WO2000012420A1

WO2000012420A1 - Informational distribution and display system for elevators

Info

Publication number: WO2000012420A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/019994
Authority: WO
Inventors: Allan H. Stephan; Robert W. Agee; Sean M. Macleod
Original assignee: Stratos Product Development Group
Priority date: 1998-09-01
Filing date: 1999-08-31
Publication date: 2000-03-09
Also published as: AU5798599A

Abstract

An informational distribution and display system (10) having a control center (12) utilizing media-type information to create broadcast content which is distributed to a number of high-rise buildings (18) containing elevators. The system offers multiple distribution options within the high-rise building, as well as multiple projection and display options within the elevator car (60) of the high-rise building. The system is also applicable to false-ceiling elevator cars (60').

Description

INFORMATIONAL DISTRIBUTION AND DISPLAY SYSTEM

FOR ELEVATORS

Technical Field This invention generally relates to informational distribution and display systems. More particularly, it relates to such a system for providing informational displays to elevator cars in high-rise buildings.

Background of the Invention

It is estimated that there are between 500 million and one billion elevator trips per day in the United States alone. For many passengers, elevator rides are uncomfortable and create a sense of invaded personal space. Accordingly, passengers rarely communicate and typically look for a distraction when inside the elevator car. At best, elevator rides are a monotonous journey for passengers.

Prior systems have attempted to alleviate these problems by sending audio, video, scrolled data, or even fragrances, to the elevator car. Such systems usually require major modifications to the elevator car, normally at great expense and inconvenience to building owners. Furthermore, such systems typically require tapping into the existing elevator control system — again at great expense and inconvenience to building owners.

Accordingly, there is a need for an operationally independent, easily installed system that provides an interesting display of information to elevator passengers. This invention is directed to providing a solution to this need.

Summary of the Invention In accordance with this invention, an informational distribution and display system is disclosed. The system includes a control center which gathers media-type information from remote sources, and processes the gathered information to create broadcast content. In elevator applications, broadcast content and system control commands are transmitted from the control center to a server disposed within each high-rise building containing elevators. The server appends the broadcast content with floor position data and may add further control commands. The appended broadcast and control commands are transmitted from the server to each elevator car in wireless fashion through the elevator hoistway. Operational status data and passenger traffic data are transmitted from the elevator car back to the server in similar fashion, where all or part of such data is then transmitted to the control center. Multiple embodiments of projection and display apparatus disposed within the elevator car are disclosed — for both normal ceiling and false ceiling environments.

Additional disclosed embodiments include: (1) an informational distribution and display system that does not necessarily utilize particular remote sources of information to create broadcast content; (2) an informational distribution and display system that accesses the existing elevator control system which, though not operationally independent, does eliminate the need for an independent floor position detection system and for apparatus to gather passenger traffic data; and, (3) informational distribution apparatus within each high-rise building that allows for the periodic, rather than continuous, wireless transmission of broadcast content through the hoistway to the elevator car.

Brief Description of the Drawings The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant features of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 diagrammatically depicts an informational distribution and display system for elevators formed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a block diagram illustrating how information is processed within the control center of the system shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 schematically depicts a high-rise building of the system shown in FIGURE 1, the building being equipped with informational distribution and display apparatus in accordance with the principles of the present invention; FIGURE 4 is an enlargement of the elevator bank control panel disposed in the lobby of the high-rise building shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 schematically depicts an electronic scale, formed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, used to determine the position of the elevator car;

FIGURE 6 depicts an alternative embodiment of the present invention utilizing reflection-based apparatus to determine the position of the elevator car;

FIGURE 7 depicts an alternative embodiment of the present invention utilizing optical recognition apparatus to determine the position of the elevator car; FIGURE 8 is an elevation view taken inside the elevator car that illustrates a projector, formed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, that projects an identical image onto each lateral wall of the elevator car;

FIGURE 9 is an exemplary representation of the projected image shown in FIGURE 8; FIGURE 10 schematically depicts the internally disposed components of the projector shown in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 11 is a bottom plan view of the projector shown in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 12 is an elevation view, similar to that shown in FIGURE 8, illustrating a door status monitor formed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 13 is a schematic side view illustrating the manner in which the projector shown in FIGURE 8 is mounted to the ceiling of the elevator car;

FIGURE 14 is an exemplary representation of a two-part image formed and utilized in accordance with the principles of the present invention; FIGURE 15 is a truncated view of an alternative embodiment of the projector of the present invention, this view schematically depicting certain internally disposed projector components modified to project the upper portion of the two-part image shown in FIGURE 14 onto one lateral wall of the elevator car and to project the bottom portion of this image onto the opposing lateral wall of the elevator car; FIGURE 16 is an elevation view taken inside the elevator car that illustrates an alternative embodiment of the projector of the present invention modified to project the single image shown in FIGURE 9 onto the front wall of the elevator car at a location above the elevator doors;

