Patents by Inventor Christian Studer

Christian Studer 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).

  • Publication number: 20200189881
    Abstract: An elevator system includes a car and a counterweight which are connected to one another via a support element. The elevator system has a compensation element for compensating the weight of the support element, wherein this compensation element includes at least one belt. The at least one belt was previously used as a support element for a car of an elevator system. A method for recycling support elements of elevator systems uses the discarded support elements as the compensation element in an elevator system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Christian Studer, Andrea Cambruzzi
  • Publication number: 20200180911
    Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator car that is movable in an elevator shaft in the vertical direction, a closed support belt guided about a lower deflection roller and an upper deflection roller and a drive machine driving the support belt. A drive connection is made between the support belt and the elevator car with a coupling device arranged on the elevator car that is coupled to a coupling element of the support belt. The coupling element is a connection element that connects two free ends of the support belt together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Christian Studer, Donato Carparelli, Josef Husmann, Raphael Bitzi
  • Patent number: 10549951
    Abstract: An unlocking device with an actuator releases a safety cover of a maintenance opening for opening. The locking device has a safety circuit for actuating the actuator. The safety circuit includes at least one first switching contact and a second switching contact arranged in series, wherein the actuator in a closed state of the first and the second switching contacts is connected by the safety circuit with a power source, and the first switching contact can be switched by a control unit. One or more of the unlocking device can be used in an elevator system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Christian Studer, Raphael Bitzi
  • Patent number: 10549947
    Abstract: A method and a system for determining the position of an elevator car of an elevator system, which car is arranged for travel in an elevator hoistway, includes equipping the elevator car with an acceleration sensor that registers acceleration data in a computing unit, calculation by the computing unit of the current position and/or of the velocity of the elevator car, and equipping the elevator system with an image-recording unit, which unit records recorded images of the elevator hoistway. The computing unit compares the recorded images with current mapping images of the elevator hoistway to determine an image-based current position of the elevator car. Finally, the computing unit undertakes a recalibration of the current position using the image-based current position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Astrid Sonnenmoser, Christian Studer, Klaus Zahn, André Rüegg, Johannes Gassner
  • Publication number: 20190367328
    Abstract: A method for fixing a rail bracket for mounting a guide rail on a shaft wall of an elevator shaft of an elevator system includes applying an adhesive layer between a support surface of the rail bracket and a final fixing region of the shaft wall in the fixed state of the rail bracket. The rail bracket is thus adhered to the shaft wall, and the rail bracket can also be additionally fixed to the shaft wall by at least one fixing element such as a nail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Andrea Cambruzzi, Christian Studer, Philipp Zimmerli, Raphael Bitzi, Erich Bütler
  • Publication number: 20190210838
    Abstract: An elevator safety supervising entity (SSE) includes a car safety supervising unit (SSU) controlling functions of car safety components and having at least one car sensor sensing car-related parameters, a head SSU controlling functions of shaft safety components and having at least one shaft sensor sensing shaft-related parameters, and a data linkage transmitting signal data between the SSUs. Both SSUs detect a failure in the other one of the SSUs and in the data linkage signal data transmission and in response switch from a normal operation mode to a failure operation mode. In the failure operation mode, the SSUs operate autonomously to keep the elevator operative at least temporarily with a sufficiently high safety even when functions of the elevator SSE are disturbed due to failures and e.g. passengers may be evacuated from the elevator car before completely stopping elevator operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Christian Studer, Astrid Sonnenmoser, Ivo Lustenberger
  • Publication number: 20190193986
    Abstract: A method for detecting an entry into an elevator car of an elevator system by a passenger uses a mobile device carried by the passenger. The mobile device has at least one, but in particular a plurality of sensors, with which the mobile device detects and evaluates measured values. An entry into the elevator car is then detected on the basis of comparing the measured values with at least one stored signal pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Christian Studer, Martin Kusserow, Reto Tschuppert, Zack Zhu
  • Publication number: 20190193992
    Abstract: A method for monitoring an elevator system utilizes a mobile terminal device having at least one sensor to collect measurement values in an elevator car. The mobile terminal device is carried by a passenger of the elevator system. The collected measurement values are transmitted by the mobile terminal device to a central evaluation unit where they are evaluated. The mobile terminal device activates a measurement mode when it detects that it is located in a region of a shaft door of the elevator system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Christian Studer, Martin Kusserow, Reto Tschuppert, Zack Zhu
  • Publication number: 20190177120
    Abstract: An analysis method and a measurement system for surveying an elevator shaft of an elevator system wherein the elevator shaft is surveyed by a measurement system having a camera system and an inertial measurement unit having acceleration and angular rate sensors, i.e. designed as an optically inertial measurement system. On the basis of the measured data, a digital model of the elevator shaft is created. Further information on the position of the measurement system in a main extension direction of the elevator shaft, in addition to the information from the acceleration and angular rate sensors of the inertial measurement unit, is recorded and evaluated to create the digital model. In this way, a particularly accurate digital model of the elevator shaft is created.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Christian Studer, Raphael Bitzi, Erich Butler
  • Patent number: 10214381
    Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator car, at least one elevator drive arranged in an elevator shaft and a support strap, wherein the elevator car is arranged in the elevator shaft for movement via the support strap by the elevator drive. A brake system includes a car braking unit associated with the elevator car and a drive braking unit associated with the elevator drive. The car braking unit and the drive braking unit can together be controlled from a common brake control device. The brake system can be used for new elevator system installations and for retrofitting existing elevator systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Christian Studer, Raphael Bitzi
  • Publication number: 20180362291
