What is claimed is:
1. A sliding door system having a pair of horizontally opposed vertical surfaces defining therebetween an opening, an upper horizontal surface connecting uppermost ends of the vertical surfaces, a lower horizontal surface connecting lowermost ends of the vertical surfaces, and a door moving horizontally to open and close the opening, comprising:
a first optical device having a light emitter for a emitting light, a second optical device having a light receiver for receiving the light, and a light reflector for reflecting the light emitted from the light emitter to the light receiver; and
wherein the light reflector is positioned in at least one of the horizontally opposed vertical surfaces; and
wherein the first and second optical devices are positioned in the upper horizontal surface.
2. A sliding door system having a pair of horizontally opposed vertical surfaces defining therebetween an opening, an upper horizontal surface connecting uppermost ends of the vertical surfaces, a lower horizontal surface connecting lowermost ends of the vertical surfaces, and a door moving horizontally to open and close the opening, comprising:
a first optical device having a light emitter for emitting light, a second optical device having a light receiver for receiving the light, and a light reflector for reflecting the light emitted from the light emitter to the light receiver;
wherein the light reflector is positioned in at least one of the horizontally opposed vertical surfaces;
wherein one of the first and second optical devices is positioned in the upper horizontal surface; and
wherein the other one of the first and second optical devices is positioned in the other one of the horizontally opposed vertical surfaces, opposing to the light reflector.
3. The sliding door system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the light reflector positioned in the vertical surface has a portion facing to the opening that is substantially flush with the vertical surface so as not to substantially protrude therefrom towards the opening.
4. The sliding door system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the light reflector positioned in the vertical surface has a portion facing to the opening that is substantially flush with the vertical surface so as not to substantially protrude therefrom towards the opening.
5. The sliding door system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the other one of the first and second optical devices positioned in the other one of the vertical surfaces has a portion facing to the opening that is substantially flush with the vertical surface so as not to substantially protrude therefrom towards the opening.
6. The sliding door system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:
a door driver for driving the door between a closing position where the door completely closes the opening and an opening position where the door completely opens the opening;
a controller for halting the driving of the door driver if it determines that the amount of the light received by the light receiver is less than a predetermined reference amount of the light before or during the door moves from the closing position and the opening position.
7. The sliding door system in accordance with claim 2, further comprising:
a door driver for driving the door between a closing position where the door completely closes the opening and an opening position where the door completely opens the opening;
a controller for halting the driving of the door driver if it determines that the amount of the light received by the light receiver is less than a predetermined reference amount of the light before or during the door moves from the closing position and the opening position.
8. The sliding door system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:
a warning device;
a door driver for driving the door between a closing position where the door completely closes the opening and an opening position where the door completely opens the opening;
a controller for energizing the warning device to alarm passengers if it determines that the amount of the light received by the light receiver is less than a predetermined reference amount of the light before or during the door moves from the closing position and the opening position.
9. The sliding door system in accordance with claim 2, further comprising:
a warning device;
a door driver for driving the door between a closing position where the door completely closes the opening and an opening position where the door completely opens the opening;
a controller for energizing the warning device to alarm passengers if it determines that the amount of the light received by the light receiver is less than a predetermined reference amount of the light before or during the door moves from the closing position and the opening position.
10. The sliding door system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:
a door driver for driving the door between a closing position where the door completely closes the opening and an opening position where the door completely opens the opening;
a controller for halting the driving of the door driver if it determines that the amount of the light received by the light receiver is more or less than a predetermined reference range of the light before or during the door moves from the closing position and the opening position.
11. The sliding door system in accordance with claim 2, further comprising:
a door driver for driving the door between a closing position where the door completely closes the opening and an opening position where the door completely opens the opening;
a controller for halting the driving of the door driver if it determines that the amount of the light received by the light receiver is more or less than a predetermined reference range of the light before or during the door moves from the closing position and the opening position.
12. The sliding door system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:
a warning device;
a door driver for driving the door between a closing position where the door completely closes the opening and an opening position where the door completely opens the opening;
a controller for energizing the warning device to alarm passengers if it determines that the amount of the light received by the light receiver is less than a predetermined reference amount of the light before or during the door moves from the closing position and the opening position.
