Abstract: An elevator machine (20) assembly useful in an elevator system (10) includes a motor frame (26) that supports a motor (24) for selectively rotating a motor shaft (28). A brake (36) selectively applies a braking force to resist rotation of the motor shaft (28). At least one load sensor (46) resists undesirable movement of the brake (36) and provides an indication of a load that results from applying the braking force. A disclosed example includes using a first resistive member (46) to resist movement of the brake (36) relative to the motor frame (26) when the load is below a threshold load and using a second resistive member (60) to resist movement when the load exceeds the threshold load.

Abstract: A fail-safe power control apparatus for supplying power between an energy source and the motor of a transport system. The power control apparatus includes a power supply circuit, which has at least one converter containing controllable change-over switches, and the power control apparatus has a controller for controlling the converter change-over switches, a data transfer bus, at least two controllers adapted to communicate with each other, and a control arrangement for controlling a first braking device, and possibly a control arrangement for controlling a second braking device.

Abstract: An elevator system has a data receiving unit that receives service state data transmitted from a control device of an elevator. A pulse modulation unit separates the service state data received by the data receiving unit into first information data and second information data, pulse-modulates the first information data by using the second information data, and creates an LED blinking pattern. An LED drive unit drives a visible light LED placed in a cage of the elevator or on a platform of the elevator in response to the LED blinking pattern created by the pulse modulation unit.

Abstract: An elevator comprises an elevator car, a counterweight, a drive and a support, wherein the support couples the elevator car and the counterweight with the drive so that the elevator car and the counterweight are movable in opposite vertical directions by the drive, and wherein the support has a support section at the car side and a support section at the counterweight side. The elevator further comprises a sensor line which is coupled to both the elevator car and the counterweight and which is guided so that in the case of movement of the elevator car and the counterweight in opposite directions it generally remains tensioned by a substantially constant tension stress. The elevator further comprises a sensor which is coupled with the sensor line so that slackening of a support section is detectable by the sensor.

Abstract: A tension member monitoring device is provided with at least one contact sensor (21) and a defect determining device (20). The contact sensor (21), which is arranged next to a corresponding tension member (3) without touching the tension member (3), is configured to output a contact signal when contacted. The defect determining device (20), which receives the contact signal, is configured to determine whether there is a defect in the tension member (3), based on the contact signal.

Abstract: A lift control interface is operable to control and monitor a lift system. Each lift column in the system has such a lift control interface. The lift control interface allows a user to assign lift columns to a lift system. One or more of the assigned lift columns may be assigned to a column control group. The user may lock the selection of these columns. The status of the assigned, selected, and locked lift columns may appear on every lift control interface in the lift system. The user may govern operation of the selected columns in the column control group from a single control interface, such as any control interface at any of the selected columns. The lift control interfaces may include visual representations showing the relationships between the lift columns and a vehicle, such as with lift column icons being positioned around a vehicle icon.

Abstract: An elevator system and a method are provided for controlling an elevator group. The elevator system includes an elevator group, which includes at least two elevator cars, which elevator cars are fitted to be moved in the elevator hoistway according to the calls allocated by the control of the elevator group. The elevator system includes a power supply arrangement, for adjusting the power needed to move the elevator cars. An energy storage is connected to the power supply arrangement. The energy storage is fitted in the first operating situation to yield energy for use in moving the elevator car, and in the second operating situation to receive energy released by movement of the elevator car. The elevator system includes a determination of the charging status of the energy storage, and the control of the elevator group is fitted to determine the change in energy that would be caused by the movement according to an allocated call of the elevator cars belonging to the elevator group.

Abstract: An elevator target floor registration unit, which displays an estimated amount of time until an assigned elevator car arrives, reduces feelings of uneasiness. Various target floor registration units by which a user may register a target floor are installed on respective floors of a building. The target floor registration units are connected to an elevator controller via an interface. The elevator controller: (a) assigns a most suitable elevator car corresponding to a user's target floor registered using the target floor registration unit; (b) computes an expected waiting time for the elevator assigned to arrive at the floor of the aforementioned registration; and (c) sends said pieces of information on the elevator assignment and the expected waiting time to aforementioned target floor registration unit in order to display them.

