Patents by Inventor Ari Kattainen

Ari Kattainen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11487689
    Abstract: Elevator safety and safety related information needs to be sent reliably to safety controlling systems. Existing elevator communication devices may be used for transmitting this information by processing the received safety and safety related information and processing it before sending it over the communication bus from the elevator car or floor equipment to the controlling devices. A separate communication unit may be used for receiving and processing safety and safety related data packets before they are transmitted over a common bus used for safety and safety non-critical submission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ari Kattainen, Antti Hovi
  • 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: 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: 11420845
    Abstract: A rescue apparatus for an elevator includes a brake control unit having input terminals for connecting to a power supply, output terminals for connecting to a magnetizing coil of an electromagnetic brake, at least one controllable brake opening switch associated with at least one of the input terminals and adapted, in an open state, to prevent supply of current from the power supply to the magnetizing coil and, in a closed state, to allow supply of current from the power supply to the magnetizing coil, a control cable including one or more control signal wires and a remote control panel for operating the at least one brake opening switch, the remote control panel being coupled via the control cable to the brake control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arto Nakari, Ari Kattainen
  • Patent number: 11414299
    Abstract: Arrangement in an elevator for stopping uncontrolled movement of an elevator car, which elevator comprises at least an elevator car (1) arranged to move reciprocally in the elevator hoistway along guide rails (1a), and means for stopping uncontrolled movement of the elevator car (1). The arrangement according to the invention comprises an arrester (4, 5) separate from the guide rails (1a) of the elevator car (1) and independent of the suspension of the elevator car (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Ari Kattainen, Matti Rasanen, Markku Haapaniemi
  • 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: 11383957
    Abstract: A method and an elevator for moving an elevator car to a landing floor in case of a predefined event related to a main electrical power supply of an elevator are disclosed. The method includes charging energy from the main electrical power supply into an external electrical energy storage prior to detecting the predefined event related to the main electrical power supply, controlling an operation of an electric motor for moving the elevator car with an electrical drive to decelerate the elevator car and to produce regenerative electrical energy, selectively utilizing said energy charged from the main electrical power supply into the external electrical energy storage and said produced regenerative electrical energy to maintain an elevator brake in deactivated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ari Kattainen, Pasi Raassina, Juhamatti Nikander, Ari-Pekka Lahtinen, Pasi Rinnesaari, Pasi Ahonen
  • Patent number: 11380190
    Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided an elevator communication system. The system comprises an ethernet bus, a safety master node communicatively connected to the ethernet bus and configured to communicate via the ethernet bus, and safety slave nodes communicatively connected to the ethernet bus and configured to communicate via the ethernet bus. The safety master node and the safety slave nodes are configured to communicate by using a time-triggered communication protocol. In the time-triggered communication protocol the safety master node is configured to send a polling diagnostic request message to the safety slave nodes by using a predetermined polling cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Ari Kattainen, Juha-Matti Aitamurto, Gergely Huszak, Ferenc Staengler
  • Patent number: 11358832
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for defining absolute position information of an elevator car. The method comprises: obtaining continuously a pulse position information of the elevator car; and defining an absolute position information of the elevator car by adding a predefined correction value to the obtained pulse position information of the elevator car. The predefined correction value indicates a drift between the obtained pulse position information of the elevator car and the actual pulse position of the elevator car. The invention also relates to a safety control unit and an elevator system performing at least partly the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Ari Kattainen, Antti Hovi
  • Patent number: 11352235
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for verifying speed data of an elevator car for overspeed monitoring of the elevator car. The method comprising obtaining at least one continuous speed data of the elevator car at two channels; obtaining a zone speed data of the elevator car within at least one zone of an elevator shaft at two channels, generating a two-channel verified speed information by comparing the said at least one continuous speed data to the zone speed data at least at one channel; generating a control signal, if the comparison indicates a mismatch at least at one channel; and if the comparison indicates a match at each of the at least one channel in which the comparison is provided; the method further comprising comparing the verified speed information at each channel between each other; and generating the control signal, if the reciprocal comparison indicates a mismatch. The invention also relates to a safety control unit and an elevator system performing at least partly the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Ari Kattainen, Antti Hovi
  • Patent number: 11325813
    Abstract: An elevator includes a car with at least two car doors, each car door being provided with a door contact, a shaft being provided with corresponding landing doors, each landing door being provided with a door contact, each landing door opening in synchronism with the corresponding car door, the door contacts forming part of a safety circuit of the elevator, a car door contact input being connected to a middle point in the safety circuit between a series connection of the car door contacts and a series connection of the landing door contacts. A status information of the car door contact input is monitored in order to determine whether the door contacts are operational or not when the car doors are opened and/or closed with a predetermined time delay at a landing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Antti Hovi, Ari Kattainen, Juha-Matti Aitamurto
  • Publication number: 20220135373
