BUILDING OCCUPANT EVACUATION

An elevator system includes at least one elevator car movable between a plurality of landings. The elevator system is operable in an occupant evacuation operation mode. In the occupant evacuation operation mode, at least one safe room is associated with at least one of the plurality of landings. 1. An elevator system within a building comprising:at least one elevator car movable between a plurality of landings, wherein the elevator system is operable in an occupant evacuation operation mode, and in the occupant evacuation operation mode, at least one safe room is associated with at least one of the plurality of landings, the at least one safe room having a secondary purpose within the building when the elevator system is in a normal operating mode.2. The elevator system according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of safe rooms are associated with the plurality of landings.3. The elevator system according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of safe rooms are associated with one of the plurality of landings.4. The elevator system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one safe room includes a user interface for placing a hall call to the elevator system.5. The elevator system according to claim 4 , wherein the user interface is capable of communicating a total number of occupants within the at least one safe room to the elevator system.6. The elevator system according to claim 4 , wherein the user interface is operable only when the elevator system is in the occupant evacuation operation mode.7. The elevator system according to claim 4 , wherein the user interface is dedicated interface solely for use with the elevator system.8. The elevator system according to claim 4 , wherein the user interface is a multipurpose item.9. The elevator system according to claim 8 , wherein the user interface is one of a computer and a smart device.10. The elevator system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one safe room includes at least one indicator for providing a status ...

Elevator dynamic displays for messaging and communication

A building elevator system is provided having: an elevator system having an elevator car; a control system configured to control the building elevator system and determine evacuation information; and a dynamic display configured to display the evacuation information when an evacuation call is received by the control system. The evacuation information includes at least one of an estimated time of arrival of the elevated car, an evacuee recommendation, a directional map, and directional instructions.

GROUP COORDINATION OF ELEVATORS WITHIN A BUILDING FOR OCCUPANT EVACUATION

A method of operating a building elevator system including: controlling a first elevator system and a second elevator system, floor coverage of the first elevator system overlapping floor coverage of the second elevator system at a least one transfer floor; receiving an evacuation call from an evacuation floor; detecting when a first elevator car of the first elevator system is dispatched to the transfer floor; and dispatching a second elevator car of the second elevator system to the transfer floor. 1. A method of operating a building elevator system , the method comprising:controlling a first elevator system and a second elevator system, floor coverage of the first elevator system overlapping floor coverage of the second elevator system at a position correspondence to at least one transfer floor;receiving an evacuation call from an evacuation alarm on an evacuation floor;generating an elevator call in response to the evacuation call from the evacuation alarm;dispatching a first elevator car of the first elevator system to the evacuation floor;detecting when the first elevator car of the first elevator system is dispatched from the evacuation floor to a transfer floor; anddispatching a second elevator car of the second elevator system to the transfer floor.2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:dispatching the second elevator car to a discharge floor after occupants have loaded into the second elevator car on the transfer floor.3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:dispatching the second elevator car to a second transfer floor after occupants have loaded into the second elevator car on the transfer floor.4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:determining a projected arrival time of the first elevator car at the transfer floor;wherein the second elevator car is dispatched to arrive at the transfer floor within a selected time period of the projected arrival time.5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:providing, using a notification ...

OCCUPANT EVACUATION OPERATION DISPLAY

A building elevator system including: a building having multiple floors; an elevator system within the building, the elevator system having at least one elevator car; a display located on each floor proximate the elevator system, wherein the display is configured to illuminate evacuation information including an estimated time of arrival of the elevator car and an elevator status; and a control system configured to control the building elevator system and determine the evacuation information to illuminate for each display in response to at least one of a location of the elevator car in the building, a floor location of the display, a speed of the elevator car, a remaining capacity of the elevator car, a number of passengers on each floor, and an evacuation priority of the floor. 1. A building elevator system comprising:a building having multiple floors;an elevator system within the building, the elevator system having an elevator car;a display located on each floor proximate the elevator system, wherein the display is configured to illuminate evacuation information during an evacuation, the evacuation information including an estimated time of arrival of the elevator car and an elevator status that indicates whether the elevator car can be used for evacuation; anda control system configured to control the building elevator system and determine the evacuation information to illuminate for each display in response to at least one of a location of the elevator car in the building, a floor location of the display, a speed of the elevator car, a remaining capacity of the elevator car, a number of passengers on each floor, and an evacuation priority of the floor.2. The building elevator system of claim 1 , wherein:the display displays the estimated time of arrival of the elevator car by illuminating digital numbers.3. The building elevator system of claim 1 , wherein:the display displays the estimated time of arrival of the elevator car by illuminating a status indicator ...

