Patents by Inventor Nithil Karimpanackal Natarajan

Nithil Karimpanackal Natarajan 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: 20240064041
    Abstract: A conveyor system includes a conveyor control unit, one or more conveyor components, and a communication system for providing data frame-based communication between the conveyor control unit, the one or more conveyor components, and/or one or more external or remote systems. The communication system includes: at least two virtual local area networks (VLANs) separated by respective tags, a first switch device configured to connect the one or more conveyor components to at least one of the at least two VLANs, a second switch device configured to connect the conveyor control unit and the one or more external or remote systems to at least one of the at least two VLANs, and a trunk link configured to carry the data frames belonging to the at least two VLANs between the first switch device and the second switch device. An elevator system and a conveyor device are also discloses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nithil Karimpanackal Natarajan, Mikko Piironen
  • Patent number: 11858779
    Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator safety arrangement comprising a hoistway; an elevator car mounted in the hoistway; a working platform on top of the elevator car; at least one movable balustrade, which is movable between a substantially upright position and a substantially horizontal position; and a sensing arrangement for sensing position of the movable balustrade, said sensing arrangement for sensing position of the movable balustrade comprising at least one sensor for sensing position of the balustrade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Ari Kattainen, Juha-Matti Aitamurto, Antti Hovi, Juha Panula, Jari Kantola, Matti Rasanen, Janne Mikkonen, Nithil Karimpanackal Natarajan, Jari Pursiainen, Markku Haapaniemi
  • Publication number: 20230087024
    Abstract: A people mover includes an endless conveying band and a control system. The control system includes a controller, a detecting arrangement for detecting people on the endless conveying band, and a signaling arrangement for providing visual and/or audio signals to people on the endless conveying band. The controller is configured to: determine based on output of the detecting arrangement, in particular based on signals and/or data generated by the detecting arrangement, whether a distance between detected people on the endless conveying band is below a minimum allowed distance; and present to people on the endless conveying band with a signaling arrangement alarm or instruction signals when a distance between detected people on the endless conveying band is below a minimum allowed distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: KONE Corporation
    Inventors: Andrea Zotti Galletti, Benjamin Ekström, Giovanni Hawkins, Nithil Karimpanackal Natarajan
  • Patent number: 11584618
    Abstract: A method and a system for the evacuation of buildings providing an elevator system includes at least one elevator car and an elevator shaft. The system includes a device to detect an incident or a device to receive an emergency signal in this regard, a device for determining the floor of this incident, and at least one sealing element (positioned in the elevator shaft and constructed to seal the elevator shaft, so that the elevator shaft is divided in at least two sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ari Hänninen, Reetta Ranne, Kirsi Nyrhinen, Nithil Karimpanackal Natarajan, Hannu Nousu, Liina Poropudas, Cristina Bianchi, Jukka Turpeinen, Jarmo Parkkinen
  • Publication number: 20230035019
    Abstract: A method for operating an elevator system that includes an elevator car movable between landings in response to an elevator call registered by an elevator control unit. The method includes determining a special operating mode of the elevator system, the special operating mode being different from a nominal operating mode at least with respect to a characteristic of use of the elevator car, and operating, in the special operating mode, the elevator system so as to reduce a number of passengers entering the elevator car from the landing compared to the nominal operating mode based on the characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: KONE Corporation
    Inventors: Giovanni Hawkins, Andrea Zotti Galletti, Nithil Karimpanackal Natarajan, Benjamin Ekström, Aki Haikonen, Klaus Mäkelä, Sakke Ahoniemi
  • Patent number: 11505427
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and arrangements for creating a safe working space in the upper part of an elevator shaft. A position of an elevator car in the elevator shaft in relation to a plurality of safety levels in the elevator shaft may be monitored, where each safety level is associated with a separate clearance of the elevator car from a ceiling of the elevator shaft. The elevator may be controlled to create a safety space zone at the upper part of the elevator shaft. The controlling may include progressively activating separate braking systems in response to the elevator car progressively moving upwards through separate triggering limits of separate clearances, to progressively strengthen an arresting of upwards movement of the elevator car through the elevator shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Nithil Karimpanackal Natarajan, Markku Haivala, Ari Kattainen
  • Patent number: 10421641
    Abstract: An elevator car includes a car box. The car box includes a frame structure that includes a floor element, vertical beams connected to the floor element, and roof beams connected to the vertical beams. The car box further includes walls, each including wall elements of rectangular shape fixed side-by-side to the frame structure and extending from one edge side of the car box to another. The car box includes a roof including roof elements of rectangular shape fixed side-by-side to the frame structure and extending from one edge side of the car box to another. The car box includes and interior bounded by at least the floor element, the walls, and the roof. At least on set of elements, of the roof elements and the wall elements, includes elements associated with separate, respective integrated functionalities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Timo Manner, Nithil Karimpanackal Natarajan, Seppo Kolehmainen, Jouni Lappalainen, Razvan Albu, Tuuli Somma, Petri Koli