FIGURE 17 is a truncated view schematically depicting certain internally disposed components of the projector shown in FIGURE 16; FIGURE 18 is an elevation view taken inside the elevator car that illustrates an alternative embodiment of the projector of the present invention modified to separately project the upper and lower portions of the two-part image shown in

FIGURE 14 onto the front wall of the elevator car at locations above the elevator doors;

FIGURE 19 is a truncated view schematically depicting certain internally disposed components of the projector shown in FIGURE 18;

FIGURE 20 is an elevation view taken inside the elevator car that illustrates a periscope-type projector, employed in false ceiling environments and formed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, that projects the single image shown in FIGURE 9 onto each lateral wall of the elevator car;

FIGURE 21 schematically depicts the internally disposed components of the upper unit of the periscope-type projector shown in FIGURE 20;

FIGURE 22 schematically depicts the internally disposed components of the lower unit of the periscope-type projector shown in FIGURE 20;

FIGURE 23 is a bottom plan view of the lower unit shown in FIGURE 22;

FIGURE 24 is an elevation view taken inside the elevator car illustrating an alternative embodiment of the periscope-type projector of the present invention, employed in false ceiling environments, that is modified to project the single image shown in FIGURE 9 onto the front wall of the elevator car at a location above the elevator doors;

FIGURE 25 schematically depicts the internally disposed components of the lower unit of the periscope-type projector shown in FIGURE 24;

FIGURE 26 is an elevation view taken inside the elevator car illustrating an alternative embodiment of the periscope-type projector of the present invention, employed in false ceiling environments, that is modified to separately project the upper and lower portions of the two-part image shown in FIGURE 14 onto the front wall of the elevator car at locations above the elevator doors;

FIGURE 27 schematically depicts the internally disposed components of the lower unit of the periscope-type projector shown in FIGURE 26;

FIGURE 28 diagrammatically depicts an alternative informational distribution and display system for elevators, formed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, that does not specifically include a remote video provider and a remote text provider; FIGURE 29 schematically depicts an alternative eye protection system used in conjunction with the projectors disclosed herein;

FIGURE 30 is an elevation view taken inside the elevator car that illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention that utilizes a pair of projectors, each projector directing an image onto the opposing lateral wall of the elevator car; and

FIGURE 31 schematically depicts a high-rise building of the system shown in FIGURE 1, the building being equipped with alternative informational distribution apparatus that allows for the periodic, rather than continuous, wireless transmission of broadcast content through the hoistway to the elevator car.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring to FIGURE 1, the informational distribution and display system 10 of the present invention includes a control center 12 which remotely gathers media- type information from a video provider 14 and from a text provider 16. All gathered informational data is processed in the control center, then distributed to a number of high-rise buildings 18 containing elevators.

A multitude of sources can act as video provider 14, although it is most likely that a television news network (CNN, CNBC, etc.) would serve this function.

Though a single text provider 16 has been illustrated, multiple sources of such information may be utilized. Examples include weather services, news agencies, financial information publishers, traffic monitoring organizations, etc.

The preferred manner of data gathering shown in FIGURE 1 has information transmitted by a satellite transmitter 20 at the video provider 14 to a satellite 22, which then relays the information to a satellite receiver 24 at the control center 12. Data is transmitted from the text provider 16 to the control center 12 through the use of a conventional telecommunications network 26 (telephone, wireless, etc.) and associated modems. Once processed, information is then distributed from the control center 12 to the high-rise buildings 18 through the use of a conventional telecommunications network 28 and associated modems. As described in greater detail below, operational information is also transmitted back and forth between the control center and the high-rise buildings.

As used herein, the term "conventional telecommunications network and associated modems" is also meant to include local-area computer networks, as well as wide-area computer networks (such as the Internet). While the preferred manner of data transmission is illustrated in FIGURE 1, it will be appreciated that information could be transmitted from the video provider via telecommunications network and information could be transmitted from the text provider via satellite. As schematically shown above the dashed line in FIGURE 2, sources of information other than video provider 14 (via satellite receiver 24) and text provider 16 (via source modem 30) may be utilized in the creation of the broadcast content that occurs at control center 12. Locally based information can also be added through the use of a videotape recorder 32 and a ROM drive 34. For example, the videotape recorder and the ROM drive may serve as the source for advertisements, image backgrounds and the like appearing in the broadcast.

