Patent Application
20230174342
The technology described herein relates in general to an elevator system in a building. Embodiments of the technology relate in particular to an elevator operating device, to an elevator system having such an elevator operating device, and to a method for operating such an elevator system.
In buildings having elevator systems, elevator operating devices are provided, by means of which a passenger can input an elevator call. In known elevator systems, elevator operating devices are arranged on the individual floors. These elevator operating devices have up/down buttons for the passenger to input the desired travel direction. An elevator controller then causes an elevator car to be moved, for example, to the floor (boarding floor) on which the passenger input the desired travel direction. In this elevator system, an elevator operating device is provided in the elevator car, by means of which device the passenger in the elevator car can input the desired destination floor.
Although a passenger can use the up/down buttons mentioned to call an elevator to the floor, there may be a requirement for an elevator system and/or for a building to offer additional functionality to a passenger. There is therefore a need for a technology that fully or at least partially meets these requirements.
One aspect of the technology described herein relates to an elevator operating device for inputting a travel request on a floor of a building in which an elevator system having an elevator car and an elevator controller is arranged. The elevator operating device has a communication device which is configured to communicate with the elevator controller, a touch-sensitive screen system which has a screen region that is visible to a passenger, and a central control device that is communicatively connected to the communication device and the screen system. The central control device is configured to control the screen system in a first elevator operating mode in order to display a first graphical user interface on the screen region, and to control the screen system in a second elevator operating mode in order to display a second graphical user interface on the screen region. The first graphical user interface comprises one or two travel direction symbols. The second graphical user interface comprises an edge zone that extends in the screen region along a circumference of the screen region and has a specified width. The edge zone is provided for symbolizing a waiting time until the elevator car arrives on the floor, wherein a degree of filling of the edge zone which changes along the circumference symbolizes a changing waiting time. The second graphical user interface also comprises a center zone that can be displayed separately from the edge zone and is provided for symbolizing an occupancy of the elevator car by passengers, wherein a displayed degree of filling of the center zone symbolizes an occupancy of the elevator car.
A further aspect of the technology described herein relates to an elevator system having such an elevator operating device.
Another aspect of the technology relates to a method for operating an elevator system. The method comprises controlling a touch-sensitive screen system of an elevator operating device which is arranged on a floor of a building, in a first elevator operating mode, in order to cause a first graphical user interface which comprises one or two travel direction symbols to be displayed in a screen region of the touch-sensitive screen system, which screen region is visible to a passenger. A travel request is detected when a passenger touches a travel direction symbol. The touch-sensitive screen system is controlled in a second elevator operating mode to cause a second graphical user interface to be displayed in the screen region. The second graphical user interface comprises an edge zone that extends in the screen region along a circumference of the screen region and has a specified width. The edge zone is provided for symbolizing a waiting time until the elevator car arrives on the floor, wherein a degree of filling of the edge zone which changes along the circumference symbolizes a changing waiting time. The second graphical user interface also comprises a center zone that can be displayed separately from the edge zone and is provided for symbolizing an occupancy of the elevator car by passengers, wherein a displayed degree of filling of the center zone symbolizes an occupancy of the elevator car.
The technology described herein creates an elevator operating device that can display two graphical user interfaces separately from one another in the screen region. Which graphical user interface is displayed depends on the elevator operating mode. This not only allows a passenger to input the travel direction by means of the first graphical user interface, but also additional information about the waiting time and the occupancy of the elevator car carrying out the elevator call can be transmitted to the passenger by means of the second graphical user interface. Better informed passengers perceive the elevator system as more user-friendly.
It is also advantageous that the elevator operator is configured as a kind of sole human-machine interface device for the interaction of the passenger with the elevator system and for the transmission of information. The passenger can therefore substantially limit his attention to using the elevator at the elevator operating device. Further information devices on a floor may be omitted under certain circumstances.
The way in which the waiting time and occupancy are symbolized also contributes to user-friendliness. In one embodiment, the degree of filling of the edge zone which changes along the circumference is configured as a decreasing degree of filling of the edge zone, and symbolizes a decreasing waiting time.
In one embodiment, the screen region is circular. As a result, the part of the elevator operating device that is visible to the passenger has an aesthetically pleasing design. Correspondingly, the edge zone and an intermediate zone can be circular. As an alternative thereto, the screen region can be polygonal, for example. As a result, one of a plurality of configurations can be selected for the shape of the elevator operating device on the passenger side.
In one embodiment, the center zone of the second graphical user interface is also provided for displaying a floor on or in the vicinity of which the elevator car is located.
