WO2021234210A1

WO2021234210A1 - An elevator call device for controlling the operation mode

Info

Publication number: WO2021234210A1
Application number: PCT/FI2020/050343
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lassi Ylä-Soininmäki; Timo Saarnio
Original assignee: Kone Corporation
Priority date: 2020-05-20
Filing date: 2020-05-20
Publication date: 2021-11-25

Abstract

The invention relates to an elevator call device (104) having at least two operation modes. The elevator call device (104) comprises a motion sensor unit (202) and a control unit (204). The motion sensor unit is configured to obtain movement data representing a direction of movement of an object (402), a speed of movement of an object (402), and/or a location of an object (402). The control unit (204) configured to control the operation mode of the elevator call device (104) in accordance with the obtained movement data. The invention relates also to a method for controlling an operation mode of an elevator call device and an elevator system.

Description

AN ELEVATOR CALL DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION MODE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention concerns in general the technical field of elevators. Especially the invention concerns elevator call devices.

BACKGROUND

Typically, an elevator system may comprise a plurality of elevator call devices, e.g. car call devices, landing call devices, and destination call devices, such as destination operation panels (DOP). The car call devices are arranged inside elevator car(s) of the elevator system for proving car calls to drive the elevator car to a desired destination floor. The landing call devices may be arranged outside the elevator car(s) to each lading, i.e. floor, for providing landing calls to drive the elevator car to said landing. The destination call devices may be arranged outside the elevator car(s) to at least one landing, i.e. floor, for providing a destination call to a desired destination floor from said landing.

The destination call device may have a power save mode, in which one or more entities of the destination call device, e.g. a display, may turned off. The destination call device may comprise a simple motion detector configured to detect a movement of passenger(s) in a vicinity of the destination call device to turn on the destination call device from the power save mode.

However, there is need to develop further solutions to improve a usability the elevator call devices.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide basic under standing of some aspects of various invention embodiments. The summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of exemplifying em bodiments of the invention.

An objective of the invention is to present an elevator call device, a method, and an elevator system for controlling an operation mode of an elevator call device. Another objective of the invention is that the elevator call device, the method, and the elevator system for controlling an operation mode of an eleva tor call device improves a usability the elevator call device.

The objectives of the invention are reached by an elevator call device, a meth od, and an elevator system as defined by the respective independent claims.

According to a first aspect, an elevator call device having at least two opera tion modes is provided, wherein the elevator call device comprises: a motion sensor unit configured to obtain movement data representing a direction of movement of an object, a speed of movement of an object, and/or a location of an object; and a control unit configured to control the operation mode of the el evator call device in accordance with the obtained movement data.

The motion sensor unit may comprise a microwave radar, a time of flight (ToF) sensor, or an acoustic sensor.

The elevator call device may further comprise at least one output unit, wherein the operation mode of the elevator call device may comprise providing opera tion mode specific output via the at least one output unit.

The control of the operation mode may comprise selection the operation mode of the elevator call device in response to detecting based on the obtained movement data that: no objects detected, the object is approaching the eleva tor call device, the object is locating substantially stationary at the elevator call device, or the object is moving away from the elevator call device.

Alternatively or in addition, the motion sensor unit may further be configured to obtain movement data representing a distance between the object and the mo tion sensor unit, wherein the control of the operation mode may comprise se lection the operation mode of the elevator call device in response to detecting based on the obtained movement data that the object is within a predefined distance from the elevator call device.

The elevator call device may be a destination operation panel (DOP).

The motion sensor unit may be configured to obtain the movement data from a predefined detection area. According to a second aspect, a method for controlling an operation mode of an elevator call device having at least two operation modes is provided, where in the method comprises: obtaining, by a motion sensor unit, movement data representing a direction of the movement of an object, a speed of the move ment of an object, and/or a location of an object; and controlling, by a control unit, the operation mode of the elevator call device in accordance with the ob tained movement data.

The motion sensor unit may comprise a microwave radar, a time of flight sen sor, or an acoustic sensor.

The operation mode of the elevator call device may comprise providing opera tion mode specific output via at least one output unit of the elevator call device.

The controlling of the operation mode may comprise selecting the operation mode of the elevator call device in response to detecting based on the ob tained movement data that: no objects detected, the object is approaching the elevator call device, the object is locating substantially stationary at the eleva tor call device, or the object is moving away from the elevator call device.

