Push button panel for an elevator

• US 5,587,567 A
• Filed: 07/12/1994
• Issued: 12/24/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kone Oyj
• Original Assignee: Kone Oyj
• Inventors: de Jong, Johannes, Winter, Ari
• Primary Examiner(s): NAPPI, ROBERT E
• Application Number:
  US08/273,901
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 187/395, 187/380, 187/413, 187/901, 200/512, 200/502, 200/600
• US Class Current: 187/395
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/462 Mechanical or piezoelectric input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/465 being resistant to damage

Abstract

The invention relates to a push button panel for an elevator. The push button panel includes a front panel and push button areas provided on the front surface of the front panel. The front panel is made of a material having a high degree of rigidity. At least in the regions of the push button areas, the back surface of the front panel is provided with elements sensitive to pressure changes. The sensor element is connected by at least one signal conductor to the data transmission system of the elevator. The sensor element preferably consists of a film which, when subjected to mechanical work, produces an electric signal.

Claims

1. A push button panel comprising:

a substantially rigid front plate having a front surface and a rear surface, said front surface including at least one push button area located thereon;

a back plate located proximate to said rear surface of said front plate, said back plate including a first aperture;

a pressure sensitive film located between said front plate and said back plate and abutting said front plate and said back plate, said pressure sensitive film including a second aperture;

at least one signal conductor associated with said pressure sensitive film for conducting a signal produced by said pressure sensitive film; and

indicator means aligned with said first aperture and said second aperture for indicating when mechanical work has been applied to the push button area, said indicator means being visible through said first aperture, said second aperture, and a portion of said front plate;

whereby mechanical work applied to the push button area is transferred to the pressure sensitive film to produce said signal in said signal conductor.

2. The push button panel according to claim 1, wherein the signal transfer is so arranged that the signal is transferred, at least through part of the transfer distance, between the plates away from the push button area.

3. The push button panel according to claim 1, wherein the push button panel is attached to an elevator car wall or a landing wall by fixing elements.

4. The push button panel according to claim 1, wherein the front plate forms part of a plate structure of an elevator car wall or a landing wall and wherein the pressure sensitive film is attached to the backside of the plate structure of the car or landing wall.

5. The push button panel according to claim 4, wherein a front surface of the elevator car wall or the landing wall is provided with symbols indicating push button areas.

6. The push button panel according to claim 1, further including signaling elements placed near the push button areas and designed to indicate a call received and/or to be served.

7. The push button panel according to claim 1, wherein said pressure sensitive film is provided with an electrode electrically connected to said signal conductor and in which, at least in the area of the electrode, mechanical work applied to the film produces an electric change in the electrode.

8. The push button panel according to claim 1, wherein said indicator means is located at a rear side of said back plate.

9. The push button panel according to claim 1, wherein said indicator means comprises at least one light emitting diode.

10. The push button panel according to claim 1, wherein said front plate includes a window through which said indicator means is visible.

12. The push button panel according to claim 1, wherein said pressure sensitive film includes means for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy.

13. The push button panel according to claim 1, wherein said indicator means is located at a rear side of said back plate, and wherein said front plate includes a window through which said indicator means is visible.

11. A push button panel comprising:

a substantially rigid front plate having a front surface and a rear surface, said front surface including at least one push button area located thereon;

a back plate located proximate to said rear surface of said front plate;

a pressure sensitive film located between said front plate and said back plate and abutting said front plate and said back plate;

at least one signal conductor associated with said pressure sensitive film for conducting a signal produced by said pressure sensitive film; and

indicator means for indicating when mechanical work has been applied to the push button area;

whereby mechanical work applied to the push button area is transferred to the pressure sensitive film to produce said signal in said signal conductor, and

wherein said pressure sensitive film includes a pair of electrodes, and wherein said signal corresponds to a change in capacitance between said pair of electrodes.