Includes Specific Floor Selector Patents (Class 187/389)
  • Patent number: 11305964
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for digital control of elevator and other access gateways are described herein. More specifically, embodiments comprise systems and methods for retrofitting or outfitting elevator systems with digital control systems that can be universally applied to virtually every manufacturer's elevator systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Inventors: Leandre Adifon, Nino Mario Bianchi, Marco Maria Ceriani, Alessandro Ferraro, Luciano Mozzato
  • Patent number: 11230455
    Abstract: A method for configuring security related configuration parameters is used in a passenger transport installation that includes at least one sensor exchanging sensor signals with a control. The sensor detects operating parameters within the passenger transport installation and emits corresponding sensor signals. The control controls security related functions of the passenger transport installation taking into account the sensor signals and the configuration parameters. The method includes: comparing the sensor signals with a predefined key signal pattern; operating the control temporarily in a configuration mode exclusively if the compared sensor signals correspond to the key signal pattern; and configuring the security related configuration parameters during the configuration mode. An installation-specific sensor (e.g. optical sensor or magnetic field sensor) functions as an interface to put the control into configuration mode in a targeted manner, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: David Michel, Martin Pfister, Michael Geisshüsler, Simon Zingg, Eric Birrer
  • Patent number: 10494225
    Abstract: The invention concerns a control panel for an elevator system, the panel having an electronic control unit to which a touch sensitive screen as an interface available to a user is connected, the touch screen having incorporated a user accessibility-wheel which is felt haptic for the user, wherein an elevator command can be entered by means of the accessibility-wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Niklas Lofberg, Jussi Hiltunen, Jussi Laurila
  • Patent number: 10384910
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a system and method of initiating elevator service by entering an elevator call with a call input device operating a program including a preferred landing graphical object comprising at least one floor designation graphical objects displayed on a graphic user interface, in communication with an elevator system. The method includes the steps: selecting a current floor graphical object from the preferred landing graphical object, and selecting a destination floor graphical object from the preferred landing graphical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul A. Simcik, Lucien Wedzikowski, Eric C. Peterson
  • Patent number: 10246295
    Abstract: A safety actuation assembly for an elevator system including a housing, a speed sensing device disposed within the housing, wherein the speed sensing device comprises a proximal end, and a protection device disposed within the housing and located adjacent to the proximal end of the speed sensing device; the protection device configured to be placed in a first position when in a non-engaging position and in a second position when in an engaging position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Guohong Hu, Daryl J. Marvin
  • Patent number: 9881824
    Abstract: A transfer apparatus that includes a moving unit capable of moving with respect to a base and transferring an article with the moving unit protruding from the base. The transfer apparatus includes a movement regulation unit capable of switching between a first state in which the moving unit is restricted in a reference position and a second state in which the moving unit is allowed to move from the reference position to one of a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction and in which movement of the moving unit in the other direction is restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventor: Junichi Ito
  • Patent number: 9771240
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to reducing at least one dynamically generated error in terms of an actual position of an elevator car, comprising: triggering an inertial measurement unit (IMU) to compute a position of an elevator car of an elevator system, obtaining a position of a correcting vane in a hoist-way of the elevator system, obtaining a position of the elevator car as determined by an encoder of the elevator system, and estimating the position of the elevator car based on the computation of the position by the IMU, the position of the correcting vane, and the position of the elevator car as determined by the encoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Michael A. Martin
  • Patent number: 9592993
    Abstract: An exemplary elevator passenger interface device includes a passenger communication component that facilitates communications between a passenger and an elevator system. Such communications include passenger input to request elevator service and information provided to the passenger. A controller controls the passenger communication component to control its functionality including providing selected information to the passenger. The controller includes a customization module configured to change the functionality of the passenger communication component responsive to authorized user input that is distinct from the passenger input. The authorized user input includes a selection of at least one of a feature used to present information to a passenger or a feature used to allow a passenger to request elevator service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Matthew Joyce, Ashley Chapman, Osamu Sakai, Jannah A. Stanley, Vijay Jayachandran, Baudelaire St. Louis
  • Patent number: 9352934
    Abstract: An elevator positioning system includes an optical tape, optical tape clips, and a sensor. The optical tape clips are resiliently biased and mount to various structures including mounting bracket that attach to elevator guide rails or other framework within the hoistway. A connecting member of the optical tape clips is configured to be disposed between a sensor and optical tape such that the sensor detects an interruption in the optical tape and can send signals to an elevator controller in response to detecting these interruptions. The position of the optical tape clips is such that the elevator car can be controlled to align evenly with the landings associated with the hoistway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sang W. Lee
