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The car operating device has come a long way since its inception as a handle in passenger elevators that required a liftman to drive and apply the brakes (with fairly accurate judgment on the brake slip), stopping almost on the floor level with minimal jerk. These handle devices used to operate the cars are considered antiques today.
With the development of elevator controllers, car operating panels (COPs) were introduced with simple mechanical push buttons that did not have call registration lights. Most of these controllers did not have memory and attended to only one call at a time. The introduction of electronics into elevator controllers and “memory” led to more sophisticated elevator dispatch and traffic management systems. All peripheral signaling devices interacting with controllers underwent changes, and COPs were not an exception.
We saw the era of bulky mechanical push buttons with incandescent bulb call registration progress to more elegant mechanical push buttons in different shapes and sizes with LED call registrations and then to micromotion buttons. Now, it’s time for COP touch technology to transform to Touch Operating Panels (TOPs)
Why TOPs?
This is one of the fundamental questions that comes to mind when we want to adapt a new technology over the proven existing technology that’s serving its purpose. Following, is a list of some advantages that TOPs bring original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and end users.
OEMs
Traditional COPs are one of the long lead time items, as they are contract specific, built based on project details such as number of floors, floor legends, etc. The TOP has a standard size irrespective of the number of floors, literally taking away the contract specific lead time factor.
TOPs are highly reliable and maintenance free due to elimination of all mechanical and micromechanical movements from conventional COPs. They are also a solid state electronic device.
Elimination of costly capital equipment used in manufacture of the buttons and COPs
End Users
Several design options available for every category of project
High-quality graphics and interactivity available with numerous branding options
Reconfigurable in service with new themes, colors and fonts, etc.
Equipped with an information platform to interact with the user
Vandal resistant
TL Jones Commander TOP Options
TL Jones has developed two variants – Commander T1 and Commander T2 covering the full range of elevators starting from standard residential and commercial elevators to hotel, hospital, transit hubs, and special project elevators.
Commander T1
The Commander T1 is an OEM volume supply product for factories to achieve shorter lead times, cost reductions and higher reliability, in addition to the previously mentioned advantages. It also provides flexibility in standardizing the COP graphics, namely the theme, button sizes, shapes, colors, brand logos, etc. Once these are finalized for a particular OEM, the floor directory booklet customized for that particular OEM, covering all possible floor options is provided. The entire unit (except the printed glass at the front) is standard with the front glasses printed against each contact with a lead time of just two days.
Commander T2
The Commander T2 is a 19-inch thin-film transistor screen coupled with infrared touch technology, and is capable of delivering a TOP specifically designed for the project. The basic theme of the screen design can be an extension of the overall theme and the elevator car interior with branding. The button layout can be traditional with one button for each floor or a round or rectangular keypad, or a combination of the two. One can have legends for each floor button in the form of logos, names, etc., and a small floor directory can be coupled in the TOP. There are also numerous color, font and shape options for TOP buttons.
The Commander T2 can be used as an information platform to interact with users apart from a T2 displaying elevator information like floor number, direction of travel, etc. The information can come in the form of either still images in the picture panel or video streams. The information can be floor dependent (i.e., when the elevator is travelling to a particular floor). The TOP also provides flexibility to change the theme or time dependence (i.e., the different media information would get transmitted purely based on the predetermined timing). The device can also be default where a series of media files will continuously run in the information platform.
Questions About TOPs
Is it compatible with my elevator controller?
Yes, both models come with an inter face board with discrete connections, two terminals for call buttons and two terminals for call registrations for every floor. This makes the TOP system compatible/replaceable with conventional micro-motion buttons of traditional COPs.
TL Jones has also worked with a few major OEMs to read their protocol directly through serial communication, reducing interface hardware for both TL Jones and other OEMs.
Is the TOP reliable and robust, particularly in harsh environments?
Both Commander T1 and T2 are robust and reliable COPs and are 100% solid state electronic devices without mechanical movements. The glass serving as the interface between users and the TOP is designed to be vandal resistant. This glass panel can withstand an impact of a 45-kg pendulum dropped from 90° and it cannot be scratched with sharp objects. In addition, it is water and fire resistant and has minimal reflection and is finger print resistant.
Environmental effect
(temperature and humidity)
Unlike traditional capacitive based touch technologies, the optical touch technology eliminates the limitation of sensitivity based on environmental changes.
(Code Compliance)
The Commander model is designed with the extended bezel, which accommodates the mechanical keypad, and complies with national and international codes.
How do I conceptualize and see the TOP before it is delivered?
While the T2 is being conceptualized and designed by our media team based on project inputs, we upload project-specific work to our website. The work can be accessed (password protected), reviewed and changes can be suggested by the customer’s authorized representative. This allows the customer to know the exact design contents before they are delivered.
Are there any options for T2 bezel?
Bezel is an integral part of T2 and offers flexibility in selecting the different colour options, as shown in the photo, to harmonize with the rest of the car’s interior.
Can the Commander be integrated with access cards or biometric security systems?
Yes, as the discrete interface card allows replacement of call button contacts and call registration inputs, these auxiliary security systems can be integrated exactly the same way they are integrated with conventional COPs.
Is touch operating technology extended to the hall stations?
Yes, L1 landing hall stations are available with all the features of T1.
Develops of Commander TOPs
The Optical Touch Technology was conceptualized by TL Jones Ltd. of New Zealand under its Blue Zone Technology program, established in 2003 by Chris Stoelhorst, divisional managing director of TL Jones. The development of the first prototype was done by a team headed by Chris Woodman, R&D head of TL Jones in association with HIT Labs and Next Windows. In 2005, it was presented to industry veterans at Interlift in Augsburg, Germany. In 2008, the product was commercially launched. Since then, hundreds of Commander TOPs have been installed around the world.
Conclusions
The elevator industry has been no exception in embracing new technological breakthroughs once they are proven reliable. TL Jones is committed to developing new technologies for the elevator industry.