow collecting step; a traffic flow anticipating step for anticipating a traffic flow after a predetermined time based upon the information studied at the traffic flow study step; a specific mode judgement step for judging a specific mode corresponding to the traffic flow anticipated at the traffic anticipating step; an allocation control strategy establishment step for establishing control strategy for allocating a p

Abstract: An elevator control panel is provided with a means for selecting a destination among a plurality of destinations for the passenger using a minimum number of input devices.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a leveling time of an elevator car is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: moving the elevator car in a hoistway; transmitting a first signal by a first sensor in response to moving the elevator car in the hoistway; beginning a time measurement in response to detecting the first signal; transmitting a second signal by a second sensor in response to moving the elevator car in the hoistway, the second sensor being disposed a predetermined distance from the first sensor; ending the time measurement in response to detecting the second signal; determining a time measurement value in response to ending the time measurement; determining a leveling speed of the elevator car by dividing the predetermined distance between the first sensor and the second sensor by the time measurement value; and adjusting the leveling time in response to determining the leveling speed.

Abstract: A remaining response time for an elevator car under consideration for assignment to a newly registered hall call is estimated by using a neural network. The neural network or any other downstream module may be standardized for use in any building by use of an upstream fixed length stop description that summarizes the state of the building at the time of the registration of the new hall call for one or more postulated paths of each and every car under consideration for answering the new hall call.

Abstract: A charging device and control method for preventing recharging of a fully charged battery. The charging device for a rechargeable battery includes a power unit for outputting a constant voltage of a given level, irrespective of the current output therefrom a battery pack into which the battery is inserted, and a switch for supplying the battery with the constant voltage output from the power unit through the battery pack in response to a switch control signal, and a control unit.

Abstract: Switch mode power supplies produce a brief pulse-like load on the mains and have a high harmonic content. Such a high harmonic load on the mains is undesirable. There are increasingly strict regulations for the level of harmonic loads connected to the mains. The present switch mode power supply includes a series circuit formed by an inductor and a diode connected between a charge capacitor, which is dimensioned to be relatively small, and a pickoff of a primary winding of a transformer of the switch mode power supply. A relatively large energy storage capacitor connected to the primary winding is decoupled from the charge capacitor by a second diode. The series circuit produces an additional charging current, which extends the current which is drawn from the mains during one half cycle of the mains voltage, and reduces the amplitude of the current.

Abstract: The door or doors on an elevator cab are driven during their opening and closing cycles by a linear induction motor drive system. The primary of the linear motor is fixed to the cab assembly, and the secondary is mounted on the door hanger panel and moves with the door. In order for the secondary to maintain a proper spacing relative to the primary, a flexible connection is provided between the secondary and the remainder of the door. In this way, shifting of the door during its opening and closing movements will not cause misalignment of the secondary with respect to the primary.

Abstract: Each car in a group of elevator cars in a building is determined to be available or not depending on whether it is assigned in the group, whether it is the only delayed car, whether it is fully loaded without intervening car calls which comprise all the car calls, whether it has intervening hall calls, and whether other cars in the group are fully loaded with or without some chance of offloading passengers before reaching a call to be assigned. Among available cars, assignment is made based on each car's membership in fuzzy sets relating to low, medium or high delay in that car responding to the call and each car's membership in fuzzy sets indicative of the extent to which assignment of that car will have no adverse effect or a very high adverse effect on the response to already-assigned hall calls. The call is assigned to the car with the highest summation of weighted memberships in the fuzzy sets.

Abstract: The elevator machinery (26) comprises a motor (6) and its traction sheave (18). The rotor (17) is disc-shaped and air gap (ag) between it and the stator (14) can turn a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the shaft (13). The stator (14) forms a ringlike sector (28) and is placed in an outer part and the traction sheave (18) is fixed to the rotor, between the stator (14) and the shaft (13). The diameter of the traction sheave is smaller than that of the rotor. The structure of the motor allows the use of traction sheaves (18) of different diameters (2*Rv) with rotors (17) of the same diameter. The motor is very flat. In i.e. other words its length the axial direction is small.

Abstract: Double deck elevator cars (10-12) are moveable in corresponding adjacent overlapping hoistways (7-9). Passengers entering the bottom deck (39) from a ground landing are transferred into the bottom deck (47) of a second elevator as passengers in the upper deck (46) of the second elevator are transferred to the upper deck (38) of the first elevator. Passengers in the lower deck (31) of a third elevator (10) are transferred to a lower landing (33) as passengers in an upper landing (32) enter an upper deck (30) of the third elevator. Passengers are thereafter transferred in the same fashion between the second elevator and the third elevator at a second transfer level (49).

Abstract: An elevator system for a multistory structure having a plurality of elevator shafts is shown which includes at least one independently movable elevator car in each elevator shaft. A digital computer with memory is used to control elevator cars including the dispatch of cars from terminal floors. A daily control parameter table in memory identifies a plurality of different methods of scheduling dispatch of elevator cars from terminal floors, groups of floors to be serviced by each elevator car, and cars in a shaft to be coupled for tandem operation. The memory is periodically read for selecting for each elevator car one of said methods of scheduling dispatch and for identifying the group of floors to be serviced by the cars. The selected method of scheduling the dispatch of cars is implemented and cars are limited to servicing the selected group of floors.

Abstract: An emitter and a plurality of sensors and are used to detect the relative positions between an elevator platform and landing sill. The emitters radiate energy through a reflection duct formed between the elevator platform and the landing sill. The plurality of sensors monitor the reflection duct so that radiated energy is detected. The sensors provide level signals in response to the radiated energy. A means responsive to the level signals determines when the platform is level with respect to the landing sill.

Abstract: Disclosed is a door operator mounted in a space between a cab fascia and a sill edge plane. A feature of the door operator is a drive unit having a drive shaft, the drive unit being mounted in a central portion of the door operator, wherein drive pulleys are fastened to the drive shaft, thereby providing a drive force to linear transmission elements disposed about each of the drive pulleys. Another feature of the door operator is a modular mounting plate, wherein the door operator is mounted to the mounting plate, and in turn, the mounting plate is mounted in the space between the cab fascia and the sill edge plane.

Abstract: An elevator system comprises a plurality of cars, and a group controller. A pair of multidrop communication links are connected with the cars such that, absent a communication break, a datagram transmitted by any car controller onto either link may be received by any or all of the remaining car controllers. Each car controller includes means for designating a primary link for each of the remaining cars, and means for rebroadcasting datagrams intended for another car on the primary link only when the datagram is received on a link other than the primary link.Preferably, each controller includes a means to determine when communications with another car, over the primary link, have been disrupted, and to switch the designation of primary link accordingly. In the preferred embodiment, a timer means is associated with each car, which is reset each time the car receives a datagram originating from that car.

Abstract: The invention features an elevator system including an elevator car (12) having a frame that operates on guide rails of an elevator shaft of a building. The elevator car (12) has a rigid body motion in a global coordination system (X, Y, Z) kinematically defined by five degrees of freedom including side-to-side translation along the X axis, front-to-back translation along the Y axis, a pitch rotation about the X axis, a roll rotation about the Y axis, and a yaw rotation about the Z axis. The elevator system includes local parameter sensing means (14), responsive to local parameter sensed in each of the five degrees of freedom in the global coordination system (X, Y, Z), for providing local parameter signals (G.sub.m, A.sub.m); coordinated control means (16), responsive to the local parameter signals (G.sub.m, A.sub.m), for providing coordinated control signals (CC.sub.x1, CC.sub.x2, CC.sub.y1, CC.sub.y2, CC.sub.