RE-DISPATCHING UNOCCUPIED ELEVATOR CAR FOR OCCUPANT EVACUATION OPERATION

A method of operating an elevator system including: receiving an evacuation call from a first evacuation floor; moving an elevator car to the first evacuation floor; opening doors of the elevator car when the elevator car arrives at the first evacuation floor; monitoring, using a sensor system, a remaining capacity of the elevator car; and closing the doors of the elevator car when at least one of a first selected period of time has passed and the remaining capacity is equal to a selected remaining capacity. 1. A method of operating an elevator system , the method comprising:receiving an evacuation call from a first evacuation floor;moving an elevator car to the first evacuation floor;opening doors of the elevator car when the elevator car arrives at the first evacuation floor;monitoring, using a sensor system, a remaining capacity of the elevator car; andclosing the doors of the elevator car when at least one of a first selected period of time has passed and the remaining capacity is equal to a selected remaining capacity.2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:moving the elevator car to a discharge floor when the remaining capacity is equal to the selected remaining capacity, wherein the selected remaining capacity is equal to about zero.3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:receiving an evacuation call from a second evacuation floor; andmoving the elevator car to the second evacuation floor when the first selected period of time has passed and the remaining capacity is greater than zero.4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:receiving an elevator call from padding floor; andmoving the elevator car to a padding floor when the first selected period of time has passed, the remaining capacity is greater than zero, and there is not a second evacuation floor, or the first selected period of time has passed and the remaining capacity is greater than zero;wherein the padding floor is within a selected number of floors away from the first evacuation ...

Optimized occupant evacuation operation by utilizing remaining capacity for multi-compartment elevators

A method of operating an elevator system includes: receiving an evacuation call from a first evacuation floor; moving a first compartment of a multi-compartment elevator car to the first evacuation floor; opening a first door of the first compartment when the first compartment arrives at the first evacuation floor; monitoring, using a first sensor system, a remaining capacity within the first compartment; and closing the first door when at least one of a first selected period of time has passed and the remaining capacity within the first compartment is equal to a first selected remaining capacity.

Method for occupant evacuation operation utilizing multi-compartment elevators

A method of operating an elevator system includes: receiving an evacuation call from a first evacuation floor; determining an evacuation zone surrounding the first evacuation floor; determining a number of passengers on each floor within the evacuation zone; determining a set of adjacent floors within the evacuation zone that have a highest combined passenger number, the set of adjacent floors including a first adjacent floor and a second adjacent floor; and moving a multi-compartment elevator car to the set of adjacent floors with the highest combined passenger number, the multi-compartment elevator having a first compartment and a second compartment; wherein the first compartment arrives at the first adjacent floor and the second compartment arrives at the second adjacent floor when the multi-compartment elevator car arrives at the set of adjacent floors with the highest combined passenger number.

OCCUPANT EVACUATION OPERATION BY ALLOCATING A VARIABLE NUMBER OF CARS TO FLOORS WITHIN AN EVACUATION ZONE

A method of operating an elevator building system is provided. The method includes: receiving an evacuation call from a first evacuation floor; determining an evacuation zone surrounding the first evacuation floor; determining a number of passengers on each floor within the evacuation zone; determining a number of elevator cars to send to each floor within the evacuation zone in response to the number of passengers on each floor, a capacity of each elevator car, and a location of the floor in reference to the first evacuation floor; and moving an elevator car to a first determined floor within the evacuation zone. 1. A method of operating an elevator building system , the method comprising:receiving an evacuation call from a first evacuation floor;determining an evacuation zone surrounding the first evacuation floor;determining a number of passengers on each floor within the evacuation zone;determining a number of elevator cars to send to each floor within the evacuation zone in response to the number of passengers on each floor, a capacity of each elevator car, and a location of the floor in reference to the first evacuation floor; andmoving an elevator car to a first determined floor within the evacuation zone.2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:opening a door of the elevator car when the elevator car arrives at the first determined floor within the evacuation zone;monitoring, using a sensor system, a remaining capacity of the elevator car; andclosing the door when at least one of the first selected period of time has passed and the remaining capacity of the elevator car is equal to a selected remaining capacity.3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:moving the elevator car to a discharge floor when the remaining capacity of the elevator car is equal to the selected remaining capacity;opening the door of the elevator car when the elevator car arrives at the discharge floor;monitoring, using the sensor system, a remaining capacity of the elevator ...

