Patents Examined by Christopher Uhlir
  • Patent number: 11603286
    Abstract: A method and a device for determining an operating state of an elevator system include determining a current/time profile of a current supplied to the elevator system via a power supply line, identifying at least one current profile segment of the current/time profile, and deriving a current profile pattern of the identified current profile segment. The operating state of the elevator system is determined based on comparing the current profile pattern to at least one reference pattern. The method and the device may also be easily used by personnel without electrical training and may be used in elevator systems that are not known in detail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Martin Kusserow, Reto Tschuppert, Pascal Joel Moser
  • Patent number: 11597632
    Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator car within an elevator hoistway; a camera; a network; and an image analysis system in communication with the camera over the network; the camera providing a reference image to the image analysis system; the camera providing a current image to the image analysis system; the image analysis system comparing the current image to the reference image to detect a difference between the current image to the reference image; the image analysis system initiating a maintenance notification to a user device in response to the comparing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Aurelien Fauconnet
  • Patent number: 11584618
    Abstract: A method and a system for the evacuation of buildings providing an elevator system includes at least one elevator car and an elevator shaft. The system includes a device to detect an incident or a device to receive an emergency signal in this regard, a device for determining the floor of this incident, and at least one sealing element (positioned in the elevator shaft and constructed to seal the elevator shaft, so that the elevator shaft is divided in at least two sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ari Hänninen, Reetta Ranne, Kirsi Nyrhinen, Nithil Karimpanackal Natarajan, Hannu Nousu, Liina Poropudas, Cristina Bianchi, Jukka Turpeinen, Jarmo Parkkinen
  • Patent number: 11584614
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining elevator car locations are provided. Aspects includes a sensor affixed to a moving component of an elevator system, wherein the sensor is operated by a controller and wherein the controller is configured to determine that the elevator car is in motion based at least in part on the sensor. A direction of the elevator car is determined while the elevator car is in motion based at least in part on the sensor. Sensor data associated with the elevator car is collected while the elevator car is in motion, wherein the sensor data includes a travel time while the elevator car is in motion. Elevator car travel data is accessed from a travel time profile associated with the elevator car and the travel time is compared to the elevator car travel data to determine a location of the elevator car in a hoistway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Tadeusz Pawel Witczak, Craig Drew Bogli, Ezhil Nanjappan, Derk Oscar Pahlke, Yrinee Michaelidis
  • Patent number: 11584615
    Abstract: An elevator preventive maintenance system capable of helping, when an abnormality of an elevator is predicted to occur, a concerned person needing no countermeasure information to grasp information quickly and easily, and helping a concerned person needing countermeasure information to react to the abnormality quickly and precisely. The system includes: a prediction section configured to predict an abnormality of an elevator to occur, based on abnormality prediction information; a storage section configured to pre-store concerned person information relating to the elevator; a communication section configured to transmit abnormality occurrence prediction information to concerned person in the case the abnormality is predicted to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohiro Hattori
  • Patent number: 11577933
    Abstract: An evacuation strategy support system using an occupant evacuation elevator (OEE) capable of supporting an evacuation strategy so that information on a number of occupants is recognized by real-time occupant monitoring and thus occupants on each floor may use stairs and the occupant evacuation elevator to safely and quickly evacuate when a disaster situation occurs in a skyscraper and thus the occupants use the occupant evacuation elevator to evacuate, capable of monitoring occupant information on each floor in real time and supporting calculation of an evacuation capacity of the occupant evacuation elevator to establish an evacuation strategy to allow safe evacuation and early reaction in an overall skyscraper to be performed, and capable of optimizing the calculation of the evacuation capacity of the occupant evacuation elevator applicable to an initial stage of a design of the skyscraper, and a method thereof are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND BUILDING TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Seung Un Chae, Bum Yeon Cho, Heung Youl Kim, Ki Seok Kwon
  • Patent number: 11562722