  • Publication number: 20190256322
    Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator safety arrangement comprising a hoistway; an elevator car mounted in the hoistway; a working platform on top of the elevator car; at least one movable balustrade, which is movable between a substantially upright position and a substantially horizontal position; and a sensing arrangement for sensing position of the movable balustrade, said sensing arrangement for sensing position of the movable balustrade comprising at least one sensor for sensing position of the balustrade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Ari KATTAINEN, Juha-Matti AITAMURTO, Antti HOVI, Juha PANULA, Jari KANTOLA, Matti RASANEN, Janne MIKKONEN, Nithil KARIMPANACKAL NATARAJAN, Jari PURSIAINEN, Markku HAAPANIEMI
  • Publication number: 20190241399
    Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator safety arrangement comprising a hoistway; an elevator car mounted in the hoistway; a working platform mounted on top of the roof the elevator car; at least one sensing arrangement for sensing load of the working platform and at least one balustrade. Said balustrade is mounted on the working platform such that its weight is carried by the working platform, and in that it is movable between a substantially upright position and a substantially horizontal position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Ari KATTAINEN, Juha-Matti AITAMURTO, Antti HOVI, Juha PANULA, Jari KANTOLA, Matti RASANEN, Janne MIKKONEN, Nithil KARIMPANACKAL NATARAJAN, Jari PURSIAINEN, Markku HAAPANIEMI
  • Patent number: 10322907
    Abstract: An elevator including an elevator car having an operating interface including at least one button associated with both manually controlling the motor from inside the interior space during a manual control mode and entering car calls from inside the interior space during an automatic control mode; a controller configured to automatically control the motor to move the elevator car, if the elevator is operating in the automatic control mode, and manually control the motor to move the elevator car based on a user actuating the operating interface such that a movement of the elevator car upwards from an uppermost landing is unobstructed, if the elevator is operating in the manual control mode; and an access control device including a lock, the lock configured to selectively allow or disallow access to the at least one of the plurality of buttons of the operating interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventor: Nithil Karimpanackal Natarajan
  • Publication number: 20190023530
    Abstract: A method and a system for the evacuation of buildings providing an elevator system includes at least one elevator car and an elevator shaft. The system includes a device to detect an incident or a device to receive an emergency signal in this regard, a device for determining the floor of this incident, and at least one sealing element (positioned in the elevator shaft and constructed to seal the elevator shaft, so that the elevator shaft is divided in at least two sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicant: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ari Hänninen, Reetta Ranne, Kirsi Nyrhinen, Nithil Karimpanackal Natarajan, Hannu Nousu, Liina Poropudas, Cristina Bianchi, Jukka Turpeinen, Jarmo Parkkinen
  • Publication number: 20180244493
    Abstract: Passenger allocation in elevator systems is a critical task if efficient use of elevator system is desired. It is advantageous to optimize the overall capacity of an elevator system by using optimizing systems. One key issue in optimization is to guide passengers to act according to optimization result. This can be provided by indicating a color to each passenger so that they can choose an elevator indicating the same color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Ari Hanninen, Otto Miettinen, Hannu Nousu, Kirsi Nyrhinen, Markku Haivala, Reetta Ranne, Cristina Bianchi, Nithil Karimpanackal Natarajan
  • Publication number: 20180229966
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and arrangement for creating a safe working space in the upper part of an elevator shaft. The solution comprises a number of safety levels with pre-defined clearances and triggering limits for safety operations in order to create a safety space zone at the upper part of the elevator shaft by stopping the upwards movement of the elevator car, when the elevator is in the inspection or maintenance mode, with actions which are arranged to become more and more effective and definitive safety level by safety level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Applicant: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Nithil KARIMPANACKAL NATARAJAN, Markku Haivala, Ari Kattainen
  • Patent number: 9776831
    Abstract: A platform assembly includes a first platform module having an elongated front face, a second platform module having an elongated front face, and a locking member for locking the front faces of the first and second platform modules to each other. The locking member is movably mounted on the first platform module in a longitudinal direction of the front face thereof, and at least one of the locking member and the second platform includes a locking protrusion, and the other of the locking member and the second platform includes a locking slot, wherein the locking protrusion is received by the locking slot and protrudes from the front face of the first platform module. An edge of the locking protrusion is behind an edge of the locking slot when the locking member is moved in said longitudinal direction of the front face, thereby locking the platform modules to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timo Manner, Nithil Karimpanackal Natarajan, Jouni Lappalainen, Petri Koli, Sami Saarela, Aki Haikonen, Vesa Tiainen, Pekka Halonen, Anssi Venho, Seppo Kolehmainen