This additional information also contributes to user-friendliness; the passenger can, for example, see that the elevator car is moving in the direction of his floor when the floor display changes, albeit slowly under certain circumstances. In one embodiment, the center zone of the second graphical user interface is also provided for displaying the travel direction of the elevator car.
In one embodiment, the second graphical user interface also comprises an intermediate zone arranged between the edge zone and the center zone. The intermediate zone is provided for displaying a travel direction of the elevator car that corresponds to the travel request. As a result, for example, a further passenger who also wants to use the elevator can recognize whether the elevator car that is about to arrive is already provided for travel in the travel direction desired by the other passenger.
In one embodiment, the center zone is also provided for displaying an operating symbol, a pictogram, or text. In this way, it can be displayed, for example, that the elevator car carrying out a call has arrived on the floor and the elevator doors are opening. In addition, the display can be used flexibly to provide information about an operating state of the elevator system, for example, that the elevator system is out of service or may not be used.
There is also flexibility with regard to the arrangement of the elevator operating device that can be arranged on a shaft door or a shaft door frame of the elevator system or on a building wall. Depending on the building, the elevator operating device can be arranged on a pedestal (or a column) which is fastened to the ground.
In one embodiment, a sensor device is arranged in the elevator system, which sensor device is configured to determine an occupancy of the elevator car by passengers. It is advantageous in this case that the sensor device or the functionality thereof can be implemented in different ways. For example, a load measuring device that is already provided in the elevator system can be used, or an optical measuring device (e.g., a video device) can be installed.
The touch-sensitive screen system used in accordance with the technology described herein comprises a touchscreen. A touchscreen can be produced in different sizes or dimensions depending on the application and requirements. The size of the screen system can thus also be selected according to the requirements in the building. In addition to this flexibility in terms of size, a touchscreen also offers the advantage of having a smooth surface. Dirt can be removed more easily from a smooth surface than, for example, from an arrangement that has one or more buttons having elevations and/or grooves and gaps. This reduces the maintenance outlay.
The technology described herein also allows freedom in terms of configuration, for example, with regard to a shape of the elevator operating device on the passenger side.
The creative freedom extends to the configuration of the user interfaces. In particular in buildings for which a contemporary or modern appearance is desired, the elevator operating devices equipped with touchscreens can help achieve this goal.
Various aspects of the improved technology are described in greater detail below with reference to embodiments in conjunction with the drawings. In the drawings, identical elements have identical reference signs. In the drawings:
In the situation shown in
The passenger P can input a desired destination floor at an elevator operating device 6 arranged in the elevator car 10. This control technology is known to a person skilled in the art, so that more detailed explanations do not appear necessary; in the following, this is only discussed to the extent that it seems helpful for understanding the technology described herein. The embodiments of the technology described below relate to the elevator operating devices 4 arranged on the floors L, L1.
The elevator operating device 4 comprises a touch-sensitive screen system 68 which has a screen region 37 that is visible to a passenger P. The screen system 68 can be controlled depending on the (elevator) operating mode of the elevator system 1. In accordance thereto, the screen region 37 of the elevator operating device 4 displays a first graphical user interface 34 or a second graphical user interface 35. The elevator operating device 4 arranged on the floor L in
The elevator operating device 4 arranged on the floor L1 in
According to the more general representation of an embodiment of the second user interface 35 shown in
A person skilled in the art would recognize that the screen region 37 and/or the zones (25, 28, 38) may deviate from the circular shape shown by way of example in another embodiment. The screen region 37 and/or at least one of the zones (25, 28, 38) can be configured as an oval or polygon, for example. A person skilled in the art would recognize that the areas formed by the zones (25, 28, 38) can be specified as desired; for example, the center zone 28 can have a smaller area, whereby the area of the intermediate zone 25 is increased. The same applies to the edge zone 38.
