With Monitoring, Signalling, And Indicating Means Patents (Class 187/391)
  • Patent number: 10618774
    Abstract: A method is provided for displaying information in an elevator arrangement including an elevator car that is movable, as controlled by an operating panel, between landing zones that communicate traffic to and from the elevator car through a doorway, and one or more light sources. In the method, visible objects are defined for guiding traffic of the elevator arrangement. A destination landing zone is obtained by the operating panel. A current occupancy and current destination landing zone of the elevator car are determined. The light sources are set to illuminate at least one of the defined visible objects on a remote surface on the basis of the determined current occupancy and current destination landing zone of the elevator car and the destination landing zone obtained by the operating panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Santeri Suoranta, Johannes de Jong, Visa Rauta, Joonas Saaranen
  • Patent number: 10556774
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for determining elevator data based on the position of an elevator car of an elevator system includes the elevator car having a flag reading sensor, the elevator car being movably arranged in a hoistway and can be moved by a drive with a suspension rope over a traction sheave, and the elevator car can be stopped at a plurality of stopping positions of the hoistway. Each stopping position has a flag marker with a flag height. Movement of the elevator car is determined by a control unit connected to an encoder at the traction sheave. When leaving a stopping position, the travelled distance of the elevator car between the stopping position and a flag edge is measured and a stopping inaccuracy is determined by the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventor: Valerio Villa
  • Patent number: 10557300
    Abstract: An access system for a structure includes a control box mounted within a controlled access space of the structure and operatively coupled to a door panel operator that opens and closes a door panel of the structure for access to the controlled access space. The control box is configured to detect a presence of a security device relative to the control box, determine a position of the security device relative to the structure, and determine an authorization of the security device. The access system also includes a user interface mounted in an uncontrolled access space of the structure and coupled in communication with the control box. Upon actuation of the user interface, the control box operates the door panel operator when the security device is positioned proximate the control box, located in the uncontrolled access space of the structure, and authorized to operate the door panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: AMESBURY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Gary E. Tagtow, Matt Halbersma, Douglas John Criddle, Michael Lee Anderson, Tracy Lammers
  • Patent number: 10519003
    Abstract: In an elevator operation panel, a base of a casing includes a back plate portion, a lateral plate portion, and a vertical plate portion. An outer surface of the lateral plate portion, which faces the exterior of the casing, and a vertical direction end surface of the vertical plate portion on the lateral plate portion side are disposed in an identical plane. An L-shaped slit is provided between the back plate portion and the lateral plate portion. The slit includes a rectilinear portion, and a projecting portion that projects into the back plate portion. In a condition where the lateral plate portion is bent relative to the back plate portion, a surface of the lateral plate portion that faces the rectilinear portion overlaps a surface of the back plate portion on an opposite side to a wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Okuda
  • Patent number: 10513417
    Abstract: An elevator system comprises a first information collection device disposed in a passenger waiting area of the elevator system and used for acquiring first passenger characteristic information; a second information collection device used for acquiring second passenger characteristic information inside the car; an information analysis and processing device that receives the first passenger characteristic information and the second passenger characteristic information, is configured to perform analysis and processing, based on the first passenger characteristic information, so as to transmit a first control command for dispatching the elevator, is configured to perform analysis and processing on the first passenger characteristic information to acquire classification information of a passenger and to further transmit, based on the classification information, a second control command that is applicable for passengers in a corresponding classification, and is further configured to dynamically transmit, based on t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jianwei Zhao, Qiang Li
  • Patent number: 10513414
    Abstract: A system including a drive portion, and an external computing device in communication with the drive portion, wherein the external computing device is configured to receive operational data from the drive portion, determine operational parameters based at least in part on the operational data, determine whether the operational parameters are valid, and automatically transmit commands to the drive portion if the operational parameters are valid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Yang Wang, HanJong Kim, Christopher S. Czerwinski, Edward Piedra, Shashank Krishnamurthy, Draguna Vrabie, Rui Huang
