DESTINATION ENTRY PASSENGER INTERFACE WITH MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS

• US 20090133969A1
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Inventors: Flynn, Michael P., Zaharia, Vlad, Pietrzykowski, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 7,793,762 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 187/388
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/462 Mechanical or piezoelectric input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/468 Call registering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/4615 Wherein the destination is registered before boarding
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/463 Wherein the call is registered through physical contact with the elevator system
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/4661 for priority users
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/4676 for checking authorization of the passengers

Abstract

An elevator system (20) uses destination entry dispatching techniques. A passenger interface device (22) operates in a first mode to allow passengers (24) to enter destination requests for elevator service. The passenger interface (22) operates in a second mode to provide at least one additional feature to an authorized individual. The additional feature may be at least one of a service-related function, a security-related function, a monitoring-related function or a communication-related function. Various such features are disclosed.

Claims

1-28. -28. (canceled)

29. A device for use in an elevator system, comprising:

a passenger interface that operates in a first mode to allow a passenger to enter an indication of an intended destination from outside of an elevator car and a second mode to provide at least one other feature to an authorized individual, wherein the one other feature comprises facilitating a service procedure that includes at least one of obtaining information from a remotely located database or ordering an elevator system part from a remotely located source of the part.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the passenger interface initiates the second mode responsive to an authorization signal.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the passenger interface includes an input portion useful in the first mode and wherein the authorized individual uses the input portion to provide the authorization signal.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the authorization signal comprises an access code.

33. The device of claim 30, wherein the passenger interface includes an authorization portion for receiving the authorization signal.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein the authorization portion comprises at least one of a receiver for receiving a wirelessly transmitted signal or a scanner for scanning an item placed in proximity to the scanner.

35. The device of claim 30, wherein the passenger interface initiates a first level second mode responsive to a first authorization signal and a second level second mode responsive to a second, different authorization signal.

36. The device of claim 29, wherein the one other feature comprises providing monitoring information regarding a selected portion of the elevator system.

37. The device of claim 29, wherein the service procedure includes automatically controlling a position of a selected elevator car.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein the service procedure includes automatically positioning the selected elevator car so that a top of the car is accessible from a selected landing.

39. The device of claim 29, wherein the service procedure includes at least temporarily removing a selected elevator car from normal operation.

40. The device of claim 29, wherein the service procedure includes determining a time associated with moving an elevator car between floors.

41. The device of claim 29, wherein the service procedure includes determining at least one time associated with at least one of opening or closing an elevator car door.

42. The device of claim 29, wherein the one other feature comprises facilitating an emergency response procedure.

43. The device of claim 42, wherein the emergency response procedure includes communicating between the passenger interface and a selected elevator car.

44. The device of claim 42, wherein the emergency response procedure includes using the passenger interface for controlling movement of a selected elevator car.

45. The device of claim 29, wherein the one other feature comprises selectively controlling operation of doors of a selected elevator car based at least in part on information regarding an interior of the selected elevator car obtained through the passenger interface.

46. The device of claim 29, wherein the passenger interface operates simultaneously in the first and second modes.

47. The device of claim 29, including a receiver for receiving a wirelessly transmitted signal used for the second mode.

48. A method of using a destination entry passenger interface for an elevator system, comprising the steps of:

operating the passenger interface in a first mode to allow a passenger to provide an indication of an intended destination; and

operating the passenger interface in a second mode to provide at least one other feature to an authorized individual for conducting a service procedure that includes at least one of obtaining information from a remotely located database or ordering an elevator system part from a remotely located source of the part.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein operating in the second mode includes at least facilitating one of a monitoring procedure, an emergency response procedure or a security procedure.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein operating in the second mode includes automatically controlling a position of a selected elevator car responsive to input at the passenger interface.

51. The method of claim 50, including automatically positioning the selected elevator car such that a top of the car is accessible from a selected landing.

52. The method of claim 48, including operating in the first and second modes simultaneously.

53. A method of performing a service operation for an elevator, comprising the steps of:

using a passenger interface on a destination entry device to provide an indication of a desired position of an elevator car in a hoistway;

opening a hoistway door before the elevator car moves to the desired position;

verifying that the elevator car does not move while the hoistway door is open;

setting a car top emergency switch to a stop position and then allowing the hoistway door to close;

reopening the hoistway door to verify a position of the elevator car with the car top emergency switch in the stop position; and

setting the car top emergency switch to a run position and then allowing the hoistway door to close so the elevator car can proceed to the desired position.

54. A method of controlling an elevator car during a service procedure, comprising the steps of:

determining a desired position of the elevator ear responsive to an indication from a passenger destination entry device;

automatically moving the elevator car to a landing corresponding to the passenger destination entry device;

opening the elevator car doors;

waiting a preset time and then

moving the elevator car to the desired position if an in-car inspection switch is manipulated during the preset time

or

returning the elevator car to normal operation if the in-car inspection switch is not manipulated during the preset time.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the in-car inspection switch has three possible positions and the method includes determining if the in-car inspection switch is manipulated into a third one of the three positions during the preset time.