With Monitoring, Signalling, And Indicating Means Patents (Class 187/391)
  • Patent number: 12237195
    Abstract: Cassette lid opening device for a semiconductor substrate processing apparatus comprising a housing, a door assembly, a transport mechanism, and at least one suspension. The housing has at least one wall with an associated wall opening. The door assembly comprises at least one door plate configured for substantially closing off the associated wall opening of the at least one wall. The transport mechanism includes a carriage which is connected to the door assembly and configured to transport the door assembly parallel to the at least one wall. The at least one suspension is arranged between the at least one door plate and the transport mechanism. The at least one suspension comprises a suspension spring assembly which allows movement of the at least one door plate in a direction perpendicular to the at least one wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Theodorus G. M. Oosterlaken, Maarten Hendrikus Maria Lamers, Nimit Kothari, Chaggai Shmuel Ganani
  • Patent number: 12227391
    Abstract: A vibration damping device for reducing vibration of an elevator rope includes a displacement amplifier arranged around a region from a first portion of the elevator rope drawn and a second portion of the elevator rope drawn from an opposite side of one or more sheaves in parallel with the first portion. The displacement amplifier is configured to amplify a displacement of each of the first portion and the second portion of the elevator rope. The device also includes a limiting member that controls displacement amplification performed by the displacement amplifier such that the displacement of the first portion or the second portion amplified by the displacement amplifier does not become greater than a first displacement, which is a displacement of the elevator rope by which the elevator rope is not allowed to return to an equilibrium position of the vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiichi Saito, Takahide Hirai, Seiji Watanabe, Daisuke Nakazawa, Daiki Fukui, Tomohiro Asamura, Yusuke Chikada
  • Patent number: 12202705
    Abstract: A method of monitoring health of an elevator system including: detecting, using a sensing apparatus, sensor data, the sensor data including at least one of an acceleration of an elevator car, temperature data of the elevator system, and pressure data proximate the elevator car; determining a health level of the elevator system in response to at least one of the acceleration of the elevator car, the temperature data of the elevator system, and the pressure data proximate the elevator car; determining whether the health level is greater than a selected threshold; determining that there is a potential health issue if the health level is greater than the selected threshold; determining one or more possible locations for the health level within an elevator shaft; determining a probability of each of the one or more possible locations; and displaying the probability of the health level being at a plurality of locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Derk Oscar Pahlke
  • Patent number: 12182336
    Abstract: A transport method includes providing a cab having a moveable actuator coupled to the propulsion unit to move the propulsion unit between a first position above the cab during take-off and a second position during lateral flight; receiving a hand control from a controller or stick, and flight data captured by a plurality of cameras or sensors, wherein hand grip or movement represents a control request; and determining control options based on a current state of the control request and the environment of the cab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Inventor: Ha Tran
  • Patent number: 12157657
    Abstract: Disclosed is an elevator system having: a holding relay configured to energize and deenergize a circuit, the holding relay configured to communicate over a wireless network with a mobile device, wherein the holding relay is configured to: deenergize the circuit responsive to receiving a first signal via the wireless network from the mobile device, indicative of the mobile device being in or near a first architectural location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Ezhil Nanjappan, Andrew S. Bierer
  • Patent number: 12139374
    Abstract: A monitoring device (20, 22), which is configured for monitoring movement of at least one component (6, 12) of an elevator system (2), includes an acceleration sensor (24) and a controller (26). The acceleration sensor (24) is configured for detecting accelerations (g, g?) of the at least one component (6, 12) and providing a corresponding acceleration signal (28, 30). The controller (26) is configured for determining peaks (28a, 28b, 30a, 30b) having positive or negative signs in the detected acceleration signal (28, 30); determining the signs of the detected peaks (28a, 28b, 30a, 30b); and determining that the moving direction of the at least one component (6, 12) has changed when two subsequent peaks (28a, 28b, 30a, 30b) of the acceleration signal (28, 30) having the same sign are detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Derk Oscar Pahlke, Tadeusz Pawel Witczak, Craig Drew Bogli
  • Patent number: 12126287
    Abstract: Provided is a magnetic pole position detection device with which it is possible to shorten the detection time of the initial magnetic pole position of the rotor of a synchronous motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Takahashi, Tomohisa Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 12127377
