Patent Publication Number: US-2019177117-A1

Title: Elevator operating panel

Description:
This application is a continuation of PCT International Application No. PCT/EP2016/072199 which has an International filing date of Sep. 19, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     The present invention relates to an elevator operating panel which is used for giving elevator calls, which kind of operating panel is usually located in elevator lobbies, at landing floors or within the elevator cars as car operating panel. 
     Particularly, in the case of car operating panels, the input device located in an elevator car has to have an alarm button which is intended for use by the passengers to indicate an abnormal situation. The pushing of the alarm button usually sets up a telecommunication connection to a remote service center. Alarm button in elevator cars should be acknowledgeable also by handicapped people and therefore has to have a tactile structure on its surface. 
     Nowadays, touch screen panels are increasingly used for elevator operating panels. As for the requirements for the alarm button which requires the tactile structure and a backup power supply in case of power failures, the elevator companies refrained from implementing the alarm button in the touch screen panel. Thus, the alarm button has been placed remote from the touch screen panel in current solutions. 
     It is object of the present invention to provide an elevator operating panel where the alarm button is integrated in the touch screen panel. This object is solved with an elevator operating panel according to claim  1 . Advantageous embodiments of the invention are subject-matter of the dependent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are also described in the specification and in the drawings. 
     According to the invention, the touch screen panel has first touch screen areas which are linked to first—preferably capacitive—touch screen sensor. These first touch screen areas refer to the usual areas in an operating panel intended for issuing elevator calls. The touch screen panel further has a second touch screen area, which is linked to said first capacitive touch screen sensor as well as to an additional second—preferably capacitive—touch screen sensor, which second touch screen sensor is connected to a backup power supply. Thus, according to the invention, a second sensor circuit with its own backup power supply is connected to the touch screen panel so that the alarm sensor is linked to two sensor circuits whereby one of these circuits is backed up via backup power supply. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an alarm button which meets safety requirements and which on the other hand can be integrated in a usual touch screen panel. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second touch screen area has a tactile marking so that also handicapped people are able to immediately recognize the alarm button. In a simple embodiment of the invention, the second touch screen area is surrounded by a frame projecting from the surface of the touch screen panel. This frame forms the tactile marking and can be immediately recognized by handicapped, for example blind, people to belong to the area of the alarm button. Preferably the tactile marking is fixed on the touch screen panel, e.g. by screwing or gluing. By this means, the surface of the touch screen panel itself does not to require to be modified, as this would increase the manufacturing costs essentially. The tactile marking may preferably be a surrounding structure, e.g. a ring around the second touch screen area, projecting from the surface of the touch screen panel. 
     Preferably, an illumination- or animation device is located behind the second touch screen area, which illumination- or animation device is configured to be operated by activation of at least one of the touch screen sensors linked with the second touch screen area. By this means, the pressing of the alarm button can be immediately confirmed to the passenger by illuminating or animating the area of the second touch screen area. 
     Preferably the illumination- or animation device is connected to the backup-power supply of the second sensor. Via this measure no separate power supply has to be provided for the illumination or animation device. Another advantage is that the illumination device also works in case of a power-off. 
     Preferably the illumination device is located in connection with a back plate of the touch screen panel and has contacts with contact a power supply line for the second sensor. Via this measure no separate supply line has to be provided for the illumination device. 
     It is obvious for the skilled person that instead of a capacitive touchscreen also any other type of touchscreen may be used, as e.g. resistive systems, inductive systems SAW-Systems, optical Systems oder dispersive-signal-technology-systems. The second touch screen sensor then preferably uses the same system-touchscreen technology as the first touch screen sensor, although the applied systems may also be different. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a confirmation circuit is provided in the operating panel which is linked to the sensors linked with the second touch screen area. The confirmation circuit is connected to an output means of the operating panel, for example a loudspeaker, and which confirmation circuit is configured to be operated by the activation of at least one of the two touch screen sensors linked to the second touch screen area. Thus, a visual as well as an audio confirmation can be given to the passenger after he has pressed the alarm button. This provides safety and confirmation for handicapped passengers when getting in a trapped situation in an elevator car. 
     Preferably the first capacitive touch screen sensor and the second capacitive touch screen sensor are connected to separate interfaces. This facilitates the cabling of the operating panel, particularly in connection with the backup power supply. On the other hand for the first capacitive sensor current standard interfaces may still be used. 
     It is obvious that the invention allows the integration of the alarm button with separate backup power supply as well as with tactile markings within the confines of a common touch screen panel with slight modifications, i.e. provision of the separate second touch screen sensor. 
     The invention also relates to an elevator car having an operating panel according to the above description. The elevator car also has a loudspeaker and microphone which is activated in connection with the pressing of the alarm button in course of the set-up of a telecommunication connection. 
     The invention also relates to an elevator comprising at least one elevator car as described above. The elevator comprises a telecommunication connection connected to the operating panel of the elevator car which is configured to be set up in response to the operation of the second touch screen area. 
     It is clear for the skilled person that the above-mentioned embodiments may be combined with each other arbitrarily. 
     Following terms are used as synonym: first/second touch screen area—first/second touch area; first/second capacitive touch screen sensor—first/second sensor—first/second touch screen sensor; tactile marking—projecting frame—second area—second touch screen area—alarm button; 
    
