Communication method and apparatus for an elevator system

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for interchanging data between at least one sensor unit arranged in an elevator shaft of an elevator system and a monitoring unit of a service center which is locally remote from the elevator system, wherein an elevator car which moves vertically in the elevator shaft, include a first communication unit arranged at the elevator car. Data are transmitted from the at least one sensor unit to the first communication unit via a first communications network on the basis of the position of the elevator car and are stored by the first communication unit. The stored data are transmitted from the first communication unit to a second communication unit on the basis of at least one rule and are transmitted from the second communication unit to the monitoring unit via a second communications network.

Claims

1. A method of exchanging data between at least one sensor unit, arranged in an elevator shaft of an elevator installation, and a monitoring unit, positionally remote from the elevator installation, of a service center, wherein an elevator car which travels vertically in the elevator shaft and at which a first communications unit is arranged is used in the elevator installation, comprising the steps of: transmitting data by the at least one sensor unit via a first communications network to the first communications unit in dependence on a position of the elevator car in the elevator shaft, the first communications network being a communications network with a non-wired connection, the elevator car being movable relative to the at least one sensor unit, and storing the data by the first communications unit; transmitting the stored data by the first communications unit to a second communications unit in dependence on at least one rule, the second communications unit lying outside of a range of the non-wired connection of the first communications network; and transmitting the data by the second communications unit to the monitoring unit via a second communications network.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one rule is based on at least one of a pre-defined data volume, a priority of the data, a safety requirement criterion, a clock time, a time delay, a signal strength and a transmission time.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the second communications network is either a public communications network with a wired connection or a communications network with a non-wired connection.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the data are transmitted by the at least one sensor unit when the elevator car with the first communications unit is moved past the at least one sensor unit or is in a vicinity of the at least one sensor unit.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the first communications unit and the second communications unit is integrated in an elevator control unit of the elevator installation or is separate from the elevator control unit.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor unit is one of an acceleration sensor, a temperature sensor, an air pressure sensor, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, a light sensor, a humidity sensor, a door contact unit, a safety unit, a weight sensor, a speed sensor and a position sensor.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the second communications unit is arranged in a vicinity of a shaft head of the elevator shaft.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein a radio range of the at least one sensor unit corresponds with a cross-section of the elevator shaft.

9. An apparatus for exchange of data between at least one sensor unit, arranged in an elevator shaft of an elevator installation, and a monitoring unit, positionally remote from the elevator installation, of a service center, wherein the elevator installation includes an elevator car which travels vertically in the elevator shaft and at which a first communications unit is arranged, comprising: a first communications network enabling the at least one sensor unit to transmit data to the first communications unit in dependence on a position of the elevator car in the elevator shaft, the first communications network being a communications network with a non-wired connection, and the elevator car being movable relative to the at least one sensor unit; the first communications unit being configured to store the transmitted data; a second communications unit lying outside of a range of the non-wired connection of the first communications network, the first communications unit being configured to transmit the stored data to the second communications unit in dependence on at least one rule; and a second communications network enabling the second communications unit to transmit the data to the monitoring unit.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained in more detail by way of an embodiment illustrated in the figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an elevator installation according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a simplified illustration of a communications unit and

(4) FIG. 3 shows an example of a sensor unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an elevator installation according to the invention. The elevator installation comprises an elevator shaft 3 with an elevator car 5 moving vertically between the floors (not illustrated) of a building. In addition, the elevator installation comprises at least one sensor unit 4. In this example, three sensor units 4 are arranged in the elevator shaft 3. Obviously, in accordance with the invention at least one sensor unit 4 could also be mounted on the elevator car 5.

(6) A first communications unit 1 is arranged at the elevator car 5. The first communications unit 1 can in principle be arranged in whatever way desired at the elevator car 5, for example laterally, under or in the elevator car 5. In this example, the first communications unit 1 is mounted on the elevator car roof.

(7) The at least one sensor unit 4 can be designed, depending on the respective form of embodiment, as an acceleration sensor, a temperature sensor, an air pressure sensor, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, a light sensor, a humidity sensor, a weight sensor, a speed sensor, a position sensor, a safety unit, a door contact unit, a switching element, etc.