Alternatively or in addition, the motion sensor unit may further obtain move ment data representing a distance between the object and the motion sensor unit, wherein the controlling of the operation mode may comprise selection the operation mode of the elevator call device in response to detecting based on the obtained movement data that the object is within a predefined distance from the elevator call device.

The elevator call device may be a destination operation panel (DOP).

The motion sensor unit may obtain the movement data from a predefined de tection area.

According to a third aspect, an elevator system is provided, wherein the eleva tor system comprises: at least one elevator shaft along which at least one ele vator car is configured to travel between a plurality of floors, and at least one elevator call device as described above.

Various exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments of the invention both as to constructions and to methods of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The verbs “to comprise” and “to include” are used in this document as open limitations that neither exclude nor require the existence of unrecited features. The features recited in dependent claims are mutually freely combinable un less otherwise explicitly stated. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an”, i.e. a singular form, throughout this document does not exclude a plurality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates schematically an example of an elevator system according to the invention.

Figure 2 illustrates schematically an example of entities of an elevator call de vice according to the invention.

Figure 3 illustrates schematically an example of entities of a control unit of an elevator call device according to the invention.

Figures 4A-4E illustrate schematically non-limiting examples of different detec tion situations according to the invention.

Figures 5A-5D illustrate schematically non-limiting examples of operation mode specific output of an elevator call device according to the invention.

Figure 6 illustrates schematically an example of a method according to the in vention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLIFYING EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 illustrates schematically an example of an elevator system 100 ac cording to the invention. The elevator system 100 may reside in a location, e.g. in a building or in a ship. The elevator system 100 comprises at least one ele vator car 102a, 102b, travelling along a respective elevator shaft between a plurality of floors, i.e. landings, and at least one elevator call device 104. For sake of clarity the at least one elevator shaft is not shown in Figure 1. In the example of Figure 1 one elevator call device 104 is shown, but the invention is not limited to that and the elevator system 100 may further comprise more than one elevator call device 104, e.g. at least one elevator call device 104 on each floor. The elevator call device 104 may be located for example in an elevator lobby or landing area. In the example of Figure 1 the elevator call device 104 is arranged, e.g. mounted, to a wall 108. Alternatively, the elevator call device 104 may comprise a pedestal. The pedestal may be fixed to the floor or it may be movable. The elevator system 100 may further comprise an elevator control system 106 for controlling at least the operations of the elevator system 100. The elevator system 100 may further comprise one or more other elevator re lated entities, e.g. hoisting system, safety circuit and devices, elevator door system, etc..

Figure 2 illustrates schematically an example of entities of the elevator call de vice 104 according to the invention. Preferably, the elevator call device 104 may be a destination call device, e.g. a destination operation panel (DOP), for providing, i.e. generating, destination calls to a desired destination floor, which may be predefined or manually chosen, from the floor which the elevator call device 104 locates. Alternatively, the elevator call device 104 may be a car call device for providing car calls or a landing call device for providing landing calls. The elevator call device 104 comprises a motion sensor unit 202 and a control unit 204. Preferably, the motion sensor unit 202 may be comprised in or as a part of the elevator call device 104 as illustrated in Figure 2. Alternatively, the motion sensor unit 202 may be a separate unit from the elevator call device 104 communicatively coupled with the control unit 204 of the elevator call de vice 104 and arranged in a close vicinity of the elevator call device 104, e.g. above, below, or next to the elevator call device 104 at a predetermined dis tance from the elevator call device 104, e.g. less than 1 meter, preferably less than 0.5 meters. The communication between the motion sensor unit 202 and the control unit 204 may be based on one or more known communication technologies, either wired or wireless. The elevator call device 104 may further comprise at least one output unit 206 for providing output, e.g. an operation mode specific output as will be described. The at least one output unit 206 may comprise e.g. at least one display or screen, such as a touch screen, or a loudspeaker. The output may comprise visual output and/or audible output. The elevator call device 104 may further comprise at least one input unit, e.g. buttons, keyboard, touch screen, and/or microphone, etc., for receiving user input. According to an example, the at least one output unit 206 and the at least one input unit may be implemented as a common touch screen for receiv ing user input and for providing the output, e.g. the operation mode specific output.

