Patent · US Expired

Selectable notification time indicating elevator car arrival

US5271484A · kind A · utility

45Cited by
13References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 10, 1991
Grant dateDec 21, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 10, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB66B1/18
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The present invention is directed to notifying a user of an arriving elevator car in response to a hall call registered by the user, wherein notification occurs a threshold time value before elevator car arrival. In the preferred embodiment, an elevator car is assigned to a floor in response to a hall call. The amount of time required for the assigned elevator car to arrive at the floor is determined and compared with the threshold time value. If the arrival time is greater than the threshold time value, the system reexamines assignment, possibly reassigning a different elevator car to respond to the hall call. The arrival time of the assigned (or newly assigned) elevator car is again determined, and this process continues until the arrival time is less than or equal to the threshold time value. When the arrival time is less than or equal to the threshold time value, the hall lantern at the door of the assigned elevator car is energized, e.g., illuminated and/or sounded. Additionally, the hall call is removed from further consideration regarding reassignment to another elevator car, thereby fixing the elevator car assignment. In the preferred embodiment, the threshold time value ca…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.