Elevator control

Claim 2

In an elevator control system, in combination, a plurality of cars arranged to serve a plurality of floors, means for registering calls for service, control means for each car for stopping the car at floors at which calls are registered, means for indicating the difference between the number of calls registered in the zones between the car and the next preceding and next following cars, auxiliary control means for each car adapted to de-energize the first control means for by-passing calls, and means operatively connected to said difference indicating means for actuating the auxiliary control means when the number of calls in the zone ahead of the car exceeds the number of calls in the zone behind the car.

Claim 3

In an elevator control system, in combination, a plurality of cars arranged to serve a plurality of floors, means for registering calls for service, stopping control means for each car for stopping the car at floors at which calls are registered, a by-pass control for each car, a sensing circuit corresponding to the path of the elevator cars, said sensing circuit comprising a series chain of unilateral conducting devices, means supplying alternating current to the junctions between the conducting devices corresponding to floors having registered calls, low impedance direct current measuring means individual to each car and connected to the series chain at a position corresponding to the car position and direction of travel, and means connected to the current measuring means for operating the by-pass means when the net direct current through the measuring means exceeds a predetermined value and polarity.

Claim 4

In an elevator control system, in combination, a plurality of cars arranged to serve a plurality of floors, means for registering calls for service, stopping control means for each car for stopping the car at floors at which calls are registered, a by-pass control for each car, a sensing circuit corresponding to the path of the elevator cars, said sensing circuit comprising a series chain of unilateral conducting devices, means supplying alternating current to the junctions between the conducting devices corresponding to floors having registered calls, low impedance direct current measuring means individual to each car and connected to the series chain at a position corresponding to the car position and direction of travel, and means connected to the current measuring means for operating the by-pass means when the net direct current through the measuring means exceeds a predetermined value and polarity.

Claim 5

In an elevator control system, in combination, a plurality of cars arranged to serve a plurality of floors, means for registering calls for service, stopping control means for each car for stopping the car at floors at which calls are registered, a by-pass control for each car, a sensing circuit corresponding to the path of the elevator cars, said sensing circuit being connected to the call registering means to be energized according to the calls for service, means responsive to the positions of the cars for dividing the sensing circuit into zones at points corresponding to car positions, measuring means for each car connected to the sensing circuit for indicating the excess of the number of calls in the zone ahead of the car over those in the zone behind the car, said measuring means being adapted to operate said by-pass means when said excess exceeds a predetermined number, and means simulating a number of down calls in a zone above a down traveling car.

Claim 6

In an elevator control system, in combination, a plurality of cars arranged to serve a plurality of floors, means for registering calls for service, stopping control means for each car for stopping the car at floors at which calls are registered, a by-pass control for each car, a sensing circuit corresponding to the path of the elevator cars, said sensing circuit being connected to the call registering means to be energized according to the calls for service, means responsive to the positions of the cars for dividing the sensing circuit into zones at points corresponding to car positions, measuring means for each car connected to the sensing circuit for indicating the excess of the number of calls in the zone ahead of the car over those in the zone behind the car, said measuring means being adapted to operate said by-pass means when said excess exceeds a predetermined number, and means simulating a number of down calls in a zone above a down traveling car.

Claim 7

In an elevator control system, in combination, a plurality of cars arranged to serve a plurality of floors, means for registering calls for service, stopping control means for each car for stopping the car in response to calls for service, a by-pass control for each car, a sensing circuit corresponding to the path of the elevator cars, said circuit being energizEd according to the calls for service and being divided into zones according to the positions of the cars, means individual to each car and connected to the sensing circuit for starting the car in response to a call in the zone ahead of the car, measuring means for each car connected to the sensing circuit for indicating the difference between the number of calls in the zones immediately ahead and behind the car and for operating the by-pass means when said difference exceeds a predetermined amount, and memory means for each of at least some of the floors served by the cars, said memory means being energized when a call is by-passed by a car in response to said difference in numbers of said calls and serving to stop the next available car.

