Abstract: An elevator system includes a hoistway (217) including a landing (225A-225C), which includes a landing door (227A-227C), an elevator car (203), comprising an elevator car door (229), arranged to move within the hoistway (217), a first safety switch (231; 233) configured to indicate a potential hazard in the elevator system (201) and a controller (215). The controller (215) is configured, when the first safety switch (231; 233) is triggered, to stop movement of the elevator car (203) and determine whether the elevator car (203) is located anywhere within an unlocking zone (253) in the hoistway. The controller is further configured, if it is determined that the elevator car (203) is located anywhere in the unlocking zone (253), to allow the elevator car door (229) and landing door (227A-227C) to be opened.

Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator car, an elevator controller, a safety controller and a plurality of safety contacts connected to the safety controller, wherein the plurality of safety contacts monitor the elevator system. The safety controller is configured to receive individual status information from each of the plurality of safety contacts and to prevent movement of the elevator car when the individual status information received from one of the plurality of safety contacts indicates an unsafe condition of the elevator system. The safety controller is configured to connect to a remote computing device, to receive first authentication information from the remote computing device, and to authenticate the remote computing device if the first authentication information meets an authentication condition. If the remote computing device is authenticated, to permit the remote computing device to override the safety controller to enable movement of the elevator car.

Abstract: An elevator safety system includes: at least two sensors, each of the sensors being configured for monitoring at least a portion of a hoistway of an elevator system and providing monitoring signals; a transformation unit which is configured for transforming the monitoring signals provided by at least one of the sensors and producing transformed signals corresponding to a common direction of vision; a comparison unit which is configured for comparing the at least two transformed signals and for generating a failure signal if a difference between the at least two transformed signals exceeds a predetermined threshold; and a detection unit, which is configured for detecting a person or undesired item in at least one of the two transformed signals and for generating an alarm signal if a person or undesired item is detected.

Abstract: An elevator safety system comprises: at least one position sensor, which is configured for determining a position value representing the position of the elevator car within the hoistway; at least one door sensor, which is configured for detecting whether the at least one door is closed; a limit setting unit, which is configured for determining an operation status of the elevator car and for setting at least one position limit according to the determined operation status; and a comparison unit, which is configured for comparing the determined position value with the set position limit and for determining an error condition, if the position value is not in compliance with the at least one position limit and the at least one door sensor indicates that at least one door is not closed.

Abstract: An elevator system (1) comprises: a hoistway (4) extending between a plurality of landings (8, 9); at least one hoistway door (10, 11) allowing access to the hoistway (4); an elevator car (6), which is configured to move along the hoistway (4); at least one safety (16), which is attached to the elevator car (6) and configured to stop any movement of the elevator car (6) when activated; an electronic safety actuator (18), which is configured to activate and deactivate the at least one safety (16); and a door safety switch (20), which is configured to monitor the at least one hoistway door (10, 11) and which is connected with the electronic safety actuator in order to allow activating the at least one safety (16), if the door safety switch (20) detects that the at least one hoistway door (10, 11) is not closed.

Abstract: Elevator system includes a hoistway extending between a plurality of landings; an elevator car configured for moving along the hoistway between the plurality of landings; an elevator drive configured for driving the elevator car; a position determining system configured for determining the position of the elevator car within the hoistway; at least one switch; and an elevator controller. The elevator controller is configured for detecting an activation of the at least one switch; controlling the elevator drive to move the elevator car in a predetermined direction after the switch has been activated; determining the current position of the elevator car within the hoistway and comparing the determined position of the elevator car with at least one predefined positional limit (LUP, LLOW), while the elevator car is moving.

Abstract: An elevator safety system (1) configured for monitoring an elevator system (2) comprises at least one safety node (12) and an evaluator (19). The at least one safety node (12) is configured for monitoring at least one component of the elevator system (2) and/or of the elevator safety system (1) and providing signals representing the current status of the at least one monitored component. The evaluator (19) configured for receiving the signals from the at least one safety node (12); and for determining a safety status of the elevator system (2) and/or of the elevator safety system (1) from a combination of the received signals.

Abstract: An elevator system (2) comprises a hoistway (4) extending between a plurality of landings (8a, 8b, 8c); an elevator car (60) configured for moving in two opposite directions along the hoistway (4); and an elevator safety system (1). The elevator safety system (1) comprises at least one safety gear (20) configured for moving along the hoistway (4) and, upon activation, braking movement the elevator car (60); at least one mobile safety node (43, 45) configured for moving along the hoistway (4) with the at least one safety gear (20) and for controlling the at least one safety gear (20); and at least one stationary safety node (42, 44). The elevator safety system (1) further comprises a communication bus (17) connecting the safety nodes (42-45) with each other and allowing the safety nodes (42-45) to communicate with each other.

Abstract: An elevator safety system includes: at least two sensors, each of the sensors being configured for monitoring at least a portion of a hoistway of an elevator system and providing monitoring signals; a transformation unit which is configured for transforming the monitoring signals provided by at least one of the sensors and producing transformed signals corresponding to a common direction of vision; a comparison unit which is configured for comparing the at least two transformed signals and for generating a failure signal if a difference between the at least two transformed signals exceeds a predetermined threshold; and a detection unit, which is configured for detecting a person or undesired item in at least one of the two transformed signals and for generating an alarm signal if a person or undesired item is detected.

