Patents by Inventor Walter Thomas Schmidt
Walter Thomas Schmidt 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).
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Patent number: 12643766Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes a plurality of components respectively configured for at least one function during operation of the elevator system. A plurality of sensors are each associated with at least one of the components. Each sensor senses at least one characteristic of an actual performance of an associated one of the components. A processor is configured to receive respective indications from the sensors regarding the actual performance of the associated components, determine a difference between the actual performance and a desired performance of any of the components based on the respective indications, and determine an adjustment to the operation of the elevator system based upon the determined difference.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2023Date of Patent: June 2, 2026Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Walter Thomas Schmidt, Soumalya Sarkar, Paul R. Braunwart
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Patent number: 12264041Abstract: Disclosed is an elevator system having an elevator entryway, the elevator entryway including: a first door, which is an elevator door, a first controller operationally connected to the first door for opening and closing the first door to provide access to an elevator, wherein when the first door is closing: the first controller monitors for first instructions over a frequency applicable to light detection and ranging (LIDAR) and/or a radio detection and ranging (RADAR), and upon receiving the first instructions, the first controller executes the first instructions.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2023Date of Patent: April 1, 2025Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Walter Thomas Schmidt, Joseph V. Mantese, Goran Djuknic, Paul R. Braunwart, Enrico Manes, Ziyou Xiong
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Publication number: 20230356980Abstract: Disclosed is an elevator system having an elevator entryway, the elevator entryway including: a first door, which is an elevator door, a first controller operationally connected to the first door for opening and closing the first door to provide access to an elevator, wherein when the first door is closing: the first controller monitors for first instructions over a frequency applicable to light detection and ranging (LIDAR) and/or a radio detection and ranging (RADAR), and upon receiving the first instructions, the first controller executes the first instructions.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2023Publication date: November 9, 2023Inventors: Walter Thomas Schmidt, Joseph V. Mantese, Goran Djuknic, Paul R. Braunwart, Enrico Manes, Ziyou Xiong
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Patent number: 11760605Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for monitoring an elevator door, an elevator system, and a method for monitoring an elevator door. The elevator door has an open state or a closed state implemented by moving along an elevator sill. The system for monitoring an elevator door includes: one or more imaging sensors configured to collect image data and depth data of at least one section in the elevator sill that is exposed when the elevator door is in the open state; and a data processing device in communication with the imaging sensor and configured to receive and process the image data and the depth data to determine whether an obstacle preventing the elevator door from entering the closed state exists in the section. By applying the present invention, the safety of the elevator door can be improved effectively, and equipment property losses and personal injuries can be avoided.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2019Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Hui Fang, Zhen Jia, Walter Thomas Schmidt
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Patent number: 11745983Abstract: Disclosed is an elevator system having an elevator entryway, the elevator entryway including: a first door, which is an elevator door, a first controller operationally connected to the first door for opening and closing the first door to provide access to an elevator, wherein when the first door is closing: the first controller monitors for first instructions over a frequency applicable to light detection and ranging (LIDAR) and/or a radio detection and ranging (RADAR), and upon receiving the first instructions, the first controller executes the first instructions.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2018Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Walter Thomas Schmidt, Joseph V. Mantese, Goran Djuknic, Paul R. Braunwart, Enrico Manes, Ziyou Xiong
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Patent number: 11691853Abstract: Disclosed is an escalator system having: escalator steps; and a plurality of state sensors including a master sensor and slave sensors, wherein the slave sensors are secured to different ones of the escalator steps, wherein the master sensor is configured to: receive slave sensor data from the slave sensors; and transmit data to an escalator call center upon detecting an occurrence of a fault condition from the slave sensor data.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Walter Thomas Schmidt, Paul R. Braunwart, Enrico Manes