Abstract: The present invention is a combined emergency communication and illumination system for an elevator car that activates automatically upon the malfunction of the elevator occasioned by a reduction or cessation of AC voltage. The combined system automatically illumines the elevator car with an emergency, high-brightness LED system and initiates an emergency telephone call for assistance to monitoring personnel, who can thereby communicate with any occupant of the elevator car. The combined system is powered by a rechargeable DC battery. The system also enables monitoring personnel to activate a flashing LED in the elevator car that is next to labeling that notifies passengers that help is on the way when such LED flashes on and off.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and a system for communicating with a controller of an elevator car (10). A first input device (40) is inserted between a pair of elevator car sliding doors (12, 14). Energy beams (36) transmitted between the pair of elevator sliding doors (12, 14) are selectively blocked to communicate information to the controller.

Abstract: An industrial truck with an electronic memory and/or a data transfer unit, an equipment for acquiring utilization data and a control unit, which is connected with the equipment for acquiring utilization data and the memory and/or the data transfer unit, characterized in that the control unit continuously generates an utilization protocol from the acquired utilization data and files it in the memory or transmits it to the data transfer unit.

Abstract: The elevator alert includes an elevator pit can (10) and a float switch (240) disposed therein. The float switch (240) produces an alarm-activating signal when the pit can (10) is nearly full and overflow of oil into the pit is imminent. An alarm control unit (200) takes alarm-activating signals from one or more float switch-equipped pit cans (10) to operate a relay (405a, 405b) to drive various kinds of alarms and/or elevator controls. A loudspeaker (210) on the pit can (10) emits an audible alarm when the float switch (240) is closed. Optionally, a remote alarm (300) is provided, the remote alarm (300) being activated when the remote alarm float switch (250) is closed. Users of the elevator, such as passenger or building occupants, would hear the audible alarm and call maintenance to thereby prevent an oil spill. The device can be retrofit to existing elevator pit cans.

Abstract: A method for allocation of a user to a elevator installation, which is provided with a plurality of elevator cars and with a destination call control unit, wherein the user lodges a destination call at the destination control unit using a communications unit. The destination call control unit determines a group of elevator cars for serving the destination call and makes the group known to the user by the communications unit. The user selects an elevator car from the group by the communications unit. In addition, information for guiding the user to the selected elevator car is communicated to the user by the communications unit.

Abstract: An assembly (30) controls the amount of downward movement of a counterweight (24) within an elevator system (20). By limiting the downward movement of the counterweight (24), a desired overhead clearance above an elevator car (22) can be maintained. One example includes at least one safety device (80, 84, 86, 88) on top of the elevator car (22) to provide an indication for when a holding member (34) should allow a stop member of the assembly (30) to move into a position to limit the downward movement of the counterweight (24). In one example, the stop member (32) moves into an employed position by the force of gravity and is manually moveable back into a retracted position when it is not needed. One example includes a guide member (60) that facilitates controlling the position of the stop member (32) when it is in the employed position.

Abstract: A method and device for maintenance of an elevator installation or an escalator installation communicates the presence of a maintenance technician at the elevator or escalator installation to a remote service center. The service center is thus informed about that the maintenance technician has to maintain or is maintaining or has maintained a specific installation and is in a position of checking the quality of this maintenance. The maintenance operations are recorded as a maintenance record and communicated to the service center. For example, the maintenance record contains details about which maintenance technician on which day of the year and for how long has undertaken which maintenance operations on a specific elevator or escalator installation. The quality of a thus detected maintenance can then be compared with a quality standard. In addition, the maintenance operations performed are thus uniquely detected and can be evaluated.

Abstract: An elevator system (20) includes a transceiver (22) that receives at least one wirelessly transmitted signal (24). In one example, a signaling device (26) includes a plurality of switches (28) that can be activated to provide a signal indicating a desired or intended destination. The signal also provides an indication of the individual from whom the signal is received. A system controller (30) responds to the signal by assigning an elevator car (32) to travel to the intended destination. When the elevator car (32) is situated to receive the individual, in the event that another wireless signal is received, the system provides at least one access feature including delaying closing an elevator car door or generating an audible sound to guide the individual to the car. In one example, the system maintains information regarding expected locations of individuals providing such signals to facilitate providing assistance to them for exiting a building, for example.

Abstract: A method of dispatching an elevator car to a destination requested by a passenger before the passenger enters the car includes determining which trip of the elevator car begins at a time having a desired relationship to an expected arrival time when a passenger is expected to arrive near the elevator car. An actual arrival time of the passenger near the elevator car is determined. The elevator car is dispatched to the requested destination during a trip that begins at a time that corresponds to or is after the actual arrival time.

