Patents Examined by Jonathan Salata
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Patent number: 7743889Abstract: An elevator control system is equipped with an evacuation operation control portion. In the event of a fire, the evacuation operation control portion determines, based on information on the fire and an elevator, whether or not the evacuation operation of the elevator can be performed. When it is determined that the evacuation operation can be performed, the evacuation operation control portion outputs a command to perform the evacuation operation to an elevator control device. Further, a condition for determining whether or not the evacuation operation can be performed is set in the evacuation operation control portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2006Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventor: Kiyoji Kawai
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Patent number: 7740109Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a vehicle lifting device, having at least two, preferably moveable, lifting columns (1-4), which are controlled wirelessly. When a switch is activated for raising or lowering the lifting device, a corresponding signal is transmitted wirelessly to the lifting columns (1-4) and additional signals, which are representative of the individual lifting movements, are transmitted to a control device (5). In the case of unacceptably high movement differences between individual lifting columns, the normal operation is stopped. Here, it is essential that for monitoring the wireless signal transmission, the control device (5) exchanges control signals with the lifting columns (1-4) continuously, and the reception of these control signals is monitored at least in one direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2007Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Otto Nussbaum GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Felix Möller, Hans Nussbaum
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Patent number: 7740111Abstract: An elevator group control system for controlling multiple elevators cars each of which serves a plurality of floors includes a route preparation section which, at a time of assigning a hall call to one of the elevator cars, calculates a future trajectory for each of the elevator cars. The future trajectory for each elevator is for a case in which the hall call is assigned to the elevator car. A selecting unit which determines a selected one of the elevator cars to which the hall call is to be assigned using the calculated future trajectories.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2009Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Mito Engineering Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshifumi Yoshikawa, Satoru Toriyabe, Takamichi Hoshino, Atsuya Fujino, Shunichi Tanae, Hiromi Inaba, Kenji Yoneda, Toru Yamaguchi, Ryo Okabe
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Patent number: 7740112Abstract: In an elevator operation control device, a plurality of operation control profiles for prescribing values regarding operation of an elevator, for example, a speed of a car are registered in an operation control device body. The operation control device body collects values such as the activation frequency of the car and the like as information on a condition of use of the elevator. The operation control device body also selects one of the operation control profiles in accordance with the information on the condition of use, and controls the operation of the elevator based on the selected operation control profile.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2005Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Masafumi Iwata, Takaharu Ueda
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Patent number: 7740110Abstract: A control circuit for controlling an electromechanical elevator brake is disclosed. The control circuit includes at least one brake coil (L1), a direct-voltage source (BR1), a semiconductor switch arrangement, a current measuring unit, at least two semiconductor switches, and a control unit (CO1) for controlling operation of the circuit. The current measuring unit (Lm1) produces current data that is passed to the control unit (CO1). The at least two semiconductor switches (SW1, SW2) are controlled by the control unit (CO1) such that operation is alternated between the two so that the working condition of each switch can be checked in its turn on the basis of feedback data obtained from the current measuring unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2004Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Kone CorporationInventors: Ari Kattainen, Timo Syrman
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Patent number: 7730999Abstract: An elevator group control system includes a reference route generating portion, which for each elevator, generates a reference route which the elevator should follow with respect to the time axis and position axis; and an assignment portion which selects an elevator for assignment to a generated hall call so as to make the actual trajectory of each elevator closer to its reference route. Reference routes which guide the cage's trajectory into temporally equal interval condition are generated, and car assignment is executed to allow the cages to settle in temporally equal interval condition over a long period of time.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2008Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Mito Engineering Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshifumi Yoshikawa, Satoru Toriyabe, Takamichi Hoshino, Atsuya Fujino, Shunichi Tanae, Hiromi Inaba, Kenji Yoneda, Toru Yamaguchi, Ryo Okabe
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Patent number: 7731000Abstract: A positioning system having a plurality of transponder modules each located at a known location for receiving an electromagnetic signal and emitting a light signal, at least one transceiver module for emitting an electromagnetic signal and receiving the light signal, and apparatus processing the received light signal to determine a position of the at least one transceiver module.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2004Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Jae-Hyuk Oh, Alan M. Finn, Pei-Yuan Peng, Norbert A. M. Hootsmans
