Hall call registration device for elevator and elevator system

Abstract

Provided is a call registration device for an elevator that can easily register a destination floor. The call registration device for the elevator includes: a touch panel unit provided at a landing or a car of the elevator, which displays information and recognizes a touch operation; a voice output unit that outputs information by voice; and a control unit that, when an upper region of the touch panel unit in a vertically divided region of the touch panel unit is touched, causes the voice output unit to output information on the floor name of the upper floor by voice, and when a lower region of the touch panel unit is touched, causes the voice output unit to output information on the floor name of the lower floor by voice. When a specific operation is performed on the touch panel unit, the floor corresponding to the floor name last output by the voice output unit is registered as the destination floor for the elevator call.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an elevator call registration device and an elevator system. Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an elevator call registration device. According to this call registration device, a destination floor can be registered based on the trace touched by a user's finger.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 5115554 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0007] However, the call registration device described in Patent Document 1 forces the user to perform complicated finger movements, making the registration of the destination floor troublesome.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. An object of the present invention is to provide an elevator call registration device and an elevator system that can easily register a destination floor.

[0009] Means for solving problems

[0010] The elevator call registration device of the present invention comprises: a touch panel portion, which is arranged at the elevator floor station or car, displays information, and recognizes touch operations; a voice output portion, which outputs information by voice; and a control portion, which, when the upper area of the touch panel portion is touched, causes the voice output portion to output information about the floor name of the upper layer by voice, and when the lower area of the touch panel portion is touched, causes the voice output portion to output information about the floor name of the lower layer by voice. When a specific operation is performed at the touch panel portion, the floor corresponding to the floor name last output by voice by the voice output portion is registered as the destination floor.

[0011] The elevator system of the present invention comprises: the call registration device; and a group management device that determines a car to be assigned to a call registered by the call registration device.

[0012] Effects of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, a destination floor is registered by a simple operation. Therefore, a destination floor can be easily registered. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1It is a structural diagram of the elevator system in Embodiment 1.

[0015] Figure 2 It is a block diagram of the landing call registration device of the elevator system in Embodiment 1.

[0016] Figure 3 It is a diagram showing the initial screen of the landing call registration device of the elevator system in Embodiment 1.

[0017] Figure 4 It is a diagram showing the assigned car display screen of the landing call registration device of the elevator system in Embodiment 1.

[0018] Figure 5 It is a diagram showing the voice guidance mode screen of the landing call registration device of the elevator system in Embodiment 1.

[0019] Figure 6 It is a diagram showing the area setting of the touch panel part of the landing call registration device of the elevator system in Embodiment 1.

[0020] Figure 7 It is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the landing call registration device of the elevator system in Embodiment 1.

[0021] Figure 8 It is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the landing call registration device of the elevator system in Embodiment 1.

[0022] Figure 9 It is a hardware structure diagram of the control part of the landing call registration device of the elevator system in Embodiment 1. Detailed Embodiment

[0023] The embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in each figure, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. The repeated description of such parts is appropriately simplified or omitted.

[0024] Embodiment 1

[0025] Figure 1 It is a structural diagram of the elevator system in Embodiment 1.

[0026] As Figure 1 shown, the hoistway 1 of the elevator penetrates each floor of the building. A plurality of landings 2 of the elevator are respectively provided on each floor of the building. The plurality of landings 2 face the hoistway 1 respectively. A plurality of carriages 3 of the elevator are provided inside the hoistway 1. The plurality of carriages 3 are arranged to be able to move up and down inside the hoistway 1 by the power of a traction machine (not shown).

[0027] Each landing call registration device 4 among the multiple landing call registration devices 4 is provided at each landing 2 among the multiple landings 2. Each car call registration device 5 among the multiple car call registration devices 5 is provided at each car 3 among the multiple cars 3.

[0028] Each control device 6 among the multiple control devices 6 corresponds to each car 3 among the multiple cars 3. The multiple control devices 6 are each configured to be able to control the multiple cars 3 separately. The group management device 7 is configured to be able to comprehensively manage the elevator system.

[0029] In the elevator system, when a user registers a call for the elevator by operating the landing call registration device 4, the group management device 7 determines the car 3 assigned to the call. The group management device 7 sends the information of the call to the control device 6 corresponding to the car 3 to which the call is assigned. The control device 6 moves the car 3 up and down according to the information of the call.

