Abstract: An elevator monitoring terminal includes a storage unit and a processing unit. The storage unit stores screen-displayed data including monitor-related screens related to an elevator monitoring operation, and the processing unit displays the monitor-related screens in the screen-displayed data read from the storage unit on a display unit.

Abstract: A method of operating an elevator installation having an elevator control with a plurality of functions (F1, . . . Fn+m) for controlling the elevator installation, wherein the plurality of functions comprises at least one optional function (Fn+1, . . . Fn+m) which is activatable at the time of configuring of the elevator control and can be made available by an activation for control during the operation of the elevator installation. After the activation, a deactivation of the optional function (Fn+1, . . . Fn+m) takes place automatically in accordance with a predetermined criterion, wherein the optional function after deactivation is no longer available for control of the elevator installation in operation.

Abstract: An evacuation system for a building (102) including at least one vertical transporter (108) with a number of platforms (106) for selectable communication (124) with multiple floors for operating the at least one transporter to lower persons from the multiple floors to a level for safe egress.

Abstract: In the invention a method is presented for ensuring operating safety in an elevator system, an elevator system, and a safety device of an elevator system. The elevator system comprises at least an elevator car, elevator ropes, an elevator motor, a traction sheave and at least two holding brakes, which holding brakes are arranged to prevent movement of the elevator car when the elevator is stopped. According to the invention the first holding brake is engaged at the end of an elevator run, and the other holding brakes are engaged with a delay. When one holding brake is engaged, the state of motion of the elevator and any slipping of the brake is monitored. If the brake is detected as slipping, a procedure for preventing a hazardous situation is performed.

Abstract: Supervisory control of an elevating machine is performed in a remote supervisory center via a general public line. The general public line has multiple networks including a high-speed digital network for transmitting large quantities of information from the elevating machine to the center and a low-communication-cost public network for transmitting a control command from the center to the elevating machine. A network selector selects the high-speed digital network in the case of transmission of a large quantity of information and the low-communication-cost public network in the case of transmission of the control command, and causes the selected network to perform transmission. For security, the control encodes and decodes transmitted information individually for each of the networks, and performs collation and authentication of a specific code, which has been added to the control command at the center, at the elevating machine.

Abstract: A method of controlling an elevator installation having an elevator car transporting passengers between floors of a building inputs destinations of the passengers into a destination call control and books destination calls and determines an instantaneous load disposed in the elevator car with a load measuring device at a fixable point in time. In order to make uniform the waiting times of the passengers in the case of incorrect operation of the destination call control and to ensure, for all passengers, an optimized transport time with maximum transport capacity the method additionally compares the instantaneous load with a full load parameter and in the case of exceeding of the full load parameter activating a bypass function those floors for which destination calls are booked and which are passed during a half circuit of the fully loaded elevator car.

Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator unit comprising an elevator car which is movable in an elevator shaft and is equipped with a braking device and a catching device encompassing catching elements. The elevator unit further comprises a system for detecting signals used for determining an absolute position of the elevator car, a control circuit for detecting signals used for determining the speed or deceleration of the elevator car, and a circuit for evaluating the signals of the detection system and the control circuit. Based on the input signals, the evaluation circuit evaluates whether the speed of the elevator car lies within a predefined interval in the determined position and causes the braking device to be actuated via a first output of the evaluation circuit and/or the catching device to be triggered via a second output of the evaluation circuit according to the result of the evaluation.

Abstract: An elevator operation controller can land the elevator cage of an elevator at a predetermined floor by giving a command to the elevator without using a special key or a special portable terminal. An elevator operation controller 10 includes a receiving unit 11 specified by a proper telephone number and capable of receiving a speech from the elevator user through a public communication line, a speech recognition unit 12 for recognizing the speech of the elevator user received by the receiving unit 11, a command processing unit 13 for converting a command given by the elevator user and recognized by speech recognition made by the speech recognition unit 12 into an elevator operating signal, and an operation control unit 14 for controlling the operation of the elevator on the basis of the operating signal provided by the command processing unit 13.

