Abstract: An elevator system (20) includes wireless communicating portions (40, 42) that communicate with each other to provide elevator cab (22) position information within a hoistway (24). In one example, a first communicating portion (40) is supported on the elevator cab (22) that generates a radio frequency trigger signal (58) that is received by a second communicating portion (42) at a selected position along the hoistway (24). The second communicating portion (42) responsively generates an ultrasound signal (64) that is received by the first communicating portion (40). A characteristic of the received locating signal, such as the timing between the trigger signal and the receipt of the locating signal, provides position information regarding the cab within the hoistway.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a position of a moveable platform includes a plurality of transponder modules comprising, an electromagnetic transmitter adapted to emit an electromagnetic signal, and an acoustic receiver adapted to receive an acoustic signal wherein at least two of the plurality of transponders are disposed about the position to be measured, at least one transceiver module affixed to the moveable platform comprising, an acoustic transmitter adapted to emit an acoustic signal, an electromagnetic receiver adapted to receive an electromagnetic signal, a timing mechanism for measuring a plurality of durations between an emission of the acoustic signal and a receipt of the electromagnetic signal, and a computing mechanism for processing the plurality of durations to compute the position.

Abstract: An elevator system (20) includes wireless communicating portions (40, 42) that communicate with each other to provide elevator cab (22) position information within a hoistway (24). In one example, a first communicating portion (40) is supported on the elevator cab (22) that generates a radio frequency trigger signal (58) that is received by a second communicating portion (42) at a selected position along the hoistway (24). The second communicating portion (42) responsively generates an ultrasound signal (64) that is received by the first communicating portion (40). A characteristic of the received locating signal, such as the timing between the trigger signal and the receipt of the locating signal, provides position information regarding the cab within the hoistway.