[0030] When a user registers a call for the elevator by operating the car call registration device 5, the car call registration device 5 sends the information of the call to the corresponding control device 6. The control device 6 moves the car 3 up and down according to the information of the call.

[0031] Next, use Figure 2 to explain the landing call registration device 4.

[0032] Figure 2 is a block diagram of the landing call registration device of the elevator system in Embodiment 1.

[0033] As Figure 2 shown, the landing call registration device 4 has a touch panel unit 4a, a voice output unit 4b, and a control unit 4c.

[0034] The touch panel unit 4a is configured to be able to display information. The touch panel unit 4a is configured to be able to recognize the position touched by the user's finger.

[0035] The voice output unit 4b is configured to be able to output information using voice.

[0036] The control unit 4c is configured to be able to control the touch panel unit 4a and the voice output unit 4b. For example, the control unit 4c is configured to be able to control the display of the touch panel unit 4a according to a touch operation on the touch panel unit 4a. For example, the control unit 4c is configured to be able to control the voice output of the voice output unit 4b according to a touch operation on the touch panel unit 4a. For example, the control unit 4c registers a call corresponding to the destination floor based on the touch operation in the touch panel unit 4a.

[0037] Next, use Figure 3Describe the initial screen of the landing call registration device 4.

[0038] Figure 3 It is a diagram showing the initial screen of the landing call registration device of the elevator system in Embodiment 1.

[0039] As Figure 3 shown, in the initial screen, the touch panel unit 4a displays a guidance message, numeric key buttons, and a start use button.

[0040] The guidance message is displayed at the upper part of the touch panel unit 4a. The numeric key buttons are displayed at the center of the touch panel unit 4a.

[0041] When the user touches a numeric key button, the control unit 4c registers a call for the elevator with the floor corresponding to the touched number as the destination floor.

[0042] Next, Figure 4 Describe the assigned car display screen of the landing call registration device 4.

[0043] Figure 4 It is a diagram showing the assigned car display screen of the landing call registration device of the elevator system in Embodiment 1.

[0044] When a call for the elevator is registered, Figure 4 a group management device 7 (not shown in the figure) determines the car 3 to which the call is assigned. In this landing call registration device 4, the control unit 4c identifies the car 3 to which the call is assigned based on the information from the group management device 7. The control unit 4c causes the upper part of the touch panel unit 4a to display the information of the destination floor of the call. The control unit 4c causes the lower part of the touch panel unit 4a to display the information of the car 3 to which the call is assigned.

[0045] Next, Figure 5 Describe the voice guidance mode screen of the landing call registration device 4.

[0046] Figure 5 It is a diagram showing the voice guidance mode screen of the landing call registration device of the elevator system in Embodiment 1.

[0047] When a specific operation is performed on the initial screen of the touch panel unit 4a, the control unit 4c switches the screen of the touch panel unit 4a to the voice guidance mode screen. For example, when two points are touched simultaneously on the initial screen of the touch panel unit 4a or when the screen is long-pressed, the control unit 4c switches the screen of the touch panel unit 4a to the voice guidance mode screen.

[0048] As Figure 5As shown, in the voice guidance mode screen, the touch panel unit 4a displays a guidance message, the floor name, and a "Cancel" button.

[0049] The guidance message is displayed at the upper part of the touch panel unit 4a. The floor name is displayed at the center of the touch panel unit 4a. The "Cancel" button is displayed at the lower part of the touch panel unit 4a.

[0050] When the user touches the touch panel unit 4a, the control unit 4c selects a floor based on the touch operation on the touch panel unit 4a with the floor of the current landing as a reference. When the touch panel unit 4a is not touched during the floor selection, the control unit 4c determines the selected floor as the floor corresponding to the touch operation.

[0051] Then, the control unit 4c causes the voice output unit 4b to output voice information of the floor name corresponding to the touch operation. For example, when the upper half region of the upper and lower divided regions of the touch panel unit 4a is touched, the control unit 4c causes the voice output unit to output voice information of the floor name of the upper floor. For example, when the lower half region of the upper and lower divided regions of the touch panel unit 4a is touched, the control unit 4c causes the voice output unit to output voice information of the floor name of the lower floor.