Abstract: A lift apparatus to deploy from a storage position in a ceiling to a working position supported by the floor of a room below the ceiling where the lift apparatus is stored. A electrically motor powered drive raises a lift platform and lowers a lift platform to carry items from the room to an attic above the room. Controls are used to deploy the lift apparatus and to operate the lift platform on the lift apparatus. Preferred method of operating the lift apparatus is an acme screw drive which provides an appropriate mechanical advantage reducing the size of the motor required, but also will prevent downward movement either of the lift apparatus during the deployment procedure or of the lift platform while moving items from the attic to the room below the attic or from the room below the attic to the attic. The lift apparatus is supported by the floor and does not require any special bracing or strengthening of floor joists.

Abstract: A plurality of cars (A-C) traveling in the same hoistway (10) send communication check codes (27, 35, 70, 77) to each other over a first communication channel, and if a response is not received (30, 37, 73, 80) within a predetermined time (32, 38, 74, 81) the car not getting a response will send a failure mode command to the other two cars (53, 82). Either the car (A) which senses the failure, or a predesignated car (B) will assume a wild car mode (60, 88) after the other two cars are safely parked (56, 57; 85, 86) out of the way, under control of special sensors and signals sent over a second communications channel. Two out of three cars may operate if only one has communication failure with one or two of the others.

Abstract: An elevator load bearing member (30) monitoring device includes a controller (42) that applies a selected electrical signal to tension members (32) of the load bearing member (30). In one example, connectors (40) are associated with ends of the load bearing member (30) to establish an electrical interface between the controller (42) and the tension members (32). The connectors (40) facilitate establishing electrical circuit loops along the tension members (32) such that only non-adjacent tension members are energized at a selected time. A variety of circuit configurations are disclosed. The applied electrical signal in one example has a potential that is negative compared to a ground potential of a hoistway in which the elevator belt is used. In another example, the electrical signal comprises a plurality of pulses and has a duty cycle that is on the order of about one percent.

Abstract: A vibration damping system for an elevator is provided with a damping device (5) that is provided between a cab (1) and a car frame (2) for supporting the cab (1) and whose damping coefficient can be changed. A speed detector detects the traveling speed of a reference elevator car, and a calculation unit (15) receiving the traveling speed detected by the speed detector calculates a control signal for the damping device (5), and outputs the control signal to the damping device. The calculation unit (15) controls the damping device (5) in such a way that, in the case where the traveling speed exceeds a predetermined value, the damping coefficient of the damping device (5) is larger than that in the case where the traveling speed is the same as or smaller than the predetermined value.

Abstract: A door device for an elevator is provided with an elevator door for opening/closing a doorway through which an interior of a car communicates with a landing, a distance sensor for continuously detecting a distance from the doorway to a passenger at the landing, a processing device for obtaining a door control command corresponding to information from the distance sensor, and a door control device for controlling a movement of the elevator door based on the door control command from the processing device. Thus, the elevator door can be moved in accordance with the movement of the passenger. Accordingly, the passenger is allowed to board the car more reliably, and a running efficiency of the elevator can be enhanced.

Abstract: A door device for an elevator includes an elevator door, first and second door drive devices having first and second rotating shafts, respectively, a power transmission mechanism that moves the elevator door according to rotation of the first and second rotating shafts, and a door control device that controls movement of the elevator door. The door control device includes a first processing device that performs first arithmetic processing for controlling the first door drive device, a second processing device that performs second arithmetic processing for controlling the second door drive device, and an information transmitting unit for information transmission between the first and second processing devices.

Abstract: Destination calls entered by means of buttons (21-29) are each given a designation unique to the car and pick-up floor for that call and other calls to be serviced therewith, such as a letter (A-E), which is different from any other outstanding calls. Calls can be reassigned among elevators (UL, LL, UR, LR) whether they are in the same or different hoistways (LF, RT). Signs (31-39, 41-49) adjacent each hoistway are illuminated to display the designation of any call which is being answered by an elevator car approaching the floor. Thus, passengers are informed when their call is being answered by the signs identifying the call, rather than identifying any particular car. Another embodiment identifies (60, 31a, 41a) the hoistway landing doorway (1, 2) as well as a letter to allow passengers to wait adjacent to the hoistway landing doorway of the car which will serve them.

Abstract: Safety equipment for an elevator installation with an upper elevator car and a lower elevator car, which cars are both movable substantially independently along a vertical direction in a common elevator shaft of the elevator installation includes a first electro-optical detection system with a first light source in a lower region of the upper elevator car and with a first detector which comprises a light-sensitive first sensor region in an upper region of the lower elevator car. The first light source issues a focused first light beam at a first angle with respect to the vertical direction. The first angle is predetermined such that on approach of the upper and the lower elevator cars the first light beam is incident on the first sensor region and thus is detectable by the first detector. In this case, the first detector triggers a reaction.

