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Lejon, Xavier; Sirigu, Gerard; Durand, Christophe; |
Non-contact elevator call button

An elevator call button transmits infrared radiation into the space adjacent an elevator, and a call request is recognized by infrared radiation reflected from a potential passenger to an infrared receiver. Thus not only is contact with the button not required, the use of a finger or like-sized object is not required in order to place a call.


We claim:
1. An elevator call button apparatus for an elevator having a hatchway opening into an elevator corridor, said elevator serving a plurality of floors of a building, comprising:
a plurality of elevator call buttons, there being an up-direction call button on each floor served by said elevator except the highest such floor, and a down call button on each floor served by said elevator except the lowest such floor;
each of said buttons comprising:
an electromagnetic transmitter disposed in a surface adjacent the elevator corridor for transmitting electromagnetic radiation into the space of the elevator corridor;
an electromagnetic receiver disposed in said surface in the vicinity of said transmitter, thereby to receive electromagnetic radiation of said transmitter reflected by a passenger placed in proximity with said elevator call button; and
circuitry responsive to said electromagnetic receiver for providing an elevator call request signal, in a direction corresponding to said button, in response to said receiver receiving electromagnetic radiation reflected from a passenger.
2. A call button according to claim 1, wherein:
said electromagnetic radiation is infrared.
3. A call button according to claim 1 wherein:
said electromagnetic transmitter comprises an LED.
4. A call button according to claim 3 wherein:
said electromagnetic transmitter comprises an LED emanating radiation through a lens into said space.
5. A call button according to claim 1 wherein:
said electromagnetic receiver comprises a photodiode.
6. A call button according to claim 5 wherein:
said electromagnetic receiver comprises a photodiode receiving radiation from said space through a lens.
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