Patents Examined by Jeffrey Donels
  • Patent number: 11472667
    Abstract: Elevator components can be equipped with an electronic information plate. The electronic information plate are associated with a particular electronic information plate that can store different properties of the associated component. The content of each electronic information plate is read manually or automatically and transmitted to a controller. The controller analyzes the received content and launches a predetermined action if the content indicates a possible mistake or a fraud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Antti Hovi, Ari Kattainen
  • Patent number: 11472672
    Abstract: An elevator door safety system has a motion sensor and a proximity or door sensor defined in a fire-rated elevator entrance assembly. The sensors work together to determine when to open a closing door. The invention further defines a method of controlling an elevator door providing a motion sensor and providing a door sensor, wherein signals from each sensor are sent to a control board to determine when to open elevator doors in response to detecting a person in a detection area in an elevator entrance area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Inventor: Louis J. Blaiotta
  • Patent number: 11475868
    Abstract: An electric piano is provided with a movable pickup rail to globally alter the harmonic and fundamental characteristics of the piano tone by manipulating the vertical position of the pickup rail relative to an array of tone producing elements. The apparatus permits global tone adjustment that can be locked in place or adjusted on the fly in a performance setting for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Vintage Vibe LLC
    Inventor: Alfred J. Dileone, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11472669
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of highly efficiently operating an elevator by analyzing an operation of the elevator, including: a base information collecting step of measuring and collecting information on a change over time in magnitudes of current values of a driving unit when the driving unit for moving the elevator upward or downward moves the elevator upward in a normal state, measuring and collecting information on a change over time in magnitudes of current values of the driving unit when moving the elevator downward, classifying the measured information into driving information of the driving unit when moving the elevator upward and driving information of the driving unit when moving the elevator downward, and storing the driving information of the driving unit when moving the elevator upward and the driving information of the driving unit when moving the elevator downward as base information of the driving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: ITS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Youngkyu Lee
  • Patent number: 11465879
    Abstract: During a maintenance inspection, an optical rope diameter measuring device is provided at a predetermined position along a path of a wire rope, rope diameter is measured at multiple measuring points while the elevator is driven in test mode, and diameter reduction at each measuring point is determined and stored as a first diameter reduction (S2_S6). During a subsequent maintenance inspection, rope diameter is similarly measured at each measuring point to determine diameter reduction constituting a second diameter reduction (S7_S11). Based on these two diameter reductions, the time at which diameter reduction will reach a predetermined threshold value is predicted for each measuring point, and the earliest time is displayed as a rope replacement time (S12_S14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: NIPPON OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY, MEIDENSHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuru Kato, Hirotomo Tanaka, Takashi Takeuchi, Ryuji Onoda, Yusuke Watabe, Yoshiki Nota, Kazuaki Chida
  • Patent number: 11453570
    Abstract: Conventionally, elevator communications have been implemented using travelling cables. This is particularly the case when safety related data transmitted from an elevator car has to fulfil real-time restrictions often set by regulators so that the receiving of the information may not be delayed. Typically, this cannot be guaranteed when wireless transmission technologies are used. The reliability can be increased by using a second to supplement the wireless transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ari Kattainen, Antti Hovi
  • Patent number: 11447364
    Abstract: Methods for determining an absolute position of a moving travel unit of a stationary transport system, the travel unit movable along a travel path inside the system. The travel unit is driven by at least one linear motor along the path. The linear motor is a synchronous motor including a plurality of stator units installed along the travel path configured to provide a magnetic field traveling along the travel path. At least one rotor unit is attached to the travel unit and is configured to be driven along the travel path by the traveling magnetic field. Wherein respectively by analysis of regulating parameters of a vector regulation of the linear motor an active stator unit is determined from the plurality, which presently provides the magnetic field driving the rotor unit and a relative position of the rotor unit in relation to the active stator unit is computed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Said Ahsaine
