Elevator Car Arrival Chimes for Accessible Car Identification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Identifying the correct elevator car can be challenging for passengers with disabilities, particularly in destination dispatch systems where a specific car is assigned, as they may struggle to locate and enter the appropriate car.
Innovation Solution
An elevator system that allows passengers to select a unique arrival chime based on their condition or preference, which is played when the car arrives at the landing to facilitate identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If destination dispatch systems assign specific cars to passengers, then elevator system efficiency is improved, but passengers with disabilities struggle to identify their assigned car
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies acoustic analogs of color changes by implementing distinct arrival chimes with different audio characteristics (frequency, duration, pattern) for different elevator cars. This allows passengers with disabilities to identify their assigned car through audible cues similar to how sighted passengers identify cars through lighting or display information, thereby resolving the contradiction between system efficiency and accessibility.
2Device complexity
If traditional arrival chimes are used for all elevator cars, then system complexity is minimized, but passengers cannot distinguish between different cars
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the arrival chime system by assigning unique audio characteristics to different elevator cars. Each car has its own distinct chime pattern, frequency, or duration, allowing passengers to identify specific cars while maintaining a relatively simple overall system architecture. This segmentation approach provides necessary differentiation without requiring complex identification mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If multiple distinct arrival chimes are implemented for different cars, then car identification is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal chime selection mechanism that can serve multiple functions: automatic selection based on destination, manual selection by passengers, and integration with existing elevator control systems. This multi-functionality allows the system to provide distinct car identification through arrival chimes while avoiding excessive complexity by using a flexible, adaptable control approach that can work with various system configurations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances the ability of passengers with disabilities to identify their assigned elevator car by providing distinct audio cues, improving accessibility and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
audibly played by a speaker proximate to the car door opening
Data Source
AI summary
An elevator system having: an elevator car having a door opening; a controller configured to control the elevator car; and a car call implement configured transmit a first request to the controller to instruct the elevator car to travel to a lobby to pickup a user, wherein the first request includes an arrival chime code indicative of an arrival chime, selected from a plurality of the arrival chimes, audibly played by a speaker proximate to the car door opening when the elevator car arrives at the landing.