Method for indicating elevator service status and elevator call device

1 . An elevator call-out device, comprising:

a call-out button for inputting a request to cause an elevator car to move upward or downward relative to a landing station where the elevator call-out device is located;

visual signs associated with directions of movement of the elevator car indicated by the call-out button;

a control unit configured to:

upon receiving the request input via the call-out button to cause the elevator car to move upward or downward relative to the landing station where the elevator call-out device is located, switch one of the visual signs, which corresponds to the requested direction of movement, from an off state to a normally lit state;

in response to the elevator car stopping at the landing station where the elevator call-out device is located, switch the one of the visual signs, which corresponds to a direction of movement of the elevator car in which the elevator car will move after stopping, from the normally lit state to a flashing state; and

in response to a door of the elevator car closing or a door of the landing station where the elevator call-out device is closed closing, switch the one of the visual signs, which corresponds to the direction of movement of the elevator car in which the elevator car will move after stopping, from the flashing state to the off state;

wherein the flashing state is a state in which the one of the visual signs provides a dynamic display effect by varying the luminous intensity of the one of the visual signs within a set range or by varying a color of the one of the visual signs; and

wherein a frequency of luminous intensity or color change of the one of the visual signs is set within the normal range of respiratory frequency.

2 . The elevator call-out device of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured to:

receive a command from an external device which indicates the one of the visual signs from the off state to the normally lit state;

switch the one of the visual signs indicated by the command from the off state to the normally lit state.

3 . The elevator call-out device of claim 1 , wherein the one of the visual signs comprises at least one of: call-out button indicator, arrival indicator, and upward and downward markers displayed on a display screen.

4 . The elevator call-out device of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to switch the one of the visual signs from the normally lit state to the flashing state by:

receiving an indication signal from an elevator controller that the elevator car stops at the landing station where the elevator call-out device is located;

causing a luminous intensity of the one of the visual signs, which corresponds to the direction of movement of the elevator car in which the elevator car will move after stopping, to change within a set range.

5 . The elevator call-out device of claim 4 , wherein a frequency value within a normal range of respiratory frequency is determined as the luminous intensity or frequency of color change of the visual sign.

6 . The elevator call-out device of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to switch the one of the visual signs from the normally lit state to the flashing state by:

receiving an indication signal from an elevator controller that the door of the landing station where the elevator call-out device is located is opened or that the door of the elevator car is opened after arriving at the landing station where the elevator call-out device is located;

causing a luminous intensity of the one of the visual signs, which corresponds to the direction of movement of the elevator car in which the elevator car will move after stopping, to change within a set range.

7 . The elevator call-out device of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured to switch the one of the visual signs from the normally lit state to the flashing state by:

receiving an indication signal from an elevator controller that the elevator car stops at the landing station where the elevator call-out device is located;

causing a color of the one of the visual signs, which corresponds to the direction of movement of the elevator car in which the elevator car will move after stopping, to change alternately.

8 . The elevator call-out device of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured to switch the one of the visual signs from the normally lit state to the flashing state by:

receiving an indication signal from an elevator controller that the door of the landing station where the elevator call-out device is located is opened or that the door of the elevator car is opened after arriving at the landing station where the elevator call-out device is located;

causing the one of the visual signs, which corresponds to the direction of movement of the elevator car in which the elevator will move after stopping, to change alternately.

9 . The elevator call-out device of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to switch the one of the visual signs from the normally lit state to the off state by:

receiving an indication signal from an elevator controller that the door of the elevator car or the door of the landing station where the elevator call-out device is located is closed;

causing the one of the visual signs, which corresponds to the direction of movement of the elevator car in which the elevator car will move after stopping, to enter the off state.

10 . The elevator call-out device of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to switch the one of the visual signs from the off state to the normally lit state by:

detecting whether the call-out button is pressed or whether an object hovers in its vicinity;

if it is detected that the call-out button is pressed or the object hovers in its vicinity, the one of the visual signs, which corresponds to the direction of movement indicated by the call-out button, is caused to enter the normally lit state.

