HK1160094B - Automated elevator fixture addressing - Google Patents

Description

Automatic elevator fixture addressing

Background

An elevator system includes an elevator car that moves vertically to carry passengers, cargo, or both to various floors within a building or structure. There are different arrangements for allowing passengers to request elevator service. One or more service call appliances (service call appliances) are strategically located for allowing passengers to make their service requests. Some service call fixtures are known as hall call fixtures and are typically positioned near hoistway doors that provide access to elevator cars. Hall call fixtures typically have up and down selection buttons that allow a person to indicate a desire to travel to another floor above the floor on which the hall call fixture is located or below the floor on which the hall call fixture is located. Other service call devices, such as destination entry devices, allow a person to enter information, such as the desired floor within a building to which the person wishes to travel.

Regardless of the type of fixture being applied, it is necessary to facilitate accurate communication between the fixture and the particular fixture responsible for determining where the service call occurred (e.g., location) as well as other elevator system controllers. Without knowing which fixture is used to make a service request, it is typically not possible to provide the desired quality of elevator service.

A typical method for notifying a controller about a particular fixture includes providing each fixture with a unique address. By identifying the designated address, the controller is able to determine from which fixture the service call occurred and arrange elevator service accordingly.

The typical addressing procedure is time consuming, labor intensive and prone to installer error. Typical addressing occurs during elevator system installation. The installer needs to manually set or configure each fixture to provide a unique address to it according to a preset pattern to be recognized by the controller. For example, an installer may need to manually set a number of addressing switches or manually set jumpers (e.g., wire loops) to set an address for each fixture. This process is time consuming and includes a significant possibility of installer error. If any errors occur, the controller will not be able to identify all of the fixtures on schedule. Unfortunately, the installer typically cannot determine whether an error has been caused until the entire system is powered up and the controller fails to initialize the operating system due to the error.

One proposal for automating such a process is presented in U.S. patent No. 5914957. In this document, a master controller communicates with a series of nodes to automatically provide address information to the nodes in a sequential manner.

Disclosure of Invention

One exemplary method of automatically addressing a plurality of fixtures in an elevator system includes determining whether a selected elevator device operation is performed at a location of a fixture and automatically providing initialization information to the corresponding fixture in response to the selected operation.

In one example, the selected elevator operation includes stopping the elevator car at a landing at which the fixture is positioned. Another example includes opening an elevator door at a landing where the fixture is positioned. Another example elevator operation includes manually operating at least one switch on the fixture for at least a prescribed amount of time.

An exemplary assembly for use in an elevator system includes a controller and a plurality of fixtures. The communication link allows communication between the controller and each of the plurality of appliances. The controller provides an initialization signal over the communication link. The fixtures are automatically addressed accordingly in response to the controller determining that the selected elevator device operation is performed at the location of each fixture.

The various features and advantages of the disclosed examples will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.

Drawings

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates selected portions of an example assembly for use in an example elevator system.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart outlining one exemplary method for automatically addressing the exemplary plurality of fixtures, such as those shown in FIG. 1.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates an assembly 20 useful in an elevator system. The assembly 20 includes a controller 22 responsible for selected elevator system operating functions. A plurality of hoistway doors 24 are shown that provide access to an elevator car 25 in a known manner. The illustrated example includes a plurality of fixtures 26 that allow an individual to request elevator service.

In one example, fixtures 26 include hall call fixtures that allow an individual to indicate a desire to travel to another floor above or below the floor on which the service call occurred. An example hall call fixture includes up and down switches (i.e., physical buttons or images on a touch pad) that can be pressed to indicate a desired heading direction. Another example includes fixtures 26, each of which includes a destination input device having one or more switches to allow an individual to provide an indication of a desired destination from outside the elevator car. Yet another example includes certain fixtures 26, including hall call fixtures and other fixtures that include destination entry fixtures.

Regardless of the type of fixture 26, the controller 22 is at least responsible for determining which fixture has been accessed by an individual to indicate an elevator service request. The controller 22 uses the addresses respectively assigned to each fixture 26 to determine which fixture 26 is used to make the service request. For example, once suitably configured with an address, the address of each fixture is identifiable in association with the service request signal so that the controller 22 can determine where the request originated.

The example of fig. 1 includes a communication link 34 between the controller 22 and the fixture 26. In one example, the communication link includes a hard-wired connection between the controller 22 and the fixture 26. One example communication link 34 includes a communication bus, such as a CANH or CANL bus as is known. Another example communication link 34 includes at least one wireless link that facilitates wireless communication between the controller 22 and the fixtures 26. Some examples include a combination of line-based and wireless links.