[0052] Then, when a specific operation is performed on the touch panel unit 4a, the control unit 4c registers the call for the elevator with the floor corresponding to the floor name that the voice output unit 4b last output using voice as the destination floor. For example, when two points are touched simultaneously on the touch panel unit 4a, the control unit 4c registers the call for the elevator with the floor corresponding to the floor name that the voice output unit 4b last output using voice as the destination floor.

[0053] Next, use Figure 6 to explain the area setting of the touch panel unit 4a in the voice guidance mode.

[0054] Figure 6 is a diagram showing the area setting of the touch panel unit of the landing call registration device in Embodiment 1.

[0055] As Figure 6 shown, the control unit 4c sets upper and lower divided regions for the touch panel unit 4a. For example, the control unit 4c sets the upper half region and the lower half region.

[0056] Use Figure 7 and Figure 8 to explain an example of the operation of the landing call registration device 4.

[0057] Figure 7 and Figure 8This is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the landing call registration device in the elevator system of Embodiment 1.

[0058] In step S1, the landing call registration device 4 obtains floor information from the group management device 7. Then, based on a specific operation of the user or an instruction from the elevator, the landing call registration device 4 divides the effective area of the touch panel unit 4a vertically from the initial screen and changes it to the voice guidance mode screen.

[0059] Then, in step S2, when the user touches the upper area or the lower area of the voice guidance mode screen, the landing call registration device 4 performs the operation in step S3. In step S3, the landing call registration device 4 uses voice output to provide information on the floor name corresponding to the touched area.

[0060] Then, in step S4, the user determines whether the floor name is the destination floor. If the floor name is not the destination floor in step S4, in step S5, the user touches the upper area or the lower area of the voice guidance mode screen.

[0061] Then, the landing call registration device 4 performs the operation in step S6. In step S6, the landing call registration device 4 determines the touched method.

[0062] If the touched method in step S6 is a short touch as a normal touch, the landing call registration device 4 performs the operation in step S7. In step S7, the landing call registration device 4 retains the information on the floor name that is one floor above or one floor below the current floor.

[0063] If the touched method in step S6 is multiple fast touches during the period until the broadcast ends, the landing call registration device 4 performs the operation in step S8. In step S8, after emitting a short beep, the landing call registration device 4 waits for the end of the multiple fast touches and retains the information on the floor name that is the number of floors above the current floor corresponding to the number of fast touches or the number of floors below the current floor corresponding to the number of fast touches.

[0064] If the touched method in step S5 is a long press that holds for a certain time after being touched, the landing call registration device 4 performs the operation in step S9. In step S9, the landing call registration device 4 retains the information on the floor name that is arbitrarily skipped by 5 floors above or 5 floors below the current floor, or retains the information on the floor name of a pre-set floor such as the entrance floor, the terminal floor, or the floor with a high registration frequency.

[0065] In the case where the method touched in step S5 is a touch that is stronger from the time of long pressing (i.e., being touched) to the pressing of the screen, the landing call registration device 4 performs the operation of step S10. In step S10, the landing call registration device 4 holds the information of the floor name of a floor that is arbitrarily skipped by 10 floors above the current floor or 10 floors below the current floor, etc., from the current floor, or holds the information of the floor name of a preset floor such as the entrance floor, the terminal floor, the floor with a high registration frequency, etc.

[0066] In addition, the pressing of the screen is determined by an increase in the detection value of the pressure by the pressure sensor of the touch panel unit 4a, an increase in the touch area of the touch panel unit 4a by a finger, etc.

[0067] Then, the landing call registration device 4 performs the operation of step S11. In step S11, the landing call registration device 4 determines whether the floor name of the held information is the top floor or the bottom floor.

[0068] In the case where the floor name of the held information in step S11 is the top floor or the bottom floor, the landing call registration device 4 performs the operation of step S12. In step S12, in the case where the floor name of the held information is the top floor, the landing call registration device 4 updates the information to be held to the information of the floor name of the bottom floor. In the case where the floor name of the held information is the bottom floor, the landing call registration device 4 updates the information to be held to the information of the floor name of the top floor.

[0069] In the case where the floor name of the held information in step S11 is neither the top floor nor the bottom floor, or after step S12, the landing call registration device 4 performs the operation of step S13. In step S13, the landing call registration device 4 outputs the information of the floor name corresponding to the held information by voice.

[0070] Then, in step S4, the user determines whether this floor name is the destination floor.

