Method for configuring security related configuration parameters in a passenger transport installation

Abstract

A method for configuring security related configuration parameters is used in a passenger transport installation that includes at least one sensor exchanging sensor signals with a control. The sensor detects operating parameters within the passenger transport installation and emits corresponding sensor signals. The control controls security related functions of the passenger transport installation taking into account the sensor signals and the configuration parameters. The method includes: comparing the sensor signals with a predefined key signal pattern; operating the control temporarily in a configuration mode exclusively if the compared sensor signals correspond to the key signal pattern; and configuring the security related configuration parameters during the configuration mode. An installation-specific sensor (e.g. optical sensor or magnetic field sensor) functions as an interface to put the control into configuration mode in a targeted manner, e.g. by a test piece with a barcode maintained in the field of view of the optical sensor.

Claims

1. A method of configuring security related configuration parameters in a passenger transport installation, wherein the passenger transport installation includes a control and at least one sensor connected to the control for exchanging sensor signals, wherein the at least one sensor detects operating parameters within the passenger transport installation and emits corresponding ones of the sensor signals, wherein the control controls security related functions of the passenger transport installation taking into account the sensor signals emitted by the at least one sensor and taking into account the configuration parameters, the method comprising the steps of: comparing the sensor signals emitted by the at least one sensor with a predefined key signal pattern; operating the control temporarily in a configuration mode exclusively if the compared sensor signals correspond to the key signal pattern, wherein the sensor signals corresponding to the key signal pattern differ from all of the sensor signals emitted by the at least one sensor during a normal operation of the passenger transport installation; and configuring the security related configuration parameters during the configuration mode.

2. The method according to claim 1 including configuring the security related configuration parameters based on the sensor signals emitted by the at least sensor during the configuration mode.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor is a magnetic field sensor, and wherein the magnetic field sensor is prompted to emit a signal pattern corresponding to the key signal pattern by a suitably statically premagnetized test piece being brought close to the magnetic field sensor.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein, during the configuration mode, the magnetic field sensor is prompted to emit signals indicating desired configuration parameters by a suitably statically pre-magnetized test piece being brought close to the magnetic field sensor.

5. The method according to claim 3 wherein the magnetic field sensor is prompted, during the configuration mode, to emit signals indicating desired configuration parameters by dynamically generating a suitably predefined magnetic field close to the magnetic field sensor by a magnetic field generator.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor is a magnetic field sensor, and wherein the magnetic field sensor is prompted to emit a signal pattern corresponding to the key signal pattern by dynamically generating a suitably predefined magnetic field close to the magnetic field sensor by a magnetic field generator.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein, during the configuration mode, the magnetic field sensor is prompted to emit signals indicating desired configuration parameters by a suitably statically pre-magnetized test piece being brought close to the magnetic field sensor.

8. The method according to claim 6 wherein the magnetic field sensor is prompted, during the configuration mode, to emit signals indicating desired configuration parameters by dynamically generating a suitably predefined magnetic field close to the magnetic field sensor by a magnetic field generator.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor is an optical sensor, and wherein the optical sensor is prompted to emit a signal pattern corresponding to the key signal pattern by a test piece with an optically readable static pattern being brought into a field of view of the optical sensor.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the optical sensor is prompted, during the configuration mode, to emit signals indicating desired configuration parameters by a test piece with an optically readable static pattern being brought into the field of view of the optical sensor.

11. The method according to claim 9 wherein during the configuration mode, the optical sensor is prompted to emit signals indicating desired configuration parameters by dynamically generating a predefined, optically readable pattern in the field of view of the optical sensor by a controllable light source.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the sensor is an optical sensor, and wherein the optical sensor is prompted to emit a signal pattern corresponding to the key signal pattern by dynamically generating a predefined, optically readable pattern in a field of view of the optical sensor by a controllable light source.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the optical sensor is prompted, during the configuration mode, to emit signals indicating desired configuration parameters by a test piece with an optically readable static pattern being brought into the field of view of the optical sensor.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein during the configuration mode, the optical sensor is prompted to emit signals indicating desired configuration parameters by dynamically generating a predefined, optically readable pattern in the field of view of the optical sensor by a controllable light source.

15. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method is carried out exclusively within a predefined limited period of time following a system start of the passenger transport installation.

16. A passenger transport installation comprising: a control and at least one sensor connected to the control for exchanging sensor signals; wherein the control controls security related functions of the passenger transport installation taking into account configuration parameters; wherein the at least one sensor detects operating parameters within the passenger transport installation and emits corresponding ones of the sensor signals; and wherein the passenger transport installation configures the configuration parameters by performing the method according to claim 1.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a passenger transport installation according to the invention in the form of an elevator.

(2) FIG. 2 shows components of a passenger transport installation according to the invention during the configuration of security related configuration parameters.

(3) The drawings are merely schematic and not to scale. Like reference signs refer to like or analogous features in the different drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) FIG. 1 shows a passenger transport installation 1 in the form of an elevator according to an embodiment of the present invention. The elevator comprises a movable component in the form of an elevator car 3, which can be moved within an elevator shaft 5 relative to the elevator shaft and, for example, stationary components attached to the shaft walls 7 thereof.

