Patents by Inventor Michael Garfinkel

Michael Garfinkel 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: 20200189882
    Abstract: An elevator system includes a hoistway, an elevator car movable along the hoistway, and a power management and transfer system. The power management and transfer system includes an electrical power source, a hoistway contactor secured in the hoistway and operably connected to the electrical power source, and a car contactor disposed at the elevator car, such that when the car contactor is brought into operable contact with the hoistway contactor, electrical power is transferrable between the power source and the elevator car.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Enrico Manes, Atsushi Yamada, Suman Dwari, Craig Drew Bogli, Stephen Savulak, Ronnie E. Thebeau, Michael Garfinkel
  • Patent number: 10538412
    Abstract: A method includes determining that an elevator car is arriving at a landing at which re-leveling is anticipated; upon the elevator car arriving at the landing at which re-leveling is anticipated, initiating the at least one of a brake cycling operation and a power cycling operation to reduce elevator car sag at the landing; monitoring transfer of weight to or from the elevator car at the landing over a period of time; terminating the at least one of the brake cycling operation and the power cycling operation upon at least one of (i) the transfer of weight to or from the elevator car at the landing over the period of time being less than a threshold and (ii) the elevator car sag at the landing meeting a sag threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Amir Lotfi, Randall Keith Roberts, Ronnie E. Thebeau, Michael Garfinkel, Edward Piedra, Dennis Hanvey, Daniel Rush
  • Publication number: 20190202658
    Abstract: A method includes determining that an elevator car is arriving at a landing at which re-leveling is anticipated; upon the elevator car arriving at the landing at which re-leveling is anticipated, initiating the at least one of a brake cycling operation and a power cycling operation to reduce elevator car sag at the landing; monitoring transfer of weight to or from the elevator car at the landing over a period of time; terminating the at least one of the brake cycling operation and the power cycling operation upon at least one of (i) the transfer of weight to or from the elevator car at the landing over the period of time being less than a threshold and (ii) the elevator car sag at the landing meeting a sag threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Amir Lotfi, Randall Keith Roberts, Ronnie E. Thebeau, Michael Garfinkel, Edward Piedra, Dennis Hanvey, Daniel Rush
  • Patent number: 10315884
    Abstract: A method for automatically dispatching an elevator 110 based on a user's location is provided. The method includes querying a device 104 to determine a user's source floor and confirming the user's source floor. The method also includes querying the device to suggest the user's destination floor based on a history of destination floors traveled to by the user; and confirming the user's destination floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul A. Simcik, Ashley Chapman, Bradley Armand Scoville, Eric C. Peterson, Michael Garfinkel
  • Patent number: 10252879
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to determining that an elevator car of an elevator system is approaching a landing, obtaining, by a controller, a value for at least one parameter associated with the elevator system based on the determination that the elevator car is approaching the landing, determining that the elevator car arrives at the landing within a threshold distance, determining, by the controller, when to engage in at least one of a brake cycling operation and a power cycling operation based on the value for the at least one parameter and based on determining that the elevator car arrives at the landing within the threshold distance, and initiating the at least one of a brake cycling operation and a power cycling operation at a time corresponding to the determination of when to engage in the at least one of a brake cycling operation and a power cycling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Amir Lotfi, Randall Keith Roberts, Ronnie E. Thebeau, Michael Garfinkel, Edward Piedra, Dennis Hanvey, Daniel Rush
  • Publication number: 20180316652
    Abstract: A mobile-based equipment service system includes a remote server, a mobile device, and at least one equipment controller. The mobile device includes a user interface, and is configured to send a user authentication message, initiated by a user via the user interface, to the remote server. The remote server is configured to verify the user via the user authentication message and once verified, send an encrypted blob to the mobile device in response to the user authentication message. At least one equipment controller is configured to receive and decrypt the encrypted blob from the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Devu Manikantan Shila, Arthur T. Grondine, Michael Garfinkel, Teems E. Lovett
  • Patent number: 10116635
    Abstract: A mobile-based equipment service system includes a remote server, a mobile device, and at least one equipment controller. The mobile device includes a user interface, and is configured to send a user authentication message, initiated by a user via the user interface, to the remote server. The remote server is configured to verify the user via the user authentication message and once verified, send an encrypted blob to the mobile device in response to the user authentication message. At least one equipment controller is configured to receive and decrypt the encrypted blob from the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Devu Manikantan Shila, Arthur T. Grondine, Michael Garfinkel, Teems E. Lovett
