Orthogonal Sensor Enclosure for Reliable Elevator Shaft Personnel Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator systems lack an efficient and cost-effective method to detect the presence of personnel, such as service technicians or mechanics, in critical areas like the elevator shaft and pit, requiring easy installation, minimal maintenance, and high detection performance with low false positives and negatives.
Innovation Solution
A safety net system utilizing orthogonally aligned sensors, such as LiDAR, RADAR, or RGBD cameras, within a single enclosure that shares power, circuitry, and cabling, with adjustable field-of-view alignment, processes point cloud data to accurately detect personnel presence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple sensors are installed separately in the elevator system to detect personnel presence, then detection coverage and reliability are improved, but installation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensors (LiDAR, cameras, microphones) into a single integrated sensor enclosure assembly. This merging approach maintains comprehensive detection capabilities while reducing the number of separate installation points, simplifying mounting procedures, and consolidating power and signal cabling requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor enclosure assembly is designed as a universal multi-functional unit that can be deployed in various locations (elevator shaft, pit, entrance areas) and performs multiple detection functions simultaneously (visual, auditory, depth sensing). This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized sensors for each detection task.
2Measurement precision
If multiple separate sensor systems are deployed to ensure comprehensive personnel detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but maintenance requirements and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating multiple sensors into a single enclosed assembly with shared power supply and signal processing circuitry, the system reduces the number of independent components that require maintenance. The unified structure allows for centralized calibration and testing, simplifying maintenance procedures while preserving the complementary detection capabilities of individual sensors.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional sensor arrangements are used in elevator shafts and pits, then installation is straightforward, but detection coverage in complex geometries is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs LiDAR sensors that emit laser beams in multiple dimensions to create comprehensive 3D spatial mapping of the elevator environment. This multi-dimensional sensing approach enables accurate personnel detection in complex geometries including non-rectangular shafts and pits, overcoming the limitations of traditional single-directional sensors while maintaining straightforward installation through the standardized enclosure assembly.
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 system reduces false positives and negatives by identifying personnel presence with high accuracy, lowers installation costs, and minimizes maintenance needs, while being adaptable to non-rectangular elevator structures.
Implementation Method 1
each of the multiple sensors is a LiDAR sensor
Implementation Method 2
each of the multiple sensors is a millimeter wave RADAR sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor enclosure assembly is provided for a safety net system for an elevator system. The sensor enclosure assembly includes a single enclosure disposable in one of an elevator shaft, an elevator pit, an entrance area for the elevator pit and an elevator pit entrance area of the elevator system, multiple sensors mounted orthogonally with respect to one another in the single enclosure, each of the multiple sensors being configured to perform sensing and to generate data corresponding to sensing results and circuitry disposed in the single enclosure to support performance of the sensing by each of the multiple sensors.