Remote monitoring of elevator cab lights

• US 6,147,620 A
• Filed: 03/30/1999
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Inventors: Rogers, William C., Blackaby, Barry G., Wurts, William A., Remmers, Timothy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US09/281,774
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.42, 340/461, 340/458, 340/931, 340/642, 73/293, 250/577, 250/227.14, 250/227.16, 250/573, 250/574, 250/227.17, 250/227.18, 250/205
• US Class Current: 340/815.42
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/0006 Monitoring devices or performance analysers B66B5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/0018 Devices monitoring the operating condition of the elevator system

Abstract

To sense the level of light in the passenger compartment 7 of an elevator cab 8, light at the proximal end of an optical fiber 4 is monitored by an optical detector 25 feeding a variable voltage divider 18, which allows setting a trip point at a desired level of light within the passenger compartment, thereby providing a signal indicating whether the light is adequate or not to a remote elevator monitoring apparatus 23. The trip point may be selected on installation by adjusting a potentiometer while watching an optical indication 17 of reaching the trip point, or it may be determined by software routines.

Claims

1. Apparatus for monitoring the level of light in an elevator cab, comprising:

an elevator cab having light fixtures for illuminating a passenger usage portion of said cab;

an optical fiber having a distal end extending into a field of light provided by said light fixtures within said cab;

an optical detector disposed adjacent a proximal end of said optical fiber for providing a light level signal indicative of the level of light in said cab; and

level responsive means responsive to said light level signal for providing a trip signal indicative of whether the level of light in said passenger compartment is above a threshold level, or not.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said distal end is rounded.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said optical detector is a photodiode.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

said level sensing means comprises circuitry disposed on said elevator and further comprises;

an indicator for providing a manifestation of the respective presence or absence of said trip signal; and

operator controlled means for adjusting said circuitry to vary said threshold level of light required to provide said trip signal.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising:

a remote elevator monitoring apparatus; and

wherein

said trip signal is applied to said remote elevator monitoring apparatus.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said indicator is visual.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said indicator is an LED.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said level responsive means comprises a data processor, and said trip signal is provided by software routines performed therein.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said data processor is within remote elevator monitoring apparatus.