  • Patent number: 10046948
    Abstract: A system 110 includes an input/output 113 unit for receiving a user request to call an elevator 101, 102 and a processor 111 for processing the user request to assign an elevator to the user 105. The processor performs one of a first assignment process and a second assignment process. The first assignment process includes determining whether a delay condition exists for delaying assignment of the elevator to the user 202, delaying assignment of the elevator to the user based on determining that the delay condition exists 203, and assigning the elevator to the user based on determining that the delay condition does not exist 204. The second assignment process includes assigning the elevator to the user and notifying the user of the assignment, determining whether an assignment change condition exists 206, changing the assignment to another elevator based on determining that the assignment change condition exists 207, and notifying the user of the assignment change 208.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Garfinkel, Theresa M. Christy, Jannah A. Stanley, Harold Terry
  • Patent number: 9995711
    Abstract: A method of wear detection of a coated belt or rope includes measuring an initial electrical resistance of one or more cords, strands or wires of the coated belt or rope. The initial electrical resistance is calibrated by repeating the measuring of initial electrical resistance and populating a database with the measured initial electrical resistance values. A true initial resistance is determined from the population of initial electrical resistances and subsequent measured values of electrical resistance of the one or more cords, strands or wires of the coated belt or rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Garfinkel, Daryl J. Marvin
  • Patent number: 9969597
    Abstract: A communication gateway device to facilitate communication between at least one elevator car, a call center system, and a third party device includes a cellular communication interface including a digital cellular interface and an analog cellular interface, a wired telephone communication interface including a digital wired telephone interface and an analog wired telephone interface, and an elevator communication interface to send and receive an elevator communication to and from at least one elevator communication device associated with the at least one elevator car, the elevator communication interface associated with the cellular communication interface and the wired telephone communication interface to send and receive the elevator communication to and from at least one of the call center system and the third party device via at least one of the digital cellular interface, the analog cellular interface, the digital wired telephone interface, and the analog wired telephone interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Beloin, Luis C. Encinas Carreno, Michael Garfinkel, Derk Pahlke
  • Patent number: 9791009
    Abstract: A method for monitoring brake torque of an elevator having a motor is provided. The method may engage an elevator brake for a predefined duration, determine a displacement of an output shaft of the motor during the predefined duration, and generate an alert if the displacement exceeds a predefined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: James L. Hubbard, Michael Garfinkel, Juan Antonio Illan, Robert D. Shepherd
  • Publication number: 20170174472
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to determining that an elevator car of an elevator system is approaching a landing, obtaining, by a controller, a value for at least one parameter associated with the elevator system based on the determination that the elevator car is approaching the landing, determining that the elevator car arrives at the landing within a threshold distance, determining, by the controller, when to engage in at least one of a brake cycling operation and a power cycling operation based on the value for the at least one parameter and based on determining that the elevator car arrives at the landing within the threshold distance, and initiating the at least one of a brake cycling operation and a power cycling operation at a time corresponding to the determination of when to engage in the at least one of a brake cycling operation and a power cycling operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Amir Lotfi, Randall Keith Roberts, Ronnie E. Thebeau, Michael Garfinkel, Edward Piedra, Dennis Hanvey, Daniel Rush
  • Publication number: 20170137255
    Abstract: A method for automatically dispatching an elevator 110 based on a user's location is provided. The method includes querying a device 104 to determine a user's source floor and confirming the user's source floor. The method also includes querying the device to suggest the user's destination floor based on a history of destination floors traveled to by the user; and confirming the user's destination floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Paul A. Simcik, Ashley Chapman, Bradley Armand Scoville, Eric C. Peterson, Michael Garfinkel
  • Patent number: 9618409
