ELEVATOR ARRANGEMENT ADAPTED FOR DETERMINING POSITIONS OF FIXTURES AT VARIOUS FLOORS BASED ON SOUND MEASUREMENTS

Abstract

An elevator arrangement has a car displaceable within an elevator shaft between building floors, an elevator control and a fixture located at each floors and connected to the elevator control for an exchange of information. Each fixture includes a sound detector detecting sound propagating within the shaft. The arrangement performs a fixture position learning procedure by determining position information for each fixture based on sound characteristics detected by the sound detector and storing the determined position information for subsequent identification of each of the fixtures. Changes in sound characteristics are detected while the car is displaced through the shaft. Time-dependent occurrences of sound pressure peaks or frequency shifts due to Doppler effects are measured at the fixtures and fixture position information is derived from a sequence order of such occurrences or, alternatively, by correlating the occurrence of sound characteristic changes with current car position information provided by the elevator control.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. An elevator arrangement comprising: a car displaceable within an elevator shaft between various floors within a building; an elevator control controlling displacement of the car; a plurality of fixtures, each of the fixtures being located at one of the floors and being connected to the elevator control for an exchange of information; and wherein each of the fixtures includes a sound detector detecting sound characteristics of sound propagating within the elevator shaft and transmitting the detected sound characteristics to the elevator control.

17. The elevator arrangement according to claim 16 wherein the elevator arrangement performs a fixture position learning procedure comprising: determining a position information for each of the fixtures based on the sound characteristics of the sound propagating within the elevator shaft and detected by the sound detector included in the fixture; and storing the determined position information for subsequent identification purposes for each of the fixtures.

18. The elevator arrangement according to claim 16 wherein each of the sound detectors is provided with a sound transmitting connection to an interior of the elevator shaft, the sound detectors and the sound transmitting connections being arranged such that the sound propagating within the elevator shaft is transmitted to the sound detectors with a significantly lower acoustic damping than sound from outside the elevator shaft is transmitted to the sound detectors.

19. The elevator arrangement according to claim 16 wherein during a fixture position learning procedure at least some of the sound detectors transmit information on a change in the sound characteristics over time to the elevator control and the elevator control determines the position information for the fixtures associated with the respective some of the sound detectors based on the transmitted information on the changes in sound characteristics over time.

20. The elevator arrangement according to claim 19 wherein the information on the change in the sound characteristics over time includes at least one of information about a change in sound pressure, information about a change in a sound frequency spectrum and information about a point in time at which the change in the sound characteristics is detected.

21. The elevator arrangement according to claim 16 wherein the elevator arrangement, during a fixture position learning procedure, drives the car to each of the floors.

22. The elevator arrangement according to claim 21 wherein a moving component mechanically connected to the car includes a displaceable sound generator generating a specific sound during the fixture position learning procedure.

23. The elevator arrangement according to claim 21 wherein, in determining the position information, the elevator control takes into account an information on a current position of the elevator car.

24. The elevator arrangement according to claim 16 including a fixed sound generator fixedly installed within the elevator shaft, the fixed sound generator generating a specific sound during a fixture position learning procedure performed by the elevator arrangement.

25. The elevator arrangement according to claim 24 wherein in determining the position information, the elevator control takes into account a time sequence with which an information on a similar change in the sound characteristics over time is received by the elevator control from each of the fixtures.

26. The elevator arrangement according to claim 16 wherein the elevator arrangement performs a fixture position learning procedure automatically under control of the elevator control.

27. The elevator arrangement according to claim 16 wherein, during a fixture position learning procedure, the elevator control identifies an identity of each of the fixtures based on at least one of a unique identification code being transmitted from each one of the fixtures together with the transmitted information on the detected sound characteristics and a hard-wiring connection between each one of the fixtures and the elevator control.

28. A method for determining a position information for each of a plurality of fixtures of an elevator arrangement, the fixtures being located at various floors within a building and each of the fixtures including a sound detector for detecting sound characteristics of sound propagating within an elevator shaft of the building, the method comprising the steps of: determining a position information for each of the fixtures based on the sound characteristics of the sound propagating within the elevator shaft and detected by the sound detector included in the fixture; and storing the determined position information for subsequent identification purposes for each of the fixtures.

