ToF Elevator Button Layout for Accurate Touchless Selection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elevator buttons require finger contact, leading to hygiene concerns and high manufacturing costs when replacing with distance sensors for touchless operation.
Innovation Solution
A touchless button system using Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensors installed at the ends or centers of button arrangements, with control units to select buttons based on object distance information, allowing for high sensing accuracy with reduced installation costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If distance sensors are installed at each elevator button, then touchless operation and high sensing accuracy are achieved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the button system into two functional parts: (1) multiple simple buttons without sensors that maintain original manufacturing simplicity, and (2) a single distance sensor unit positioned at an end location that serves all buttons. This segmentation allows the system to achieve touchless operation without requiring expensive sensors at each button location.
Solution Approach 2:
The single end distance sensor performs the function of detecting multiple different buttons by measuring distance to different positions. Instead of requiring dedicated sensors at each button, one universal sensor can identify which button is being approached by detecting the distance and position of the object relative to the button array.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional capacitive buttons are used, then manufacturing cost is low, but finger contact is required leading to hygiene concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based capacitive sensing system with an optical distance sensing system. Instead of detecting changes in capacitance through finger contact, the system uses a distance sensor to detect the position and approach of objects (fingers, hands, or other bodies) without requiring physical contact with the buttons, thereby eliminating hygiene contamination while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single end distance sensor is used instead of multiple sensors, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but button selection accuracy may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control unit as an intermediary that processes the distance information from the single end sensor. The control unit analyzes the distance measurements and determines which button is being selected based on the object's position, effectively translating the single sensor's data into accurate multi-button selection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses distance measurement in the depth dimension (from the end sensor position) to differentiate between buttons arranged in a different spatial dimension. By measuring distance to various points along the button array, the single sensor can distinguish between multiple buttons without needing multiple sensors, effectively using dimensional information to resolve button identification.
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 achieves high object recognition accuracy while maintaining low manufacturing costs, facilitating easy installation and reducing malfunctions for various user interactions.
Implementation Method 1
the distance sensor is a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a touchless button system. The present invention comprises a plurality of buttons, an end ToF sensor installed at a top or bottom of a line in which the plurality of buttons are arranged to face the plurality of buttons, and a control unit configured to select one button among the plurality of buttons using distance information of an object sensed by the ToF sensor. The touchless button system according to the present invention has the advantage of high object recognition accuracy while having low manufacturing cost.