# US 10,870,556 B2 · Method and system for detecting elevator car operating panel condition > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,870,556 B2 - Document ID: US10870556B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/839,169 - Filed: 2017-12-12 - Published: 2019-06-13 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-12 - Assignees: Otis Elevator Company - Applicants: Otis Elevator Company - Inventors: Sally Day Mahoney - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870556B2 ## CPC - B66B 5/0025: {for maintenance or repair} - B66B 1/466: {facilitating maintenance, installation, removal, replacement or repair} - B66B 3/002: {Indicators} - B66B 5/0037: {Performance analysers} - B66B: ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS ({apparatus for raising or lowering persons on theatrical stages or the like A63J5/12} ; funicular railbound systems with rigid ground-supported tracks and cable traction, e.g. cliff railways, B61B9/00; arrangements of ammunition handlers in vessels B63G3/00; hoists, lifts, or conveyors for loading or unloading in general B65G; braking or detent devices controlling normal movements of winding drums or barrels B66D; ship-lifting devices E02C; garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for lifting vehicles E04H6/12; hoists for feeding ammunition or projectiles to launching apparatus or to loading mechanisms F41A9/00) ## Abstract An illustrative example method of determining a condition of an elevator car operating panel includes controlling a plurality of light sources of the car operating panel to turn on all of the light sources. An image of the car operating panel is obtained that indicates an actual illumination of all of the light sources, respectively. A determination is made, based on the obtained image, if there are any differences between an expected illumination and the actual illumination of any of the light sources. An indication of the condition of the elevator car operating panel is provided that includes information regarding any determined differences between the expected illumination and the actual illumination. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of determining a condition of an elevator car operating panel, the method comprising: controlling a plurality of light sources of the car operating panel to turn on all of the plurality of light sources; obtaining an image of the car operating panel that indicates an actual illumination of all of the light sources, respectively; determining, from the obtained image, if there are any differences between an expected illumination and the actual illumination of any of the light sources by recognizing the expected illumination of at least one of the light sources in at least a first portion of the obtained image; comparing at least a second portion of the obtained image to the first portion of the obtained image; and determining whether at least one light source in the second portion has the expected illumination based on the comparing; and providing an indication of the condition of the elevator car operating panel including information regarding any determined differences between the expected illumination and the actual illumination. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the determining further comprises comparing the obtained image to a reference image; and the reference image indicates the expected illumination of all of the light sources, respectively. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source in the second portion has a similar characteristic to the at least one light source in the first portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the car operating panel comprises a plurality of floor selection indicators; some of the light sources are associated with the floor selection indicators, respectively; the car operating panel comprises at least one other elevator function indicator; at least one of the light sources is associated with the at least one other elevator function indicator; the car operating panel includes a car position indicator; some of the light sources are associated with the car position indicator; and controlling all of the light sources comprises turning on the light sources associated with the floor selection indicators, the elevator function indicator and the car position indicator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the light sources associated with the car position indicator collectively display a plurality of floor designations based on which of the light sources associated with the car position indicator are illuminated; and controlling the light sources includes one of turning on all of the light sources associated with the car position indicator simultaneously, or turning on only those of the light sources associated with the car position indicator that should be illuminated to indicate a current car position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the car operating panel comprises a display screen; the display screen includes a plurality of pixels; and controlling the light sources includes turning on the pixels. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising dimming lighting in an elevator cab in which the car operating panel is located prior to obtaining the image. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein providing the indication includes identifying any one of the light sources that does not have the expected illumination in the image. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein providing the indication includes initiating a request for a technician to attend to the car operating panel based upon a difference between the expected illumination and the actual illumination for any of the light sources. ### Claim 10 A system, comprising: an elevator car operating panel including a plurality of light sources; a camera situated to obtain an image of the car operating panel, the image indicating an actual illumination of all of the plurality of light sources, respectively; and a controller that is configured to control the plurality of light sources, turn on all of the plurality of light sources, control the camera to obtain the image when all of the light sources are turned on, determine, from the obtained image, if there are any differences between an expected illumination and the actual illumination of any of the light sources by recognizing the expected illumination of at least one of the light sources in at least a first portion of the obtained image; comparing at least a second portion of the obtained image to the first portion of the obtained image, and provide an indication of the condition of the elevator car operating panel including information regarding any determined differences between the expected illumination and the actual illumination. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to determine if there are any differences by comparing the obtained image to a reference image; and the reference image indicates the expected illumination of all of the light sources, respectively. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one light source in the second portion has a similar characteristic to the at least one light source in the first portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the car operating panel comprises a plurality of floor selection indicators; some of the light sources are associated with the floor selection indicators, respectively; the car operating panel comprises at least one other elevator function indicator; at least one of the light sources is associated with the at least one other elevator function indicator; the car operating panel includes a car position indicator; some of the light sources are associated with the car position indicator; and the controller is configured to turn on the light sources associated with the floor selection indicators, the elevator function indicator and the car position indicator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the light sources associated with the car position indicator collectively display a plurality of floor designations based on which of the light sources associated with the car position indicator are illuminated; and the controller is configured to control the light sources associated with the car position indicator by turning on all of the light sources associated with the car position indicator simultaneously, or turning on only those of the light sources associated with the car position indicator that should be illuminated to indicate a current car position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the car operating panel comprises a display screen; the display screen includes a plurality of pixels; and the controller is configured to control the light sources by turning on the pixels. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, comprising elevator cab lighting and wherein the controller is configured to dim the elevator cab lighting prior to the camera obtaining the image. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to provide the indication including identifying any one of the light sources that does not have the expected illumination in the image. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to initiate a request for a technician to attend to the car operating panel based upon a difference between the expected illumination and the actual illumination for any of the light sources.