Abstract: A method and a device monitor operating parameters in a passenger transport installation, such as an elevator or an escalator, having a plurality of sensors detecting different operating parameters and a signal processing device. The method steps include: repeatedly detecting a first operating parameter with a first of the sensors; triggering a second of the sensors as soon as the first operating parameter assumes a predetermined trigger characteristic; detecting a second operating parameter with the second sensor and transmitting a signal reproducing the detected second operating parameter to the signal processing device in response to the triggering; and processing the signal in the signal processing device or an external monitoring device for monitoring the second operating parameter. The method and device reduce a data processing amount and/or a data transmission amount, reduce a need for wiring and achieve complex sensor functions with the simple sensors that cooperate with one another.

Abstract: A method for determining a state of a system for transportation of passengers includes the steps of: receiving condition data of the system, the condition data being generated by a condition sensor adapted for sensing physical conditions of an equipment of the system; receiving environmental data of the system, the environmental data containing information on an influence of an environment of the system on the equipment and/or the condition sensor; weighting the condition data with the environmental data; and determining a state of the equipment based on the weighted condition data.

Abstract: A method for detecting an entry into an elevator car of an elevator system by a passenger uses a mobile device carried by the passenger. The mobile device has at least one, but in particular a plurality of sensors, with which the mobile device detects and evaluates measured values. An entry into the elevator car is then detected on the basis of comparing the measured values with at least one stored signal pattern.

Abstract: A method for determining estimated real dimensions of an elevator car by: acquiring a virtual 2-dimensional map of the car based on data provided by a lidar sensor, the map representing reflection surfaces from which laser light emitted by the sensor is reflected; defining a rectangular starting area at a position located within the real dimensions of the car; successively extending the area by one pixel in each of four extension directions orthogonal to edges of the area, and when any pixel in one of the extension directions corresponds to one of the reflection surfaces in the map, stopping extending the area in this extension direction and successively extending the area by one pixel in each of the remaining extension directions the area is extended to a maximum in all the extension directions; and determining the fully extended rectangular area as the estimated real dimensions of the car.

Abstract: A method and a device for monitoring an elevator car door acquire one or more distances based on light emitted toward the car door by a distance measuring device and reflected at the car door as a function of a current closed state of the car door. Information about the current closed state of the car door is derived solely by comparing the acquired distance with a previously acquired reference distance, and a signal which represents the information can be fed to a remotely arranged control center. The monitoring device can be installed as a retrofit component that is capable of working autonomously in existing elevator systems, does not need to receive any data from a controller of the car door or the elevator system and only requires a relatively simple data processing device that only needs to carry out a comparison of detected distance values with reference values.

Abstract: A method and a device for determining an operating state of an elevator system include determining a current/time profile of a current supplied to the elevator system via a power supply line, identifying at least one current profile segment of the current/time profile, and deriving a current profile pattern of the identified current profile segment. The operating state of the elevator system is determined based on comparing the current profile pattern to at least one reference pattern. The method and the device may also be easily used by personnel without electrical training and may be used in elevator systems that are not known in detail.

Abstract: A method and system for inspecting and monitoring an elevator installation includes sending an autonomous flying object having at least one sensor to the elevator installation, and granting access to a hoistway of the elevator installation to the autonomous flying object. The autonomous flying object is positioned within the hoistway, and data collected by the associated sensor is sent to a remote elevator service center. The autonomous flying object and the associated sensor can be used to monitor and inspect the elevator installation on a temporary basis, for example for a specific number of hours, days or weeks. Once the autonomous flying object has gained access to the hoistway, the elevator installation can resume normal operation thereby keeping downtime to a minimum. After completing its tasks at one elevator installation, the autonomous flying object can be directed by the remote elevator service center to monitor and inspect another elevator installation.

Abstract: An elevator door arrangement is monitored wherein the elevator door arrangement includes at least one door wing and an electric actuator for displacing the door wing in at least one of an opening direction and a closing direction during a door motion event. A method for performing the monitoring includes a learning phase and an application phase. During the learning phase, different types of door motion events are identified and for each type of event a reference motion event duration is determined. During the application phase, a door arrangement operation is observed such as to detect door motion events and the different types of door motion events are distinguished upon comparison of the reference motion event durations with actual motion event durations measured during the application phase. Using the method, door motion events in an elevator may be recognized and monitored in an automatic manner.

Abstract: A method for monitoring an elevator system utilizes a mobile terminal device having at least one sensor to collect measurement values in an elevator car. The mobile terminal device is carried by a passenger of the elevator system. The collected measurement values are transmitted by the mobile terminal device to a central evaluation unit where they are evaluated. The mobile terminal device activates a measurement mode when it detects that it is located in a region of a shaft door of the elevator system.

Abstract: A method for determining a state of a system for transportation of passengers includes the steps of: receiving condition data of the system, the condition data being generated by a condition sensor adapted for sensing physical conditions of an equipment of the system; receiving environmental data of the system, the environmental data containing information on an influence of an environment of the system on the equipment and/or the condition sensor; weighting the condition data with the environmental data; and determining a state of the equipment based on the weighted condition data.

