SYSTEM FOR THE GENERATION OF CALL ADVANCE DATA

Abstract

A system for the generation of call advance data for an elevator control, which system is going to be installed in an elevator car moving in an elevator shaft and includes at least one acceleration sensor outputting current acceleration data and/or magnetometer outputting a magnetic flux signal which includes current magnetic flux data at the current position of the elevator car, which acceleration sensor and/or magnetometer is mounted in connection with the elevator car; a velocity calculating unit which calculates from the current acceleration/magnetic flux data current car velocity data; a position calculating unit which calculates from the current acceleration/magnetic flux data and/or from the current car velocity data current car position data; and a call advance processing unit which calculates from the current car velocity data and the current car position data call advance data which designates the time until which the car is able to stop at the next approaching floor in travelling direction, which call advance data is transmitted to a call allocation unit of an elevator control. Call advance data is provided in an easy manner without using existing car position detection devices of an existing elevator to be modernized.

Claims

1. A system for the generation of call advance data for an elevator control, which system is going to be installed in an elevator car moving in an elevator shaft and comprises: at least one acceleration sensor outputting current acceleration data and/or magnetometer outputting a magnetic flux signal which comprises current magnetic flux data at the current position of the elevator car, which acceleration sensor and/or magnetometer is mounted in connection with the elevator car; a velocity calculating unit which calculates from the current acceleration/magnetic flux data or from current car position data current car velocity data; a position calculating unit which calculates from the current acceleration/magnetic flux data and/or from the current car velocity data current car position data; and a call advance processing unit which calculates from the current car velocity data and the current car position data call advance data which designates the time until which the car is able to stop at the next approaching floor in travelling direction, which call advance data is transmitted to a call allocation unit of an elevator control.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the acceleration sensor and/or magnetometer, the velocity calculating unit, the position calculating unit and the call advance processing unit are located in a sensor unit mounted to the elevator car.

3. The system according to claim 1, comprising a first wireless data transmission link, and co-acting with a second wireless transmission link, connected with the elevator control.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the first wireless data transmission link is located at the outside of the elevator car.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the second wireless transmission link is located in the elevator shaft.

6. The system according claim 1, comprising a memory for at least one acceleration profile establishing the acceleration vs. time for different routes of the elevator car in the shaft.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the call advance processing unit compares the current acceleration data with the acceleration profile to verify or to improve accuracy of the current car position data or car velocity data.

8. The system according to claim 6, according to which different acceleration profiles are stored in the memory for different car load conditions.

9. The system according to claim 8, comprising a car load calculating unit, which derives the current car load by comparing the current acceleration data with the acceleration profile of the corresponding car load condition.

10. The system according to claim 6, wherein the acceleration profiles are updated in certain intervals.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the acceleration profile is updated if the current acceleration data deviates from the acceleration profile by at least a certain threshold value.

12. The system according to claim 6, wherein identical acceleration profiles are repeatedly stored in the memory and a maintenance calculation unit is arranged in the system comprising a comparator to compare the identical acceleration profiles over time, whereby a maintenance signal is derived if the difference between corresponding values of a past acceleration profile and a current acceleration profile exceed a certain threshold value.

13. The system according to claim 6, wherein the acceleration profile comprises the acceleration values of an elevator ride form each floor to each other floor of the building.

14. An elevator system comprising: at least one elevator with at least one elevator car driving in at least one elevator shaft driven by a drive unit; and the system for the generation of call advance data for an elevator control according to claim 1.

15. A method for the generation of call advance data for an elevator control, wherein at least one acceleration sensor and/or magnetometer is mounted in connection with the elevator car moving in an elevator shaft, said method comprising the steps of: using the acceleration sensor to generate current acceleration data from which current car velocity data is calculated, whereafter from the current acceleration data and/or from the current car velocity data current car position data is calculated; and/or using the magnetometer to generate current position data from which current car velocity data is generated; and whereafter from the current car velocity data and the current car position data, generating call advance data which designates the time until which the car is able to stop at the next approaching floor in travelling direction, which call advance data is transmitted to a call allocation unit of an elevator control.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the generated call advance data is transmitted to a new elevator control which is mounted in an existing elevator to replace an old elevator control due to overlay modernization.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the current acceleration data is compared with an acceleration profile stored in a memory which has been established for inter-floor travel of the elevator car in the elevator shaft to improve the values for the current car position and/or current car velocity.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the current acceleration data is compared with an acceleration profile stored in a memory to derive values for the car load and/or information about the wear of the elevator.