  • Patent number: 10438140
    Abstract: To enable a response to an urgent call-out caused by a failure occurrence, the degree of an occurrence of a failure in each of a plurality of apparatuses installed at different locations is predicted and a visit plan of each of a plurality of servicemen is created based on a prediction result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Nogami, Masakazu Matsugu, Katsuhiko Mori
  • Patent number: 10421639
    Abstract: In an elevator system, whether an emergency stopper thereof operates normally can be confirmed by letting a driving sheave run idle even in a case where the driving force of a hoisting machine is not large enough, the elevator system includes a main rope to suspend an elevator car and a counterweight, the emergency stopper to prevent the elevator car from dropping, the driving sheave, with the main rope wound around, to drive the main rope by a frictional force therebetween, the hoisting machine to rotate the driving sheave, and an elevator controller to drive the hoisting machine, wherein the elevator controller drives the hoisting machine, with the emergency stopper kept in operation, to let the driving sheave run idle by exciting vertical natural period vibration of the counterweight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Rikio Kondo
  • Patent number: 10351386
    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 plurality of graphical objects displayed on a graphic user interface, in communication with an elevator system. The method includes the steps: selecting a first floor graphical object from the plurality of graphical objects; and selecting a second floor graphical object from the plurality of graphical objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric C. Peterson, Ashley Chapman
  • Patent number: 10326396
    Abstract: A method for estimating parameters of a direct current machine by Laplace transform performed by a computer system. The method includes establishing a transient model of the DC machine and a transfer function based on the transient mode; transforming the transfer function from the time domain to the frequency domain by the Laplace transform to obtain each of an armature current and a rotational speed of the DC machine as a function of frequency; expressing the armature current and the rotational speed as polynomial fractions by polynomial regression, and comparing the functions of the frequency and the polynomial fractions to output values of the armature resistance, the armature inductance, the back electromotive force constant, the moment of inertia and the friction coefficient. As such, the accuracy and operational efficiency in estimating the parameters of the DC machine can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: I-SHOU UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Rong-Ching Wu
  • Patent number: 10315887
    Abstract: An arrangement for aligning guide rails includes an installation platform arranged to be movable in the first direction upwards and downwards in an elevator shaft, said installation platform being provided with an apparatus for aligning guide rails. At least two laser transmitters are arranged at predetermined positions in the shaft below the installation platform, each of said at least two laser transmitters transmitting an upwards directed laser beam that forms a plumb line in the elevator shaft. At least two first position sensitive detectors are attached to the installation platform and/or to the apparatus for aligning guide rails and/or to the guide rails, each of said at least two first position sensitive detectors receiving a respective laser beam, whereby the position of the guide rails in relation to the shaft can be determined indirectly or directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Pekka Kilpeläinen
  • Patent number: 10308476
    Abstract: An elevator control system includes an elevator group system including one or more elevators and an elevator group controller configured to control operation of the one or more elevators. The system includes at least one of an external elevator management system and an external power provider connected via a data communications link to the elevator group controller. The elevator group controller is configured to transmit to the at least one of the external elevator management system and the external power provider elevator operation information, and the at least one of the external elevator management system and the external power provider is configured to transmit to the elevator group controller elevator operation control information based on the elevator operation information. The elevator group controller is configured to then control operation of the one or more elevators based on the elevator operation control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: HanJong Kim
  • Patent number: 10294072
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the technical field of elevator control, and provides an elevator system capable of monitoring children use and a control method thereof. The elevator system of the present invention includes: an elevator control system; an RGB-D sensor or an intelligent wearable device; and an information analytic processing apparatus. The elevator system and control method thereof in the present invention is accurate, reliable and safe when monitoring the situation of children using the elevator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jianwei Zhao, Hui Fang, Qiang Li
  • Patent number: 10294076