Information gathered from each of these sources is passed through an encoder 36 which converts all information to a digital (i.e., binary) format. All encoded information is stored on a raw data server 38, which interfaces with a plurality of manned computerized workstations 40. It is at the workstations that editing and production of the broadcast content occurs. The produced broadcast is stored on a broadcast ready server 42 and then sent (either periodically or continuously) to the high-rise buildings 18 through the use of a broadcast modem 44 connected to the buildings through telecommunications network 28. As schematically shown below the dashed line in FIGURE 2, many operational aspects of the informational distribution and display system 10 of the present invention are also handled at control center 12. An operational modem 46 receives operational status and passenger traffic information from the high-rise buildings 18 via telecommunications network 28. It may also receive information from a field service provider responsible for keeping equipment in the high-rise buildings functioning properly.

Information transmitted to operational modem 46 is stored on an upload server 48, which interfaces with a plurality of manned computerized workstations 50. Workers at workstations 50 monitor operational information stored by upload server 48, analyze the stored information, and then send control commands back to high-rise buildings 18 through the use of a download server 52 coupled to broadcast modem 44. Workers at workstations 50 also analyze passenger traffic data gathered at, and transmitted from, the high-rise buildings.

Though illustrated otherwise in FIGURE 2, it will be appreciated that a single server could act as raw data server 38, broadcast ready server 42, upload server 48 and download server 52. Similarly, a single modem could act as source modem 30, broadcast modem 44 and operational modem 46. Furthermore, workstations 40 and 50 need not be manned ~ automated processing may be used instead.

While FIGURE 1 , FIGURE 2 and the description immediately above define an overall system utilizing a remote video provider and a remote text provider, it will be appreciated that these components need not be utilized. As shown in FIGURE 28, the informational distribution and display system 10' of the present invention need only include the control center 12 which distributes processed information to high- rise buildings 18 through telecommunications network 28. The content of the information distributed to the high-rise buildings may be created from myriad audio, video, graphics and textual sources - whether remote or local in origin.

Data transmission and display equipment disposed within each high-rise building 18 is schematically represented in FIGURE 3. Information is transferred between control center 12 and the high-rise building through the use of a modem 54 connected to telecommunications network 28. Preferably, the modem is disposed within a local control room 56 located near the building's elevators. Information received from control center 12 is stored by a control room server 58 coupled to modem 54. In addition to its data storage and transmission functions, control room server 58 may independently provide additional control commands to apparatus associated with each elevator car 60.

The broadcast created at control center 12 (containing video, audio, graphics and text) is sent from control room server 58 to each elevator car 60 through the use of a broad band transmitter 62 operably coupled to the control room server. A broad band transmission antenna 64, operably coupled to broad band transmitter 62, is disposed in the upper region of each elevator hoistway 66. Each broad band transmission antenna 64 sends its wireless signal down hoistway 66, where it is received by a broad band reception antenna 68 disposed atop elevator car 60. This signal is then relayed to a projector 70 located inside the elevator car. Broad band transmission of the media-type information contained in the broadcast is required because of the data capacity requirements inherent in high-quality video, graphics and audio. Narrow band frequencies have insufficient data carrying capacity to transmit such information.

Two-way transfer of all other information (i.e., control commands, operational status data and passenger traffic data) between control room server 58 and each elevator car 60 is accomplished through the use of a narrow band transceiver 72 operably coupled to the control room server. A two-way narrow band antenna 74, operably coupled to narrow band transceiver 72, is disposed in the upper region of each hoistway 66. This antenna sends wireless signals to, and receives wireless signals from, a two-way narrow band antenna 76 which is disposed atop elevator car 60 and is operably coupled to projector 70. Though not illustrated, two- way narrow band antenna 76 must have a corresponding narrow band transceiver in order to properly receive and transmit signals. This transceiver may be disposed atop elevator car 60, or it may be integrated with projector 70.

FIGURE 3 schematically illustrates a travel cable 78 associated with each elevator car 60. It is the travel cable that provides a connection for existing directional control, lighting and the like to each elevator car. While travel cable 78 has been illustrated as being so connected in the upper region of each hoistway 66, it is not uncommon for this point of connection to occur in the middle region of the hoistway. The particulars of the displays located inside each elevator car 60 are described below. However, it will be appreciated that one or more displays 80 may also be disposed within the elevator lobby 82 of the high-rise building 18. Referring to FIGURE 4, display 80 can be integrated into an existing elevator bank control panel 84 at a position adjacent call buttons 86. It will be further appreciated that displays could also be disposed in other public areas throughout the building (garage, restrooms, etc.). Though not illustrated, any such display 80 would require a communication link with the control room server 58.

One item of information preferably displayed inside each elevator car 60 by the informational distribution and display system 10 of the present invention is the position (i.e., floor number) of the elevator car. While virtually all elevator cars contain an existing floor number display, it is desirable to also display this information to the passenger in the same image containing the broadcast from control center 12. As a result, the passenger is not diverted from viewing the image to check floor numbers. Such an approach requires an independent floor position system — one that neither relies upon, nor interferes with, the existing floor position system.

