Determination of the number of persons entering and leaving an elevator car

Abstract: Procedure for determining the number of passenger transfers in an elevator car on the basis of car load data. The procedure of the invention comprises continuous measurement (1) of the car load during stoppage, filtering (2) of the measurement data, recording of the load changes (3.1) taking place during stoppage, and determination (3.2) of the number of persons having entered or left the elevator car, based on said changes. The apparatus contains an A/D converter for converting the load data into digital form, and a recording and calculation unit placed in the elevator control system and connected to the output of the A/D converter to detect and count the changes in the load.

Description: The present invention relates to a method for determining the number of persons entering and leaving an elevator car, based on the load data, and a corresponding apparatus as defined in the introductory part of claim 6. In elevator control systems, besides the data on the load and calls, it is necessary to have data on the number of people in the elevator car in different situations during use. The numbers of passengers can be used, on the one hand, to produce statistics to monitor and enhance the control of the elevator and, on the other hand, to provide current information on the loading of the elevator. Both short-term and long-term statistics are maintained. The numbers of passengers entering and leaving the elevator car are recorded in the statistics separately for each floor and direction as functions of time. The statistics are utilized in the control of the elevator or the associated external devices. In group control, the statistics are used to control the elevators in such a way that the prevailing traffic type and intensity as well as the estimated number of persons behind a call are taken into account. Different floors are served according to the need. It is also possible to consider the prevailing traffic situation in the control of the open times and closing speeds of the doors, and the degree of admission of passengers into the car can be optimized. The data on the number of passengers can be used to give better information to the customers about the prevailing situation and to control people's behaviour. The long-term statistics can be used in the development of the activities. In some cases it is also necessary to obtain information on the real traffic over a relatively long period, even 30 days. In prior art, the number of persons moving into and out of an elevator car has been determined using photocells to detect the movement of people or by measuring the load during stoppage. A photocell has a limited power of resolution in peak traffic conditions, especially if passengers move simultaneously in both directions through the doors. JP-A 54-70544 discloses an apparatus using the load data which involves measuring the total load of the elevator at the instants of stopping and departure and the minimum load between those instants. The number of people entering and leaving the elevator car is calculated from these results using an average passenger weight. Thus, the procedure is based on the assumption that all passengers leaving the car get out of it before those entering the car get in, which is not always in keeping with the actual situation. Inaccuracies also result from the differences between the real and the standardized passenger weights. The object of the present invention is to achieve a new and more accurate method and apparatus for determining the number of persons entering and leaving an elevator car. According to the invention, the load of the elevator car is measured continuously during stoppage and the changes detected are utilized to determine the number of people entering and leaving the car. In this way, the load data, which is needed in any case, can be utilized without adding separate measuring equipment. The invention is characterized by the features defined in the characterizing portions of claims 1 and 6. Other preferred embodiments of the invention are presented in the subclaims. Thus, the load data is preferably measured in analog form and then converted into digital form. To prevent interference, the load data is filtered digitally. The result obtained can then be checked by means of results obtained by other methods. As compared to previously known methods, the invention provides more accurate data on the movements of passengers in different load and traffic conditions. The weighing equipment installed in the elevator car for other purposes can be used directly to obtain the measurement results, so the solution is economically advantageous. If necessary, new weighing equipment can be installed in old elevators in connection with modernization. According to the invention, the real changes in the number of passengers are determined without approximate calculations. In the following, the invention is described in detail by the aid of one of its embodiments, reference being made to the attached drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents the changes in the load of an elevator during stoppage, Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the processing of the load measurement data in the procedure of the invention, Fig. 3 is a flow diagram representing the recording of the load data, Fig. 4 is a flow diagram representing the calculation of the load, Fig. 5 is a flow diagram representing the verification of the data, Fig. 6 presents the apparatus of the invention as fitted in an elevator system. During stoppage, the load of an elevator car varies e.g. as shown in Fig. 1. At the instant of stopping (t=0), the car carries a load of L₀, which decreases in a stepwise manner to the value L₁ at instant t=t₁ as two persons leave the car. After that, one person enters the elevator and two leave it. The minimum load L₂ during the stoppage