HK40013577B - Elevator call input device - Google Patents

Description

Elevator call input device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a call input device for an elevator, comprising a keyboard, such as a decimal keyboard, for inputting a destination floor number. The call input device has a keyboard controller with a decimal keyboard. After receiving a first digit via the keyboard, the keyboard controller is configured to open an input channel from the keyboard for inputting another digit of the destination floor number, thereby enabling input of a destination floor number with more than one digit. Typically, this type of call input device has, for example, a separate button to indicate the second digit of the destination floor number to be input. Another known solution is to provide a timer that keeps the input channel for inputting the other digit open for a predetermined time, and when the timer expires, the input digit entered is transmitted to the elevator controller as the destination floor number. A third alternative is to set a maximum time range for pressing the button.

Background Art

While known solutions are quite satisfactory, some elderly or disabled users may need more time to enter two (or even three) digits in a row. Furthermore, first-time users may need more time to enter a multi-digit floor number than experienced users. Furthermore, simultaneously focusing on other tasks can extend this input time. Many factors often affect the user's preference for input speed. In some cases, this can result in a destination call being recorded with a single digit, even though the passenger intended to enter a different digit.

Summary of the Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a call input device which better recognizes the intention of a passenger to enter one or more digits for a destination floor.

This object is achieved by a call input device according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 6. Preferred embodiments of the invention are subject matter of the dependent claims. Preferred embodiments are also described in the description and drawings of the present application.

According to the present invention, the call input device includes a proximity sensor having a sensor area in front of the decimal keypad. The keypad controller is configured to open an input channel from the keypad for inputting another digit of the destination floor number in response to a signal from the proximity sensor.

Thus, the call input device can consider the passenger's behavior, detected by the proximity sensor in front of the decimal keypad, to assess whether a one-, two-, or three-digit destination floor number is to be entered. Of course, other information, such as words or commands, can also be entered via the keypad. A simple (and possible) implementation of the present invention involves detecting the presence of a hand within the sensing area. When a hand is absent, the input (a numeric yes/no signal) is set. However, distance or motion detection is also possible. Detecting distance—for example, as an analog value—requires more advanced configurations to detect hand speed or direction. Typically, when a passenger wishes to enter the second or third digit, their hand, which is used to enter the digit, remains in front of the decimal keypad, which can be detected by the proximity sensor. However, if, after entering a digit, the proximity sensor detects that the hand is moving away from the proximity sensor and out of the sensing area, it concludes that the destination floor number entry has terminated. The call input device can then continue to close the input channel and transmit the entered digit as the destination floor number to the elevator controller. This can thus expedite single-digit entry compared to known timer-based methods. Furthermore, the passenger does not need to press additional keys to enter the second or third digit (in rare cases, buildings may have more than 100 destination floors). The present invention thus provides a very reliable and efficient method for entering one or more numbers as destination floors in an elevator.

Preferably, the proximity sensor is configured to sense the direction of movement within the sensing area. In this case, when the direction of movement is sensed as being away from the keypad, the input channel for entering another digit is closed, and the input digit is processed as the destination floor number to the elevator controller. This feature allows the elevator or call input device to quickly recognize that only a single digit is intended to be entered as the destination floor number.

Furthermore, the keyboard controller preferably includes a clock circuit, triggered by pressing a keyboard button. This circuit keeps the input channel open for entering another digit as long as the proximity sensor remains within its sensing area and detects an object. If the proximity sensor ceases to sense an object within its sensing area, the input channel is immediately closed, and the input digit is transmitted to the elevator controller as the destination floor. If the clock circuit has already run for a predetermined time, then if the passenger's hand remains within the proximity sensor's sensing area, the input channel is also closed, and the input digit is transmitted to the elevator controller. This prevents the input channel from remaining open for entering another digit without any restrictions. For input purposes, this timeout should be significantly longer than conventional timeouts to accommodate the varying availability requirements provided by proximity. Regardless, the predetermined timeout period of the clock circuit can be selected to be longer, as in current solutions, when the proximity sensor detects a hand remaining within its sensing area, thus allowing for the entry of a second or even third digit.

Preferably, the proximity sensor is arranged on the front panel of the call input device in which the keyboard is integrated. By this measure, the proximity sensor is integrated into the overall configuration of the front panel of the call input device and, in addition, by this measure it can be ensured that the sensing area of the proximity sensor actually covers the entire keyboard.

