Diagnostic and maintenance tool for lifts

Abstract

 The object of the present invention is a diagnostic and maintenance tool for lifts (1) which permits different diagnostic and maintenance tools to be combined by using a PDA (2) or similar tool, as this enables a Bluetooth communication to be established between the different pieces of lift equipment to be diagnosed and the PDA (2) or similar terminal, where the equipment may be the lift control system, the speed regulator or any lift electronic subsystem, irrespective of whether or not it is provided with a Bluetooth connection, in such a way that representation of the information is improved, in addition to making the operations carried out by maintenance and set up more simple, fast and effective as the terminal incorporates elements which permit communications to be established with the different equipment at a physical level, as well as handling the various communication profiles used.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The object of this invention is a diagnostic and maintenance tool for lifts which enables various diagnostic and maintenance tools to be combined using a PDA or similar terminal.

[0002] This tool permits Bluetooth communication to be established between different parts of the lift equipment to be diagnosed and the PDA or similar terminal, in which the equipment may be the lift control system, the speed regulator or any electronic subsystem of the lift irrespective of whether or not it is provided with a Bluetooth connection.

[0003] Due to its special configuration, the diagnostic and maintenance tool for lifts improves the representation of information, in addition to making the operations carried out by maintenance and start up personnel more simple, fast and effective, due to the fact that the terminal incorporates elements which permit communications to be established with different equipment on a physical level, as well as handling the various communication protocols used.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0004] Terminals used for lift diagnostic and maintenance purposes are extremely well known and serve solely to carry out these tasks on specific equipment by means of the physical connection of such terminals with the corresponding equipment.

.Terminals used to date include liquid crystal display types with a keyboard with a limited number of keys for carrying out a very restricted and specific number of functions for each piece of equipment in the lift.

[0005] In accordance with the foregoing, the operator carrying out the maintenance work on the lift had to use a considerable number of terminals in order to obtain data on each piece of equipment, and also had to be familiar with the operation of all these terminals and their connection to the equipment.

[0006] Furthermore, in previous terminals, when a new parameter was introduced to comply with specifications in the lift diagnostic and maintenance operations, it was necessary to create modifications at a software level.

[0007] In addition, maintenance procedures are also known which only collect or supply data to the lift control system, such as Spanish patent ES2118278 relating to a procedure for supplying, storing and presenting lift control data.

[0008] The present invention consists of a terminal which incorporates elements which permit communications to be established with different pieces of lift equipment at a physical level, as well as using different communication protocols of the various pieces of equipment combining different diagnostic and maintenance tools, by using a PDA or similar terminal through Bluetooth communication.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention refers to a diagnostic and maintenance tool for lifts which combines different diagnostic and maintenance operations through an information storage terminal such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or similar, such as a portable PC (personal Computer).

[0010] The diagnostic and maintenance tool may, in addition, present an interface device which is physically connected to the lift equipment to be controlled, which includes the lift control system, the speed regulator or any electronic subsystem thereof.

[0011] This interface device permits a Bluetooth connection to be established with the specific equipment connection (serial or parallel), in those cases in which the existing equipment in the lift does not have a Bluetooth connection, whereas for those pieces of equipment which already incorporate a Bluetooth type connection it is not necessary to use such a device.

[0012] The interface device is provided with a variety of types of connectors in order to connect to the different lift equipment which is provided with different connections.

[0013] For the lift equipment which is provided with Bluetooth communication it is not necessary to make use of an interface device as communication may be established directly with the PDA or similar storage terminal.

[0014] In this way, visualisation and storage of the information on the PDA or similar storage terminal improve the representation of the information, in addition to making the operations carried out by maintenance and set up personnel more simple, fast and effective, due to the fact that the various functioning parameters used for each of the pieces of equipment may be controlled.

[0015] To summarise, the invention refers to a diagnostic and maintenance tool for lifts characterised in that it consists of a PDA or similar terminal controlled by an operator which enables a Bluetooth communication to be established with the different lift equipment on which the diagnostic and maintenance tasks are to be carried out, as well as using the various communication protocols used in that equipment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The present descriptive report is complemented by a set of plans illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention but which is in no way restrictive.

[0017] Figure 1 shows a diagram of a first embodiment of the invention indicating the different lift equipment on which the maintenance tasks are carried out, using a PDA through a Bluetooth connection with the aforementioned equipment.

[0018] Figure 2 shows a diagram of a second embodiment of the invention indicating the different lift equipment on which the maintenance tasks are to be carried out using a PDA which establishes a Bluetooth connection with the interface device which permits a Bluetooth connection to be established in the event that the aforementioned equipment does not have one.

[0019] Figure 3 shows a specific case of the second embodiment in which a connector module is intercalated between the interface device and the existing equipment in the lift when these are provided with a different connection to those existing in the interface device.

[0020] Figure 4 shows a specific case of the second embodiment in which the lift equipment incorporates a microprocessor which directly manages the Bluetooth communication part, dispensing with the internal microprocessor of the interface permitting a Bluetooth connection to be established between the PDA and the equipment.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0021] In the light of the following, the present invention refers to a diagnostic and maintenance tool for lifts which enables various diagnostic and maintenance operations to be combined by means of an information storage terminal which is a PDA.