Several preferred methods capable of acting as the independent floor position system for the present invention will be described. FIGURE 5 illustrates the use of an electronic scale 88 having a downwardly extending hook 90 which supports the upper end of travel cable 78. As elevator car 60 travels up and down within hoistway 66, the weight borne by hook 90 fluctuates. Electronic scale 88 correlates measured weight with a particular floor location and relays this information to control room server 58 via cabling 92, where it is utilized in completing the image transmitted to the elevator car. Alternatively, the measured weight may be directly relayed to the control room server where the correlation to floor position is subsequently made. Use of an electronic scale would also be effective in those environments where the travel cable attaches in the middle region of the elevator hoistway.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a reflection-based floor position detection system. A transceiver 94 positioned in the upper region of hoistway 66 transmits a pulsed signal to a reflector 96 disposed atop elevator car 60. The time delay in signal reflection back to transceiver 94 is correlated with floor position and then transferred to control room server 58 via cabling 98. Alternatively, the measured time delay may be directly transferred to the control room server where the correlation to floor position is subsequently made. The signal sent and received by transceiver 94 may be light (e.g., laser, infrared or radio frequency) or sound (e.g., ultrasonic).

FIGURE 7 illustrates an optical recognition system utilized to determine the floor position of elevator car 60. The optical recognition system includes a camera unit 100 disposed atop elevator car 60 that is programmed to read and recognize floor numbers 102 painted on the inside wall of hoistway 66. The recognized floor position is relayed via cabling 104 to the transceiver (not shown) associated with two-way narrow band antenna 76, where it is then transmitted back to control room server 58 via narrow band signal transmission. Alternatively, the camera can simply read floor numbers, which are then relayed to the control room server where recognition and correlation occurs.

In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGURE 8, a single image 105 is projected onto each lateral wall 106 of elevator car 60 by projector 70. More specifically, the image 105 is projected onto a reflective display screen 108 mounted to lateral wall 106. While illustrated otherwise, it will be appreciated that the display screen may also be integral with, or mounted flush with, the lateral wall.

The display screens are mounted at a height providing unobstructed viewing for most passengers inside the elevator car. Additionally, the display screens are positioned so as not to interfere with passenger viewing of the existing floor number display 110, nor to inhibit manipulation of the actuators of existing control panel 112. Though highly reflective display screens are preferred, it will be appreciated that a sufficiently uniform and reflective wall surface would allow projection of images directly onto lateral walls 106.

While potential formats for projected single image 105 are myriad, and the image content is repeatedly updated, an example is shown in FIGURE 9. This exemplary image is comprised of a video window 114, a first graphics window 116 and a second graphics window 118. Additionally, a floor position window 120 (displaying a continuously updated floor number) is disposed within the second graphics window.

The components of projector 70, which are contained within a protective housing 122, are schematically represented in FIGURE 10. A power supply 124 that drives all internally disposed projection and lighting components is connected to the existing source of power provided to elevator car 60 by travel cable 78. A house lights controller 126 disposed within protective housing 122 controls the output of a pair of house lights 128 formed in the bottom surface of the protective housing (see FIGURE 11). To achieve optimum controlled viewing conditions inside elevator car 60, existing lights should be disconnected. A pair of stereo speakers 130 are also disposed within protective housing 122, each speaker having a corresponding plurality of speaker holes 132 formed in the lower surface of the protective housing (see FIGURE 11). Projector 70 also includes an internally disposed I/O processing board 134 that is operably coupled to broad band reception antenna 68 (see FIGURE 3) for the reception of broadcast information, and is also operably coupled to two-way narrow band antenna 76 and its associated transceiver (not shown) for the two-way transmission of all other information. An internally disposed optics assembly 136 (LCD, DMD, etc.) having an associated optics control board 138, operating in conjunction with a projection light source 140, creates an image that is provided to an optical splitter 142. The optical splitter converts this provided image into a pair of identical single images 105, each of which is projected through a lens 144 having focus and zoom capability. Each single image 105 passes through a corresponding window 146 formed in protective housing 122 and then onto display screen 108 (see FIGURE 8).

To ensure that no eye damage occurs to passengers that may somehow be in a position to stare directly into the projected image leaving lens 144 and passing through window 146, the projector 70 of the present invention includes an internally disposed eye protection sensor 148 for each lens (see FIGURE 10). Each eye protection sensor 148 includes a transceiver that emits an infrared beam through an associated window 150 (and measures the beam's corresponding reflection) to detect any at-risk positioning of passengers. The sensors are operably coupled to optics assembly 136 to immediately cease projection if the received reflection indicates that such a situation is encountered. Alternatively, eye protection sensor 148 may simply employ a light-sensitive receiver to achieve desired function.

