Touchless Elevator Button Layout Using Segmented ToF Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elevator buttons require physical contact, posing hygiene risks and necessitating costly replacement to implement touchless systems with ToF sensors.
Innovation Solution
A touchless button system with ToF sensors that uses a distance sensor between buttons to select the appropriate button based on object detection, considering distance and direction information, allowing easy integration into existing setups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If ToF sensors are applied to each elevator button to achieve touchless operation, then hygiene is improved and contactless operation is enabled, but installation cost increases due to replacement of existing buttons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the button panel into multiple sensing zones, each corresponding to a specific button location. The ToF sensor panel is segmented into multiple independent sensing areas that can detect objects in different regions, allowing each button to have its own detection zone without requiring separate ToF sensors for each button.
Solution Approach 2:
A single ToF sensor panel serves multiple functions by detecting objects across multiple sensing zones simultaneously. The same sensor panel can identify which button is being approached and determine the direction of approach, eliminating the need for separate sensors at each button location.
2Measurement precision
If ToF sensors are installed at each button location to improve sensing accuracy, then button selection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensing functions are merged into a single ToF sensor panel. The panel simultaneously performs object detection, distance measurement, and directional identification across multiple sensing zones, reducing system complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to button selection by dividing the sensing area into multiple zones and detecting the direction from which an object approaches. This dimensional approach allows accurate button identification using a single sensor panel rather than multiple discrete sensors.
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 sensing accuracy with low installation costs by using ToF sensors to detect and select buttons without physical contact, suitable for existing elevator installations.
Implementation Method 1
the present invention relates to a touchless button system, and more particularly, to a touchless button system equipped with ToF (Time of Flight) sensors
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a touchless button system. The system comprises a plurality of buttons, a distance sensor disposed between the plurality of buttons, the distance sensor facing a push direction of the buttons and having a plurality of sensing areas, and a control unit configured to select one button among the plurality of buttons using information regarding an object detected by the distance sensor. The touchless button system according to the present invention has advantages of high object recognition accuracy while having low installation cost.