Otis Elevator Company

Tarique Faruki

Jannah A Stanley

Ashley Chapman

Michael P Flynn

Matthew Joyce

Vijay Jayachandran

Bennie J Murah

Lindsay Wos

Benni J Murah

According to an aspect, a method includes detecting, by a computing system, whether there are any pre-existing objects between a first group of sensors of a sensor array in an elevator shaft. The computing system detects whether there is a foreign object between a second group of sensors of the sensor array in the elevator shaft, where the second group of sensors includes at least one sensor that differs from the first group of sensors. The computing system triggers a modification to a control aspect of an elevator car in the elevator shaft based on detection of the foreign object.

Elevator sensor array system

An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes: a plurality of elevator cars; a plurality of elevator machines, respectively associated with the elevator cars to selectively cause movement of the associated elevator car, at least some of the elevator machines respectively operating in a first mode including consuming power and in a second mode including generating power; a power source having a power output threshold and a power intake threshold; and at least one controller that is configured to determine when the power source is providing power for the elevator system, and dynamically adjust how the plurality of machines move the elevator cars to maximize a number of the plurality cars being used to move passengers while keeping power consumption by the elevator system below the power output threshold and keeping power generation by the elevator system below the power intake threshold.

Emergency elevator power management

An exemplary elevator destination entry system includes a passenger interface device that presents a visual representation of at least one item that will accompany a passenger on an elevator car. The passenger interface allows the passenger to select the visual representation. A controller is configured to receive indications of passenger requests for elevator service and an indication from the passenger interface device regarding a selected visual representation. The controller determines an amount of space within an elevator car required to accommodate the item based on predetermined space information corresponding to the selected visual representation. The controller assigns a car to a passenger request based on a determination that the assigned car will have adequate space to accommodate the passenger and the item.

Elevator passenger interface including images for requesting additional space allocation

An exemplary method of controlling an elevator system includes determining that a new passenger requests elevator service from a departure floor to a destination floor. Any candidate elevator cars are ranked. A number of stops for each assigned passenger for a ranked candidate elevator car is determined if the new passenger were assigned to that car. A determination is made whether any ranked candidate elevator car is a qualified car that can accept the new passenger and limit a number of stops for each passenger assigned to that car to a desired maximum number of stops. The new passenger is assigned to a qualified car that has a most favorable ranking of any qualified cars.

Growing community of inventors

Florence, SC, United States of America

Tarique Faruki