    Abstract: An electronic control device capable of improving cooling performance by air cooling is provided. The electronic control device includes a circuit board 6 (board), a heat-generating component 7 (heating element) mounted on the circuit board 6, a heat dissipation material 12 (thermally conductive material) that is in contact with the heat-generating component 7 and conducts heat of the heat-generating component 7, a fin-integrated housing 3 (housing) that is in contact with the heat dissipation material 12 and covers the circuit board 6, and a cover 1 that covers the fin-integrated housing 3. The cover 1 has a hole (2) 8 and a hole (3) 9 as intake holes, and a hole (1) 2 as an exhaust hole. The hole (1) 2 is formed at a position close to the heat-generating component 7 relative to the hole (2) 8 and the hole (3) 9. The hole (2) 8 and the hole (3) 9 are formed at positions away from the heat-generating component 7 relative to the hole (1) 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiko Ueno, Yoshio Kawai
  • Patent number: 12091286
    Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided a method for remote operation of a plurality of elevators, each of the plurality of elevators being coupled with a communication computer. The method comprises receiving, by a remote service system from the communication computer, a rescue request associated with an elevator; providing, by the remote service system, a verification to distinguish the elevator associated with the rescue request among the plurality of elevators; enabling, by the remote service system, a data connection with the communication computer to control the verified elevator; and performing, by the remote service system, a remote operation associated with the verified elevator via the enabled data connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Ari Kattainen, Juha-Matti Aitamurto
  • Patent number: 12091287
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a connector body and a suspension member. The suspension member extends along a center axis and comprises a plurality of tension members encased in a jacket. The suspension member has one end received within the connector body, and this one end has an end face extending at an angle relative to the center axis with ends of the plurality of tension members being exposed. A plurality of contact members are supported within the connector body, and each contact member contacts an exposed end face of at least one tension member to establish electrically conductive connections with the plurality of tension members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Antonio Martins
  • Patent number: 11999591
    Abstract: An elevator system includes a hoistway; an elevator car configured to travel in the hoistway; a pit located at a bottom of the hoistway; a safety chain configured to enable or disable motion of the elevator car; and a sensor assembly configured to initiate opening the safety chain to disable motion of the elevator car upon detection of a person in the pit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Randy Roberts, Johanna Whitwell, James Tilsley Auxier, Kathleen Nicole Moore, Kyler Vensel
  • Patent number: 11993483
    Abstract: An elevator system is provided. Aspects includes at least one elevator car, a plurality of sensors, a controller coupled to a memory, the controller configured to receive a call request for an elevator car from a user device. An identifier is transmitted to the user device and to the plurality of sensors. A location of the user device is determined based at least in part on at least one sensor in the plurality of sensors detecting the identifier on the user device. And the at least one elevator car is operated based on the location of the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Jayapal Reddy Gireddy
  • Patent number: 11993480
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a conveyance apparatus within a conveyance system including: obtaining a health level of the conveyance system at a first conveyance apparatus location; determining that the health level for the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location is outside of a threshold operating range; activating an alert on a mobile device indicating that the health level for the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location is outside of the threshold operating range; and receiving a selection input on the mobile device, the selection input indicating a mechanic feedback regarding the health level of the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Yrinee Michaelidis, Derk Oscar Pahlke
  • Patent number: 11964848
    Abstract: An elevator system includes a hoistway, an elevator car configured to travel in the hoistway, and a pit located at a bottom of the hoistway. A safety chain is configured to enable or disable motion of the elevator car, and a sensor assembly is configured to initiate opening the safety chain to disable motion of the elevator car upon detection of a person in a detection region of the sensor assembly in the hoistway. A test device is configured to test operation of the sensor assembly to detect malfunctioning and/or tampering of operation of the sensor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Randy Roberts, Johanna Whitwell, Craig Drew Bogli
  • Patent number: 11960615
