Abstract: The invention presents a method and an arrangement for renewing the braking force of a brake of a hoisting machine. In the method the brake pad of a brake of the hoisting machine is pressed against the braking surface of a rotating part of the hoisting machine and the braking surface is moved in relation to the brake pad pressed against the braking surface by resisting the friction force between the braking surface and the brake pad.

Abstract: An elevator control system to govern elevator movement to avoid or minimize passenger discomfort caused by pressure changes associated with an elevator's movement and to optimize elevator operation. In one exemplary embodiment, the system uses the passenger's natural relief which occurs while the elevator car is stopped to reduce the pressure difference experienced by the passengers' ears as a factor to optimally control the operation of the elevator. In another example, the system obtains input regarding the traveling speed and conditions of the elevator system. This system then simulates individual trips for passengers that includes monitoring the pressure changes being experienced by passengers throughout the elevator's travels in order to ensure that the pressure differential level for each passenger remains below a designated maximum comfortable and safe level. This system uses the parameters of a successful simulation to govern the actual operation of the elevators.

Abstract: An exemplary method of automatically addressing a plurality of fixtures in an elevator system includes establishing a shared communication link between a central controller and the plurality of fixtures. The method includes determining whether a selected elevator device operation is performed at a location of a fixture and enabling the corresponding fixture to receive initializing information, such as addressing information. The central controller broadcasts the initializing information over the communication link for automatically providing the initializing information to the enabled, corresponding fixture. By enabling only one fixture at a time, based on the selected elevator device operation, the central controller is able to accurately address each of the fixtures individually even though the initializing information is broadcast over the shared link.

Abstract: A group supervisory control device for an elevator includes a hall call assignment portion assigning a specific car to a hall call registered; an operation prediction portion predicting which is the operation to the next hall registered, regenerative operation or power running operation, and the time for which the regenerating operation or the power running operation is performed when the specific car has stopped at a responding hall; and a door open time control portion comparing the time for which the regenerative operation or the power running operation of the specific car is performed with the remaining running time of any other car performing the power running operation or the regenerative operation already predicted, calculating overlap time for the operations simultaneously, and making door open time set for the specific car changed to determine the door open time that can obtain longer overlap time, whereby a door is closed.

Abstract: An elevator group management system improving operational efficiency in consideration of a situation change that has occurred after a destination floor registration in a hall. An assigned car review mechanism executes assigned car review processing in units of review registration information sets each including at least one piece of provisionally assigned car registration information managed by a registered destination floor hall call management section during a review period. After ending the assigned car review processing, the assigned car review mechanism modifies the contents of the provisionally assigned car registration information in the registered destination floor hall call management section based on the contents of the review registration information set after modification. That is, the assigned car review mechanism newly registers the provisionally assigned car registration information after review and erases the provisionally assigned car registration information before review at the same time.

Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, a car is suspended by a suspending means. A braking apparatus applies a braking force to the car by means of the suspending means. An excessive speed detection level that changes in response to car position is set in an excessive speed monitoring portion. The excessive speed monitoring portion makes the braking apparatus perform a braking operation when car speed reaches the excessive speed detection level. An anomalous acceleration detecting mechanism operates a safety device if acceleration that exceeds a preset set value arises in the car.

Abstract: An elevator system and a method for maintenance of such an elevator system include a device for receiving a plurality of sensor signals. The device is mounted on at least one elevator car or at least one counterweight of the elevator system. The device includes at least one processor and at least one computer-readable data store in at least one device housing. A first sensor for generating a sensor signal is a position sensor and/or a speed sensor and/or an acceleration sensor which is mounted in and/or on the device housing.

Abstract: A lobby detection device 100 placed in a lobby reads out an ID of an elevator user 300 from an individual identification tag 400 and transmits the ID to an authentication device 600, the authentication device 600 registers the ID if the ID has not been registered and performs a call registration for an elevator car 500 after an authentication processing, a car detection device 200 inside of the elevator car 500 reads out the ID from the individual identification tag 400 and transmits the ID to the authentication device 600, and when the same ID as a registered ID that has been registered becomes no longer transmitted from the car detection device 200, the authentication device 600 deletes a registration of the registered ID after a specific time elapses, so that even when the ID is read out by the lobby detection device 100 in the lobby where the elevator user 300 lands on at the time the elevator user 300 leaves the elevator car 500, a call registration is not performed since the registration is held.

