An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes: a plurality of elevator cars; a plurality of elevator machines, respectively associated with the elevator cars to selectively cause movement of the associated elevator car, at least some of the elevator machines respectively operating in a first mode including consuming power and in a second mode including generating power; a power source having a power output threshold and a power intake threshold; and at least one controller that is configured to determine when the power source is providing power for the elevator system, and dynamically adjust how the plurality of machines move the elevator cars to maximize a number of the plurality cars being used to move passengers while keeping power consumption by the elevator system below the power output threshold and keeping power generation by the elevator system below the power intake threshold.

An elevator device enabling efficient evacuation of people left in a building is provided. The elevator device includes: an evacuation operation mode request switch provided in a hall of an elevator on a rescue floor; a car that if the evacuation operation mode request switch is kept in an operated state, keeps operating in an evacuation operation mode in which the car moves between the rescue floor and an evacuation floor; and an operation control device that is provided in the hall of the elevator on the rescue floor, and if the operation control device is operated when the car is stopped at the rescue floor, moves the car to the evacuation floor.

A holographic elevator assistance system mounted in an elevator cab. The system includes a holographic display and a Common Passenger Interface Board (CPIB). The CPIB is configured to receive an input, interpret the received input, and perform a projection of a holographic image from the holographic display based on the input.

The present invention relates to a method for controlling an operation of an elevator, which is capable of moving the elevator to a near floor by using an auxiliary power supply such as a battery in an emergency situation where a commercial power supply cannot be used, while minimizing power consumption through automatic control. The method includes: detecting the current operation zone of the elevator when an auxiliary power supply driving situation occurs; and operating the elevator by using the auxiliary power supply to correspond to the detected current operation zone. The detected current operation zone corresponds to one of an acceleration zone, a constant speed zone, a creep zone and a seating zone.

A building elevator system is provided having: an elevator system having an elevator car; a control system configured to control the building elevator system and determine evacuation information; and a dynamic display configured to display the evacuation information when an evacuation call is received by the control system. The evacuation information includes at least one of an estimated time of arrival of the elevated car, an evacuee recommendation, a directional map, and directional instructions.

An electrically autonomous elevator system includes an elevator car configured to move in a hoistway in a first direction of travel. The elevator car is connected to a counterweight assembly operating on a guide rail constructed and arranged to guide the counterweight along a hoistway in a second direction of travel. The counterweight includes a propulsion system configured to propel the counterweight and thereby the elevator car. The elevator also includes a power transfer system configured to transfer power to a power system on the counterweight, the power system configured to power the propulsion system independent of the power transfer system for at least a selected duration.

A hall destination floor input device for elevators includes an information input receiver provided on a hall of an elevator on a floor set as an evacuation floor in case of an emergency in a building including the elevator. The information input receiver receives information from outside. The device also includes a signal transmitter that transmits a signal to a control system of the elevator, and a controller configured to cause the signal transmitter to transmit a signal indicating a destination floor of the elevator when the information receiver receives input of information on the destination floor if an operation mode is not an emergency mode based on emergency information of the building, and cause the signal transmitter to transmit a signal to open a door of the elevator on the hall when the information input receiver starts receiving input of information if the operation mode is the emergency mode.

A method of operating an elevator system including: receiving an evacuation call from a first evacuation floor; moving an elevator car to the first evacuation floor; opening doors of the elevator car when the elevator car arrives at the first evacuation floor; monitoring, using a sensor system, a remaining capacity of the elevator car; and closing the doors of the elevator car when at least one of a first selected period of time has passed and the remaining capacity is equal to a selected remaining capacity.

A building elevator system including: a building having multiple floors; an elevator system within the building, the elevator system having at least one elevator car; a display located on each floor proximate the elevator system, wherein the display is configured to illuminate evacuation information including an estimated time of arrival of the elevator car and an elevator status; and a control system configured to control the building elevator system and determine the evacuation information to illuminate for each display in response to at least one of a location of the elevator car in the building, a floor location of the display, a speed of the elevator car, a remaining capacity of the elevator car, a number of passengers on each floor, and an evacuation priority of the floor.

A method of operating an elevator system includes: receiving an evacuation call from a first evacuation floor; moving a first compartment of a multi-compartment elevator car to the first evacuation floor; opening a first door of the first compartment when the first compartment arrives at the first evacuation floor; monitoring, using a first sensor system, a remaining capacity within the first compartment; and closing the first door when at least one of a first selected period of time has passed and the remaining capacity within the first compartment is equal to a first selected remaining capacity.