Figure 3 illustrates schematically an example of entities of the control unit 204 of the elevator call device 104 according to the invention. The control unit 204 may comprise a processing unit 302 comprising one or more processors, a memory unit 304 comprising one or more memories being volatile or non volatile for storing portions of computer program code 305 and any data val ues, and a communication unit 306. In addition to the mentioned entities the control unit 204 may comprise further devices and entities, such as batteries for storing energy to be used by the entities of the elevator call device 104. The entities of the control unit 204 of the elevator call device 104 may be communicatively coupled to each other with e.g. a communication bus. The processing unit 302 may be configured to control the operation of elevator call device 104 by executing portions of computer program code 305 stored in the memory unit 304 causing the processing unit 302, and thus the control unit 204, to perform at least the operations of the control unit 204 as will be de scribed. The one or more processors of the processing unit 302 may thus be arranged to access the one or more memories of the memory unit 304 and re trieve and store any information therefrom and thereto. For sake of clarity, the processor herein refers to any unit suitable for processing information and con trol the operation of the control unit 204 and the elevator call device 104, among other tasks. The operations may also be implemented with a microcon troller solution with embedded software. Similarly, the memory is not limited to a certain type of memory only, but any memory type suitable for storing the described pieces of information may be applied in the context of the present invention. The communication unit 306 provides an interface for communica tion with any external unit, e.g. the elevator control system 106. The communi cation unit 306 may be based on one or more known communication technolo gies, either wired or wireless, in order to exchange pieces of information. The computer program 305 may be stored in a non-statutory tangible computer readable medium, e.g. an USB stick or a CD-ROM disc.

The elevator call device 104 according to the invention has at least two opera tion modes. The at least two modes may comprise, but are not limited to, at least two of the following: an approach mode, an elevator call mode, an exit mode, a power save mode, i.e. an idle mode or a sleep mode. The motion sensor unit 202 of the elevator call device 104 is configured to obtain move ment data representing a direction of movement of an object 402, a speed of movement of an object 402, and/or a location of an object 402, i.e. a position of the object 402. The direction of the movement of the object 402 may be in relation to the motion sensor unit 202, e.g. towards or away from the motion sensor unit 202. The motion sensor unit 202 is configured to provide the ob tained movement data to the control unit 204. The motion sensor unit 202 may comprise a microwave radar, time of flight (ToF) sensor, an acoustic sensor, or any other sensor device capable to obtain at least the movement data repre senting the direction of movement of the object 402, the speed of movement of an object 402, and/or the location of an object 402. This enables that in addi tion to detecting mere the movement of the object 402 the direction of the movement of the object 402, the speed of the movement of the object 402 and/or the location of the object 402 may be detected. The object 402 may be a user, e.g. a passenger, of the elevator system 100. The motion sensor unit 202 may be configured to obtain, i.e. detect, the movement data from a detec tion area 400. The detection area 400 may be defined by an operation range of the motion sensor unit 202. Alternatively or in addition, the detection area 400 may be a predefined area. This enables that one or more areas 401 within the operation range of the motion sensor unit 202 may be omitted from the detec tion area 400, i.e. no movement data is obtained from said omitted one or more areas 401. For example, if one or more areas 401 inside the elevator lobby area are frequently having movement other than passengers of the ele vator system 100, e.g. people passing by, these one or more areas 401 may be omitted from the detection area 400 enabling that movement data is not ob tained from said omitted one or more areas 401. Non-limiting examples of the detection area 400 and the omitted one or more areas 401 are illustrated in an example of Figure 4A. If more than one object 402 is residing, i.e. locating, within the detection area, the motion sensor unit 202 may be configured to ob tain primarily the movement data of the object 402 closest to the motion sensor unit 202.

