Inventio Ag

Astrid Sonnenmoser

Ivo Lustenberger

Martin Hess

David Michel

Kurt Heinz

Thomas Hartmann

Reto Tschuppert

Adrian Knecht

Hans Kocher

Christian Studer

Martin Kusserow

Bjarne Lindberg

Josef Husmann

Christoph Liebetrau

Volker Zapf

Faruk Osmanbasic

Michael Geisshüsler

Adrian Steiner

Karl Weinberger

Frank Olivier Roussel

Zack Zhu

Julian Stähli

Axel Hosemann

André Rüegg

Jean-Philippe Escher

Klaus Zahn

Urs Camenzind

Pablo Cruz

Johannes Gassner

Michael GEISSHÜSLER

Marko Trauber-Pichler

Joel Akeret

An elevator system controller controls a drive and optionally further elevator components. The controller includes a circuit having a switch to be monitored, the switch having an input and an output, a signal transmitter unit applying an AC voltage input signal to the input of the switch, and a monitoring unit to record an output signal at an output of the switch. On the basis of a comparison of the output signal with the input signal, the circuit generates a monitoring signal that indicates a switching state of the switch. The switch may be, for example, a door switch connected in series with other safety switches to form a safety chain. Applying the AC voltage signal instead of a conventional DC voltage signal makes it possible to avoid electrical corrosion in the switch and also makes it possible to increase a reliability of a detected switching state of the switch.

Elevator system having a circuit with a switch monitored by means of an AC voltage signal

A passenger transport system includes a bus system transferring data between a central control unit and a plurality of field devices. In a failure detection method, the field devices are configured in an unbranched chain configuration and the control unit transmits a test telegram to a first field device to start a monitoring cycle during which each field device receiving the test telegram forwards the test telegram to a next field device in the chain. During the monitoring cycle, the control unit monitors a communication between the field devices occurring via the bus system, in order to detect when a field device does not forward the test telegram. A data volume transmitted via the bus system during the failure detection method is significantly reduced in comparison to conventional failure tests such that failures can be recognized more quickly and/or simpler hardware and/or software can be used.

Passenger transport system having central control unit and multiple field devices having an optimized failure detection method

A method and a catching device are used to catch a traveling body in an elevator system wherein traveling body is movable along a rail. The catching device includes a first braking element, a second braking element, a first guide element, a second guide element and an actuating element. The first braking element and the second braking element are brought into contact with the rail for braking. A first linear bearing is formed between the first braking element and the first guide element and a second linear bearing is formed between the second braking element and the second guide element. Both guide elements are moved between a rest position and a braking initial position, the actuating element moving the two guide elements from the rest position into the braking initial position.

Electronic catching device that can be easily reset

A method for moving an elevator car of an elevator for evacuating passengers from the elevator car in the event of a power failure, wherein a brake blocks a vertical movement of the elevator car, includes the steps of: applying an electrical pulse or a plurality of electrical pulses to the brake of the elevator car to release the brake and unblock the vertical movement of the elevator car, the brake being released for as long as the particular electrical pulse is applied to the brake; determining a covered height which the elevator car has covered during the application of the particular electrical pulse; comparing the determined covered height with a predetermined distance; and terminating the application of the particular electrical pulse to the brake when the determined covered height is equal to or greater than the predetermined distance.

Method for moving an elevator car of an elevator for evacuating passengers and brake opening device for moving an elevator car of an elevator for evacuating passengers

A safety system for a building-related passenger transport system includes a safety unit for receiving safety-relevant signals from components of the passenger transport system and for triggering a safety measure, and an updating unit for receiving updated software via an external interface and for transmitting the updated software to the safety unit via an internal interface.

Safety system for building-related passenger transportation system

A method and system for inspecting and monitoring an elevator installation includes sending an autonomous flying object having at least one sensor to the elevator installation, and granting access to a hoistway of the elevator installation to the autonomous flying object. The autonomous flying object is positioned within the hoistway, and data collected by the associated sensor is sent to a remote elevator service center. The autonomous flying object and the associated sensor can be used to monitor and inspect the elevator installation on a temporary basis, for example for a specific number of hours, days or weeks. Once the autonomous flying object has gained access to the hoistway, the elevator installation can resume normal operation thereby keeping downtime to a minimum. After completing its tasks at one elevator installation, the autonomous flying object can be directed by the remote elevator service center to monitor and inspect another elevator installation.

Remote elevator monitoring and inspection

An elevator safety supervising entity (SSE) includes a car safety supervising unit (SSU) controlling functions of car safety components and having at least one car sensor sensing car-related parameters, a head SSU controlling functions of shaft safety components and having at least one shaft sensor sensing shaft-related parameters, and a data linkage transmitting signal data between the SSUs. Both SSUs detect a failure in the other one of the SSUs and in the data linkage signal data transmission and in response switch from a normal operation mode to a failure operation mode. In the failure operation mode, the SSUs operate autonomously to keep the elevator operative at least temporarily with a sufficiently high safety even when functions of the elevator SSE are disturbed due to failures and e.g. passengers may be evacuated from the elevator car before completely stopping elevator operation.