Claim 8

In an elevator control system, in combination, a plurality of cars arranged to serve a plurality of floors, means for registering calls for service, stopping control means for each car for stopping the car in response to calls for service, a by-pass control for each car, a sensing circuit corresponding to the path of the elevator cars, said circuit being energizEd according to the calls for service and being divided into zones according to the positions of the cars, means individual to each car and connected to the sensing circuit for starting the car in response to a call in the zone ahead of the car, measuring means for each car connected to the sensing circuit for indicating the difference between the number of calls in the zones immediately ahead and behind the car and for operating the by-pass means when said difference exceeds a predetermined amount, and memory means for each of at least some of the floors served by the cars, said memory means being energized when a call is by-passed by a car in response to said difference in numbers of said calls and serving to stop the next available car.

Claim 9

In an elevator control systems, in combination, a plurality of cars arranged to serve a plurality of floors, means for registering calls for service, stopping control means for stopping the car as it approaches a floor having a registered call for service, a by-pass control for each car, a sensing circuit corresponding to the path of the elevator cars, said circuit being energized according to the calls for service and being divided into zones according to the positions of the cars, means individual to each car and connected to the sensing circuit for starting the car in response to a call in the zone ahead of the car, measuring means for each car connected to the sensing circuit and the by-pass control adapted to operate the control when the number of calls ahead of the car exceeds by a predetermined number the calls behind the car, memory means for at least some of the floors, said memory means being energized when a call at the corresponding floor is by-passed, stopping means responsive to the memory means for stopping cars at previously by-passed calls, and means responsive to a predetermined number of calls ahead of a car for simulating a call for service in the zone behind the car.

Claim 10

In an elevator control systems, in combination, a plurality of cars arranged to serve a plurality of floors, means for registering calls for service, stopping control means for stopping the car as it approaches a floor having a registered call for service, a by-pass control for each car, a sensing circuit corresponding to the path of the elevator cars, said circuit being energized according to the calls for service and being divided into zones according to the positions of the cars, means individual to each car and connected to the sensing circuit for starting the car in response to a call in the zone ahead of the car, measuring means for each car connected to the sensing circuit and the by-pass control adapted to operate the control when the number of calls ahead of the car exceeds by a predetermined number the calls behind the car, memory means for at least some of the floors, said memory means being energized when a call at the corresponding floor is by-passed, stopping means responsive to the memory means for stopping cars at previously by-passed calls, and means responsive to a predetermined number of calls ahead of a car for simulating a call for service in the zone behind the car.

Claim 11

In an elevator control system, in combination, a plurality of cars arranged to serve a plurality of floors, means for registering calls for service, stopping control means for stopping the car as it approaches a floor having a registered call for service, a by-pass control for each car, a sensing circuit corresponding to the path of the elevator cars, said circuit comprising a series chain of unilaterally conductive elements having junctions corresponding to floors served by the cars, alternating current means including a series impedance connected to the junctions corresponding to floors having registered calls, low impedance direct current measuring means individual to each car and connected to the sensing circuit at a point corresponding to the position of the car, a first element in said direct current measuring means responsive to current in one direction arranged to initiate starting of the elevator car, and a second element in the direct current measuring means responsive to the net direct current through the measuring means adapted to operate the by-pass control.

Claim 12

In an elevator control system, in combination, a plurality of cars arranged to serve a plurality of floors, means for registering calls for service, stopping control means for stopping the car as it approaches a floor having a registered call for service, a by-pass control for each car, a sensing circuit corresponding to the path of the elevator cars, said circuit comprising a series chain of unilaterally conductive elements having junctions corresponding to floors served by the cars, alternating current means including a series impedance connected to the junctions corresponding to floors having registered calls, low impedance direct current measuring means individual to each car and connected to the sensing circuit at a point corresponding to the position of the car, a first element in said direct current measuring means responsive to current in one direction arranged to initiate starting of the elevator car, and a second element in the direct current measuring means responsive to the net direct current through the measuring means adapted to operate the by-pass control.

Claim 13

In an elevator control system, in combination, a plurality of elevator cars arranged to serve a plurality of floors, means for moving the cars from floor to floor, means for registering calls for service, means for each car for stopping the car at floors at which calls are registered, a sensing circuit comprising unilateral conducting devices corresponding to the path of the elevator cars, a current supply having a first and a return lead, means including current limiting impedances for connecting the first lead to the sensing circuit at points corresponding to registered calls, current responsive means for each car connecting the return lead to the sensing circuit at points corresponding to the car positions, car starting means connected to the current responsive means for starting each car in response to current flow, and means for increasing the voltage in the return leads of moving cars whereby current is diverted to the responsive means of moving cars.