    Abstract: A false car device configured for use in an elevator hoistway is provided. The false car device includes a platform assembly and a frame assembly configured to support the platform assembly. The frame assembly includes one or more safety assemblies. A lift assembly is configured to facilitate hoisting of the platform and the frame assembly within the elevator hoistway. A climbing rope is attached to the lift assembly and has a tension. The safety assembly is configured to engage an elevator guide rail in the event the tension in the climbing rope is lost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Wurtec, Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven P. Wurth, Terry Rodebaugh, Andy Gries, Jeff Wagenhauser, Doug Scott
  • Patent number: 10252882
    Abstract: An elevator motion alert system is configured to alert a person of an object moving in at least one hoistway of an elevator system. The elevator motion alert system includes a sensor configured to detect object motion. A transmitter of the elevator motion alert system is carried by the object and is configured to transmit a pressure wave at a pre-defined frequency upon movement of the object. An electronic device of the elevator motion alert system is configured to receive and process the pressure wave for alerting the person of object movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Daisuke Meguro, Hisanori Seki, Keiji Hashimoto, Takayuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10227209
    Abstract: A system and method of orchestrating an evacuation operation using an elevator is provided. The method includes displaying that an evacuation request using the elevator is an available option, receiving one or more evacuation requests to use the elevator, and displaying evacuation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: James M. Collins, Jannah A. Stanley, Paul A. Stranieri, David M. Hughes, Ronnie E. Thebeau
  • Patent number: 10200836
    Abstract: An electronic terminal device can be configured using a device identifier that is input into the device. The terminal device sends the device identifier to a configuration server. The configuration server responds by sending configuration information to the terminal device based on the device identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Paul Friedli
  • Patent number: 10196236
    Abstract: A monitoring system of an elevator installation having an elevator door and a method of operating the monitoring system are suitable for generating usage data of the elevator door, the monitoring system including a sensor arranged in the elevator installation, wherein at least one physical parameter of the environment of the sensor can be detected by the sensor, and an evaluating unit, which determines an operating state of the elevator door by a course of the physical parameter over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Astrid Sonnenmoser, Martin Kusserow, Reto Tschuppert
  • Patent number: 10171846
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method for managing streaming of video content to a client device includes providing the video content to a content distribution network for storage in a plurality of geographically separated resources of the content distribution network, dynamically selecting an advertisement media clip based on statistical information associated with a user of the client device, and receiving, from the client device via a packet-based telecommunication network, signaling to have the stored video content streamed to the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: SITO Mobile R&D IP, LLC
    Inventors: Charles A Jennings, Donald H Bate
  • Patent number: 10169699
    Abstract: A method for providing an interactive elevator assistant is provided. The method may include identifying amenities associated with a property and location-based features within a vicinity of the property. The method may further include mapping the amenities to floor levels associated with the property. The method may further include receiving user input from a user located on an elevator associated with the property. The method may further include, in response to determining that the received user input comprises an amenity, determine the one or more floor levels on the property that are associated with the amenity and triggering the elevator to navigate to the determined one or more floor levels. The method may also include, in response to determining that the received user input comprises a location-based feature, sending the received user input to an application for processing. The method may further include providing a response via the elevator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Srinivas V. Chitiveli, Eric B. Libow, Prasanna A. Mathada, Sathiskumar Palaniappan
  • Patent number: 10124989
    Abstract: A method for presenting an estimated elevator car arrival time, the method comprising: receiving an elevator call at a mobile device; obtaining the estimated elevator car arrival time in response to the elevator call; and generating a user interface depicting the estimated elevator car arrival time, the user interface depicting the estimated elevator car arrival time including a dynamic component that changes appearance in response to the estimated elevator car arrival time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPLANY
    Inventors: Paul A. Simcik, Kelly Martin Dubois, Emily Baldi, Sheryl Brothers, Yew H. Leong, Harrison Daniels
  • Patent number: 10127492
