Method for giving destination calls in an elevator system and an elevator system

Abstract

A method for giving destination calls to an elevator system using a destination operating panel that includes a keypad for giving the destination calls, including identifying a call giving phase and activating buttons of the keypad on the basis of the call giving phase.

Claims

1. A method for giving destination calls to an elevator system by means of a destination operating panel in one or more call-giving phases, which destination operating panel comprises a decimal numeric keypad for giving destination calls, said method comprising the steps of: identifying a passenger; determining access rights of the passenger on the basis of the identification; and during the call-giving phase in which at least one input is applied to the decimal numeric keypad, continuously activating the buttons of the decimal numeric keypad the passenger has access rights to and continuously deactivating the buttons of the decimal numeric keypad the passenger does not have access rights to.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the activated buttons are indicated with signaling that differs from the de-activated buttons.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: identifying the locked floors of the elevator system; and taking the locked floors into account when determining the buttons of the decimal numeric keypad to be activated.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of: identifying the locked floors of the elevator system; and taking the locked floors into account when determining the buttons of the decimal numeric keypad to be activated.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the destination operating panel automatically inputs a button of the decimal numeric keypad.

6. An elevator system, comprising: at least one elevator; at least one destination operating panel, which comprises a decimal numeric keypad for giving destination calls to the elevator system in one or more phases; and a control system that responds to the destination operating panel, wherein the elevator system is configured to: identify a passenger; determine access rights of the passenger on the basis of the identification; and during a call-giving phase in which at least one input is applied to the decimal numeric keypad, continuously activate the buttons of the decimal numeric keypad the passenger has access rights to and continuously deactivate the buttons of the decimal numeric keypad that the passenger does not have access rights to.

7. The elevator system according to claim 6, wherein the call-giving panel is arranged to present the activated buttons with signaling, which deviates from the signaling of the de-activated buttons.

8. The elevator system according to claim 7, wherein the signaling is button-specific visual signaling and/or signaling based on button vibration.

9. The elevator system according to claim 6, wherein the call-giving panel comprises a touch-sensitive display in connection with the decimal numeric keypad.

10. The elevator system according to claim 6, wherein the call-giving panel comprises a reader device for reading the data of an access card in the possession of a passenger and for transmitting said data to an access control system that is in connection with the elevator system.

11. The elevator system according to claim 6, wherein the destination operating panel is a personal terminal device in the possession of a passenger.

12. The elevator system according to claim 6, wherein the control system of the elevator system and/or the access control system is/are arranged to transmit to the destination operating panel information about the buttons of the decimal numeric keypad to be activated.

13. The elevator system according to claim 7, wherein the call-giving panel comprises a touch-sensitive display in connection with the decimal numeric keypad.

14. The elevator system according to claim 8, wherein the call-giving panel comprises a touch-sensitive display in connection with the decimal numeric keypad.

15. The elevator system according to claim 7, wherein the call-giving panel comprises a reader device for reading the data of an access card in the possession of a passenger and for transmitting said data to an access control system that is in connection with the elevator system.

16. The elevator system according to claim 8, wherein the call-giving panel comprises a reader device for reading the data of an access card in the possession of a passenger and for transmitting said data to an access control system that is in connection with the elevator system.

17. The elevator system according to claim 9, wherein the call-giving panel comprises a reader device for reading the data of an access card in the possession of a passenger and for transmitting said data to an access control system that is in connection with the elevator system.

18. The elevator system according to claim 7, wherein the destination operating panel is a personal terminal device in the possession of a passenger.

19. The elevator system according to claim 6, where the destination operating panel is configured to automatically input a button of the decimal numeric keypad.

Description

LIST OF FIGURES

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

(2) FIG. 1 presents an elevator group according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 presents a destination operating panel, which is implemented with a touch-sensitive display; and

(4) FIGS. 2a-2e present destination operating panels in various states according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) FIG. 1 presents an elevator system 1 according to the invention, which comprises four elevators A, B, C and D as well as a group control 101 of the elevator system and also an elevator-specific control 120. The elevators serve the floors 1-55 (F1-F55) in the building. A destination operating panel 110 is connected via a data transfer channel 103 to the control system 101, which destination operating panel is disposed e.g. in the entrance lobby of the building. The data transfer channel can be any wireless or wireline data transfer channel whatsoever suited to the purpose. The destination operating panel comprises a decimal numeric keypad 111, a display 112 and a reader device 161 for the access cards in the possession of passengers. The server 160 of an access control system is in connection with the control system 101, which server receives from a reader device 161 the data contained in the access cards and determines on the basis of the aforementioned data the access rights of a passenger in the building. Information about the floors to which a passenger has an access right is transmitted from the server 160 to the control system 101 and onwards to the destination operating panel 110.