11 . The elevator call-out device of claim 1 , wherein the elevator call-out device is an integrated call-out panel assembly or a discrete call-out panel assembly.

12 . An elevator system, comprising:

an elevator car;

an elevator controller; and

a plurality of elevator call-out device of claim 1 , each being provided at a corresponding landing station.

13 . A method for indicating a service status of an elevator, comprising:

A. upon receiving the request input via the call-out button to cause the elevator car to move upward or downward relative to the landing station where the elevator call-out device is located, switching one of the visual signs, which corresponds to the requested direction of movement, from an off state to a normally lit state;

B. in response to the elevator car stopping at the landing station where the elevator call-out device is located, switching the one of the visual signs, which corresponds to a direction of movement of the elevator car in which the elevator car will move after stopping, from the normally lit state to a flashing state; and

C. in response to a door of the elevator car closing or a door of the landing station where the elevator call-out device is located is closing, switching the one of the visual signs, which corresponds to the direction of movement of the elevator car in which the elevator car will move after stopping, from the flashing state to the off state;

wherein the flashing state is a state in which the visual sign provides a dynamic display effect by varying the luminous intensity of the one of the visual signs within a set range or by varying a color of the one of the visual signs; and

wherein a frequency of luminous intensity or color change of the one of the visual signs is set within the normal range of respiratory frequency.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein further comprising:

D. receiving a command from an external device which indicates the one of the visual signs switched from the off state to the normally lit state;

E. switching the one of the visual signs indicated by the command from the off state to the normally lit state.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the one of the visual signs comprises at least one of: call-out button indicator, arrival indicator, and upward and downward markers displayed on a display screen.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein step B comprises:

B1. receiving an indication signal from an elevator controller that the elevator car stops at the landing station where the elevator call-out device is located;

B2. causing a luminous intensity of the one of the visual signs, which corresponds to the direction of movement of the elevator car in which the elevator car will move after stopping, to change within a set range.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein a frequency value within a normal range of respiratory frequency is determined as the luminous intensity or frequency of color change of the one of the visual signs.

18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein step B comprises:

B1. receiving an indication signal from an elevator controller that the door of the landing station where the elevator call-out device is located is opened or that the door of the elevator car is opened after arriving at the landing station where the elevator call-out device is located;

B2. causing a luminous intensity of the one of the visual signs, which corresponds to the direction of movement of the elevator car in which the elevator car will move after stopping, to change within a set range.

19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein step B comprises:

B1. receiving an indication signal from an elevator controller that the elevator car stops at the landing station where the elevator call-out device is located;

B2. causing a color of the one of the visual signs, which corresponds to the direction of movement of the elevator car in which the elevator car will move after stopping, to change alternately.

20 . The method of claim 13 , wherein step B comprises:

B1. receiving an indication signal from an elevator controller that the door of the landing station where the elevator call-out device is located is opened or that the door of the elevator car is opened after arriving at the landing station where the elevator call-out device is located;

B2. causing the one of the visual signs, which corresponds to the direction of movement of the elevator car in which the elevator will move after stopping, to change alternately.

21 . The method of claim 13 , wherein step C comprises:

C1. receiving an indication signal from an elevator controller that the door of the elevator car or the door of the landing station where the elevator call-out device is located is closed;

C2. causing the one of the visual signs, which corresponds to the direction of movement of the elevator car in which the elevator car will move after stopping, to enter the off state.

22 . The method of claim 13 , wherein step A comprises:

A1. detecting whether the call-out button is pressed or whether an object hovers in its vicinity;

A2. if it is detected that the call-out button is pressed or the object hovers in its vicinity, the one of the visual signs, which corresponds to the direction of movement indicated by the call-out button, is caused to enter the normally lit state.

23 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored in the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, when the instructions are executed by a processor, the processor is caused to execute the method of claim 13 .