Abstract:
An elevator control system prompts a person using the elevator to select a floor if they forget to do so after entering the elevator. The elevator control system detects the presence of a person in an elevator car, counts the time that passes starting from when the person is detected, and issues an alert when the time counted exceeds a given threshold and a floor call button has not been pressed within that time.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to an elevator system and in particular to an elevator system with improved user functionality. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Sometimes when a person enters an elevator they forget to press the floor call button, which is necessary in order for the elevator to actually move to its intended destination floor. 
         [0003]    This can be because people are very busy during their day to day lives due to economic and social pressures. Furthermore, the increasing use of mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets for both work or personal use including e-mail and social networking means that people tend to be distracted or preoccupied as they go about their daily business. 
         [0004]    People may also forget to press a floor call button if they have impaired cognitive faculties, for example if they suffer from dementia. 
         [0005]    At present, if a user forgets to press a floor call button in an elevator, the elevator doors will close and the elevator will simply remain stationary. This causes a delay and therefore frustration and/or embarrassment for both the user who forgets to press the floor call button and for other users. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    According to a first aspect of the present disclosure there is provided an elevator control system comprising:
       detection means for detecting the presence of a person in an elevator car;   timing means arranged to count time that passes starting from when a person is detected by the detection means; and   prompt means arranged to issue an alert when a time counted by the timing means exceeds a given threshold, if a floor call button has not been pressed within that time.       
 
         [0010]    Optionally, the detection means comprises a load sensor. 
         [0011]    Optionally, the detection means comprises an optical or infra-red sensor. 
         [0012]    Optionally, the detection means comprises means for determining when an elevator door has opened and closed. 
         [0013]    Optionally, the alert issued by the prompt means comprises an audible prompt. 
         [0014]    Optionally, the audible prompt comprises a voice recording. 
         [0015]    Optionally, the voice recording can be re-recorded when required. 
         [0016]    Optionally, the alert issued by the prompt means comprises a visual prompt. The visual prompt may be displayed together with or in place of an audible prompt. 
         [0017]    Optionally, the system comprises switch means arranged to selectively enable or disable the timing means and/or the prompt means. 
         [0018]    Optionally, the timing means and/or the prompt means are/is switched off during peak times. 
         [0019]    Optionally, the system comprises means to open an elevator door when the alert is issued. 
         [0020]    According to a second aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a processor for use with an elevator control system comprising decision logic arranged to:
       receive
           an input from a detection means for detecting the presence of a person in an elevator car,   an input from a timing means arranged to count time that passes starting from when a person is detected by the detection means, and   a floor call input;   
           and to provide an output for controlling a prompt means arranged to issue an alert;   wherein said decision logic sends an output to the prompt means to issue an alert when a time counted by the timing means exceeds a given threshold, if a floor call button has not been pressed within that time.       
 
         [0027]    Optionally, the decision logic is arranged to receive an override signal which when asserted prevents an output being sent to the prompt means to issue an alert. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    The disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  shows a conceptual overview of an elevator floor call reminder system according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  shows a conceptual overview of a system design for the elevator floor call reminder system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  shows operation of an elevator according to the prior art; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  shows the operation of an elevator using an elevator floor call reminder system according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    An elevator system provides an elevator car (sometimes called a cabin) which ascends and descends within a hoistway. The elevator can stop at various calling points, usually referred to as floors. A person calls an elevator using an elevator call button and then when an elevator car arrives they enter the elevator and need to press a floor call button to indicate which floor they wish to travel to. The floor call button provides a signal that is registered with an elevator control system which controls an elevator mechanism to close the elevator doors, move the elevator along the hoistway to the desired floor, and then open the elevator doors. The elevator mechanism is commonly a rope driven by a pulley system, or a hydraulic piston. 
         [0034]    The present disclosure provides an elevator control system comprising means to remind users to press the floor call button. In case a user forgets to press a floor call button, the control system of the present disclosure will remind the user to press a floor call button, with an audible alert, a visual alert or a combination of audio and visual alerts. The control system may also in alternative embodiments open the elevator doors. 