Abstract: An energy recovering system in a hydraulic lift device of a battery operated industrial truck. With the system, working oil can be supplied to other hydraulic actuators while energy recovering operation is performed by the hydraulic lift device, occurrence of pressure pulsation in the working oil can be prevented, and energy recovering efficiency is increased. The hydraulic lift device comprises a lift cylinder (1) for lifting a fork F, an electric motor (4) rotated by power supply from a battery (5), a hydraulic pump (3) for supplying pressurized oil to the lift cylinder (1), a control valve (14) disposed in a pressurized oil supply path (23), and a controller (17).

Abstract: The invention concerns a device, a method and a system for improving the safety system of an elevator. The safety system of the invention comprises an electric safety device, which monitors the velocity and position of the elevator in the elevator shaft. The safety device is e.g. a computer that is able to stop the elevator, using the brake of the hoisting machine or an optional car brake. The basic idea of the safety system of the invention is to form a continuous limit curve for control of elevator speed. The limit curve defines the limits of allowed elevator motion, which are determined on the basis of the nominal speed of the elevator and the location of the car.

Abstract: An elevator (9) includes remote elevator monitoring equipment (10) connected by a communication linkage (12) to a central elevator monitoring and control station (11). Main, drive, and door controllers (16-18) are interconnected (19-21) with the monitor lines. Power-on-reset (POR) of controllers may be caused internally or by remotely-operable power relays (23-25) which interrupt power to the controllers. Maintenance personnel at the remote station (11) may order a POR through the communication linkage. In another embodiment, the remote elevator monitor (10) determines presence of a malfunction which a POR may cure and causes a POR internally or by a power relay. In another embodiment, the controller (16a) includes, in its program routines, elevator diagnostics (50) which can recognize an elevator malfunction which a POR may cure, and either cause the relay to interrupt power for an interval or cause an internal POR.

Abstract: A method of checking elevator installations with a car, an elevator drive and an elevator controller with a memory avoids or at least reduces errors by a person carrying out the check and enables convenient and reliable checking of the elevator installation. A check program including all steps necessary for the check is set up on the basis of stored configuration data of the elevator installation in the elevator controller and in dependence on a selected mode of operation. In addition, the steps are displayed in a predetennined sequence on an indicating and control unit and necessary inputs for working down the steps are input by way of the indicating and control unit.

Abstract: A motor control system for detecting motor run condition comprises power switches for connection to an AC line for controlling application of AC power to the motor. An input receives a motor start command. A controller is connected to the input and controls operation of the switches responsive to a motor start command. The controller includes a counter and a timer and is operable to disable the power switches if number of starts during a select interval exceeds a first threshold and to disable the power switches if motor run time after a motor start command exceeds a second threshold.

Abstract: The systems and methods of present invention invoke an elevator communication system for providing communication between a plurality of hall fixture devices and at least one elevator system controller. The elevator communication system includes at least one elevator door interlock wiring circuit, which has a first and a second portion. A first transceiver device is coupled to the first portion of the door interlock wiring for transmitting and receiving signals between the at least one elevator system controller and the plurality of hall fixture devices over the interlock wiring. A second transceiver device is coupled to the second portion of the door interlock wiring for transmitting and receiving the signals between the at least one elevator system controller and the plurality of hall fixture devices over the interlock wiring.

Abstract: The present invention combines a residential elevator and automatic pet door with an intelligence component comprised of a Programmable Logic Controller with programmed intelligence that enables interoperability between the residential elevator and automatic pet door. In practice a pet will wear a collar with an attached or embedded transmitter. As the pet approaches the elevator door, the swing door will open and the accordion gate will open. If the elevator is at another level when the pet approaches, a call will be submitted to bring the elevator to the pet's level. The swing door and gate will open automatically when the elevator arrives. The gate and door will remain open long enough for the pet to enter the elevator and close automatically. The call to another floor will automatically be submitted to the elevator based on the current floor location.

Abstract: An elevator installation with an elevator car moveable in an elevator hoistway by means a drive unit is controlled by a control unit. Sensors monitor the status of the elevator installation and are each connected via an assigned bus node to a data bus and thereby connected to the control unit. In order to obtain improved operational safety and improved availability, each sensor controls a voltage supply of the associated bus node.

