Elevator system recognizing signal pattern based on user motion

Abstract

An elevator system includes a destination control system and an input system. An elevator car is called by an identification-device of a passenger being read by the input system. The destination control system is designed to recognize a signal-pattern that is produced by the passenger moving the respective identification device relative to parts of the input system. The destination control system is programmed to process different programs depending on the signal-pattern. Furthermore, a method for biasing elevator movements of such elevator systems is disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for biasing elevator movements of an elevator system, the elevator system comprising a destination control system and an input system, said method comprising the steps of: calling an elevator car by an identification device of a passenger being read by the input system; recognizing a signal-pattern produced by a passenger moving a respective identification device relative to parts of the input system; and the destination control system processing different programs depending on said signal-pattern, wherein the signal-pattern comprises at least one short and at least one long signal, and wherein the at least one short and at least one long signals are produced via different respective motions of the identification device relative to an input device of the input system; wherein a time-length of short and long signals is defined such that a person inputs correct signals without the need to use another means; and wherein the at least one short signal is defined to be a signal produced by a fluid motion of the respective identification device, and the at least one long signal is defined to be produced by non-fluid motions of the respective identification device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a length of one signal and/or a pause between two signals or a group of signals indicate whether the respective signal or group of signals is to be interpreted as a long signal or as a short signal.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a time-period of a short signal lies between 0.1 and 2 seconds, and wherein the short signal is at least one second shorter than a long signal and/or the long signal is at least two times longer than the short signal.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one long signal comprises at least two short signals following each other, wherein the time between the sequence of short signals indicates if the signals are separate short signals following each other or one long signal, and wherein a long signal is recognized by the elevator system, when the time between two short signals is shorter than two times a defined length of one of the two short signals.

5. A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising computer program code configured to carry out the method of claim 1.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motions of the identification device relative to the input device of the input system include swipes, contacts, or movements to and from a position where the identification device is measured.

7. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein a time-period of a short signal lies between 0.1 and 2 seconds, and wherein the short signal is at least one second shorter than a long signal and/or the long signal is at least two times longer than the short signal.

8. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one long signal comprises at least two short signals following each other, wherein the time between the sequence of short signals indicates if the signals are separate short signals following each other or one long signal, wherein a long signal is recognized by the elevator system, when the time between two short signals is shorter than two times a defined length of one of the two short signals.

9. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one long signal consists comprises least two short signals following each other, wherein the time between the sequence of short signals indicates if the signals are separate short signals following each other or one long signal, wherein a long signal is recognized by the elevator system, when the time between two short signals is shorter than two times a defined length of one of the two short signals.

10. A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising computer program code configured to carry out the method of claim 2.

11. A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising computer program code configured to carry out the method of claim 3.

12. A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising computer program code configured to carry out the method of claim 4.

Description

LIST OF FIGURES

(1) In the following, the invention will be described in detail by the aid of examples of its embodiments, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 presents an elevator system suitable for the method of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 demonstrates a fluid motion of an ID-device.

(4) FIG. 3 demonstrates a paused motion of an ID-device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) FIG. 1 presents an elevator system suitable for the method of the present invention. The elevator system forms an elevator group, which comprises two elevator cars 1 and 2, the elevator cars 1 and 2 are able to move in the elevator hoistway between the floors F1, F2 . . . F10. The elevator system is operated by processing device 3 of a destination control system that moves elevator car 1 via motor unit 4 and elevator car 2 via motor unit 5. In addition, processing device 3 receives signals over a data line 6 from an input device 7 of the input system that are mounted at least on the ground floor, but preferably also in any lobby of floors 1 to 10. Every destination device 7 comprises input means 8 to identify an identification device, and optionally a display 9 to show the addressed program.

(6) In the figure, two persons are shown wherein persons 10 and 11 each have an individual ID card 12/13 to input signals into the input device 7.

(7) Possible ways to input different signals for a signal pattern in the input device 7 using an ID card 12 as identification device are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. It is clear that the same actions can be accomplished with ID-card 13 or any other ID-card as well.

(8) The ID card is moved in front of input means 8 as indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 2 and 3, and read by the input means 8 when the ID-card 12 is in front of this input means 8. The continuous arrow in FIG. 2 indicates that ID-card 12 is moved in a fluid motion, the two arrows in FIG. 3 indicate that there is made a short pause over the input means 8.

(9) In this example of FIG. 2, the fluid motion (with a relatively short time of the ID-card 12 over the input means 8) is interpreted as a short signal, and the paused motion in FIG. 3 with a longer time of the ID-card 12 over the input means 8 is interpreted as a long signal.

(10) While performing motions as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, persons 10 and 11 are able to input signal pattern in the input system and activate programs that are assigned to the respective input pattern. The chosen programs (or the destinations reached with these programs or the special functions activated with these programs) could be indicated on display 9.

(11) For example if ID-card 12 is shown one second to the input means, direct pre-saved call to floor 10 is given, if ID-card 13 is shown one second to the input means, direct pre-saved call to floor 2 is given. If ID-card 12 is shown three seconds to the input means 8, person 10 can access a direct call option that is part of the program of the destination control system. If ID-card 12 or 13 is shown three seconds to the input means 8 and after that again for one second, direct pre-saved call to floor 1 (maybe the cantina) is given.

REFERENCE SIGNS

(12) 1 & 2 elevator cars 3 processing device 4 & 5 motor units 6 data line 7 identification device 8 input means 9 Display 10 & 11 persons 12 & 13 ID-cards