Preferably, the proximity sensor is located at the top of the call input device's panel, with the sensing area facing downward in front of the keypad. This characteristic recognizes that numbers are typically entered into the keypad in a downward motion. Therefore, the downward-pointing sensing area is suitable for sensing typical motions used to enter a destination floor number.

Typically, the simplest way to sense is based on the presence of a hand entering a number. A second preferred measurement method is the object distance between the hand and the keyboard. Determination of the direction and speed of movement can be a result of signal processing. The previous embodiment can be performed using a variety of available technologies (IR, light, temperature, ultrasonic, inductive, capacitive, RF). Having a sensor on the top of the panel sense downward movement through the field of view easily leads to the application of a camera or similar sensing.

Preferably, the elevator has an elevator controller with a destination call controller, wherein the destination floor number is entered not only in the car input device but also in the floor input device. Of course, the call input device can also be used for continuous call control, then of course only in the elevator car in which the destination floor must be entered.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling a decimal keypad in a call control panel, preferably a destination call control panel having a decimal keypad, is provided. According to the present invention, after an input digit is sensed by the keypad controller, the decimal keypad's input channel is controlled to open/close for input of another digit in response to sensor data from a proximity sensor having its sensing area in front of the keypad. This measure allows the sensor data from the proximity sensor to be used to determine whether the destination floor input should be terminated after inputting only one digit, or whether the decimal keypad should remain open for inputting a second (or even a third) digit. Thus, the method provides a faster solution for destination floor input in an elevator that does not require an additional button in the keypad to indicate inputting another digit of the destination floor number.

Preferably, when the proximity sensor senses an object, that is, a passenger's hand leaves the sensing area, the digit input of the destination floor is terminated and the input digit is then sent to the elevator controller as the destination floor number. Thus, by sensing that the hand entering the destination floor number has left the keypad area, the input of a single-digit destination floor can be shortened.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the proximity sensor detects an object remaining within the sensing area for a predetermined period of time, the digit input for receiving the destination floor number remains open for inputting another digit. This allows the call input device or elevator to take into account passenger movement, which may indicate the passenger is attempting to input another digit as the destination floor number. Consequently, the elevator's efficiency in inputting one, two, or even three digits for floor number entry is improved and faster.

Preferably, the input channel for inputting another digit is closed after the maximum allowed digits (second or third or more digits) have been input, and the input digits are then combined into a floor number, which is transmitted to the elevator controller via the keyboard controller.

Obviously, the keyboard controller and the controller of the call input device can be integrated with each other.The call input device usually includes further input/output devices, such as a loudspeaker, a microphone and a lighting device as well as an emergency button.

In addition to traditional buttons and keyboards, this concept can also be used for touch screens in the elevator field. On the touch screen, the distance at a certain level can also be detected by the touch sensor of the display.

The proximity sensor may be an optical sensor, a capacitive sensor, etc., which are known per se in the art.

It should be clear to those skilled in the art that the above embodiments may be arbitrarily combined with each other.

The following terms are used as synonyms: operating panel - panel; call input device controller - keyboard controller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described with reference to examples with reference to the accompanying drawings. In these drawings:

FIG1 shows a perspective view of a call input device connected to a keyboard controller and an elevator controller,

FIG2 is a flow chart for receiving the floor number of an elevator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG1 shows a call input device 10, an operating panel 12, which is connected to a call input device controller 14, which includes a keyboard controller with a decimal keyboard 16 arranged in the panel 12 of the call input device. Of course, the keyboard controller can be separated from the device controller. The decimal keyboard 16 preferably has twelve buttons 17, 18, which have ten numbers 17 and two special buttons, one of which can be an emergency button. In addition, the panel 12 includes a display 20 for indicating floor data and/or other data, a microphone 22, and a speaker 24, wherein these devices can also be arranged in a separate panel so that they do not need to be arranged in the panel 12 of the call input device. A proximity sensor 26 is located on the top of the panel 12, which has a sensing area 28 in front of the decimal keyboard 16 and its corresponding buttons (or touch-sensitive buttons of a touch screen panel) 17. When the floor number is input into the decimal keypad 16, one digit button 17 is pressed, and the signal of the proximity sensor 26 determines whether the input channel for inputting another digit of the floor number remains open in response to sensing an object, particularly a passenger's hand in the sensing area 28. After the input is terminated, the floor number is sent from the call input device controller 14 to the elevator controller 29 for call distribution or processing.