Abstract: A method of modernizing an elevator installation that comprises a first elevator car movable in a shaft by a first drive includes installing at least one second drive without changing the first drive. In addition, at least one second elevator car is installed in the shaft and connected with the second drive. Moreover, a control unit is installed or configured in such a manner that it controls the first drive and the second drive.

Abstract: A method for the operation of an elevator installation, wherein the operating parameters for achieving a desired performance are determined by simulation of the operation of the elevator installation, the operating parameter and the desired performance are included in a protocol, the elevator installation is operated with the operating parameter, the actual performance produced by the elevator installation is measured and the actual performance is compared with the desired performance.

Abstract: An elevator safety chain includes a plurality of passive radio frequency identification devices (RFIDs) (15-18, 22, 34-36 and 63), which are associated, respectively, with hoistway door locks, upper hoistway limits, lower hoistway limits, overspeed detection, car door lock, emergency stop switch, and inspection switch. RFlDs may be associated with car the call buttons (34) and/or hall call buttons (14, 19). The RFIDs may have a switch (43, 44) in the frequency-determining circuitry (40, 41) which defeats the RFID's ability to respond, or a switch (48) which alters the responding frequency. The RFIDs may sense safe or unsafe conditions, or call requests, by either the presence of absence, or vice versa, of adjacent magnetic reluctance (51, 62, 71).

Abstract: A coordinated lift system with user selectable RF channels coordinates the raising and lowering of a vehicle relative to a surface by using wireless communications. The lift system includes at least two lift mechanisms each having support frame, including a post, a carriage, an actuating device, and a control device with a channel selector switch. The carriage is slidably mounted on the post and is configured to support a portion of the vehicle. The actuating device is engaged between the support frame and the carriage and is activated to move the carriage relative to the post. The control device is interfaced with the actuating device and includes an RF transceiver to enable communication by RF signals with the other control device. The channel on which the transceiver operates is user selectable in the field. A rechargeable battery may provide power to the control device to allow for increased mobility of the lift system.

Abstract: A method and a system for emergency evacuation of building occupants and to a method for modernization of an existing building with the evacuation system. The system is used in a multi-story building having a plurality of floors and with at least one elevator positionable at selected landings of the floors. A first device is provided for measuring the number of persons in the building and a second device is provided for detecting an emergency condition in the building. At least one control unit is provided for determining or for estimating a number of building occupants in the building. The control unit defines at least one evacuation zone in the building during the emergency condition. Based on this information, the control unit defines at least one designated floor in the building during the emergency condition. Then the system evacuates the building occupants with the elevator car and/or a stairway from the evacuation zone to the designated floor.

Abstract: A camera (26), with suitable illumination (such as IR) provides images to a processing card (33) which converts the images to numerical vectors and applies them to a neural network (35) which is capable of providing a door-open signal (38) in response to something, either moving or still, in the paths of the doors (29), or anything moving in a manner to indicate intent to enter the elevator in the landing adjacent to the elevator (27). The door open signal is provided to the elevator door controller (39) to cause the doors to become or remain open in response to anything moving toward the elevator or anything disposed in the door pathway.

Abstract: The invention features a system for displaying video information to passengers of an elevator in accordance with a play list defining a sequence of messages. The video information messages can include combinations of digital advertising, “real-time” general information, as well as, building-related information. The system includes an elevator display unit having a display monitor for displaying video information to the passengers, and a local server which, receives scheduling information associated with the video information over a data communication path and, in accordance with the scheduling information, generates a play list used to display at the elevator display unit.

Abstract: The time required for each car to reach each up hall call and each down hall call is calculated (30, 33). These times are then arranged in categories and the number of landings in each category is identified. From fuzzy sets (FIGS. 7–10), the count of landings in each category determines a fuzzy set membership in a fuzzy category, such as FEW, SOME, MANY. The fuzzy membership of all non-zero memberships are then ANDed together (by multiplication). A relationship value is then determined (FIG. 11) by a metric with as many dimensions as there are categories, each dimension having as many parts as there are fuzzy categories in the fuzzy sets. The membership combination (the fuzzy summation) is then multiplied by a relationship value determined from the multi-dimensional metric to provide a corresponding separation metric of the invention.