An alternative method of ensuring that no eye damage occurs to passengers is schematically depicted in FIGURE 29. A row of infrared light emitters 300 supported in a rectangular emitter mounting bar 302 is disposed along the bottom surface of the display screen 108 mounted to lateral wall 106. The emitters 300 are sequentially and repeatedly activated to direct pulses of infrared energy toward an infrared light detector 304 disposed on or within projector 70. In effect, the emitters create a "light curtain" emanating outward from the lower-most boundary of the display screen. Detector 304 is operably coupled to optics assembly 136 (see FIGURE 10) to cease the projection of images if the light curtain is breached by passengers. Though not illustrated, an electronics module which controls the emitted light and which is operably coupled to detector 304 is also employed. It will be appreciated that this method eliminates the need for the eye protection sensor 148 shown in FIGURE 10 and described above. A door status monitor 152 is also disposed within projector 70, the monitor having an associated window 154 formed in protective housing 122. Referring additionally to FIGURE 12, it is illustrated that door status monitor 152 (which is operably coupled to I/O processing board 134 of projector 70) includes a transceiver that directs an infrared beam through window 154 toward one of the doors 156 of elevator car 60 and then measures the beam's corresponding reflection. When the elevator doors are open, the reflected infrared beam is interrupted, thereby signaling the I/O processing board that open-door status exists. This monitor forms the basis of the passenger traffic data transmitted back to control center 12.

The preferred manner of mounting projector 70 within elevator car 60 is schematically illustrated in FIGURE 13. A mounting housing 158 is pivotally and rotatably mounted to the ceiling 160 of the elevator car through the use of a mounting assembly 162 having the required degrees of freedom. A pair of lengthwise mounting channels 164 are formed in the flat rectangular bottom surface 166 of mounting housing 158. These mounting channels are sized to snugly receive a corresponding pair of lengthwise mounting rails 168 that project upwardly from the flat rectangular upper surface 170 of the protective housing 122 of projector 70.

Once the mounting rails 168 of projector 70 are fully seated within the mounting channels 164 of mounting housing 158, a locking mechanism (not shown) is engaged. The result is a projector that is securely mounted but that has sufficient freedom of movement to allow precise positioning (i.e., framing) of the projected single images 105 on the display screens 108.

Though not illustrated, provision is made in mounting housing 158 and projector 70 to connect power supply 124 disposed within the projector (see FIGURE 10) to the existing supply of power carried in travel cable 78 (see FIGURE 3). Provision is also made to connect I/O processing board 134 disposed within the projector (see FIGURE 10) to the broad band reception antenna 68 and the two-way narrow band antenna 76 disposed atop elevator car 60 (see FIGURE 3).

The protective housing 122 of projector 70 is preferably formed of a durable material (e.g., cold rolled steel, polybutylene terephthalate). This, coupled with its position and manner of mounting, provides a projector that is quite tamper resistant ~ thereby reducing vandalism concerns. The projector and its components should also possess shock absorbing capability in order to maintain a steady projected image.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the two images projected onto the opposing display screens 108 shown in FIGURE 8 are different. This requires the transmission of a different image from the optics assembly and further requires the use of a different optical splitter. Referring to FIGURE 14, a two-part image 179, having an upper composite image 180 and a lower composite image 182 separated by a delineation 184, is transmitted from the optics assembly. As illustrated in FIGURE 15, an optical splitter 186 disposed within projector 70a partitions the transmitted two-part image 179 from optics assembly 136 along delineation 184, so that upper composite image 180 is projected onto one lateral wall of the elevator car and lower composite image 182 is projected onto the other lateral wall. A full-sized projection is achieved on each lateral wall through the use of the zoom capability of lens 144. Of course, it will be appreciated that use of two-part image 179 also requires different production efforts at control center 12 prior to broadcast.

FIGURES 16 and 17 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein a single image 105 is projected onto a display screen 108b mounted to the front wall 188 of elevator car 60 at a location above elevator doors 156. As shown in FIGURE 17, this embodiment requires no optical splitter within projector 70b. Rather, the single image 105 transmitted by optics assembly 136 is directly projected onto display screen 108b through a single lens 144. Because a single lens is utilized, only one eye protection sensor 148 is employed. In the alternative embodiment of the present invention illustrated in

FIGURES 18 and 19, different images are projected onto two display screens 108c mounted to the front wall 188 of elevator car 60 at locations above elevator doors 156. This embodiment employs transmission of two-part image 179 (see FIGURE 14) from optics assembly 136 to an optical splitter 190 housed within projector 70c. Optical splitter 190 separates the transmitted two-part image 179 along delineation 184, so that upper composite image 180 is projected onto one display screen and lower composite image 182 is projected onto the other display screen. Optical splitter 190 differs from the optical splitter 186 described above (see FIGURE 15) in that the separated images are projected in a direction parallel to, rather than peφendicular to, the direction of the transmitted two-part image 179 leaving optics assembly 136. As indicated in FIGURE 19, this embodiment of the present invention employs two lenses 144 and two eye protection sensors 148.