Abstract: A method and a device for monitoring characteristics of an elevator door motion procedure use a smart mobile device including multiple sensors. The method includes: (i) determining a time window, within which a door motion is assumed to occur, including a time interval enclosed by a start time limit and an end time limit and wherein at least one of the start time limit and the end time limit is determined based on first measurement values acquired by a first sensor in the smart mobile device; and (ii) detecting characteristics of the procedure based on second measurement values acquired during the time window by a second sensor in the smart mobile device. Using the method, door motion characteristics can be reliably monitored using a passenger's smart mobile phone while substantially limiting sensing and processing capacities required by the smart mobile phone as well as avoiding compromising passenger privacy requirements.

Abstract: A method for determining a state of a system for transportation of passengers includes the steps of: receiving condition data of the system, the condition data being generated by a condition sensor adapted for sensing physical conditions of an equipment of the system; receiving environmental data of the system, the environmental data containing information on an influence of an environment of the system on the equipment and/or the condition sensor; weighting the condition data with the environmental data; and determining a state of the equipment based on the weighted condition data.

Abstract: The present application relates to a continuously conveying passenger transport system which can be walked on and is designed as an escalator or moving walkway and a mobile device charging device for wirelessly electrically charging at least one mobile device during a passenger transport.

Abstract: A drive engine arrangement for an elevator system includes a drive engine for driving suspension traction media for displacing an elevator car, a fan for generating a fluid flow for cooling the drive engine and a fluid flow sensor. The fluid flow sensor senses the fluid flow generated by the fan. Accordingly, using the fluid flow sensor, it can be determined whether or not the fan is currently operating. By e.g. comparing the fan's behavior with previous operation patterns and/or by additionally measuring a temperature of the drive engine with a temperature sensor, it can be monitored whether the fan is operating correctly or whether e.g. cooling requirements may be compromised due to a malfunction of the fan. Such monitoring can be performed remotely and/or automatically.

Abstract: A passenger transport system sensor network has a master unit, a signal-transferring apparatus, and a plurality of sensor nodes each having at least one sensor sensing a physical measurement variable and transferring the sensed variable to the master unit via the signal-transferring apparatus. A sensor-identifying module in the master unit determines the identity of the sensors from information, stored in a database, of: a first information type about reference measurement results to be typically provided by a particular sensor under already known conditions; a second information type about the identity of a sensor node containing the particular sensor, the sensor node having a plurality of different sensors or a plurality of identical sensors in different configurations; and/or a third information type about a configuration of a sensor node holding the particular sensor, which configuration was defined in advance. Sensor identities and installation locations can be determined in an automated manner.

Abstract: A method for determining a mapping of a number of floors to be served by an elevator includes the steps of: (a) determining, during a multiplicity of trips of an elevator car of the elevator, a trip-dependent physical parameter value which unambiguously depends on at least one of a trip duration and a trip distance; and (b) clustering the determined trip-dependent physical parameter values to clusters to define each of the floors in the mapping. In a training phase, the method automatically determines the number of floors served and then, in an operation phase, classifies each of the observed trips and finally detects and tracks a current position of the elevator car. An elevator monitoring device implementing such method may be retrofitted into existing elevators for e.g. remotely monitoring the elevator operation and does not necessarily require any data transfer between components of the elevator and the elevator monitoring device.

Abstract: An elevator controller detects a malfunction such as elevator blockage in an observed elevator utilizing a method including: acquiring first data during an application phase, the first data correlating with at least one condition in the observed elevator; acquiring further data during the application phase, the further data correlating with the at least one condition in other elevators; determining a current relative behavior of the observed elevator during the application phase based on a comparison of the first data with the further data; and detecting the malfunction in the observed elevator based on an analysis of the current relative behavior. The normal relative behavior information of the observed elevator, learned in a machine learning procedure during a preceding learning phase, is taken into account upon analyzing the current relative behavior of the observed elevator. The method enables automatically detecting malfunctions in an elevator while reducing a probability of false alarms.

Abstract: A passenger transport system sensor network has a master unit, a signal-transferring apparatus, and a plurality of sensor nodes each having at least one sensor sensing a physical measurement variable and transferring the sensed variable to the master unit via the signal-transferring apparatus. A sensor-identifying module in the master unit determines the identity of the sensors from information, stored in a database, of: a first information type about reference measurement results to be typically provided by a particular sensor under already known conditions; a second information type about the identity of a sensor node containing the particular sensor, the sensor node having a plurality of different sensors or a plurality of identical sensors in different configurations; and/or a third information type about a configuration of a sensor node holding the particular sensor, which configuration was defined in advance. Sensor identities and installation locations can be determined in an automated manner.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and/or recording a position of a tool in an elevator shaft includes a position measuring system for measuring a position of the tool relative to an elevator car; a height measuring system for measuring a height of the elevator car in the elevator shaft; and an evaluation system designed to receive measured data from the position measuring system and the elevation measuring system and to determine a position of the tool relative to the elevator shaft from the measured data.

Abstract: A method and a device for monitoring characteristics of an elevator door motion procedure use a smart mobile device including multiple sensors. The method includes: (i) determining a time window, within which a door motion is assumed to occur, including a time interval enclosed by a start time limit and an end time limit and wherein at least one of the start time limit and the end time limit is determined based on first measurement values acquired by a first sensor in the smart mobile device; and (ii) detecting characteristics of the procedure based on second measurement values acquired during the time window by a second sensor in the smart mobile device. Using the method, door motion characteristics can be reliably monitored using a passenger's smart mobile phone while substantially limiting sensing and processing capacities required by the smart mobile phone as well as avoiding compromising passenger privacy requirements.