[0071] In the case where this floor name is the destination floor in step S4, in step S14, the user performs a specific operation such as two-point touch, thereby determining the destination floor.

[0072] Then, the landing call registration device 4 performs the operation of step S15. In step S15, the landing call registration device 4 registers the floor corresponding to this floor name as the destination floor. Then, the landing call registration device 4 ends the operation.

[0073] Although not shown, the car call registration device 5 also registers the destination floor according to the Figure 7 same process.

[0074] According to Embodiment 1 described above, when an upper area is touched on the touch panel unit 4a, the voice output unit 4b outputs information on the floor name of the upper floor by voice. When a lower area is touched on the touch panel unit 4a, the voice output unit 4b outputs information on the floor name of the lower floor by voice. When a specific operation is performed on the touch panel unit 4a, the control unit 4c registers a call for the floor corresponding to the floor name that was last output by voice by the voice output unit 4b as the destination floor. Therefore, there is no need to search for a button corresponding to the destination floor on the touch panel unit 4a, and the destination floor can be easily registered. In particular, even a person with visual impairment can easily register the destination floor.

[0075] In addition, it is also possible to obtain from the group management device 7 the currently available service floors determined based on the operating state of the elevator and the floors restricted by security functions such as cards and tags, and change the floor names corresponding to the respective floors on the touch panel unit 4a according to at least one of the stoppability for each floor and the stop restrictions for each floor. In this case, unnecessary input operations can be suppressed.

[0076] Furthermore, it is also possible to determine whether to cause the voice output unit 4b to output information on the floor name by voice according to at least one of the stoppability for each floor and the stop restrictions for each floor. In this case, unnecessary input operations can also be suppressed.

[0077] In addition, it is also possible to change the voice when the voice output unit 4b outputs information on the floor name according to at least one of the stoppability for each floor and the stop restrictions for each floor. In this case, unnecessary input operations can also be suppressed.

[0078] In addition, when the information on the floor name reaches the information on the top floor and then the upper area of the touch panel unit 4a is touched, the voice output unit 4b outputs information on the bottom floor by voice. When the information on the floor name reaches the information on the bottom floor and then the lower area of the touch panel unit 4a is touched, the voice output unit 4b outputs information on the top floor by voice. Therefore, it is possible to register a destination floor close to the terminal floor and far from the current floor with fewer operations. For example, when the current floor is the bottom floor, i.e., the 1st floor, and the floor immediately below the top floor is set as the destination floor, by touching the lower area of the touch panel unit 4a only twice, it is possible to output the floor immediately below the top floor by voice.

[0079] In addition, when the speed of touch during multiple quick touches from the start to the end of the broadcast is equal to or higher than a certain value, the voice output unit 4b outputs information different from the floor name information using voice, electronic sound, etc. When the touch operation stops, the voice output unit 4b outputs the information of the floor name finally selected according to the number of touches using voice. Therefore, the operability when inputting the destination floor can be improved.

[0080] In addition, when the touch panel unit 4a is long-pressed, the voice output unit 4b outputs the information of the floor name of a floor that has jumped arbitrarily from the current floor, such as 5 floors above or 5 floors below the current floor, using voice, or outputs the information of the floor name of a preset floor such as the entrance floor, the terminal floor, the floor with a high registration frequency, etc. using voice. Therefore, the destination floor far from the reference floor or the destination floor with a high registration frequency can be registered with fewer operations.

[0081] In addition, when the touch panel unit 4a is further pressed after being long-pressed, compared with the case where the touch panel unit 4a is long-pressed, the voice output unit 4b outputs the information of the floor name of a floor that has jumped more using voice. Therefore, the destination floor far from the reference floor can be registered with fewer operations.

[0082] In addition, the control unit 4c selects a floor based on the floor of the landing according to the touch operation on the touch panel unit 4a. Therefore, the destination floor can be registered more easily.

[0083] In addition, when the touch panel unit 4a is not touched during the floor selection, the control unit 4c determines the selected floor as the floor corresponding to the touch operation. Therefore, the desired destination floor can be registered more reliably.

[0084] Next, Figure 9 an example of the control unit 4c will be described.

[0085] Figure 9 is a hardware structure diagram of the control unit of the landing call registration device of the elevator system in Embodiment 1.