The control unit 204 is configured to control the operation mode of the elevator call device 104 in accordance with the obtained movement data, in response to receiving the obtained movement data from the motion sensor unit 202. Ac cording to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the control of the op- eration mode of the elevator call device 104, by the control unit 204, may com prise selection of the operation mode of the elevator call device 104 in re sponse to detecting based on the obtained movement data that: no objects 402 are residing within the detection area 400, the object 402 is approaching the elevator call device 104, the object 402 is locating substantially stationary at the elevator call device 104, or the object 402 is moving away from the ele vator call device 104. The detection that the object is locating substantially sta tionary at the elevator call device 104, e.g. in the front of the elevator call de vice 104, may indicate, i.e. represent, that the object, e.g. a passenger, is mak ing the elevator call via the elevator call device 104. According to another ex emplifying embodiment, the control of the operation mode of the elevator call device 104, by the control unit 204, may comprise selection of the operation mode of the elevator call device 104 in response to detecting based on the ob tained movement data that: the object 402 is at a predefined distance from the elevator call device 104. In this embodiment, the motion sensor unit 202 may further be configured to obtain movement data representing distance between the object 402 and the motion sensor unit 202. The predefined distance may be a distance or a maximum distance of a distance range from which passen gers typically makes the elevator calls, e.g. the predefined distance may be less than 1 meter. The selection of the operation mode may comprise change of the operation mode or maintaining of the operation mode depending on the current, i.e. prevailing, operation mode of the elevator call device 104. In other words, the selection of the operation mode may comprise change from one operation mode, i.e. the current operation mode, to another operation mode or maintaining the current operation mode depending on the current operation mode of the elevator call device 104. This enables a versatile operation of the elevator call device 104.

Alternatively or in addition, according to an exemplifying embodiment of the in vention, the operation mode of the elevator call device 104 may comprise providing operation mode specific output via the at least one output unit 206. The operation mode specific output may comprise, but is not limited to, an an imation, a video, and/or an image, indicating mode specific output information. According to a non-limiting example, in the approach mode, the operation mode specific output provided via the at least one output unit 206 may com prise approach information representing e.g. guidance to the elevator call de vice 104, welcome message, and/or one or more symbols, e.g. logos. Accord- ing to a non-limiting example, in the elevator call mode, the operation mode specific output provided via the at least one output unit 206 may comprise ele vator call information representing e.g. destination floor options for making a destination call via the at least one output unit 206 and/or information of gen erated elevator call, e.g. the elevator car to which the destination call is gener ated and the destination floor. According to a non-limiting example, in the exit mode, the operation mode specific output provided via the at least one output unit 206 may comprise exit information representing e.g. goodbye message and/or one or more symbols, e.g. logos. According to a non-limiting example, in the power save mode of the elevator call device 104 one or more entities of the elevator call device 104 may be turned off, e.g. the at least one output unit 206 may be turned off, and output is not provided via the at least one output unit 202. This reduces power consumption of the elevator call device 104. The operation mode specific output improves the usability of the elevator call de vice 104 and a customization of the output of the elevator call device 104.

Figures 4A-4E illustrate schematically non-limiting examples of different detec tion situations and Figures 5A-5D illustrate schematically non-limiting exam ples of operation mode specific output of the elevator call device 104. For sake of clarity the detection area 400 is not shown in Figures 4B-4E. In the example of Figure 4A, no objects 402 are detected to reside within the detection area 400 based on the obtained movement data from the motion sensor unit 202, i.e. there are no objects 402 residing within the detection area 400. In re sponse to the detection of no objects 402 residing within the detection area 400 of the motion sensor unit 202, the control unit 204 may be configured to select the power save mode to be the operation mode of the elevator call de vice 104. If the current operation mode of the elevator call device 104 is some other operation mode than the power save mode, the control unit 204 may be configured to change the operation mode of the elevator call device 104 to the power saving mode. Alternatively, if the current operation mode of the elevator call device 104 is the power save mode, the control unit 204 may be config ured to maintain the current operation mode of the elevator call device 104 as the power save mode. Figure 5A illustrates a non-limiting example of the oper ation mode specific output provided via the at least one output unit 206 of the elevator call device 104 in the power save mode, wherein the at least one out put unit 206, i.e. a touch screen in this example, is turned off, i.e. not output is provided. In the example of Figure 4B it is detected that the object 402 is approaching the elevator call device 104 based on the obtained movement data from the motion sensor unit 202, i.e. the detected movement direction of the object 402 is towards the motion sensor unit 202. In response to the detection of the ob ject 402 approaching the elevator call device 104, the control unit 204 may be configured to select the approach mode to be the operation mode of the eleva tor call device 104. If the current operation mode of the elevator call device 104 is some other operation mode than the approach mode, the control unit 204 may be configured to change the operation mode of the elevator call de vice 104 to the approach mode. Alternatively, if the current operation mode of the elevator call device 104 is the approach mode, the control unit 204 may be configured to maintain the current operation mode of the elevator call device 104 as the approach mode. Figure 5B illustrates a non-limiting example of the operation mode specific output provided via the at least one output unit 206 of the elevator call device 104 in the approaching mode, wherein the operation mode specific output comprises approach information representing a welcome message provided via the at least one output unit 206, i.e. a touch screen in this example.