    Abstract: An exemplary system includes a moveable mass. A load bearing member includes at least one electrically conductive tension member that supports a load associated with movement of the mass. An electrically conductive member is situated along a selected portion of a path of movement of the load bearing member. The electrically conductive member is not subject to a load on the tension member. A processor is configured to determine an electrical resistance of the tension member as an indicator of a condition of the tension member. The processor is configured to determine an electrical resistance of the electrically conductive member. The processor uses the determined electrical resistance of the electrically conductive member to compensate for any environmental influence on the determined electrical resistance of the tension member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Garfinkel, Peter Keyo, Peter Liaskas
  • Publication number: 20170096318
    Abstract: A system 110 includes an input/output 113 unit for receiving a user request to call an elevator 101, 102 and a processor 111 for processing the user request to assign an elevator to the user 105. The processor performs one of a first assignment process and a second assignment process. The first assignment process includes determining whether a delay condition exists for delaying assignment of the elevator to the user 202, delaying assignment of the elevator to the user based on determining that the delay condition exists 203, and assigning the elevator to the user based on determining that the delay condition does not exist 204. The second assignment process includes assigning the elevator to the user and notifying the user of the assignment, determining whether an assignment change condition exists 206, changing the assignment to another elevator based on determining that the assignment change condition exists 207, and notifying the user of the assignment change 208.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Garfinkel, Theresa M. Christy, Jannah A. Stanley, Harold Terry
  • Publication number: 20160264377
    Abstract: A communication gateway device to facilitate communication between at least one elevator car, a call center system, and a third party device includes a cellular communication interface including a digital cellular interface and an analog cellular interface, a wired telephone communication interface including a digital wired telephone interface and an analog wired telephone interface, and an elevator communication interface to send and receive an elevator communication to and from at least one elevator communication device associated with the at least one elevator car, the elevator communication interface associated with the cellular communication interface and the wired telephone communication interface to send and receive the elevator communication to and from at least one of the call center system and the third party device via at least one of the digital cellular interface, the analog cellular interface, the digital wired telephone interface, and the analog wired telephone interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Brian Beloin, Luis C. Encinas Carreno, Michael Garfinkel, Derk Pahlke
  • Patent number: 9296591
    Abstract: A system for monitoring elevator car travel includes a plurality of bi-stable sensors (12) traveling with an elevator car (10); a plurality of sense elements (20) positioned along a path of the sensors (12); the sense elements (20) causing the sensors (12) to assume one of a first state and a second state; wherein states of the sensors (12) define a zone code (30) identifying a zone corresponding to the elevator car (10) position, the zone code (30) being a gray code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Garfinkel, Ronnie E. Thebeau, Leslie C. Watterson, SuCheol Lee, Kensaku Yamane
  • Publication number: 20150330852
    Abstract: An exemplary system includes a moveable mass. A load bearing member includes at least one electrically conductive tension member that supports a load associated with movement of the mass. An electrically conductive member is situated along a selected portion of a path of movement of the load bearing member. The electrically conductive member is not subject to a load on the tension member. A processor is configured to determine an electrical resistance of the tension member as an indicator of a condition of the tension member. The processor is configured to determine an electrical resistance of the electrically conductive member. The processor uses the determined electrical resistance of the electrically conductive member to compensate for any environmental influence on the determined electrical resistance of the tension member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Garfinkel, Peter Keyo, Peter Liaskas
  • Publication number: 20150063415
    Abstract: A method of wear detection of a coated belt or rope includes measuring an initial electrical resistance of one or more cords, strands or wires of the coated belt or rope. The initial electrical resistance is calibrated by repeating the measuring of initial electrical resistance and populating a database with the measured initial electrical resistance values. A true initial resistance is determined from the population of initial electrical resistances and subsequent measured values of electrical resistance of the one or more cords, strands or wires of the coated belt or rope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Garfinkel, Daryl J. Marvin
  • Publication number: 20140311257
    Abstract: A method for monitoring brake torque of an elevator having a motor is provided. The method may engage an elevator brake for a predefined duration, determine a displacement of an output shaft of the motor during the predefined duration, and generate an alert if the displacement exceeds a predefined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: James L. Hubbard, Michael Garfinkel, Juan Antonio Illan, Robert D. Shepherd