ENHANCED ELEVATOR STATUS INFORMATION PROVISIONS FOR FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS

A building elevator system including: a building having multiple floors; an elevator system within the building, the elevator system having an elevator car; a control system configured to control the elevator system, the control system determines an estimated time of arrival of the elevator car at a floor; and a fire alarm system within the building and in operative communication with the control system; wherein the control system transmits the estimated time of arrival of the elevator car to the fire alarm system. 1. A building elevator system comprising:a building having multiple floors;an elevator system within the building, the elevator system having an elevator car; a control system configured to control the elevator system, the control system determines an estimated time of arrival of the elevator car at a floor in response to at least one of an elevator car location within the building, an elevator car load weight status, an elevator car door state, an elevator car direction of travel, an elevator car speed, and an elevator destination floor; anda fire alarm system within the building and in operative communication with the control system;wherein the control system transmits the estimated time of arrival of the elevator car to the fire alarm system.2. The building elevator system of claim 1 , wherein:the fire alarm system further comprises an interface device, wherein the control system transmits the estimated time of arrival of the elevator car to the interface device.3. The building elevator system of claim 2 , wherein:the interface device is at least one of an operational interface of the fire alarm system and a user device.4. The building elevator system of claim 2 , wherein:the control system transmits to the fire alarm system and the interface device an elevator car status including at least one of an elevator car location within the building, an elevator car load weight status, an elevator car door state, an elevatorcar direction of travel, and an ...

DESTINATION DISPATCH OVERLAY INCLUDING CAR POSITIONING MONITORING SYSTEM

An elevator car dispatching system () comprises an elevator control module () that controls operation of at least one elevator car. A position monitoring mechanism () is coupled to a first elevator car among the at least one elevator car. The position monitoring mechanism () is configured to output a position signal in response to movement of the first elevator car. The elevator car dispatching system () further comprises an electronic dispatch module () that is in electrical communication with the elevator control module () and the position monitoring mechanism (). The dispatch module () is configured to determine a vertical position of the first elevator car based on the position signal. The dispatch module () is further configured to output a dispatch command signal commanding the elevator control module () to adjust operation of the first elevator car based on the vertical position. 1. An elevator car dispatching system , comprising:an elevator control module that controls operation of at least one elevator car;a position monitoring mechanism coupled to a first elevator car among the at least one elevator car, the position monitoring mechanism configured to output a position signal in response to movement of the first elevator car; andan electronic dispatch module in electrical communication with the elevator control module and the position monitoring mechanism, the dispatch module configured to determine a vertical position of the first elevator car based on the position signal, and to output a dispatch command signal commanding the elevator control module to adjust operation of the first elevator car based on the vertical position.2. The car dispatching system of claim 1 , wherein the dispatch module determines a retarget position threshold corresponding to a newly called floor indicated by a newly received elevator car call claim 1 , and determines whether to interrupt an ongoing dispatch of the respective elevator call based on a comparison between the ...

Management of daisy chain connected communication network of elevator fixtures with redundant data paths

A method of interconnecting a daisy chain communication network having a terminal managers and a plurality of managed switches and a plurality of fixtures operable as clients of a client server network. The method also includes transmitting a discovery message to a first fixture and a second fixture, capturing the discovery message in the first fixture and the second fixture, and determining a first head fixture and at least one of a second head fixture and a tail fixture. Furthermore, the method also includes discovering an intermediate fixture based on the first head fixture and the at least one of a second head fixture and a tail fixture, resolving which of the first head fixture and the at least one of a second head fixture and a tail fixture is to be identified as an active head fixture, and establishing the active head fixture and a passive tail fixture.