Abstract: An elevator safety arrangement and a method for implementing safety spaces in an elevator has a mechanical safety device which can be set to a working position to ensure a sufficient safety space in the elevator shaft and an electric safety system for identifying the operating state of the mechanical safety device. An electric safety controller comprises means for measuring the total resistance of a series circuit. The method includes reading the number of landing doors open by means of detectors fitted in conjunction with the landing doors, reading the number of elevator car doors open by means of detectors fitted in conjunction with the elevator car doors, and reading the position of a mechanical safety device by means of detectors fitted in conjunction with the mechanical safety device. If it is established that number of landing doors open is greater than the number of elevator car doors open, then setting the safety system into a ‘person in shaft’ state and preventing operation of the elevator.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a distance adjustable passenger handle assembly for an elevator. The handle assembly comprises plural fixing members (120), and plural handle supports (140). Each fixing member (120) includes a horizontal wall (122) having an opening (124) formed at an intermediate portion thereof along the entire length thereof. The opening (124) has a width which prevents the head of the fastener (30) from passing therethrough. Each handle support (140) includes a vertical partition (144), and a horizontal wall (146). The vertical partition (144) defines a space (143) inside the handle support (140), and has a through hole (145). The horizontal wall (146) has an opening (147) corresponding to the opening (124). With the handle securely fixed the handle support, the handle support (140) is inserted to the fixing member (120), adjusted to a desired distance to the inner wall, and securely coupled to the fixing member (120).

Abstract: An elevator system (20) includes a sensor (30, 36) for detecting the presence of an individual within a hoistway (24). A controller (32) prevents movement of an elevator car (22) whenever an individual is in the hoistway (24). A pit override device (34) provides an override signal to the controller (32) permitting movement of the elevator car (22) if someone is in a pit (26). A car top override device (38) selectively provides an override signal to the controller (32) permitting movement of the car. A disclosed example includes controlling at least one light (40) within the hoistway (24) in conjunction with movement or attempted movement of the elevator car (22).

Abstract: A method of operating an elevator installation and the elevator installation include elevator doors actuated by an elevator drive according to a travel curve. At least one sensor unit detects pressure relationships and/or air flows. An evaluating unit determines a travel curve, which is optimal with respect to the detected pressure relationships and/or air flows, from a plurality of travel curves.

Abstract: An elevator system where control appliances of the elevator system are fitted to communicate between themselves is described herein. The elevator system has a control arrangement for placing at least one control appliance into standby mode or for terminating the standby mode. The control arrangement is fitted to set the standby mode on the basis of at least one activation signal, as well as to send a control signal of the standby mode to at least one control appliance of the elevator system. Associated methods for fitting a standby mode into an elevator system are also described herein.

Abstract: An evacuation supporting system which can provide elevators in a building for evacuation in event of a fire and can substantially reduce the burden required by the rescue at the site of the fire by providing, before the arrival of firemen at the building, the firemen with information on the evacuation condition of the weak and the condition of evacuation of those who are present in the building carried out by use of the elevators. In an ancillary room within the building, there is installed an evacuation detection device which is used by disaster preventing staff in a disaster prevention center within the building to check for persons who have escaped into the ancillary room. When a fire has been detected by a fire detector, the elevators in the building are provided for evacuation for those who are present in the building, and the input status of the evacuation detection device and the evacuation operation condition of the elevator are transmitted to an external computer environment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining the movement of a synchronous machine. The apparatus for determining the movement of a synchronous machine comprises a determination for at least one electrical magnitude of the synchronous machine; a determination of the position error of the rotor of the synchronous machine, which is fitted to determine the position error of the rotor on the basis of the aforementioned at least one electrical magnitude of the synchronous machine; and also a correction of the movement signal of the incremental sensor, which is fitted to correct the read movement signal of the incremental sensor on the basis of the aforementioned determination of the position error of the rotor of the synchronous machine.