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Publication number: 20230202797Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes a plurality of components respectively configured for at least one function during operation of the elevator system. A plurality of sensors are each associated with at least one of the components. Each sensor senses at least one characteristic of an actual performance of an associated one of the components. A processor is configured to receive respective indications from the sensors regarding the actual performance of the associated components, determine a difference between the actual performance and a desired performance of any of the components based on the respective indications, and determine an adjustment to the operation of the elevator system based upon the determined difference.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2023Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: Walter Thomas Schmidt, Soumalya Sarkar, Paul R. Braunwart
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Patent number: 11685635Abstract: Disclosed is a system for an elevator door of an elevator car, wherein a controller controls the elevator door to travel in a proximate direction when closing and travel in a distal direction when opening, the system including: a panel that forms an exterior surface of an elevator door, the panel including a front surface extending in a widthwise direction between a proximate end and an opposing distal end to form a front surface of the elevator door, the panel including a proximate end surface extending in a depthwise direction to form a proximate end surface of the elevator door, the proximate end surface of the panel comprising a resilient portion that is capable of engaging a sensor in the panel when the elevator door is closing, and thereafter the controller instructs the elevator door to reopen.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Joseph C. Rampone, Walter Thomas Schmidt
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Patent number: 11618651Abstract: An illustrative example elevator assembly includes a header beam and a first elevator cab supported by the header beam. A plurality of vertically oriented rods extend beneath the first elevator cab. A horizontally oriented mid-beam is coupled to a first one of the rods near a first end of the mid-beam and coupled to a second one of the rods near a second end of the mid-beam. A second elevator cab is situated beneath the first elevator cab and beneath the mid-beam. At least one linear actuator is supported at least partially on the mid-beam. The linear actuator selectively causes vertical movement of the second elevator cab relative to the rods.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2021Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Zaffir A. Chaudhry, Enrico Manes, Walter Thomas Schmidt
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Patent number: 11597629Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes a plurality of components respectively configured for at least one function during operation of the elevator system. A plurality of sensors are each associated with at least one of the components. Each sensor senses at least one characteristic of an actual performance of an associated one of the components. A processor is configured to receive respective indications from the sensors regarding the actual performance of the associated components, determine a difference between the actual performance and a desired performance of any of the components based on the respective indications, and determine an adjustment to the operation of the elevator system based upon the determined difference.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2018Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Walter Thomas Schmidt, Soumalya Sarkar, Paul R. Braunwart
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Patent number: 11572251Abstract: A system for elevator door sensor fusion, fault detection, and service notification is provided. The system includes a processor and a memory including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include monitoring outputs of a plurality of sensors. It is determined whether the outputs of the plurality of sensors follow an expected pattern. Based at least in part on determining that the outputs of the plurality of sensors do not follow the expected pattern: identifying a sensor in the plurality of sensors that is not following the expected pattern, and transmitting a notification indicating that the sensor is exhibiting unexpected behaviour.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2018Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Walter Thomas Schmidt, Abdelilah Sakti, Michael J. Tracey
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Patent number: 11492151Abstract: An atmospheric suit includes a torso portion with one or more layers, and fibers of a first material arranged in each of the one or more layers. Optical fibers are interspersed with the fibers of the first material in each of the one or more layers.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2020Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventors: Joseph C. Rampone, Walter Thomas Schmidt
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Patent number: 11377326Abstract: An elevator door control system, an elevator system, and an elevator door control method based on to-be-carried object grouping identification. The elevator door control system includes one or more three-dimensional sensors, arranged to capture three-dimensional data of to-be-carried objects in an elevator waiting region, wherein the three-dimensional data includes depth data; a data processing device, communicating with the three-dimensional sensor, and configured to receive and process the three-dimensional data, to provide grouping data of one or more groups obtained according to correlations between the to-be-carried objects and position data of each to-be-carried object in the elevator waiting region; and a control device, connected to an elevator door, communicating with the data processing device, and configured to control operation of the elevator door according to the grouping data and the position data.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2019Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Hui Fang, Zhen Jia, Walter Thomas Schmidt