ORCHESTRATION OF AN OCCUPANT EVACUATION OPERATION USING DESTINATION ENTRY FIXTURES

A system and method of orchestrating an evacuation operation using an elevator is provided. The method includes displaying that an evacuation request using the elevator is an available option, receiving one or more evacuation requests to use the elevator, and displaying evacuation information. 1. A method of orchestrating an evacuation operation using an elevator , the method comprising:displaying that an evacuation request using the elevator is an available option;receiving one or more evacuation requests to use the elevator;displaying evacuation information; anddisplaying the evacuation information on a second screen, wherein the second screen is a fixed screen mounted in an elevator lobby.2. The method of claim 1 , wherein evacuation information includes one or more of a count of evacuation requests claim 1 , an elevator arrival time estimate claim 1 , an elevator indicator claim 1 , a number of detected people waiting claim 1 , an evacuation map claim 1 , evacuation instructions claim 1 , and evacuation warnings.3. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the evacuation request using the elevator is the available option comprises:displaying on one or more displays selected from a fixed touch screen, a fixed keypad screen, and a mobile device.4. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying evacuation information comprises:displaying the evacuation information on one or more displays selected from a fixed touch screen, a fixed keypad screen, and a mobile device.5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:wherein the second screen is mounted at a height that is equal to or higher than a top of an elevator door entrance.6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:notifying using an audio signal that that the evacuation request using the elevator is the available option.7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:notifying using an audio signal the evacuation information that is being displayed.8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:displaying that at ...

Fixture plate and housing

Disclosed is a fixture plate comprising a back plate defined by a member extending in a widthwise (W) direction and a height-wise (H) direction, a plurality of support arms including a first support arm and a second support arm connecting proximate a bottom edge of the back plate and spaced in the widthwise direction by a distance W1, each of the plurality of support arms comprising a compound profile defining a pivot section and a support section the pivot section extending arcuately downward along the height-wise direction to a first distal end, the support section comprising a first portion forming a support base, the support base extending perpendicularly away from the back plate to a second distal end, and a second portion that forms a hook portion, the hook portion extending upwardly along the height-wise direction to a third distal end to from a free end of the support section.

Support structure for audio exciter

A mounting assembly includes a body including a generally planar support wall and at least one connector extending from the support wall, an opening formed in the support wall, and an audio exciter coupled to the body via the opening such that a portion of the audio exciter is oriented for contact with a vibrational surface.

Elevator call button with tactile feedback

An elevator call button assembly (20) includes at least one call button (50) having a surface (70) that is touchable by an individual to indicate a desired call in the elevator system. A responder (56) provides a tactile indication that the call has been successfully placed. In one example, the responder (56) comprises a vibrating motor that moves a moveable member (52) once the system controller (68) has successfully received a signal indicating the desired call.

Selective, automatic elevator call registering system

Each elevator corridor of an elevator system has a transponder beacon disposed near each access to the corridor, each potential passenger, including regular tenants and visitors, carries a responder, such as an RFID responder, so as to provide an indication of entrance into and exit from the elevator corridor. Passengers that are not visitors have a history developed as to the likely travel route of each passenger as the passenger enters the elevator lobby; that is, whether the passenger is likely to take the elevator at this time, or likely to exit the elevator corridor to some other facility. Entered calls can be cancelled if the passenger leaves the lobby, and passenger travel patterns are updated with each passage through the elevator lobby.

Optimized occupant evacuation operation by utilizing remaining capacity for multi-copartment elevators

A method of operating an elevator system includes: receiving an evacuation call from a first evacuation floor; moving a first compartment of a multi-compartment elevator car to the first evacuation floor; opening a first door of the first compartment when the first compartment arrives at the first evacuation floor; monitoring, using a first sensor system, a remaining capacity within the first compartment; and closing the first door when at least one of a first selected period of time has passed and the remaining capacity within the first compartment is equal to a first selected remaining capacity.

Re-dispatching unoccupied elevator car for occupant evacuation operation

A method of operating an elevator system including: receiving an evacuation call from a first evacuation floor; moving an elevator car to the first evacuation floor; opening doors of the elevator car when the elevator car arrives at the first evacuation floor; monitoring, using a sensor system, a remaining capacity of the elevator car; and closing the doors of the elevator car when at least one of a first selected period of time has passed and the remaining capacity is equal to a selected remaining capacity.