First example of a preferred embodiment.

[0022] In this first example of a preferred embodiment, the lift (1) equipment (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) is provided with a Bluetooth communication so that it is possible to establish a communication directly with a PDA (2) which is controlled by an operator and which permits different diagnostic and maintenance operations to be carried out.

[0023] The lift (1) equipment (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) on which the maintenance tasks are carried out are the control system (1.1) of the lift itself (1), the speed regulator (1.2) and other electronic subsystems (1.3) of the lift (1).

[0024] In this way, visualisation and storage of the information on the PDA or similar storage terminal improves the representation of the information, in addition to making the operations carried out by maintenance and set up personnel more simple, fast and effective, due to the fact that the various functioning parameters used for each of the pieces of equipment (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) may be controlled.

Second example of a preferred embodiment

[0025] In this second example of a preferred embodiment, the diagnostic and maintenance tool, in addition to the elements described in the first example of a preferred embodiment, is also provided with a device (3) which is physically connected to the lift (1) equipment (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) to be controlled.

[0026] In this example of a preferred embodiment, the device (3) comprises a serial or parallel type interface with a microprocessor (3.1) which permits a Bluetooth connection to be established between the PDA (2) and the existing equipment (1.1,1.2, 1.3) in the lift (1) in those cases in which said equipment (1.1,1.2, 1.3)is not provided with a Bluetooth connection.

[0027] The interface device (3) is provided with two DB9 connectors in order to connect to the lift (1) equipment (1.1,1.2, 1.3) provided with these connections.

Third example of a preferred embodiment

[0028] In this third example of a preferred embodiment, the diagnostic and maintenance tool is also provided with the elements described in the second example of a preferred embodiment, a connector module (4) which is intercalated between the interface device (3) and the existing equipment (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) in the lift (1) when it is provided with different connectors and protocols from those of the interface device (3).

[0029] This connector module (4) is provided in turn with a microprocessor (4.1) which directly controls the Bluetooth communication of the interface device (3) which in turn permits the Bluetooth connection to be established between the PDA (2) and the existing equipment (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) in the lift (1), establishing a direct communication between the microprocessor (4.1) and the PDA (2).

[0030] The pins of the DB9 connectors of the interface device (3) are used to establish communication with the connector module (4), which in this example is of the RJ45 type (Registered Jack).

Fourth example of a preferred embodiment

[0031] In this fourth example of a preferred embodiment, the equipment controlled by the diagnostic and maintenance tool, in addition to the elements described in the second example of a preferred embodiment, is provided with a microprocessor (1.1.1, 1.2.1, 1.3.1) which directly controls the Bluetooth communication of the interface device (3) which in turn establishes the Bluetooth connection between the PDA (2) and said equipment (1.1.1, 1.2.1, 1.3.1) present in the lift (1).

[0032] The essential nature of this invention is not altered by any variations in materials, form, size and arrangement of its component elements, described in a non-restrictive manner, with this being sufficient to proceed to its reproduction by an expert.

Claims

1. Diagnostic and maintenance tool for lifts characterised in that it consists of a PDA (2) or similar terminal controlled by an operator which enables a Bluetooth communication to be established with the different lift (1) equipment (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) on which the diagnostic and maintenance tasks are to be carried out, as well as using the various communication protocols used in that equipment (1.1, 1.2, 1.3).

2. Diagnostic and maintenance tool for lifts according to claim 1 characterised in that it is also provided with an interface device (3) which is connected physically to the lift (1) equipment (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) to be controlled, and enables a Bluetooth connection to be established between the PDA (2) or similar terminal and the existing lift (1) equipment (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) when this equipment does not have a Bluetooth connection.

3. Diagnostic and maintenance tool for lifts according to claim 2 characterised in that a connector module (4) is intercalated between the interface device (3) and the existing lift (1) equipment (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) when this equipment is provided with different connectors from those existing in the interface device (3).

4. Diagnostic and maintenance tool for lifts according to claim 3 characterised in that the connector module (4) is provided with a microprocessor (4.1) which directly controls the Bluetooth communication of the interface device (3) which in turn permits the Bluetooth connection to be established between the PDA (2) and the existing equipment (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) in the lift (1), establishing a direct communication between the microprocessor (4.1) and the PDA (2).

5. Diagnostic and maintenance tool for lifts according to claim 3 characterised in that the existing lift (1) equipment (1.1, 1.2, 1.3)is provided with a microprocessor (1.1.1, 1.2.1, 1.3.1) which directly controls the Bluetooth communication of the interface device (3) which in turn enables a Bluetooth connection to be established between the PDA (2) and said equipment (1.1, 1.2, 1.3).

6. Diagnostic and maintenance tool for lifts according to claim 2 characterised in that the interface device (3) is of the serial or parallel type.

7. Diagnostic and maintenance tool for lifts according to claims 2 or 3 characterised in that the interface device (3) is provided with two DB9 connectors in order to connect to the lift (1) equipment (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) which is provided with these connections or to the connector module (4).

8. Diagnostic and maintenance tool for lifts according to claim 1 characterised in that The lift (1) equipment (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) on which the maintenance tasks are carried out are the control system (1.1) of the lift itself (1), the speed regulator (1.2) and other electronic subsystems (1.3) of the lift (1).

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