The present invention relates to a conveyor system comprising: a drive machine, a conveyor control unit configured to control operation of a conveyor device, a sensor array comprising at least one sensor mounted to the drive machine and adapted to measure one or more properties of the drive machine, a processing unit associated with the drive machine, wherein the processing unit is connected to the sensor array and configured to obtain and process measurement data from the sensor array to generate in-formation about an operation of the drive machine, and a communication channel between the conveyor control unit and the processing unit. The conveyor system may be an elevator system, an escalator system or a moving walk system.

A presence detection system includes a support layer operable to act as an underlying surface for supporting object(s), a sensor layer disposed beneath the support layer and operable to output readings indicating the presence of object(s) supported on the support layer and a controller for receiving the presence readings from the sensor layer and determining, based on the readings, an indicator of the occupancy status and/or an occupancy level of the support layer. The presence detection system can be used within an access gate system whereby the access gate is operated to a blocking position upon the presence detection system detecting more than one human supported on the support layer, this operation overriding a reading of an authenticated user token. The presence detection system can also be used within an elevator system wherein the elevator door subsystem and the elevator displacement subsystem are controlled based on an occupancy level detected by the detection system. Methods for detecting object are also contemplated.

An elevator system (1) includes a load sensor (4, 24, 34, 44), a flexible member (2, 18, 22) and an elevator unit (10, 20, 28) arranged to move vertically in a hoistway. The system is arranged such that the load sensor (4, 24, 34, 44) detects a load from at least a fraction of the flexible member (2, 18, 22) and the fraction of the flexible member (2, 18, 22) that applies load to the load sensor (4, 24, 34, 44) changes as the elevator unit (10, 20, 28) moves vertically in the hoistway. The system further includes a non-volatile memory, arranged to store load conversion information for converting the detected load into an elevator unit position.

An elevator monitoring system and method includes cabin-based radars monitor doors and passengers within a cabin; waiting zone radars monitor passengers in a waiting zone; a central processor analyzes data from the various monitors and executes an elevator control function to control the elevator system. The door state is determined by detecting reflections from internal angles within the cabin and a door management system manages door operation safely by monitoring a proximal zone around the automatic door, detecting moving objects and obstructions.

Elevator control system including an elevator car, an elevator controller, and an occupancy detection system configured to detect an occupancy level within the elevator car, the occupancy detection system comprising at least one camera. The elevator controller and the occupancy detection system are configured control the elevator car to prevent additional passengers from entering the elevator car when the occupancy detection system detects an occupancy level above a predetermined threshold.

An illustrative example method of controlling an elevator system includes detecting a number of passengers waiting for elevator service at a landing, detecting an available passenger capacity of a plurality of elevator cars, respectively, and assigning at least one of the elevator cars to travel to the landing to provide elevator service to the passengers based on the detected number of passengers and the available passenger capacity of the at least one of the elevator cars.

Provided is an elevator system capable of protecting the privacy of users. The elevator system includes: a plurality of in-car communication devices provided in a plurality of respective cars; and a group management device configured to, when an in-car communication device in a car that has arrived at a hall receives identification information from a portable terminal by wireless communication and when the car is not a car to which a call has been allocated on the basis of input from the portable terminal corresponding to the identification information, cause the in-car communication device in the car to transmit information indicating that a user has gotten on a wrong car to the portable terminal by wireless communication.

An aspect includes capturing crowd data associated with a lobby area of an elevator system. A dispatching schedule of one or more elevator cars of the elevator system is adjusted based on the crowd data. A notification of the adjustment to the dispatching schedule is output.

The method includes loading and/or unloading the car, determining whether the car doors are fully closed or not fully open, measuring a total actual axial mass Fact hanging from the traction sheave, determining a stalling limit total minimum axial mass Fmin, checking reopening of the car doors, whereby if the car doors are reopened, then return to beginning, else, continue, permitting starting of elevator, comparing the total actual axial mass with the stalling limit total minimum axial mass, whereby if the total actual axial mass is equal to or greater than the stalling limit total minimum axial mass, then permit normal run of the elevator car to the next landing, else, stop the elevator.

A smart multi-car elevator system, comprising at least two hoistways, a switch mechanism, a power mechanism and multiple cars; the hoistways are internally provided with rails for the movement of the cars, the switch mechanism is provided between adjacent hoistways, the position of the cars being switched, by means of the switch mechanism, between the adjacent hoistways; the perform, driven by the power mechanism, upward or downward movement within the hoistways or switch movement between the hoistways, and the cars are driven by the power mechanism to stop at any floor for people to get in or get out the elevator. The smart multi-car elevator system is provided with multiple individually running cars within one hoistway, improving the conveying efficiency and effectively saving the building space and building cost.