(6) FIG. 2 presents a destination operating panel 110, which is implemented with a touch-sensitive display 201. The decimal numeric keypad 204 comprises buttons 202 (soft-touch buttons 0, 1, . . . 9) and a display area 203, in which information can be shown to a person giving a call. The active and non-active buttons of the decimal numeric keypad 204 are distinguished from each other by showing the active buttons on the touch-sensitive display 201 and by fading out the non-active buttons. FIG. 2a presents a destination operating panel in the initial state, from which call-giving starts (phase 1). In the initial state the buttons 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the decimal numeric keypad are activated but the other buttons have faded out (de-activated). If a passenger is going e.g. to floor 23, at first he/she presses the button 2, in which case the number 2 appears in the display area 203 and all the buttons 0-9 of the decimal numeric keypad activate (phase 2). When the passenger after this presses the button 3, the number 23 appears in the display area. The destination operating panel sends to the control system 101 of the elevator system a destination call for taking the passenger from floor 1 to floor 23. The control system 101 allocates an elevator, e.g. elevator B, for use by the passenger, which is displayed in the display area 203, e.g. with the text Floor 23Elevator B. If in the example explained above e.g. floor 26 is a locked floor, which the elevators do not serve, in phase 2 all the other buttons 0-9 activate except the button 6 (FIG. 2b). A passenger cannot therefore give a destination call to the locked floor 26.

(7) According to FIG. 1 the elevator system can be connected to an access control system 160, which allows the access of passengers to floors on the basis of access rights given to them. In this embodiment a passenger has been given e.g. an access card, which contains identification data (an ID number), on the basis of which the access control system determines the access rights of the passenger in the building, For reading access cards, the destination operating panel is provided with a reader device 161 suited to the purpose, which is connected directly or indirectly to the access control system 160. In this embodiment a passenger must present his/her access card to a reader device 161 before he/she can give destination calls from the destination operating panel 110. In the initial situation (phase 1) on the display of the destination operating panel is e.g. the text Take access card to reader and all the buttons of the decimal numeric keypad are de-activated (FIG. 2c). When a passenger, who has an access right e.g. to floors 33-41 takes his/her access card to the reader device, the numbers 3 and 4 in the decimal numeric keypad activate (phase 2, FIG. 2d). If the passenger presses the button 3, the buttons 3-9 activate (phase 3, FIG. 2e), in which case he/she can give a destination call to any of the floors 33-39. On the other hand, if the passenger presses the button 4 in phase 2, the buttons 0 and 1 activate, in which case the passenger can give a destination call either to floor 40 or to floor 41.

(8) If a passenger has access rights differing from the preceding example, e.g. to floors 31-38, the elevator system can function as follows. When a passenger takes his/her access card to the reader device 161, the numbers 1-8 activate and the number 3 appears automatically in the display means (phase 2). In this embodiment the elevator system can simulate the pressing of the button 3 because the passenger has an access right only to floors 31-38. When the passenger presses e.g. the button 2, the destination operating panel sends to the control system of the elevator system a destination call to floor 32.

(9) In the destination operating panels of the preceding embodiments, touch-sensitive displays are utilized. The solution according to the invention is not, however, limited only to touch-screen display technology but instead many other alternatives are possible. Thus, for example, the decimal numeric keypad of the destination operating panel can be implemented with conventional mechanical pushbuttons/buttons and active buttons can be indicated e.g. with button-specific background lights. The active buttons can also be indicated with button vibration when touching an active button. The aforementioned button vibration is suited for use in connection with both mechanical pushbuttons and touch-sensitive displays.

(10) According to one embodiment of the invention a mobile phone in the use of a passenger, which is provided with e.g. a touch-sensitive display and application software for giving destination calls, functions as a destination operating panel. The elevator lobbies can be provided with e.g. Bluetooth base stations for implementing wireless data transfer between the aforementioned mobile phone and the control system 101.

(11) It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that different embodiments of the invention are not limited to the example described above, but that they may be varied within the scope of the claims presented below.