Abstract: An elevator control method is provided, where the elevator motor is controlled in such manner that the velocity of the elevator follows a speed reference. When the elevator is decelerating, the motor is controlled by a speed adjustment method during the initial deceleration phase, and during the final deceleration phase the motor is controlled by a position adjustment method. The instant of transition from speed adjustment to position adjustment is determined substantially using the elevator speed curve.

Abstract: A genetic allocation method in an elevator group for allocating a landing call to one of several elevator cars in the elevator group, the cars moving and stopping within the area of several different floors. The elevator travel routes are encoded into alternative chromosomes. Using genetic methods, alternative chromosomes are developed and the best chromosome is selected. The elevator group is controlled in accordance with the best chromosome. The floors served by the elevator group are divided into a first group and a second group. On the floors of the first group, landing calls are given as passenger-specific destination calls. On the floors of the second group, landing calls are given as floor-specific up/down calls. When the destination calls and up/down calls are encoded into the same chromosome, the best chromosome represents an allocation decision, in which the gene values indicate which elevator car is to serve each passenger and each up/down call.

Abstract: An image processor includes an imaging unit that captures an image of a target area, a face region extraction unit that extracts a face region, which corresponds to a face of a person, from the image captured by the imaging unit, a distance estimation unit that estimates a distance from the imaging unit to each position of the image captured by the imaging unit, a distance distribution calculation unit that sets up a distance estimation area below the face region by a predetermined distance and calculates distance distribution from the imaging unit in the distance estimation area, using the distance estimated by the distance estimation unit, and a wheelchair presence determination unit that determines whether a person corresponding to the face region extracted is sitting in a wheelchair, by comparing the distance from the imaging unit of the face region estimated by the distance estimation unit with the distance distribution in the distance estimation area.

Abstract: An elevator system in which a car travels upward and downward among a plurality of floors. The elevator system includes a first terminal having a wireless transmitting/receiving unit provided for at least one of the plurality of floors and a second terminal having a wireless transmitting/receiving unit associated with the car. A mobile terminal is provided which enables wireless transmitting/receiving of signals between at least the first and second terminals.

Abstract: A method for controlling a zonally operated elevator installation, wherein on a changeover floor changing between zones is made possible, and wherein with a delivering elevator group and a collecting elevator group transportation to and from the changeover floor is realized, and wherein a trip destination is entered via a destination-call control by each passenger to be transported. An elevator installation for zonal operation in buildings with several elevators, wherein each elevator group contains at least one destination-call input device for registering the destination of a passenger. Each elevator is assigned to an elevator group, the building is divided into zones, and a changeover floor for changing between the elevator groups is arranged between the zones. The delivering elevator group and the collecting elevator group are combined into a multi-group which is controlled by a multi-group control.

Abstract: An elevator installation control method with zoning provides changes between zones at an interchange floor. Transportation to or from the interchange floor is by at least one feeder-elevator group and at least one connecting-elevator group. The feeder-elevator group has several feeder elevators that travel in a first zone below the interchange floor and the connecting-elevator group has several connecting elevators that travel in a second zone above it. Trip destinations are entered via destination-call input and the feeder-elevator group and the connecting-elevator group are combined into a multigroup that is controlled by a multigroup control. To optimize the elevator installation operation and utilization, the multigroup control allocates a feeder elevator depending on the number of trip destinations in the first zone to be traveled to by this feeder elevator and/or on the number of trip destinations in the second zone.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus detecting a wheelchair passenger for an elevator. This image processing apparatus includes a TV camera installed so that a hail where passengers are waiting is monitored through the camera, which is located in the vicinity of the elevator door, a face area extraction unit, a wheelchair area estimation unit, and a wheelchair existence judgment unit. The image processing apparatus is operated in the following manner, one or a several passengers' face area is identified by the face area extraction unit in the image picked-up by the TV camera, and the position of the face area in the image is detected. If the passenger is sitting in a wheelchair, the area where the wheelchair is likely to be in the image is estimated by the wheelchair area estimation unit from the position of the face area. The estimated area where the wheelchair is likely to be is checked by the wheelchair existence judgment unit, to determine whether the wheelchair is present.