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to managing user profiles. An example method includes, at a computer system in communication with a display generation component and an input device: receiving, via the input device, a user input including a request to access a first restricted media item; and in response to the user input: in accordance with a determination the user input is a voice input and the voice input corresponds to a user profile authorized to access the first restricted media item using voice inputs, initiating playback of the first restricted media item; and in accordance with a determination the user input is a voice input and the voice input does not correspond to a user profile authorized to access the first restricted media item using voice inputs: forgoing initiating playback of the first restricted media item; and causing display, at the display generation component, of a validation user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Ma, Corey J. Peterson, Rob Bowles Sinclair, Hiu Yi Chan, Neil P. Cormican
  • Patent number: 11926505
    Abstract: An elevator control device recognizes a destination floor of a user from a voice of the user input to a voice input device, registers a voice car call corresponding to the recognized destination floor, generates stop floor information including a stop floor at which a car stops before the car arrives at the destination floor after the registration of the voice car call, and performs, as a voice announcement that follows the generated stop floor information, any one of a first announcement for notifying of the stop floor in order of floors at which the car stops and a second announcement for notifying of how many floors the car stops at before arriving at the destination floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsutoshi Iio
  • Patent number: 11912534
    Abstract: A safety net system is provided for an elevator system that includes an elevator pit. The safety net system includes a sensor and a processor. The sensor is arranged in a plane along a bottom of the elevator pit and is configured to perform sensing to sense an object disposed along the plane and to generate data corresponding to results of the sensing. The processor is operably coupled to the sensor and is configured to analyze the data and to determine whether the data is indicative of a person in the elevator pit based on analysis results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Randy Roberts, Johanna Whitwell, Craig Drew Bogli, Kyler Vensel
  • Patent number: 11893160
    Abstract: A method for transportation includes providing a vehicle with a cab and having a moveable actuator coupled to a propulsion unit to move the propulsion unit between a first position above the cab during lift-off and a second position during lateral flight. The system can receive hand control gestures as captured by cameras/sensors. A flight computer determines vehicle control options based on the model, a current state of the vehicle and the environment of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Inventor: Ha Tran
  • Patent number: 11873194
    Abstract: A braking device for an elevator with a rail-guided car, which encompasses a guide rail and holds a braking element in position on one side of the guide rail and holds another braking element in position on the opposite side of the guide rail, wherein at least one of the braking elements is held in its standby position by a switchable retaining magnet against the force of an automatic actuator. The braking element is automatically driven in between the basic body and the guide rail, if the car moves at the point in time at which the braking element abuts against the guide rail. The retaining magnet is equipped with an air gap reducing agent, which reduces or eliminates an air gap between the retaining magnet and the braking element such that the retaining magnet keeps the braking element magnetically trapped again, as soon as it is switched accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Wittur Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Russwurm, Herbert Karner, René Holzer, Karl Kriener
  • Patent number: 11851305
    Abstract: A method of operating a safety net system of an elevator system is provided. The method includes installing a sensor in an elevator pit of the elevator system and executing a learning phase of the sensor to verify successful installation of the sensor. The executing of the learning phase includes causing the sensor to sense physical characteristics of a portion of the elevator pit when the elevator pit is known to have certain physical characteristics to generate a background reading, comparing the background reading against a reading associated with known physical characteristics of the portion of the elevator pit and verifying the successful installation of the sensor based on results of the comparing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Randy Roberts, Johanna Whitwell, Craig Drew Bogli, Kyler Vensel
  • Patent number: 11708237
    Abstract: Communication for an elevator service request in the field of elevator technologies. A wireless signal device for broadcasting a wireless signal according to the present invention is capable of communicating with an elevator controller of an elevator system, establishing a wireless connection with a personal mobile terminal based on the wireless signal, receiving an elevator service request command from the personal mobile terminal, and sending the received elevator service request command to the elevator controller for elevator service control. The wireless signal device comprises: an elevator service request command responding unit configured to generate an elevator service request command data packet that has been responded to according to the elevator service request command that has been received; and a broadcasting unit configured to broadcast the elevator service request command data packet that has been responded to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Kai Li, Haofeng Hou, Fu Qi, SiQi Ma, Hui Chen