Directional audible prompting for a destination dispatching elevator system

An elevator system (20) utilizes a destination dispatching technique. A destination entry device (26) includes a passenger interface (50) that facilitates interaction between a visually impaired passenger and the elevator system. In a disclosed example, the passenger interface (50) includes an input portion (54) that allows an individual to enter their desired destination. An output portion (58) includes the ability to provide an audible indication of directions for proceeding from the passenger interface to an assigned elevator car. Example instructions include direction and distance information for proceeding to the assigned elevator car.

Destination dispatch overlay including car positioning monitoring system

An elevator car dispatching system (100) comprises an elevator control module (102) that controls operation of at least one elevator car. A position monitoring mechanism (104) is coupled to a first elevator car among the at least one elevator car. The position monitoring mechanism (104) is configured to output a position signal in response to movement of the first elevator car. The elevator car dispatching system (100) further comprises an electronic dispatch module (106) that is in electrical communication with the elevator control module (102) and the position monitoring mechanism (104). The dispatch module (106) is configured to determine a vertical position of the first elevator car based on the position signal. The dispatch module (106) is further configured to output a dispatch command signal commanding the elevator control module (102) to adjust operation of the first elevator car based on the vertical position.

Group coordination of elevators within a building for occupant evacuation

A method of operating a building elevator system including: controlling a first elevator system and a second elevator system, floor coverage of the first elevator system overlapping floor coverage of the second elevator system at a least one transfer floor; receiving an evacuation call from an evacuation floor; detecting when a first elevator car of the first elevator system is dispatched to the transfer floor; and dispatching a second elevator car of the second elevator system to the transfer floor.

Selective, automatic elevator call registering system

Each elevator corridor (5) of an elevator system has a transponder beacon (17) disposed near each access (7) to the corridor (5), each potential passenger (21-23), including regular tenants and visitors, carries a responder (24-26), such as an RFID responder, so as to provide an indication of entrance into and exit from the elevator corridor. Passengers that are not visitors have a history developed as to the likely travel route of each passenger as the passenger enters the elevator lobby; that is, whether the passenger is likely to take the elevator (10-12) at this time, or likely to exit the elevator corridor (5) to some other facility (8). Entered calls can be cancelled if the passenger leaves the lobby, and passenger travel patterns are updated with each passage through the elevator lobby corridor (5).

Elevator call button with tactile feedback

An elevator call button assembly (20) includes at least one call button (50) having a surface (70) that is touchable by an individual to indicate a desired call in the elevator system. A responder (56) provides a tactile indication that the call has been successfully placed. In one example, the responder (56) comprises a vibrating motor that moves a moveable member (52) once the system controller (68) has successfully received a signal indicating the desired call.

Two-wire communication system for monitoring a multitude of elevator alarm buttons

A method for monitoring and communicating with a plurality of moveable platforms (23) using analog signals comprising the steps of activating an alarm signal associated with one of the plurality of moveable platforms (23), encoding the alarm signal into an analog Dual Tone Multiple Frequency (DTMF) signal corresponding to a unique code of one of the plurality of moveable platforms (23), transmitting the analog DTMF signal via a bus media (31) to a DTMF decoder, decoding the analog DTMF signal into a digital format to obtain the unique code, and enabling analog voice communication between a remote site and the one of the plurality of moveable platforms (23) corresponding to the decoded analog DTMF signal.

Management of daisy chain connected communication network of elevator fixtures with redundant data paths

Two-wire communication system for monitoring a multitude of elevator alarm buttons

Management of daisy chain connected communication network of elevator fixtures with redundant data paths

A method of interconnecting a daisy chain communication network having a terminal managers and a plurality of managed switches and a plurality of fixtures operable as clients of a client server network. The method also includes transmitting a discovery message to a first fixture and a second fixture, capturing the discovery message in the first fixture and the second fixture, and determining a first head fixture and at least one of a second head fixture and a tail fixture. Furthermore, the method also includes discovering an intermediate fixture based on the first head fixture and the at least one of a second head fixture and a tail fixture, resolving which of the first head fixture and the at least one of a second head fixture and a tail fixture is to be identified as an active head fixture, and establishing the active head fixture and a passive tail fixture.