Patents by Inventor Theresa Christy
Theresa Christy has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 9302885Abstract: An elevator dispatching system includes a plurality of elevator groups, each of the plurality of elevator groups including a group controller and a plurality of elevator cars, each of the plurality of elevator groups serving a respective set of floors; and a redirector configured to receive a service request including a destination floor, and, in the event more than one elevator group serves the destination floor, communicate the service request to the group controllers of the more than one elevator groups, wherein the respective group controllers of the more than one elevator groups are configured to each determine a respective group score, and communicate the respective group score to the redirector, and the redirector is further configured to determine the best group based on the respective group scores.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2010Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Theresa Christy, Wade Montague, Jannah Stanley, Daniel Williams
-
Patent number: 9296588Abstract: An elevator dispatching system includes a plurality of elevator groups, each of the plurality of elevator groups including a group controller and a plurality of elevator cars, each of the plurality of elevator groups serving a respective set of floors; and a redirector configured to receive a service request including a destination floor, and, in the event more than one elevator group serves the destination floor, determine a best group to service the request from the plurality of elevator groups based on information stored in the redirector, wherein the group controller of the determined best group is configured to determine a best car from the plurality of elevator cars in the determined best group.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2010Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Theresa Christy, Wade Montague, Jannah Stanley, Daniel Williams
-
Publication number: 20130168190Abstract: An elevator dispatching system includes a plurality of elevator groups, each of the plurality of elevator groups comprising a group controller and a plurality of elevator cars, each of the plurality of elevator groups serving a respective set of floors; and a redirector configured to receive a service request comprising a destination floor, and, in the event more than one elevator group serves the destination floor, determine a best group to service the request from the plurality of elevator groups based on information stored in the redirector, wherein the group controller of the determined best group is configured to determine a best car from the plurality of elevator cars in the determined best group.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2010Publication date: July 4, 2013Applicant: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Theresa Christy, Wade Montague, Jannah Stanley, Daniel Williams
-
Publication number: 20120325589Abstract: An elevator dispatching system includes a plurality of elevator groups, each of the plurality of elevator groups comprising a group controller and a plurality of elevator cars, each of the plurality of elevator groups serving a respective set of floors; and a redirector configured to receive a service request comprising a destination floor, and, in the event more than one elevator group serves the destination floor, communicate the service request to the group controllers of the more than one elevator groups, wherein the respective group controllers of the more than one elevator groups are configured to each determine a respective group score, and communicate the respective group score to the redirector, and the redirector is further configured to determine the best group based on the respective group scores.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2010Publication date: December 27, 2012Applicant: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Theresa Christy, Wade Montague, Jannah Stanley, Daniel Williams
-
Patent number: 8028806Abstract: A method of dispatching an elevator car to a destination requested by a passenger before the passenger enters the car includes determining which trip of the elevator car begins at a time having a desired relationship to an expected arrival time when a passenger is expected to arrive near the elevator car. An actual arrival time of the passenger near the elevator car is determined. The elevator car is dispatched to the requested destination during a trip that begins at a time that corresponds to or is after the actual arrival time.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2010Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Jannah A. Stanley, Hideyuki Honma, Daniel S. Williams, Theresa Christy, Thomas W. Saxe
-
Patent number: 7987947Abstract: Destination calls entered by means of buttons (21-29) are each given a designation unique to the car and pick-up floor for that call and other calls to be serviced therewith, such as a letter (A-E), which is different from any other outstanding calls. Calls can be reassigned among elevators (UL, LL, UR, LR) whether they are in the same or different hoistways (LF, RT). Signs (31-39, 41-49) adjacent each hoistway are illuminated to display the designation of any call which is being answered by an elevator car approaching the floor. Thus, passengers are informed when their call is being answered by the signs identifying the call, rather than identifying any particular car. Another embodiment identifies (60, 31a, 41a) the hoistway landing doorway (1, 2) as well as a letter to allow passengers to wait adjacent to the hoistway landing doorway of the car which will serve them.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2005Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Theresa Christy, Jannah Stanley, Hideyuki Honma, Arthur Hsu, John M. Milton-Benoit, Toshimitsu Mori, Cheong SikShin, Hansoo Shim, Harold Terry, Mark A. Ross
-