  • Patent number: 11447367
    Abstract: A stabilizing system may be utilized to reduce or eliminate sway of magnetic tape that is suspended in an elevator hoistway and provides a positional reference to an elevator cab. The stabilizing system may include a stabilizing mechanism fixed within a hoistway and a roller cam disposed on the elevator cab. The stabilizing system may include a telescoping member attached to a guide having opposing flanges that restrict movement of the tape. The telescoping member and the guide may be biased in an extended position, where the guide partially surrounds the tape. In a retracted position, the guide is horizontally spaced apart from the tape. When the elevator cab passes the stabilizing mechanism, the roller cam may force the guide and the telescoping member into the retracted position to prevent any contact between the stabilizing mechanism and components disposed on the elevator cab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: TK Elevator Corporation
    Inventor: Sami Mohammed
  • Patent number: 11427435
    Abstract: A method for maintenance of an elevator in Shabbat mode, the method including providing a Shabbat elevator maintenance system, where the system is in communication with the elevator, detecting a malfunction in the elevator by the maintenance system, notifying a technician about the malfunction by the maintenance system, following repair of the elevator by a repairing technician, verifying by the maintenance system that the elevator has been repaired and that Shabbat mode has been reactivated, and activating remuneration for the repairing technician by the maintenance system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Inventor: Sagie Harel
  • Patent number: 11420844
    Abstract: Provided is an elevator system capable of improving the operation efficiency of an elevator. An elevator system according to the present invention includes: first processing circuitry to receive destination floor information transmitted from a movable body having a movement mechanism and second processing circuitry and being capable of boarding and alighting from a car of an elevator, to assign the car, in which a plurality of onboard positions are set, to a call based on the destination floor information received, and to assign one of the plurality of onboard positions to one movable body based on a destination floor of the movable body. The first processing circuitry transmits to the movable body information indicative of the onboard position assigned to the movable body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Kuroda
  • Patent number: 11414301
    Abstract: A method for condition monitoring of a hoisting rope of a hoisting apparatus and an arrangement for condition monitoring of a hoisting rope of a hoisting apparatus, preferably of an elevator for transporting passengers and/or goods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kim Antin
  • Patent number: 11407611
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for computing allocation decisions in an elevator system is provided. Historical passenger batch journey data relating to the elevator system is obtained, wherein each passenger batch journey includes an origin and a destination floor of the journey, the number of passengers of the journey and the time of the journey. Historical passenger traffic statistics are constructed based on the passenger batch journey data, and expected calls are modelled based on the passenger traffic statistics. The modelled expected call is taken into account in computing subsequent allocation decisions in the elevator system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juha-Matti Kuusinen, Mirko Ruokokoski, Henri Hakonen, Janne Sorsa
  • Patent number: 11407613
    Abstract: An elevator communication system includes at least one ethernet bus segment, a controller communicatively connected to the at least one ethernet bus segment, and a plurality of elevator system nodes communicatively connected to the at least one ethernet bus segment. The controller is configured to determine a fault situation in the elevator communication system and cause reduction of the data communication via the at least one ethernet bus segment based on the fault situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ari Kattainen, Juha-Matti Aitamurto, Gergely Huszak, Ferenc Staengler
  • Patent number: 11404034
    Abstract: A system and method for automatic drumming. A MIDI decoder (1) receives MIDI serial data in real-time, decodes said MIDI serial data to obtain playing instructions, and signals at least one actuator (2) to strike at least one drum according to said decoded playing instructions. User inputs for selecting the MIDI channel and assigning MIDI notes to drums may be provided. The intensity of percussion may be controlled by the MIDI velocity and may be overridden by the user at the MIDI decoder. The at least one actuator may employ a solenoid and comprises features to mitigate latency between the MIDI serial data received and the drum hit. The at least one actuator may comprise a clamping or securement means enabling fast and convenient repositioning thereof. The at least one actuator may comprise means for substitution of a percussion implement, such as a drumstick, brush, or mallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Inventor: Michael Bryan Burns, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11396440