    Abstract: A method for generating a musical composition based on user input is described. A first set of musical characteristics from a first input musical piece is received as an input vector. The first set of musical characteristics is perturbed to create a perturbed input vector as input in a first set of nodes in a first visible layer of an unsupervised neural net. The unsupervised neural net comprised of a plurality of computing layers, each computing layer composed of a respective set of nodes. The unsupervised neural net is operated to calculate an output vector from a higher level hidden layer in the unsupervised neural net. The output vector is used to create an output musical piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Inseok Hwang, Jente B Kuang, Janani Mukundan
  • Patent number: 11554934
    Abstract: A system structured to transport a load carrying structure along the vertical direction while maintaining a substantially horizontal orientation thereof. A lifting assembly includes at least one lifting devices movably connected to the load carrying structure via a corresponding hoist line. The lifting device is configured to control the hoist line to accomplish raising or lowering of the load caring structure. A detection assembly, including at least one inclinometer determines an angle of inclination of the load carrying structure during the vertical travel thereof. A control assembly is operatively associated with the lifting assembly and the detection assembly to adjust the operative speed of the lifting device and length of the hoisting line upon a determination of an angle of inclination of the load carrying structure deviating from a predetermined angle of inclination indicative of a level orientation of the load carrying structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Inventor: Agostino Saverio Mattoli Chiavarelli
  • Patent number: 11548758
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring a dynamic compensation control system of an elevator system are provided. The methods and systems include monitoring a first motion state sensor signal generated by a first motion state sensor, the first motion state sensor associated with an elevator machine, monitoring a second motion state sensor signal generated by a second motion state sensor, the second motion state sensor located on an elevator car, determining an operational status of the second motion state sensor based on an analysis of the first motion state sensor signal and the second motion state sensor signal, and when it is determined that a failure status of the second motion state sensor is present, the method further comprises deactivating a dynamic compensation control mode of operation of the elevator system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Randy Roberts, Edward Piedra, Bruce P. Swaybill
  • Patent number: 11542118
    Abstract: The invention concerns a brake control apparatus and a method of controlling an elevator brake. The brake control apparatus comprises a first switch and a second switch connected in series with each other for selectively supplying current from a power source to an electrically operated actuator of an elevator brake. The control pole of the first switch and the control pole of the second switch are associated with an elevator safety circuit. The brake control apparatus further comprises a first monitoring circuit configured to indicate operation of the first switch and a second monitoring circuit configured to indicate operation of the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: KONE Corporation
    Inventor: Ari Kattainen
  • Patent number: 11535488
    Abstract: Elevator systems having an elevator machine connected to an elevator car within an elevator shaft, the elevator shaft including a plurality of landings, at least one first sensor assembly attached to the elevator car, at least one second sensor assembly arranged within the elevator shaft and configured to interact with the at least one first sensor assembly, and a computing system in communication with at least one of the at least one first sensor assemblies and the at least one second sensor assemblies such that the computing system receives at least one of signals or data from the at least one of the at least one first sensor assemblies and the at least one second sensor assemblies. The at least one first sensor assemblies and the at least one second sensor assemblies form a contactless position sensing system for determining a position of the elevator car within the elevator shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: David Ginsberg, Ronnie E. Thebeau, David Alun James
  • Patent number: 11535486
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining elevator car locations are provided. Aspects includes operating, by a processor, a machine room sensor to collect vibration data associated with one or more components in a machine room of an elevator system, wherein the elevator system comprises an elevator car and a hoistway and analyzing the vibration data to determine a position of the elevator car in the hoistway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Sandeep Sudi
  • Patent number: 11505428
    Abstract: A control unit, an elevator-monitoring apparatus and a method are used to monitor a maintenance mode of an elevator installation. The control unit has a controller and a memory device, wherein the controller receives a first signal when a locking device of shaft door is locked and receives a second signal when the locking device is unlocked. The controller compares a chronological signal sequence of first signals and second signals with a reference sequence stored in the memory device for actuation of the locking device and, if the signal sequence of the first signals and second signals matches the reference sequence, ends the maintenance mode and releases a car of the elevator installation for a traveling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventor: Markus Walker