(5) The elevator comprises a control 15, which can be used to control the security related functions of the elevator. For example, the control 15 may detect safety-critical situations within the elevator, such as an elevator car 3 traveling too fast in the upward or downward direction, shaft doors not properly closed, a car door not properly closed, etc. The control 15 is connected to elevator components to be controlled by it, such as a drive unit 17, a brake unit 19, an alarm unit 21 (each not explicitly shown) and can control their operation according to the situation.

(6) In order to be able to recognize the safety-critical situations, the control 15 is connected to various sensors 13, i.e., the control 15 can communicate with these sensors 13, for example in a wired or wireless manner. Each of these sensors 13 can be designed to measure or detect operating parameters within the passenger transport installation, which make it possible to draw conclusions about any present safety-critical situations.

(7) By way of example only, a sensor 13 in the form of an optical sensor 14 is shown. This optical sensor 14 is arranged on the elevator car 3 and is moved together with it through the elevator shaft 5. The optical sensor 14 may be formed, for example, as a camera, laser scanner, photodiode or the like.

(8) The field of view 31 of the optical sensor 14 is directed to visually recognizable markings 11, which are provided in the form of a band with a barcode tape on one of the shaft walls 7. By reading the markings 11, the control 15 can reach a conclusion about a current position and/or a current speed of the elevator car 3.

(9) Since, for example, the maximum permissible speed of the elevator car 3 may not only depend on the type of elevator containing this elevator car 3 but also, for example, on regional or national legal regulations, it may be necessary to be able to configure such physical quantities, which are referred to herein as security related configuration parameters, individually for each elevator.

(10) To make this possible, it can be provided that the security related configuration parameters in the control 15 are not permanently programmed, but can be modified. For this purpose, the control 15 can have, for example, a rewritable memory in which the configuration parameters can be saved.

(11) However, it should be ensured that configuration parameters for the respective elevator are correctly entered and saved, since inadvertent or manipulated configuration parameters entered in error can result in security related hazards during operation of the elevator.

(12) It is therefore proposed to use one of the sensors 13 already provided in the passenger transport installation 1 for monitoring the operating parameters in order to effect a suitable configuration of the control 15 by selectively prompting sensor signals.

(13) For this purpose, measures can be carried out within the scope of a configuration process which prompt the sensor 13 to generate sensor signals in the form of a special pattern, whereby the pattern corresponds to a previously defined key signal pattern. The key signal pattern differs from signal patterns that are generated by the sensor 13 during normal operation.

(14) As soon as the control 15, by comparing sensor signals emitted by the sensor 13 with the predefined key signal pattern, recognizes that the sensor 13 is not transmitting actual operating parameters but is instead receiving sensor signals corresponding to the key signal pattern, this is interpreted by the control 15 as an indication that the control 15 should be transferred to its configuration mode.

(15) Once the control 15 is in this configuration mode, it is permitted that, for example, previously stored configuration parameters or random memory content may be replaced in a data memory intended for storing such configuration parameters. Subsequently, the desired configuration parameters are then transmitted to the control 15 and stored by it as security related configuration parameters to be observed in the future.

(16) By way of example, it is shown in FIG. 2 how a test piece 23 in the optical sensor 14 first generates sensor signals which correspond to the key signal pattern, and then, after the control 15 has entered its configuration mode, generates sensor signals in the optical sensor 14 which correspond to the desired configuration parameters.

(17) In the illustrated example, the test piece 23 is formed as a substrate strip with a barcode applied to its surface. This barcode is a static pattern which can be optically read by the optical sensor 14. The barcode can be divided into two areas 25, 27. In both areas, barcode patterns 29 encode certain information with bars of different widths and with different distances to each other. For example, a barcode indicated in the first area 25 may be an encoded representation of the key signal pattern. A barcode indicated in the second area 27 may be an encoded representation of the desired configuration parameters.

(18) Instead of using the test piece 23, the optical sensor 14 can be enabled to use a dynamically controllable light source 33 to generate the sensor signals corresponding to the key signal pattern or the sensor signals corresponding to the desired configuration parameters. For example, the light source 33 can for this purpose be controlled by a light source control 35 to generate time-varying light patterns, which lead to the output of corresponding sensor signals in the optical sensor 14.

(19) As an alternative to the design described with an optical sensor 14 and optically readable static or dynamic patterns on a test piece or generated by a controllable light source, designs in which other sensors 13 of the passenger transport installation are used as input interfaces to the control 15 are also conceivable.

(20) For example, magnetic field sensors (not shown) can be used and sensor signals prompted in these by a suitably statically premagnetized test piece or a dynamically controllable magnetic field generator, said signals corresponding to the key signal pattern or the desired configuration parameters.

(21) Finally, it should be noted that terms such as “comprising”, “including”, etc. do not preclude other elements or steps, and terms such as “a” or “an” do not preclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above.

(22) In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.