Abstract: An elevator hall display device. A destination floor registration device includes destination buttons and assigned car display panels. An elevator group supervisory controller includes a hall destination call registration section that registers a hall destination call corresponding to an operation of a destination button, an assigned car decision section that decides an assigned car to respond to the hall destination call, an assigned car display mode controller that sets a display mode of the assigned car, and an assigned car display that makes the assigned car displayed on an assigned car display panel in the set display mode. The assigned car display mode controller sets the assigned car display to a first display mode until a predetermined time elapses from start of display of the assigned car on the assigned car display panel, and sets the display of the assigned car to a second display mode after the predetermined time elapses.

Abstract: An elevator system (20) includes a plurality of cars (22) and destination entry devices (40) located some distance from the elevator cars (22). A controller (38) dispatches an elevator car to a requested destination entered by a passenger before the passenger enters an elevator car. In one example, the controller (38) uses an expected arrival time corresponding to the time it is expected to take for a passenger to travel from the location where the destination request is entered to the location of the elevator car to decide how to dispatch a car to service that request. In one example, the controller dispatches an elevator car to the requested destination on a next trip of that car if the expected arrival time of the passenger near that car occurs at or before the departure time for that next trip. Otherwise, the controller (38) dispatches the car to the requested destination on a subsequent trip after the next trip.

Abstract: A conveyor passenger interface system includes a passenger reception area (10) having a mechanism (14) for receiving a voice request from a passenger. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the voice request receiving mechanism (14) is a sound dome. The system further includes a device (18) responsive to the voice request for identifying a conveyor for transporting the passenger to a desired location and for identifying the conveyor to the passenger. The system of the present invention has utility in elevator systems as well as other transportation systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides an elevator controller including: a main control unit for controlling running of an elevator, in which the main control unit predictively calculates a continuous temperature state of a predetermined componential equipment of the elevator and performs an operation control of the elevator based on the predicted temperature state such that the componential equipment is not overloaded. Accordingly, a temperature rise in the componential equipment is suppressed, thereby enabling to prevent the elevator from becoming inoperable.

Abstract: An elevator control method and system. The system comprises a control unit and a memory unit. The memory unit comprises user data segments associated with users for elevators within the system and transponder identification data segments associated with transponders. The method comprises receiving by the control unit, ID signals from the transponders. The control unit associates the user data segments with the ID signals and determines priority levels for the users.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an elevator condition monitoring system, which comprises at least a control unit (104) and a sensor arrangement (250) connected to the control unit, while the elevator comprises an elevator car (100), an elevator drive machine (109) and a control system (110) including the required safety circuit and actuators. The control unit of the condition monitoring system and the sensor arrangement connected to the control unit have been fitted in conjunction with the elevator car. The sensor arrangement comprises at least a sensor which measures the current of the safety circuit and is galvanically separated from the elevator safety circuit and connected to the safety circuit without interrupting the safety circuit wiring.

Abstract: A method of assigning a user to an elevator system with several elevators wherein a user issues a destination call, at least one elevator is determined to serve the destination call and is announced to the user by an acoustic signal that identifies the elevator. All of the signals that designate the different elevators are exclusively formed by one single single-frequency signal tone, the various signals that identify the individual elevators being distinguishable to the user by a predefined signal duration and/or at least one predefined signal interruption. The invention further relates to an elevator system that is equipped for this method.

Abstract: In a method of marking pictograms, for reducing the number of erroneous operations, on an operation apparatus conducting mutually different operations such as opening and closing operations, a concretized human pictogram indicating mutually different state changes such as state changes represented by use of a face with opened eyes and a face with closed eyes associated with operation signals assigned to a pair of operation switches and a pictogram in which the human pictogram is combined with an operation pictogram representing a state in which a door concretizing an operation target to operate in response to an operation signal is opened or is being completely closed are respectively attached to the operation switches disposed adjacent to each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement in an elevator without counterweight, which comprises at least a control unit (5), a hoisting machine (3) and a traction sheave (4) connected to it, and an elevator car (1) suspended on hoisting ropes (2) fixed to an essentially immovable place at their first ends and adjustably at their second ends, which elevator car (1) is fitted to travel backwards and forwards in an essentially vertical direction, and which elevator also comprises a tightening element (15) acting on the second end of the hoisting ropes (2). An actively operating actuator (17, 21, 24, 29) is in connection with the tightening element (15), which is fitted by means of feedback to keep the rope tension essentially at a predetermined level either by lightening or tightening the rope tension according to changes in the loading.