According to recent developments, the decimal keypad 16 and the display 20 may also be integrated into a combined touch screen panel.

FIG2 shows a flow chart of the floor number input into the operating panel 12 of the call input device of FIG1 . The process begins at a start step 30 . In a first decision step 32 , a check is performed to determine whether a number has been entered into the decimal keypad 16 . If the answer is no, the process loops back to the beginning of decision step 32 . If a button 17 of the decimal keypad 16 has been pressed, the answer is yes and the method proceeds to step 33 , where a timeout timer is set and further to step 34 , where the data from the proximity sensor 26 is read. In a second decision step 36 , a determination is made as to whether the object (the passenger's hand) has moved out of the proximity sensor's sensing area 28 or is no longer present in the sensing area. If so, the input channel for inputting the floor number is closed in step 38 , and the floor number is transmitted to the elevator controller in step 40 , after which the process terminates at a termination step 42 .

If the hand is still present in sensing area 26 (answer N), second decision step 36 branches to third decision step 44, where it is checked whether timeout timer 33 has reached its timeout value. If so, third decision step 44 branches to step 38 to terminate input and destination floor transmission in steps 38 and 40. If timer 33 has not reached the limit time value, third decision step 44 branches to digital input step 34 (reading the proximity sensor), whereupon it enters the second decision step again. In summary, when the timeout timer indicates a timeout or if the hand is no longer present in sensing area 26, digital input is disabled.

This method allows for the input of multi-digit numbers to be completed more quickly and reliably than with current solutions. The process has been described above for two-digit numbers. Of course, for tall skyscrapers, even three-digit floor numbers can be generated.

It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the explained embodiments, but it can be varied within the scope of the appended claims.

Reference Signs List

10 Call input device

12 Operation Panel

14 Call input device controller

16 Decimal keyboard

17 number buttons

18 Emergency Button

20 Display

22 microphones

24 speakers

26 Proximity Sensor

28 sensing areas

29 Elevator Controller

30 Getting Started

32 First judgment step—digital input?

33 Set the timeout timer

34 Reading proximity sensor

36 Second judgment step—hands removed?

38 Close the input channel from the decimal keyboard

40 Send floor number to elevator controller

42 Termination Step

44 The third judgment step—timeout?

Claims (9)

1. An elevator call input device (10) includes a keypad (16) for inputting floor numbers, the call input device (10) having a keypad controller (14) for the keypad (16). The keyboard controller (14) is configured to open an input channel from the keyboard (16) for inputting another digit of the floor number, so as to input a floor number with more than one digit. The call input device (10) includes a proximity sensor (26) having a sensing area (28) in front of the keyboard (16), and the keyboard controller (14) is configured to open/close the input channel from the keyboard (16) for inputting another number in response to a signal from the proximity sensor (26). The proximity sensor (26) is characterized in that it is configured to sense the direction of movement in the sensing area (28) and to close the input channel for inputting another number when the movement in that direction is sensed to be moving away from the keyboard (16). 2. The call input device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor (26) is configured to sense the direction of movement in the sensing area (28), and the keyboard controller (14) includes a clock circuit configured to be triggered by pressing a keyboard button when another proximity sensor (26) remains in the sensing area (28) sensing an object, to keep an input channel for inputting another number open. 3. The call input device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the keyboard (16) includes numeric buttons or a touch area (17). 4. An elevator having at least one elevator car traveling in an elevator shaft, the elevator having more than ten floors, and the elevator further having a call input device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The elevator according to claim 4, wherein the elevator has an elevator controller (29) with a destination call controller. 6. A method for controlling a keypad (16) in an elevator call input device (10), wherein, after sensing an input digit, in response to sensor data from a proximity sensor (26) having a sensing area (28) in front of the keypad (16), the input channel of the keypad (16) is controlled to open for inputting another digit. The proximity sensor (26) is characterized in that it is configured to sense the direction of movement in the sensing area (28) and to close the input channel for inputting another number when the movement in that direction is sensed to be moving away from the keyboard (16). 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the input channel is closed when the proximity sensor (26) senses that an object has left the sensing area (28). 8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the input channel remains open to input another number when the proximity sensor (26) senses that an object remains in the sensing area (28) for a predetermined time period. 9. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the input channel is closed after the second or third number is input, and the input numbers are then combined into a floor number, which is transmitted to the elevator controller (29).