Many elevator cars are designed with a decorative false ceiling that is not structurally sufficient to bear the weight of a mounted projector. In the representative example illustrated in FIGURE 20, elevator car 60' has a flat false ceiling 192 suspended from the elevator car's actual ceiling 160 by a pair of ceiling supports 194. Such applications require the conventional mounting of a primary projector 196 to the actual ceiling 160. This allows the weight of the heavier transmission and projection components to be borne by the more structurally sound actual ceiling 160. As shown in FIGURE 21, primary projector 196 includes a housing 198 containing power supply 124, house lights controller 126, I/O processing board 134, optics assembly 136, optics control board 138 and projection light source 140. Primary projector 196 also includes a reflector unit 199 that directs the image transmitted by optics assembly 136 downwardly through a cylindrical periscope 200. Referring to FIGURE 20, it is illustrated that periscope 200 extends downwardly through false ceiling 192 and terminates within a secondary projector 202. As illustrated in FIGURE 22, secondary projector 202 includes a protective housing 204 containing an optical splitter 206, stereo speakers 130, lenses 144 with associated windows 146, eye protection sensors 148 with associated windows 150, and door status monitor 152 with associated window 154. As shown in FIGURE 23, the protective housing 204 of secondary projector 202 also has a house light 128 and a plurality of speaker holes 132 formed in its bottom surface. Though not shown, a wire carrying power from primary projector 196 to secondary projector 202 is disposed along the outside, rather than the inside, surface of periscope 200 so as to not interfere with image quality. Furthermore, either projector may contain a back-up battery (not shown) to provide emergency lighting in the event that main power is lost.

Best understood by reference to FIGURES 20 and 22, this embodiment of the invention projects the same single image 105 (see FIGURE 9) onto each of two display screens 108 mounted to the lateral walls 106 of elevator car 60'. Optical splitter 206 receives the downwardly transmitted single image 105 from optics assembly 136 of primary projector 196, then sends two identical versions of single image 105 through lenses 144 to be projected onto the display screens on the lateral walls of the elevator. Though not illustrated, the secondary projector described immediately above may alternatively be equipped with an optical splitter capable of receiving two-part image 179 (see FIGURE 14) from optics assembly 136, separating the image along delineation 184, and then providing for the projection of upper composite image 180 onto one lateral wall of the elevator car 60' and the projection of lower composite image 182 onto the opposing lateral wall.

In the alternative embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGURES 24 and 25, also applicable to false ceiling environments, a single image 105 is projected onto a display screen 108b mounted to front wall 188 of elevator car 60' at a location above elevator doors 156. The single image 105 transmitted from the optics assembly in primary projector 196 down through periscope 200 is received by an optical splitter 208 disposed within a secondary projector 202a. This image is directed by the splitter through lens 144 and window 146 onto display screen 108b. Because a single lens is utilized in this embodiment, only one eye protection sensor 148 and associated window 150 need be employed.

Referring to the alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGURES 26 and 27, which is also applicable to false ceiling environments, it is illustrated that the two-part image 179 (see FIGURE 14) is transmitted downwardly through periscope 200 and is received by an optical splitter 210 disposed within secondary projector 202b. Optical splitter 210 separates this two-part image so that two different images are projected onto two display screens 108c mounted to front wall 188 of elevator car 60' just above elevator doors 156. More specifically, upper composite image 180 is projected onto one display screen and lower composite image 182 is projected onto the other display screen. As illustrated in FIGURE 27, this embodiment employs two lenses 144 (with associated windows 146) and two eye protection sensors 148 (with associated windows 150).

Although each of the above-described embodiments projecting images onto more than one wall of the elevator car employs a single projector with an optical splitter to achieve the desired result, it will be appreciated that there are applications where use of multiple projectors may prove technically and economically advantageous. In the alternative embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 30, each of a pair of projectors 70' directs an image 105 onto a display screen 108 mounted to the opposing lateral wall 106 of the elevator car. Each image may be projected directly onto the display screen or may be directed to the display screen by a properly positioned reflector (not shown) ~ either approach thereby eliminating the need for an optical splitter. Each projector 70' is, of course, operably coupled to control room server 58 in the manner described above.

Each of the embodiments illustrated and described above obtains power to run the projector and associated equipment from the existing travel cable connected to each elevator car. However, it will be appreciated that an additional travel cable may be added to supply such power in those applications where tapping into the existing travel cable is not feasible or is not sanctioned under applicable elevator installation and safety codes.