    Abstract: A brake system for an elevator car, the brake system comprising a plurality of elevator car brakes, a plurality of electrical control units, and a plurality of electrical power supplies. Furthermore, at least two of the elevator car brakes are arranged to be operated by at least two of the electrical control units, and each one of the electrical control units is arranged to be supplied by at least one of the electrical power supplies. The brake system is configured so that at least two of the plurality of elevator car brakes are operable in case of a fault in any one or simultaneously in any two of the electrical control units and the electrical power supplies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: KONE Corporation
    Inventors: Juha-Matti AITAMURTO, Ari KATTAINEN
  • Publication number: 20220119225
    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: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicant: KONE Corporation
    Inventors: Ari Kattainen, Juha-Matti Aitamurto, Gergely Huszak, Ferenc Staengler
  • Publication number: 20220106165
    Abstract: A safety arrangement is suitable for a turning station of an elevator system. The safety arrangement includes at least one first blocking position for preventing, by a first mechanical device, an elevator car from entering the turning station, wherein the first mechanical device is arranged to change its position in response to operation of the turning station, and at least one second blocking position for preventing, by a second mechanical device, an elevator car from exiting the turning station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: KONE Corporation
    Inventors: Juha-Matti Aitamurto, Ari Kattainen
  • Publication number: 20220106154
    Abstract: An elevator safety system includes an elevator car safety unit arranged on or at least in mechanical connection, preferably in fixed manner, with an elevator car; at least one distance measurement target; and a distance measurement device mounted on the elevator car for determining a distance between the distance measurement target and the distance measurement device. The elevator car safety unit is arranged in connection with the distance measurement device and is configured to generate an output signal based on the determined distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: KONE Corporation
    Inventors: Juha-Matti Aitamurto, Ari Kattainen
  • Publication number: 20220106163
    Abstract: An elevator safety system includes an elevator control unit configured to: monitor an elevator shaft, receive a position, a movement direction, and a speed of at least one elevator car arranged into the elevator shaft, and determine dynamically at least one authorized shaft section based on the monitoring, and on the position, the movement direction, and the speed of at least one elevator car, and to provide an authorization to the at least one elevator car to move, such as by a linear motor, in or into the authorized shaft section of the elevator shaft. The elevator safety system further includes at least one elevator car controller configured to: provide the position, the movement direction, and the speed of the at least one elevator car to the elevator control unit, and receive the authorization. The elevator control unit and the elevator car controller are arranged to be in communication with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: KONE Corporation
    Inventors: Juha-Matti Aitamurto, Ari Kattainen
  • Patent number: 11293951
    Abstract: It is desired that elevators are not operated when the brake is not completely released. Thus, the disengaging of brakes must be monitored or guaranteed otherwise. For providing guaranteed opening, the current for opening the brake is determined and then an additional current is provided to the brakes in order to guarantee the opening. The current for opening the brake is determined by doing a test sequence for each brake individually. In the test sequence, one brake is used to hold the elevator. Then, a momentum is applied to the elevator for moving the elevator car. The current is determined by increasing the current to the engaged brake gradually until the elevator moves. When the movement is detected, the current value is stored. When the elevator is operated regularly, the additional current is added to the stored value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ari Kattainen, Lauri Stolt
  • Patent number: 11242221
    Abstract: A sensor connecting unit includes a safety input for connecting with a sensor; a power supply that is controllable through a controllable power switch; and a first I/O processing unit and a second I/O processing unit being connected to each other through a reciprocal comparison communication channel. The first I/O processing unit and the second I/O processing unit are both connected through a measurement circuit to measure voltage, current or power between a reference input and the safety input, and connected to a safety bus. The first I/O processing unit informs the second I/O processing unit about switching off of the controllable power supply, the second I/O processing unit commands the first I/O processing unit to switch off the controllable power supply, and/or the second I/O processing unit measures an output of the controllable power switch to detect switching of the power switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ari Kattainen, Antti Hovi
  • Patent number: 11192754
    Abstract: An elevator arrangement including an elevator with an elevator control system, a safety system and an inspection or maintenance mode, which elevator having an elevator car arranged to run up and down in an elevator shaft along guide rails, and which elevator car is equipped with a roof. The roof of the elevator car is arranged to uncover upper part of the elevator car in order to form a natural safe working space inside the elevator car, and that the arrangement includes a control mechanism in order to control the position of the roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Markku Haapaniemi, Ari Kattainen, Janne Mikkonen, Matti Rasanen, Esko Aulanko
  • Patent number: 11192751
    Abstract: The invention concerns a rescue apparatus, an elevator as well as a retrofit kit. The rescue apparatus comprises a brake control unit having input terminals for connecting to a power supply, output terminals for connecting to a magnetizing coil of an electromagnetic brake, at least one controllable brake opening switch associated with at least one of the input terminals and adapted, in an open state, to prevent supply of current from the power supply to the magnetizing coil and, in a closed state, to allow supply of current from the power supply to the magnetizing coil. The rescue apparatus further comprises a control cable comprising one or more control signal wires and a remote control panel coupled via the control cable to the brake control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arto Nakari, Ari Kattainen