# US 2019/0094358 A1 · Elevator sensor array system

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- Number: US 2019/0094358 A1
- Document ID: US20190094358A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/713,733
- Filed: 2017-09-25
- Published: 2019-03-28
- Earliest claimed: 2017-09-25
- Assignees: Otis Elevator Company
- Applicants: Otis Elevator Company
- Inventors: Lindsay Wos; Tarique Faruki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190094358A1

## CPC

- G01S 17/04: Systems determining the presence of a target
- B66B 1/3492: {Position or motion detectors or driving means for the detector (B66B1/40, B66B1/50 take precedence; length measuring G01B; speed measuring G01P)}
- B66B 5/0031: {for safety reasons}
- B66B 5/0043: {Devices enhancing safety during maintenance}
- G01N 21/62: Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light
- G01V 8/20: using multiple transmitters or receivers
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- 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)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02)

## Abstract

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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
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;
detecting, by the computing system, whether there is a foreign object between a second group of sensors of the sensor array in the elevator shaft, the second group of sensors including at least one sensor that differs from the first group of sensors; and
triggering, by the computing system, a modification to a control aspect of an elevator car in the elevator shaft based on detection of the foreign object.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor array comprises a plurality of sensors distributed about a perimeter within the elevator shaft.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the perimeter comprises at least four sides, and one or more of the sensors are on each of the at least four sides forming a detection field.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the sensors form a grid as the detection field.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the sensors are arranged in pairs to form a diagonal detection pattern between at least two adjacent sides of the perimeter.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the sensors are light sensors, each of the light sensors comprising an emitter and a receiver.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the modification to the control aspect of the elevator car comprises: reducing a maximum rate of travel of the elevator car in the shaft, preventing the elevator car from going to an uppermost level of the shaft based on detecting the foreign object above the elevator car, or preventing the elevator car from going to the lowest level of the shaft based on detecting the foreign object below the elevator car.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the modification to the control aspect of the elevator car comprises: reducing a maximum rate of travel of the elevator car in the shaft, preventing the elevator car from going to an uppermost level of the shaft based on detecting the foreign object above the elevator car, or preventing the elevator car from going to the lowest level of the shaft based on detecting the foreign object below the elevator car.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining a size estimate of the foreign object based on a number of sensors and a position of the sensors in the second group of sensors that are used to detect the foreign object, wherein the modification to the control aspect of the elevator car is determined, at least in part, based on the size estimate of the foreign object.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
triggering a warning indicator based on the size estimate of the foreign object.

### Claim 11

An elevator sensor array system comprising:
a sensor array operable in an elevator shaft; and
a computing system comprising a memory and a processor that detects whether there are any pre-existing objects between a first group of sensors of the sensor array in the elevator shaft, detects whether there is a foreign object between a second group of sensors of the sensor array in the elevator shaft, and triggers a modification to a control aspect of an elevator car in the elevator shaft based on detection of the foreign object, wherein the second group of sensors includes at least one sensor that differs from the first group of sensors.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The elevator sensor array system of claim 11, wherein the sensor array comprises a plurality of sensors distributed about a perimeter within the elevator shaft.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The elevator sensor array system of claim 12, wherein the perimeter comprises at least four sides, and one or more of the sensors are on each of the at least four sides forming a detection field.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The elevator sensor array system of claim 13, wherein the sensors form a grid as the detection field.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The elevator sensor array system of claim 13, wherein the sensors are arranged in pairs to form a diagonal detection pattern between at least two adjacent sides of the perimeter.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The elevator sensor array system of claim 13, wherein the sensors are light sensors, each of the light sensors comprising an emitter and a receiver.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The elevator sensor array system of claim 13, wherein the modification to the control aspect of the elevator car comprises: reducing a maximum rate of travel of the elevator car in the shaft, preventing the elevator car from going to an uppermost level of the shaft based on detecting the foreign object above the elevator car, or preventing the elevator car from going to the lowest level of the shaft based on detecting the foreign object below the elevator car.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The elevator sensor array system of claim 11, wherein the modification to the control aspect of the elevator car comprises: reducing a maximum rate of travel of the elevator car in the shaft, preventing the elevator car from going to an uppermost level of the shaft based on detecting the foreign object above the elevator car, or preventing the elevator car from going to the lowest level of the shaft based on detecting the foreign object below the elevator car.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The elevator sensor array system of claim 11, wherein the computing system determines a size estimate of the foreign object based on a number of sensors and a position of the sensors in the second group of sensors that are used to detect the foreign object, wherein the modification to the control aspect of the elevator car is determined, at least in part, based on the size estimate of the foreign object.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The elevator sensor array system of claim 19, wherein the computing system triggers a warning indicator based on the size estimate of the foreign object.