    Abstract: A method for providing an interactive elevator assistant is provided. The method may include identifying amenities associated with a property and location-based features within a vicinity of the property. The method may further include mapping the amenities to floor levels associated with the property. The method may further include receiving user input from a user located on an elevator associated with the property. The method may further include, in response to determining that the received user input comprises an amenity, determine the one or more floor levels on the property that are associated with the amenity and triggering the elevator to navigate to the determined one or more floor levels. The method may also include, in response to determining that the received user input comprises a location-based feature, sending the received user input to an application for processing. The method may further include providing a response via the elevator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Srinivas V. Chitiveli, Eric B. Libow, Prasanna A. Mathada, Sathiskumar Palaniappan
  • Patent number: 10118798
    Abstract: According to few examples a safety system, a method and a computer program for an elevator safety system is provided. A first switch configured to detect a first position of a safety device of an elevator. A second switch configured to detect a second position of the safety device. A controller configured to monitor a change of a state of the first switch and a change of a state of the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ari Kattainen
  • Patent number: 10112801
    Abstract: The present invention is an elevator inspection apparatus. It comprises a sensor package, a commercially available off-the-shelf computing device, a computer program, and a communication mechanism between the sensor package and the computing device. The sensor package is physically separate from the computing device, comprising a sensor for measuring the acceleration of the elevator car, a door position sensor for determining the position of the elevator door, a sensor for measuring the altitude of the elevator car, and an interface to an external communication mechanism for communicating with the computing device. The computing device includes an interface to an external communication mechanism for communicating with and providing power to the sensor package. The computer program controls the apparatus, analyzes the signals from the sensor package, displays the results of the analysis, and creates reports of the elevator performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Inventors: Richard Laszlo Madarasz, Kathleen Mary Mutch
  • Patent number: 10106374
    Abstract: A method for operating an elevator installation uses an elevator control device, wherein, by at least one sensor allocated to the elevator installation and by a sensor signal obtainable therefrom, a state of the elevator installation is automatically detected by the elevator control device. In dependence on the detected state, the elevator control device automatically generates an activation signal to automatically activate a remote signaling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Elena Cortona, Frankie Schmid
  • Patent number: 10099897
    Abstract: An elevator has a safety controller to which several safety switch arrangements are connected. The safety controller is configured to cause the stop of the elevator motor and the activation of the motor brakes. A comparator is provided in the safety controller for the determination of the status of the safety chain. The comparator is connected with a memory for storing at least one resistor reference value, which comparator is configured to output a safety chain status signal in dependence of comparison of a measured resistance value with the resistor reference value. Each of said safety switch arrangements includes at least one first resistor and a safety switch which are connected in series. The value of the first resistor is different in at least some safety switch arrangements, preferably in all safety switch arrangements. Each safety switch arrangement includes at least a second resistor connected in parallel with the safety switch, which second resistor has a higher value than the first resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Antti Mertala, Ari Kattainen, Claudio Donghi, Jouko Kinnari, Samu Salmelin
  • Patent number: 10023428
    Abstract: Elevator brake system and elevator brake pads having embedded a sensor arrangement so as to detect relevant parameters of an elevator brake system and elevator brake pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventor: Lutz May
  • Patent number: 10009637
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method for managing streaming of video content to a client device includes providing the video content to a content distribution network for storage in a plurality of geographically separated resources of the content distribution network and receiving, from the client device via a packet-based telecommunication network, signaling to have the stored video content streamed to the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Sito Mobile R&D IP, LLC
    Inventors: Charles A Jennings, Donald H. Bate
  • Patent number: 9908743
    Abstract: A system for managing power in an elevator system, the system including an elevator controller; an elevator car in communication with the controller; a component associated with the elevator car; a power management system in communication with the controller; and a database in communication with the power management system, the database including a power profile; wherein the power management system provides power commands to the elevator controller to enter a power savings mode in response to the power profile, the controller sending a power off signal to the component in response to the power command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Peter Herkel