(8) Data detected by the at least one sensor unit 4, for example a temperature value by a temperature sensor, are transmitted by way of a first communications network to the first communications unit 1 in dependence on the position of the elevator car 5.

(9) The radio ranges of the at least one sensor unit 4 and the first communications unit 1 are indicated by the dashed-line circles or semicircles 4a, 1a respectively therearound.

(10) The first communications network is designed as a communications network with a non-wired connection. Thus, for example, use could be made of a WLAN network, a Bluetooth network, a near-field communication, a field bus, etc.

(11) For preference, a communications connection between the at least one sensor unit 4 and the first communications unit 1 is established only when the elevator car 5 travels past the at least one sensor unit 4 or is in the vicinity of the at least one sensor unit 4. The radio range 4a of the at least one sensor unit 4 and the radio range 1a of the first communications unit 1 can thereby be minimized. Thus, for example, the radio range 4a of the at least one sensor unit 4 could be selected so that it corresponds with the cross-section of the elevator shaft 3.

(12) Designated in general as radio range is the distance which may at most be present between transmitter and receiver so that a communication is still possible. Thus, a permanent communication connection does not have to be present between the at least one sensor unit 4 and the first communications unit 1. A temporary communication connection is sufficient, for example when the elevator car 5 moves past the at least one sensor unit 4. By virtue of the minimized radio range it is possible, inter alia, to reduce the transmission power, which optimizes the energy consumption not only of the at least one sensor unit 4, but also of the first communications unit 1. It is thereby possible, for example, for the at least one sensor unit 4 not to be connected with the general power supply of the elevator installation. Rather, the at least one sensor unit 4 can be supplied with power by a battery, a condenser or another energy source. Energy supply by way of induction, piezo switching elements, photovoltaic means, etc. is also conceivable.

(13) The first communications unit 1 stores the data, which is transmitted by the at least one sensor unit 4, in a memory unit. For that purpose, the memory unit can be integrated in the first communications unit 1 or can be connected as a separate unit with the first communications unit 1.

(14) The stored data are transmitted from the first communications unit 1 to a second communications unit 2 in dependence on at least one rule. The second communications unit 2 can in that case be arranged in the shaft or an engine room. In this example, the second communications unit 2 is installed in the vicinity of the shaft head.

(15) As the at least one rule, use can be made of, for example, a data volume defined beforehand. Only when a certain amount of data from the first communications unit 1 has been stored does this unit 1 transmit the data to the second communications unit 2. In addition, it can be established by the at least one rule that firstly all sensor units 4in this example three sensor unitsshould have transmitted their data to the first communications unit 1 so that the first communications unit 1 passes on the data to the second communications unit 2. Moreover, the data could have a different priority. This means that data with higher priority are transmitted without delay and such with lower priority are transmitted with a delay in time to the second communications unit 2. Further rules could be based on a clock time, safety requirement criteria, a time delay, a (necessary) signal strength relating to radio range, a transmission time of the data, etc.

(16) The second communications unit 2 is connected with a monitoring unit 13 of a service center 12 by way of a second communications network 2a. The second communications network 2a can in that case have a wired or non-wired connection. Thus, for example, use can be made of a public landline (PSTN) or a mobile communications network. The second communications unit 2 transmits the data, which are acquired from the first communications unit 1, via the second communications network 2a to the monitoring unit 13 of the service center 12. The service center 12 is located remotely from the elevator installation.

(17) FIG. 2 shows a simplified illustration of a communications unit 1, 2 for carrying out the method according to FIG. 1. The first communications unit 1 and the second communications unit 2 comprise at least one memory unit 7 and a communications module 6 with a receiving unit 8, processing unit 9 and a transmitting unit 10.

(18) FIG. 3 shows an example of a sensor unit 4 for carrying out the method according to FIG. 1. In that case, the sensor unit 4 comprises at least one sensor 11 and a communications module 6 with a receiving unit 8, processing unit 9 and transmitting unit 10. The sensor 11 can also be designed as a sensor, door contact, actuator, safety element or safety switch, etc.

(19) 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.