29. A computer program product comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed by a programmable elevator control, perform the method according to claim 28.

30. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a computer program product according to claim 29 stored thereon.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view through an elevator arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of two functional principles of an elevator arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0060] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a functional principle of an elevator arrangement according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

[0061] The figures are only schematic representations and not to scale. Same reference signs refer to same or similar features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] FIG. 1 shows an elevator arrangement 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The elevator arrangement 1 comprises a car 3 and a counterweight 4 which are held by suspension members 23 such as ropes or belts. The suspension members 23 are wound around pulleys 27. The car 3 and the counterweight 4 may be vertically displaced within an elevator shaft 25 to different levels corresponding to various floors 5a, 5b, 5c within a building using a driving machine 21 driving the suspension members 23. An elevator control 7 may control displacements of the car 3 between the various floors 5a, 5b, 5c. During such displacements, the car 3 and/or the counterweight 4 are guided by guide rails 29 mounted along walls of the elevator shaft 25.

[0063] At each of the floors 5a, 5b, 5c, a respective fixture 9a, 9b, 9c is provided. In the example presented in the figure, the fixtures 9a, 9b, 9c are landing operation panels (LOP) and comprise a call button 11 which a user may press e.g. in order to announce his request to drive the car 3 to the floor where he is currently waiting.

[0064] However, in other examples, a fixture may be any other device which may be provided at the floors for acquiring or providing any information or services from and/or to users, such as e.g. acquiring requests from a user via any type of human machine interface (HMI) or providing information to a user e.g. via a display, a loudspeaker, etc.

[0065] Preferably, all fixtures 9a, 9b, 9c at all floors 5a, 5b, 5c may be provided with the same hardware. The fixtures 9a, 9b, 9c may be connected to the elevator control 7 for example via a hard-wiring 17. Such hard-wiring 17 typically extends along walls at an interior of the elevator shaft 25. Alternatively, the fixtures 9a, 9b, 9c may communicate with the elevator control 7 via a wireless connection, e.g. using a unique fixture ID.

[0066] Furthermore, each of the fixtures 9a, 9b, 9c comprises a sound detector 13. This sound detector 13 is arranged and adapted such that it mainly detects sound within the elevator shaft 25 whereas sound from other environments of the sound detector 13 shall be significantly damped.

[0067] In the example shown, each sound detector 13 is in fluid communication with the interior volume of the elevator shaft 25 via a sound transmitting connection 15 which, in the present example, is formed by a pipe extending through a wall of the elevator shaft 25. Any other type of sound transmitting connection 15 such as a hole, a tube, a solid or hollow bar, etc. may be possible, wherein the sound transmitting connection 15 may be open such that a gas exchange is possible or may be closed e.g. via a membrane such that only pressure changes forming sound may be transmitted but no gas exchange is possible. Via such sound transmitting connection 15 the sound detector 13 may detect sound propagating within the elevator shaft 25.

[0068] By measuring sound characteristics in its environment, the sound detector 13 may help in determining a position information of its fixture 9a, 9b or 9c, such position information indicating at which floor 5a, 5b or 5c the fixture 9a, 9b or 9c is located. Based on such position information, the elevator control 7 may later know for example at which floor 5a, 5b or 5c the fixture 9a, 9b or 9c is positioned from which a request or an information has been transmitted to the elevator control 7 and may e.g. send the car 3 to this floor 5a, 5b, 5c.

[0069] FIG. 2 visualizes two possible functional principles to be applied in an elevator arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0070] According to a first embodiment, in a fixture position learning procedure, the elevator car 3 is driven in a motion direction 31 through the elevator shaft 25 along each of the floors 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, etc. For example, the elevator car 3 may start its journey at an upper most floor and may then travel to a lowest floor 5a.

[0071] During such motion, the elevator car 3 itself generally generates a certain degree of noise, for example due to rollers rolling along guide rails 29, air turbulences, etc. Such noise is sound which may be detected by each of the sound detectors 13 comprised in each of the fixtures 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, etc.