  • Patent number: 9896304
    Abstract: A method of operating an elevator system includes presenting a credential at a security panel disposed at an elevator system landing of a public area of a building. If the presented credential is correct a contact between the security panel and an elevator control system is opened. Opening of the contact allows for placement of a call via the elevator control system for an elevator car to the landing. An elevator system includes one or more elevator cars located in one or more hoistways. An elevator control system controls movement of the elevator cars. A security panel is operably connected to the elevator control system and located at an elevator system landing. Presenting a correct credential at the security panel opens a contact between the security panel and the elevator control system thus initiating a call of an elevator car of the one or more elevator cars to the landing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Michael P. Flynn
  • Patent number: 9875217
    Abstract: A method controls an operation of an elevator system including an elevator car moving within an elevator shaft and at least one elevator cable connected to the elevator car and the elevator shaft. The method determines, during the operation of the elevator system, a velocity of a sway of the elevator cable and modifies, in response to the determining, a damping coefficient of a semi-active damper actuator connected to the elevator cable according to a function of the velocity of the sway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Mouhacine Benosman
  • Patent number: 9834408
    Abstract: An elevator call registering system includes: a responder configure to store therein user identification information; an interrogator configured to broadcast interrogator identification information, an authentication control apparatus configured to compare the user identification information read out from the interrogator with stored user identification information, and an elevator control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideto Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 9756362
    Abstract: A video streaming system comprises a plurality of servers, each of the plurality of servers including one or more processors and a memory. One or more of the plurality of servers receive video content from a video content owner and store the received video content in a plurality of geographically separated resources of a content distribution network. The one or more of the plurality of servers receive from a client device via a packet-based telecommunication network signaling to have the stored video content streamed to the client device from one or more of the resources of the content distribution network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: SITO Mobile R&D IP, LLC
    Inventors: Charles A. Jennings, Donald H. Bate
  • Patent number: 9718642
    Abstract: A device for detecting the position of an elevator car (40) by a sensor and evaluation unit (20, 22, 24), accommodated in a sensor housing (10), which can be arranged on the elevator car, is designed for interaction with a strip (14) having a length and/or position coding and which is connected via a cable connection (26) to a switching unit that is accommodated separately from the sensor housing in a switching housing (12). The switching unit has a safety switch (30) and/or an interrupter contact for an emergency function, especially an emergency stop, of the elevator car. A switching device is associated with the position detecting device for inputting and storing a speed threshold value, the safety switch or interrupter contact being activated when said threshold value is reached or exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: ELGO ELECTRONIC GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Frank MĂĽller, Heiko Essinger
  • Patent number: 9718641
    Abstract: A lift system comprises a call input device and at least one touchscreen for inputting a call for a lift. The touchscreen has at least one functional identifier. When a functional identifier is touched, at least one input signal is generated. The call input device converts into a special input mode for a time-specific or location-specific generation of several input signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Lukas Finschi
  • Patent number: 9630804
    Abstract: A method for providing well access in an elevator well having at least one elevator car moveable in the elevator well, includes the following steps: a well access operating mode of the elevator is activated, in which well access operating mode the elevator car will not respond to any landing calls, group controller commands or to any other remote commands, upon activation of the well access operating mode the car is controlled to travel a set distance up or down, the car is controlled to stop at said distance for a given time, the elevator will automatically exit the well access operating mode and return back to service if within the given time no well entrance, e.g. landing door, is opened. After non authorized activation of the well access operating mode, the elevator is automatically returned to service, which reduces the danger of off-service times of the elevator based on misuse of activation signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Antti Hovi, Ari Kattainen
  • Patent number: 9624071
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Dennis Hanvey, John Eschenbrenner, Michael P. Flynn
  • Patent number: 9617117
