Touchless Elevator Cab Requests With Access-Based Floor Assignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current elevator systems require manual user input for requesting elevator cabs and destination floors, which can spread germs and restrict access permissions.

Innovation Solution

A touchless elevator cab request system using a unique identifier device, notification device, and elevator controller to identify users, determine accessible destination floors, and assign elevator cabs without physical contact, providing visual, audible, or tactile notifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If manual user input is required for requesting elevator cabs and selecting destination floors, then the system can ensure secure access control, but it spreads germs and reduces user convenience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegerm transmissionVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical input (touching buttons or panels) with automated optical/electronic recognition systems. The elevator control system uses cameras or sensors to automatically detect and recognize user identities, then retrieves destination information without requiring physical contact, thereby eliminating germ transmission while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automatically identifying users and retrieving their destination information from stored data. The elevator control system autonomously completes the information retrieval process without requiring manual input, making the interaction germ-free while remaining convenient for users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Device complexity

If scanners are positioned within the elevator cab such that users scan identification and immediately choose destination floor by pressing buttons, then the process is integrated, but it requires manual contact and restricts destination selection flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem integrationVSAvoidtouchless operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical button-pressing interface with an automated electronic display and selection system. After optical identification, the system presents destination options on a display screen and automatically processes selection when the user approaches or indicates their choice, eliminating the need for manual contact while maintaining system integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If scanners are positioned outside the elevator cab such that the elevator cab cannot be requested until the user scans a valid identification, then access control is enforced, but it creates a sequential bottleneck and requires manual contact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess controlVSAvoidwaiting time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary identification and destination information retrieval simultaneously in a single automated process. The camera captures user identity, the system immediately queries the database for destination information, and presents options without requiring sequential manual steps, thereby reducing waiting time while maintaining secure access control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If the system allows users to enter any available elevator cab that travels to the destination floor, then cab availability is maximized, but it reduces destination floor access control and security

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecab utilizationVSAvoidaccess control

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different quality controls to different aspects of the system. Destination information retrieval is customized and controlled based on user identity and authorization levels, ensuring security. Meanwhile, cab assignment remains flexible and automated, maximizing utilization by assigning any available cab that reaches the authorized destination, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and access control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12623884B2Systems and methods for touchless elevator cab requests

Publication Date: 2026.05.12 THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR INNOVATION AND OPERATIONS GMBH

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a system for a touchless request for an elevator cab. The system for a touchless request for an elevator cab includes an elevator controller, a processor communicatively coupled to the elevator controller, and a storage medium in communication with the processor comprising programming instructions cause the processor to: receive a unique identification from a user, determine a current floor that the unique identification was provided, access a data storage device to determine a destination floor access permission based on the unique identification, determine a landing to travel based on the destination floor access permission, send an elevator cab request command to the elevator controller to request the elevator cab to the current floor and to travel to the landing, and generate a notification for the elevator cab that is assigned to travel between the current floor and the landing.