Claim 14

In an elevator control system, in combination, a plurality of elevator cars arranged to serve a plurality of floors, means for moving the cars from floor to floor, means for registering calls for service, means for each car for stopping the car at floors at which calls are registered, a sensing circuit comprising unilateral conducting devices corresponding to the path of the elevator cars, a current supply having a first and a return lead, means including current limiting impedances for connecting the first lead to the sensing circuit at points corresponding to registered calls, current responsive means for each car connecting the return lead to the sensing circuit at points corresponding to the car positions, car starting means connected to the current responsive means for starting each car in response to current flow, and means for increasing the voltage in the return leads of moving cars whereby current is diverted to the responsive means of moving cars.

Claim 15

IN an elevator control system, in combination, a plurality of elevator cars arranged to serve a plurality of floors, means for moving the cars from floor to floor, means for registering calls for service, means for each car for stopping the car at floors at which the calls are registered, a sensing circuit comprising unilateral conducting devices corresponding to the path of travel of the elevator cars, current supply means having a first and return lead, means including current limiting impedance connecting the first lead to the sensing circuit at points corresponding to the registered calls, current responsive means for each car connecting the return lead to the sensing circuits at points corresponding to the position of the car, car sensing means connected to the current responsive means, said current responsive means for each car including a portion responsive to current flow indicating more than a predetermined number of calls between said respective car and a next adjacent car along the path of travel of the elevator cars, and means cooperating with said portion for each car arranged to momentarily interrupt the circuit through the current responsive means whereby the current flows through the current responsive means of the next car to start such car.

Claim 16

IN an elevator control system, in combination, a plurality of elevator cars arranged to serve a plurality of floors, means for moving the cars from floor to floor, means for registering calls for service, means for each car for stopping the car at floors at which the calls are registered, a sensing circuit comprising unilateral conducting devices corresponding to the path of travel of the elevator cars, current supply means having a first and return lead, means including current limiting impedance connecting the first lead to the sensing circuit at points corresponding to the registered calls, current responsive means for each car connecting the return lead to the sensing circuits at points corresponding to the position of the car, car sensing means connected to the current responsive means, said current responsive means for each car including a portion responsive to current flow indicating more than a predetermined number of calls between said respective car and a next adjacent car along the path of travel of the elevator cars, and means cooperating with said portion for each car arranged to momentarily interrupt the circuit through the current responsive means whereby the current flows through the current responsive means of the next car to start such car.

Claim 17

In an elevator control system, in combination, a plurality of elevator cars arranged to serve a plurality of floors, means for moving the cars from floor to floor, means for registering calls for service, means for each car for stopping the car at floors at which the calls are registered, a sensing circuit comprising unilateral conducting devices and corresponding to the path of the elevator cars, a current supply means having a first lead and a return lead, means including current limiting impedances for connecting the first lead to the sensing circuit at points corresponding to registered calls, current responsive means for each car connecting the return lead to the sensing circuit at points corresponding to the position of the car, relay means responsive to the presence of at least two cars at a lobby floor, said relay means preparing circuits for starting all but one of said cars at the lobby, and means for stopping each of said started cars at a predetermined different one of the intermediate floors until a signal is registered requiring travel by such car.

Claim 18

In an elevator control system, in combination, a plurality of elevator cars arranged to serve a plurality of floors, means for moving the cars from floor to floor, means for registering calls for service, means for each car for stopping the car at floors at which the calls are registered, a sensing circuit comprising unilateral conducting devices and corresponding to the path of the elevator cars, a current supply means having a first lead and a return lead, means including current limiting impedances for connecting the first lead to the sensing circuit at points corresponding to registered calls, current responsive means for each car connecting the return lead to the sensing circuit at points corresponding to the position of the car, relay means responsive to the presence of at least two cars at a lobby floor, said relay means preparing circuits for starting all but one of said cars at the lobby, and means for stopping each of said started cars at a predetermined different one of the intermediate floors until a signal is registered requiring travel by such car.