The example fixtures 26 each include a memory portion 36 for storing address information. In one example, the memory portion 36 is a programmable memory portion that does not initially include address information and that must be enabled to receive initialization information from the controller 22.

In one example, when one of the fixtures 26 is enabled to receive the memory portion 36 of the initialization information, the controller 22 generates and transmits or broadcasts the initialization information over the communication link 34. In this example, only one memory portion 36 is enabled at a given time, such that initialization information will be uniquely assigned to one of the fixtures 26 for the purpose of addressing that fixture so that it can then be recognized by the controller 22.

In the illustrated example, the fixture memory portion 36 is enabled to be addressed in response to a selected elevator device operation performed at the location of the corresponding fixture 26. The example of fig. 1 includes a detector 38 for detecting a selected elevator device operation at a corresponding fixture 26 location. The detector 38 may be an integral part of the fixture 26 or may be a separate device, depending on the needs of a particular scenario.

In one example, one of the fixtures 26 provides an indication to the controller 22 that it is enabled to receive addressing information in response to a selected elevator device operation performed at a corresponding location. In another example, the detector 38 provides a signal to the controller 22 regarding the detected elevator device operation. In another example, based on information available to the controller 22, the controller 22 automatically makes a determination of when the selected elevator device operation has been performed, and each of the fixtures 26 can determine when an elevator device operation has occurred at the location of the corresponding fixture so that the correct fixture 26 is ready to receive address information.

In one example, the stop of the elevator car 25 at the landing during the commissioning is interpreted by the controller 22 as an indication to broadcast initialization information. The fixtures 26 at the corresponding landing in one example include the ability to detect the presence of an elevator car during a commissioning. The fixture responsively prepares to receive initialization information to its memory portion 36.

In another example, the controller determines that the elevator car 25 has stopped at a landing during a commissioning period and responsively broadcasts initialization information. The fixture 26 is enabled to receive initialization information in response to door switch activity at a landing when an elevator door is open at the landing or one of the switches of the fixture 26 is triggered.

FIG. 2 includes a flowchart diagram 40 summarizing one example approach. At 42, a determination is made whether the selected device operation is performed at the location of one of the fixtures 26. In this example, there are three different possible elevator device operations that are used to enable the corresponding memory portion 36 of the fixture 26 in place to receive addressing information.

One example elevator device operation includes opening one of the doors 24 at a location (e.g., landing) of one of the fixtures 26. This determination is made at 44 in fig. 2. For example, the detector 38 may use an indication from a hoistway door lock regarding the open status of the corresponding hoistway door 24. There are known techniques for determining when an elevator hoistway door or an elevator car door is open. This type of technique is used in one example.

Another example elevator installation operation includes stopping the elevator car 25 at a location of one of the fixtures 26 (e.g., at a corresponding landing). A determination is made at 46 in fig. 2 as to whether the elevator car is stopped in this manner. Determining the position of the elevator car can be accomplished by one of the controllers 22, the corresponding fixtures 26, one of the detectors 38, or a combination thereof. Known elevator car position determination techniques are used in one example. Based on the position of the elevator car 25 in this case, the appropriate fixture 26 can be prepared for addressing.

Another example elevator device operation includes triggering a switch of one of the devices 26 during at least a preselected time. For example, a continuous pressing of a button or touch screen at one of the fixtures 26 is considered an elevator device operation, which serves as a trigger for an addressing operation. In such an example, the corresponding fixture 26 provides a signal to the controller 22 to indicate such switch activation.

As shown at 50 in fig. 2, one of the fixtures 26 at the location of the performed operation is enabled to receive initialization information. In one example, this includes configuring the memory portion so that it can receive initialization information including addressing information from controller 22 via communication link 34.

At 52, the controller 22 provides initialization information. In one example, the controller 22 broadcasts such information over the communication link 34. When only one of the fixtures 26 is enabled to receive addressing information at any given time, only one of the fixtures 26 will be initialized and addressed based on the provided initialization information.

At 54, the controller identifies the fixture 26 at the location of the operation being performed (e.g., a fixture having a memory portion 36 enabled for addressing). The controller 22 associates the address included in the initialization information with a corresponding one of the fixtures 26 for the purpose of later identifying any signals received from that fixture 26.

Any of the example elevator device operations may be performed at the location of one of the fixtures 26 for the purpose of initializing and addressing that fixture 26. Once the fixtures are addressed, the selected elevator device operation can be performed at the location of another one of the fixtures 26. Such a procedure can be repeated until all fixtures have been addressed.

