METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING MULTIPLE ABSOLUTE CAR POSITIONS OF AN ELEVATOR CAR WITHIN A SHAFT OF AN ELEVATOR ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

A method for determining multiple absolute positions of an elevator car within a shaft of an elevator arrangement uses a portable smart device (smart phone) having a sensor (camera). The method steps include: displacing the elevator car along the shaft during a learning procedure with the portable smart device being releasably attached at a predetermined position at the elevator car; detecting localizing characteristics at each of multiple locations during the learning procedure, the localizing characteristics indicating an absolute position within the shaft, wherein the localizing characteristics are generated by markers such as QR-codes and are detected using the sensor of the portable smart device; communicating information indicating the absolute positions detected during the learning procedure from the portable smart device to an elevator controller; and correlating each of the absolute positions detected during the learning procedure to one of the multiple absolute car positions and storing derived correlation data.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A method for determining multiple absolute car positions of an elevator car within a shaft of an elevator arrangement using a portable smart device having a sensor, the method comprising the steps of: displacing the elevator car along the shaft during a learning procedure with the portable smart device being releasably attached at a predetermined position at the elevator car; detecting localizing characteristics at each of multiple locations in the shaft during the learning procedure using the sensor of the portable smart device, the localizing characteristics each indicating an associated absolute position within the shaft; communicating information indicating the absolute positions detected during the learning procedure from the portable smart device to an elevator controller of the elevator arrangement; correlating each of the absolute positions detected during the learning procedure to one of the multiple absolute car positions and storing correlation data derived from the correlating; temporarily attaching the portable smart device at a predetermined position at the elevator car prior to performing the learning procedure; and releasing the portable smart device from the elevator car after completion of the learning procedure.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the sensor is an optical sensor and the localizing characteristics are detected optically using the sensor.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein the sensor is a camera and the localizing characteristics are detected based on images acquired by the camera during the learning procedure.

18. The method according to claim 15 wherein the localizing characteristics are markers fixed within the shaft at each of the multiple locations.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the markers include an individual optically readable pattern.

20. The method according to claim 15 wherein each of the localizing characteristics indicates a position of a shaft door at one of multiple floors within the shaft.

21. The method according to claim 15 wherein each of the localizing characteristics indicates a position of a sill at a shaft door at one of multiple floors within the shaft.

22. The method according to claim 15 wherein the portable smart device is releasably attached to a holder fixedly installed at the elevator car.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein the holder is installed at the elevator car at a predetermined location relative to a sill of the elevator car.

24. A portable smart device adapted to perform at least one of executing and controlling the method according to claim 15.

25. An elevator arrangement comprising an elevator controller, wherein the elevator arrangement with the elevator controller are adapted to cooperate with a portable smart device for at least one of executing and controlling the method according to claim 15.

26. A computer program product comprising a processor readable code which code, when executed by a portable smart device, instructs the portable smart device to perform at least one of executing and controlling the method according to claim 15.

27. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a computer program product according to claim 26 stored thereon.

28. A method for determining multiple absolute car positions of an elevator car within a shaft of an elevator arrangement, the method comprising the steps of: providing a portable smart device having a sensor; temporarily attaching the portable smart device at a predetermined position on the elevator car; displacing the elevator car with the portable smart device along the shaft during a learning procedure; detecting localizing characteristics at each of multiple locations in the shaft during the learning procedure using the sensor of the portable smart device, the localizing characteristics each indicating an associated absolute position within the shaft; communicating information indicating the absolute positions detected during the learning procedure from the portable smart device to an elevator controller of the elevator arrangement; correlating each of the absolute positions detected during the learning procedure to one of multiple absolute car positions to be determined and storing derived correlation data indicating a correlation between each of the absolute positions detected and an associated one of the absolute car positions; and releasing the portable smart device from the elevator car after completion of the learning procedure.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0065] FIG. 1 shows an elevator arrangement in which a portable mobile device is applied for determining multiple absolute car positions in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0066] The FIGURE is only schematic and not to scale. Same reference signs refer to same or similar features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0067] FIG. 1 shows an elevator arrangement 1. Therein, an elevator car 3 and a counterweight 5 are suspended by a suspension and traction means 7. A drive engine 9 may displace the suspension and traction means 7 in order to thereby move the elevator car 3 and the counterweight 5 within an elevator shaft 11. An operation of the drive engine 9 is controlled by a controller 13. Accordingly, the elevator car 3 may be displaced to each of various floors 15. At each of the floors 15, a shaft door 17 is provided to selectively open or block an access to the elevator shaft 11 and to the elevator car 3 waiting at one of the floors 15.

[0068] It is intended that the controller 13 may control the drive engine 9 such as to precisely displace and stop the elevator car 3 at intended locations throughout the elevator shaft 11. For example, the elevator car 3 shall be stopped at one of the floors 15 such that a position of a sill 21 of the elevator car 3 substantially corresponds to a position of a sill 19 at a bottom of the respective floor 15, i.e. both sills 19, 21 are substantially flush with each other.