Abstract: An elevator system (20) includes a transceiver (22) that receives at least one wirelessly transmitted signal (24). In one example, a signaling device (26) includes a plurality of switches (28) that can be activated to provide a signal indicating a desired or intended destination. The signal also provides an indication of the individual from whom the signal is received. A system controller (30) responds to the signal by assigning an elevator car (32) to travel to the intended destination. When the elevator car (32) is situated to receive the individual, in the event that another wireless signal is received, the system provides at least one access feature including delaying closing an elevator car door or generating an audible sound to guide the individual to the car. In one example, the system maintains information regarding expected locations of individuals providing such signals to facilitate providing assistance to them for exiting a building, for example.

Abstract: A method for restricting the output of an electrical drive and for protection of an elevator are provided. The electrical drive includes a motor as well as a power supply appliance of the motor. In the method for restricting the output of an electrical drive the stator voltage vector is restricted to its limit value restricting only the component of the stator voltages in the direction of the q axis. In the protection of an elevator, the elevator includes a machinery brake, a safety brake of the elevator car, and also an electrical drive. The protection method includes determination of at least one limit value, restriction of the output of the electrical drive on the basis of at least one determined limit value, and restriction of the movement of the elevator car on the basis of at least on determined limit value.

Abstract: A method for modernization of an elevator installation with several elevators in a building, wherein at least one floor terminal for input of a floor call is provided on at least one floor of the building, which floor terminal is, for communication of an input floor call, connected with a group control, and at least one elevator is controlled in drive in accordance with the communicated floor call by the group control, includes connecting at least one call detecting unit, for communication of an input floor call, with the group control. At least one new floor terminal is, for input of a floor call, mounted on at least one floor and the new floor terminal is, for communication of an input floor call, connected with the call detecting unit.

Abstract: A control system for elevators is provided with a landing call registration device provided at each of landing floors so as to be operable thereat, a landing call automatic registration portion for setting that one of the landing floors at which the landing call registration device is operated as a car call floor and registering a car call to stop one of cars at the car call floor, a response selection portion for selecting that one of elevator apparatuses which responds to a registered car call as a selected elevator, a passenger traveling time period calculation portion for setting that one of elevator doorways of the selected elevator which is provided at the car call floor as a selected doorway and calculating a passenger traveling time period corresponding to the selected doorway, and an opening/closing control portion for controlling the opening/closing operation of the selected doorway based on information from the selected elevator and information from the passenger traveling time period calculation p

Abstract: A set of elevators includes a plurality of elevators without counterweight, a power supply, and a common control system. The plurality of elevators has a common connection to the power supply. The common control system includes one or more instructions to prevent or delay dispatch of an elevator car stopped at a floor if, at that instant, within a set period of time, or at that instant and within the set period of time, power consumed from an associated electrical network by the set of elevators or fed into the associated electrical network by the set of elevators together exceeds a set value. A method for controlling a set of elevators includes determining whether power consumed together exceeds a set value, and when the power consumed exceeds the set value, then departure of a next elevator car to be dispatched is prevented or delayed.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for optimal routing of the elevators in an elevator system in a situation where the supply power received by the system is limited e.g. due to emergency power operation. In the invention, routes are optimized by using a cost function to which has been added a term containing the summed instantaneous power consumed. Power consumption is monitored in real time, and the elevators need a start permission from the control system. A route alternative that exceeds the power limit is penalized in the cost function by a so-called penal term. With the elevator routing obtained as a result, the instantaneous power consumed by the system remains continuously below the set power limit. Some call can thus be postponed to be served later. By the method of the invention, the number of elevators serving passengers in an emergency power situation can be varied dynamically.

Abstract: A vibration damping system for an elevator is provided with a damping device (5) that is provided between a cab (1) and a car frame (2) for supporting the cab (1) and whose damping coefficient can be changed. A speed detector detects the traveling speed of a reference elevator car, and a calculation unit (15) receiving the traveling speed detected by the speed detector calculates a control signal for the damping device (5), and outputs the control signal to the damping device. The calculation unit (15) controls the damping device (5) in such a way that, in the case where the traveling speed exceeds a predetermined value, the damping coefficient of the damping device (5) is larger than that in the case where the traveling speed is the same as or smaller than the predetermined value.

Abstract: A system and a method for monitoring a safety circuit are presented. The system includes a control appliance and the safety circuit comprises at least one serial circuit of two or more switches. The arrangement system also includes a way of measuring the status of at least one switch, as well as a way of conveying the status information of the switch to the control appliance. The method includes measuring the status information of at least one switch and sending the measured status information to the control appliance.