Abstract: An exemplary elevator system includes a first controller configured to recognize a hall call signal that indicates a passenger's desire to board an elevator car at a particular landing. The first controller is associated with at least one elevator car for assigning a hall call request to that elevator car. A second controller is configured to recognize a destination request that indicates a passenger's desire to be carried to a particular level. The destination request originates outside of an elevator car. The second controller is associated with at least one elevator car for assigning a destination request to that elevator car. The second controller is configured to determine whether a selected condition will be satisfied if a received destination request is serviced by an elevator car associated with the second controller. The second controller handles the received destination request in that manner if the condition will be satisfied.

Abstract: A method for controlling an elevator installed in a building that includes an elevator car arranged to travel in a hoistway between floor landings that are at different heights, one or more ropings connected to the elevator car, a hoisting machine for moving the elevator car, and a control for control the hoisting machine is provided. In the method, the sway data of the building is determined, which data describes the strength of the sway of the building, and the starting position data of the elevator car is determined, which starting position data contains data about the starting position of the elevator car and/or data about how long the elevator car has been in the starting position, and the settings for the run speed of the next run are determined on the basis of the starting position data and the sway data. An elevator is configured to perform the method.

Abstract: A system and method for pre-programming operation of an elevator to automatically service particular floors of a building at a designated future interval. A remote user may input instructions over a network to be relayed to an elevator controller including a future interval during which an elevator is to automatically make continuous or periodic trips to and from a particular floor or floors of a building, such that during the designated future interval the elevator automatically and without a user's instructions, reaches the designated floor, opens the door, waits a pre-set time period, closes the door and travels to another floor or floors.

Abstract: A method of controlling a lift installation with at least one lift car, at least one lift control and at least one mobile apparatus, and a control system for a controlling a lift installation. A reporting device near the lift installation receives at least one activation signal from a transmitting/receiving device of a mobile apparatus. The reporting device activates in response to the received activation signal. At least one network address of a recognition device of a lift control of the lift installation is transmitted from the activated reporting device to the transmitting/receiving device of the mobile apparatus.

Abstract: An elevator dispatching system includes a plurality of elevator groups, each of the plurality of elevator groups comprising a group controller and a plurality of elevator cars, each of the plurality of elevator groups serving a respective set of floors; and a redirector configured to receive a service request comprising a destination floor, and, in the event more than one elevator group serves the destination floor, determine a best group to service the request from the plurality of elevator groups based on information stored in the redirector, wherein the group controller of the determined best group is configured to determine a best car from the plurality of elevator cars in the determined best group.

Abstract: An elevator has a first and a second cage, which are movable along a common travel path. In addition, the elevator includes a safety device, by which the two cages can be monitored, and a shaft information system, which is connected with the safety device and by which the speed and the position of the two cages can be determined. If the two cages fall below a safety spacing, a first braking measure can be initiated for at least a first cage by means of the safety device. A retardation plot for the at least first cage is predeterminable by the safety device on initiation of the first braking measure. In that case, a second braking measure can be initiated for the at least first cage by means of the safety device if the retardation plot is exceeded.

Abstract: The invention relates to a power supply arrangement of a transport system. The transport system comprises a motor for moving the transport appliance; a power supply circuit of the transport system, for supplying power between the power source of the transport system and the motor; a power controller of the energy storage, which power controller comprises at least one controllable switch; an energy storage, which is connected to the power supply circuit of the transport system via the power controller of the energy storage; and also a power control, which is fitted to control the aforementioned at least one controllable switch of the power controller of the energy storage, for adjusting at least one electrical magnitude relating to the power supply between the power supply circuit of the transport system and the energy storage. The power controller of the energy storage is fitted to discharge the aforementioned energy storage with a power limitation.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a dispatching system for car assignment method. The method includes: (a) setting a set number based a history data, wherein the history data records a time and a location of each dispatching car event happening, the set number is an average number of dispatching car events that happen in a special time segment and in the region; (b) determining whether or not the first number is larger than the set number; (c) not issuing a dispatching car information when the first number is larger than the set number; and (d) issuing a dispatching car information and assigning a second number of cars to the region when the first number is less than the set number. Moreover, a dispatching apparatus to perform the dispatching car method is also provided.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an elevator controlling method includes calculating the positional value of an elevator driving motor the every first cycle; generating a control signal every third cycle to control the motor based on the calculated positional value and the rotational speed of the motor calculated every second cycle; and controlling the driving power source of the motor based on the generated control signal.