  • Patent number: 11702315
    Abstract: Elevator systems and methods for displaying information associated with the elevator systems. The systems including an elevator car located within an elevator shaft, a display located within the elevator car, and an elevator emergency monitoring system having an elevator shaft monitoring device mounted on the elevator car and configured to capture an image of the elevator shaft. The elevator car is operable in an emergency mode of operation such that an image captured by the elevator shaft monitoring device is displayed on the display within the elevator car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Nicolas Beaubois
  • Patent number: 11682047
    Abstract: A method, computer system, and computer program product for cognitive elevator advertisements are provided. The embodiment may include identifying one or more passengers utilizing real-time sensor data. The embodiment may also include determining a preference value of each identified passenger for a plurality of product categories based on a plurality of data related to past purchase histories or purchasing patterns received from a plurality of databases simultaneously or almost simultaneously. The embodiment may further include computing corrected passenger preference values for the plurality of product categories based on unprejudiced preference values of the passengers multiplied by the preference values assigned to each product category. The embodiment may also include determining one or more targeted advertisements for one or more targeted passengers based on each computed passenger preference values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony J. P. Behan, Ninad Sathaye, John Cohn, Rick A. Hamilton, II
  • Patent number: 11664256
    Abstract: The application discloses a placement system for a door of a wafer pod, including a loadport. A docking interface is formed in the loadport, a placement mechanism is arranged on one side surface of the loadport, and includes a swing component, a follower component, and a docking plate. The swing component and the follower component are respectively connected to the docking plate, and the swing component can drive the docking plate to place the docking plate obliquely above the docking interface. By utilizing the space at the top of the loadport, the structural layout of the loadport is more reasonable; and the docking plate is placed nearly horizontally after the door is placed at a designated position, and provides a supporting force to the door, so that dependence on the vacuum suction is decreased, thereby avoiding the influences due to fluctuations of air pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Inventors: Dongfeng Zhang, Weicheng Bao, Wenguang Wang, Xuchen Wang, Ying Ye
  • Patent number: 11634301
    Abstract: A system and method for detection of a malfunction in an elevator. The system includes an elevator cab, a server, at least one sensor, and a controller. The controller receives a signal captured by the at least sensor and transmit to the server. The server processes the transmitted signal and prognostically detects the malfunction in the elevator cab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Aditya Swami, Guru Charan Kottur, Daisuke Meguro, Hiromitsu Miyajima
  • Patent number: 11608248
    Abstract: A suspension member arrangement for an elevator includes a suspension member having a plurality of electrically conductive load-bearing cords commonly embedded in an electrically isolating matrix material, a first connector and a second connector each attached to the suspension member and electrically contacting the cords within the suspension member in a contacted end region thereof. The first connector electrically contacts and electrically interconnects in parallel a first group of the cords being a first plurality of directly neighboring ones of the cords. The second connector electrically contacts and electrically interconnects in parallel a second group of the cords being a second plurality of directly neighboring ones of the cords. The suspension member arrangement facilitates electrically contacting the cords of the suspension member using a simple type of connector whereby deteriorations in characteristics of the suspension member can be electrically detected with high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Florian Dold, Oliver Berner, Philippe Henneau
  • Patent number: 11591182
    Abstract: A presence detection system includes a support layer operable to act as an underlying surface for supporting object(s), a sensor layer disposed beneath the support layer and operable to output readings indicating the presence of object(s) supported on the support layer and a controller for receiving the presence readings from the sensor layer and determining, based on the readings, an indicator of the occupancy status and/or an occupancy level of the support layer. The presence detection system can be used within an access gate system whereby the access gate is operated to a blocking position upon the presence detection system detecting more than one human supported on the support layer, this operation overriding a reading of an authenticated user token. The presence detection system can also be used within an elevator system wherein the elevator door subsystem and the elevator displacement subsystem are controlled based on an occupancy level detected by the detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Girard Larivière Inc.