  • Publication number: 20150090536
    Abstract: A touch-free control device for an elevator being applicable for an electronically controlled machine of an elevator and contains: a control panel, at least one distance sensor, a microprocessor, and a servo unit. The control panel includes a plurality of keys equidistantly arranged thereon to display a floor direction or a floor number. Each distance sensor is fixed on the control panel to correspond to the plurality of keys, a distance of the sensing signal is parallel to a position of the plurality of keys, and a starting position of the sensing signal of the one distance sensor and a distance between any two keys are used to determine one of the plurality of keys selected by a user. The microprocessor is disposed on the servo unit and is electrically connected with the one distance sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: Yan-Chang CHEN
  • Publication number: 20140299421
    Abstract: An exemplary elevator passenger interface device includes a touch screen configured to allow a passenger to indicate a request for elevator service by touching the screen. An assistance button is positioned near the touch screen. A controller is configured to determine a destination requested by a passenger touching the screen. The controller is also configured to determine whether the assistance button has been manipulated and then to determine a destination requested by a passenger from a subsequent manipulation of the assistance button.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Dennis Hanvey, John Eschenbrenner, Michael P. Flynn
  • Publication number: 20140102832
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a universal elevator operation plate to overcome the problems of the existing operation plate which is provided with floor buttons corresponding to the number of the floors of a building. The elevator operation plate of the present invention uses floor election buttons to show the numeric “0-9”, a clear button, a floor confirmation button, and a number/letter switch button to achieve floor election operation to indicate the floor by number or letter. The present invention can be produced in standardization to lower the cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventor: Ming LI
  • Publication number: 20140041968
    Abstract: An elevator system includes: a destination call registration device which accepts an operation of registering a destination call by specifying a destination floor; an exit floor selection part provided in the destination call registration device and by use of which a user selects an exit floor provided with an exit of a building as a destination floor of the destination call; an exit floor determination part which determines, on the basis of predetermined conditions, which floor is the exit floor from candidates for an exit floor which are set beforehand as floors capable of being selected as the exit floor among plural floors of the building; and a destination call registration part which registers the destination call in which the specific floor determined as the exit floor by the exit floor determination part is a destination floor in the case the exit floor selection part is operated by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Sakurako Tokura
  • Publication number: 20140014444
    Abstract: The invention relates to a call-giving device and to a method for giving an elevator call. In the method a gesture to be performed in an area detecting a touch on the call-giving device is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tuukka KAUPPINEN, Johannes DE JONG, Harri LÄNSIÖ, Santeri SUORANTA
  • Patent number: 8602171
    Abstract: A method of controlling access to an elevator car, in particular to its roof and/or underside, including the steps of switching the elevator control into a maintenance mode which controls the car to travel to a predetermined stop position permitting access, and opening a landing door of the elevator shaft the car is running in. The elevator control is switched into the maintenance mode only if operating a landing call receiving device in a predetermined identification pattern which differs from a call pattern for calling the elevator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Vogl
  • Publication number: 20130248300
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a solution for generating automatic elevator calls in an elevator system (10) using a personal identifier (11). According to the invention the identification data of an identifier is read on a first departure floor, information about the departure floor is connected to the identification data, the identification data is read on some second departure floor, and on the basis of the identification data an elevator call for taking the passenger back to the first departure floor is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Niko RUSANEN, Rauno HATAKKA
  • Publication number: 20130068569
    Abstract: Provided is an operation device for an elevator, which is capable of improving an operation efficiency of the elevator. The operation device includes: a landing destination-floor reservation device for storing, by input of personal-authentication information and destination-floor information thereto, the personal-authentication information to register a destination floor for a car; a car control device for raising and lowering the car based on information from the landing destination-floor reservation device; and a user restriction device to which personal-authentication information is input, for checking the input personal-authentication information against the personal-authentication information input to the landing destination-floor reservation device to restrict boarding of a user on the car.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hidenobu Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20120325591
