Application: Building Elevator Access Control
Quatech Products Used: SSE-410D one port RS-232/422/485 Serial Device Server

Today, most elevators run on computer control systems that both monitor usage, and regulate maintenance. The elevators are typically connected to the system via a serial port. Serial Device Servers are particularly useful in this application, because they enable an entire bank of elevators to be remotely monitored and controlled using a single serial-to-ethernet connection. In the diagram below, the elevator control unit connects to a Quatech SSE-410D RS232/422/485 serial device server. The SDS is connected to the building's Ethernet backbone. The Security Office computer can then access the Elevator Control Unit as a standard COM port--just as if it were actually connected to the PC's serial port. The Elevator Control Unit can also be accessed remotely via an Intranet or the Internet, allowing elevator data t be stored and collected by an off-site maintenance company who can then troubleshoot problems when they arise, and schedule maintenance as it is warranted.

Elevator control systems are typically implemented using either RS232 communication which requires a single port for each control station, or using RS-422/485 which enables up to 32 control units to be implemented via a single port. As the SSE-410D can be used for all of these communication protocols, it is an ideal single source solution for systems implemented with multiple communication protocols.