Elevator Door Vibration Sensor for Accessible Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator systems are inaccessible to individuals with physical limitations or disabilities, as existing input devices require physical interaction, which can be challenging for wheelchair-bound, visually impaired, or blind users, and current remote-control solutions are not universally applicable.
Innovation Solution
An elevator door system equipped with a vibration sensor that detects and interprets knocking or scratching gestures on the door to control the elevator's operation, allowing passengers to call the elevator without needing to use physical buttons, and includes a signal conditioner circuit to differentiate between valid and invalid inputs, ensuring accessibility and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If physical buttons or touch screens are used for elevator control, then the elevator system can reliably detect user input, but visually impaired or blind people cannot access the control function
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical input devices (buttons, touch screens) with an acoustic input system that detects knocking sounds on the elevator door. The acoustic sensor captures vibration signals from knocks, which are then processed to generate control commands, enabling visually impaired persons to operate the elevator without physical contact with traditional control interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an acoustic sensor and signal processing system as an intermediary between the user's knocking action and the elevator control system. This intermediary translates physical knocking vibrations into electronic control signals, bridging the gap between the user's intent and the system's response while maintaining reliability through signal filtering and pattern recognition.
2Ease of operation
If acoustic sensors are used to detect knocking gestures, then visually impaired persons can easily operate the elevator, but the system may misinterpret vigorous movements or violence as valid input
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through signal processing that analyzes the characteristics of detected vibrations. The system evaluates parameters such as vibration frequency, duration, and pattern to distinguish between intentional knocking gestures and unintended vigorous movements or violence. Only vibrations matching predefined knocking patterns trigger elevator responses, while anomalous patterns are filtered out.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter space for input detection from simple presence/absence of vibration to a multi-dimensional analysis including vibration frequency, amplitude, duration, and temporal patterns. By establishing specific parameter ranges and patterns characteristic of legitimate knocking, the system can differentiate between valid user input and harmful vibrations from violence or vigorous movement.
3Ease of operation
If traditional floor-control-panels are used, then elevator calls can be registered, but wheelchair-bound persons have difficulty accessing and using the control panel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical floor-control-panel mounted on walls with an acoustic sensing system integrated into the elevator door. This eliminates the need for wheelchair users to reach elevated or hard-to-access control panels, as they can knock on the door at any convenient location while seated in their wheelchair.
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
Enables visually impaired and disabled individuals to easily call and navigate elevators using gesture recognition, enhancing accessibility and convenience while protecting against potential violence by ignoring excessive or vigorous vibrations.
Implementation Method 1
A vibration sensor of the elevator door system detects a vibration activity on the elevator door
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
An elevator door system (1) is proposed which comprises at least an elevator door (2, 3). A control unit (5) of the elevator door system (1) can open and close the elevator door (2, 3) in response to a control signal (6). The elevator door system (1) comprises a vibration sensor (10) to detect a vibration activity on the elevator door (2, 3) and a data storage (7) for saving a reference data. The elevator door system (1) comprises further a signal conditioner circuit (8) to compare the detected vibration with the saved reference data and send the control signal (6) to the control unit (5) depending on a comparison result.