The edge zone 38 extends in the screen region 37 along a circumference of the screen region 37 and has a specified width, resulting in said area. The edge zone 38 is provided for symbolizing a waiting time until the elevator car 10 arrives on the (boarding) floor L, L1. In the embodiment shown, the waiting time is symbolized by the fact that the area is more or less filled; this surface filling is referred to below as the degree of filling. The degree of filling can, for example, be represented in color and/or by a pattern or structuring. A degree of filling of the edge zone 38 which changes along the circumference symbolizes a changing waiting time. For example, a decreasing degree of filling of the edge zone 38 symbolizes a decreasing waiting time. Examples of degrees of filling of the edge zone 38 are shown in
The center zone 28 which is displayed separately from the edge zone 38 is provided for symbolizing an occupancy of the elevator car 10 by passengers P. As explained in more detail elsewhere in this description, the elevator system 1 has a sensor device 12 with which the occupancy of the elevator car 10 by passengers P (or objects) can be determined. The occupancy indicates, for example, whether the elevator car 10 is empty or full, or whether there are few or many passengers P in the elevator car 10. In the embodiment shown, the occupancy is symbolized by the fact that the area of the center zone 28 is more or less filled; this surface filling is referred to below as the degree of filling. The degree of filling can, for example, be represented in color and/or by a pattern or structuring. A changing degree of filling of the center zone 28 symbolizes a changing occupancy. For example, an increasing degree of filling of the center zone 28 symbolizes an increasing occupancy. Examples of degrees of filling of the center zone 28 are shown in
The intermediate zone 25 is provided for displaying a travel direction of the elevator car 10 that corresponds to the travel request. The travel direction can be displayed by means of a travel direction symbol 24 which can be configured analogously to the travel direction symbols 30, 32, for example. The travel direction symbol 24 indicates to the passenger P on the floor L, L1 that the elevator car 10 which departs next from this floor L, L2 is traveling in the displayed travel direction. An embodiment of the intermediate zone 25 with the travel direction symbol 24 is shown in
An elevator operating device 4 according to the technology described herein can be arranged on an elevator shaft door 11 or a shaft door frame of the elevator system 1 or on a building wall. Depending on the situation in the building, an elevator operating device 4 can also be arranged on a column standing on the ground of the floor. The elevator shaft door 11 separates the floor L, L1 from the elevator shaft 18; if the elevator car 10 is located on the floor L, L1, the car door thereof (not shown in
The elevator operating devices 4 are connected to the elevator controller 8 via a communication network 22. A communication line 20 connects the (car-side) elevator operating device 6 to the elevator controller 8. In one embodiment, the communication line 20 also connects a sensor device 12 arranged in or on the car 10 to the elevator controller 12.
The embodiment shown in
In the situation shown in
In order to carry out the elevator call, the elevator controller 8 causes a motion of the elevator car 10 to the boarding floor (L1), unless the elevator car 10 is already located on the boarding floor (L1). In the embodiment shown, the elevator car 10 is moved to the boarding floor (L1). The movement of the elevator car 10 in the direction of the boarding floor (L1) is represented by a car motion symbol 40 which is displayed in the center zone 28, for example. The car motion symbol 40 shows the travel direction of the elevator car 10 in
In
the area of the center zone 28 filled by the occupancy indicator 42 is referred to as the degree of filling. The occupancy indicator 42 or the degree of filling symbolizes the occupancy of the elevator car 10 by passengers P. In the embodiment shown, the occupancy indicator 42 is configured to fill the circular center zone 28 from below (e.g., empty elevator car 10) to the top (increasing occupancy of the elevator car 10). The occupancy indicator 42 can be optically highlighted, for example, by a color and/or lighting selection and/or by a selection of a surface pattern. A person skilled in the art would recognize that the occupancy indicator 42 can also be configured differently in order to clearly symbolize the occupancy; for example, one or more circular or polygonal areas (e.g., circles or bars) of variable size can be displayed.
In
As the elevator car 10 moves in the direction of the boarding floor (L1), the waiting time for the passenger P waiting there changes. The waiting time is displayed to the passenger
P by means of the edge zone 38. As mentioned above, the degree of filling of the edge zone 38 symbolizes the waiting time. In
The touch-sensitive screen system 54 is referred to below as the touchscreen 54. In the embodiment shown, the touchscreen 54 comprises a transparent glass or plastics plate (not shown) and a processor 52. The graphical user interfaces 34, 35 displayed by a display device of the touchscreen 54, depending on the operating mode, are visible to the passenger P through the transparent glass or plastics plate. The processor 52 is connected to the central control device 46 and generates, for example, a signal when a passenger P touches one of the directional symbols 30, 32 with a finger; the processor 52 controls the display device, the electro-acoustic transducer 38, and/or the illumination device 50 in order to confirm the input to the passenger P. In one embodiment, the central control device 46 controls the transducer 38 (speaker) in order to communicate the input elevator call to the passenger P also audibly, for example, by means of speech. The structure and function of a touchscreen, in particular for inputting calls, are known to a person skilled in the art, and further explanations therefore do not appear to be necessary.
In one embodiment, the touchscreen 54 has a specified size, for example, specified as a diameter, if the screen region 37 is circular, or as width and length (or height) or as a screen diagonal, if the screen region 37 is rectangular, for example. The selected shape and size of the touchscreen 54 or the screen region 37 thereof can depend on which area or which portion of the touchscreen 54 is specified as the usable area (for touching and/or displaying information). A person skilled in the art would recognize that the size of the screen region 37 can be selected in accordance with the requirements specified for the building, for example, the number of floors and/or the type or use of the building (regular/irregular passengers who are familiar/not familiar with the building and therefore need less/more information).