Abstract: An exemplary device for controlling an elevator car motion profile includes a controller (64) that is programmed to cause an associated elevator car (62) to move with a motion profile that includes a plurality of jerk values (78, 82, 86, 90, 96, 100). The controller (64) is programmed to cause at least one transition (84, 88, 94, 98) between two of the jerk values to be at a non-instantaneous transition rate.

Abstract: Control systems and methods for operating the doors of an elevator where the control logic is distributed in local car and landing door controllers that communicate wirelessly with one another to eliminate door control signal wiring in the hoistway thereby simplifying installation and diagnostics and affording door motor control that is individualized for each door.

Abstract: The monitoring method for an elevator installation includes a control unit and at least one bus junction, which bus junction has a receiver, a transmitter and a safety element. The control unit and the bus junction communicate by way of a bus. The monitoring method has the following steps: a digital default signal is transmitted by the control unit to the receiver; the digital default signal is converted by the receiver into an analog signal; the safety element is acted on by the receiver with the analog signal; if the safety element is closed the analog signal is detected by the transmitter; for a detected analog signal, a digital signal of the control unit is provided by the transmitter; wherein on detection of an analog zero signal a digital signal is transmitted by the transmitter to the control unit.

Abstract: An elevator includes an elevator cage, a drive arrangement, a first safety controller and a second safety controller, wherein the first and the second safety controllers monitor a state of the elevator respectively by means of at least one first or second sensor and on detection of an unsafe state institute a measure in order to bring the elevator into a safe state. The first safety controller is arranged on the elevator cage and the second safety controller is arranged in the region of the drive arrangement.

Abstract: An elevator apparatus includes a safety circuit section including a plurality of abnormality detection units, a safety control device, failure detection unit, and circuit changeover unit. The safety control device controls electric power supply to a driving device and a brake device in accordance with a content of an abnormality detected by the abnormality detection units. The failure detection unit detects a failure of the safety control device. When the failure of the safety control device is detected, the circuit changeover unit forms a failure-time circuit in which the electric power supply to the driving device and the brake device is interrupted directly by the abnormality detection unit.

Abstract: An exemplary system for monitoring an elevator arrangement includes a detector arranged to detect conditions or events in, on or near an associated elevator car. A monitoring device monitors a status of the associated elevator car. The monitoring device communicates with the detector for receiving data indicative of any event or condition detected by the detector. The monitoring device provides an output that associates the status of the elevator car at a time of any detected event or condition with an indication of the detected event or condition including a reproduction of the detected event or condition.

Abstract: In a network for a safety system in a transportation system, the transportation system includes a shaft and a car arranged in the shaft. A first wall node is at a first end of the shaft and a second wall node is at a second end of the shaft to communicate safety messages with the car. Each wall node includes at least one wireless transceiver connected to one or more antennas. Each car in the shaft includes at least two wireless transceiver connected to one or more antennas, wherein the first transceiver of the car uses a first frequency and the second transceiver of the car uses a second frequency to communicate each safety messages in duplicate. A wired backbone connects the set of wall nodes to a controller of the safety system of the transportation system.

Abstract: An electronic safety system for an elevator with a controller, which is coupled to a motor for driving an elevator car, a safety controller and a bus by means of which the controller can communicate with bus nodes which receive data from at least one sensor. The controller can communicate with a safety circuit which can be put into an open state by the safety controller, as a result of which the motor is shut off, and the safety circuit has a means which notifies the controller of shut-off of the motor, or shut-off of the motor can be detected by the controller on the basis of the data transmitted from the bus nodes to the controller.

Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring arrangement, an elevator system and also a monitoring arrangement for measuring the movement of an elevator car. The measuring arrangement includes identifiers disposed at set points in the elevator hoistway, each of which identifiers contains at least one property to be measured, which property to be measured is made to be variable in the direction of movement of the elevator car. The measuring arrangement includes at least one measuring apparatus, fitted in connection with the elevator car and arranged to move along with the elevator car in the elevator hoistway. The measuring apparatus is arranged to separately read the property to be measured of each aforementioned identifier after the measuring apparatus has moved in the elevator hoistway to the reading point individual for the identifier to be read.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for limiting the loading of an elevator assembly, and also to an elevator assembly.

Abstract: A method for controlling a fixture (122) includes receiving a message from a controller (102), determining whether the message includes an address associated with the fixture (122), retrieving an identifier of the controller (102) from the message responsive to determining that the message includes an address not associated with the fixture (122), determining whether the fixture (122) includes a fixture channel (204) controlled by the controller (102), and resetting a timer (203) associated with the fixture channel (204) controlled by the controller (102) responsive to determining that the fixture (122) includes the fixture channel (204) controlled by the controller (102).

Abstract: A method for monitoring an elevator controls an image capturing device located inside the elevator to capture a current image inside the elevator when a malfunction of the elevator is detected by one or more monitor devices. The method further analyzes the current image to determines if there are passengers trapped inside the elevator. In addition, the method generates a rescue message and sends the rescue message to an emergency response department through a network upon the condition that there are passengers trapped inside the elevator.

Abstract: An elevator control device includes a control device body controlling operation of one or more elevators operated between plural floors of a building, and carries out emergency evacuation operation for evacuating people by using an elevator when the building suffers from fire, earthquake, or the like. The elevator control device includes a damage detector that detects damage due to disaster at each floor and outputs the detected damage as damage information of each floor; and a person detector that detects the number and positions of persons present at each floor and outputs these data as person number and position information, and in the emergency evacuation operation, the elevator control device body develops an elevator evacuation operation plan based on the position of the elevator car, the damage information, and the person number and position information, and controls the operation of elevator based on the developed evacuation operation plan.

Abstract: A system for maintaining an electrically operated folding wall comprising: (a) a maintenance detecting means; (b) a time measuring means; (c) a first time alarm means for detecting a preset time for a maintenance reminder; (d) a second time alarm means far detecting a preset time for maintenance; (e) a first maintenance schedule indicator for indicating that maintenance is soon required; f) a second maintenance schedule indicator for indicating that maintenance is required; (g) a preventing means for preventing the electrical operation circuit of the folding operable wall from functioning after the second time alarm detects that the time measuring means has reached the preset time for maintenance; (h) a resetting means for resetting the time measured by the time measuring means after the required maintenance has been performed; and (i) a restarting means for restarting the electrical operation circuit of the folding operable wall after the required service has been performed.

Abstract: In an elevator control device that transfers an elevator to pause operation when predetermined pause conditions are met, the elevator operation can be changed over properly according to the call cutoff state without decreasing the building security. This control device includes a pause operation selecting means and a car call cutoff means. The pause operation selecting means stops a car at a predetermined pause floor, closes a door after door opening motion, and pauses the elevator by selecting pause operation if predetermined pause conditions are met. The car call cutoff means prohibits a car call from being registered from a car call button in the car by cutting off the car call. The configuration is made such that when the car call to the pause floor has been cut off by the car call cutoff means, even if the predetermined pause conditions are met, the elevator is not transferred to pause operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for setting up a number of operating units in a lift system having a number of floors. The operating units are connected in series. A first operating unit is connected to a central controller, and at least one operating unit is provided on each floor. Configuration data with an address data packet is sent from the controller to the operating units. The address data packet has a number of addresses, which permits the fixing of an address for each operating unit. The invention further relates to a lift system for carrying out the method.