Claim 19

An elevator control system according to claim 9 in which cars started from the lobby by the arrival of other cars travel to and stop at different floors in anticipation of hall calls from the various floors.

Claim 20

In an elevator system, in combination, a plurality of elevator cars arranged to serve a plurality of floors including a lobby floor, means for moving the cars from floor to floor, means for distributing idle elevator cars among the plurality of floors with one car at the lobby floor and with each car conditioned for travel away from the lobby floor, means for registering calls for service from the various floors, a signal distribution circuit for transmitting calls for service to the cars, said signal distribution circuit normally transmitting each of such calls for service to the nearest car adapted to serve the call, and means responsive to a further car approaching such call adapted to interrupt the transmission of the call for service to such nearest car.

Claim 21

In an elevator system, in combination, a plurality of elevator cars arranged to serve a plurality of floors including a lobby floor, means for moving the cars from floor to floor, means for distributing idle elevator cars among the plurality of floors with one car at the lobby floor and with each car conditioned for travel away from the lobby floor, means for registering calls for service from the various floors, a signal distribution circuit for transmitting calls for service to the cars, said signal distribution circuit normally transmitting each of such calls for service to the nearest car adapted to serve the call, and means responsive to a further car approaching such call adapted to interrupt the transmission of the call for service to such nearest car.

Claim 22

An elevator system according to claim 11, in which said interrupting means is ineffective in the presence of a plurality of calls ahead of such nearest car.

Claim 23

In an elevator system, in combination, at least three elevator cars arranged to serve a plurality of floor including a lobby floor, a terminal floor and a plurality of floors intermediate said lobby and terminal floors; means for moving each car from floor to floor; a control for each car setting its travel direction; means for automatically starting each car having its control set for travel toward the lobby floor; lobby means for automatically starting a car standing at the lobby floor in response to the arrival of another car at the lobby floor; means for stopping a car started by said automatically starting lobby means at a floor at which no other car is stopped; means for each of said floors for registering hall calls for service by said cars at said floor; hall call transmitting means responsive to a call registered by said call registering means for a floor for transmitting said call to that car of said plurality of cars located at the floor most proximate said floor of said call; and means for starting only said most proximate car toward the floor of said call in response to said call transmission by said transmitter means.

Claim 24

In an elevator system, in combination, at least three elevator cars arranged to serve a plurality of floor including a lobby floor, a terminal floor and a plurality of floors intermediate said lobby and terminal floors; means for moving each car from floor to floor; a control for each car setting its travel direction; means for automatically starting each car having its control set for travel toward the lobby floor; lobby means for automatically starting a car standing at the lobby floor in response to the arrival of another car at the lobby floor; means for stopping a car started by said automatically starting lobby means at a floor at which no other car is stopped; means for each of said floors for registering hall calls for service by said cars at said floor; hall call transmitting means responsive to a call registered by said call registering means for a floor for transmitting said call to that car of said plurality of cars located at the floor most proximate said floor of said call; and means for starting only said most proximate car toward the floor of said call in response to said call transmission by said transmitter means.

Claim 25

A combination according to claim 13 wherein said call registering means includes means for registering calls for service upward from the floor for those floors from which up service is provided, and means for registering call for service downward from the floor for those floors from which down service is provided; and wherein said hall call transmitting means includes means to transmit said call for a floor only to said car located at a floor on the side of said floor of said call opposite the direction of said call.

Claim 26

A combination according to claim 13 wherein said car stopping means includes means for predetermining a plurality of parking floors each spaced from other parking floors by at least one floor which is not a parking floor.

Claim 27

An elevator system comprising at least three elevator cars serving a plurality of floors distributed along a path of travel for said cars and including at least one main floor, means for each of a plurality of floors for registering a hall call for service at said floor; means for assigning each car to serve hall calls for floors in a zone of floors between the floor at which said car is located and the floor at which the next adjacent car along said path of travel is located; means for each car for registering car calls for service to each of a plurality of landings; means for conditioning a car as an active car in response to a car call or a hall call assigned to said car; means conditioning each car as an idle car in response to an absence of a car call for said car or a hall call in said zone of floors for said car defined by said assigning means; means to maintain an idle car at a floor other than a main floor at which it last provided service; means to start an idle car in response to the registration of a hall call by said registering means for a floor in the zone of floors assigned said car by said assigning means; and means for assigning an active car at a floor adjacent a zone of floors to which an idle car is assigned to serve a hall call registered for a floor in said zone in preference to said idle car.