Abstract: A device for remote maintenance and monitoring of an elevator installation has at least one input for the detection of first signals from an elevator control and/or from a sensor, at least one output of second signals to a telecommunications network and a processor and a data memory. A set of remote maintenance functions is stored in the data memory and each of these remote maintenance functions is selectively activatable.

Abstract: Energy saving methods and apparatus for elevator systems having a plurality of elevator cars operating in a plurality of elevator shafts. The present invention provides methods and apparatus for determining which one of the plurality of elevator cars is to be assigned to a new hall call in order to reduce the net energy consumption of the elevator system over time.

Abstract: A method of controlling an elevator installation having a plurality of cars in a building with floors subdivided into several zones wherein travel orders are allocated to the cars. There is no allocation to an elevator car, which has just been allocated a travel order out of or into one of the zones, of any travel order out of or into another of the zones. In the case of a call after a new travel order the number of free elevator cars is compared with the number of still unallocated or still unserved zones and the allocation of the new call and is carried out in dependence on the comparison result.

Abstract: A method schedules cars of an elevator system in a building. The method begins execution whenever a newly arrived passenger presses an up or down button to generate a call for service. For each car, determine a first waiting time for all existing passengers if the car is assigned to service the call, based on future states of the elevator system. For each car, determine a second waiting time of future passengers if the car is assigned to service the call, based on a landing pattern of the cars. For each car, combine the first and second waiting times to produce an adjusted waiting time, The method ends by assigning a particular car having a lowest adjusted waiting time to service the call and minimize an average waiting time of all passengers.

Abstract: A lift system that coordinates the raising and lowering of a vehicle relative to a surface by using wireless communications is provided. The lift system includes at least two lift mechanisms each having a post, a carriage, an actuating device and a control device. The carriage is slidably coupled to the post and is adapted to support a portion of the vehicle. The actuating device is coupled with the carriage and is capable of moving the carriage relative to the post. The control device is coupled with the actuating device and is capable of communicating by wireless signals with the other control device. The control devices communicate by wireless signals to coordinate the movement of the carriages relative to the posts to raise or lower the vehicle. Further, a rechargeable battery may provide power to the control device to allow for increased mobility of the lift system.

Abstract: A system presents multimedia contents in elevator installations. At least one user profile with multimedia contents is provided for an associated elevator user. When the user is identified in proximity to the elevator system, the multimedia contents carried in his user profile are presented to him. The multimedia contents are made available to the elevator installation through a protective wall.

Abstract: Method for controlling the elevators in an elevator bank in a building divided into zones has a plurality of floors via a process whereby destination floor calls are issued to the elevators by destination floor call input devices in the lobby of departure and the calls are distributed internally among different zones in the building by the elevator group control system, the elevators and the floors to be served being divided dynamically within the aforesaid elevator group control system into aforesaid zones, varying the numbers of elevators and the zone limits (r) according to traffic forecasts and transportation need.

Abstract: A mine transportation management system capable of reducing cost by reducing the number of transportation vehicles is provided. For this purpose, the system includes a plurality of self-propelled vehicles and a plurality of vessels each having a communication section, and each being identifiable, which are connectable to and separable from each other. A loading machine having a communication section, which loads an object into at least one of the vessels. A management center, which has a communication section, selects a vessel to be transported and selects a self-propelled vehicle for transporting the selected vessel based on a transportation demand signal from a processing facility, and transmits a transportation command signal to the selected self-propelled vehicle to connect to the selected vessel and to travel to the processing facility.

Abstract: A controller for a car/hall apparatus transfers an elevator operating program stored in a memory to an operating terminal through operating terminal communication unit and an operating terminal communication path, when necessary. The operating terminal which has received the elevator operating program executes this program to control an elevator car and a hoisting machine through the operating terminal communication path, the car/hall apparatus, a car/hall communication path, and a controlling apparatus.