Abstract: An elevator system (20) uses destination entry dispatching techniques. A passenger interface device (22) operates in a first mode to allow passengers (24) to enter destination requests for elevator service. The passenger interface (22) operates in a second mode to provide at least one additional feature to an authorized individual. The additional feature may be at least one of a service-related function, a security-related function, a monitoring-related function or a communication-related function.

Abstract: Lighting equipment of an elevator car and a method for guidance of persons in an elevator provides a floor indication that communicates to the passenger, in a simple and clear manner, reaching of his or her destination floor, even in high buildings with numerous floors. The lighting equipment has a light source and a control of the light source, which produces a color effect relative to the floor indication.

Abstract: A method and detection system monitors the speed of an elevator car and, in case of excess speed caused by brake failure of a motor brake or shaft fracture of a drive pulley shaft, a safety circuit is opened and the detection system is transferred from a normal operational state (State 1) to a retardation state (State 2) in which it is monitored whether the elevator car is retarded after defined speed presets. After a successful retardation, the detection system is transferred to a state of standstill monitoring (State 3) in which it is monitored whether the elevator car leaves its standstill position. If the presets of State 2 or State 3 are not fulfilled, the detection system is transferred to a braking state of the brake (State 4) in which a brake which fixes the elevator car is activated.

Abstract: An actuator used in a safety stop device for an elevator has: a movable portion displaceable between an actuation position where the safety stop device for the elevator is actuated and a normal position where the actuation of the safety stop device is released; and an electromagnetic coil for displacing the movable portion when a current flows through the electromagnetic coil. A device for inspecting operation of the actuator has a feeder circuit for supplying an amount of electricity required for a semi-operation which is less than that required for a full operation for displacing the movable portion from the normal position and the actuation position to the electromagnetic coil.

Abstract: In an elevator control apparatus, a control apparatus main body includes a program storage portion for storing a program concerning operational control of an elevator and a processing portion for performing a plurality of calculation processings based on the program. Further, the control apparatus main body writes pieces of processed information corresponding to the calculation processings, respectively, into the RAM when the calculation processings are performed, and monitors whether or not a sequence of performance of the calculation processings is normal by reference to a pattern of the pieces of the processed information written into the RAM.

Abstract: In an elevator control apparatus, the presence/absence of an abnormality in an elevator is monitored by an abnormality monitoring portion. The abnormality monitoring portion makes a determination on the presence/absence of an abnormality in the elevator based on information from a sensor, and outputs a signal for stopping a car upon detecting an abnormality. The history of information on the result of determination by the abnormality monitoring portion is recorded in a history information recording portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an elevator system for monitoring elevators by using a virtual elevator group. The method for monitoring elevators in an elevator system including a plurality of elevators classified into a plurality of elevator groups, and at least one virtual elevator group including a plurality of elevators, at least one of which is included in a different elevator group and displaying the elevator related information on the elevators included in the selected virtual elevator group.

Abstract: Passenger transportation system (4) including a hallway (2) providing access to at least one transport car (6, 8, 10, 12) and a control for controlling the movement of the cars, characterized by a passenger trajectory tracking device (16) including a data processing means for monitoring the access areas to the cars (6, 8, 10, 12).

Abstract: Method for the condition monitoring of the safety switches of the safety circuit of an elevator. Inferences can be made about the condition of a safety switch by measuring and examining the current of the safety circuit of the elevator after the state of the safety circuit has changed. The current signal is filtered, after which the amount of interference caused by contact malfunctions of the switch is determined from it. Based on the amount of interference it is possible to determine in what condition the switch is.

