A touchless keyboard system for operating an elevator through an existing touch-sensitive keyboard of the elevator, the touchless keyboard system including a touchless detection device comprising at least one sensor for detecting non-touch indications from users for opted floors, an actuation device comprising at least one actuator for physical engaging buttons of the existing touch-sensitive keyboard of the elevator corresponding to the opted floors, and a controller in communication with the detection device and with the actuation device for receiving and processing output signals from the at least one sensor and controlling movement of the at least one actuator based on the processed output signals. The touchless keyboard system further comprises a touchless keyboard housing for receiving the touchless detection device and the actuation device, where the touchless keyboard housing is operatively mountable to the touch-sensitive keyboard of the elevator. There is also provided a device unit, and a method of operating an elevator through an existing touch-sensitive keyboard of the elevator.

An elevator-calling device and elevator system. The elevator-calling device includes a processor to receive an input instruction and send a signal to a main controller of an elevator system; a display device connected to the processor; a rotatable button, wherein the rotatable button is connected to the processor, and the rotatable button is pressable and rotatable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, and wherein the rotatable button has an initial zero scale; and an assistant sound generating unit connected to the processor; wherein the processor is configured to have an assistant elevator-calling mode, in which a preset target floor is increased when the rotatable button rotates in the first direction, the preset target floor is decreased when the rotatable button rotates in the second direction, and the preset target floor is confirmed when the rotatable button is pressed at a non-zero scale.

An operating panel for an elevator includes a panel plate having an opening, a key switch arrangement and, optionally, a human machine interface attached to the panel plate. The switch arrangement includes a cover arrangement, a hinge and a key switch. The key switch is attached to the cover arrangement and is activated or deactivated by a key for transmitting activation signals to the elevator control upon activation. The cover arrangement is attached to the panel plate via the hinge and is displaced between a first configuration in which the key switch is arranged behind the cover arrangement and a second pivoted configuration in which the key switch is accessible from the front side of the panel plate. Thus, the key switch is protectively stored in the first configuration, providing splash water protection and an attractive visual appearance, and is pivoted to the second configuration when needed.

An elevator car (6) comprises at least one movable wall panel (16, 18), which is movable between a closed position, in which the at least one movable wall panel (16, 18) constitutes a portion of a sidewall of the elevator car (6), and at least one open position providing an opening (24) which allows access to areas outside the elevator from inside the elevator car (6). The at least one movable wall panel (16, 18) includes a first movable wall panel (16) constituting or supporting a car operation panel (7b).

In an elevator operation panel, a base of a casing includes a back plate portion, a lateral plate portion, and a vertical plate portion. An outer surface of the lateral plate portion, which faces the exterior of the casing, and a vertical direction end surface of the vertical plate portion on the lateral plate portion side are disposed in an identical plane. An L-shaped slit is provided between the back plate portion and the lateral plate portion. The slit includes a rectilinear portion, and a projecting portion that projects into the back plate portion. In a condition where the lateral plate portion is bent relative to the back plate portion, a surface of the lateral plate portion that faces the rectilinear portion overlaps a surface of the back plate portion on an opposite side to a wall.

The present invention provides an elevator button kit for adding contactless sensing to control operations of an elevator though an elevator controller. The elevator button kit comprises a plurality of buttons and a bus. Each button comprises a primary switch for directly controlling the elevator controller, wherein the primary switch requires physical contact to the button to trigger the same; a secondary switch adapted to be triggered electronically; a position sensor for sensing presence of objects within a sensing range; and a microcontroller (MCU) having both the position sensor and the secondary switch connected thereto. The bus connecting the MCUs of the plurality of the buttons to form a MCU network, wherein operationally, range data from each position sensor is acquired by the connected MCU and broadcasted to the other MCUs through the MCU network, and each MCU processes the collected range data from the MCU network to determine whether to send a trigger signal to activate the connected secondary switch to control the elevator controller. A method thereof is also provided.

A method for registering a user's request to provide contactless access to an elevator button panel includes: sensing, by a sensor associated with the elevator button panel, a motion of an object pointing towards the panel by the user; determining a distance of the object from the panel; comparing the distance with a distance threshold to determine whether the object is within the distance threshold indicating the user's request for activating a button on the panel; responding to the determination that the distance is within the distance threshold by determining a magnitude and a direction of a velocity of the object while in motion; and registering the user's request when the velocity magnitude of the object is greater than a threshold velocity magnitude, and the direction is a positive direction indicating the motion of the object towards the button the user intended to select.

Provided is an elevator operation system according to the present invention. The elevator operation system may comprise: an external operation panel configured to control, from the outside of the elevator, stopping of the elevator and opening and closing of the door of the elevator; and a control unit configured to be operable together with the external operation panel and to control sensors and LEDs associated with an up button and a down button on the basis of a user input on the up button and the down button of the external operation panel, thereby sterilizing and disinfecting a corresponding button whenever the user touches the elevator button.

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.

In an elevator operation panel, a front part of a casing includes a frame body and a front surface plate. The frame body includes a first vertical frame and a second vertical frame. A fixing member is laid across the first vertical frame and the second vertical frame. A holding member for holding the front surface plate on the frame body is fixed to the fixing member. The holding member includes a holding portion that overlaps a vertical direction end portion of a front surface of the front surface plate, and a fastening portion that projects rearward from the holding portion and is screwed to the fixing member.