  • Patent number: 9701516
    Abstract: An elevator having an elevator car configured to move in a hoistway, and floor landings, and a protective arrangement, which arrangement has a wall connected to the bottom of the car, which protective wall can be displaced between a vertical operating position and a retracted position folded out of the vertical operating position, and when in which operating position the wall forms a wall extending downwards from the bottom edge of the floor landing side of the elevator car, and in which elevator the protective arrangement has locking means for preventing the protective wall in the operating position from folding out. The locking means has one or more movable locking means, which is/are arranged to be moved between a locking and retracted position, when in which locking position the locking means prevents the wall in the operating position from folding out of the operating position towards the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nithil Karimpanackal Natarajan, Samuli Mäntynen
  • Patent number: 9511978
    Abstract: An elevator includes an elevator hoistway with an elevator car arranged to move therein. The elevator car includes an interior bounded by at least the elevator care roof. A frame structure includes two parallel, horizontal, elongated roof beams that are at a horizontal distance from each other. Between the roof beams is a trough that has an upward-facing base surface, and a standing platform in connection with the roof of the elevator car that includes a standing surface, immediately above which is a space free of the parts of the elevator car and free of the ropes of the elevator, for enabling standing on top of the standing surface at least when the elevator car is situated at a distance from the top end of the elevator hoistway. The standing surface forms at least a part of the base surface of the trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juha Mielonen, Matti Räsänen, Nithil Karimpanackal Natarajan, Osmo Björni, Paula Bello, Razvan Albu, Timo Manner, Tuuli Somma
  • Publication number: 20150075918
    Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator comprising an elevator car comprising a cabin box provided with a floor, a roof, walls and preferably also door(s) each delimiting an interior space for receiving a load to be transported with the elevator car. The elevator further comprises at least two landings, a motor for moving the elevator car and a control system for controlling the motor, wherein the control system is provided with an automatic control mode and a manual control mode, in which automatic control mode the motor is arranged to be automatically controlled by the control system move the elevator car automatically from one landing to another, and in which manual control mode the motor is arranged to be manually controllable to move the elevator car a manually controllable distance upwards or downwards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nithil Karimpanackal NATARAJAN
  • Publication number: 20140311832
    Abstract: A platform assembly includes a first platform module having an elongated front face, a second platform module having an elongated front face, a locking member for locking the front faces of the first and second platform modules to each other when they are set against each other, which locking member is movably mounted on the first platform module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timo MANNER, Nithil Karimpanackal NATARAJAN, Jouni LAPPALAINEN, Petri KOLI, Sami SAARELA, Aki HAIKONEN, Vesa TIAINEN, Pekka HALONEN, Anssi VENHO, Seppo KOLEHMAINEN
  • Publication number: 20140305749
    Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator car, which comprises suspension means for supporting the elevator car in the elevator hoistway and a car box, which car box comprises a free interior for receiving and transporting freight and/or passengers in the interior of the car box of the elevator, which interior is bounded by at least the floor, walls, roof, and preferably also a door arrangement comprised in the car box, a floor element, vertical beams and roof beams, which floor element and vertical beams and roof beams are connected to each other such that they form a load-bearing frame structure, of rectangular prism shape, of the car box of the elevator, on the inside of which frame structure is a plurality of planar elements, of rectangular shape fixed side-by-side to the frame structure and extending essentially from one edge side of the car box to another, from which plurality a uniform wall surface and/or roof surface of the car box is formed, and the plurality, of which elements comprises elements differin
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timo MANNER, Nithil KARIMPANACKAL NATARAJAN, Seppo KOLEHMAINEN, Jouni LAPPALAINEN, Razvan ALBU, Tuuli SOMMA, Petri KOLI
  • Publication number: 20140216860
    Abstract: An elevator having an elevator car configured to move in a hoistway, and floor landings, and a protective arrangement, which arrangement has a wall connected to the bottom of the car, which protective wall can be displaced between a vertical operating position and a retracted position folded out of the vertical operating position, and when in which operating position the wall forms a wall extending downwards from the bottom edge of the floor landing side of the elevator car, and in which elevator the protective arrangement has locking means for preventing the protective wall in the operating position from folding out. The locking means has one or more movable locking means, which is/are arranged to be moved between a locking and retracted position, when in which locking position the locking means prevents the wall in the operating position from folding out of the operating position towards the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nithil KARIMPANACKAL NATARAJAN, Samuli MÄNTYNEN