Each embodiment illustrated and described above also utilizes a completed image that is broadcast from the control center to the high-rise building. It will be appreciated that, alternatively, the image may be completed (or compiled) at the control room server within the high-rise building through the use of conventional software. The control center would still broadcast to the high-rise buildings the separate informational components used to form the completed image. In applications where the image is completed (or compiled) at the control room server, it will be appreciated that the server may also be in communication with other remote sources of audio, video, graphics or textual information. Utilizing sources of information in addition to the separate informational components broadcast form the control center provides a more flexible and diversified approach to forming the completed image that is projected within the elevator cars. While each embodiment illustrated and described above utilizes a single informational broadcast from control center 12, it will be appreciated that multiple broadcasts could be transmitted. Such an approach would allow different projection options for the elevator cars of the same high-rise building 18. Even where a single informational broadcast is transmitted to each high-rise building, it will be readily appreciated that different broadcasts could be transmitted to different high-rise buildings.

Operationally, broadcast information (whether complete or merely components) and control commands are transmitted from control center 12 to the control room server 58 disposed within the high-rise building. The control room server appends the broadcast with floor position data, then transmits the appended broadcast and the control commands to the elevator car. The control room server may also add further control commands prior to transmission. Operational status data and passenger traffic data are transmitted back to the control room server from the elevator car, where all or part of such data is then transmitted to the control center.

As will be appreciated from the description above, and through reference to associated drawings, the informational distribution and display system of the present invention possesses many advantages over prior systems. It provides a sophisticated multi-media display (video, audio, graphics and text) to passengers. By repeatedly creating and transmitting its own broadcast content, the present invention provides current information to passengers — not some taped rehash of stale information. Furthermore, the present invention allows the displayed information to be specifically tailored to its viewing audience. Perhaps more importantly, the present invention may be easily retrofitted to existing elevator systems. Deployment of operative components is relatively simple and, other than obtaining a source of power, the existing elevator system is left undisturbed. Wireless communication through the elevator hoistway also simplifies installation and subsequent operation of the present invention. Another advantage of the present invention is that its operative components may be constructed and mounted in a manner capable of withstanding significant force. This is important in applications where all elevator-mounted apparatus must be able to withstand drop tests mandated by applicable elevator safety codes.

This being said, it must also be recognized that there are applications where tapping into the existing elevator control system is not unduly onerous. Therefore, not having complete operational independence may be acceptable. Such applications of the present invention would eliminate the need for an independent floor position detection system (such as those illustrated in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7), as well as the need for a door status monitor (such as that illustrated in FIGURE 12) to gather passenger traffic data. Floor position and passenger traffic data would be obtained from the existing system.

In such applications, it may also be unnecessary or undesirable to append the projected image with floor position data, or to provide an independent source of light within the elevator. To help ensure that existing elevator functions remain undisturbed, a read-only interface may be employed at the access point to the existing elevator control system.

Furthermore, given the data requirements associated with presenting full- motion video images of high quality, it must be further recognized that the manner of continuously transmitting broadcast content down the hoistway to the elevator car that is illustrated in FIGURE 3 may not be economically feasible in certain applications. This may well change in the near future, given the current pace of technological advance occurring in the data storage and transmission arena. However, for now, a viable solution is offered by the data transmission apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention schematically represented in FIGURE 31. In the arrangement of FIGURE 31 , broadcast content is periodically, rather than continuously, sent from control room server 58 to each elevator car 60 through the use of a narrow band transceiver 72' operably coupled to the control room server. A two-way narrow band antenna 74', operably coupled to narrow band transceiver 72', is disposed in the upper region of each hoistway 66. This antenna sends wireless signals to, and receives wireless signals from, a two-way narrow band antenna 76' which is disposed atop elevator car 60 and is operably coupled to an intermediate microprocessor-based unit 400 (also disposed atop the elevator car) capable of storing and processing data. Unit 400, preferably a PC, is in turn operably coupled to projector 70. Though not illustrated, two-way narrow band antenna 76' must have a corresponding narrow band transceiver in order to properly receiver and transmit signals. This transceiver may be separately disposed atop elevator car 60, or it may be integrated with unit 400. Transfer of all other information (control commands, etc.) occurs in the manner previously described.

While unit 400 does provide a continuous feed to projector 70, its data storage capability allows the broadcast content from control room server 58 to be transmitted to the elevator car 60 on a periodic basis. Because several hours of broadcast content may be sent to unit 400 in each periodic transmission, the speed of transmission through the hoistway 66 is no longer critical. This allows the exclusive use of narrow band transmission equipment, rather than a combination of narrow band and broad band equipment, thereby providing the economic feasibility required in certain applications.