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Patent number: 7717237Abstract: A passenger or cargo elevator is disclosed that relies on pull chains in a closed system in which the chains are used both to pull the elevator car and also to pull the counterweights. In this way, it is possible not only to use counterweights that exceed the actual weight of the elevator car, but also additional counterweights of up to 50% of the load to be lifted may be employed without incurring the problem of the chains being jerked suddenly owing to inertia during braking. The pulling motor devices, such as planetary-type speed reducers, are coupled to servomotors which can be used to program the characteristics of the movements required by the elevator. The control system includes a programmable logic controller (PLC) and a servomotor controller which, together with the coders of the servomotors, provide position, speed, and torque characteristics for operation of the system.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2004Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Inventor: Luis Rodolfo Zamorano Morfín
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Patent number: 7717238Abstract: An elevator control system includes an entrance person authentication section provided at a predetermined distance from an elevator hall for permitting a visitor to use an elevator and register a call of the elevator. A storage section stores a predetermined estimated move time value for the visitor to move from the entrance person authentication section to the hall. An arrival detection section detects the elevator arriving at the hall. A timer starts to count based on permission of the entrance person authentication section and sets an arrival time value when the arrival detection section detects the elevator arriving at the hall. A display notifies a passenger in a car or at the hall of a presence of the visitor. If the arrival time value is shorter than the estimated move time value, the display is activated.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2005Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Hiroaki Hamaji, Masaaki Amano
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Patent number: 7712587Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an elevator system for monitoring elevators by using a virtual elevator group. The method for monitoring elevators in an elevator system including a plurality of elevators classified into a plurality of elevator groups, and at least one virtual elevator group including a plurality of elevators, at least one of which is included in a different elevator group and displaying the elevator related information on the elevators included in the selected virtual elevator group.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2006Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Sung Sub Kim, Ki Hyun Nam, Pai Hun Hahn
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Patent number: 7708118Abstract: Method for the condition monitoring of the safety switches of the safety circuit of an elevator. Inferences can be made about the condition of a safety switch by measuring and examining the current of the safety circuit of the elevator after the state of the safety circuit has changed. The current signal is filtered, after which the amount of interference caused by contact malfunctions of the switch is determined from it. Based on the amount of interference it is possible to determine in what condition the switch is.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2009Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Kone CorporationInventors: Tapio Tyni, Pekka Perälä
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Patent number: 7703579Abstract: A method and a system for the positioning of the elevator car and the door of the elevator in the condition monitoring system are provided. In the method the accelerations of the elevator car and the door of the elevator are measured with a sensor. By integrating the acceleration information two times in relation to time the position information is determined. When the condition monitoring system detects a fault, forecasts a malfunction occurring in the future or detects a significant change in the operation of the elevator or in the measuring signals related to the elevator, it is possible to attach to this information the location of the fault or event i.e. the position of the elevator or the position of a door of a certain floor level on the slide path. The position information can be synchronized to a separate reference point by means of a positioned switch by making an adjustment to the position information at the reference point.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2008Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Kone CorporationInventors: Tapio Tyni, Pekka Perala, Nils-Robert Roschier, Simo Makimattila
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Patent number: 7699142Abstract: A diagnostic system for a transportation device includes an analyzer unit. The analyzer unit includes a user defined sequence logic map. The sequence logic map defines a sequence for a plurality of name inputs. The analyzer unit is configured to monitor the operating condition of the plurality of named inputs and compare the operating condition of the plurality of named inputs with the user defined sequence logic map. The analyzer unit communicates the comparison in a notification.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2007Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Wurtec Elevator Products & ServicesInventors: Steven P. Wurth, Stephen W. Pratt, Daniel C. Bryant
