Patent Application
20070045050
This invention generally relates to call buttons for elevator systems. More particularly, this invention relates to providing tactile feedback indicating a successful call.
Elevator systems typically include a car that travels to various landings within a building for transporting passengers or cargo between levels of the building. At each landing there typically are call buttons that are accessible for an individual to send a signal indicating a desire to have the car stop at that landing. Additional call buttons are provided within the car in a car operation panel that allows an individual to select a particular floor level, for example, to which the elevator car should take them.
Call button activation sends a signal to the system controller, which responsively controls movement of the elevator car according to the received signal (i.e., bringing the car to a particular landing or taking the car to a particular floor level). Some calls buttons include a light feature that lights up when the button has been activated. This provides a visible acknowledgement to an individual that their call has been received by the controller and that they can expect the elevator system to service them as desired.
Some call button arrangements provide a sound upon call button activation. A “beep,” “chime” or “ring” type of noise provides audible feedback to an individual that their call has been successfully placed.
While such arrangements have proven useful, there are situations where they are not adequate. The lighted arrangements do not provide any feedback to an individual who is blind or visually impaired, for example. The sound-emitting arrangements do not provide any feedback to a deaf or hearing impaired individual. Additionally, those skilled in the art are constantly striving to make improvements in the effectiveness of various aspects of elevator systems. There is a need for an improved arrangement that provides an indication to a wider variety of individuals that their call has been successfully placed and that they can expect the elevator system to service them as desired. This invention addresses that need.
In general terms, this invention is an elevator call button device that provides tactile feedback indicating that a desired call has been placed.
One example device designed according to this invention includes a surface that is manually touchable to indicate a desired call. A responder automatically provides a tactile confirmation of the desired call.
In one example the touchable surface is supported on a moveable button member that is manually moveable to indicate the desired call. In one example the responder comprises an automated mover that automatically moves the moveable member to provide the tactile confirmation.
In one example the tactile confirmation is provided by a vibrating motor supported as part of the call button arrangement.
A method of acknowledging that a call button signal has been received in an elevator system according to this invention includes providing a tactile confirmation at the call button upon successful receipt of the signal.
The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiments. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.
A call button arrangement designed according to this invention provides an individual with tactile feedback that a desired call signal has been successfully received by a system controller, for example. An automated mover associated with the call button structure provides a tactile indication to the individual, which communicates to the individual that the desired call has been successfully placed.
An example call button assembly 20 is shown in
Another call button assembly 40 is shown in
A variety of call button structures are useable within the scope of this invention. One example arrangement includes a depressible button that requires some movement of a button surface to activate a switch that corresponds to sending a signal indicating the individual's intention such as having the elevator car travel to a specific floor level. In another example, the call button is capacitive and only requires physical contact with an individual's skin to send the call signal. In another example, the call button is part of a touch screen.
A retaining ring 58 secures the housing 54 behind the mounting plate 24 in a conventional manner. A finishing ring 60 cooperates with the retaining ring 58 and has a surface 62 that is received against the wall plate 24 to provide a finished look, for example.
As shown in
In another example, the automated mover 56 provides the tactile indication once the surface 70 is manipulated. In this example, no signal from the controller 68 is required to actuate the automated mover.
In one example, the automated mover 56 comprises a vibrating motor that vibrates the moveable member 52 relative to the housing 54. The vibrating motion of the moveable member 52 provides tactile feedback to the individual that the desired call has been placed and will be processed in due course. In one example, the moveable member 52 reciprocates along an axis relative to the housing 54 because of the motion of the vibrating motor 56. In another example, the moveable member 52 vibrates in more than one direction (i.e., back-and-forth and side-to-side) responsive to activation of the vibrating motor 56.
The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this invention. For example, another type of tactile indication other than a vibratory motion may be used. The scope of legal protection given to this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US03/15950 | 5/19/2003 | WO | 10/19/2005 |