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Patent number: 11332345Abstract: A method and system for controlling a movable door associated with a passenger compartment, the door moveable between an opened position and a closed position configured to provide access to, or egress from, the passenger compartment. The method includes monitoring a landing area of the elevator door with at least one sensor, and determining a level of urgency of an approaching passenger based on the information from the at least one sensor. If the level of urgency exceeds a predetermined threshold, modifying a closing of the elevator door based on the level of urgency. The method may also include modifying a closing speed of the elevator door if the level of urgency exceeds a predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2018Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Ziyou Xiong, Walter Thomas Schmidt
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Patent number: 11242226Abstract: Embodiments include techniques for operating an elevator safety control system and method. The techniques include charging one or more portions of an elevator system, the elevator system includes an elevator door and elevator frame, and monitoring a charge on the one or more portions of the elevator system. In addition, the techniques include detecting a change in the charge on the one or more portions of the elevator system, and responsive to the detection, controlling an operation of the elevator door.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2018Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Fanping Sun, Joseph V. Mantese, Walter Thomas Schmidt
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Publication number: 20220002116Abstract: Disclosed is a system for an elevator door of an elevator car, wherein a controller controls the elevator door to travel in a proximate direction when closing and travel in a distal direction when opening, the system including: a panel that forms an exterior surface of an elevator door, the panel including a front surface extending in a widthwise direction between a proximate end and an opposing distal end to form a front surface of the elevator door, the panel including a proximate end surface extending in a depthwise direction to form a proximate end surface of the elevator door, the proximate end surface of the panel comprising a resilient portion that is capable of engaging a sensor in the panel when the elevator door is closing, and thereafter the controller instructs the elevator door to reopen.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Joseph C. Rampone, Walter Thomas Schmidt
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Publication number: 20210371248Abstract: Disclosed is an escalator system having: escalator steps; and a plurality of state sensors including a master sensor and slave sensors, wherein the slave sensors are secured to different ones of the escalator steps, wherein the master sensor is configured to: receive slave sensor data from the slave sensors; and transmit data to an escalator call center upon detecting an occurrence of a fault condition from the slave sensor data.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2020Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: Walter Thomas Schmidt, Paul R. Braunwart, Enrico Manes
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Publication number: 20210371246Abstract: An illustrative example elevator assembly includes a header beam and a first elevator cab supported by the header beam. A plurality of vertically oriented rods extend beneath the first elevator cab. A horizontally oriented mid-beam is coupled to a first one of the rods near a first end of the mid-beam and coupled to a second one of the rods near a second end of the mid-beam. A second elevator cab is situated beneath the first elevator cab and beneath the mid-beam. At least one linear actuator is supported at least partially on the mid-beam. The linear actuator selectively causes vertical movement of the second elevator cab relative to the rods.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: Zaffir A. CHAUDHRY, Enrico MANES, Walter Thomas SCHMIDT
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Publication number: 20210354858Abstract: An atmospheric suit includes a torso portion with one or more layers, and fibers of a first material arranged in each of the one or more layers. Optical fibers are interspersed with the fibers of the first material in each of the one or more layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2020Publication date: November 18, 2021Inventors: Joseph C. Rampone, Walter Thomas Schmidt
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Patent number: 11148908Abstract: Disclosed is a system for an elevator door of an elevator car, wherein a controller controls the elevator door to travel in a proximate direction when closing and travel in a distal direction when opening, the system including: a panel that forms an exterior surface of an elevator door, the panel including a front surface extending in a widthwise direction between a proximate end and an opposing distal end to form a front surface of the elevator door, the panel including a proximate end surface extending in a depthwise direction to form a proximate end surface of the elevator door, the proximate end surface of the panel comprising a resilient portion that is capable of engaging a sensor in the panel when the elevator door is closing, and thereafter the controller instructs the elevator door to reopen.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2018Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Joseph C. Rampone, Walter Thomas Schmidt