Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Cbs Corporation

Alan F Mandel

Kenneth M Eichler

William J Trosky

William H Moore

Leonard C Vercellotti

Zoltan K Kun

Denis E Bedel

Paul R Otto

Louis M Capuano

Theodore E Frask

David Leksell

John C Schlotterer

James A Neuner

Forrest E Coyle

Douglas A Bauman

Charles L Winkler

Richard J Ravas

Brian A Schultz

Jerry D Bass

Andrew F Kirsch

Harold L Corcoran

Richard A Hullinger

John D Bartels

Robert Ross

Thomas A Vasold

Edward Tober

Stephen P Tomas

A system that automatically captures one or more local news program broadcasts and separates the broadcasts into the individual news stories or segments. The system then compares the stories to historical data concerning the competitive characteristics of the stories for each station and determines the topic (local, national, crime, etc.), talent (newscaster,, newscaster,, etc.) and production (live, studio, voice-over-tape, etc.) characteristics of the stories. Other characteristics that affect the popularity and therefor the competitive characteristics of the broadcasts can also be displayed, such as pacing, average story length, news-to-advertisement ratio, broadcast ordering (news then weather then news then sports, etc.), etc. The characteristics are displayed in a visual format, such as a graph, with other historical data, such as show ratings that can be divided into increments such as &frac14; hour, and optionally with the actual video/audio broadcast allowing assessment of competitors local news broadcasts.

System for analyzing television programs

A dual mode electronic identification system using a tag which has a RF receiver and transmitter contained therein. In the first mode the tag responds to an interrogation signal by transmitting identification data to the interrogator. In the second mode the tag periodically transmits an identification beacon signal to a directional sensing antenna which uses the signal to compute the position of the tag. The power supply for the tag operates from an internal battery or from power received from a portal signal via a tag receiving antenna. The battery can be automatically turned off when the tag is in the portal area and the unit can be shifted into the battery operated beacon mode when the tag is removed from the portal area.

Dual mode electronic identification system

A thin film electroluminescent (TFEL) device for producing multiple light sources. The device is comprised by a TFEL flat panel structure containing light energy generating material and having front and rear faces and side edges extending between the faces. The panel structure is composed of a face emitter portion and an edge emitter portion. The face emitter portion is operable for emitting light energy from one of the front and rear faces of the flat panel structure in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the flat panel structure. The edge emitter portion is operable for emitting light energy from one of the side edges of the flat panel structure in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the flat panel structure.

Integrated TFEL flat panel face and edge emitter structure producing

An electrophotographic-type imaging station or printer includes a focusing lens positioned between the printer light source and a photosensitive medium. As the light source projects beams of light energy forming a row in a direction towards the photosensitive medium, the lens focuses each projected beam into a rectangular beam. The speed of the photosensitive medium and the operation of the light source are coordinated so that adjacent rows of generally rectangular beams are positioned in abutting relation with each other. The plurality of focused rows projected in row-at-a-time fashion onto the surface of the photosensitive medium form an informational array pattern having a resolution in a direction parallel with the direction of medium movement which is greater than the resolution of the pattern in a direction perpendicular to the direction of medium movement. By forming an informational array pattern in this manner, a desired informational array pattern gray scale may be achieved without a loss in the original resolution of the array pattern taken in a direction perpendicular to the direction of medium movement.

Enhanced resolution electrophotographic-type imaging station

A method of monitoring an operating elevator system for malfunctions related to sequentially perform functions, including the detection of both sequence and timing errors. The method monitors predetermined signals for the detection of user defined unique events starting and stopping conditions, and it follows each state change of all of the pertinent signals which occurs between these two detected conditions. The state changes and their occurrence times relative to the start of the detected event, are compared with a learned binary image of the correct state changes and occurrence times, which correct image was prepared and stored during a learn mode when the elevator was known to correctly perform the sequence to be monitored.

Method of monitoring an elevator system

An elevator system which includes a plurality of lamps, each associated with a different floor number of an associated building. Lamp burn-out is detected via a single current sensor disposed in the common return of the lamps, along with logic which indicates when a test should be made, and which lamp is being tested. Detection of a burned-out lamp is stored for maintenance purposes.