    Abstract: An exemplary elevator brake control device includes a relay switch that is associated with a safety chain configured to monitor at least one condition of a selected elevator system component. The relay switch is selectively closed to allow power supply to an electrically activated elevator brake component responsive to the monitored condition having a first status. The relay switch is selectively opened to prevent power supply to the brake component responsive to the monitored condition having a second, different status. A solid state switch is in series with the relay switch between the relay switch and the brake component. A driver selectively controls the solid state switch to selectively allow power to be supplied to the brake component only if the relay switch is closed and the monitored condition has the first status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Kyle W. Rogers
  • Patent number: 9591360
    Abstract: A video streaming system comprises one or more servers, each of the one or more servers including one or more processors and a memory. The one or more servers receive signaling from a client device via a packet-based telecommunication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SITO Mobile R&D IP, LLC
    Inventors: Charles A. Jennings, Donald H. Bate
  • Patent number: 9522200
    Abstract: An apparatus for disinfecting a button including a housing having an inner side and an outer side. At least one button is disposed within the housing, the button having a rotational symmetry allowing rotation of the button with respect to the housing. A rotation mechanism rotates the button with respect to the housing. A disinfecting system positioned on the inner side of the housing disinfects a portion of the button that is exposed on the inner side of the housing. The rotation mechanism rotates the button at a substantially constant speed. The apparatus provides a safer operation of the button as there is a continuous sanitizing of the surface of the button contaminated by users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: GESTION RAYMOND BOISVERT INC.
    Inventor: Raymond Boisvert
  • Patent number: 9450996
    Abstract: The system and method for streaming media to a viewer and managing the media comprises an enhanced service routing processor (ESRP), a real time switch management system (RTSMS), a name routing processor (NRP), and a managed media switch (MMS). The RTSMS has a reservation system. The ESRP receives media from an owner, manages the media according to media rules and order rules defined by the owner, and distributes the media to one or more switches, such as the MMS, according to the media rules and the order rules. The RTSMS is configured to receive the media rules and to receive a viewer's media request via the reservation server. The reservation system of the RTSMS processes the media request according to the media rules and builds a reservation for the requested media. The RTSMS generates the reservation to the viewer and to the NRP. The NRP receives the reservation data from the viewer and from the RTSMS. The NRP processes the reservation data and locates an MMS that can stream the media to the viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SITO Mobile R&D IP, LLC
    Inventors: Charles A. Jennings, Donald H. Bate
  • Patent number: 9410305
    Abstract: An excavation control system includes a working unit having a bucket, a designed landform data storage part storing designed landform data, a bucket position data generation part that generates bucket position data, a designed surface data generation part, and an excavation limit control part. The designed surface data generation part generates superior and subordinate designed surface data based on the designed landform and bucket position data. The superior designed surface data indicates a superior designed surface corresponding to a position of the bucket. The subordinate designed surface data indicates a first subordinate designed surface linked to the superior designed surface. The designed surface data generation part generates shape data indicating shapes of the superior designed surface and the first subordinate designed surface. The excavation limit control part automatically adjusts a position of the bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Matsuyama, Yoshiki Kami, Shin Kashiwabara, Masashi Ichihara
  • Patent number: 9367416
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety circuit of an elevator and also to a method for identifying a functional nonconformance of the safety circuit of an elevator. In the method a message is formed in node A, a testing field is added to the message for testing the operation of the safety circuit of an elevator, and the aforementioned message containing the testing field is sent from node A to the communications bus in the safety circuit of the elevator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Antti Hovi, Ari Kattaninen, Risto Jokinen
  • Patent number: 9317723
    Abstract: A passive tag embedded in a package includes multiple conductive coils. A first coil receives radio frequency (RF) energy used to power the tag. Additional coils receive and/or transmit data signals, clock signals, and carrier signals. The RF energy and other signals may be at different frequencies. An RF probe includes a first coil to emit the RF energy to power the tag. The RF probe includes additional coils corresponding to the additional coils in the tag. The RF probe may turn off the RF signal used for power during communication. The RF energy may be rectified to provide DC power to circuits in the tag, or may be used directly for adiabatic circuits. The RF probe and the package may have complementary shapes to facilitate alignment of the coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Tyfone, Inc.
