# US 2016/0355376 A1 · Presence detection of an object in an elevator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0355376 A1 - Document ID: US20160355376A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/036,503 - Filed: 2014-11-11 - Published: 2016-12-08 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-15 - Applicants: Inventio AG - Inventors: Astrid Sonnenmoser; Martin Kusserow; Reto Tschuppert - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160355376A1 ## CPC - B66B 5/0012: {Devices monitoring the users of the elevator system} - B66B 1/3476: {Load weighing or car passenger counting devices (B66B5/14 takes precedence)} - G01J 5/0022: {for sensing the radiation of moving bodies} - 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) - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) ## Abstract A method and a device for detecting the presence of an object in an elevator car of an elevator system that has a control unit include a color temperature sensor. The color temperature sensor is integrated into the elevator car to acquire the color temperature of the light incident on the color temperature sensor during elevator operation, and an object present in the elevator car is detected by the control unit connected with the color temperature sensor by comparing the color temperature acquired during elevator operation with a previously acquired reference color temperature. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-11. (canceled) ### Claim 12 A method for detecting a presence of an object in an elevator car of an elevator system comprising the steps of: acquiring, using a color temperature sensor integrated into the elevator car, a color temperature of light incident on the color temperature sensor during elevator operation; and detecting an object present in the elevator car using a control unit connected with the color temperature sensor by comparing the color temperature acquired during the elevator operation with a previously acquired reference color temperature and generating information associated with detecting the object. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12 wherein the previously acquired reference color temperature is acquired during a previously defined time period in previously defined time gaps during the elevator operation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12 wherein the control unit generates a time-dependent color temperature curve based on the color temperature acquired during the elevator operation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14 wherein the previously acquired reference color temperature is acquired with the elevator car empty, and is recorded as a time-dependent reference color temperature curve. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15 wherein the comparison performed by the control unit between the time-dependent color temperature curve acquired during the elevator operation and the time-dependent reference color temperature curve is based upon at least one rule. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12 including using a stochastic evaluation method for comparing the color temperature acquired during the elevator operation with the previously acquired reference color temperature. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17 wherein the stochastic evaluation method involves determination of a normal distribution, determination of a Gaussian distribution, ascertainment of a variance, determination of an average value and/or a maximum value. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12 wherein the elevator car goes through at least one test run to acquire the previously acquired reference color temperature. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12 wherein the control unit is at least one of an elevator controller, a control unit of the color temperature sensor and a separate control unit. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12 wherein the control unit is connected with the color temperature sensor by a wireless communication network. ### Claim 22 A device for detecting a presence of an object in an elevator car of an elevator system comprising: a color temperature sensor integrated into the elevator car for acquiring a color temperature; and a control unit connected with the color temperature sensor, wherein the control unit detects an object present in the elevator car by comparing a color temperature acquired during elevator operation with a previously acquired reference color temperature and generates information associated with the detected object. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The device according to claim 22 wherein the control unit is at least one of an elevator controller, a control unit of the color temperature sensor and a separate control unit. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The device according to claim 22 wherein the control unit transmits the information to at least one of an elevator controller and a maintenance center.