    Abstract: The invention presents a solution for controlling the car panel of an elevator car in an elevator system, which comprises at least one elevator, which serves at least one floor comprising a collective call panel and at least one second floor comprising a destination call panel. A plurality of views to be presented in a car panel are recorded in the elevator system, of which views the view to be presented at any given time is selected on the basis of the floor data of the elevator car.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tapani Talonen, Niko Rusanen, Vesa Poutiainen
  • Publication number: 20120228066
    Abstract: A group control system includes a destination operating panel by use of which a user registers a destination floor by manual operation before boarding an elevator car and an authentication device by use of which a user performs personal authentication by inputting personal identification information. The destination floor registration from the destination operating panel is prohibited with respect to prescribed prohibited floors and when personal authentication has been carried out by the authentication device, the prohibition of destination floor registration with respect to prohibited floors is canceled. The group controller assigns an optimum car from a plurality of elevators to the destination floor registered from the destination operating panel. In the elevator group control system, it becomes possible for a user to register his or her destination floor before boarding an elevator car without lowering the level of security of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Mitsuda, Yuji Fujihata, Naohiko Suzuki, Sakurako Tokura, Yoshimasa Koba, Hidenobu Nakashima, Masaharu Eto, Yoshinori Nonami
  • Publication number: 20120145488
    Abstract: An elevator operating apparatus including a destination floor reservation device. The destination floor reservation device is placed distant from an elevator hall so that the user can register personal information and destination floor from the destination floor reservation device before getting on an elevator car. An input device for the user to input the personal information is installed at the elevator hall. When the destination floor is registered from the destination floor reservation device, the elevator car is arranged at the boarding floor. After the elevator car has been arranged at the boarding floor, during the time when a person having not inputted the personal information from the input device is present among the users having registered the personal information from the destination floor reservation device, the elevator car is caused to wait at the boarding floor while the door thereof is open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Hidenobu Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20110168499
    Abstract: In a destination floor registration device 800, a boarding detection unit 804 detects a boarding of an elevator user; when no button operation by destination floor registration buttons 500 is performed after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since detection of the boarding, a voice destination floor registration unit 805 outputs from a voice output device 400 a message for prompting a passenger to pronounce a destination floor; a voice recognition unit 806 recognizes the destination floor pronounced by the passenger; and a voice destination floor registration unit 805 requests an elevator car control device 200 to register the destination floor recognized by the voice recognition unit 806.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobukazu Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20110121074
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for repayment of the investment costs of an elevator on the basis of personal identification of the passenger, by providing the aforesaid passenger with a card comprising the personal data of the aforesaid passenger, on the basis of which card a remote reader installed in connection with the elevator identifies the passenger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventor: Simo MAKIMATTILA
  • Publication number: 20110120814
    Abstract: An elevator installation has at least one terminal and at least one call control. The terminal communicates data with respect to an input floor and a destination floor to the call control by way of at least one signal bus. The call control is arranged on a first plug-in card. At least one signal-bus adapter for the signal bus is arranged on a second plug-in card. The first plug-in card and the second plug-in card are directly connected together to form a circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventor: Kilian Schuster
  • Patent number: 7198136
    Abstract: An elevator system is provided with multiple sky lobbies to reduce the space required for elevator shafts and the space required for the entire elevator system, as well as the required elevator speed and motor capacity. Sky lobbies Ls1–Lsx are arranged above building lobby LG at ground level, with a prescribed number of floors between them. Shuttle elevator (1) stops only at building lobby LG and sky lobbies Ls1–Lsx, and passes through the various floors between lobbies by making them an express region. Local elevators service the floors in each bank between adjacent sky lobbies. Local elevators (2a), (2c), (2e), (2g) for the odd-numbered banks are arranged along the same elevator shaft, and local elevators (2b), (2d), (2f) for the even-numbered banks are arranged along another same elevator shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventor: Masazumi Urata
  • Patent number: 7040458
    Abstract: An elevator system having multiple elevator cars efficiently assigns cars and communicates the car assignments to the potential passengers. A hallway intuitive user interface is readily adapted to installations having varying numbers of elevator cars with varying floor access by incorporating a graphical display that is rendered accordingly. Moreover, a combination of visual, textual and aural indications are given to the passenger that the destination entered is valid and assigned to a car. For those instances where a potential passenger fails to enter a destination correctly, the elevator system retains a traditional elevator control interface in the elevator car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitec America, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Edson Forsythe, Koji Sakata, Joseph P. Rennekamp, John F. Miller, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7032716