Publication number: 20110056772Abstract: An elevator system includes a plurality of cars and destination entry devices located some distance from the elevator cars. A controller dispatches an elevator car to a requested destination entered by a passenger before the passenger enters an elevator car. In one example, the controller uses an expected arrival time corresponding to the time it is expected to take for a passenger to travel from the location where the destination request is entered to the location of the elevator car to decide how to dispatch a car to service that request. In one example, the controller dispatches an elevator car to the requested destination on a next trip of that car if the expected arrival time of the passenger near that car occurs at or before the departure time for that next trip. Otherwise, the controller dispatches the car to the requested destination on a subsequent trip after the next trip.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2010Publication date: March 10, 2011Inventors: Jannah A. Stanley, Hideyuki Honma, Daniel S. Williams, Theresa Christy, Thomas W. Saxe
-
Patent number: 7849974Abstract: An elevator system (20) includes a plurality of cars (22) and destination entry devices (40) located some distance from the elevator cars (22). A controller (38) dispatches an elevator car to a requested destination entered by a passenger before the passenger enters an elevator car. In one example, the controller (38) uses an expected arrival time corresponding to the time it is expected to take for a passenger to travel from the location where the destination request is entered to the location of the elevator car to decide how to dispatch a car to service that request. In one example, the controller dispatches an elevator car to the requested destination on a next trip of that car if the expected arrival time of the passenger near that car occurs at or before the departure time for that next trip. Otherwise, the controller (38) dispatches the car to the requested destination on a subsequent trip after the next trip.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2005Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Jannah A. Stanley, Hideyuki Honma, Daniel S. Williams, Theresa Christy, Thomas W. Saxe
-
Patent number: 7784588Abstract: A method of assigning destination calls to cars (A-F) in an elevator system (20) having a plurality of hoistways (21-23) in which there is more than one car in each hoistway includes determining (33) the time for each car to respond to the call Among the cars with an acceptable response time, a determination is made regarding (34) the amount of additional delay in the hoistway that assignment of the call to one car will impose on the either car in the same hoistway. The call is assigned to that car which creates the least additional delay for cars in any hoistway.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2005Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Cheong SikShin, Theresa Christy, Arthur Hsu, Hansoo Shim, Harry Terry
-
Patent number: 7650967Abstract: One of a plurality of cars (17, 18) traveling in a hoistway (10) of an elevator system (9) may be diverted to the hoistway overhead (31) or pit (36) to enable another of the cars to gain access to a floor near or at a terminal floor (11, 14). When such car is at its last stop with doors open, visual (40) and audible (41) indicators present (57, 58) messages to the effect that this is the last stop and passengers should exit. After car doors are closed (66), visual and audible messages (68, 69) relate to the car going to the pit or overhead and that passengers may push any button (to reopen doors). Thereafter, the car moves (75, 76) to the overhead (31) or the pit (36) and presents (82, 83) visual and audible messages to the effect that passengers did not exit at the correct floor and must wait while the other car makes a stop.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2005Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Cheong SikShin, Theresa Christy, Arthur Hsu, Hansoo Shim, Harry Terry, Frank Sansevero
-
Publication number: 20090120726Abstract: An elevator system (20) includes a plurality of cars (22) and destination entry devices (40) located some distance from the elevator cars (22). A controller (38) dispatches an elevator car to a requested destination entered by a passenger before the passenger enters an elevator car. In a disclosed example, the controller (38) uses an expected arrival time corresponding to the time it is expected to take for a passenger to travel from the location where the destination request is entered to the location of the elevator car to decide how to dispatch a car to service that request. In a disclosed example, the controller dispatches an elevator car to the requested destination on a next trip of that car if the expected arrival time of the passenger near that car occurs at or before the departure time for that next trip. Otherwise, the controller (38) dispatches the car to the requested destination on a subsequent trip after the next trip.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2005Publication date: May 14, 2009Inventors: Jannah A. Stanley, Hideyuki Honma, Daniel S Williams, Theresa Christy, Thomas W. Saxe
-
Publication number: 20080289910Abstract: Destination calls entered by means of buttons (21-29) are each given a designation unique to the car and pick-up floor for that call and other calls to be serviced therewith, such as a letter (A-E), which is different from any other outstanding calls. Calls can be reassigned among elevators (UL, LL, UR, LR) whether they are in the same or different hoistways (LF, RT). Signs (31-39, 41-49) adjacent each hoistway are illuminated to display the designation of any call which is being answered by an elevator car approaching the floor Thus, passengers are informed when their call is being answered by the signs identifying the call, rather than identifying any particular car. Another embodiment identifies (60, 31a, 41a) the hoistway landing doorway (1, 2) as well as a letter to allow passengers to wait adjacent to the hoistway landing doorway of the car which will serve them.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2005Publication date: November 27, 2008Inventors: Theresa Christy, Jannah Stanley, Hideyuki Honma, Arthur Hsu, John M. Milton-Benoit, Toshimitsu Mori, Cheong SikShin, Hansoo Shim, Harold Terry, Mark A. Ross
-