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Patent number: 7699143Abstract: In a method for setting the floor associations of a plurality of operating units of an elevator installation, a plurality of operating units is distributed over a plurality of floors. These floors can be traveled to by an elevator car having a transmitter unit. In the method, the elevator car is moved to a predetermined one of the floors. The operating unit allocated to the moved-to floor is activated. The position data describing the floor at which the operating unit is located are communicated from the transmitter unit to the operating unit and/or to a central control unit. The position data are stored in a memory unit of the operating unit and/or in the central control unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2007Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Inventio AGInventors: Erich Tschuemperlin, Philippe Henneau, Peter Baertschi
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Patent number: 7694781Abstract: A method for allocating destination calls in an elevator system, the system including at least one multi-deck elevator, where the passenger gives his/her destination floor by means of a destination call device at the beginning of the journey route, thereby defining the staffing point and final point of the passenger's journey route in the elevator system. The method includes the steps of generating possible route alternatives from the staffing point to the final point of the journey route, determining a cost function containing at least one travel time term, determining the value of the travel time term corresponding to each route alternative in the cost function, calculating the total cost of each route alternative by using the cost function, allocating for the passenger the route alternative that gives the minimum total cost, and guiding the passenger to a waiting lobby and/or elevator consistent with the route alternative allocated.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2008Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: Kone CorporationInventors: Janne Sorsa, Marja-Liisa Siikonen
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Patent number: 7690483Abstract: Elevator comprising a car, a drive motor driving the car, a motor drive unit for controlling the drive motor and supplying power thereto, an encoder for sensing movement of the car, and an elevator rescue system for rescue operation in case of an emergency situation, wherein the elevator comprises one single encoder only for normal and rescue operation.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2005Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Dirk Heinrich Tegtmeier, Michael Mann, Armando Servia, Ricardo Cano
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Patent number: 7686140Abstract: An elevator installation includes a device for monitoring the state of support belts. An elevator car and a counterweight are connected by the support belts and are movable in a vertical shaft in opposite sense along guide tracks. The monitoring device is fastened to the guide track by a support and has a guide device, preferably a guide roller, which guides the support belt along a scanning surface the monitoring device. The scanning surface and the support belt are protected simply and effectively against damage.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2007Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Inventio AGInventors: Eric Rossignol, Sven Winter
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Patent number: 7681697Abstract: An elevator operation control device has a component temperature detecting portion for detecting a temperature of a drive device, and a component-protective operation control portion for restraining an elevator from operating in accordance with the temperature detected by the component temperature detecting portion. Upon detecting a rise in the temperature of the drive device, the component-protective operation control portion changes operation control parameters of the elevator to restrain the elevator from operating and thus stops the rise in the temperature of the drive device before a protection circuit stops the elevator from operating.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2005Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Masafumi Iwata, Takaharu Ueda
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Patent number: 7681696Abstract: The earthquake control operation system for an elevator includes: an earthquake information delivering device for calculating a predicted arrival hour of earthquake waves in accordance with a position of a registered building based on an emergency earthquake bulletin including at least a seismic center of an earthquake and an hour of occurrence of the earthquake; an earthquake information receiving device for receiving the predicted arrival hour through an Internet and calculating an earthquake arrival need time as a time required for the earthquake waves to reach the building based on the predicted arrival hour; and an elevator control panel for performing an operation of stopping an elevator car at a safety floor when the elevator car is traveling toward the safety floor, a car call for the safety floor is registered, and a stop time at the safety floor is shorter than the earthquake arrival need time.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2006Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Koji Yamagishi
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Patent number: 7681694Abstract: An elevator system and a method for reducing total power in an elevator system are provided. The elevator system includes at least one elevator without counterweight for moving people and/or goods. The elevator without counterweight comprises a power converter unit, an elevator motor, a traction sheave, a set of hoisting ropes and an elevator car. The elevator system also includes means for storing mechanical energy and discharging an energy storage.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2008Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Kone CorporationInventors: Esko Aulanko, Timo Syrman, Sakari Korvenranta, Pekka Jahkonen