Claim 28

An elevator system comprising at least three elevator cars serving a plurality of floors distributed along a path of travel for said cars and including at least one main floor, means for each of a plurality of floors for registering a hall call for service at said floor; means for assigning each car to serve hall calls for floors in a zone of floors between the floor at which said car is located and the floor at which the next adjacent car along said path of travel is located; means for each car for registering car calls for service to each of a plurality of landings; means for conditioning a car as an active car in response to a car call or a hall call assigned to said car; means conditioning each car as an idle car in response to an absence of a car call for said car or a hall call in said zone of floors for said car defined by said assigning means; means to maintain an idle car at a floor other than a main floor at which it last provided service; means to start an idle car in response to the registration of a hall call by said registering means for a floor in the zone of floors assigned said car by said assigning means; and means for assigning an active car at a floor adjacent a zone of floors to which an idle car is assigned to serve a hall call registered for a floor in said zone in preference to said idle car.

Claim 29

An elevator system comprising at least three elevator cars serving a plurality of floors distributed along the paths of travel of said cars, means for each of a plurality of said floors for registering a hall call for service at said floor; means for assigning each car to serve hall calls for floors in a zone of floors between the floor at which the said car is located and the floor at which the next adjacent car along said path of travel is located; means conditioning each car as an idle car in response to an absence of a call for a floor in a zone of floors for said car defined by said assigning means; means to maintain each of a plurality of said cars conditioned as an idle car by said conditioning means at a floor other than a main floor at which said car last provided service; means to start a first idle car in response to the registration of a call by said registering means for a floor in the zone of floors assigned said car by said assigning means; and means to start a second idle car in response to a predetermined call registration for floors in the zone of floors assigned said first idle car by said assigning means.

Claim 30

An elevator system comprising at least three elevator cars serving a plurality of floors distributed along the paths of travel of said cars, means for each of a plurality of said floors for registering a hall call for service at said floor; means for assigning each car to serve hall calls for floors in a zone of floors between the floor at which the said car is located and the floor at which the next adjacent car along said path of travel is located; means conditioning each car as an idle car in response to an absence of a call for a floor in a zone of floors for said car defined by said assigning means; means to maintain each of a plurality of said cars conditioned as an idle car by said conditioning means at a floor other than a main floor at which said car last provided service; means to start a first idle car in response to the registration of a call by said registering means for a floor in the zone of floors assigned said car by said assigning means; and means to start a second idle car in response to a predetermined call registration for floors in the zone of floors assigned said first idle car by said assigning means.

Claim 31

An elevator system comprising at least three elevator cars serving a plurality of floors including a main floor, means for each of a plurality of said floors for registering a call for service at said floor; means for assigning registered calls to individual cars; means for moving each of said cars to said floors in response to calls for service for said floor assigned by said assigning means to said cars; means for maintaining a first car at a floor of said plurality of floors other than said main floor when all calls imposed on said system are assigned by said assigning means to other than said first car; means for maintaining a second car at a floor of said plurality of floors other than said main floor when all calls imposed on said system are assigned by said assigning means to other than said second car; means for each car for sensing passenger activity in said car; detecting means having a first condition when any of said cars is at said main floor, said detecting means having a second condition when all of the cars are spaced from said main floor, said detecting means having said second condition when only one of said cars is at said main floor and passenger activity is sensed by said sensing means in said one car; and actuating means responsive to said second condition of said detecting means for causing one of said first and second cars to run to said main floor.