The illumination device 50 is used to illuminate the touchscreen 54 or the user interfaces 34, 35 of the elevator operating device 4, or only regions of the user interfaces 34, 35. Controlled by the central control device 46, the illumination device 50 can illuminate the user interfaces 34, 35 or selectively illuminate them, so that the displayed travel direction symbols 30, 32 and, for example, the symbolizations of the waiting time and the occupancy of the passenger P are perceptible, in particular in poor lighting conditions. The illumination device 50 can also illuminate the user interfaces 34, 35 or individual symbols and zones with colored light, for example, in order to confirm the input of an elevator call. In one embodiment, the illumination device 50 comprises one or more LED light sources.
The communication network 22 connects the elevator operating devices 4 on the floor side to the elevator controller 8 and thus makes communication possible between the elevator controller 8 and the elevator operating devices 4. For this communication, the elevator operating devices 4 and the elevator controller 8 can be directly or indirectly connected to the communication network 22. The communication network 22 can comprise a communication bus system, individual data lines, or a combination thereof. Depending on the implementation of the communication network 22, individual addresses and/or identifiers can be allocated to the elevator controller 8 and each elevator operating device 4, such that, for example, the elevator controller 8 can send a message to a desired elevator operating device 4 in a targeted manner. Communication can take place in accordance with a protocol for wired communication, for example, the Ethernet protocol. In one embodiment, the elevator operating devices 4 are supplied with electrical energy via the communication network 22 (PoE).
With the understanding of the above-described basic system components of the elevator system 1, the elevator operating device 4, and the functionalities thereof, a description of an example of a method for operating the elevator system 1 shown in
The method is described with reference to a passenger P who is located on a (current) floor L, L1. At the elevator operating device 4 arranged there, the passenger P would like to input a travel request (call) in order to be transported from a current floor L, L1 to a destination floor L, L1 by the elevator. From this floor L, L1, the passenger P can wish to travel in the upward direction or downward direction; the destination floor L, L1 can be located above or below the (current) floor L, L1. The floor L, L1 is therefore an intermediate floor; such a situation is described below. However, the passenger P can also be on a bottom or top floor L, L1, from which only one travel direction is possible.
If the elevator system 1 is ready for operation and the elevator operating device 4 on the floor L, L1 is ready for the input of an elevator call, in a step S2, the screen system 54 of the elevator operating device 4 is controlled in a first operating mode. In a step S3, the first graphical user interface 34 is displayed in this first operating mode. The first graphical user interface 34 displays at least one travel direction symbol 30, 32. In the situation described herein, the passenger P is located on an intermediate floor; the graphical user interface 34 therefore displays the travel direction symbols 30, 32 in the upward direction and the downward direction.
In a step S4, the travel request of the passenger P is detected. It is also detected which travel direction symbol 30, 32 the passenger P is touching. The elevator call is transmitted from the elevator operating device 4 to the elevator controller 8. The elevator controller 8 detects the floor L, L1 on which the elevator call is input and which travel direction is desired. The elevator controller 8 then causes the elevator call to be carried out in a known manner and, among other things, an elevator car 10 on the floor L, L1 (boarding floor) is made available.
In a step S5, the screen system 54 of the elevator operating device 4 is controlled in a second operating mode. In a step S6, the second graphical user interface 35 is displayed in this second operating mode. The second graphical user interface 34 displays the waiting time in the edge zone 38 and the occupancy in the center zone 28, as described above in connection with
The elevator controller 8 records measured values with which the current position of the elevator car 10 can be determined. From the current position of the elevator car 10, the elevator controller 8 determines the remaining time until the elevator car 10 arrives at the boarding floor. The length of time is determined continuously while the elevator car 10 is being moved in the direction of the boarding floor; any intermediate stops on other floors can also be taken into account. The elevator controller 8 transmits the determined time period to the elevator operating device 4 so that it displays the time period as a waiting time in the edge zone 38. A person skilled in the art would recognize that the elevator car 10 may already be on the boarding floor; in this case, no display of the waiting time is provided.
The elevator controller 8 also records measured values with which the current occupancy of the elevator car 10 can be determined. The occupancy is determined, for example, at the beginning of the motion of the elevator car 10 and at a possible intermediate stop, when passengers P get on or off. The elevator controller 8 transmits the determined occupancy to the elevator operating device 4 so that it displays the occupancy in the center zone 28.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20172258.4 | Apr 2020 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2021/060462 | 4/22/2021 | WO |
