The invention relates to a method for generating an elevator call. The method comprises: obtaining (202) image data representing at least one symbol (310, 310a, 310b) illustrated on a symbol representing device (320) from at least one image sensing device (112), identifying (204) the at least one symbol (310, 310a, 310b) from the obtained image data, and generating (206) the elevator call in accordance with the identified at least one symbol (310, 310a, 310b). The invention relates also to an elevator control unit (108) and an elevator system (100) performing at least partly the method.

Elevator systems and methods are provided. The systems include an elevator car movable within an elevator shaft, the elevator car includes an elevator car door interlock device operable to open and close elevator car doors, a plurality of landing doors located at respective landings along the elevator shaft, wherein each landing door includes a landing door interlock device operable to open and close a respective landing door, wherein each landing door interlock device is engageable by the elevator car door interlock device to enable operation of the elevator car doors and the respective landing door simultaneously. An elevator component inspection system is configured with a detector located on the top of the elevator car and arranged to monitor the interlock devices, wherein the detector obtains inspection data associated with the elevator car door interlock device and the plurality of landing door interlock devices.

An evacuation strategy support system using an occupant evacuation elevator (OEE) capable of supporting an evacuation strategy so that information on a number of occupants is recognized by real-time occupant monitoring and thus occupants on each floor may use stairs and the occupant evacuation elevator to safely and quickly evacuate when a disaster situation occurs in a skyscraper and thus the occupants use the occupant evacuation elevator to evacuate, capable of monitoring occupant information on each floor in real time and supporting calculation of an evacuation capacity of the occupant evacuation elevator to establish an evacuation strategy to allow safe evacuation and early reaction in an overall skyscraper to be performed, and capable of optimizing the calculation of the evacuation capacity of the occupant evacuation elevator applicable to an initial stage of a design of the skyscraper, and a method thereof are provided.

The invention comprises a method and a system for conveying a mobile robot in an elevator involving the monitoring of elevator operating components and of persons surrounding the elevator and operating the elevator by selecting a floor to which the mobile robot is to move. In one aspect an inertial sensor is used to learn or determine the number of floors. The robot may also have methods implemented to assess the floor space inside the elevator or to position itself in front of the elevator in such a way that it can, for example, monitor the operation of elevator operating components without being perceived as an obstacle from the elevator users' perspective.

An elevator includes an elevator shaft defined by surrounding walls and top and bottom end terminals; an elevator car vertically movable in the elevator shaft; elevator hoisting ropes coupled to the elevator car; an elevator hoisting machine including a traction sheave engaged with the elevator hoisting ropes; a traction monitor configured to determine traction of the hoisting machine; an electromechanical brake; a measuring apparatus adapted to provide speed data and position data of the elevator car; and a safety processor associated with the traction monitor and the measuring apparatus. The safety processor includes an ETLS threshold configured to decrease towards the top and/or bottom end terminal in accordance with the position of the elevator car. The ETSL threshold is adjusted on the basis of the traction of the hoisting machine. The safety processor is configured to determine an elevator car slowdown failure if the speed data meets or exceeds the ETSL threshold.

An elevator assembly (1) comprises an elevator car (2), a counterweight (4), and a safety device (8) located on a roof (9) of the elevator car (2). A locking handle (10) is positioned within the elevator shaft (6), and connected to a first end (12a) of a tension member (12). A blocking stop (14) is connected to a second end (12b) of the tension member (12). The blocking stop (14) is moveable between an inactive state, in which the tension member (12) holds the blocking stop (14) in a position in which it does not limit downwards movement of the counterweight (4), and an active state, in which tension in the tension member (12) is reduced to allow the blocking stop (14) to move to a position in which it limits downwards movement of the counterweight (4).

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.

The present disclosure relates generally to a limit switch system for an elevator. The limit switch system includes a limit device configured to determine a position of the elevator car at a location of the hoistway upon selection of an inspection state.

An elevator system includes a hoistway and an elevator car positioned in the hoistway and configured to travel along the hoistway. The elevator car includes an elevator car door. A door operator assembly is fixed in the hoistway at a landing floor and includes a sensor to sense presence of the elevator car at the landing floor; and a door operator mechanism to open both the elevator car door and a landing floor door when the sensor senses presence of the elevator car at the landing floor. A light source may be fixed at the hoistway and a light transmitter is positioned at the elevator car to gather light from the light source and output the light into an interior of the elevator car. A ventilation system may be fixed at the hoistway and is interactive with the elevator car to condition an interior of the elevator car.

A ropeless elevator system 10 includes a lane 13, 15, 17. One or more cars 20 are arranged in the lane. At least one linear motor 38, 40 is arranged along one of the lane and the one or more cars, and a magnet 50, 60 is arranged along the other of the lane and the one or more cars. The at least one magnet is responsive to the at least one linear motor. A linear motor controller 70 is operatively connected to the at least one linear motor, and a lane controller 80 is operatively connected to the linear motor controller. A back electro-motive force (EMF) module 84 is operatively connected to at least one of the linear motor controller and the lane controller. The lane controller being configured and disposed to control stopping one of the one or more cars based on a back EMF signal from the at least one linear motor determined by the EMF module.