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling an elevator installation with at least one shaft and a number of cars, it being possible to make at least two cars travel separately up and down along a common traveling path and a passenger being able to enter a destination call by means of an input unit disposed outside the shaft and the destination call being allocated to a car in dependence on an allocation assessment. To develop the method in such a way that the transporting capacity can be increased, with the cars which can be made to travel along a common traveling path hindering one another as little as possible, it is proposed according to the invention that, in the case of allocation of the destination call to one of the cars which can be made to travel along the common traveling path, the portion of the traveling path required for serving the destination call is assigned to this car and blocked for the time of the assignment for the other cars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Elevator AG
    Inventors: Peter Meyle, Stefan Schneider, Gerhard Thumm
  • Patent number: 6935465
    Abstract: A method for the modernization of an elevator installation having at least one elevator and at least one elevator control for controlling the elevator by way of at least one call report. The elevator installation is equipped with a destination call control during preparatory operations for modernization which control includes at least one floor terminal for the input of destination call reports or for the recognition of identification codes of uses. The destination call control also includes at least one computing unit for evaluating the destination call reports or for association of destination floors with recognized identifications codes. The computing unit issues at least one destination signal and controls the elevator installation by way of at least one device. The device reads the destination signal, converts it into at least one call report and controls an existing elevator control by the call report.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Inventio Ag
    Inventor: Paul Friedli
  • Patent number: 6481535
    Abstract: An algorithm dispatches a series of cabs in a passenger conveying system of the type wherein there are at least four cabs moving between two floors. One cab is positioned at each floor at all times, and a cab is moving to each floor at all times. A control monitors the actual position of the cab, and compares the actual position to a desired position. If the desired and actual positions differ, then the control modifies a cycle time for at least some of the cabs to move the cabs closer to the desired position. In one embodiment, the four cabs are provided in two sets of paired cabs. The paired cabs move in direct opposition to each other. Preferably, the correction in the monitored/desired position of the cabs is made by changing the time period for which the doors are held open when the cabs are at a floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Richard N. Fargo, Frank Sansevero
  • Patent number: 6397976
    Abstract: A potential elevator passenger or occupant (bearer) carries a portable transmitting device with which he must overtly indicate his intent to take an elevator trip before interrogation by a beacon will cause an elevator call to be automatically registered for him, or indicate his intent before gaining access to a space. The intent to take a trip is cancelled when the bearer enters an elevator car, requiring an additional overt act prior to entering an automatic elevator call the next time that the bearer approaches an elevator. Default destinations (floors or spaces) may be signified for the bearer, depending on the floor where the device is located, or the bearer may establish an alternative destination, the alternative destination being cancelled from the device when the bearer enters an elevator or gains access to a space. The intent may be managed and a default destination may be provided either by the portable device or by a system in the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Charles F. Hale, Daniel R. Drop
  • Patent number: 6011839
    Abstract: A control device for access and lift operation to a predetermined story in multi-family dwellings or other buildings is provided. Call input devices which may comprise a first input button and a second input button are provided in the upper stories of the building, such as in individual apartments or offices. Upon the processing of a call which has been input by the first input button located at an identified story initially a predetermined destination story and thereafter the identified story are served by the lift. On processing of a call which has been input by the second input button initially the identified story and thereafter the predetermined destination story are served. The call input device may further comprise an identification device to allow automatic lift from an entry story to the story associated with the identified user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Paul Friedli, Kilian Schuster
  • Patent number: 5831226
    Abstract: Multiple elevators are installed as a group in a building and are equipped with destination floor boarding location buttons (7), (8), (9) and (10) that are provided on the lobby floor. Multiple car controllers (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) are input car data for each elevator so that the controllers control the operations of each elevator. A higher level controller (6) is provided with input data from the multiple car controllers and call data and that efficiently operates multiple cars while accommodating changes in traffic demand. When it is determined that higher level controller (6) is in service, all the floors are divided up into sectors and cars are quickly dispatched to the aforementioned sectors in response to the aforementioned destination floor boarding calls, and the sequencing of service in each sector will be in the order in which each destination floor boarding call has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hattori, Atsunori Kondo
  • Patent number: 5679933
    Abstract: An elevator control panel is provided with a means for selecting a destination among a plurality of destinations for the passenger using a minimum number of input devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Weber Steuerungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Weber, Ralf Schmidt