# US 8,783,437 B2 · Control arrangement for controlling a people mover > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,437 B2 - Document ID: US8783437B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/875,777 - Filed: 2013-05-02 - Published: 2013-09-12 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2010-11-02 - Assignees: Kone Corporation - Applicants: Kone Corporation - Inventors: Jyrki Simola; Jyrki Vainio; Teuvo Väntänen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783437B2 ## CPC - B66B 25/00: Control of escalators or moving walkways (walkways of variable speed type B66B21/12; handrails of variable speed type B66B23/26; of general application G05) - 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 A control arrangement is provided for controlling a people mover. The people mover includes a movable conveyor track for transporting people and a control unit. The conveyor track is arranged to move at a first speed when transporting passengers. The control unit is arranged to detect passengers of the people mover with a passenger detection device and to measure the time passed since the last detection of a passenger. After the measured time has reached a set value of a delay time, the control unit operates to decrease the speed of the conveyor track of the people mover either to a lower second speed or to completely stop the movement. The set value of the delay time can be changed by an action of the control unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control arrangement for controlling a people mover, comprising: a movable conveyor track for transporting people on the conveyor track at a controlled speed; a passenger detection device to detect passengers of the people mover; and a control unit coupled to an output of the passenger detection device and adapted to measure a time during which a passenger is not detected, and after the measured time has reached a set value of a delay time, to decrease the controlled speed of the conveyor track of the people mover from a first speed to a lower second speed or to completely stop movement of the conveyor track, wherein the set value of the delay time is changeable by an action of the control unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the set value of the delay time is changeable without removing the people mover from operation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to change the set value of the delay time on the basis of one of a point of time and of a signal coming from outside the people mover. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a time determination device to determine the point of time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The Control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a memory to record set values of different magnitudes for the points of time. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The control arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the control unit is arranged to record in the memory the set values for points of time based on historical data at least of the detections of the passenger detection device and on signals coming from outside. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is arranged to change the set value of the delay time according to a set value recorded for a current point of time. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The control arrangement according claim 1, wherein set values specific to a time of day are recorded in the memory. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein set values of different magnitudes for points of time are recorded in the memory, said set values being based on timetables of public service vehicles that are in proximity of the people mover. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is arranged to change the aforementioned set value of the delay time on the basis of a point of time corresponding to a clock time of day. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein set values specific to a time of day are recorded, or are recordable, in the memory for specific individual weekdays or calendar days. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is arranged to change the set value of the delay time on the basis of a signal caused by a public service vehicle that is in proximity of the people mover. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises an input for a signal external to the people mover, and a memory, in which set values are recorded, and in that the control is arranged to select the set value of the delay time on the basis of the aforementioned signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The control arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface to send a signal to the control unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The control arrangement according to claim 13, further comprising position determining apparatus connected to the input of the control unit for determining a position or information related to a position of a public service vehicle that is in proximity of the people mover. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The control arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the positioning determining apparatus comprises one of a sensor at a station of the public service vehicle, or a data transfer channel connected to a system of the station of the public service vehicle, for receiving position data or data related to the position of the public service vehicle from the system of the station of the public service vehicle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control is arranged to choose whether to decrease the speed of the conveyor track from a first speed to a lower second speed or whether to completely stop the movement of the conveyor track on the basis of at least one of a point of time and a signal coming from outside the people mover.