Patent Publication Number: US-9896304-B2

Title: Security system for elevator

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject matter disclosed herein relates to elevator systems. More specifically, the subject disclosure relates to security systems to control building floor access by elevator passengers. 
     Controlling access to private spaces, such as secure office floors of a building, from public spaces, such as a building lobby, can be complex and costly. This is especially true in elevator systems utilizing destination dispatching. In destination dispatching, the passenger indicates the destination floor on a destination entry panel in the hallway. This entry is communicated to the elevator system controller, which decides which elevator car the passenger will travel on and directs the passenger to the correct elevator car by, for example, a message on a destination entry panel or an audible signal. Integrating building security into such a system often requires TCP/IP communications that is absent in some buildings. Additionally, significant complexity and cost is added through integration software development and testing. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the invention, a method of operating an elevator system includes presenting a credential at a security panel disposed at an elevator system landing of a public area of a building. If the presented credential is correct a contact between the security panel and an elevator control system is opened. Opening of the contact allows for placement of a call via the elevator control system for an elevator car to the landing. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, an elevator system includes one or more elevator cars located in one or more hoistways. An elevator control system is utilized to control movement of the one or more elevator cars in the one or more hoistways. A security panel is operably connected to the elevator control system and located at an elevator system landing in a public area of a building. Presenting a correct credential at the security panel opens a contact between the security panel and the control system thus initiating a call of an elevator car of the one or more elevator cars to the landing. 
     Alternatively in this or other aspects of the invention, a destination entry panel is operably connected to the control system and located at the landing for entry of a selected destination into the control system. 
     Alternatively in this or other aspects of the invention, opening the contact between the security panel and the control system allows for entry of the selected destination at the destination entry panel. 
     Alternatively in this or other aspects of the invention, a card reader is located at the security panel. 
     Alternatively in this or other aspects of the invention, presenting a credential comprises swiping or scanning a card at the card reader. 
     Alternatively in this or other aspects of the invention, a keypad is located at the security panel. 
     Alternatively in this or other aspects of the invention, presenting a credential comprises entering a numeric or alphanumeric code at the keypad. 
     Alternatively in this or other aspects of the invention, a passenger is instructed to seek assistance if an incorrect credential is presented. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic of an exemplary elevator system; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of an elevator system having multiple hoistways and multiple elevator cars; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of operation of an embodiment of an elevator system; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of operation of another embodiment of an elevator system; and 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of yet embodiment of an elevator system. 
     
    
    
     The detailed description explains the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of examples with reference to the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Shown in  FIG. 1  is an embodiment of an elevator system  10 . Features of the elevator system  10  that are not required for an understanding of the present invention (such as the guide rails, safeties, etc.) are not discussed herein. The elevator system  10  includes an elevator car  12  operatively suspended or supported in a hoistway  14  with one or more suspension members, for example, suspension ropes  16 . The one or more suspension ropes  16  interact with one or more sheaves  18  to be routed around various components of the elevator system  10 . The one or more suspension ropes  16  are also connected to a counterweight  20 , which is used to help balance the elevator system  10  and reduce the difference in rope tension on both sides of the one or more sheaves  18  during operation. The sheaves  18  each have a diameter  22 , which may be the same or different than the diameters of the other sheaves  18  in the elevator system  10 . At least one of the sheaves  18  could be a drive sheave driven by a machine  24 . Movement of the drive sheave by the machine  24  drives, moves and/or propels (through traction) the one or more suspension ropes  16  that are routed around the drive sheave  18  thereby moving the elevator car  12  along the hoistway  14 . The elevator system  10  may further include one or more compensation ropes  26  extending from the elevator car  12  toward a hoistway pit  28  around a compensation sheave  27  and up to the counterweight  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , some elevator systems  10  include multiple hoistways  14  and multiple elevator cars  12  controlled via a controller  30 , which may operate in either a destination dispatching mode or in a hall call dispatching mode. In hall call dispatching, the passenger initiates a call by pressing a hall call button  33  located in a landing  34  outside the hoistway  14 . Typically, the button pressed will indicate a desired direction of travel (either up or down) of the passenger. Once inside the elevator car  12 , the passenger presses a button on a car panel  36  to indicate a destination floor. In destination dispatching, the passenger indicates the destination floor on a destination entry panel  32  in the landing  34 . The controller  30  decides which elevator car  12  the passenger will travel on and directs the passenger to the correct elevator car  12  by, for example, a message on the destination entry panel  32  or an audible signal. 
     In public areas of the building, for example, in a building lobby, a security panel  38  is disposed in the landing  34 , or vestibule, and is operably connected to the controller  30 . In some embodiments, the security panel  38  includes a card reader  40  at which an access card is swiped or scanned, presenting a credential to the security panel  38 , to allow access to the elevator system  10 . Unless a correct credential is presented to the security panel  38 , the controller  30  will not allow travel via the elevator system  10  from the lobby to private areas of the building, for example, secure office floors or the like. In this way, access to private areas is limited to those who have prior approval for access and present the proper credential. 
     For example, in a hall call dispatching elevator system  10 , the system may require access through the card reader  40  before an up or down hall call button  33  can be activated. Similarly, for a destination dispatch elevator system  10 , the prospective passenger in the building lobby or other public area will be required to present the proper credential to the security panel  38  via card reader  40  to activate buttons on the destination entry panel  32  for access to secure or private areas of the building. Practically, this may work in any of several ways. Two of which are provided below by way of example. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , first, in block  46  the passenger may be prompted by the security panel  38  to provide the credential. If the security panel  38  determines that the correct credential has been provided in block  48 , an electrical contact  44  or switch between the security panel  38  and destination entry panel  32  is opened in block  50 , allowing entry of a destination into the destination entry panel  32 . In block  52 , the passenger enters a destination at the destination entry panel  32 . In some embodiments, the passenger may be prompted by the destination entry panel  32  or the security panel  38  to do so. In block  54 , the controller  30  places a call for an elevator car  12  to transport the passenger to the selected destination. If the correct credential has not been provided, in block  56  the passenger will be prompted to seek assistance. 
     Alternatively, and referring to  FIG. 4 , in block  58  the passenger may initially enter the destination at the destination entry panel  32 . In block  60 , upon entry of the destination, the passenger is then prompted to enter their credential at the security panel  38 . If the security panel  38  determines the correct credential has been provided in block  62 , the contact  44  is opened in block  64 , and in block  66  the controller  30  places a call for an elevator car  12  to transport the passenger to the destination. In block  68 , if the correct credential has not been provided, once again the passenger will be prompted to seek assistance. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in other embodiments the security panel  38  may include other devices for recognizing a credential. For example, the security panel  38  may include a keypad  42 . In such embodiments, the passenger is required to input the correct credential as a numeric or alphanumeric code into the keypad  42 . 
     While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.