Abstract: An elevator dispatching system includes a plurality of elevator groups, each of the plurality of elevator groups comprising a group controller and a plurality of elevator cars, each of the plurality of elevator groups serving a respective set of floors; and a redirector configured to receive a service request comprising a destination floor, and, in the event more than one elevator group serves the destination floor, communicate the service request to the group controllers of the more than one elevator groups, wherein the respective group controllers of the more than one elevator groups are configured to each determine a respective group score, and communicate the respective group score to the redirector, and the redirector is further configured to determine the best group based on the respective group scores.

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: The invention relates to a method and to devices for starting up an electric drive of an elevator. In the method a sensor that detects the direction of movement of the elevator car is fitted into the elevator system, the elevator car is brought into a state of movement, the direction of movement of the elevator car is detected from the measuring signal of the aforementioned sensor that detects the direction of movement of the elevator car and also the drive direction of the electric drive is connected in the control of the electric drive to the detected direction of movement of the elevator car.

Abstract: A shaft access enabling device of an elevator system has a shaft access control unit and at least one access monitoring unit, wherein the shaft access control unit controls an operating state of the at least one access monitoring unit and the access monitoring unit monitors at least one shaft access. The shaft access control unit has at least two different operating modes for controlling the operating state of the at least one access monitoring unit and inspects access authorization before changing between the at least two operating modes thereof.

Abstract: Elevator cabin position detection system comprising an activation device mounted on an elevator car, a sensor stripe mounted on a sidewall of an elevator shaft and control electronics. The activation device, preferably a light emitting device, activates a portion of the sensor stripe which comprises a feed line, a resistor line and sensors positioned between these. The sensors, preferably optical sensors, when activated by the activation device, conduct electricity to create electrical connection between the feed line and resistor line and thus modify the resulting resistance between an end (A) of the resistor line and an end (B) of the feed line. The control electronics determines the exact position of the elevator cabin based on the resulting resistance between the end (A) of the resistor line and the end (B) of the feed line.

Abstract: A multi-car elevator control device for controlling an operation in such a manner that a rear car can stop away from a periphery of a fire floor. The multi-car elevator control device includes a running-enabled section calculator for calculating, as a running-enabled section, a range of a floor in which a stop can be carried out to open a door without a collision with a front car which stops, a fire floor information acquiring part for acquiring fire floor information, an in-fire stop prohibition section calculator for calculating, based on the fire floor information, an in-fire stop prohibition section for prohibiting the stop of the car, and a running permission deciding part for deciding a running permission of an elevator by referring to the running-enabled section and the in-fire stop prohibition section.

Abstract: The movement of a plurality of elevator cars (12, 14) in an elevator hoistway (16) is coordinated for situations in which the regions of the hoistway that are serviceable by the cars (12, 14) at any given time are configured to overlap. A car stop plan for each elevator car (12, 14) is generated that includes a sequence of stops for servicing demand assigned to the elevator car (12, 14). Operation of the elevator cars (12, 14) is then coordinated based on the car stop plans such that each elevator car (12, 14) services its assigned demand without interfering with the car stop plans of any other of the plurality of elevator cars (12, 14).

Abstract: An elevator group control system is obtained which is improved in the operating efficiency of entire cars by determining an assigned car with the use of an evaluation value calculated from an increment of the number of floors to be stopped by each car when a hall destination call newly generated by a hall control panel is temporarily assigned to each car. The system includes a hall input unit which is installed in a hall and by which the registration of a destination floor call is able to be made, and an assignment evaluation value calculation unit which includes a plurality of evaluation value calculation units for calculating the respective evaluation values of a plurality of cars in an individual manner, determines a final evaluation value from the respective evaluation values, and selects an optimal assigned car.

Abstract: An arrangement and a method are provided for determining the position of an elevator car in the elevator hoistway. The arrangement includes a measuring apparatus fitted in connection with the elevator car. The measuring apparatus is arranged to form an electromagnetic radio-frequency measuring signal, for determining the position of the elevator car. The arrangement also includes a position identifier fitted in a selected location in relation to the elevator hoistway. The position identifier is arranged to connect inductively to the electromagnetic radio-frequency measuring signal, and also after it has connected to send a determined pulse pattern using the electromagnetic radio-frequency measuring signal.

