Conveyor passenger interface system

• US 7,841,452 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2004
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Inventors: Stillion, Daniel James, Draudt, Gregg Robert, Bahjat, Zuhair S., Schreiber, Kate M., Sansevero, Frank, Judson, Jared Alden, Pulling, Richard K., Terry, Harry
• Primary Examiner(s): SALATA, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US11/629,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20070158141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,363 Days
• Field of Search: 187/247, 187380-388, 187391-396
• US Class Current: 187/396
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/46 Adaptations of switches or switchgear switches or switchgear in general, applications of switches or switchgear for floor-levelling purpose H01H; panels for boards or switching arrangements H02B1/015
• 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 2201/4638 Wherein the call is registered without making physical contact with the elevator system
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/4646 using voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 3/02 Position or depth indicators

Abstract

A conveyor passenger interface system includes a passenger reception area (10) having a mechanism (14) for receiving a voice request from a passenger. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the voice request receiving mechanism (14) is a sound dome. The system further includes a device (18) responsive to the voice request for identifying a conveyor for transporting the passenger to a desired location and for identifying the conveyor to the passenger. The system of the present invention has utility in elevator systems as well as other transportation systems.

Claims

1. A conveyor passenger interface system comprising:

a passenger reception area having a plurality of passenger conveyors, said passenger reception area including motion detecting means for detecting the presence of a passenger and means for receiving a voice request from said passenger;

control means for generating oral instructions for said passenger which are communicated to the passenger upon initial detection by said motion detecting means of the passenger'"'"'s presence;

said control means having means responsive to said voice request for selecting one of said conveyors for transporting said passenger to a desired location; and

a display device within said reception area for receiving a signal from said control means and for identifying said one conveyor selected by said control means to said passenger.

2. A conveyor passenger interface system according to claim 1, wherein said responsive means includes a controller and said voice request receiving means comprising a sound dome mounted to a static structure, and wherein said display device is located within said sound dome.

3. A conveyor passenger interface system according to claim 2, wherein said sound dome has a receiver and means for transmitting said voice request to said controller.

4. A conveyor passenger interface system according to claim 1, wherein said display device comprises light means for indicating said selected conveyor to said passenger.

5. A conveyor passenger interface system according to claim 1, wherein said display device further comprises means for aurally indicating said selected conveyor to said passenger.

6. A conveyor passenger interface system according to claim 1, wherein said display device further comprises visual means for indicating said selected conveyor to said passenger.

7. A conveyor passenger interface system according to claim 6, wherein said visual means displays at least one of a color, a symbol, or a letter for said conveyor on a floor of said reception area.

8. A conveyor passenger interface system according to claim 1, further comprising a panel in said conveyor indicating at least one of a plurality of destinations served by said conveyor, a destination requested by said passenger, and a direction of movement of said conveyor.

9. A method of interfacing a passenger with a conveyor comprising the steps of:

providing a reception area having motion detection means for detecting the presence of a passenger and means for receiving an oral command from said passenger;

generating oral instructions from a controller for said passenger and communicating said oral instructions to the passenger upon initial detection of the passenger'"'"'s presence by said motion detection means;

said passenger stating a desired destination when in the presence of said receiving means;

transmitting said desired destination to said controller;

selecting one of said conveyors to be used by said passenger with said controller; and

indicating said selected conveyor to said passenger.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein each of said conveyors has a color associated therewith and said indicating step comprises generating a color which corresponds to the color associated with said selected conveyor.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein each of said conveyors has a symbol associated therewith and said indicating step comprises generating a symbol which corresponds to the symbol associated with said selected conveyor.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein each of said conveyors has a number associated therewith and said indicating step comprises generating a number which corresponds to the number associated with said selected conveyor.

13. A method according to claim 9, further comprising providing voice responses to said passenger.

14. A method according to claim 9, further comprising indicating to said passenger at least one of a range of destinations to be serviced by said conveyor, at least one destination for said conveyor, and a current direction of said conveyor.