[0069] In order to determine the local position of the elevator car 3 during normal operation of the elevator arrangement 1, the elevator arrangement 1 typically comprises a location tracker 23. In the example represented in FIG. 1, this location tracker 23 comprises a magnetic strip 25 and a magnetic field reader 27. The magnetic strip 25 extends along the elevator shaft 11. The magnetic field reader 27 is attached to the elevator car 3. On the magnetic strip 25, information is encoded depending on the location within the elevator shaft 11. Accordingly, by reading out this information using the magnetic field reader 27, the local position of the elevator car 3 in relation to the magnetic strip 25 may be determined.

[0070] However, the absolute location of the magnetic strip 25 within the elevator shaft 11 is initially not known. In other words, upon having installed the elevator arrangement 1 within a building, it is not yet known where the magnetic strip 25 is exactly located relative for example to the shaft doors 17.

[0071] Therefore, a learning procedure has to be performed prior to starting normal operation of the elevator arrangement 1. In such learning procedure, information about absolute positions within the elevator shaft 11 are to be acquired such that the absolute car position may be determined based on such information.

[0072] Accordingly, in an embodiment of the method for determining multiple absolute car positions of the elevator car 3 within the elevator shaft 11, a portable smart device 29 is used. The portable smart device 29 comprises a sensor 35 such as a camera 37. The portable smart device 29 may be a smart phone or a similar processor-controlled mobile device which is driven by a specific app.

[0073] Before starting the learning procedure, the portable smart device 29 is attached to the elevator car 3 in a releasable manner. For this purpose, a holder 31 is fixed to the elevator car 3. The holder 31 is arranged at a predetermined location relative to the elevator car 3. For example, the holder 31 may be fixed to a bottom of the elevator car 3 close to the sill 21 of the elevator car 3. The portable smart device 29 may be installed within this holder 31. As the position of the holder 31 relative to the elevator car 3 is known, also the position of the portable smart device 29 relative to the elevator car 3 is known.

[0074] At multiple locations throughout the elevator shaft 11, markers 33 are attached to sidewalls of the shaft 11 at precisely known absolute positions. For example, one marker 33 may be provided at or adjacent to one of the sills 19 at each of the floors 15. Each marker 33 may form a localizing characteristic 39 which may be detected by the sensor 35 of the portable smart device 29. For example, these markers may comprise individual optically readable patterns such as bar codes or QR codes.

[0075] With the portable smart device 29 being held at the holder 31, the elevator car 3 is displaced along the shaft 11 during the learning procedure. When the elevator car 3 and the portable smart device 29 attached thereto come close to one of the localizing characteristics 39 generated by the markers 33, the sensor 35 of the portable smart device 29 may detect such localizing characteristic 39. In other words, in the example given above, the camera 37 of the smart portable device 29 may read out the bar code or QR code displayed at the marker 33. As the absolute position of the localizing characteristic 39 is known, also the absolute position of the portable smart device 29 at the moment when it detects this localizing characteristic 39 is known.

[0076] The absolute positions detected during the learning procedure are transmitted from the portable smart device 29 to the elevator controller 13. Such data transmission may be established for example in a wireless manner.

[0077] Finally, the absolute positions detected during the learning procedure may be correlated to a corresponding one of the multiple absolute car positions and derived correlation data may then be stored. For example, such data storing may be done within the controller 13 or within a computer, an external server or a data cloud communicating with this controller 13.

[0078] Having derived and stored this correlation data during the learning procedure, the correlation data may be used for calibrating position data to be used later during normal operation of the elevator arrangement 1.

[0079] For example, the location tracker 23 may be calibrated accordingly such that the readouts of its magnetic field reader 27 may be interpreted to indicate not only positions relative to the magnetic strip 25 but absolute car positions within the elevator shaft 11.

[0080] Accordingly, having completed the learning procedure as described herein, the elevator car 3 may be precisely displaced and stopped at absolute positions within the elevator shaft 11.

[0081] The approach described herein allows for various benefits. For example, substantial costs may be saved as there is no fixed sensor to pay for and to install, and there is no need for special brackets to hold marker magnets at the shaft doors over long-term periods, etc. Instead, a technician may only need to have a smart phone to be used during the learning procedure. An elevator manufacturer may control who puts in service an elevator as the elevator manufacturer may distribute a suitable app to different phones of authorized technicians. Furthermore, work efforts for conducting the learning procedure may be reduced as for example the portable smart device 29 may be easily attached to the elevator car 3 and simple markers 33 may be easily attached within the elevator shaft 11 at predetermined positions.

[0082] Finally, it should be noted that the term “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and the “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. Also, elements described in association with different embodiments may be combined.

[0083] 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.