Patent · US Expired

Elevator system having dynamic sector assignments

US5317114A · kind A · utility

22Cited by
9References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 27, 1991
Grant dateMay 31, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 27, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB66B1/20
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Method and apparatus is disclosed for operating an elevator system that includes a group of elevator cars servicing a plurality of floor landings divided into Sectors. The method includes the steps of, with a controller associated with each elevator car of the group, (a) determining when the elevator car has reached a Turn Around Point for returning the elevator car to a lobby; (b) initiating travel to the lobby; and (c) determining when the elevator car has reached a predetermined Sector Assignment Fixation Point. After reaching the predetermined Sector Assignment Fixation Point, the method further includes the steps of (d) communicating Sector-related information with other controller of other elevator cars of the group; and (e) based upon the communication, assigning to the elevator car a next Sector to be serviced after arrival at the lobby. A round-robin arbitration technique is disclosed for assigning Sectors among the elevator cars.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.