    Inventors: Claude Girard, Josée Larivière, Philippe Girard
  • Patent number: 11577937
    Abstract: This application relates to a method and an apparatus for monitoring a state of a passenger transport system such as, for example, an escalator. The method includes monitoring the state of the passenger transport system using an updated digital double data record that reflects characterizing properties of components of the passenger transport system in an actual configuration of the passenger transport system in a machine-processable manner after the assembly and installation thereof in a building. The updated digital double data record can be obtained, for example, by accurately surveying the passenger transport system and using signal values from sensors housed in the passenger transport system, and allows conclusions as to the present or future state of the passenger transport system, based on which maintenance measures can be planned efficiently and adequately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventor: Thomas Novacek
  • Patent number: 11548761
    Abstract: Embodiments include a method and system for detecting mechanics in an elevator system. The system includes a controller configured to communicate with one or more anchors, and a tag configured to transmit a signal, wherein the signal includes an identifier and location information. The system also includes one or more anchors, wherein the one or more anchors are configured to detect the signal from the tag, wherein the controller is configured to execute a safety action response to detecting the signal from the tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Stella M. Oggianu, Ankit Anand Gupta, Tadeusz Pawel Witczak, Craig Drew Bogli, Vineet Srivastava
  • Patent number: 11542119
    Abstract: Elevator access systems having an access control module operably connected to an elevator system and an access device located within the access control module and removable therefrom, wherein when the access device is within the access control module a normal mode of operation of the elevator system is activated and when the access device is removed from the access control module, the elevator system enters a safety mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Pascal Rebillard, Gerard Sirigu, Sebastien Bourdarias, Valerie Mauguen
  • Patent number: 11537355
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a method that includes storing first client information identifying a first client device, identifying a location of the first client device, and identifying a first remote access session that provides the first client device access to resources of the remote access system. The method further includes receiving access information identifying an access device and a user account associated with the first client information. The access information indicates that the user account has been successfully authenticated by the access device. The method further includes, in response to the receipt of the access information, causing the first client device to connect to the first remote access session with the remote access system as a background process of the client device while a user interface of the client device remains locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Parallels International GmbH
    Inventors: Cláudio Rodrigues, Nikolay Dobrovolskiy, Serguei M. Beloussov, Liubov Kulakova
  • Patent number: 11518649
    Abstract: An elevator derailment detecting device according to the present invention detects the opened and closed states of contacts at first and second safety relays 82 and 83 (steps S1 and S2). Since a first NO contact 82b is closed, a first NC contact 82c is opened, a second NO contact 83b is closed, and a second NC contact 83c is opened, it is determined that there is no circuit failure. Then, the opened and closed state of the contactless relay 84 is detected (step S3). When the contactless relay NO contact 84b is closed and the contactless relay NC contact 84c is opened, it is determined that the counterweight 21 of the elevator 11 is in a derailed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuaki Koide
  • Patent number: 11505428
    Abstract: A control unit, an elevator-monitoring apparatus and a method are used to monitor a maintenance mode of an elevator installation. The control unit has a controller and a memory device, wherein the controller receives a first signal when a locking device of shaft door is locked and receives a second signal when the locking device is unlocked. The controller compares a chronological signal sequence of first signals and second signals with a reference sequence stored in the memory device for actuation of the locking device and, if the signal sequence of the first signals and second signals matches the reference sequence, ends the maintenance mode and releases a car of the elevator installation for a traveling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventor: Markus Walker
  • Patent number: 11479444
    Abstract: A method and device detect non-uniform and uniform deterioration states in an elevator suspension member having first and second groups of electrically conductive cords. First ends of the groups are electrically connected to an alternating voltage generator arrangement and second ends are electrically connected to each other through first and second resistors via a neutral point at which electrical resistances of the groups are the same in a non-deteriorated state of the suspension member. The method includes: applying first and second alternating voltages to the first end of the first and second groups, respectively; determining a neutral point voltage between the neutral point and an electrical reference potential; determining difference voltages between first and second difference measurement points located between the second ends of the groups and the respective resistors; and determining the deterioration state based on both the determined neutral point voltage and the determined difference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Vincent Robibero, Philippe Henneau
  • Patent number: 11440773