  • Patent number: 11505433
    Abstract: An access door arrangement of an elevator shaft, wherein at least one elevator car is moving, includes a door lock, whereby in connection with the door lock a reset switch of an inspection mode resetting device is located, whereby the door lock has a lock part movable between a lock position and an open position and whereby the reset switch is integrated in said door lock to be operated by the movement of the movable lock part or a related movable part. This solution allows an easy resetting of the inspection mode of the elevator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Juha-Matti Aitamurto
  • Patent number: 11465877
    Abstract: The invention refers to an elevator system having a plurality of elevator cars, which elevator cars comprise several first cars and at least one second car, which second car differs from the first cars in its size and/or technical configuration, whereby the first cars and the second car run together within one and the same elevator shaft, which elevator system comprises an elevator control comprising a call allocation control having a first part connected to at least one call input device for allocating the first elevator cars and a second part connected to at least one call issuing means for the call allocation of the second car, whereby the first and second part of the call allocation control are configured to work independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Ari Hanninen, Ilpo Haipus, Ari Koivisto, Jouni Ratia, Markku Haivala
  • Patent number: 11465883
    Abstract: An elevator arrangement, comprising at least one rope connected with an elevator car; a rope wheel arrangement comprising at least one rope wheel around which the rope passes turning around an axis, which extends in width direction of the rope; and a rope position detector arranged to detect displacement of the rope over at least one limit position and to trigger one or more predetermined actions in response to detecting displacement of the rope over a limit position. The rope is arranged to pass around a rope wheel turning around an axis, which extends in width direction of the rope, and the rope position detector is arranged to detect displacement of the rope over a limit position in thickness direction of the rope at a detection point, and to trigger one or more predetermined actions in response to detecting displacement of the rope in its thickness direction over the limit position, said limit position being on the opposite side of the rope than said rope wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Juha Helenius, Mika Juntunen, Samuel Markkula
  • Patent number: 11469749
    Abstract: A power controller with a cable connected remote controlling device configured to transmit a pulsed instruction signal according to a predetermined signal pattern to the power controller. The power controller determines if the instruction signal corresponds with a predetermined signal pattern. If the instruction signal corresponds with a predetermined signal pattern, the controller passes the instruction signal to switches that control power supply of an electric device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventor: Arto Nakari
  • Patent number: 11465878
    Abstract: A method of controlling building systems including detecting a status parameter of a door of a building; displaying the status parameter of the door on a device; detecting a status parameter of a door lock, the door lock being operbly connected to the door; and displaying the status parameter of the door and the status parameter of the door lock on a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Emily Baldi
  • Patent number: 11462198
    Abstract: A new and improved Digital Musical Instrument includes a hardware segment that electronically detects the physical inputs of a musicians musical playing style or articulated intent; a Software segment that interprets and formulates the data output from the hardware segment, to be applied to any digitally modulated synthesizer or recording sampler; and an optional expanded method of sampling or digitally recording articulated sounds of acoustic instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Inventor: Christopher E. Borman
  • Patent number: 11440770
    Abstract: Provided is an elevator derailment detection device configured to detect disengagement of a vertically movable body to be guided by guide rails to be raised and lowered from at least one of the guide rails. The elevator derailment detection device includes: a conductive wire, which is provided in a hoistway in parallel to a direction in which the vertically movable body is raised and lowered; a magnetic field measurement device, which is provided to the vertically movable body so as to measure an intensity of a magnetic field generated by a current flowing through the conductive wire, and is configured to output the measured magnetic field intensity; and a controller configured to detect the disengagement of the vertically movable body from the at least one of the guide rails when the magnetic field intensity output from the magnetic field measurement device falls above or lower than an allowable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinichi Sato