Elevator system with lamp failure monitoring

Methods and apparatus for improving the servicing of an elevator system based upon the actual usage of its many functions. The usage of predetermined elevator system functions is monitored and data is collected relative thereto. Threshold and limit parameters are provided for the monitored functions, which parameters are periodically compared with the usage data. The reaching of a usage threshold parameter by a monitored function results in predetermined associated maintenance services being added to a maintenance due list. When a monitored function reaches its associated limit parameter, a need for scheduled elevator preventive maintenance is indicated for all of the maintenance services on the maintenance due list.

Method and apparatus for improving the servicing of an elevator system

Elevator servicing methods and apparatus which detect and store information relative to user-defined intermittent conditions, or other abnormal operating conditions. The stored information is reproduced for evaluation and analysis in a manner selected by the user, such as on a video monitor and/or a printer.

Elevator servicing methods and apparatus

An elevator system having a plurality of elevator cars, and communication apparatus which includes a speech synthesizer for each car which provides audible, informative messages in its associted elevator car in response to its operation. Different messages may be simultaneously reproduced in the different elevator cars from a single vocabulary which is common to all messages and all elevator cars. A single central processing unit periodically replenishes the memory of each car's speech synthesizer before interruption can occur in the message due to lack of vocabulary information.

Elevator system with speech synthesizer for audible information

An elevator system having an elevator car, and communication apparatus which includes a speech synthesizer for each car which provides audible, informative messages in its associated elevator car in response to its operation. Messages which are repeated within a predetermined period of time have one or more parameters thereof varied, to relieve the monotony which would be otherwise caused by the repetition of identical messages presented in an identical manner, and/or, to emphasize predetermined words or phrases.

Elevator system with speech synthesizer for repetition of messages

An elevator system including at least one elevator car mounted for movement in a building to serve the floors therein, and pushbuttons for entering calls for elevator service. Calls for elevator service initiated by the pushbuttons are sequentially displayed in a predetermined order on a display, which also displays the total number of unanswered calls in the system at any instant. In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined order sequentially displays the calls starting with the call associated with the lowest floor, and proceeding upwardly through the building to the highest floor of the building.

Elevator system

A pushbutton assembly illuminated with a plurality of solid state light sources, such as LEDs. The pushbutton assembly includes first and second spaced printed circuit boards which are electrically interconnected via electrical leads which also function to mechanically support the second printed circuit board from the first printed circuit board. The LEDs are mounted on the second printed circuit board, immediately adjacent to the front portion of the pushbutton assembly to be illuminated.

Illuminated pushbutton assembly

An elevator system which includes a display of dynamic system conditions, and a building floor security arrangement which cooperates with the elevator system and display to take cars in and out of service, and to selectively control access to the floors of the building. The display visually confirms each change correctly initiated by the security arrangement. Multiple display modes may be selectively activated to either decode an input to the display and display an associated legend, or to examine the integrity of the wiring associated with the input.

An elevator system including at least one elevator car mounted for movement in a building to serve the floors therein, and pushbuttons for entering calls for elevator service. Calls for elevator service initiated by the pushbuttons are visually displayed in a predetermined order on a display in which the display positions for such calls are not specifically related to a specific floor, but which may be used to indicate a call associated with any floor of the building. In a preferred embodiment, the calls are stacked or compressed to provide a predetermined uniform physical spacing between adjacent calls of the predetermined order. The predetermined order and predetermined spacing are maintained as new calls are entered on the display, and answered calls are deleted therefrom.

Apparatus and methods for servicing an elevator system having a plurality of elevator cars under the supervision of a supervisory system processor. The system processor makes assignments to the cars according to a predetermined strategy. The servicing tool is connectable to the elevator system such that the positions of the cars in the building, the assignments to the cars by the system processor, and the status of the elevator cars, are displayed on a panel position and motion indicator or display. The servicing tool also includes pushbuttons for entering car and hall calls, and a mode select switch. The mode select switch includes an operating mode in which the system processor is maintained operational, and the controls of the cars are maintained operational, except the cars are inhibited from moving. The servicing method includes inhibiting the cars from moving while predetermined calls are entered into the system. The assignments to the cars, the change in assignments, and the change in the status of the cars as each call is entered, are noted by viewing the display. The display image, after each call is entered, may be compared with the correct image or response of the system processor and cars, to quickly check the system processor and car controllers to determine if they are operating properly.

Growing community of inventors

Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Alan F Mandel