         [0035]      FIG. 1  shows a conceptual overview of the operation of an elevator control system according to a first embodiment. A person  100  enters an elevator car  102 . When they enter the elevator car a detection means  104  senses their presence. The detection means  104  is in this embodiment a load sensor which detects when a weight above a given threshold is acting on the floor of the elevator car  102 . In an alternative embodiment the detection means  104  may comprise an optical or an infra-red sensor. In a still further embodiment, the detection means  104  may simply monitor the opening and closing of the elevator doors, and consider there to be a person detected once the doors have opened and closed again. 
         [0036]    A controller  106  may be provided which receives an input from the load sensor  104  and also receives an input when a floor call request is made, shown at  108 . The controller  106  can send an output to a prompt means  110  which can issue an alert to a user. The prompt means  110  in this embodiment comprises a speaker which plays a tone, series of tones, a pre-recorded voice message, or any other suitable audible prompt. In alternative embodiments the prompt means  110  may comprise a visual prompt such as a light that is illuminated or a message that is presented on a display screen. A combination of audible and visual alerts may also be used. 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  shows a conceptual system design. Inputs (labelled 1 to 4) are provided to a feature block/component  200 , which processes the inputs to provide outputs for controlling a prompt means  204  and optionally also for operating elevator doors  202 . Said feature block/component  200  can be implemented as a functionality of the aforementioned controller  106 . 
         [0038]    The Input 1 parameter “MinLoad” here represents a minimum load that can be defined as a threshold for deciding that a person is present in the elevator car. The Input 2 “VoiceMessage” is a digital sound file that can be played back over a speaker system of the elevator. This message can be configured or re-recorded as desired. The Input 3 “EnableVoice” is a signal generated by a switch arranged to selectively enable or disable the timing means and/or the prompt means. The Input 4 “FloorCallTimeout” is a configurable value for a timing means  206  that defines a threshold for triggering an alert for the person in the elevator. 
         [0039]    It is also possible to provide a “PeakTrafficOverride” signal (Input 5  FIG. 4 ), which can be used to selectively disable the reminder system, for example during peak times such as 8-9 am and 5-6 pm each Monday to Friday or other case-specific “rush hours”. A “ReminderTimeout” signal (Input 6) can also be defined, which holds the elevator car for a specific time before switching back to normal operation. 
         [0040]    When there are groups of elevators in a building, the reminder system of the present disclosure can be implemented independently with each elevator without affecting other group functions. 
         [0041]      FIG. 3  shows a normal elevator operation. In a step S 1  a passenger  300  enters the car  302 . In a step S 2  the passenger  300  presses the floor call button. In a step S 3  the floor call is registered. In a step S 4  the elevator control system  306  responds to the registered floor call by moving the car  302 . As is shown in the figure, if the floor call button is not pressed, the elevator simply waits indefinitely. 
         [0042]      FIG. 4  shows the operation of an elevator using an elevator floor call reminder system according to an embodiment of the disclosure. As shown in the figure, after a certain time threshold has been reached (timing means  206 ) following the detection of the presence of a user (detection means  104 ), the system  106  checks whether a floor call button has been pressed. The time is counted by the timing means  206  which can comprise a real-time clock, quartz crystal timer or any other suitable equivalent. As mentioned above, the presence of a person (or people) can be detected with the detection means  104 , e.g. a load sensor, optical or infra-red sensor, or by monitoring the opening and closing of the elevator doors, and consider there to be a person detected once the doors have opened and closed again. 
         [0043]    If a floor call button has not been pressed after the given time elapses, an alert (for example playback of a voice message) is activated by the prompt means  110  or  204  to prompt the person (or people) in the elevator. 
         [0044]    The method of operation shown in  FIG. 4  includes a step S 11  for detecting when the passenger  100  enters the car  102 . In a step S 12  the elevator control system  106  waits for the timing period to time out. In a step S 13  the system determines that no floor call button has been pressed by the passenger and consequently in a step S 14  no floor call has been registered. The system  106  responds by holding the elevator from further travel in a step S 15 . In a step S 16  the system  106  generates a reminder voice message (prompt) to the passenger  100  in the car  102 . In a step S 17 , if the reminder time period expires, the elevator control system  106  performs a step S 19  that releases the travel hold and normal operation of the elevator starts in a step sd. In a step S 18  if the passenger  100  presses the floor call button the system will perform the steps S 3  and S 4  shown in  FIG. 3  resulting in the step sd being performed. 
         [0045]    Various improvements and modifications can be made to the above without departing from the scope of the disclosure. 
         [0046]    In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.