Claim 32

An elevator system comprising at least three elevator cars serving a plurality of floors including a main floor, means for each of a plurality of said floors for registering a call for service at said floor; means for assigning registered calls to individual cars; means for moving each of said cars to said floors in response to calls for service for said floor assigned by said assigning means to said cars; means for maintaining a first car at a floor of said plurality of floors other than said main floor when all calls imposed on said system are assigned by said assigning means to other than said first car; means for maintaining a second car at a floor of said plurality of floors other than said main floor when all calls imposed on said system are assigned by said assigning means to other than said second car; means for each car for sensing passenger activity in said car; detecting means having a first condition when any of said cars is at said main floor, said detecting means having a second condition when all of the cars are spaced from said main floor, said detecting means having said second condition when only one of said cars is at said main floor and passenger activity is sensed by said sensing means in said one car; and actuating means responsive to said second condition of said detecting means for causing one of said first and second cars to run to said main floor.

Claim 33

An elevator system according to claim 18 including means for each car for registering car calls for service to each of a plurality of landings for passengers within said car; said sensing means being responsive to registration of a car call on said car call registering means for said car.

Claim 34

A control system for a plurality of elevator cars which operate to serve a building containing a plurality of landings which in said system are arranged in a plurality of zones, each including a predetermined number of said landings, comprising: call registering means located in each said car and at each said landing for registering calls for service to and from said landings; starting and stopping means individual to each car, each causing its respective car to start and to stop operating automatically in response to the registration of calls by said call registering means; car detection means individual to each zone actuated in response to the presence of a car in its respective zone for detecting that presence; assignment means operated in response to the presence of a car in a zone for assigning said car to said zone while said car is detected in that zone by said detecting means for that zone; and control means responsive to the occupation of any one of the zones by an assigned car and arranged to prevent the starting and stopping means of a car outside said occupied zone from starting its respective car in response to the registration of a landing call for a first predetermined direction of travel by said call registering means located at the landings in said occupied zone and in an empty zone adjacent in said first predetermined direction to said occupied zone.

Claim 35

A control system for a plurality of elevator cars which operate to serve a building containing a plurality of landings which in said system are arranged in a plurality of zones, each including a predetermined number of said landings, comprising: call registering means located in each said car and at each said landing for registering calls for service to and from said landings; starting and stopping means individual to each car, each causing its respective car to start and to stop operating automatically in response to the registration of calls by said call registering means; car detection means individual to each zone actuated in response to the presence of a car in its respective zone for detecting that presence; assignment means operated in response to the presence of a car in a zone for assigning said car to said zone while said car is detected in that zone by said detecting means for that zone; and control means responsive to the occupation of any one of the zones by an assigned car and arranged to prevent the starting and stopping means of a car outside said occupied zone from starting its respective car in response to the registration of a landing call for a first predetermined direction of travel by said call registering means located at the landings in said occupied zone and in an empty zone adjacent in said first predetermined direction to said occupied zone.

Claim 36

A control system for a plurality of elevator cars which operate to serve a plurality of landings, including a main landing, which in said system are arranged in a plurality of zones, each zone including a predetermined number of landings, comprising: call registering means located at each landing for registering landing calls for service; starting and stopping means individual to each car, each starting and stopping the operation of its respective car automatically in response to the registration of landing calls by said call registering means; assignment means for each zone assigning to one zone a predetermined number of cars only while present in said one zone; first control means arranged to limit a car assigned to any zone to start in operation in response to the registration of landing calls for a first predetermined direction of travel registered only by said call registering means located at the predetermined number of landings in the zone in which said assigned car is located when the zone next adjacent said zone in said predetermined direction also has a car assigned to it; and second control means rEsponsive to the absence of a car in the zone including said main landing for enabling a car assigned to another zone to start in operation, notwithstanding said first control means otherwise would prevent the starting of said car.

Claim 37

A control system for a plurality of elevator cars which operate to serve a plurality of landings, including a main landing, which in said system are arranged in a plurality of zones, each zone including a predetermined number of landings, comprising: call registering means located at each landing for registering landing calls for service; starting and stopping means individual to each car, each starting and stopping the operation of its respective car automatically in response to the registration of landing calls by said call registering means; assignment means for each zone assigning to one zone a predetermined number of cars only while present in said one zone; first control means arranged to limit a car assigned to any zone to start in operation in response to the registration of landing calls for a first predetermined direction of travel registered only by said call registering means located at the predetermined number of landings in the zone in which said assigned car is located when the zone next adjacent said zone in said predetermined direction also has a car assigned to it; and second control means rEsponsive to the absence of a car in the zone including said main landing for enabling a car assigned to another zone to start in operation, notwithstanding said first control means otherwise would prevent the starting of said car.

