Richard J Pustelniak

US Patent:

6386326, May 14, 2002

Filed:

Jul 10, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/902350

Inventors:

Richard D. Pustelniak - Tucson AZ
Teril W. Morton - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

Otis Elevator Company - Farmington CT

International Classification:

B66B 1326

US Classification:

187317, 49 25

Abstract:

A system and an associated method of detecting an object in a three-dimensional field adjacent to a doorway, such as an elevator doorway, uses an array of energy emitters that emit three-dimensional energy signals into the field and an array of energy receivers that receive the energy signals reflected from the object. The signals are sampled a predetermined number of times. In one embodiment, if the lowest value sampled signal reaches a predetermined threshold, an object detection signal is generated. In an alternative embodiment, if the sampled signals are within a predetermined variance range, the object detection signal is generated. In another alternative embodiment, if a predetermined modulation code is detected within a sampled signal, the object detection signal is generated.

US Patent:

7071459, Jul 4, 2006

Filed:

Dec 31, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/537216

Inventors:

Richard Pustelniak - Tucson AZ, US

Assignee:

Otis Elevator Company - Farmington CT

International Classification:

H01J 40/14
E05F 15/20

US Classification:

250221, 2503417, 49 26, 3405453

Abstract:

A method for detecting interference energy in a sliding door safety system includes the steps of disposing at least one emitter along a first vertical surface, disposing at least one receiver corresponding to the at least one emitter along a second vertical surface, activating the at least one receiver, activating the at least one emitter to emit an energy beam that includes a modulated square wave of a predetermined frequency, sampling an energy intensity received by the activated at least one receiver a predetermined number of times recording each time a received energy intensity to form a plurality of recorded energy intensities, selecting the lowest magnitude one of the plurality of recorded energy intensities to form a lowest recorded energy intensity, comparing the lowest recorded energy intensity to a threshold value and determining a source of the energy intensity to be external when the lowest recorded energy intensity is less than the threshold value.

US Patent:

7165655, Jan 23, 2007

Filed:

May 14, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/514930

Inventors:

Brett E. Cook - Tucson AZ, US
Richard D. Pustelniak - Tucson AZ, US
Gene L. Stagner - Tucson AZ, US

Assignee:

Otis Elevator Company - Farmington CT

International Classification:

B66B 13/14

US Classification:

187316, 187247

Abstract:

A camera (), with suitable illumination (such as IR) provides images to a processing card () which converts the images to numerical vectors and applies them to a neural network () which is capable of providing a door-open signal () in response to something, either moving or still, in the paths of the doors (), or anything moving in a manner to indicate intent to enter the elevator in the landing adjacent to the elevator (). The door open signal is provided to the elevator door controller () to cause the doors to become or remain open in response to anything moving toward the elevator or anything disposed in the door pathway.

US Patent:

8051954, Nov 8, 2011

Filed:

Aug 8, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/990063

Inventors:

Richard D. Pustelniak - Tucson AZ, US

Assignee:

Otis Elevator Company - Farmington CT

International Classification:

B66B 13/26

US Classification:

187317, 187391, 49 27

Abstract:

The present invention includes a method and a system for communicating with a controller of an elevator car (). A first input device () is inserted between a pair of elevator car sliding doors (). Energy beams () transmitted between the pair of elevator sliding doors () are selectively blocked to communicate information to the controller.

US Patent:

20060157304, Jul 20, 2006

Filed:

Dec 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/537218

Inventors:

Richard Pustelniak - Tucson AZ, US

International Classification:

B66B 13/14

US Classification:

187316000

Abstract:

A safety detection system for a door apparatus comprising a plurality of linearly disposed emitters () each adapted to be activated to emit an energy beam (), and a plurality of linearly disposed receivers () each corresponding to one of the plurality of emitters and adapted to receive one of the energy beams () from the corresponding one of the plurality of emitters (), wherein each of the plurality of receivers () is singularly activated prior to receiving the energy beam () in accordance with a scan sequence, wherein each of the plurality of emitters is singularly activated to emit the energy beam in accordance with the scan sequence, and wherein each activated one of the plurality of receivers upon receiving the energy beam deactivates and a next one of the plurality of receivers in the scan sequence is activated.

US Patent:

58863079, Mar 23, 1999

Filed:

Jun 23, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/876128

Inventors:

Gary G. Full - Tucson AZ
Richard D. Pustelniak - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

Otis Elevator Company - Farmington CT

International Classification:

B66B 1326

US Classification:

197317

Abstract:

A safety system for detecting objects or persons that approach closing doors includes a plurality of detectors on one door and a plurality of transmitters on an opposite door. The plurality of transmitters emit a signal at an angle into a hallway. The intensity of the signal emitted from the transmitters is progressively reduced as the distance between the closing doors is decreasing. The reduction in intensity of the transmitted signal allows discrimination between actual targets and false targets.

US Patent:

61679917, Jan 2, 2001

Filed:

Feb 28, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/514918

Inventors:

Gary Full - Tucson AZ
Richard Pustelniak - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

Otis Elevator Company - Farmington CT

International Classification:

B66B 1326

US Classification:

187317

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for detecting the distance between opposing sides of an elevator door system is presented. The invention enhances the ability of an elevator door safety system to discriminate between false targets and true obstructions. The method detects distance between a first plurality of emitters and a first plurality of receivers mounted on the opposing sides of the elevator door system. The method comprises emitting an energy beam from an emitter. A halo component of the energy beam, having a predetermined wide angle, is sampled with the plurality of receivers to provide a set of energy signals indicative of intensity of the halo component energy sampled. From the set of energy signals, a vertical distance from the center of the pattern to an intersection of the halo component with the first plurality of receivers is determined. The distance between the first plurality of emitters and receivers is then calculated utilizing the predetermined wide angle and the vertical distance.

US Patent:

59258586, Jul 20, 1999

Filed:

Jun 23, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/876127

Inventors:

Gary G. Full - Tucson AZ
Richard D. Pustelniak - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

Otis Elevator Company - Farmington CT

International Classification:

B66B 1326

US Classification:

187317

Abstract:

A safety system for detecting small objects that approach closing doors comprising a transmitter stack, a detector stack, and a controller including instructions to detect small objects as the doors are closing. A transmitter or a group of transmitters from the transmitter stack are powered sequentially resulting in an output from the detector stack. The controller compares each output from the detector stack with an average of all the outputs plus a threshold value. The outputs that exceed the average plus threshold value trigger the safety system to reverse closing operation of the doors.