13. The sliding door system in accordance with claim 2, further comprising:
a warning device;
a door driver for driving the door between a closing position where the door completely closes the opening and an opening position where the door completely opens the opening;
a controller for energizing the warning device to alarm passengers if it determines that the amount of the light received by the light receiver is less than a predetermined reference amount of the light before or during the door moves from the closing position and the opening position.
14. The sliding door system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pair of the horizontally opposed vertical surfaces are defined by a pair of fixed vertical frame portions provided adjacent to the door.
15. The sliding door system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the pair of the horizontally opposed vertical surfaces are defined by a pair of fixed vertical frame portions provided adjacent to the door.
16. The sliding door system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the horizontally opposed vertical surface is a leading vertical end surface of the door.
17. The sliding door system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the horizontally opposed vertical surface is a leading vertical end surface of the door.
18. An elevator system having a pair of horizontally opposed vertical surfaces defining therebetween an opening defined for an elevator cage, an upper horizontal surface connecting uppermost ends of the vertical surfaces, a lower horizontal surface connecting lowermost ends of the vertical surfaces, and a door moving horizontally to open and close the opening, comprising:
a first optical device having a light emitter for emitting light, a second optical device having a light receiver for receiving the light, and a light reflector for reflecting the light emitted from the light emitter to the light receiver; and
wherein the light reflector is positioned in at least one of the horizontally opposed vertical surfaces; and
wherein the first and second optical devices are positioned in the upper horizontal surface.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. a self-fitting device for location in an ear canal, comprising:
a first end portion joined with a second end portion, the first end portion including a first resilient bladder and the second end portion including a second resilient bladder;
a first chamber of fluid defined inside the first bladder and sealed from an environment outside the device;
a second chamber of fluid defined inside the second resilient bladder and sealed from the environment outside the device, the second resilient bladder in communication with the first resilient bladder via communication of the second chamber with the first chamber;
the first resilient bladder is deformable between an at-rest position to an in-ear position to an insertion position such that the first resilient bladder has a first cross-sectional area in the at-rest position, a second cross-sectional area in the in-ear position and a third cross-sectional area in the insertion position wherein the first cross-sectional area is greater than the second cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area is greater than the third cross-sectional area; and,
the second resilient bladder is deformable such that deformation of the second resilient bladder causes the first resilient bladder to be deformed from the at-rest position to the insertion position before the device is located in the ear canal.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein deformation of the second resilient bladder causes fluid to leave the second chamber and enter the first chamber and thereby causes the first resilient bladder to be deformed from the at-rest position to the insertion position.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein deformation of the second resilient bladder causes the first resilient bladder to be deformed from the at-rest position then to the in-ear position and then to the insertion position.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein an external pressure applied to the second resilient bladder deforms the second resilient bladder thereby causing the first resilient bladder to be deformed from the at-rest position then to the in-ear position then to the insertion position and then back to the in-ear position when the external pressure is removed from the second resilient bladder.
5. The device of claim 1 comprising a plunger in communication with the first and second chambers such that deformation of the second resilient bladder exerts pressure on the plunger causing the plunger to move away from the second chamber and thereby assists to deform the first resilient bladder.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein the plunger comprises a head and a shaft joined to the head and with the shaft having an end spaced from the head and the end touching the first resilient bladder at least when the first resilient bladder is deformed.
7. The device of claim 5 wherein the plunger comprises a core surrounded by a sheath in sliding relationship therewith.
8. The device of claim 8 wherein the core is joined with the second resilient bladder and the sheath is joined with the first resilient bladder.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein the fluid is a gas or a liquid.