Abstract: An elevator apparatus has a car suspended by a main rope through the intermediation of a shackle spring. The car is equipped with a displacement sensor for measuring the displacement amount of the main rope with respect to the car. The displacement sensor is electrically connected to an abnormality control device mounted on the car. The abnormality control device obtains the magnitude of the tension of the main rope based on information from the displacement sensor, and selectively outputs a braking command signal to one of the following devices: an operation control device, a brake device, and an emergency stop device, according to the magnitude of the tension of the main rope.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for a transportation device includes an analyzer unit. The analyzer unit includes a user defined sequence logic map. The sequence logic map defines a sequence for a plurality of name inputs. The analyzer unit is configured to monitor the operating condition of the plurality of named inputs and compare the operating condition of the plurality of named inputs with the user defined sequence logic map. The analyzer unit communicates the comparison in a notification.

Abstract: A system for sanitizing an enclosed structure comprises a first sensor, a second sensor, a third sensor, a germicidal ultraviolet light source, a motor, and a controller. The first sensor detects the presence of humans or animals within the enclosed structure. The second sensor detects the position of at least one door of the enclosed structure. The third sensor detects tampering with the system. The ultraviolet light source provides electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet range. The motor moves the ultraviolet light source from an inactive position to an active position and from the active position to the inactive position. The controller receives inputs from the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor, and transmits outputs to the ultraviolet light source and the motor.

Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, a brake device for braking the running of a car is controlled by a brake control device. The brake control device monitors a speed of the car and a degree of deceleration of the car at a time of emergency braking of the car. When the degree of deceleration of the car reaches a preset target deceleration, the brake control device generates a target speed pattern for decelerating the car from a speed of the car at that time.

Abstract: An elevator installation contains an elevator car (12) that is arranged movably between floors (S1, S2) in an elevator hoistway (11). The elevator car (12) has a car door (14), and the elevator hoistway (11) has on the each floor (S1, S2) a hoistway door (13). Assigned to the car door (14), or to the hoistway door (13), is a sill-section (16). To draw attention to a gap (30), or give a warning of a step, between elevator car (12) and floor (S1, S2), it is proposed to arrange in the sill-section (16) of the elevator car (12), or of the floor (S1, S2), at least one light module (20, 21, 22).

Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, a brake control device has a first brake control portion, a second brake control portion, and a third brake control portion. The first brake control portion operates a hoisting machine brake to stop a ascending/descending body as an emergency measure when an abnormality is detected. The second brake control portion reduces a braking force of the hoisting machine brake when a deceleration of the ascending/descending body becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value during an emergency braking operation of the hoisting machine brake. The third brake control portion monitors a slip speed of a main rope with respect to a drive sheave during emergency braking operation of the hoisting machine brake, and reduces a braking force of the hoisting machine brake when the slip speed of the main rope becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value.

Abstract: Equipment for producing shaft information consists of a housing, a base, a first cover, a sliding guide with a code carrier and an electronic circuitboard with a sensor for detection of a code on a code carrier and electronic circuits for evaluation of the detected code. The housing has channels of different functions. The sliding guide can be inserted into a sliding guide channel. On movement of the lift cage the code carrier slides in the sliding guide past the sensor.

Abstract: The method serves for automatic checking of the availability of technical equipment which is arranged in or at a building and executes at least one repeatable procedure, and comprises the following steps. There is determined at least one estimated value (NS(i,t)) for the frequency of the performance of the procedure for a first time period and/or second estimated value (NS(i,t+?t)) for the frequency of the performance of the procedure for a second time period. A measured value Nm(i,t)) for the frequency of the performance of the procedure for the first time period is determined and the measured value is compared with at least one of the estimated values (NS(i,t), NS(i,t+?t)).

Abstract: An elevator door lock assembly (30) includes a sensor device (40) for providing an indication of a properly locked door. A plurality of proximity sensor elements (42, 44) interact with activating elements (52, 54) when the door lock assembly (30) is properly locked. In disclosed examples, a specific geometric pattern of the sensor elements (42, 44) and the activating elements (52, 54) provides redundancy and tampering protection. In a disclosed example, an output from the sensor device (40) provides an indication of a condition of the door lock and a building level location of a plurality of sensor devices.