Another advantage of the embodiment represented in FIGURE 31 is that it allows sustained projection with the elevator cars if the communications link between the control center 12 and the high-rise building 18 is temporarily interrupted. While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the informational distribution and display system of the present invention need not be restricted solely to elevator cars of high-rise buildings. It has a much wider range of potential application.

Accordingly, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments illustrated and described. Rather, the true scope of the invention is to be determined by reference to the following claims.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An informational distribution and display system for elevator cars in high-rise buildings, the system comprising: a) a control center for gathering and processing information to create broadcast content; b) a server located in one or more high-rise buildings, each said server being in communication with said control center for receiving said broadcast content from said control center and being in communication with at least one elevator car for transmitting said broadcast content to each said at least one elevator car; and c) a projector located in each said at least one elevator car, each said projector being in communication with said server for receiving said broadcast content and for displaying said broadcast content for viewing by passengers.

2. The informational distribution and display system for elevator cars of Claim 1 the means employed by said control center for gathering and processing information to create broadcast content provides control command signals that are transmitted to at least one of said servers located in one or more high-rise buildings and wherein each said server includes processing means for supplementing said control command signals.

3. The informational distribution and display system for elevators of Claim 2 wherein:

(a) at least a portion of said elevator cars are operated by an existing control system that is located in the high-rise building associated with each such elevator car and produces a floor indication signal for each such elevator; and (b) said processing means of said server appends said floor indication signal obtained from the existing control system to said broadcast content for display by said projector.

4. The informational distribution and display system of Claim 1, wherein:

(a) said server is in two-way communication with said control center and said server is in two-way communication with said at least one elevator car;

(b) at least a portion of said elevator cars are operated by a control system that is located in the high-rise building that is associated with each such elevator and provides passenger traffic data; and

(c) said server transmits said passenger traffic data to said control center.

5. The informational distribution and display system of Claim 1, further comprising eye protection means for interrupting the display of said broadcast content when a passenger is at a location within the elevator car that would allow the passenger to stare directly into the projected display.

6. The informational distribution and display system of Claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein said server is in wireless communication with said projector.

7. The informational distribution and display system of Claim 1, wherein:

(a) at least a portion of said servers include a processor for processing and storing said broadcast content to establish blocks of broadcast content; (b) said server periodically transmits a block of broadcast content to each elevator car; and

(c) said informational distribution and display system further comprises a signal processor located at at least a portion of said elevator cars, said signal processor including means for receiving and storing said periodically transmitted blocks of broadcast content and processing means for establishing a continuous stream of broadcast content from each said block of broadcast content and supplying said continuous stream of broadcast content to said projector.

8. The informational distribution and display system of Claim 7 wherein said processing means of said server supplements said blocks of broadcase content with said command signals.

9. The informational distribution and display system for elevators of Claim 8 wherein:

(a) at least a portion of said elevator cars are operated by an existing control system that is located in the high-rise building associated with each such elevator car and produces a floor indication signal for each such elevator; and

(b) said processing means of said server appends said floor indication signal obtained from the existing control system to said blocks of broadcast content for said display projector.

10. The informational distribution and display system of Claim 7, wherein:

(a) said server is in two-way communication with said control center and said server is in two-way communication with said at least one elevator car; (b) at least a portion of said elevator cars are operated by a control system that is located in the high-rise building that is associated with each such elevator and provides passenger traffic data; and

(c) said server transmits said passenger traffic data to said control center.

11. An informational distribution and display system for elevator cars in high-rise buildings, the system comprising: a) a control center having: i) data gathering means in communication with a remote video provider and a remote text provider; ii) means for storing video and text information received by said data gathering means; and iii) transmission means for establishing two-way communication between said control center and one or more high-rise buildings, said transmission means of said control center transmitting said video and text information to each high-rise building and receiving operational status data and passenger traffic data from each high-rise building; b) a server disposed at each high-rise building, said server having: i) first transmission means in communication with said transmission means of said control center; ii) processing means for creating broadcast content from said video and text information and for creating control commands, said processing means further appending a floor indication signal to said broadcast content; and iii) second transmission means for establishing two-way communication between said server and one or more elevator cars, said second transmission means of said server transmitting said broadcast content and said control commands to each elevator car and receiving operational status data and passenger traffic data from each elevator car; c) a projector disposed within each elevator car, said projector having: i) transmission means in communication with said second transmission means of said server; and ii) means for displaying said broadcast content within the elevator car; and d) means for gathering said passenger traffic data in communication with said transmission means of said projector.

12. The informational distribution and display system of Claim 11, wherein said second transmission means of said server and said transmission means of said projector communicate in wireless fashion.

13. The informational distribution and display system of Claim 1 , wherein said broadcast content contains multiple projection images, and said projector means for displaying said broadcast content within the elevator car includes means for separately displaying the multiple projection images at different locations in the elevator car.