Passive detection of persons in elevator hoistway

A system for controlling operation of an elevator car in an elevator hoistway, the system comprising:

• a plurality of passive infrared detectors positioned to sense infrared detectors positioned to sense infrared radiation above and below the elevator car;
• and
• a controller that controls motion of the elevator car in the elevator hoistway and forms a part of an elevator safety chain that prevents normal operation of the elevator car until a latched shutdown condition has been safely cleared, the controller being in communication with the passive infrared detectors to receive signals from the passive infrared detectors indicating at least one of presence of a person in the hoistway, presence of an open landing door, and presence of a person at an open landing door, wherein during a latched shutdown condition if the signals from the passive infrared detectors do not indicate presence of a person, the controller resets the latched shutdown condition and resumes normal operation of the elevator car.

A method of operating an elevator system comprising:

• sensing infrared radiation with passive infrared detectors on top of an elevator car, and on bottom of the elevator car;
• and
• detecting presence of an open landing door at which no car is present based upon infrared radiation, sensed by the passive infrared detectors, that is caused by ambient light or landing illumination present at the open landing door.