Abstract: An elevator safety system for an elevator system (2) with an elevator car (12), which is movable along a hoistway (4), comprises: at least one position sensor (25), which is configured for determining a position value representing the position of the elevator car (12) within the hoistway (4); a limit setting unit (32), which is configured for determining an operation status of the elevator system (2) and for setting at least one position limit according to the determined operation status of the elevator system (2); and a comparison unit (34), which is configured for comparing the position value with the position limit and for determining an unsafe condition of the elevator system (2) if the position value is not in compliance with the at least one position limit.

Abstract: An elevator safety system comprises: at least one position sensor, which is configured for determining a position value representing the position of the elevator car within the hoistway; at least one door sensor, which is configured for detecting whether the at least one door is closed; a limit setting unit, which is configured for determining an operation status of the elevator car and for setting at least one position limit according to the determined operation status; and a comparison unit, which is configured for comparing the determined position value with the set position limit and for determining an error condition, if the position value is not in compliance with the at least one position limit and the at least one door sensor indicates that at least one door is not closed.

Abstract: An elevator safety system comprises a plurality of door safety units (12), wherein each door safety unit (12) is configured to monitor at least one door (10, 11) of an elevator system (2); an elevator control unit (13), which is configured to control the elevator system (2), in particular to control movement of an elevator car (6) of the elevator system (2); a communication bus (14), which is configured for transmitting information between the plurality of door safety units (12) and the elevator control unit (13); and a signal line (16) serially connecting the elevator control unit (13) and the plurality of door safety units (12). Each of the plurality of door safety units (12) is configured to interrupt the signal line (16) when it detects a malfunction.

Abstract: An elevator system (1) comprises: a hoistway (4) extending between a plurality of landings (8, 9); at least one hoistway door (10, 11) allowing access to the hoistway (4); an elevator car (6), which is configured to move along the hoistway (4); at least one safety (16), which is attached to the elevator car (6) and configured to stop any movement of the elevator car (6) when activated; an electronic safety actuator (18), which is configured to activate and deactivate the at least one safety (16); and a door safety switch (20), which is configured to monitor the at least one hoistway door (10, 11) and which is connected with the electronic safety actuator in order to allow activating the at least one safety (16), if the door safety switch (20) detects that the at least one hoistway door (10, 11) is not closed.

Abstract: Embodiments as disclosed herein provide a car operation panel for commanding travel of an elevator car from a boarding landing to a destination landing during normal operation of an elevator system. The car operation panel has a plurality of car operation switches to be operated by a passenger from inside of the elevator car during normal operation of the elevator system. The car operation panel is mechanically convertible such as to switch the car operation panel from a first configuration corresponding to the normal operation mode to a second configuration corresponding to an inspection and maintenance operation mode. The car operation panel, when switched to the second configuration, allows manual control of the elevator car to travel in up direction and/or in down direction by operating at least a part of the car operation switches of the car operation panel.

Abstract: A system for managing elevator power includes a power line connected to a power grid, a motor connected to the power line and configured to receive power from the power line to drive an elevator, an alternative power source connected to the motor, and a power control system configured to control the power line to supply power to the motor to drive the elevator, to detect a predetermined threshold value of power supplied from the power line, and to supply both power from the power line and power from the alternative power source to the motor based on a determination that the predetermined threshold value of power is supplied from the power line.

Abstract: An elevator control system includes a control power supply, a computing core in communication with the control power supply, a communication power supply in communication with the computing core, and a sleep monitor in communication with the control power supply, the computing core, and the communication power supply. The sleep monitor is disposed to selectively turn on/off the control power supply and the computing core, and the sleep monitor is disposed to selectively change an operating state of the communication power supply to a low voltage state.

Abstract: An exemplary safety circuit includes a plurality of contacts that are configured to establish a conductive path across the contacts when the contacts are in electrically conductive contact with each other. The contacts selectively interrupt the conductive path across them when the contacts are separated. A controller selectively introduces a voltage pulse across the contacts at a voltage level that is effective to overcome an electrical resistance of any contamination on at least one of the contacts. The controller introduces the voltage pulse at least when the contacts are expected to be in contact to establish the conductive path.

Abstract: A system for managing elevator power includes a power line connected to a power grid, a motor connected to the power line and configured to receive power from the power line to drive an elevator, an alternative power source connected to the motor, and a power control system configured to control the power line to supply power to the motor to drive the elevator, to detect a predetermined threshold value of power supplied from the power line, and to supply both power from the power line and power from the alternative power source to the motor based on a determination that the predetermined threshold value of power is supplied from the power line.

Abstract: A device and method for detecting a misaligned or missing step of a conveyor are disclosed. The missing step detector includes various sensors for detecting the drive speed of the conveyor and for detecting the presence of pallets or steps. The sensor output signals are correlated to determine fixed values characteristic of the specific conveyor in question. Using the fixed values as reference, the missing step detector is able to effectively monitor the conveyor for misaligned or missing steps independent of conveyor speed and time.

Abstract: An elevator control system includes a control power supply, a computing core in communication with the control power supply, a communication power supply in communication with the computing core, and a sleep monitor in communication with the control power supply, the computing core, and the communication power supply. The sleep monitor is disposed to selectively turn on/off the control power supply and the computing core, and the sleep monitor is disposed to selectively change an operating state of the communication power supply to a low voltage state.