Elevator safety supervising entity with two units having an option for e.g. autonomous passenger evacuation

A monitoring device for monitoring a passenger transport system includes at least one sensor, a control unit, a bus, and at least one bus node connected to the bus. The bus node has a microprocessor and an inspection unit for data exchange with the control unit. A first program module in the microprocessor detects a state change of the sensor that is connected to an input of the microprocessor via a transmission line and spontaneously transmits a corresponding state message to the control unit. A second program module in the inspection unit, after receiving an instruction from the control unit, transmits an activation signal to a coupling point in the bus node that simulates a state change of the sensor, the activation signal being superimposed on a sensor signal and/or being coupled into a power supply line connected to the sensor.

Monitoring device for a passenger transport system, testing method and passenger transport system

An elevator system has a central control unit for generating control signals and/or processing sensor signals and controlling functions of the system, a plurality of field devices distributed inside a structure accommodating the system, preferably along an elevator shaft, and a field bus system for interchanging the signals between the control unit and the field devices. Each field device outputs sensor signals generated by a sensor and/or receives control signals to be implemented by an actuator. Data packets including the signals are interchanged in a serial manner between the control unit and all field devices in a summation frame method using a closed ring topology. Each field device has a driver to insert the sensor signals into the data packet or to remove the control signals from the data packet. Data and signal transmission is thereby carried out quickly and safely in a safety circuit of the elevator system.

Elevator system having a central control unit and a plurality of field devices which communicate via a summation frame method

A monitoring unit, for monitoring an elevator system, includes a circuit assembly having a power supply unit for dispensing a grid-dependent first operating voltage and at least one processor-controlled monitoring module to actively and/or passively ascertain state data of the elevator system. An energy storage unit, that dispenses a grid-independent second operating voltage, and a first switching device supply the first operating voltage to the monitoring module during a normal operation and supply the second operating voltage to the monitoring module in the event of a power outage. A non-volatile data storage unit that stores a variable operating parameter and a second switching device deactivate parts of the circuit assembly. The monitoring module actuates the second switching device based on the stored operating parameter that has a first value before the monitoring unit is started and has a second value after the monitoring unit is started.

Monitoring unit for an elevator system, and method

An elevator system drive unit moves an elevator car in an elevator shaft to at least two shaft access doors under control of a control unit. The car does not move or moves only to a limited extent if an individual is in the shaft. A monitoring unit and sensor (switching contact) detect changes in state in at least one of the doors using a sequence of pulses monitoring signal. The monitoring unit has a battery and can be switched to an autonomous mode when the elevator system is entirely or partially disabled. The monitoring unit, in the autonomous mode, records state data from the sensor and is connected to a safeguard unit that reads and evaluates the recorded state data, and prevents the elevator system from being put into the normal mode of operation if a change in the state of one of the monitored doors has been detected.

Method and apparatus for controlling an elevator system

An elevator system includes a control unit, a bus, a plurality of bus-nodes connected via the bus with the control unit, and a plurality of safety-state detection devices connected with the control unit via the bus-nodes. A method of commissioning the elevator system includes the steps: A) verification by the control unit of the safety-state detection means that are connected to the bus; B) checking of the functional capability of the safety-state detection means that are connected; C) checking by the control unit of the safety functions of the elevator system based on a change in state of a safety-state detection means; and D) release of the elevator system for a normal operation only after positive execution by the control unit of the steps A) to C), wherein the release is accompanied by a change in state of the control unit from an unsecured state into a secured state.

Method and control unit for checking elevator system safety functions

A method for operating a safety system having a control unit, a bus, a plurality of bus nodes connected to the control unit via the bus, and a plurality of participants connected to the control unit via the bus nodes, wherein at least one participant is designated as a temporary participant. The method includes the step of logging the temporary participant out of the safety system by giving notice of a disconnection of the temporary participant from the safety system by a manipulation and disconnecting the temporary participant from the safety system. The safety system can be used with an elevator system for carrying out the method.

Method for operating an electronic safety system with temporary participants

An elevator system has a drive, a car, a plurality of safety function components for providing safety functions at various positions, and a safety monitoring system with a plurality of safety monitoring units for monitoring all of the safety function components. The monitoring units have an input interface for reading in data or signals and an output interface for outputting control signals to an assigned member of the safety function components, at least some of the monitoring units being connected via data exchange channels. The monitoring units are organized in a master-slave hierarchy, with one unit designed as a master unit, and at least one other unit designed as a slave unit. The decentralized and distributed monitoring units, each having data processing capability, and the master-slave organization result in the elevator system exhibiting a high security level with low cabling complexity and cost expenditure, in particular for high rise elevators.

Elevator system comprising with a safety monitoring system with a master-slave hierarchy

A method and a system for determining the position of an elevator car of an elevator system, which car is arranged for travel in an elevator hoistway, includes equipping the elevator car with an acceleration sensor that registers acceleration data in a computing unit, calculation by the computing unit of the current position and/or of the velocity of the elevator car, and equipping the elevator system with an image-recording unit, which unit records recorded images of the elevator hoistway. The computing unit compares the recorded images with current mapping images of the elevator hoistway to determine an image-based current position of the elevator car. Finally, the computing unit undertakes a recalibration of the current position using the image-based current position.

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Hochdorf, Switzerland

Astrid Sonnenmoser