Abstract: One of a plurality of cars (17, 18) traveling in a hoistway (10) of an elevator system (9) may be diverted to the hoistway overhead (31) or pit (36) to enable another of the cars to gain access to a floor near or at a terminal floor (11, 14). When such car is at its last stop with doors open, visual (40) and audible (41) indicators present (57, 58) messages to the effect that this is the last stop and passengers should exit. After car doors are closed (66), visual and audible messages (68, 69) relate to the car going to the pit or overhead and that passengers may push any button (to reopen doors). Thereafter, the car moves (75, 76) to the overhead (31) or the pit (36) and presents (82, 83) visual and audible messages to the effect that passengers did not exit at the correct floor and must wait while the other car makes a stop.

Abstract: An elevator control system for controlling the movement of an elevator car up and down an elevator shaft between floors of a structure includes a call input device provided on each floor to indicate a passenger is waiting to be picked-up; a measuring device to indicate a load on the elevator car; and a controller to answer calls from the call input devices and move the elevator between floors, wherein the controller overrides calls received from the call input devices and does not stop the car to pick up passengers when the load indicates there a full car with no room for additional passengers. The measuring device may include a force transducer to measure the load on the elevator car. The load may be a measure of the number of passengers in the car. The load may be compared to a threshold and when the load exceeds the threshold a signal is provided to the controller to override the call input devices.

Abstract: Elevator service disruption information is communicated to passengers in a group elevator system (10). The group elevator system (10) includes a group of elevators (14a, 14b, 14c) operable to transport each of the passengers to one of a plurality of floors (L, F2, F3, F4, F5). A destination entry input device (30, 35) at each floor permits each passenger to enter destination input information. A dispatch controller (20) controls dispatching of the elevators (14a, 14b, 14c) based on the destination input information and determines when elevator service is disrupted. A communication device (30, 35), which is responsive to information from the dispatch controller (20) when elevator service is disrupted, provides to passengers at each floor notice of the service disruption and response instructions related to the elevator service disruption.

Abstract: Method and system for detecting and stopping uncontrolled movement of the car (1) in an elevator. In the method movement of the car is detected with the first movement detection means (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) when the brake (8) of the drive machinery (7) is in the braking status with the purpose of holding the car in its position without moving. A first control signal is formed if the car moves in the aforementioned situation. Movement of the car is stopped on the basis of the first control signal with a separate stopping appliance (9) with respect to the brake of the drive machinery. The operating condition of the first movement detection means are tested with the second movement detection means (10, 11, 12) during driving of the car in order to detect a fault situation. A second control signal is formed for the elevator control when a fault situation is detected, in which case the elevator control drives the car to the next stopping floor and prevents the subsequent run of the car.

Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, a pulley is provided in a hoistway. A rope that moves together with the movement of a car is wound around the pulley. Further, the pulley is provided with a pulley sensor for generating a signal according to the rotation of the pulley. The car is provided with a car speed sensor for directly detecting the speed of the car. A control panel is provided with: a first speed detecting portion for obtaining the speed of the car based on information from the pulley sensor; a second car speed detecting portion for obtaining the speed of the car based on information from the car speed sensor; and a determination portion for determining the presence/absence of slippage between the rope and the pulley by comparing the speeds of the car as respectively obtained by the first and second speed detecting portions.

Abstract: A method and a system for responding to a service request sent to a transportation service, determining one or more alternatives as a transportation device for the user and selecting a personal transportation device. An automated transportation system according to the invention may contain a plurality of elevators in an elevator group, a passenger terminal device for reserving elevators for use by passengers, and an elevator group control system responsive to the passenger terminal device for controlling the elevators. The method of the invention involves entering a personal service request via the terminal device, determining on the basis of the service request at least one alternative as a transportation device for the user, and selecting via the terminal device one of the alternatives as the transportation device.

Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, an actuator for generating a vibration-damping force against the lateral vibration of a car is provided in parallel to elastic member for preventing the lateral vibration of the car. The actuator is controlled by a vibration-damping control unit. The vibration-damping control unit estimates a natural frequency of the lateral vibration of the car, determines a gain value on the basis of the estimated natural frequency and a rigidity value of the elastic member, and drives the actuator in accordance with an instruction signal obtained by multiplication of the determined gain value.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring a position of a moveable platform comprising a plurality of RFID tags encoded with location information situated at known locations and a plurality of visual markers situated at precise, known locations. An RF reader attached to a moveable platform reads the RFID tags to determine the approximate location of the platform. A camera apparatus attached to the moveable platform scans the visual marker. The scanned image is processed to provide the precise position information of the platform.

Abstract: A method of providing non-contact data selection, comprising the steps of providing at least one data selection, transmitting at least one signal in proximity to the at least one data selection, altering the path of the at least one transmitted signal through interaction with a selection device, detecting at least one altered signal, and determining selection of the selection device from the at least one altered signal.

Abstract: A destination floor registering apparatus that can at any time and appropriately afford information on each floor to elevator users. For this purpose, a floor information display is provided for each destination button so that the contents of displays of the floor information display become visible from an operation surface of each of the destination buttons which a user operates in registering a desired destination floor, and the contents of displays of the floor information display are changed at any time according to operation conditions. Furthermore, information is displayed by a continuous change in colors, characters, or graphics to positively communicate the contents of displays of the floor information display to the user.

Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, a guide rail has a plurality of unit rails that are vertically connected to each other. A car is provided with a rail joint detecting device mounted on the car, for detecting the presence/absence of a joint between each of the unit rails. The rail joint detecting device has a joint detecting portion for optically detecting the presence of the joint; and a joint determining portion for determining the presence/absence of the joint based on information from the joint detecting portion. Information on the presence/absence of the joint is outputted from the joint determining portion to a car position correcting circuit. In the car position correcting circuit, information on the position of the car is corrected based on the information on the presence/absence of the joint.

Abstract: Method for the condition monitoring of the safety switches of the safety circuit of an elevator. Inferences can be made about the condition of a safety switch by measuring and examining the current of the safety circuit of the elevator after the state of the safety circuit has changed. The current signal is filtered, after which the amount of interference caused by contact malfunctions of the switch is determined from it. Based on the amount of interference it is possible to determine in what condition the switch is.

Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, a pulley is provided in a hoistway. A rope that moves together with the movement of a car is wound around the pulley. Further, the pulley is provided with a pulley sensor for generating a signal according to the rotation of the pulley. A rope sensor for measuring the movement speed of the rope is provided in the hoistway. A control panel is provided with: a first speed detecting portion for obtaining the speed of the car based on information from the pulley sensor; a second speed detecting portion for obtaining the speed of the car based on information from the rope sensor; and a determination portion for determining the presence/absence of slippage between the rope and the pulley by comparing the speeds of the car as respectively obtained by the first and second speed detecting portions.

Abstract: A detector of foreign objects, and particularly fingers, between the doors and the contiguous walls of landing and car openings in an elevator with glass car and landing doors includes a light beam emitter and a receiver. The emitter, which is located near an opening frame edge of the car, emits a light beam that extends transversally across the car and landing glass doors from the vertical car opening frame edge to the opposite vertical landing frame edge. The receiver, which receives the emitted light beam, is adapted to detect any obstacle to the light beam and to order the simultaneous halt and reversal, as required, of the car and landing doors.

Abstract: In an elevator safety device, a brake device puts brakes to brake a car through an operation of a safety relay main contact provided to a safety circuit. When the car stops during normal operations, a safety relay instruction signal for operating the relay main contact to such a direction that the brake device puts brakes is generated from a detection circuit. Then, the detection circuit detects whether or not the safety relay main contact is operated in accordance with the safety relay instruction signal.

