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: The present disclosure relates to a method (200) of updating safety-related software in a people conveyor system, particularly in an elevator system (10), the method comprising: the steps of providing an updated version of the safety-related software (210); storing (230) the updated version of the safety-related software in a safety unit (60) of the people conveyor system; activating (240) the updated version of the safety-related software, the step of activating including operating a software update activation switch permanently associated with the people conveyor system; and in case of successful activation of the updated version of the safety-related software, controlling the operation of the people conveyor system based on the updated version of the safety-related software (290).

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 and method for providing a protective extra low voltage power supply in an elevator system (2) is disclosed. The power supply system (10) may include a switch mode power supply (12) configured to provide an output voltage, a first voltage monitor (18) and a second voltage monitor (20). Each of the first voltage monitor (18) and the second voltage monitor (20) may be configured to receive the output voltage and determine an over-voltage condition at the switch mode power supply (12).

Abstract: A system for managing power in an elevator system, the system including an elevator controller; an elevator car in communication with the controller; a component associated with the elevator car; a power management system in communication with the controller; and a database in communication with the power management system, the database including a power profile; wherein the power management system provides power commands to the elevator controller to enter a power savings mode in response to the power profile, the controller sending a power off signal to the component in response to the power command.

Abstract: An elevator brake monitoring system includes a car (12); a machine (18) configured to actuate movement of the car; and a brake (32) configured to decelerate the car; wherein the system is configured to operate the machine to move the car at a pre-determined speed, engage the brake, measure a braking parameter and compare the measured braking parameter to a reference braking parameter.

Abstract: An elevator brake control system (10) is described, in particular for controlling an elevator brake in a machine roomless elevator, the elevator including a drive machine drivingly coupled to an elevator car for moving the elevator car between a plurality of landings in a hoistway, and an elevator brake having at least an engaged condition for holding the elevator car at a fixed position in the hoistway, and a released condition for allowing the elevator car to move along the hoistway; the elevator brake control system (10) comprising a first safety device (T1) and a second safety device (T2), each of the first safety device (T1) and the second safety device (T2) responsive to detection of a failure in any sub-system of the elevator, such as to bring the elevator brake into its engaged condition in response to detection of such failure; wherein each of the first safety device (T1) and the second safety device (T2) comprises a power semiconductor switching device.

Abstract: A ground fault detector circuit (140) for a people conveyor configured to detect a ground fault in a safety chain (100) of the people conveyor, comprises a first resistor (130) connected between a first contact (P1) on the supply (126) of the safety chain (100) and a second contact (P2) on the return (122) of the safety chain (100), and a device (134) for detecting a change in voltage drop (UGFD) with respect to ground across said first resistor (130).

Abstract: A system and method for providing a protective extra low voltage power supply in an elevator system (2) is disclosed. The power supply system (10) may include a switch mode power supply (12) configured to provide an output voltage, a first voltage monitor (18) and a second voltage monitor (20). Each of the first voltage monitor (18) and the second voltage monitor (20) may be configured to receive the output voltage and determine an over-voltage condition at the switch mode power supply (12).

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: An exemplary method is useful for controlling movement of an elevator car in an elevator system that includes a machine that selectively moves the elevator car and a machine brake that selectively resists movement of the elevator car. The method includes determining whether the elevator car is near a landing and determining whether a door of the elevator car is open. A desired operation includes desired movement of the elevator car while the elevator car is near the landing and the door is open. A determination is made whether the elevator car moves other than according to the desired movement. The machine brake is applied for stopping movement of the elevator car responsive to elevator car movement other than the desired movement while the elevator car is near the landing and the door is open.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a primary source of electrical power; a power unit having a power supply, the power supply producing DC power from the primary source of electrical power; and a rescue storage device providing power to the elevator system when the primary source of electrical power is unavailable; the rescue storage device coupled to an output of the power supply to provide additional DC power with the DC power when the primary source of electrical power is available and an increased power requirement is present.

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 elevator safety system including a controller, and a hoistway safety node arranged at a pit portion of an elevator hoistway. The hoistway node is operatively connected to one of a pit safety device and a lower hoistway device arranged at the elevator pit. A first bus links the hoistway node and the controller. The first bus passes communication signals directly from the hoistway node to the controller. A car node is arranged in an elevator car. The car node is operatively connected to a car safety device arranged at the elevator car. A second bus links the car node and the controller. The second bus passes communication signals directly from the car node to the controller.

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: Automatic door systems and methods capable of determining proper functionality thereof are provided. The door systems are provided with a healthcheck module which automatically determines functionality of the door system by initially monitoring a first output signal provided by a first sensor and a second output signal provided by a second sensor. More specifically, the healthcheck module correlates the first output signal with the second output signal and operates one or more doors of a door system according to the correlation. The healthcheck module then monitors the second output signal provided by the second sensor to determine the ability of the one or more doors to close, and determines functionality of the door system accordingly.

Abstract: An elevator rescue system for moving an elevator car to a disembarkation position in a rescue operation includes a rescue device (16) coupled to a brake system (4) of an elevator, the rescue device (16) comprising a rescue power source (22), wherein the rescue device (16) is disposed near the brake system (4) of the elevator; an operation panel (26) comprising a manual rescue operation switch (28), the operation panel (26) being disposed remotely from the rescue device (16); and a rescue operation signal transmission path (32) between the rescue device (16) and the operation panel (26).

Abstract: A system for managing power in an elevator system, the system including an elevator controller; an elevator car in communication with the controller; a component associated with the elevator car; a power management system in communication with the controller; and a database in communication with the power management system, the database including a power profile; wherein the power management system provides power commands to the elevator controller to enter a power savings mode in response to the power profile, the controller sending a power off signal to the component in response to the power command.

Abstract: A device and method for automatically adjusting safety control parameters of a conveyor are disclosed. The safety device may include various sensors and a safety control module. The safety control module may be preprogrammed with a learn-run method configured to learn operational and mechanical characteristics of a conveyor, validate the operational characteristics of the conveyor based on predefined nominal specifications, and determine a safety function with calibrated safety control parameters by which to monitor conveyor operation.

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.