The object of the invention is a call panel for an elevator as defined in the preamble of claim 1, and an arrangement for guiding elevator passengers as defined in the preamble of claim 13.

An elevator call is most usually given with call pushbuttons, e.g. with pushbuttons on which a direction arrow or floor number or other symbol is marked. Although this type of marking exactly defines the call, it is not necessarily clearly understandable to the user of an elevator. For example, a small child will not necessarily understand the connection between the marking and the floor. Additionally, the rather small size of the markings on the buttons might hamper perception.

The aim of the present invention is to improve the clarity as well as the discernibility of the information to be obtained from an elevator panel.

The characteristic features with regard to a traction sheave elevator according to the invention are referred to in the claims. In the arrangement according to the invention an additional identifier, which refers to a floor, is directly connected to at least one elevator call pushbutton identifying a direction or floor, or to the proximity of a call pushbutton. A preferred arrangement of the invention comprises at least one call panel, comprising a panel part and at least one call pushbutton in the panel part. A direction identifier or floor identifier is connected to one or more call pushbuttons. Additionally, the panel part comprises an additional identifier, referring to a floor and being directly associated with a call pushbutton or adjoining a call pushbutton, connected to one or more call pushbuttons. Suitably the arrangement of the invention can be implemented by using call panels according to the invention in the arrangement. One preferred method for implementing the arrangement of the invention is to provide at least one or more landing areas with an additional identifier referring to the landing area in question, said identifier being separate from the call panel. The call panel applying the invention can be a car call panel or a call panel in a landing area. The call panel must be seen in the context of the invention as a platform or environment, in which the call pushbuttons are implemented.' The call pushbutton can be, for example, a conventional pushbutton. Likewise, the call pushbutton can be e.g. a certain specified area in a touch screen. A call pushbutton can also be implemented in another way, as long as a passenger can give elevator calls with it. The call pushbuttons of a call panel applying the invention are preferably marked with floor numbers or in some other way to indicate the purpose of a call to be given with the pushbutton. The call panel applying the invention comprises an additional identifier or additional identifiers. Additional identifiers are intended to indicate in a clearly understandable way the destination floors or the floor on which the call panel is located. Additional identifiers indicating destination floors are associated in terms of their location or otherwise in a clearly understandable way to the corresponding call pushbuttons. The identifier indicating the floor of that location can be more freely situated in the call panel. Preferably a call panel for an elevator applying the invention comprises at least two call pushbuttons in such a way that in the call panel is a panel part, comprising at least one call pushbutton that comprises a direction identifier or floor identifier, and in addition the panel part comprises an additional identifier, which refers to the floor of that location or to the floor to which the elevator is being called, said additional identifier being associated with a call pushbutton or adjoining a call pushbutton. In some embodiments the panel part can be formed from a number of pieces, e.g. from an actual call panel and a separate display.

Preferably the additional identifier is easily noticeable and easily recognizable. Various patterns, pictures and symbols, for example, are preferred and appropriate. Likewise, colors or marks can be used to refer to floors. A verbal description is quite an informative additional identifier. Different additional identifiers can also be combined, in which case the effect of the additional identifiers improves, e.g. the combining of a pattern and a color to describe a certain floor is a preferred solution.

The number of call pushbuttons in a call panel depends on the nature of the call panel. A car call panel generally comprises the same number of call pushbuttons as the floors served by the elevator. A landing call panel might have only one call pushbutton.

The invention can also be applied in such a way that there are additional identifiers for only some of the floors served by the elevator.

The additional identifiers can also be presented on the display devices belonging, to the elevator. For example, if there is a display device in a call panel or in the proximity of the call panel, the call given can be indicated with such a device. With a display device in the proximity of the doors of an elevator e.g. the floor-specific additional identifiers of the elevator in question can be displayed. In the elevator car e.g. the additional identifier of the floor of the location at that time can be presented. In the elevator car e.g. the additional identifier of the next stopping floor can be presented. In the elevator car e.g. the additional identifiers of a floor with calls that are still valid can be presented.

If the invention is implemented with a touch screen type call panel, the additional identifiers can easily be changed. Likewise, additional identifiers can easily be changed if/when an additional identifier is presented on a display belonging to another type of call panel or on a separate display. Provided that a passenger can be identified, additional identifiers can even be personalized according to a person or a category of person; thus, for example, there can be different additional identifiers for children than for adults. The additional identifiers to be presented on a display can also be changed on different grounds, e.g. according to a timetable or even with a view to a certain event to held in the building.