    Abstract: A method determines information relating to elevator components received in an elevator shaft, the elevator components each being provided with a machine-readable marker on which component-specific information is stored, which information is read out by a marker reading device. In the method, a movable elevator element on which the marker reading device is arranged is moved through the elevator shaft and the component-specific information is read out from the markers. The markers can be, for example, markers that can be read out electromagnetically and in a contactless manner, such as RFID tags. The method also includes a comparison of the read-out component-specific information with nominal specifications, and the compiling of a report indicating instances of conformity and/or differences between the read-out component-specific information and the nominal specifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Christian Studer, Philipp Zimmerli
  • Patent number: 11390489
    Abstract: A hoisting apparatus for a mine vertical shaft, a hoisting system for a mine vertical shaft and a controlling method thereof are provided. The hoisting apparatus includes a driving device provided at a wellhead and a guiding device provided in a vertical shaft. A position of the guiding device corresponds to a position of the driving device and a transmission rope is wound around the driving device and the guiding device. Moreover, the driving device is drivingly connected to the guiding device via the transmission rope; and a tension regulating device is provided in the vertical shaft. The guiding device is movably provided at the tension regulating device that is for regulating a distance between the driving device and the guiding device. The tension regulating device controls a tension of the transmission rope by regulating the distance between the driving device and the guiding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: CHINA UNIVERSITY OF MINING & TECHNOLOGY, BEIJING
    Inventors: Manchao He, Guohua Cao, Xiaoming Sun, Jun Yang
  • Patent number: 11393437
    Abstract: An arrangement for the conversion of at least one detected force from the movement of a sensing unit into an auditory signal. The arrangement includes at least one sensor for generating a force signal from the at least one detected force. A processing unit is configured for converting the force signal into a digital auditory signal. An output unit for converting the digital auditory signal into an auditory signal is further included wherein the digital auditory signal includes in formation of acceleration, strength and duration of a single detected force. The present method is used for converting at least one detected force affecting an object into auditory signal, as well as the use of an arrangement according to the present invention for various entertainment and/or therapeutic purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: MICTIC AG
    Inventors: Roger Nauer, Thomas Rupp, Rolf Hellat, Markus Schaub
  • Patent number: 11390487
    Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes an elevator car situated for movement among a plurality of landings. The elevator car includes a car door and a door mover. A door interlock associated with a landing door at each of the landings is configured to couple the associated landing door with the car door. The door interlocks respectively include a lock switch. A controller is configured to: cause the elevator car to move to at least one of the landings; when the elevator car is at the at least one landing, cause the door mover to instigate movement of the door interlock sufficient to at least temporarily change a position of the lock switch; and locate a malfunctioning one of the lock switches at one of the landings based on the movement of the door interlock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael J. Tracey, Leslie C. Watterson
  • Patent number: 11383954
    Abstract: A method of operating a building elevator system having a plurality of elevator systems organized into multiple elevator groups including: receiving an elevator call from a destination entry device in communication with the building elevator system; obtaining a favorability score from each of the multiple elevator groups of the building elevator system; determining an elevator group of the multiple elevator groups with the highest favorability score; and routing the elevator call to the elevator group of the multiple elevator groups with the highest favorability score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jannah A. Stanley, Daniel S. Williams
  • Patent number: 11377326
    Abstract: An elevator door control system, an elevator system, and an elevator door control method based on to-be-carried object grouping identification. The elevator door control system includes one or more three-dimensional sensors, arranged to capture three-dimensional data of to-be-carried objects in an elevator waiting region, wherein the three-dimensional data includes depth data; a data processing device, communicating with the three-dimensional sensor, and configured to receive and process the three-dimensional data, to provide grouping data of one or more groups obtained according to correlations between the to-be-carried objects and position data of each to-be-carried object in the elevator waiting region; and a control device, connected to an elevator door, communicating with the data processing device, and configured to control operation of the elevator door according to the grouping data and the position data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Hui Fang, Zhen Jia, Walter Thomas Schmidt