Method and apparatus for elevators to detect concealed object and inform building management system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11745978-B2
Application number	US-201916514140-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2019
Priority date	Jul 25, 2018
Publication date	Sep 5, 2023
Grant date	Sep 5, 2023

Abstract

A method for object detection within an elevator car including: transmitting radar signals at a selected polarization into an elevator car towards an individual; receiving reflected radar signals at a reflected polarization; comparing the reflected polarization to the selected polarization; determining that the individual is in possession of a metal object in response to comparing the reflected polarization to the selected polarization; and activating an alert in response to the determining that the individual is in possession of the metal object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for object detection within an elevator car, the method comprising:
transmitting radar signals at a selected polarization into an elevator car towards an individual;
receiving reflected radar signals at a reflected polarization;
comparing the reflected polarization to the selected polarization;
determining that the individual is in possession of a metal object in response to comparing the reflected polarization to the selected polarization; and
activating an alert in response to the determining that the individual is in possession of the metal object;
detecting a location of each of a plurality of mobile devices configured to transmit elevator calls to the elevator car;
determining that a first mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices is located within the elevator car; and
identifying the individual in possession of the metal object as the owner of the first mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising,
capturing an image of the individual in possession of the metal object.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising prior to capturing an image of the individual in possession of the metal object:
directing a camera towards the individual.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the image is a facial image of the individual in possession of the metal object.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the image is transmitted to a building management system.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
identifying the individual in possession of the metal object through facial recognition.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting a message to the owner of the first mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining the individual in possession of the metal object is alone in the elevator car; and
locking the doors of the elevator car.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the metal object is a gun.

10. An object detection system for detecting an object in an elevator car, comprising:
a radar sensor configured to transmit and receive radar signals;
a control unit comprising:
a processor;
a memory comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
transmitting radar signals at a selected polarization into an elevator car towards an individual using the radar sensor;
receiving reflected radar signals at a reflected polarization using the radar sensor;
comparing the reflected polarization to the selected polarization;
determining that the individual is in possession of a metal object in response to comparing the reflected polarization to the selected polarization;
activating an alert in response to the determining that the individual is in possession of the metal object;
detecting a location of each of a plurality of mobile devices configured to transmit elevator calls to the elevator car;
determining that a first mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices is located within the elevator car; and
identifying the individual in possession of the metal object as the owner of the first mobile device.

11. The object detection system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a camera configure to capture an image of the individual in possession of the metal object.

12. The object detection system of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:
directing a camera towards the individual.

13. The object detection system of claim 11 , wherein the image is a facial image of the individual in possession of the metal object.

14. The object detection system of claim 11 , wherein the image is transmitted to a building management system.

15. The object detection system of claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise:
identifying the individual in possession of the metal object through facial recognition.

16. The object detection system of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:
transmitting a message to the owner of the first mobile device.

17. The object detection system of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:
determining the individual in possession of the metal object is alone in the elevator car; and
locking the doors of the elevator car.

18. The object detection system of claim 10 , wherein the metal object is a gun.

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Gireddy Jayapal Reddy
• Gorenkala Devendar

Classifications

• B66B5/0012 Primary

  Devices monitoring the users of the elevator system · CPC title

• B66B3/002

  Indicators · CPC title

• B66B13/143

  electrical · CPC title

• B66B2201/4653

  wherein the call is registered using portable devices · CPC title

• B66B5/02

  responsive to abnormal operating conditions · CPC title