    Abstract: A method for driving an elevator car brake device, an elevator system for executing the method, and a computer program implementing the method involve the brake device including at least one automatically releasable pressure element effecting a braking action and an electromagnet automatically releasing the pressure element, wherein a respectively required braking torque of the car is ascertained using a model of the elevator system, a direction of car travel, a state of load of the car and a desired car deceleration. A drive signal for driving the electromagnet is generated based on the braking torque and is supplied to the electromagnet, wherein, when the car is braked, an actual car deceleration is ascertained and calibration is performed based on the ascertained actual car deceleration, specifically calibration of the ascertained required braking torque or calibration of the drive signal that is generated based on the ascertained required braking torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Christian Studer, Andrea Cambruzzi
  • Publication number: 20180215588
    Abstract: A mounting device for performing an assembly process in an elevator shaft of an elevator system includes a support component and a mechatronic assembly component. The support component moves within the elevator shaft. The assembly component is retained on the support component and carries out a mounting step in an at least partially automatic manner during the assembly process. The support component includes a fastening part that secures the support component and/or the assembly component in a direction extending transversely to the vertical, i.e. for example in a horizontal or lateral direction, within the elevator shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Erich Butler, Philipp Zimmerli, Raphael Bitzi, Christian Studer, Andrea Cambruzzi
  • Publication number: 20180208438
    Abstract: A mounting device for performing an assembly job in an elevator shaft of an elevator system includes a support component and a mechatronic assembly component. The support component is configured to be moved within the elevator shaft. The assembly component is held at the support component and configured to perform a mounting step as part of the assembly job in at least a partially automatic manner. The assembly component can be an industrial robot. A drilling of holes in the shaft walls is performed in a partially or fully automated manner by the mounting device. Furthermore, other repetitive mounting jobs such as the driving in of screws, etc., can be performed in a partially or completely automated manner. The mounting effort, time and/or costs can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Andrea Cambruzzi, Erich Butler, Philipp Zimmerli, Raphael Bitzi, Christian Studer
  • Publication number: 20180208439
    Abstract: A mounting device for performing an assembly job in an elevator shaft of an elevator system has a support component and a mechatronic assembly component. The support component is configured to be moved within the elevator shaft. The assembly component is held at the support component and configured to perform a mounting step as part of the assembly job in at least a partially automatic manner. The assembly component can be an industrial robot. The mounting device allows repetitive mounting jobs, such as drilling holes and driving in screws, etc., to be performed in a partially or fully automated manner. The mounting effort, time, and/or costs thereby can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Christian Studer, Raphael Bitzi, Erich Butler, Andrea Cambruzzi, Philipp Zimmerli
  • Patent number: 10023430
    Abstract: An actuator for an elevator system, which actuator can adopt an activated state and a released state, has a restoring element. The actuator is brought from the released state into the activated state by the restoring element. The restoring element is made of a shape memory alloy. At a first temperature, the restoring element adopts a first length, and a second length at a second temperature. After the actuator has been released, the restoring element changes from the first length into the second length, and back into the first length. In this way, the restoring element returns the actuator to the activated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Christian Studer, Raphael Bitzi
  • Publication number: 20170349399
    Abstract: A method and a system for determining the position of an elevator car of an elevator system, which car is arranged for travel in an elevator hoistway, includes equipping the elevator car with an acceleration sensor that registers acceleration data in a computing unit, calculation by the computing unit of the current position and/or of the velocity of the elevator car, and equipping the elevator system with an image-recording unit, which unit records recorded images of the elevator hoistway. The computing unit compares the recorded images with current mapping images of the elevator hoistway to determine an image-based current position of the elevator car. Finally, the computing unit undertakes a recalibration of the current position using the image-based current position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Astrid Sonnenmoser, Christian Studer, Klaus Zahn
  • Publication number: 20170320704
    Abstract: An unlocking device with an actuator releases a safety cover of a maintenance opening for opening. The locking device has a safety circuit for actuating the actuator. The safety circuit includes at least one first switching contact and a second switching contact arranged in series, wherein the actuator in a closed state of the first and the second switching contacts is connected by the safety circuit with a power source, and the first switching contact can be switched by a control unit. One or more of the unlocking device can be used in an elevator system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Applicant: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Christian Studer, Raphael Bitzi
  • Publication number: 20170233219
    Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator car, at least one elevator drive arranged in an elevator shaft and a support strap, wherein the elevator car is arranged in the elevator shaft for movement via the support strap by the elevator drive. A brake system includes a car braking unit associated with the elevator car and a drive braking unit associated with the elevator drive. The car braking unit and the drive braking unit can together be controlled from a common brake control device. The brake system can be used for new elevator system installations and for retrofitting existing elevator systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Christian STUDER, Raphael BITZI
  • Publication number: 20170001834
    Abstract: An actuator for an elevator system, which actuator can adopt an activated state and a released state, has a restoring element. The actuator is brought from the released state into the activated state by the restoring element. The restoring element is made of a shape memory alloy. At a first temperature, the restoring element adopts a first length, and a second length at a second temperature. After the actuator has been released, the restoring element changes from the first length into the second length, and back into the first length. In this way, the restoring element returns the actuator to the activated state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Christian STUDER, Raphael BITZI
  • Patent number: 9424474
    Abstract: Method for determining the length of a queue of objects in a predefined region having at least one entrance and at least one exit, in the course of which errors in the acquisition of objects entering or exiting the region are corrected during the determination of the length of the queue. In a first step, a specific entry signature E of each object entering the predefined region through the at least one entrance is determined with the aid of at least one first image sensor. Thereafter, the specific entry signature E is stored in an entry list of a calculation unit, each entry signature E being provided with an index value i reflecting the temporal sequence of the entries. In addition, a value L reflecting the length of the queue of the objects is increased by one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: XOVIS AG
    Inventors: Martin Wuethrich, Christian Studer, David Studer, Markus Herrli