Elevator call button with tactile feedback

• US 7,562,748 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Inventors: Stranieri, Paul A., Nguyen, Dang V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Benson; Walter
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLON SANTANA, EDUARDO
• Application Number:
  US10/553,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20070045050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,255 Days
• Field of Search: 187/391, 187/395, 340/999
• US Class Current: 187/395
• 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 3/00 Applications of devices for indicating or signalling operating conditions of elevators

Abstract

An elevator call button assembly (20) includes at least one call button (50) having a surface (70) that is touchable by an individual to indicate a desired call in the elevator system. A responder (56) provides a tactile indication that the call has been successfully placed. In one example, the responder (56) comprises a vibrating motor that moves a moveable member (52) once the system controller (68) has successfully received a signal indicating the desired call.

Claims

1. A device for placing a call in an elevator system, comprising:

a surface that is manually touchable to indicate a desired call;

a controller that determines whether the elevator system can respond to the desired call; and

a responder that automatically provides a tactile confirmation of the desired call responsive to a signal from the controller once the controller determines that the elevator system can respond to the desired call.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the surface is supported on a moveable member that is manually moveable to indicate the desired call.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the responder comprises an automated mover that automatically moves the moveable member to provide the tactile confirmation.

4. The device of claim 3, comprising a housing that supports the moveable member such that the moveable member is manually moveable relative to the housing in at least one direction.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the automated mover moves the moveable member relative to the housing.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the automated mover moves the moveable member in a second direction relative to the housing.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein the automated mover comprises a vibrating motor.

8. The device of claim 3, wherein the automated mover moves responsive to a manual manipulation of the moveable member.

9. The device of claim 3, including a controller that determines when the moveable member has been moved and the automated mover moves responsive to the controller.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the surface is capacitive and the device provides a call signal responsive to human contact with the surface.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the surface is supported on a hall call button that is adapted to be placed on a selected surface in a building.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the surface is supported on a moveable member that is manually moveable to indicate the desired call.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the responder comprises an automated mover that automatically moves the moveable member to provide the tactile confirmation.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the automated mover comprises a vibrating motor.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the surface is supported on a car operating panel that is adapted to be placed in an elevator car.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the surface is supported on a moveable member that is manually moveable to indicate the desired call.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the responder comprises an automated mover that automatically moves the moveable member to provide the tactile confirmation.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the automated mover comprises a vibrating motor.

19. A method of acknowledging that a call button signal has been received in an elevator system, comprising:

determining a desired call responsive to a call button signal;

determining whether the elevator system can respond to the desired call; and

providing a tactile confirmation at the call button to indicate that the elevator system can respond to the desired call.

20. The method of claim 19, including automatically moving a surface that is touched by an individual.

21. The method of claim 19, including vibrating at least a portion of the call button.