Abstract: The invention concerns an arrangement and a method for controlling the power supply of the load of an elevator system. The arrangement has at least a monitoring unit and at least one controllable power source. The controllable power source is connected between the load of an elevator system and the monitoring unit such that the power supply of the load of the elevator system can be controlled by means of a control signal transmitted to the controllable power source by the monitoring unit. The monitoring unit according to the invention contains at least one input for determining the status of at least one safety switch of the elevator system. On the basis of the status of the safety switch a control signal either having pulses or being in a static state is sent with the monitoring unit to at least one controllable power source.

Abstract: A fail-safe power control apparatus for supplying power between an energy source (4) and the motor (5) of a transport system is provided. The power control apparatus comprises a power supply circuit (6), which comprises at least one converter (7, 8) containing change-over switches (32). The power control apparatus comprises a control arrangement (24) for controlling the converter change-over switches, a data transfer bus (10), at least two controllers (1, 2) adapted to communicate with each other, and a control arrangement (11) for controlling a first braking device, and possibly a control arrangement (43) for controlling a second braking device.

Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, a brake device is controlled by a brake control device. The brake control device has a first brake control portion for operating the brake device to stop a car as an emergency measure upon detection of an abnormality, and a second brake control portion for reducing a braking force of the brake device when a deceleration of the car becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined value during emergency braking operation of the first brake control portion. The second brake control portion controls the brake device independently of the first brake control portion.

Abstract: A car door is displaced with respect to a landing door between an engagement position at which the car door is engaged with the landing door and an open-away position located on a door-closing side with respect to the engagement position. While remaining engaged with the car door, the landing door is moved to open/close a landing doorway. When the landing doorway is fully closed by the landing door, a locking device performs an operation corresponding to the position of the car door with respect to the landing door to lock/unlock the landing door. A door control device has an engagement completion time calculating portion, a speed pattern generating portion, and a speed control portion. The engagement completion time calculating portion predicts an engagement completion time to a moment when the car door reaches the engagement position during a door-opening operation, based on information from an unlock detecting device for detecting whether or not the landing door has been unlocked.

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 elevator system (20) includes a transceiver (22) that receives at least one wirelessly transmitted signal (24). In one example, a signaling device (26) includes a plurality of switches (28) that can be activated to provide a signal indicating a desired or intended destination. The signal also provides an indication of the individual from whom the signal is received. A system controller (30) responds to the signal by assigning an elevator car (32) to travel to the intended destination. When the elevator car (32) is situated to receive the individual, in the event that another wireless signal is received, the system provides at least one access feature including delaying closing an elevator car door or generating an audible sound to guide the individual to the car. In one example, the system maintains information regarding expected locations of individuals providing such signals to facilitate providing assistance to them for exiting a building, for example.

Abstract: A method of providing video information to a display monitor within an elevator located in a building, which includes receiving first data defining a category of video information, receiving second data, associated with the category of video information and defining at least one source of the video information; and retrieving from the source, over a data communications path and on the basis of the first data and the second data, the video information to be displayed on the monitor within the elevator.

Abstract: A load port apparatus is disclosed wherein the total period of time of operation of a lid member mounting and dismounting apparatus and a mapping apparatus is minimized while avoiding interference of the two apparatus with each other. An interference avoiding sensor apparatus is provided on the lid member mounting and dismounting apparatus and the mapping apparatus and detects that a lid member suction plate of the lid member mounting and dismounting apparatus is disposed at a position lower by a value exceeding a preset value than the arm to which the mapping sensors are attached to enable pivotal motion of the arm without interfering with the lid member suction plate. Then, immediately after the preset value is detected by the interference avoiding sensor apparatus, the arm is pivoted to the mapping position to start the mapping.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for forming information pertaining to a transportation device, such as an elevator. Audio visual information of the contents of an elevator, such as a person using the elevator, is captured and transmitted to a remote computing system. The status of the elevator, such as position between floors, is also captured and transmitted to the computing system. The elevator status and video/audio information are date/time stamped so that they can subsequently be searched to determine the status of the elevator when particular audio/visual information was captured, and vice versa.

Abstract: A method of preventing a collision of two elevator cars of an elevator installation, which cars move substantially independently of one another in a common shaft, and an elevator installation includes a collision protection system that produces a retardation of each moved elevator car by a stopping brake as soon as the effective distance between the elevator cars falls below a critical minimum distance. After retardation of the cars by the stopping brakes, an emergency stop system comes into function. A control system of this emergency stop system ascertains the instantaneous movement state of the elevator cars. With the help of the car brakes, which are associated with the elevator cars, an additional retardation of each moved elevator car is triggered when the movement state thereof fulfils definable emergency stop criteria.