    Inventor: Siva G. Narendra
  • Patent number: 9309090
    Abstract: A safety apparatus for elevator apparatuses which can move a cab via a drive including a monitoring unit for monitoring at least one of the drive and/or the motor regulation system of the drive, a safety device having at least two sensors, which can be switched between at least two switching states depending on a state, in particular a closing state. In order to be able to reduce operating costs, at least one of the safety device and the monitoring unit includes a controller, which is designed to identify the respective switching states of the sensors, and to transmit at least one of data and monitoring signals to the monitoring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Cedes AG
    Inventors: Beat De Coi, Tobias Leutenegger, Dumeng Hersche, Jurg Hegelbach
  • Patent number: 9267319
    Abstract: A method for operating a door-opening mechanism of a household appliance includes: providing a first signal using a door-opening sensor; providing a second signal using the door-opening sensor; and providing a third signal using the door-opening sensor. A total signal is calculated based on the first, second and third signals so as to determine a spatial direction from which a signal source originates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: MIELE & CIE. KG
    Inventors: Volker Backherms, Dominic Beier, Stefan Tiekoetter
  • Patent number: 9139401
    Abstract: An elevator system includes at least one elevator, at least one call input device and a call controller. The call input device transmits a call to the call controller. For a transmitted normal operation signal, at least one elevator car of an assigned elevator is activated to drive to the call input floor by at least one elevator controller of the assigned elevator. In a peak-time mode of the elevator system, at least one main operation signal is transmitted to at least one elevator. For a main operation signal transmitted to an elevator, at least one elevator car of said elevator is activated to drive between at least two main operation floors by at least one elevator controller of said elevator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Lukas Finschi, Stefan Röllin
  • Patent number: 9120646
    Abstract: Automatic door systems and methods capable of determining proper functionality thereof are provided. The door systems are provided with a healthcheck module which automatically determines functionality of the door system by initially monitoring a first output signal provided by a first sensor and a second output signal provided by a second sensor. More specifically, the healthcheck module correlates the first output signal with the second output signal and operates one or more doors of a door system according to the correlation. The healthcheck module then monitors the second output signal provided by the second sensor to determine the ability of the one or more doors to close, and determines functionality of the door system accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Ruediger Loeb, Peter Herkel
  • Patent number: 9038783
    Abstract: A rope sway mitigation device for an elevator system includes a rope tension adjuster connected to a plurality of ropes operably connected to an elevator car. The rope tension adjuster is configured to adjust a tension of at least one individual rope of the plurality of ropes thereby mitigating excitation of natural frequencies of the plurality of ropes during sway of at least one component of the elevator system and or a building in which the elevator system is located. Further disclosed is an elevator system including a rope sway mitigation device and a method of rope sway mitigation in an elevator system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Randall Keith Roberts, Mark R. Gurvich, Richard N. Fargo
  • Patent number: 9033113
    Abstract: An elevator derailment detection system (51) which provides for accurate detection of the derailment of a movable element (30, 32), such as a counterweight (32) or an elevator car (30), within a hoistway (22) even when the building (24) within which the elevator (20) is installed is of a substantial height and may be experiencing a significant degree of sway due to high winds, earthquakes, or other causes. By mounting an electric conductor (52) such as a sensing wire of the system (51) at spaced intervals (76) along the length of the hoistway (22), the electric conductor (52) in turn sways with the building (24). Accordingly, contact of the electrical conductor with sensors attached to a movable element within the hoistway, such as the counterweight, is limited to derailment situations and not normal building sway, and false trips are significantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventor: Phillip A. Winey