In one example, at least one of the elevator device operations must be performed at the location of the fixture 26 for the purpose of initializing and addressing the fixture. In another example, the combination of elevator device operations must be performed before the corresponding fixture 26 will be enabled for initialization and addressing. The controller 22 is programmed to recognize when a selected device operation or combination of operations has been performed. The controller 22 can broadcast the initialization information over the communication link 34 so that it will be received by the appropriate fixture 26. The fixture 26 has a memory portion 36 enabled for initialization and addressing.

In one example, the technician controls the sequence of locations where selected elevator device operations are performed. For example, the technician may trigger the fixture switch at the lowest floor as the first addressing location and then proceed sequentially one floor after another toward the top floor. Alternatively, the technician may begin by controlling the operation of the selected elevator device to occur first at the highest level of the building and sequentially to the lowest level. Using this method and suitably programming the controller 22 allows the location of each addressed fixture 26 to be identified.

One feature of the disclosed examples is that they eliminate the need for a manual, tedious addressing procedure for accurately and successfully installing an elevator system. The disclosed example also eliminates the possibility of installer error of this type (which requires troubleshooting and debug analysis to find out which fixture was installed incorrectly). In one example, the controller 22 determines whether a complete addressing procedure involving all fixtures 26 is complete. If wrong, the controller 22 can provide an indication of which fixtures are properly addressed, which are not, or both, to facilitate any corrective action required by the installer or technician.

The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this invention. The scope of legal protection given to this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.

Claims (21)

1. A method for automatically addressing a plurality of fixtures in an elevator system, comprising the steps of:

establishing a shared communication link between a controller and a plurality of appliances;

determining whether a selected elevator device operation is performed at the location of one of the fixtures;

enabling only the one of the fixtures at the determined location of elevator device operation to receive initialization information;

broadcasting the initialization information, the initialization information including addressing information from the controller over the shared communication link; and

initializing only the one of the enabled fixtures in response to the broadcasted initialization information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected elevator device operation comprises stopping the elevator car at a landing corresponding to a location of one of the fixtures.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected elevator device operation includes opening an elevator door at a landing corresponding to a location of one of the fixtures.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected elevator device operation includes manually manipulating a switch of the one of the fixtures for at least a prescribed amount of time.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

subsequently performing the selected device operation at a second location of a second one of the devices;

determining that a subsequently performed device operation was performed at the second location, enabling only a second one of the devices to receive initialization information based on the subsequently performed device operation being performed;

broadcasting second initialization information from the controller over a shared communication link; and

initializing only the enabled second ones of the fixtures in response to the broadcasted second initialization information.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising:

performing the selected elevator device operation at the location of a different one of the fixtures after automatically providing initialization information to the one of the fixtures; and

automatically providing initialization information to the different ones of the fixtures in response to the operations performed at the locations of the different ones of the fixtures.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising:

repeating the performing and automatically providing at each of the fixtures individually until all of the fixtures are addressed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the fixtures comprises a service call fixture configured to allow a passenger to request elevator service, and each of the fixtures is coupled with a communication link for receiving corresponding initialization information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one of the fixtures comprises a hall call device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one of the fixtures comprises a destination input device.

11. An assembly for use in an elevator system, comprising:

a controller;

a plurality of fixtures:

a shared communication link between a controller and the plurality of fixtures, the controller determining that the selected elevator device operation was performed at the location of one of the fixtures and responsively broadcasting initialization information including addressing information over the communication link, the plurality of fixtures each configured to be individually enabled to receive the broadcasted initialization information only after the selected operation was performed at the location of each fixture, the broadcasted initialization information to act on only one of the fixtures that was enabled when the initialization information was broadcast over the shared link.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the fixture comprises a service call fixture configured to allow a passenger to request elevator service.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein at least one of the fixtures comprises a hall call device.

14. The assembly of claim 12, wherein at least one of the fixtures includes a destination input device.

15. The assembly of claim 11, comprising:

a detector at a location of each of the fixtures to detect whether the selected operation is performed, the detector providing an indication to the controller in response to detecting the selected operation at the corresponding location.

16. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the selected elevator device operation includes stopping the elevator car at a landing corresponding to a location of one of the fixtures.

17. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the selected elevator device operation includes opening an elevator door at a landing corresponding to a location of one of the fixtures.

18. The assembly of claim 11, wherein each fixture includes a manually operable switch that allows an elevator passenger to indicate a request for elevator service, and the selected elevator device operation includes manually manipulating the switch of one of the fixtures for at least a prescribed amount of time.

19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the switch is associated with at least one of a button or a touch screen that can be manually manipulated.

20. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the plurality of fixtures are arranged at different distances from the controller, and the fixtures are addressed automatically in a sequential order progressing from one of the fixtures closest to the controller to one of the fixtures furthest from the controller.

21. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the communication link comprises a communication bus.