prevails at instant t=t₂ . After two more people enter the car, the load increases in a stepwise manner to the value L₃ at the instant t=t₃ of termination of the stoppage at the floor in question. In a previously known method for determining on the basis of load data the numbers Pass out and Pass in of persons entering and leaving an elevator car, the extreme values L0, L2, L3 of the load are used and the numbers of persons are calculated using the following formulas for approximate values: Pass out = (L₀ - L₂)/80 kg ≈ 3 persons Pass in = (L₃ - L₂)/80 kg ≈ 2 persons According to the invention, the load data is measured continuously during the whole time the elevator stands at a floor, allowing each stepwise load change 1 to be determined. Based on the number and direction of the changes, the numbers Pass in and Pass out of passengers entering and leaving the elevator can be calculated. In the case presented in Fig. 1, these numbers can be accurately determined, i.e. Pass in = 3 and Pass out = 4. The passengers may enter or leave the elevator in any order without essentially affecting the accuracy. As each change in the load is treated individually, the procedure provides real information about the number of passengers. Therefore, weight differences between passengers and deviations in their order of entering/leaving will not produce errors in the result. Fig. 2 presents a diagram illustrating the measurement of the load of an elevator car and the processing of the measurement signal in the procedure of the invention. The load in the car is measured in block 1. The measurement can be performed by measuring the weight of the car and its load by means of sensors placed under the car. This provides the most accurate load data. Alternatively, it is possible to use a weighing device mounted on the safety gear frame, in which case the measurement result includes the weight of the car frame and car cables as well. This solution is advantageous when the procedure of the invention is applied to old elevators as it makes it unnecessary to dismantle the car structures. The signal obtained from the car load measurement is passed via conductors to the machine room housing the control panels of the elevators. The load measurement range typically varies between 0 - 130 % of the rated load. The measurement signal is filtered and converted into digital form by an A/D converter in block 2. The digital data indicates the load as a percentage of the rated load with an accuracy of e.g. eight bits. In the elevator control 3, the load data is recorded in block 3.1. This recording is performed at 100 ms intervals in the manner illustrated by the flowchart in Fig. 3. In the selection blocks of the chart, the state of car movement and the position of the doors are established first. If the elevator car is standing or the doors are open, the load value is set to zero (EXACT LOAD = 0). In the loop, the load value is determined from the input connectors one bit at a time. The digital data is filtered in block 3.2 (Fig. 2) to eliminate any disturbance components that may appear in it. In this way, e.g. the momentary load changes resulting from a person moving in the car can be filtered out. Usable filtering methods are e.g. median filtering, in which only the middle one of the measurement results obtained within a certain period is taken into account, and exponential filtering, in which the most recent result and the results obtained previously are weighted with certain coefficients. Other filtering methods are also possible. From the data filtered in block 3.2, the steps of load change are counted and the entries and exits of passengers are outlined. Thus, the elevator control distinguishes the real load changes resulting from passengers entering or leaving and ignores load signal steps caused by various disturbance factors. The flowchart in Fig. 4 shows how the number of persons is calculated by the elevator control. This phase, too, is executed at 100 ms intervals. After the deceleration point, the load data is updated to the ring buffer. Using median filtering, a median load value for the last nine loads is formed, and, further, from the previous calculated load (OLD load ) and the median load, a new load (NEW load ) is produced by exponential filtering. The magnitude of the difference (LOAD diff ) between the old and new load values is calculated and tested. In this example, the difference must be at least one quarter of the average passenger weight while the quantity CARSIZE represents the size of the elevator car in terms of a number of persons. On the basis of the direction of the change, the numbers (Pass in and Pass out ) of people entering and leaving the car as well as the total number of passengers Tot pas are incremented. In group control (block 4), using suitable checking devices, the values representing the numbers of persons having entered or left the elevator are monitored and corrected if necessary. Additional data, e.g. car calls, reversals of travelling direction and information obtained from the weighing device or photocells, can be used. If the elevator was stopped at the floor in question by a car call, then it is assumed that at least one person will leave the car during the stoppage. If there was no car call, presumably nobody will leave the car. In the case of a reversal of direction, it is assumed that all passengers will leave the car. The proportions of those entering and those leaving the car are estimated on the basis of the load weight data. It is also possible to consider the size of the load in relation to the calculated number of persons as well as the allowed number of passengers in the car. The verification of the data is described by the aid of the flowchart in Fig. 5. The total number of passengers TOTAL obtained by photocell monitoring is determined by selecting the smaller one of the quantities: 2 x allowed number of persons in the car (CARSIZE) and