[0072] Alternatively, a displaceable sound generator 33 such as a loudspeaker, horn, hooter, etc. may be attached to the elevator car 3 and may generate additional sound during the car's journey through the elevator shaft 25. While a noise generated by the elevator car 3 itself may hardly be significantly influenced, a sound generated by such additional sound generator 33 may be emitted with controllable characteristics, such characteristics comprising inter alia a loudness, a sound frequency spectrum, a sound pattern, etc.

[0073] Independent on how the sound is generated during the journey of the elevator car 3, two different sound detection principles may be applied in order to determine a position information for each of the fixtures 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, etc.

[0074] In a first approach, a sound pressure level p is measured at each of the fixtures 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d by its associated sound detector 13. Corresponding sound pressure level curves are visualized in FIG. 2 with the symbol. Generally, a detected sound pressure level p is highest when the elevator car 3 is directly passing along a respective sound detector 13 of a fixture 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d whereas the sound pressure level p is lower as long as the elevator car 3 is significantly distant to such sound detector 13. Accordingly, during the journey of the elevator car 3 through the elevator shaft 25, a point in time tp at which a sound detector 13 of one of the fixtures 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d detects a sound pressure level peak will depend on a time sequence with which the elevator car 3 passes along the various fixtures 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d.

[0075] As an alternative approach of detecting informative sound characteristics or as an option to provide redundant sound measurement results in order to increase a reliability of measurements, a sound frequency spectrum f may be measured by the sound detectors 13. Such sound frequency spectrum f is visualized by the symbol in the curves given in FIG. 2. In such sound measurement principle, benefit may be taken from the fact that the sound characteristics detected by a sound detector 13 depend on whether the sound source, i.e. in the given example the car 3 or its displaceable sound generator 33, approaches towards the sound detector 13 or moves away from the sound detector 13.

[0076] Specifically, when measuring the sound frequency spectrum f, a mean value of such sound frequency spectrum f will be higher when the elevator car 3 moves towards the sound detector 13 whereas the mean value of the sound frequency spectrum f will be lower when the car 3 moves away from the sound detector 13. Such shift in sound frequency spectrum f results from the Doppler effect and is generally the higher the faster the elevator car 3 travels through the elevator shaft 25. At typical car velocities of e.g. 0.3 m/s to 5 m/s or even more, such sound frequency spectrum shifts may be in a range from several hundred mHz to some Hz and may therefore be easily detectable.

[0077] Accordingly, instead or additional to measuring the point in time tp at which a sound pressure level peak occurs, a similar point in time may be determined by measuring when a sound frequency spectrum shift occurs when the elevator car 3 passes by at each of the fixtures 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d.

[0078] Accordingly, in the fixture position learning procedure, each sound detector 13 may transmit information on a change in sound characteristics over time, i.e. information on the occurrence of a sound pressure level peak and/or the occurrence of a sound frequency spectrum shift, to the elevator control 7. The elevator control 7 may then determine the position information for each of the fixtures 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d based on such transmitted information on the changes in sound characteristics over time.

[0079] Therein, the elevator control may take into account an information on a current position of the elevator car 3, such current position information being typically available in the elevator control in order to be able to control correct displacement of the elevator car within the shaft 25. In other words, when for example a sound detector 13 of a fixture 9c detects a sound pressure level peak or a sound frequency spectrum shift, it may transmit such information to the elevator control 7. Based upon such information, and knowing where the elevator car 3 is currently positioned, the elevator control 7 then knows where the fixture 13 is positioned. Such information may then be stored within the elevator control 7 or may be transmitted to the fixture 13 and be stored there for later use during normal operation of the elevator.

[0080] Alternatively, the elevator car 3 may be driven from one end of the elevator shaft 25 to the opposite end thereof. Based on a time sequence at which the changes in sound characteristics, i.e. the sound pressure level peak or the sound frequency spectrum shift, occur, the elevator control 7 may determine the order at which the various fixtures 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d are arranged along the elevator shaft 25 in order to finally determine the position information for each of the fixtures.