Abstract: A system for displaying information in elevator cabs includes a central server for compiling and transmitting information to be displayed and a plurality of individually-addressable displays in elevator cabs for receiving the information. Each display has two or more display areas for displaying different portions of the information.

Abstract: An elevator car equalization computer program product includes software instructions for enabling a computer to perform predetermined operations, a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions, and a computer system including a processor and a memory. The predetermined operations include the steps of: (a) receiving at least one user input from at least one data input terminal; (b) determining a location of an originating demand unique to each of the user inputs; (c) determining a location of a destination demand unique to each of the user inputs; (d) calculating a total number of the user inputs received within a predetermined time interval; (e) determining whether the total number of user inputs is less than or more than a total number of available elevators; (f) assigning an elevator to each of the locations of the originating demand; and (g) forming temporary call response zones based upon the elevator assignments.

Abstract: An elevator system in which a car travels upward and downward among a plurality of floors. The elevator system includes terminals each having a wireless transmitting/receiving unit. One of the terminals is correspondingly provided for at least one of the plurality of floors and another of the terminals is correspondingly provided for the car and at least one of a counterweight. A mobile terminal is provided which enables wireless transmitting/receiving of signals between the terminals which are arranged within a predetermined distance of each other.

Abstract: A device for facilitating communications between an elevator passenger and a person outside of the elevator through use of an elevator telephone. The device includes a service port configured for connection to a telephone company feed line and an elevator telephone port configured for connection to an elevator telephone. The elevator telephone port is selectively coupled with the service port through a first switch that is configured to isolate the service port from the elevator telephone port upon receiving a first signal. A supervisor port is configured for connection to a supervisor telephone. A second switch is configured to facilitate electrical coupling between the elevator telephone port and the supervisor port upon receiving a second signal. A control circuit is configured to provide the first and second signals in response to an activation command, and a ring circuit is configured, as directed by the control circuit, to cause an elevator telephone connected to the elevator telephone port to ring.

Abstract: A system for displaying content includes a display visible to viewers present in a viewing zone and an occupancy detector for providing occupancy data indicative of how many viewers are present in the viewing zone. A processing system associates this occupancy data with content provided on the display.

Abstract: A method for the allocation of passengers in an elevator group. The group has several elevator lobbies and multi-door elevators. Each passenger gives his/her destination floor by means of a call input device, so that the passenger's starting and destination floors are thereby defined.

Abstract: Elevator group control method for the allocation of landing calls, in which method a target value is assigned to a given service time of the elevator group and landing calls are so allocated to elevators that the assigned target value of the service time is realized on the average, the energy consumption of the elevator group being thereby reduced.

Abstract: A method for the modernization of an elevator installation having at least one elevator and at least one elevator control for controlling the elevator by way of at least one call report. The elevator installation is equipped with a destination call control during preparatory operations for modernization which control includes at least one floor terminal for the input of destination call reports or for the recognition of identification codes of uses. The destination call control also includes at least one computing unit for evaluating the destination call reports or for association of destination floors with recognized identifications codes. The computing unit issues at least one destination signal and controls the elevator installation by way of at least one device. The device reads the destination signal, converts it into at least one call report and controls an existing elevator control by the call report.

Abstract: An elevator group supervisory control system for an elevator system including indicators of positions of elevators, for a group supervisory control of elevators, in which a car reversal, which becomes a cause of irritation for passengers, is curbed. For a hall call registered at an elevator hall which is ahead of a final car call and within a floor range defined based on building or elevator conditions, an additional assignment is given to an elevator having shortest predicted arrival time, and which is not assigned to respond to the elevator hall call.

Abstract: A device and a system for the modernization of an elevator installation having at least one elevator and at least one elevator control for controlling the elevator by way of at least one call report. The elevator installation is equipped with a destination call control during preparatory operations for modernization which control includes at least one floor terminal for the input of destination call reports or for the recognition of identification codes of users. The destination call control also includes at least one computing unit for evaluating the destination call reports or for association of destination floors with recognized identification codes. The computing unit issues at least one destination signal and controls the elevator installation by way of at least one device. The device reads the destination signal, converts it into at least one call report and controls an existing elevator control by the call report.