Elevator system for transmitting information to passenger

• US 8,096,388 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Elevator Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Elevator Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Nakamura, Kuniko
• Primary Examiner(s): Salata, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US12/282,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20090095575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,770 Days
• Field of Search: 187/247, 187/248, 187391-396
• US Class Current: 187/391
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 3/00 Applications of devices for indicating or signalling operating conditions of elevators
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 3/006 for guiding passengers to their assigned elevator car

Abstract

An elevator system has a data receiving unit that receives service state data transmitted from a control device of an elevator. A pulse modulation unit separates the service state data received by the data receiving unit into first information data and second information data, pulse-modulates the first information data by using the second information data, and creates an LED blinking pattern. An LED drive unit drives a visible light LED placed in a cage of the elevator or on a platform of the elevator in response to the LED blinking pattern created by the pulse modulation unit.

Claims

1. An elevator system, comprising:

a data receiving unit that receives service state data transmitted from a control device of an elevator;

a pulse modulation unit that separates the service state data received by the data receiving unit into first information data and second information data, pulse-modulates the first information data by using the second information data, and creates an LED blinking pattern; and

an LED drive unit that drives a visible light LED placed in a cage of the elevator or on a platform of the elevator in response to the LED blinking pattern created by the pulse modulation unit.

2. The elevator system according to claim 1,

wherein the second information data contained in the service state data received by the data receiving unit is any of audio information, video information, textual information, which are digital-converted, or a command signal for controlling other electronic instruments.

3. The elevator system according to claim 1,

wherein the service state data created by the control device of the elevator is transmitted to the data receiving unit by using power line communication.

4. The elevator system according to claim 1,

wherein the control device of the elevator creates service state data in which plural data is frequency-multiplexed, and

the pulse modulation unit separates the data into the first information data and the second information data for each of frequency components obtained by separating the service state data for each frequency, creates a plurality of the LED blinking patterns by pulse-modulating the first information data by using the second information data, and allows the visible light LED to emit light.

5. The elevator system according to claim 1,

wherein the first information data is usual guide information including at least one of a position information of the cage, an operation direction of the cage, and a registration state of calls of platforms, and the second information data is special information including at least one of a registration state of a call of the wheelchair platform, a full-loaded state, a controlled operation state, a halt state, an under-inspection state, and a cage arrival forecast.

6. The elevator system according to claim 1,

wherein the first information data is special information including at least one of a registration state of a call of the wheelchair platform, a full-loaded state, a controlled operation state, a halt state, an under-inspection state, and a cage arrival forecast, and the second information data is usual guide information including at least one of a position information of the cage, an operation direction of the cage, and a registration state of calls of platforms.

7. The elevator system according to claim 1,

wherein visible light including the LED blinking pattern created by the pulse modulation unit can be received and utilized in a portable device.

8. The elevator system according to claim 7, wherein the visible light provides a visible display of the first information to a passenger on the elevator, and wherein the LED blinking pattern is decodable by the portable device so as to provide a visible display of the second information on a display of the portable device.