[0001] Present invention refers to an elevator information system, that informs the passengers
before they enter in the cabin about the environment, the air quality and mobility
inside the cabin. The passenger is able to check several information while waiting
the cabin's landing and make a choice, of entering or not, depending on these pieces
of information. Following are described further details about the invention.
[0002] The daily use of elevators, and the range of people who use them, makes it essential
to protect the users due to airborne microorganisms, such as viruses, that may be
transferred between people. These airborne microorganisms may be blamed for the spread
of a disease over a number of people. It is estimated that almost 5.9 million elevators
are in use, according to statistics of ELA (European Lifts Association), while the
elevators and the escalators, are used 1 billion times per day.
[0003] Although passengers can choose when the cabin door is opening, if they will board
or not, based on the people who are already in the elevator cabin, they do not have
any clue of passenger previous load when nobody is present at the moment of opening
the door. It could be however the case that elevator was traveling with full passenger
capacity few seconds before entry. The indoor environment of the cabin is loaded with
airborne microorganisms and odors. While the odors are just unpleasant, the airborne
microorganisms, which are transferred via human breath, cough or sneeze, may spread
contagious diseases. Even if there is an air filter, an air purifier or a fan system,
it would take several seconds to completely clean the indoor cabin air.
[0004] The abovementioned situation reveals the need of an information system about the
previous use of the elevator. The present invention is an information system that
briefly informs someone about the last use of the elevator. The details that it holds
are the number of users in the last ride, the time elapsed since the elevator was
last used and the air quality level according to the ability of the air purifier or
filter, that is installed in the cabin, to fully recycle the indoor cabin air.
[0005] First of all, Figure 1 describes further the details of the present invention. Specifically,
Figure 1 presents the given information about the last ride, which are the number
of persons who used the elevator (1), the time elapsed since they all get out of the
cabin (2), the number of times that has the indoor cabin air been renewed (3), according
to the characteristics of the fan and/or the air purifier that are installed in the
cabin, and finally an estimation of the time remaining until the indoor cabin air
is completely refreshed (4). After checking the status, the users are able to choose
if they are willing to enter the cabin or choose another elevator of the building,
if there is one, or even wait a small amount of time before using the elevator, until
the indoor cabin air is completely renewed. It should be mentioned that the number
of persons who were in the elevator cabin are detected through a camera and this information
is recorded by the elevator controller, which transfers all the information to the
presented invention, the elevator information system for safe cabin environment.
[0006] Furthermore, Figures 2 and 3 present two different versions of the invention. In
Figure 2 is presented the case that a user is approaching an elevator (5). The data,
which are collected by the elevator controller, are transferred via means of wireless
communication technology, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, to the mobile phone (6) of the user.
Then, the user is able to check the information just by opening the corresponding
application and make their choice.
[0007] On the other hand, Figure 3 presents the second version of the invention. In case
of a group of elevators, such as (5a) and (5b), is usual installing a destination
selection control terminal in the entrance (6). The destination selection control
is enhanced for the building traffic situation in order to increase the handling capacity
with high traffic and/or to generate as few runs as possible with low traffic volume.
The screen on the terminal is showing also the information (1), (2), (3) and (4).
The passenger enters their destination at a terminal in the landing, in response to
which the most favourable elevator is calculated, by also taking into account the
information about the indoor cabin air quality, and assigned. The assigned elevator
is immediately displayed to the passenger. The passenger waits in front of the elevator
assigned to them. The same idea is able to be used even if the destination selection
control is not applicable. There could be a terminal (6) only with the information
(1), (2), (3) and (4), and the system would recommend to passengers which cabin to
be used based on level of clean air, as it is presented if Figure 4.
[0008] The invention is useful for any kind of public building, such as buildings with professional
offices, educational buildings and shopping centres. Especially, the invention is
even more appropriate for places with high microbial and virus load, as hospitals,
medical centres and generally health related services and research centres.
1. The "Elevator information system for safe cabin environment" is characterized in that it is a system that informs a passenger on parameters affecting cabin air quality
prior to his entrance in the elevator, as the number of persons who used the elevator
(1), the time elapsed since the cabin emptied (2), how many times has the indoor cabin
air been renewed (3), according to the characteristics of the fan and/or the air purifier
that are installed in the cabin, and finally an estimation of the time remaining until
the indoor cabin air is completely refreshed (4).
2. The invention according to Claim 1, is characterized in that the information is displayed to any mobile device of passenger, such as mobile phone,
by means of wireless communication technology, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
3. The invention according to Claim 1-2, is characterized in that in case of group of elevators the system recommends to passenger which cabin to be
used based on level of clean air, through a terminal (7) placed out of the entrance
or any mobile device of passenger.
4. The invention according to Claim 1-3, is characterized in that a camera is provided in the cabin to detect number of passengers.
5. The invention according to Claim 1-4, is characterized in that the elevator controller records time elapsed since the last ride.
6. The invention according to Claim 1-5 is characterized in that the elevator controller calculates or correlates operation time of air circulation
fan and/or air purifier/filter.
7. The invention according to Claim 1-6, is characterized in that the elevator controller incorporates positive compensation factor in time needed
for complete cabin volumetric air recirculation in correlation with number of passengers
in the ride and air cleaning efficiency of fan system.