Claim 38

A control system for a plurality of elevator cars operating to serve a plurality of landings which in said system are arranged in a plurality of zones, each zone including a predetermined number of said landings comprising: call registering means located at each said landing for registering calls for service; starting and stopping means individual to each car, each starting and stopping the operation of its respective car automatically in response to the registration of calls by said call registering means; assignment means for each zone, each operating to assign to one zone a predetermined number of cars only while present in said one zone; and control means responsive to the occupation of any one of the zones by an assigned car and arranged to enable the starting and stopping means of a car in said occupied zone to start its respective car in response to the registration of calls for a first predetermined direction of travel by said call registering means located in said occupied zone and in contiguous empty zones one of which is adjacent said one zone in said predetermined direction, as well as to prevent the starting and stopping means of any car outside said occupied zone from starting its respective car in response to the registration of a landing call for said first predetermined direction of travel by said call registering means located in said occupied zone in said predetermined direction.

Claim 39

A control system for a plurality of elevator cars operating to serve a plurality of landings which in said system are arranged in a plurality of zones, each zone including a predetermined number of said landings comprising: call registering means located at each said landing for registering calls for service; starting and stopping means individual to each car, each starting and stopping the operation of its respective car automatically in response to the registration of calls by said call registering means; assignment means for each zone, each operating to assign to one zone a predetermined number of cars only while present in said one zone; and control means responsive to the occupation of any one of the zones by an assigned car and arranged to enable the starting and stopping means of a car in said occupied zone to start its respective car in response to the registration of calls for a first predetermined direction of travel by said call registering means located in said occupied zone and in contiguous empty zones one of which is adjacent said one zone in said predetermined direction, as well as to prevent the starting and stopping means of any car outside said occupied zone from starting its respective car in response to the registration of a landing call for said first predetermined direction of travel by said call registering means located in said occupied zone in said predetermined direction.

Claim 40

A control system for a plurality of elevator cars operating to serve a plurality of landings which in said system are arranged in at least three zones, each zone including a predetermined number of said landings, comprising: call registering means located at each landing for registering calls for service; starting and stopping means individual to each car, each causing its respective car to start and to stop operating automatically in response to the registration of calls by said call registering means; assignment means for each zone, each operating to assign to one zone a predetermined number of cars only after being located in said one zone, said assignment means terminating the assignment of each said assigned car when it leaves the zone to which it has been assigned; and control means causing a car, the assignment of which has been terminated, to continue operating regardless of the existence of registered calls until it is located in and assigned to a zone which thereafter is occupied by no more than the predetermined number of assigned cars for that zone; said control means operating in the absence of registered calls to cause said cars to distribute themselves into the various zones for assignment thereto in which circumstances the starting and stopping means of each assigned car causes its respective car to stop operating at a landing in the zone to which it is assigned.

Claim 41

A control system for a plurality of elevator cars operating to serve a plurality of landings which in said system are arranged in at least three zones, each zone including a predetermined number of said landings, comprising: call registering means located at each landing for registering calls for service; starting and stopping means individual to each car, each causing its respective car to start and to stop operating automatically in response to the registration of calls by said call registering means; assignment means for each zone, each operating to assign to one zone a predetermined number of cars only after being located in said one zone, said assignment means terminating the assignment of each said assigned car when it leaves the zone to which it has been assigned; and control means causing a car, the assignment of which has been terminated, to continue operating regardless of the existence of registered calls until it is located in and assigned to a zone which thereafter is occupied by no more than the predetermined number of assigned cars for that zone; said control means operating in the absence of registered calls to cause said cars to distribute themselves into the various zones for assignment thereto in which circumstances the starting and stopping means of each assigned car causes its respective car to stop operating at a landing in the zone to which it is assigned.