[0086] Each function of the control unit 4c can be implemented by a processing circuit. For example, the processing circuit has at least 1 processor 8a and at least 1 memory 8b. For example, the processing circuit has at least 1 dedicated hardware 9.

[0087] In the case where the processing circuit has at least one processor 8a and at least one memory 8b, each function of the control unit 4c is implemented by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. At least one of the software and the firmware is described as a program. At least one of the software and the firmware is stored in at least one memory 8b. The at least one processor 8a reads and executes the program stored in the at least one memory 8b, thereby implementing each function of the control unit 4c. The at least one processor 8a is also referred to as a central processing unit, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP. For example, the at least one memory 8b is a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, an EPROM, or an EEPROM, a magnetic disk, a floppy disk, an optical disk, a high-density disk, a mini disk, or a DVD.

[0088] In the case where the processing circuit has at least one dedicated hardware 9, the processing circuit is implemented, for example, by a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof. For example, each function of the control unit 4c is implemented by the processing circuit respectively. For example, each function of the control unit 4c is implemented by the processing circuit uniformly.

[0089] Regarding each function of the control unit 4c, a part can also be implemented by the dedicated hardware 9, and the other part can be implemented by software or firmware. For example, it can also be that, regarding the function of sending a strobe signal, it is implemented by the processing circuit as the dedicated hardware 9, and regarding the functions other than the function of sending a strobe signal, they are implemented by the at least one processor 8a reading and executing the program stored in the at least one memory 8b.

[0090] In this way, the processing circuit implements each function of the control unit 4c by the hardware 9, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

[0091] Although not shown, each function of the control device 6 is also implemented by the same processing circuit as the processing circuit of the control unit 4c.

[0092] Industrial applicability

[0093] As described above, the call registration device and the elevator system of the present invention can be used in a system for easily registering a destination floor.

[0094] Reference numeral description

[0095] 1: hoistway; 2: landing; 3: car; 4: landing call registration device; 4a: touch panel unit; 4b: voice output unit; 4c: control unit; 5: car call registration device; 6: control device;

Claims

1. A call registration device for an elevator, the call registration device for the elevator having: A touch panel unit, which is provided on the landing or car of the elevator, displays information, and recognizes touch operations; A voice output unit, which outputs information using voice; and A control unit, when the upper region of the touch panel unit in the vertically divided region of the touch panel unit is touched, causes the voice output unit to output information of the floor name of the upper floor using voice, and when the lower region of the touch panel unit is touched, causes the voice output unit to output information of the floor name of the lower floor using voice. When a specific operation is performed on the touch panel unit, the floor corresponding to the floor name that the voice output unit last output using voice is registered as the destination floor for calling the elevator. The control unit causes the voice output unit to output information of the floor name corresponding to each floor in the touch panel unit according to at least one of the stoppability for each floor and the stop restriction for each floor. When the information of the floor name reaches the information of the top floor, and then the upper region of the touch panel unit is touched, the control unit causes the voice output unit to output the information of the bottom floor using voice. When the information of the floor name reaches the information of the bottom floor, and then the lower region of the touch panel unit is touched, the control unit causes the voice output unit to output the information of the bottom floor using voice.

2. The call registration device for an elevator according to claim 1, wherein When the touch speed is above a certain value, the control unit causes the voice output unit to output information different from the information of the floor name. When the touch operation stops, the control unit causes the voice output unit to output the information of the floor name finally selected according to the number of touches.

3. The call registration device for an elevator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein When the touch panel unit is long-pressed, the control unit causes the voice output unit to output the information of the floor name of the floor after arbitrarily skipping floors from the current floor or the information of a preset floor name.

4. The call registration device for an elevator according to claim 3, wherein When the touch panel unit is further pressed after being long-pressed, compared with the case where the touch panel unit is long-pressed, the control unit causes the voice output unit to output the information of the floor name of the floor after skipping more floors.

5. The call registration device for an elevator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein The touch panel unit is provided on the landing of the elevator. The voice output unit is provided on the landing. The control unit selects a floor based on the floor of the landing according to the touch operation on the touch panel unit.

6. The call registration device for an elevator according to claim 5, wherein When the touch panel unit is not touched during the floor selection, the control unit determines the selected floor as the floor corresponding to the touch operation.

7. An elevator system, the elevator system having: The call registration device according to any one of claims 1 to 6; and A group management device that determines a car assigned to a hall call registered by the hall call registration device.

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