In the example of Figure 4C it is detected that the object 402 is locating sub stantially stationary at the elevator call device 104 based on the obtained movement data from the motion sensor unit 202, i.e. the detected location of the object 402 and/or the speed of the object indicates that the object 402 lo cates in the front of the elevator call device 104. In response to the detection of the object 402 locating substantially stationary at the elevator call device 104, the control unit 204 may be configured to select the elevator call mode to be the operation mode of the elevator call device 104. Alternatively, it may be de tected that the object is within the predefined distance from the elevator call device 104 based on the obtained movement data from the motion sensor unit 202, i.e. the detected distance between the object 402 and the motion sensor unit 202 is within the predefined distance 404. In response to the detection of the object 402 within the predefined distance from the elevator call device 104, the control unit 204 may be configured to select the elevator call mode to be the operation mode of the elevator call device 104. If the current operation mode of the elevator call device 104 is some other operation mode than the elevator call mode, the control unit 204 may be configured to change the oper ation mode of the elevator call device 104 to the elevator call mode. Alterna- tively, if the current operation mode of the elevator call device 104 is the eleva tor call mode, the control unit 204 may be configured to maintain the current operation mode of the elevator call device 104 as the elevator call mode. Fig ure 5C illustrates a non-limiting example of the operation mode specific output provided via the at least one output unit 206 of the elevator call device 104 in the elevator call mode, wherein the operation mode specific output comprises elevator call information representing e.g. destination floor options for making a destination call via the at least one output unit 206, i.e. a touch screen in this example, and/or information of the generated elevator call, e.g. in this example the elevator call is generated to floor 8 and the elevator car for which the ele vator call is generated is the elevator car 102b. This enables that the elevator call information may be provided, i.e. shown, for the object 402 during the time that the object 402 is detected to locate in a vicinity of the elevator call device 104, i.e. in front of the elevator call device 104 or within the predefined dis tance from the elevator call device 104, e.g. standing at the elevator call de vice 104, instead of providing the elevator call information a predefined dura tion that may be too short for some users. This may improve the user experi ence of the elevator call device 104 and the elevator system 100.

In the example of Figure 4D it is detected that the object 402 is moving away from the elevator call device 104 based on the obtained movement data from the motion sensor unit 202, i.e. the detected movement direction of the object 402 is away from the motion sensor unit 202. In response to the detection of the object 402 moving away from the elevator call device 104, the control unit 204 is configured to select the exit mode and/or the power save mode to be the operation mode of the elevator call device 104. In other words, in response to the detection of the object 402 moving away from the elevator call device 104 the operation mode of the elevator call device 104 may be selected first to be the exit mode and after a predefined period of time the power save mode or alternatively the operation mode of the elevator call device 104 may be directly selected to be the power save mode. This enables that the elevator call device 104 may be set to the power save mode substantially fast after the detection of the object 402 moving away from the elevator call device 104, e.g. after mak ing the elevator call, which in turn decreases the power consumption of the el evator call device 104. If the current operation mode of the elevator call device 104 is some other operation mode than the exit mode or the power save mode, the control unit 204 may be configured to change the operation mode of the elevator call device 104 to the exit mode and/or to the power save mode. For example, if current operation mode of the elevator call device 104 is the elevator call mode and it is detected that the object 402 is moving away from the elevator call device 104, e.g. the object 402 is moving from the elevator call device 104 to the elevator car 102, the control unit 204 may be configured to change the operation mode of the elevator call device 104 to the exit mode and/or to the power save mode as illustrated in the example of Figure 4D. Al ternatively, if the current operation mode of the elevator call device is the exit mode or the power save mode, the control unit 204 may be configured to maintain the current operation mode of the elevator call device 104. For exam ple, if the current operation mode of the elevator call device 104 is the power save mode and it is detected that the object 402 exits the elevator car 102a, 102b, i.e. the object 402 is moving away from the elevator call device 104, the control unit 204 may be configured to maintain the operation mode of the ele vator call device 104 as the power save mode. This is illustrated in the exam ple of Figure 4E. Figure 5D illustrates a non-limiting example of the operation mode specific output provided via the at least one output unit 206 of the eleva tor call device 104 in the exit mode, wherein the operation mode specific out put comprises exit information representing a goodbye message provided via the at least one output unit 206, i.e. a touch screen in this example.

