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 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 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: 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: 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 holder structure fixed to an elevator car of an elevator is configured to hold a passenger's smart mobile device. The mobile device includes sensors, and the holder structure releasably mechanically couples the mobile device to the elevator car. A method for monitoring an operation of the elevator includes providing the mobile device with a specific application software controlling the mobile device to execute the following monitoring procedure: repeatedly supervising measurement values of at least one of the sensors; upon occurrence of a specific parameter pattern in the measurement values, starting a measurement acquisition procedure during which measurement values are sensed by at least one of the sensors and the sensed measurement values are transmitted to an evaluation unit for further evaluation. The specific parameter pattern specifically results upon the mobile device being held in at least one of a predefined position and a predefined orientation in the elevator car.

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 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 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 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: An energy-autonomous elevator system control element includes a piezoelectric layer and processing unit for detecting a control operation, a transmitting unit for wirelessly transmitting at least one signal to a remote elevator system controller, the at least one signal being generated automatically by the elevator system control element on the basis of the control operation, and an energy recovery unit for supplying electrical energy for the elevator system control element. The energy-autonomous elevator system control element can be used as a car operating panel or a landing operating panel in an elevator system.

Abstract: A monitoring system of an elevator installation having an elevator door and a method of operating the monitoring system are suitable for generating usage data of the elevator door, the monitoring system including a sensor arranged in the elevator installation, wherein at least one physical parameter of the environment of the sensor can be detected by the sensor, and an evaluating unit, which determines an operating state of the elevator door by a course of the physical parameter over time.

Abstract: A method for the exchange of data between one unit of an elevator system and a monitoring unit of a service center locationally remote from the elevator system, wherein, via a first communication network, the one unit is connected with a communication unit arranged on, or in, an elevator car that travels vertically in an elevator hoistway, and wherein the data that are transmitted by the one unit are transmitted to the communication unit and stored there. A mobile-communication end-device brought into the elevator car by an elevator passenger is connected, via a second wireless communication network, with the communication unit and the stored data are transmitted by the communication unit to the end-device, and stored in the latter. When the elevator car is exited by the elevator passenger with the end-device, the stored data are transmitted from the end-device via a public mobile-communication network to the monitoring unit.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a counterweight and an elevator car supported by support device and moved in opposite directions in an elevator shaft. In an operating method for operating the elevator system, the elevator car approaches the counterweight and/or moves past the counterweight in an approach zone in the elevator shaft, and the elevator car moves at a first speed outside of the approach zone and at a second speed in the approach zone, the second speed being lower than the first speed.

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 method for generating control data for controlling an elevator system includes the steps: Projecting or depicting an image of an operating panel on an operating surface to be visually perceived by a user; Detecting a region of the surface, touched by the user, within the image by optically monitoring the surface, then detecting whether a small-area region arises within the image with a temperature deviating from the surrounding large-area regions and with a temperature equalizing with the temperature of the surrounding regions over time; Generating the control data as a function of a position of the region touched by the user relative to the image; Transmitting the generated control data to a control device of the elevator system. The method may be implemented using a portable device carried by the user and equipped with a projector and an infrared camera thereby eliminating conventional operating panels in the elevator system.

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 an apparatus for interchanging data between at least one sensor unit arranged in an elevator shaft of an elevator system and a monitoring unit of a service center which is locally remote from the elevator system, wherein an elevator car which moves vertically in the elevator shaft, include a first communication unit arranged at the elevator car. Data are transmitted from the at least one sensor unit to the first communication unit via a first communications network on the basis of the position of the elevator car and are stored by the first communication unit. The stored data are transmitted from the first communication unit to a second communication unit on the basis of at least one rule and are transmitted from the second communication unit to the monitoring unit via a second communications network.

Abstract: An energy-autonomous elevator system control element includes a piezoelectric layer and processing unit for detecting a control operation, a transmitting unit for wirelessly transmitting at least one signal to a remote elevator system controller, the at least one signal being generated automatically by the elevator system control element on the basis of the control operation, and an energy recovery unit for supplying electrical energy for the elevator system control element. The energy-autonomous elevator system control element can be used as a car operating panel or a landing operating panel in an elevator system.