Virtual Elevator Panel Using Projected Interface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Elevator car operating panels with physical buttons face issues such as wear and tear, loss of touch sensitivity, regular maintenance needs, cost ineffectiveness, reduced passenger experience, and hygienic concerns due to physical contact requirements.

Innovation Solution

An augmented reality system using a projector and sensor to create a virtual car operating panel within the elevator car, allowing passengers to interact with virtual elements for selecting floors or initiating commands without physical contact, with features like color changes and gesture recognition for activation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If physical buttons and touch-based systems are used for the car operating panel, then the interface is tangible and easy to understand, but wear and tear occurs, touch sensitivity is lost over time, and regular maintenance is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the physical car operating panel using augmented reality technology. The virtual panel replicates the visual appearance and functionality of traditional buttons without the physical wear and tear, maintaining ease of operation while eliminating degradation issues through non-contact interaction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical button system with an optical field-based augmented reality interface. Instead of physical buttons that degrade through use, the system uses projected light fields that can be interacted with through gestures, eliminating mechanical wear while preserving operational intuitiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of manufacture

If physical touch-based systems are used for the car operating panel, then the interface is simple to implement, but regular service and cleaning is required and hygienic issues arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidhygienic issues

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the physical touch surface with an augmented reality interface that projects virtual buttons into the air space. This eliminates the need for cleaning physical surfaces while maintaining the simplicity of implementation through software-based interaction protocols

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If traditional physical car operating panel is used, then the device structure is simple, but power consumption is high due to continuous operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic activation of the augmented reality display, projecting the virtual car operating panel only when a passenger is detected in the elevator car. This reduces power consumption while maintaining the simplicity of the underlying projection technology through intelligent on-demand operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS11420846B2Augmented reality car operating panel

Publication Date: 2022.08.23 OTIS ELEVATOR CO

AI summary

An elevator system is provided. Aspects includes an elevator car, a sensor, and a projector affixed to the elevator car, wherein the projector is operated by a controller and the controller is configured to receive an indication of a presence of a passenger in the elevator car. A car operating panel is projected, by a projector, in the elevator car, wherein the car operating panel comprises a virtual element. An activation of the virtual element from the passenger is sensed by a sensor and an action is initiated based at least in part on sensing the activation of the virtual element.