10. A self-fitting device for location in an ear canal, comprising:
a first end portion joined with a second end portion, the first end portion including a first resilient bladder and the second end portion including a second resilient bladder;
a first chamber of fluid defined inside the first bladder and sealed from an environment outside the device;
a second chamber of fluid defined inside the second resilient bladder and sealed from the environment outside the device, the second resilient bladder in communication with the first resilient bladder via communication of the second chamber with the first chamber;
the first resilient bladder is deformable between an at-rest position to an in-ear position to an insertion position such that the first resilient bladder has a first cross-sectional area in the at-rest position, a second cross-sectional area in the in-ear position and a third cross-sectional area in the insertion position wherein the first cross-sectional area is greater than the second cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area is greater than the third cross-sectional area;
the second resilient bladder is deformable such that deformation of the second resilient bladder causes the first resilient bladder to be deformed from the at-rest position to the in-ear position; and,
a plunger in communication with the first and second chambers such that deformation of the second resilient bladder exerts pressure on the plunger causing the plunger to move away from the second chamber and thereby assists to deform the first resilient bladder wherein the plunger comprises a head and a shaft joined to the head and with the shaft having an end spaced from the head and the end touching the first resilient bladder at least when the first resilient bladder is deformed.
11. The device of claim 10 wherein the end of the shaft is joined to the first resilient bladder.
12. The device of claim 10 comprising a core in sliding relationship with the head with the core joined to the second resilient bladder.
13. The device of claim 10 wherein an external pressure applied to the second resilient bladder deforms the second resilient bladder and thereby causing the first resilient bladder to be deformed from the at-rest position then to the in-ear position then to the insertion position and then back to the in-ear position when the external pressure is removed from the second resilient bladder.
14. A self-fitting device for location in an ear canal, comprising:
a first end portion joined with a second end portion, the first end portion including a first resilient bladder and the second end portion including a second resilient bladder;
a first chamber of fluid defined inside the first bladder and sealed from an environment outside the device;
a second chamber of fluid defined inside the second resilient bladder and sealed from the environment outside the device, the second resilient bladder in communication with the first resilient bladder via communication of the second chamber with the first chamber;
the first resilient bladder is deformable between an at-rest position to an in-ear position to an insertion position such that the first resilient bladder has a first cross-sectional area in the at-rest position, a second cross-sectional area in the in-ear position and a third cross-sectional area in the insertion position wherein the first cross-sectional area is greater than the second cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area is greater than the third cross-sectional area;
the second resilient bladder is deformable such that deformation of the second resilient bladder causes the first resilient bladder to be deformed from the at-rest position to the in-ear position; and,
a plunger in communication with the first and second chambers such that deformation of the second resilient bladder exerts pressure on the plunger causing the plunger to move away from the second chamber and thereby assists to deform the first resilient bladder wherein the plunger comprises a core surrounded by a sheath in sliding relationship therewith.
15. The device of claim 14 wherein the core is joined with the second resilient bladder and the sheath is joined with the first resilient bladder.
16. The device of claim 14 wherein the first resilient bladder comprises a non-resilient material layer surrounding a resilient material layer.
17. The device of claim 14 wherein the first resilient bladder comprises a resilient material layer surrounding a non-resilient material layer.
18. The device of claim 14 wherein the first resilient bladder comprises a resilient material layer surrounding a resilient material layer.
19. The device of claim 14 wherein the first resilient bladder maintains an accordion shaped outer surface when in the at-rest position.
20. The device of claim 14 wherein deformation of the second resilient bladder causes fluid to leave the second chamber and enter the first chamber and thereby causes the first resilient bladder to be deformed from the at-rest position to the insertion position.
21. A self-fitting device for location in an ear canal, comprising:
a first end portion joined with a second end portion, the first end portion including a first resilient bladder and the second end portion including a second resilient bladder;
a chamber of fluid defined inside the second resilient bladder and sealed from the environment outside the device;
the first resilient bladder is deformable between an at-rest position to an in-ear position to an-insertion position such that the first resilient bladder has a first cross-sectional area in the at-rest position, a second cross-sectional area in the in-ear position and a third cross-sectional area in the insertion position wherein the first cross-sectional area is greater than the second cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area is greater than the third cross-sectional area; and,
the second resilient bladder is deformable such that deformation of the second resilient bladder causes the first
the second resilient bladder is deformable such that deformation of the second resilient bladder causes the first resilient bladder to be deformed from the at-rest position to the insertion position before the device is located in the ear canal.