    
     
       The invention is hereinafter described by the aid of an embodiment in connection with the appended drawings. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  shows the front side of an inventive car operating panel, 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the back side of the car operating panel of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 3  shows an explosive drawing of the car operating panel of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective drawing showing the addition of a second touch screen sensor in connection with the touch screen panel, and 
         FIG. 5  shows s a perspective view of a detail of  FIG. 4  in the area of the second touch screen sensor. 
     
    
    
       FIG. 1  shows a car operating panel  10  with a touchscreen panel  11  comprising several first touch screen areas  12  for giving a car call to different floors of a building, two exceptional touch screen areas  14 ,  16  for the opening and closing of the car door as well as a second touch screen area  18  for an alarm button. Each of the buttons  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  of the car operating panel is linked with a foil-like first touch screen sensor  26  for the respective function. The first touch screen sensor thus has several touch screen areas for different functions. The first touch screen sensor  26  is connected via a first interface  32  to a control  40  of the operating panel  10 . 
     Additionally, the second touch screen area  18  for the alarm button is linked to a second capacitive touch screen sensor  20  which is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The second capacitive touch screen sensor  20  has its own supply cable  22  which is connected via a second interface  24  to a backup power supply  42  as well as to the control  40  of the operating panel  10 , e.g. a microprocessor. This second touch screen sensor  20  is arranged additionally to the first capacitive touch screen sensor (foil)  26  located between the back plate  28  and the front plate  30  of the touch screen panel  11 . Each sensor area  12 - 18  of the first capacitive touch screen sensor  26  is connected to a separate connector of the first interface  32 . 
     The second interface  24  of the second sensor  20  is not only connected to the operating panel  40  but also to a backup power supply  42  to remain active even in case of a power failure. This is essential to be able to detect trapped passengers also in case of a power-off. The alarm button  18  has on the front plate  30  of the touch screen panel  11  a ring frame  34  which can easily be acknowledged by handicapped people, for example by blind people, to belong to the alarm button. Also the door open and door closed buttons may be marked with a respective ring  36 ,  38  protruding from the surface of the front plate  30  and surrounding the respective touch sensitive area of the buttons  14 ,  16 . 
     Additionally, behind the second touch screen area  18 , an illumination device  44  is located in connection, e.g. embedded in the back plate  28  of the touch screen panel  11  which is arranged to be illuminated after the second touch screen area  18  has been pushed by a passenger. The illumination device  44  preferably connects with the supply line  22  for the second sensor when the components  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  20  of the touchscreen panel are mounted together. Via this means no separate power line is necessary for the illumination device. Additionally, an audio confirmation can be given by a loudspeaker (not shown) located in connection with the operating panel. 
     The invention is not limited to the described embodiments but can be varied within the scope of appended patent claims. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     
         
           10  car operating panel 
           11  touch screen panel 
           12  first touch screen area 
           14  first exceptional touch screen area 
           16  second exceptional touch screen area 
           18  second touch screen area 
           20  second capacitive touch screen sensor 
           22  supply line 
           24  second interface 
           26  first touch screen sensor—sensor foil 
           28  back plate 
           30  front plate 
           32  first interface 
           34  alarm button ring frame—tactile marking of alarm button 
           36  door open button ring frame 
           38  door close button ring frame 
           40  operating panel control 
           42  backup power supply 
           44  illumination device