total number of photocell signals (TOTPHOTO). The initial value of the number of persons leaving the car (PHOTO out ) is defined as being equal to half the total number of passengers (TOTAL). In the selection blocks, the value of PHOTO out is adjusted on the basis of floor type, car call data and hall call data. The number of passengers entering the car (PHOTO in ) is calculated as the difference between the total number of photocell signals TOTAL and the number of outgoing persons PHOTO out . Based on the total numbers of persons determined from the photocell and weight data and on the allowed number of passengers for the elevator car, a confirmed total number (TRANSFERS) of passenger transfers (= entries + exits) is produced. The proportion of outgoing persons in this total number is defined as being the same as the proportion of outgoing persons Pass out in the total number Tot pas of passengers moving in or out as determined on the basis of the changes in the weight data. In this way, verified values for the numbers (IN and OUT) of persons entering and leaving the elevator car are obtained. The numbers of persons obtained after the verification process are utilized in group control and the maintenance of statistics as well as door control. Fig. 6 shows an example of how the apparatus of the invention uses the drive and control equipment of the elevator and how it is fitted into the elevator system. Placed in the elevator car 11 are load measuring sensors 12 providing a measurement signal which is amplified by a strain-gauge amplifier 13. The amplified signal is passed over conductors 14 to the elevator control panel 15 in the machine room. An A/D converter placed on the DOWI card converts the data obtained from the amplifier 13 into 8-bit binary data for use in the elevator control. For the elevator drive system, the load data is also converted into -10 - +10 V analog data. In the elevator control system 17, which consists of several control cards, the digital data is recorded at 100 ms intervals. The noise spikes caused by disturbances and random variations are filtered out using digital filtering methods as described in an earlier chapter. The elevator control system 17 also contains a calculation unit used to make the deductions about the numbers of ingoing and outgoing persons. The data representing the number of persons having entered or left the elevator car is transmitted through a data communication bus 18 to the group control unit 20 in the group control panel 19 at intervals of about 500 ms. At the same time, data on car calls, travelling direction of the elevator, floor and the number of photocell interruptions are transmitted. When an elevator departs from a floor, the group control system 20 generates an event corresponding to a stoppage and performs a verification of passenger transfers. The data representing the current car load are updated via a data communication bus 21 at intervals of about 500 ms to a data concentrator 22 in a concentrator panel 24. The load data and traffic statistics are displayed via a video monitor 23 placed in the concentrator panel 24. The data communication buses 18 and 19 are preferably serial buses. In the foregoing, the invention has been described by the aid of one of its embodiments. However, the description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of protection of the invention, but the embodiments of the invention may vary within the limits permitted by the following claims.

Claims: Method for determining the number of passenger transfers in an elevator car on the basis of car load data wherein the car load is measured continuously during stoppage and the measurement data is filtered, characterized in that the procedure comprises recording of each and every stepwise load changes (3.1) taking place during stoppage, and determination (3.2) of the number of persons having entered or left the elevator car, based on said stepwise changes. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the load data is measured in analog form, and that this data is converted (2,16) into digital form. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the data is filtered digitally to eliminate disturbances. Method according to any one of claims 1 - 3, characterized in that the number of persons determined by the procedure is verified by the aid of elevator status data. Method according to any one of claims 1 - 4, characterized in that the number of persons determined by the procedure is verified by means of photocell measurement and/or extreme load values (L₁,L₂,L min ) measured during stoppage. Apparatus for determining the number of passenger transfers in an elevator car according to the method of claim 1, comprising a weighing device with an output providing continuous load data, and an A/D converter (16) for converting the load data into digital form, characterized in that the apparatus contains a recording and calculation unit to detect and count stepwise changes in the load, wherein said unit is connected to the A/D converter (16) and is placed in the elevator control system (17) that controls driving of the elevator car. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a filter connected between the A/D converter (16) and the calculation unit to eliminate disturbances. Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the output of the calculation unit is connected to a data communication bus (18) between the elevator control system (17) and the group control system (20) and then to a verification unit comprised in the group control system (20), said unit also receiving passenger transfer data obtained from a photocell or the load or weight data as well as elevator call and direction data.

Inventors: ROSCHIER NILS-ROBERT, SIIKONEN MARJA-LIISA, ROSCHIER, NILS-ROBERT, SIIKONEN, MARJA-LIISA
Applicants: KONE ELEVATOR GMBH
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B66B1
IPC codes: B66B1, B66B3