Optical Anti-Pinch and Touchless Elevator Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elevators lack effective anti-pinch mechanisms, space computing capabilities, and user-friendly control systems, often resulting in user safety issues, inefficient space utilization, and unsanitary control panel interactions.
Innovation Solution
An optical mechanism-based anti-pinch device, space computing device, and hovering control device using light sources, optical sensors, and processing circuits to prevent pinching, calculate occupied space, and enable touchless control, respectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional anti-pinch device is used, then the door can close normally, but it fails to prevent pinching until actual contact occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The optical sensor detects objects before the door closes, allowing the system to take preventive action (stop door closure) before pinching occurs. The light source and optical sensor create a detection zone in advance of the door path, enabling early intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based anti-pinch switches with an optical detection system. Instead of relying on mechanical force to trigger a sensor, the system uses light sources and optical sensors to detect objects non-contactually, providing earlier and more reliable detection.
2Loss of information
If no space computing mechanism is provided, then the elevator structure remains simple, but users cannot know available space and may wait unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The optical sensor acts as an intermediary to measure the space occupied by objects in the elevator. By detecting the reflection or blockage of light, the system computes occupied space and communicates this information to users, eliminating the need for physical measurement methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical space measurement mechanisms with optical measurement. Light sources and optical sensors detect object positions and dimensions non-contactually, allowing the system to compute occupied space and provide this information through the control panel without mechanical intervention.
3Ease of operation
If a conventional control panel requiring direct touch is used, then the control mechanism is simple, but it spreads diseases and is unsuitable for certain situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical touch-based control with optical sensing control. Light sources illuminate the control panel area, and optical sensors detect the position and movement of users' hands or gestures, enabling contactless operation while maintaining precise control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical sensor serves as an intermediary between the user and the control system. Instead of direct contact with buttons, the user's gestures are detected by the optical sensor, which then translates these gestures into control commands, eliminating the need for physical contact.
4Reliability
If optical mechanisms are introduced for anti-pinch, space computing, and hovering control, then safety and usability improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical sensor serves multiple functions: detecting objects for anti-pinch protection, measuring space for occupancy computation, and sensing gestures for contactless control. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate sensor systems for each feature, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
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
The optical mechanism effectively prevents pinching, computes occupied space accurately, and allows users to control elevators without direct contact, enhancing safety and usability.
Implementation Method 1
a light source, configured to emit light; an optical sensor, configured to sense optical data generated according to the light
Data Source
AI summary
In the present invention, an anti-pinch device which uses a simple optical mechanism to prevent the user being hurt by the moving part before the moving part touches the user is disclosed. Also, a space computing device which uses a simple optical mechanism to compute acquired space of a target object is disclosed. Additionally, a hovering control device which uses a simple optical mechanism thereby the user can control the hovering control device without touching the hovering control device is disclosed. The optical mechanism comprises at least one light source and at least one optical sensor, which can arrange in various ways.