Publication number: 20080210492Abstract: One of a plurality of cars (17, 18) traveling in a hoistway (10) of an elevator system (9) may be diverted to the hoistway overhead (31) or pit (36) to enable another of the cars to gain access to a floor near or at a terminal floor (11, 14). When such car is at its last stop with doors open, visual (40) and audible (41) indicators present (57, 58) messages to the effect that this is the last stop and passengers should exit. After car doors are closed (66), visual and audible messages (68, 69) relate to the car going to the pit or overhead and that passengers may push any button (to reopen doors). Thereafter, the car moves (75, 76) to the overhead (31) or the pit (36) and presents (82, 83) visual and audible messages to the effect that passengers did not exit at the correct floor and must wait while the other car makes a stop.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2005Publication date: September 4, 2008Inventors: Cheong SikShin, Theresa Christy, Arthur Hsu, Hansoo Shim, Harry Terry, Frank Sansevero
-
Publication number: 20080190705Abstract: A pair of elevator cars (23, 24) traveling in the same hoistway (27) in response to a controller (28) may stop with the doors closed, or remain at a stop with the doors open, whenever one of the cars has to wait until another car moves out of the way before the one elevator car can proceed to finish service to its passengers. Within each cab (30) both a sign (29) and a loudspeaker (33) may present the same message to the passengers, assuring them that the operation is normal and that there is no need for alarm.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2005Publication date: August 14, 2008Inventors: Harry Terry, Theresa Christy, Frank Sansevero
-
Publication number: 20080087501Abstract: A method of assigning destination calls to cars (A-F) in an elevator system (20) having a plurality of hoistways (21-23) in which there is more than one car in each hoistway, the method comprising determining (33) the time for each car to respond to the call; and among the cars with acceptable response time, determining (34) the amount of additional delay in the hoistway that assignment of the call to one car will impose on the either car in the same hoistway, and assigning (35) the call in that car which creates the least additional delay for cars in any hoistway.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2005Publication date: April 17, 2008Inventors: Cheong SikShin, Theresa Christy, Arthur Hsu, Hansoo Shim, Harry Terry
-
Patent number: 7328775Abstract: An elevator system utilizes a destination entry control technique and delays indicating which car is assigned to a request to allow an individual to arrive near an elevator lobby. An elevator group assignment is made responsive to a destination request. An indication regarding the group assignment is provided to a passenger within a first time from the receipt of the request. A second indication regarding a car assigned to carry that passenger to the desired destination is provided at a second, later time from the request. Separating out the group assignment indication and the car assignment indication is accomplished in one example by providing separate interfaces at different locations within a building.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2004Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Vlad Zaharia, Theresa Christy, Richard Mangini, Jannah Stanley, Paul Stranieri, Wade Montague
-
Patent number: 7322446Abstract: A plurality of hoistways (11, 12) in a building serving a plurality of floors utilizes destination call entry panels (22, 22A) having buttons (23) with which passengers can enter destination call requests. A display (26, 26a) adjacent the request buttons provides an indication of the car that is assigned to answer the passenger's request by a controller (27), which indication is also presented on illuminatable signs (16-19, 40, 41), utilizing either colors, letters or other easily identifiable and rememberable indications. As the car assigned to the call approaches the landing upon which the call was made, an illuminatable sign, adjacent the hoistway of the assigned car, will present the same color or indicia as was presented to the passenger upon entering the passenger's desired destination; the controller does not announce approaching cars that are not assigned a call at that landing.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2004Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Harold Terry, Frank M. Sansevero, Theresa Christy, Arthur Hsu
-
Publication number: 20070119660Abstract: When an average wait time is low (23, 24) an elevator car (31-34) is parked (39), unable to answer calls, or if a parameter (45) is low (46), the car is shut-down. If wait time is high, a parked car is assigned the call. If no cars are parked, a shut-down car may be assigned based on RRT. If up running cars can answer the call, the down running cars are excluded.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2004Publication date: May 31, 2007Inventors: Zuhair Bahjat, Theresa Christy
-
Publication number: 20060249336Abstract: In down peak, floors of the building are divided into sectors (38), empty cars (50) are assigned (63, 64) to the sector and assigned (65) the highest down call in the sector provided the highest down call is above the committable floor of any car already assigned in the sector, or there is no car assigned in the sector. If a car is not full (52), it will be assigned additional calls (56). If there are no calls in the sector below a car sector which is not full, a long calls routine (67) determines if there is a down call (75), that is in danger of becoming a long-waiting call, ahead of a car (69) and if so, assigns that call to the car (76).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2003Publication date: November 9, 2006Inventors: Zuhair Bahjat, Theresa Christy
-
Publication number: 20060237264Abstract: The time required for each car to reach each up hall call and each down hall call is calculated (30, 33). These times are then arranged in categories and the number of landings in each category is identified. From fuzzy sets (FIGS. 7-10), the count of landings in each category determines a fuzzy set membership in a fuzzy category, such as FEW, SOME, MANY. The fuzzy membership of all non-zero memberships are then ANDed together (by multiplication). A relationship value is then determined (FIG. 11) by a metric with as many dimensions as there are categories, each dimension having as many parts as there are fuzzy categories in the fuzzy sets. The membership combination (the fuzzy summation) is then multiplied by a relationship value determined from the multi-dimensional metric to provide a corresponding separation metric of the invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2003Publication date: October 26, 2006Inventors: Theresa Christy, Mark Ross