Abstract: An elevator safety system comprises a plurality of door safety units, each door safety unit; a communication bus connecting the plurality of door safety units; a control unit connected to the communication bus for allowing communication between the plurality of door safety units and the control unit; and at least one position sensor configured for providing information about the current position of an elevator car within a hoistway. Each door safety unit is assigned to an elevator hoistway door and configured for monitoring a condition of the assigned elevator hoistway door. The control unit is configured for polling door safety units included in a subset S1, S2) of the door safety units which are located within a predetermined distance (D1, D2) from the current position of the elevator car.

Abstract: An electronic safety actuator for an elevator safety brake, includes: a solenoid; a permanent magnet, movable by the solenoid between a first position proximate to the solenoid and a second position distal from the solenoid; and a measurement circuit arranged to measure the inductance of the solenoid and thereby detect the position of the permanent magnet. The inductance of the solenoid is dependent on the magnetic field in which it is situated, which is in turn affected by the permanent magnet. Thus, as the proximity of the permanent magnet to the solenoid changes, the inductance of the solenoid changes (increases or decreases). The change in inductance that occurs in the solenoid of an elevator safety actuator is significant enough to be measurable electronically and this measurement can be used to determine the position of the permanent magnet and thus of the safety actuator.

Abstract: An elevator safety system comprises a plurality of door safety units, each door safety unit; a communication bus connecting the plurality of door safety units; a control unit connected to the communication bus for allowing communication between the plurality of door safety units and the control unit; and at least one position sensor configured for providing information about the current position of an elevator car within a hoistway. Each door safety unit is assigned to an elevator hoistway door and configured for monitoring a condition of the assigned elevator hoistway door. The control unit is configured for polling door safety units included in a subset S1, S2) of the door safety units which are located within a predetermined distance (D1, D2) from the current position of the elevator car.

Abstract: A drive unit for an elevator system, the drive unit including a multilayer, power circuit board; a first DC link formed in a layer of the power circuit board; a second DC link formed in a layer of the power circuit board; a first switch having a first terminal, the first switch mounted to a surface of the power circuit board; a first via electrically coupling the first terminal to the first DC link; a second switch having a second terminal, the second switch mounted to the surface of the power circuit board; and a second via electrically coupling the second terminal to the second DC link; the first via conducting heat from the first switch to the first DC link; the second via conducting heat from the second switch to the second DC link.

Abstract: An elevator controller includes a memory; an input/output unit; and a processor, the processor executing certified safety software and non-safety software, the non-safety software executed in a safe container to prevent the non-safety software from violating a non-safety software parameter and affecting the safety software.

Abstract: A drive unit for an elevator system, the drive unit including a multilayer, power circuit board; a first DC link formed in a layer of the power circuit board; a second DC link formed in a layer of the power circuit board; a first switch having a first terminal, the first switch mounted to a surface of the power circuit board; a first via electrically coupling the first terminal to the first DC link; a second switch having a second terminal, the second switch mounted to the surface of the power circuit board; and a second via electrically coupling the second terminal to the second DC link; the first via conducting heat from the first switch to the first DC link; the second via conducting heat from the second switch to the second DC link.

Abstract: An elevator system and associated method includes power control for operating an elevator (2) in an emergency mode wherein the elevator (2) includes a car (4), a drive motor (10), a motor drive unit (26) which supplies power to the drive motor (10) and controls the same and an emergency power supply (42). The motor drive unit (10) has a predetermined normal operation switching frequency. In an emergency mode, power is supplied to the motor from the emergency power supply (42) while the motor drive unit is in an emergency mode. An actual emergency operation condition characteristic is determined for setting the switching frequency of the motor drive unit (46) dependent on the actual emergency operation condition characteristic.

Abstract: Method for operating an elevator (2) in an emergency mode wherein the elevator (2) comprises a car (4), a drive motor (10), a motor drive unit (26) which supplies power to the drive motor (10) and controls the same and an emergency power supply (42), wherein the motor drive unit (10) has a predetermined normal operation switching frequency, comprising the following steps (a) supplying power from the emergency power supply (42); (b) bringing the motor drive unit ( ) in an emergency mode; (c) determining an actual emergency operation condition characteristic; and (d) setting the switching frequency of the motor drive unit (46) dependent on the actual emergency operation condition characteristic.