Next an example of the method for controlling an operation mode of an eleva tor call device 104 having at least two operation modes according to the inven tion is described by referring to Figure 6. Figure 6 schematically illustrates the invention as a flow chart. The at least two modes of the elevator control device 104 may comprise, but are not limited to, at least two of the following: an ap proach mode, an elevator call mode, an exit mode, a power save mode, i.e. an idle mode or a sleep mode, as described above.

At a step 602, the motion sensor unit 202 of the elevator call device 104 ob tains movement data representing a direction of movement of an object 402, a speed of movement of an object 402, and/or a location of an object 402, i.e. a position of the object 402. The direction of the movement of the object 402 may be in relation to the motion sensor unit 202, e.g. towards or away from the motion sensor unit 202. The motion sensor unit 202 provides the obtained movement data to the control unit 204. The motion sensor unit 202 may com prise a microwave radar, time of flight (ToF) sensor, an acoustic sensor, or any other sensor device capable to obtain at least the movement data representing the direction of movement of the object 402, the speed of movement of an ob ject 402, and/or the location of an object 402. This enables that in addition to detecting mere the movement of the object 402 the direction of the movement of the object 402, the speed of the movement of the object 402, and/or the lo cation of the object 402 may be detected. The object 402 may be a user, e.g. a passenger, of the elevator system 100. The motion sensor unit 202 may ob tain, i.e. detect, the movement data from a detection area 400. The detection area 400 may be defined by an operation range of the motion sensor unit 202. Alternatively or in addition, the detection area 400 may be a predefined area. This enables that one or more areas 401 within the operation range of the mo tion sensor unit 202 may be omitted from the detection area 400, i.e. no movement data is obtained from said omitted one or more areas 401. For ex ample, if one or more areas 401 inside the elevator lobby area are frequently having movement other than passengers of the elevator system 100, e.g. peo ple passing by, these one or more areas 401 may be omitted from the detec tion area 400 enabling that movement data is not obtained from said omitted one or more areas 401. If more than one object 402 is residing, i.e. locating, within the detection area, the motion sensor unit 202 may be configured to ob tain primarily the movement data of the object 402 closest to the motion sensor unit 202.

At a step 604, the control unit 204 of the elevator call device 104 controls the operation mode of the elevator call device 104 in accordance with the obtained movement data, in response to receiving the obtained movement data from the motion sensor unit 202. According to an exemplifying embodiment of the in vention, the controlling of the operation mode of the elevator call device 104, by the control unit 204, may comprise selecting the operation mode of the ele vator call device 104 in response to detecting based on the obtained move ment data that: no objects 402 are residing within the detection area 400, the object 402 is approaching the elevator call device 104, the object 402 is locat ing substantially stationary at the elevator call device 104, or the object 402 is moving away from the elevator call device 104. The detection that the object is locating substantially stationary at the elevator call device 104, e.g. in the front of the elevator call device 104, may indicate, i.e. represent, that the object, e.g. a passenger, is making the elevator call via the elevator call device 104. Ac cording to another exemplifying embodiment, the controlling of the operation mode of the elevator call device 104, by the control unit 204, may comprise se- lection of the operation mode of the elevator call device 104 in response to de tecting based on the obtained movement data that: the object 402 is at a pre defined distance from the elevator call device 104. In this embodiment, the mo tion sensor unit 202 may further be configured to obtain movement data repre- senting distance between the object 402 and the motion sensor unit 202.The predefined distance 404 may be a distance or a maximum distance of a dis tance range from which passengers typically makes elevator calls, e.g. the predefined distance 404 may be less than 1 meter. The selecting of the opera tion mode may comprise changing the operation mode or maintaining the op- eration mode depending on the current, i.e. prevailing, operation mode of the elevator call device 104. In other words, the selecting the operation mode may comprise changing from one operation mode, i.e. the current operation mode, to another operation mode or maintaining the current operation mode depend ing on the current operation mode of the elevator call device 104. This enables a versatile operation of the elevator call device 104.