Abstract: A method for assigning an elevator car to respond to a call signal includes a controller that determines which elevator car will respond to the call signal based on certain time metrics. The controller receives a hall call signal, and based on certain time metrics that can include, e.g., an estimated wait time (EWT), and/or estimated travel time (ETT), assigns the call signal to an elevator car. In this example, EWT represents the time a passenger is waiting for an elevator car to arrive, and ETT represents the it takes for a passenger to reach their destination once having boarded an elevator car. In some versions, an estimated time to destination (ETD) is used in determining which elevator car to assign, where ETD represents the sum of EWT and ETT. In some versions, a handling capacity coefficient (HCx), which reflects current traffic conditions, is used in determining which elevator car to assign.

Abstract: A method of a simple node transportation system is disclosed. The transportation system comprises a vehicle travels on a route and a traditional control module of the vehicle. The route comprises a plurality of nodes which the vehicle may stop by. The method comprises the following steps: detecting that at least one user moving into a target area of one of the nodes; detecting a gesture of the user; outputting a corresponding control command to the traditional control module in response to the gesture; and displaying the corresponding control command.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a group control device controlling a plurality of elevators as a group, a security gate mounted with a personal identification device that identifies a passing user and issues identification information, an access control device that issues validation information based on the information about the user included in the identification information, a communication device transmitting a service floor call registration request for each user to the group control device based on the validation information, an assignment controlling function that is provided on the group control device to determine the elevator assigned pursuant to the service floor call registration request for each user, and issue assigned elevator information for each user, and an assigned elevator notification device installed on the security gate to notify each user of the assigned elevator information.

Abstract: Elevator car position information can be determined based at least in part on readings from a sensor attached to the elevator car. The sensor readings provide movement information for the car. Some elevator installations are also configured with additional sensors for calibrating the sensor attached to the elevator car. The disclosed technologies can be used with, for example, an elevator installation that is being modernized.

Abstract: An elevator system including an elevator shaft and at least one elevator cab which can move in the elevator shaft. The elevator system has a distributed control system having a first evaluation unit, respectively associated with the at least one elevator cab, and has at least one second evaluation unit, associated with the elevator shaft. A bus link connects the first evaluation unit and the at least one second evaluation unit to one another. The first evaluation unit has a set of limit curves containing limit curves for the actuation of a braking device and/or a safety gripping device that are calculated and scaled in line with a current operating state, the first evaluation unit being configured to trigger the safety gripping device or the braking device if one of the limit curves is exceeded. Defined ends of the limit curves limit a scope of movement for the at least one elevator cab.

Abstract: A safety circuit in an elevator system includes at least one series connection of safety-relevant contacts that are closed during trouble-free operation of the elevator system, wherein in the case of certain operating conditions in which at least one contact is opened, the at least one contact can be bridged by semiconductor switches, and wherein the semiconductor switches are controlled by at least one processor and monitored by at least one monitoring circuit for short circuits. At least one electromechanical relay circuit, having relay contacts connected in series with the contacts of the bridged series connection can be controlled by the at least one processor and the bridgable series connection can be interrupted by the relay contacts in the case of short-circuiting of the semiconductor switches.

Abstract: Methods and devices for rescuing an elevator cab occupant. An emergency escape system can be integrated or retrofitted with an elevator. The emergency escape system includes an interposing device configured to attach to the elevator cab and to lower the elevator cab in an intelligent manner in the event of an emergency. The elevator cab may include an emergency cable that attaches the elevator cab to the interposing device and can be used either manually or automatically to lower the elevator cab during an emergency. The emergency escape system may include a thermal information system device, or sensors, which may provide real time environmental conditions of the dwelling and of the elevator occupants that can be communicated to first responders via a wireless protocol. In the event of building power loss, the cab power and the ability to communicate with the outside world may be unaffected. The emergency escape system may be thermally fortified.

Abstract: A method and communication system is provided to identify a calling/called party when the call is being set up but before the call is answered. In the method, a first terminal and a second terminal are respectively provided with opposing terminal's image data before the call is answered. The image data of the first and second terminals can be registered in a media server disposed between the first and second terminals, and the image data can be transmitted between the first terminal and the media server and between the second terminal and the media server in accordance with an SIP protocol.