    Abstract: An automatic elevator safety system includes an elevator safety circuit and an external server. The elevator safety circuit is configured for monitoring the operation of an elevator system comprising at least one elevator car traveling along a hoistway, and an elevator control configured for controlling the movement of the elevator car. At least one of the elevator control and the elevator safety circuit is configured for sending data comprising information about the current state of the elevator system to the external server, in particular in case a safety issue has been detected. The external server is configured for (A) receiving the data sent by the at least one elevator safety circuit; (B) analyzing the received data; and (C) depending on the result of the analysis, sending commands to the elevator system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Peter Herkel
  • Patent number: 11420846
    Abstract: An elevator system is provided. Aspects includes an elevator car, a sensor, and a projector affixed to the elevator car, wherein the projector is operated by a controller and the controller is configured to receive an indication of a presence of a passenger in the elevator car. A car operating panel is projected, by a projector, in the elevator car, wherein the car operating panel comprises a virtual element. An activation of the virtual element from the passenger is sensed by a sensor and an action is initiated based at least in part on sensing the activation of the virtual element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Jayapal Reddy Gireddy
  • Patent number: 11365088
    Abstract: A monitoring device for monitoring a passenger transport system includes at least one sensor, a control unit, a bus, and at least one bus node connected to the bus. The bus node has a microprocessor and an inspection unit for data exchange with the control unit. A first program module in the microprocessor detects a state change of the sensor that is connected to an input of the microprocessor via a transmission line and spontaneously transmits a corresponding state message to the control unit. A second program module in the inspection unit, after receiving an instruction from the control unit, transmits an activation signal to a coupling point in the bus node that simulates a state change of the sensor, the activation signal being superimposed on a sensor signal and/or being coupled into a power supply line connected to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Astrid Sonnenmoser, Kurt Heinz
  • Patent number: 11365096
    Abstract: The present application relates to a continuously conveying passenger transport system which can be walked on and is designed as an escalator or moving walkway and a mobile device charging device for wirelessly electrically charging at least one mobile device during a passenger transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Martin Kusserow, Zack Zhu, Thomas Novacek
  • Patent number: 11353378
    Abstract: A machining device includes a driving shaft provided with a brake and driven by a motor, a detector that detects a state quantity of the driving shaft, and a controller that controls the driving shaft based on the state quantity. The controller includes a switch command unit that outputs a switch command for switching the brake between on and off states, a vibration command unit that outputs a vibration command for rotating the motor minutely in forward and reverse directions at a first time point after the switch command is output and at a second time point temporally spaced at an interval from the first time point, and a determination unit that determines a state of the brake based on the state quantity detected at the first time point while the vibration command is being output and the state quantity at the second time point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shingo Tachiki
  • Patent number: 11274020
    Abstract: A door operation controller for an elevator includes at least one sensor arranged in a doorway at a landing for detecting moving direction and/or moving speed of a person or an object in or near the doorway during a time period from when the elevator door is opened until when the elevator door is closed at the landing. The controller is configured to control door operation in response to the detection of a person's or object's movement in or near the doorway at the landing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Hisanori Seki, Atsushi Yamada, Tomomitsu Sano
  • Patent number: 11247869
    Abstract: Elevator systems having an elevator car located within an elevator shaft, the elevator car moveable between a plurality of floors of a building, a car operating panel located within the elevator car and having a plurality of buttons operable for selection of a destination floor of the plurality of floors, a digital readable marker located within the elevator car that is at least one of scannable and readable by a user device, and a digital storage system having information stored thereon, the information including directory information, wherein the directory information includes information associated with the floors selectable by operation of the plurality of buttons. When a user device scans or reads the digital readable marker, the digital storage system transmits the directory information to the user device so that the user device can display the directory information to a passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Bruno Quaretti, Eric Vaunois
  • Patent number: 11198591
    Abstract: Depth cameras may be placed within an elevator car hoistway to capture depth images of the elevator rope. 3D sensing software may be used to identify the rope within the depth images and assign tracking points to locations along the rope. Tracked images are saved over time and compared to prior tracked images to determine the movement of tracked points between images. Movement of tracked points may be used to determine the velocity, acceleration, frequency of wave motion, and other characteristics of the rope during a period of time. When measured characteristics exceed specified thresholds, the system may take one or more actions to mitigate the undesirable behavior or provide notification of the undesirable behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Palazzola, Jie Xu, Stephen Allen, Peter Feldhusen, Frank Dudde, Alan Parker
  • Patent number: 11192751
    Abstract: The invention concerns a rescue apparatus, an elevator as well as a retrofit kit. The rescue apparatus comprises a brake control unit having input terminals for connecting to a power supply, output terminals for connecting to a magnetizing coil of an electromagnetic brake, at least one controllable brake opening switch associated with at least one of the input terminals and adapted, in an open state, to prevent supply of current from the power supply to the magnetizing coil and, in a closed state, to allow supply of current from the power supply to the magnetizing coil. The rescue apparatus further comprises a control cable comprising one or more control signal wires and a remote control panel coupled via the control cable to the brake control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arto Nakari, Ari Kattainen
