Patents by Inventor Norbert A. M. Hootsmans

Norbert A. M. Hootsmans 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: 8260042
    Abstract: An elevator control system (18) provides elevator dispatch and door control based on passenger data received from a video processing device (12). The video processing device (12) includes a video processor (14) connected to receive video input from at least one video camera (10) and memory (16). The video processor (14) anonymously monitors passengers using color index analysis of each passenger. Based on the monitored position of each passenger, video process (14) calculates passenger data parameters such as location, direction, speed and estimated time of arrival at an elevator door, and provides one or more of the passenger data parameters to elevator control system (18). Based in part on the passenger data received, elevator controller (18) provides elevator dispatch, elevator door control, and security functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Pei-Yuan Peng, Norbert A. M. Hootsmans
  • Patent number: 8253548
    Abstract: An elevator system (10) includes a wireless batteryless hall call switch module (22) that transmits a unique wireless code when a person presses a hall call button (32, 34) requesting elevator service. A hall indicator module (24) includes an RF transceiver (64) that receives the wireless code from the switch module (22), activates a display to indicate that a button has been pushed, and transmits the hall call information to the elevator control system (14). When the elevator controller (14) informs the transceiver (64) of car arrival, the hall indicator module (24) causes the display to indicate car arrival.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Jae-Hyuk Oh, Norbert A. M. Hootsmans
  • Patent number: 7731000
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Jae-Hyuk Oh, Alan M. Finn, Pei-Yuan Peng, Norbert A. M. Hootsmans
  • Publication number: 20090295550
    Abstract: An elevator system (10) includes a wireless batteryless hall call switch module (22) that transmits a unique wireless code when a person presses a hall call button (32, 34) requesting elevator service. A hall indicator module (24) includes an RF transceiver (64) that receives the wireless code from the switch module (22), activates a display to indicate that a button has been pushed, and transmits the hall call information to the elevator control system (14). When the elevator controller (14) informs the transceiver (64) of car arrival, the hall indicator module (24) causes the display to indicate car arrival.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Jae-Hyuk Oh, Norbert A.M. Hootsmans
  • Patent number: 7600613
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring a position of a moveable platform comprising a plurality of RFID tags encoded with location information situated at known locations and a plurality of visual markers situated at precise, known locations. An RF reader attached to a moveable platform reads the RFID tags to determine the approximate location of the platform. A camera apparatus attached to the moveable platform scans the visual marker. The scanned image is processed to provide the precise position information of the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Pengju Kang, Jae-Hyuk Oh, Alan M. Finn, Pei-Yuan Peng, Norbert A. M. Hootsmans
  • Patent number: 7597177
    Abstract: A method of providing non-contact data selection, comprising the steps of providing at least one data selection, transmitting at least one signal in proximity to the at least one data selection, altering the path of the at least one transmitted signal through interaction with a selection device, detecting at least one altered signal, and determining selection of the selection device from the at least one altered signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Jae-Hyuk Oh, Alberto Vecchiotti, John Milton-Benoit, Pei-Yuan Peng, Norbert A. M. Hootsmans
  • Publication number: 20090208067
    Abstract: An elevator control system (18) provides elevator dispatch and door control based on passenger data received from a video processing device (12). The video processing device (12) includes a video processor (14) connected to receive video input from at least one video camera (10) and memory (16). The video processor (14) anonymously monitors passengers using color index analysis of each passenger. Based on the monitored position of each passenger, video process (14) calculates passenger data parameters such as location, direction, speed and estimated time of arrival at an elevator door, and provides one or more of the passenger data parameters to elevator control system (18). Based in part on the passenger data received, elevator controller (18) provides elevator dispatch, elevator door control, and security functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Pei-Yuan Peng, Norbert A.M. Hootsmans
  • Patent number: 7493991
    Abstract: A positioning system for an elevator cab (37) includes transponder modules (10) having a unique ID for receiving a signal (39) and emitting an ultrasonic signal when the signal is equivalent to the unique ID with a determination of position based on the time duration of the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Jae-Hyuk Oh, Alan M. Finn, Pei-Yuan Peng, Norbert A. M. Hootsmans
  • Publication number: 20080193138
    Abstract: A positioning system comprising 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: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jae-Hyuk Oh, Alan M. Finn, Pei-Yuan Peng, Norbert A. M. Hootsmans