Abstract: An elevator call button assembly (20) includes at least one call button (50) having a surface (70) that is touchable by an individual to indicate a desired call in the elevator system. A responder (56) provides a tactile indication that the call has been successfully placed. In one example, the responder (56) comprises a vibrating motor that moves a moveable member (52) once the system controller (68) has successfully received a signal indicating the desired call.

Abstract: An elevator installation with at least one car includes at least one device for determining a position of the car and a method of operating such an elevator installation. The position determining device has a code mark pattern and a sensor device. The code mark pattern is arranged along the length of travel of the car and consists of a multiplicity of code marks. The sensor device is mounted on the car and has sensors contactlessly scanning the code marks. The code marks are arranged in a single line and the sensor device comprises at least two sensor groups which are separated from each other perpendicular to the line of the code marks, which makes reading the code marks possible even if there are lateral displacements between the sensor device and the line of the code marks.

Abstract: A floor selection station (39a) has at least one switch button (45-51, 70, 93) which visually handicapped people use in selecting floors, and a speaker (54) to emit a sound uniquely ndicative of which elevator to board. Stations (39a, 39c) have a plurality of buttons with Braille indications of groups of floors (45-51) or individual floors (33). A station (39b) has only one button (70). Near or at each elevator lobby related to a group of floors serving a building, a floor identifier (39, 42) identifies with color, and optionally a symbol such as letter, each floor which is served by the group of elevators related to that lobby. At each elevator (26-29) there is an elevator indicator (32-35) which displays the same color, and optionally the same symbol, as displayed for any floor which the respective elevator is currently assigned to serve, and a speaker (32a 35a) which emits the same sound as at the floor selection station until the assigned elevator is dispatched.

Abstract: A set of elevators, preferably an elevator group, may include a number of elevators without counterweight which have a common connection to a power supply. The elevators may have a common control system which contains an instruction to prevent an elevator having stopped at a floor from being dispatched upwards if, of the elevator cars of the other elevators connected to the same power supply, more cars are moving upwards than are moving downwards at the instant and/or within a set period of time. A method for controlling a set of elevators without counterweight connected to a common power supply may include monitoring to establish whether, at the instant and/or within a set period of time, the number of upwards moving elevator cars of the elevators in the set is larger than the number of downwards moving elevator cars of the elevators in the set.

Abstract: In an elevator control apparatus, a stack region storing information required for calculations for controlling operation of an elevator is set within a RAM. A stack region surveillance portion conducts surveillance of the state of a preset surveillance region within the stack region. The elevator control apparatus controls operation of the elevator according to a state of the surveillance region detected by the stack region surveillance portion.

Abstract: A display system includes multiple monitor units which each include an enclosure, a display screen, a communication port, a storage device, and a control circuit. A communications conduit sequentially connects the monitor units and is selectively connectable with a general purpose computer. Each monitor unit is individually addressable over the communications conduit by a general purpose computer for receiving individualized control information and image information therefrom. The control circuit of each of the monitor units is configured to store the control information and the image information within the storage device, and is further configured to act in accordance with the stored control information to selectively provide at least some of the stored image information to the display screen. The control circuit does not include a general purpose computer and is unable to operate an off-the-shelf operating system. An elevator system is also provided, as are methods of displaying information.

Abstract: In an elevator control apparatus, calculations regarding the control of an elevator are performed in a duplexed system including first and second processing portions. A first clock signal from a first clock is input to the first processing portion. A second clock signal from a second clock is input to the second processing portion. The first and second clock signals are input to a clock abnormality detecting circuit. The clock abnormality detecting circuit counts the numbers of pulses of the first and second clock signals, and detects abnormalities in the first and second clock signals from a difference between the numbers of the pulses.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a method and a system for integrating electric elements of an elevator in a single module, e.g. in the door operator of the elevator, to reduce the number of components to be installed and to enable the electric elements of the elevator to be added to the door operator on the elevator car already at the manufacturing stage. The method may include intergrating electric components to be placed in the elevator, such as location elements, acceleration sensors and door zone sensors, with the door operator or some other module already at the manufacturing stage of the elevator, e.g. by placing the active parts of the sensors in conjunction with the door operator and the passive parts on the floor level side.