Elevator hall call system including a programmable adaptable touch screen

• US 8,136,636 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2004
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Inventors: Bahjat, Zuhair, Sansevero, Frank, Terry, Harry, Pulling, Richard, Stillion, Daniel, Schreiber, Kate, Draudt, Gregg, Judson, Jared A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Salata, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US11/628,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20090294221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,821 Days
• Field of Search: 187/247, 187380-388, 187391-393, 187/396
• US Class Current: 187/391
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/463 Touch sensitive 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 2201/4653 wherein the call is registered using portable devices
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/4661 for priority users
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 3/00 Applications of devices for indicating or signalling operating conditions of elevators

Abstract

Elevator hall call devices have a programmable touch screen which can be programmed to display (a) ten-key destination call buttons, (b) up hall call and down hall call buttons, or (c) N-key destination buttons, as well as buttons which identify utilization of major floors of the building, including functions such as cafeteria, sky lobby, parking, public transport, and lobby, as well as tenants. A controller programs the touch screen in dependence on (d) traffic volume, (e) time of day, (f) floor of the building where the touch screen is disposed or (g) identity of a particular passenger (VIP) in the vicinity of a touch screen.

Claims

1. An elevator hall call system comprising:

a programmable, adaptable interface between passengers and a group of elevators serving a plurality of floors of a building, the interface allowing a passenger to place a call for service from outside of the elevators, the interface comprising at least one programmable touch screen that alternatively displays at least one of at least two patterns and responds differently to portions of said patterns being touched by persons in dependence on the meaning of said patterns, said patterns having

one portion that includes buttons which identify utilization of at least two of the floors of the building, said utilization selected from (a) functions and (b) tenants located on respective floors, and

another portion that includes buttons selected from (c) ten key destination call buttons, (d) up hall call and down hall call buttons, and (e) N-key destination buttons including one button per selectable floor; and

a controller that causes said at least one touch screen to display one or another of said at least two patterns in dependence on at least one circumstance related to said elevators, said at least one circumstance including at least the identity of a particular passenger in the vicinity of said at least one touch screen, said controller entering a service call in response to any one of said buttons being touched.

2. An elevator hall call system comprising:

a programmable, adaptable interface between passengers and a group of elevators serving a plurality of floors of a building, the interface allowing a passenger to place a call for service from outside of the elevators, the interface comprising at least one programmable touch screen that alternatively displays at least one of at least two patterns and responds differently to portions of said patterns being touched by persons in dependence on the meaning of said patterns, each of said patterns having

one portion that includes buttons selected from (a) numerical destination call buttons and (b) up hall call and down hall call buttons, and

another portion that includes buttons which identify utilization of at least two of the floors of the building, said utilization selected from (a) functions and (b) tenants located on respective floors; and

a controller for programming said at least one touch screen to display one or another of said at least two patterns, said controller entering a service call in response to any one of said buttons being touched.

3. An elevator hall call system comprising:

a programmable, adaptable interface between passengers and a group of elevators serving a plurality of floors of a building, the interface allowing a passenger to place a call for service from outside of the elevators, the interface comprising at least one programmable touch screen that alternatively displays at least one of at least two patterns and responds differently to portions of said patterns being touched by persons in dependence on the meaning of the displayed one of said patterns; and

a controller that causes said at least one touch screen to display one or another of said at least two patterns in dependence on at least one circumstance related to said elevators, said at least one circumstance including at least the identity of a particular passenger in the vicinity of said at least one touch screen, said controller entering a service call in response to any one of said buttons being touched.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein said at least one circumstance includes elevator traffic volume or time of day.

5. A system according to claim 3 wherein said at least one circumstance includes a floor of the building where said interface is disposed.