  • Patent number: 11180344
    Abstract: Elevator systems including an elevator car having a first elevator car door and an openable ceiling, the openable ceiling comprising a ceiling frame and an openable panel, the openable panel moveable from an open position to a closed position relative to the ceiling frame, an imaging device mounted to the openable panel and configured to capture image data of a detection zone that includes at least an opening formed by the first elevator car door when the openable panel is in the closed position, and a display located within the elevator car to display an image associated with the image data received from the imaging device. The openable panel is openable to create an access way that permits access from an interior of the elevator car to a top exterior of the elevator car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Bruno Quaretti, Eric Vaunois
  • Patent number: 11167955
    Abstract: A method for generating maintenance data of an elevator door system includes detecting a first event during closing or opening of a door of the elevator door system and defining a time stamp of the first event, wherein the first event is opening or closing of a safety circuit; detecting at least one second event during said closing or opening of the door of the elevator door system and defining time stamp of the at least one second event; defining a difference value by comparing the time stamp of the first event and the time stamp of the at least one second event; comparing the difference value to previously stored one or more difference values; and generating maintenance data of the elevator door system. A system is provided to perform at least partly the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sami Saarela, Aki Haikonen
  • Patent number: 11155438
    Abstract: The invention relates to a solution for diagnosing an operational condition of at least one device of an elevator car. The solution comprises the at least one device, an image capturing device, at least one reflective surface arranged to a position in an elevator car forming a path of reflection between the image capturing device and a portion of the at least one device, and a control device, In the solution the at least one device is caused to set the operating state and the image capturing device is configured to capture an image at least on the portion of the at least one device seen by the image capturing device through the at least one reflective surface, the image data is analyzed and based on that the operational condition of the device is concluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Matti Kujala, Eero Putkinen, Matti Naapuri, Markus Nivala, Toni Toivanen, Van Minh Vu
  • Patent number: 11040854
    Abstract: A method of operating an elevator or escalator system is provided. The method includes alerting a mechanic of a shutdown of a vehicle of the elevator or escalator system and providing data indicative of an occupancy condition of the vehicle to the mechanic so that the mechanic can execute, in any order, a verification of a no-occupancy condition, a switch of a mode of operation of the elevator or escalator system to a recovery mode and an inspection for faults. The method further includes initiating an overspeed (OS) switch reset routine in an event the mechanic confirms that an actuation of the OS switch is an exclusive cause of the shutdown and remotely triggers the OS switch reset routine accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Sandeep Sudi, Aayush Desai
  • Patent number: 11014781
    Abstract: An elevator safety system comprises: at least one position sensor, which is configured for determining a position value representing the position of the elevator car within the hoistway; at least one door sensor, which is configured for detecting whether the at least one door is closed; a limit setting unit, which is configured for determining an operation status of the elevator car and for setting at least one position limit according to the determined operation status; and a comparison unit, which is configured for comparing the determined position value with the set position limit and for determining an error condition, if the position value is not in compliance with the at least one position limit and the at least one door sensor indicates that at least one door is not closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Peter Herkel, Dirk H. Tegtmeier
  • Patent number: 10988346
    Abstract: An installation gauge for use in an elevator hoistway is provided. The installation gauge includes a platform assembly and a frame assembly configured to support the platform assembly. The frame assembly includes one or more safety assemblies and one or more guide assemblies. Opposing guide shoes are connected to each of the one or more guide assemblies. The opposing guide shoes are centered about a guide rail and configured to determine a centerline of the guide rail. A lift assembly is configured to facilitate hoisting of the platform assembly and the frame assembly within the elevator hoistway. A plurality of safety ropes couples the lift assembly to the one or more safety assemblies. A climbing rope is attached to the lift assembly. The determination of the centerline of the guide rail can be used as a basis to install other hoistway equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventors: Steven P. Wurth, Terry Rodebaugh, Andy Gries, Jeff Wagenhauser, Doug Scott
  • Patent number: 10968078
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring condition of a rope of a hoisting device, which rope comprises one or more load bearing members oriented to extend parallel with longitudinal direction of the rope throughout the length thereof. The method comprises measuring strains of one or more portions of a load bearing member of the rope; and comparing the measured strains of one or more portions of a load bearing member of the rope with at least one reference. The invention also relates to a hoisting device implementing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Hannu Lehtinen, Jukka Penttila, Juha Helenius