Claim 42

A control system for a plurality of elevator cars which operate in two directions of travel to serve a building containing a plurality of landings comprising: up landing call registering means located at each said landing except the uppermost of said landings for registering calls for service upward from said landings; means for segregating said up landing call registering means into at least three groups, each group being for a plurality of contiguous, predetermined landings; car call registering means in each car for registering calls for service to said landings; down landing call registering means located at each said landings except the lowermost of said landings for registering calls for service downward from said landings; starting and stopping means individual to each car, each causing its respective car to start and to stop operating automatically in response to the registration of calls by said call registering means; means for detecting the presence of a car at a landing having an up landing call registering means in a group; assignment means operating under predetermined circumstances while a car is detected at a landing having an up landing call registering means in a group to assign said car to respond to said up landing calls in said group; and control means responsive to the occupation by a car assigned to a group of a landing having an up landing call registering means in said group and arranged to limit the starting and stopping of said assigned car in response to the registration of up landing calls to starting and stopping in response to up landing calls registered only by call registering means in said one group provided a car is assigned to the group next above said one group, so that in such circumstances, and in the absence of up landing calls in said one group and in the absence of car calls in said one car and down landing calls, the starting and stopping means for said one car stops operating said car at a landing having a call registering means in said one group.

Claim 43

A control system for a plurality of elevator cars which operate in two directions of travel to serve a building containing a plurality of landings comprising: up landing call registering means located at each said landing except the uppermost of said landings for registering calls for service upward from said landings; means for segregating said up landing call registering means into at least three groups, each group being for a plurality of contiguous, predetermined landings; car call registering means in each car for registering calls for service to said landings; down landing call registering means located at each said landings except the lowermost of said landings for registering calls for service downward from said landings; starting and stopping means individual to each car, each causing its respective car to start and to stop operating automatically in response to the registration of calls by said call registering means; means for detecting the presence of a car at a landing having an up landing call registering means in a group; assignment means operating under predetermined circumstances while a car is detected at a landing having an up landing call registering means in a group to assign said car to respond to said up landing calls in said group; and control means responsive to the occupation by a car assigned to a group of a landing having an up landing call registering means in said group and arranged to limit the starting and stopping of said assigned car in response to the registration of up landing calls to starting and stopping in response to up landing calls registered only by call registering means in said one group provided a car is assigned to the group next above said one group, so that in such circumstances, and in the absence of up landing calls in said one group and in the absence of car calls in said one car and down landing calls, the starting and stopping means for said one car stops operating said car at a landing having a call registering means in said one group.

Claim 44

The control system for an elevator installation in a building containing both a plurality of landings and a plurality of elevator cars which operate to serve the landings comprising: up landing call registering means located at each landing except the uppermost of said landings for registering calls for service; means for segregating said up landing call registering means into at least three groups, each group being for a plurality of contiguous, predetermined landings; starting and stopping means individual to each car, each causing its respective car to start and to stop operating automatically in response to the registration of calls by said call registering means; assignment means for each group, each operating to assign to one group a predetermined number of cars only after being located at a landing having an up landing call registering means in said group; and control means responsive to the occupation by an assigned car of a landing having an up landing call registering means in a group and arranged to prevent the starting and stopping means of a car at landings below those landings having up landing calls in said one group from starting its respective car in response to the registration of an up landing call by said up landing call registering means for landings having up landing call registering means in said group and for landings having up landing call registering means in a group which is empty and adjacent above said one group.

Claim 45

The control system for an elevator installation in a building containing both a plurality of landings and a plurality of elevator cars which operate to serve the landings comprising: up landing call registering means located at each landing except the uppermost of said landings for registering calls for service; means for segregating said up landing call registering means into at least three groups, each group being for a plurality of contiguous, predetermined landings; starting and stopping means individual to each car, each causing its respective car to start and to stop operating automatically in response to the registration of calls by said call registering means; assignment means for each group, each operating to assign to one group a predetermined number of cars only after being located at a landing having an up landing call registering means in said group; and control means responsive to the occupation by an assigned car of a landing having an up landing call registering means in a group and arranged to prevent the starting and stopping means of a car at landings below those landings having up landing calls in said one group from starting its respective car in response to the registration of an up landing call by said up landing call registering means for landings having up landing call registering means in said group and for landings having up landing call registering means in a group which is empty and adjacent above said one group.

Claim 46

A control system according to claim 25 including second control means responsive to the occupation by a car assigned to a group of a landing having an up landing call registering means in said group for cooperating with said first control means for causing a car so assigned to start in response to the registering means of said one group and a contiguous empty group above said one group.