[0081] In another embodiment as visualized in FIG. 3 implementing a sound logging procedure, a fixed sound generator 19 is fixedly installed within the elevator shaft 25. Such fixed sound generator 19 is adapted for generating a specific sound 35 such as for example a short beep to be used during a fixture position learning procedure. Such sound 35 propagates through the elevator shaft 25 with the speed of sound of approximately 340 m/s. Accordingly each of the sound detectors 13 comprised in the fixtures 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d will detect the specific sound at a different point in time tp, depending on how far away the sound detector 13 is from the fixed sound generator 19. Accordingly, from a sequence of points in time tp at which the specific sound signal of the sound generator 19 is detected at the various fixtures 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, the elevator control may derive the position information for each of the fixtures 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d.

[0082] It shall be noted that features and principles of the above described embodiments of the invention may be slightly modified without leaving the scope of the invention. For example, in the embodiment explained with reference to FIG. 2, any other moving component of the elevator arrangement 1 may be used as the displaceable sound generator.

[0083] For example, instead of the elevator car 3 or an artificial displaceable sound generator 33 attached thereto forming the sound source, for example the counterweight itself or an artificial sound generator attached to the counterweight or to a suspension means may serve as a sound source during the fixture position learning procedure.

[0084] Furthermore, instead of using a separate fixed sound generator 19 as explained with reference to FIG. 3, an artificial sound generator 33 attached to for example the elevator car 3 may be used in the sound logging procedure as explained with reference to FIG. 3 wherein the elevator car 3 then remains at a fixed location within the elevator shaft 25 during the fixture position learning procedure.

[0085] Briefly summarized and using a different wording, it is proposed to provide each of the fixtures within an elevator arrangement with a sound pressure sensor which may be for example a volume sensor or a microphone. A sound pressure may then be detected by the sound pressure sensor, both in absolute sound pressure or frequency. Measurement info may be provided to the elevator control. Timing info may be available at the elevator control as well. The sound source may simply be the elevator car or any other physical component generating sound or noise, such that no extra costs occur. Alternatively, a dedicated sound pressure emitting element may be provided, for example installed in, on or at the car or the counterweight or, alternatively, at the ceiling or bottom of the elevator shaft.

[0086] In a passing car scenario, the elevator performs an installation run. Each fixture sound detector may detect an increase in sound pressure with a subsequent decrease due to a passing of the car. During the peak, it may safely be assumed that the car is nearest to the particular sound detector. Position information of the elevator control may be used to associate a position, i.e. for example a floor, to the respective fixture. Therein, the fixture may be identifiable via its hard-wiring to the elevator control or via a unique identification code.

[0087] Instead of a pressure peak, a frequency detection may be used with the Doppler effect identifying a moment of a sound source passing by.

[0088] In case no position information is available, a timed sequence of passes/detected sound characteristic changes may be used in order to determine an order of the fixtures, thus establishing an order in arrangement. With additional information, e.g. on a number of floors, the elevator control may then associate a certain floor to a particular fixture.

[0089] In another runtime of pressure wave scenario, no movement of the car is necessary. A sound emitting element such as a loudspeaker positioned anywhere at a defined position within the elevator shaft may be used to generate characteristic sound, e.g. a sound pulse, which travels at the speed of sound through the shaft. The sound emitting element may be for example installed at a fixed position at the top of the shaft or the bottom of the shaft or may be attached to a car or counterweight which is then stopped at a defined position, for example at the top or bottom of the elevator shaft, during the fixture position learning procedure. The sound detector may detect a sound pressure peak and using timing information, the elevator control may again determine the position, i.e. for example the floor, of each of the fixtures. From an order of such sound pressure peaks, an order (i.e. a relative position to one another) of the fixtures may be derived. Alternatively, with additional information, an absolute position of the fixtures may be analyzed.

[0090] Both, the timing information together with the travelling speed of the car or the timing information of the travelling sound wave with the speed of sound may be used to verify an outcome of such sound measurements.

[0091] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as comprising do not exclude other elements or steps and the terms a or an do not exclude a plurality. Also elements described in association with different embodiments may be combined.

[0092] 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.