DETECTION OF PEOPLE RELATIVE TO PASSENGER CONVEYOR WITH CAPACITIVE SENSOR Russian patent published in 2014 - IPC B66B25/00 

FIELD: physics, control.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to escalator control. A system (30) for detecting a person relative to a passenger conveyor comprises a driving circuit (32) for supplying an oscillating drive signal (50), capacitive sensor (40), a detection circuit (42) and a controller (45). The capacitive sensor (40) comprises a first electrode (54) configured to produce an electric field (52) towards a second electrode (56) in response to said oscillating drive signal (50). The detection circuit (42) connected to the capacitive sensor (40) senses a change in capacitance of the capacitive sensor and produces an output as a function of capacitance. The controller (45) sensitive to the detection circuit (42) signal selectively adjusts the operation mode of the passenger conveyor. The first (54) and second (56) electrodes are disposed on portions of the passenger conveyor structural component at opposite sides of the passenger riding area, and a change in capacitance is caused by the presence of a person in the electric field (52) between the first (54) and second (56) electrodes.

EFFECT: improved safety.

23 cl, 5 dwg