In the following, the invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, wherein Figs. 1 and la diagrammatically present one embodiment of the call panel according to the invention,

Figs. 2 and 2a diagrammatically present an embodiment of a second call panel according to the invention, and

Figs. 3 and 3a diagrammatically present an embodiment of yet another call panel according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a diagram of an elevator, which serves a plurality of landing areas (Landing area 1, Landing area 2, Landing area 3, Landing area 4, Landing area 5, Landing area 6, Landing area 7), which have landing call panels 1. In the elevator car 2 is a car call panel 3.

In Fig. la, the car call panel 3 comprises a plurality of pushbuttons, of which some are call buttons 6, comprising a floor number corresponding to the landing areas. The floor number is repeated in an additional identifier 5 partly surrounding a call button and distinguishable from the panel part 4 of the call panel by its color. In this embodiment the additional identifier 5 is formed from a high-visibility background clearly distinguishable from the panel part and from a floor number that is larger in size than the floor number on the call button. The high-visibility background is droplet-shaped, in which case by disposing the high- visibility backgrounds on two sides of the call button row, more height space is obtained for use for each high- visibility background than the corresponding call buttons have. The floor information is here indicated with a conventional number display 7.

Fig. 2 shows a diagram of an elevator, which serves a plurality of landing areas (Landing area 2, Landing area 1, Landing area 3, Landing area 4, Landing area 5, Landing area 6, Landing area 7), which have landing call panels 201. In the elevator car 202 is a car call panel 203. Each landing area (Landing area 1, Landing area 2, Landing area 3, Landing area 4, Landing area 5, Landing area 6, Landing area 7) is indicated with its own identifying color. This floor-specific identifying color is on show e.g. on the landing call panel 201 of the floor in question.

In Fig. 2a, the car call panel 203 comprises a plurality of pushbuttons, of which some are call buttons, comprising a floor number corresponding to the landing areas. The floor number is repeated in an additional identifier 205 partly surrounding a call button and distinguishable from the panel part 204 of the call panel by its color. The identifying color indicating the floor in question is used as the color of the additional identifier 205. In this embodiment the additional identifier 205 is a bar-shaped colored field. In an additional identifier it is also advantageous to present a floor number that is larger in size than the floor number on the call button. The identifying color can be repeated in a landing area also otherwise, e.g. as a color of a wall 208, a part of a wall or of another visible structure.

The identifying colors of the landing areas of Figs. 2 and 2a are, by way of example, as follows: Landing area 1 - green, Landing area 2 - red, Landing area 3 - orange, Landing area 4 grey, Landing area 5 - blue, Landing area 6 - brown, Landing area 7 - black.

Fig. 3 shows a diagram of an elevator, which serves a plurality of landing areas (Landing area 3, Landing area 1, Landing area 2, Landing area 4, Landing area 5, Landing area 6, Landing area 7), which have landing call panels 301. In the elevator car 302 is a car call panel 303. Each landing area (Landing area 1, Landing area 2, Landing area 3, Landing area 4, Landing area 5, Landing area 6, Landing area 7) is indicated with its own identifying pattern 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397. These identifying patterns are on show e.g. in the landing call panels 201 of the floors in question. Each identifying pattern can also be made to be of a different color, in which case its distinctiveness and also memorable nature improve.

In Fig. 3a, the car call panel 303 comprises a plurality of pushbuttons, of which some are call buttons, comprising a floor number corresponding to the landing areas. The identifying pattern 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397 is repeated as an additional identifier partly surrounding a call button and distinguishable from the panel part 204 of the call panel by its color. Colors distinguishing the identifying patterns from each other are used as a second additional identifier. In an additional identifier it is also advantageous to present a floor number that is larger in size than the floor number on the call button. The identifying color can be repeated in a landing area also otherwise, e.g. as a color of a wall, a part of a wall or of another visible structure. An identifying pattern can also be used in a landing area also otherwise than as a marking on the call panel, e.g. as a pattern motif on a wall, for example, or on another visible structure.

The identifying colors and identifying patterns of the landing areas of Figs. 3 and 3a are, by way of example, as follows: Landing area 1 - green, cow; Landing area 2 - orange, giraffe; Landing area 3 - blue, elephant; Landing area 4 - brown, crocodile; Landing area 5 - red, sheep; Landing area 6 - yellow, lion; Landing area 7 - black, shark. The invention is described above using examples with the aid of the attached drawings with different embodiments of the invention being possible within the scope of the inventive concept defined by the claims. For example the numbers of floors served by the elevator and of the distinguishing additional identifiers corresponding to the floors can be different to what is presented in the embodiments.