Alternatively or in addition, according to an exemplifying embodiment of the in vention the operation mode of the elevator call device 104 may comprise providing operation mode specific output via the at least one output unit 206 as described above. The operation mode specific output may comprise, but is not limited to, an animation, a video, and/or an image, indicating mode specific output information. The operation mode specific output improves the usability of the elevator call device 104 and the customization of the output of the eleva tor call device 104.

The specific examples provided in the description given above should not be construed as limiting the applicability and/or the interpretation of the appended claims. Lists and groups of examples provided in the description given above are not exhaustive unless otherwise explicitly stated.

Claims

1. An elevator call device (104) having at least two operation modes, the el evator call device (104) comprising: a motion sensor unit (202) configured to obtain movement data representing a direction of movement of an object (402), a speed of movement of an object (402), and/or a location of an object (402); and a control unit (204) configured to control the operation mode of the elevator call device (104) in accordance with the obtained movement data.

2. The elevator call device (104) according to claim 1, wherein the motion sensor unit (202) comprises a microwave radar, a time of flight (ToF) sensor, or an acoustic sensor.

3. The elevator call device (104) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one output unit (206), wherein the operation mode of the elevator call device (104) comprises providing operation mode specific output via the at least one output unit (206).

4. The elevator call device (104) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control of the operation mode comprises selection the operation mode of the elevator call device (104) in response to detecting based on the obtained movement data that: no objects (402) detected, the object (402) is approaching the elevator call device (104), the object (402) is locating substantially stationary at the elevator call device (104), or the object (402) is moving away from the elevator call device (104).

5. The elevator call device (104) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the motion sensor unit (202) is further configured to obtain movement data representing a distance between the object (402) and the motion sensor unit (202), wherein the control of the operation mode comprises selection the operation mode of the elevator call device (104) in response to detecting based on the obtained movement data that the object (402) is within a prede fined distance from the elevator call device (104).

6. The elevator call device (104) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the elevator call device (104) is a destination operation panel (DOP).

7. The elevator call device (104) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the motion sensor unit (202) is configured to obtain the movement da ta from a predefined detection area (400).

8. A method for controlling an operation mode of an elevator call device (104) having at least two operation modes, the method comprising obtaining (602), by a motion sensor unit (202), movement data representing a direction of the movement of an object (402), a speed of the movement of an object (402), and/or a location of an object (402); and controlling (604), by a control unit (204), the operation mode of the elevator call device (104) in accordance with the obtained movement data.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the motion sensor unit (202) comprises a microwave radar, a time of flight sensor, or an acoustic sensor.

10. The method according to any of the claims 8 or 9, wherein the operation mode of the elevator call device (104) comprises providing operation mode specific output via at least one output unit (202) of the elevator call device (104).

11. The method according to any of the claims 8 to 10, wherein the control ling of the operation mode comprises selecting the operation mode of the ele vator call device (104) in response to detecting based on the obtained move ment data that: no objects (402) detected, the object (402) is approaching the elevator call device (104), the object (402) is locating substantially stationary at the elevator call device (104), or the object (402) is moving away from the elevator call device (104).

12. The method according to any of the claims 8 to 11, wherein the motion sensor unit (202) is further obtain movement data representing a distance be tween the object (402) and the motion sensor unit (202), wherein the control ling of the operation mode comprises selection the operation mode of the ele- vator call device (104) in response to detecting based on the obtained move ment data that the object (402) is within a predefined distance from the eleva tor call device (104).

13. The method according to any of the claims 8 to 12, wherein the elevator call device (104) is a destination operation panel (DOP).

14. The method according to any of the claims 8 to 13, wherein the motion sensor unit (202) obtains the movement data from a predefined detection area (400).

15. An elevator system (100) comprising: at least one elevator shaft along which at least one elevator car (102a, 102b) is configured to travel between a plurality of floors, and at least one elevator call device (104) according to any of claims 1 to 7.