19. The system according to claim 2, comprising a first wireless data transmission link, and co-acting with a second wireless transmission link, connected with the elevator control.

20. The system according to claim 4, wherein the second wireless transmission link is located in the elevator shaft.

Description

[0017] The invention is now described in connection with the enclosed drawings. In these drawings:

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the use of the inventive call advance data generation system during an overlay modernization of an elevator and

[0019] FIG. 2 the detail of the sensor unit mounted at the elevator car from FIG. 1.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows an elevator system 10 comprising an elevator shaft 12 in which an elevator car 14 moves vertically. The elevator system my still comprise an old position detection system 15, 16 which is connected to an old elevator control 18 and is not used any longer in the invention. The old position detection system 15, 16 comprises a first sensor component 15 installed at the elevator car 14 which co-acts with second sensor component 16 mounted along the shaft length. Electric components of the car 14 are connected to the old elevator control 18 via a car cable 20, e.g. ventilation, lights and a car operation panel display and other usual electric components located in an elevator car, e.g. the first sensor component 15 of the old position detection system. In the upper end of the shaft a new elevator drive unit 22, e.g. a traction sheave drive unit, is provided which drives the elevator car 14 via suspension ropes (not shown). The new drive unit 22 is connected with a new elevator control 24 which is to replace the old elevator control and co-acts therewith for a transition period. The new elevator control 24 is provided in the existing elevator system 10 to establish an overlay modernization wherein a new drive and an improved call allocation system is provided. To enable the new elevator control 24 to obtain call advance data for performing a sophisticated car allocation, a sensor unit 26 is mounted on top of the elevator car which sensor unit 26 has a first communication link 28 which communicates with a second data transmission link 30 mounted at the top of the elevator shaft 12 and being connected with the new elevator control 24. The sensor unit 26 is provided to inform the new elevator control about the current car position and car velocity and call advance which enables an improved call allocation in the elevator system 10. The elevator system may be a single elevator, an elevator group or a multi-group, e.g. in a high rise building.

[0021] According to FIG. 2, the sensor unit 26 comprises a housing 27 wherein a magnetometer or acceleration sensor 32, a sensor unit control 34, a first data transmission link 28, a memory 36, (optionally) a camera 40, and optionally a call advance processing unit 42 is located. From the housing 27 an antenna 38 of the first data transmission link 28 protrudes. The call advance processing unit 42 may also at least partly be located in the new elevator control 24.

[0022] The magnetometer or acceleration sensor 32 is connected to the sensor unit control 34 which comprises a velocity calculating unit for calculating from the signal of the sensor 32 the current car velocity data as well as a position calculating unit which calculates from the sensor signal or from the current car velocity data current car position data. The sensor unit control 34 is further connected with a memory 36 comprising at least one acceleration profile of the inter-floor travel of the elevator car in the elevator shaft and/or a magnetic profile indicating the magnetic flux at each position of the elevator car in the elevator shaft. The sensor unit control 34 is further connected with the first wireless data transmission link 28 comprising an antenna 38 for outputting the data to the second wireless transmission link 30 located in the elevator shaft 12. Finally, the sensor unit control 34 is connected with a camera 40 which scans the car interior, particularly the entrance region of the elevator car, as to obtain car load data and/or door position data which provides further information for the elevator control about important parameters of the elevator 10. Optionally, the sensor unit 26 may comprise the call advance processing unit 42 for calculating from the current car velocity data and the current car position data calculated by the velocity and position calculating units in the sensor unit control 34 the call advance data which designates the time until which the car is able to stop at the next approaching floor in travelling direction. This call advance processing unit can also be provided in connection with the new elevator control.

[0023] Finally, the sensor unit 26 comprises an accumulator 44 as a power supply for all the components provided in the sensor unit 26. The advantage of an own power supply is that absolutely no wiring is necessary to provide the sensor unit in connection with the elevator car 14. The sensor unit 26 is preferably located in the car roof 15 in the vicinity of a corner of the elevator car. Via this arrangement, the optional camera 40 has the best detection range. It is also possible to locate the sensor unit 26 in the car roof or car wall opposite to the car doors so that the entrance region of the car doors can be monitored by the optional camera. With the shown sensor unit following data can be generated: door status data, car load data, car position data, car velocity data, number of persons in the car, car acceleration data, maintenance data, wear data, car lighting data:

[0024] The invention is not delimited to the above embodiments but can be varied within the scope of the appended patent claims.