Elevator system

Abstract

An elevator system. In a structure provided with a non-contact destination floor registration device capable of performing destination registration by a user through non-contact operation, destination registration caused by false detection can be reliably inhibited. An elevator system according to the present invention is provided with: a plurality of non-contact destination floor registration devices which are provided in a plurality of locations in a car of an elevator and which are capable of specifying a destination by means of a non-contact operation; a degree of congestion detection device that detects the degree of congestion in the car; and a control unit that invalidates the non-contact operation on the non-contact destination floor registration device on the basis of the degree of congestion detected by the degree-of-congestion detection device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to elevator systems. Background Art

[0002] The following patent document 1 discloses a destination registration device that accepts operations performed by elevator passengers to register a destination floor, and comprises: a determination unit that determines the congestion level of the elevator car; an operation detection unit that detects the operation of specifying the destination floor in a non-contact manner; a threshold value changing unit that changes a threshold value related to the distance according to the congestion level in response to the non-contact detection; and a registration unit that registers the destination floor when a detection result that satisfies the threshold value related to the distance is obtained.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Document 1: International Publication No. 2022 / 064658 Summary of the invention

[0005] In a crowded situation in the car, the method of changing the threshold value related to the distance cannot completely suppress erroneous detection, and there is a problem that erroneous detection occurs.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. An object of the present invention is to provide an elevator system that can reliably suppress destination registration due to erroneous detection in a configuration including a non-contact destination floor registration device that allows a user to register a destination by non-contact operation.

[0007] The elevator system of the present invention comprises: a plurality of contactless destination floor registration devices, which are arranged at a plurality of locations in the elevator car and can specify a destination by contactless operation; a congestion detection device, which detects the congestion level in the car; and a control unit, which invalidates the contactless operation on the contactless destination floor registration device according to the congestion level detected by the congestion detection device.

[0008] Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an elevator system which can reliably suppress destination registration due to erroneous detection in a configuration including a contactless destination floor registration device in which a user can register a destination by contactless operation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 This is a block diagram showing the elevator system according to the first embodiment.

[0011] Figure 2 This is a flowchart showing a processing example of the destination floor control device.

[0012] Figure 3This is a flowchart showing a processing example of the elevator control device.

[0013] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing an example of a configuration for realizing the functions of the in-car control device, the display control device, the voice control device, the destination floor control device, the on-car control device, and the elevator control device in the first embodiment.

[0014] Description of symbols

[0015] 1: car; 2: display; 3: speaker; 4: button; 5: display control device; 6: car control device; 7: voice control device; 8: destination floor control device; 9: congestion detection device; 10: lighting control device; 11: car control device; 12: elevator control device; 600: dedicated hardware; 601: processor; 602: memory. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each figure, the same reference numerals are used to mark common or corresponding elements, and the description is simplified or omitted. The structure shown in the embodiment shown below only shows an example of the technical idea of ​​the present invention, and can also be combined with other known technologies, and can also combine multiple technical ideas recorded in the present invention. In addition, a part of the structure can also be omitted or changed within the scope of the main purpose of the present invention.

[0017] Implementation method 1.

[0018] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an elevator system according to Embodiment 1. Figure 1 As shown, a display 2, a speaker 3, and a button 4 are provided inside the elevator car 1. The display 2 is a display that can be viewed by passengers in the car 1. The display 2 is connected to a display control device 5. The display control device 5 is connected to a car control device 6. The speaker 3 is connected to a voice control device 7. The voice control device 7 is connected to the car control device 6. A voice broadcast can be output from the speaker 3. The display 2 and the speaker 3 are examples of a notification unit that notifies passengers in the car 1 of information.

[0019] Button 4 is a destination floor button operated by a passenger to specify a destination floor. Button 4 is provided on the car operating panel. Button 4 has a contactless sensor. The contactless sensor may be, for example, an electrostatic capacitance sensor, an infrared sensor, or a TOF sensor. Button 4 is capable of both destination floor registration based on physical pressing and destination floor registration based on contactless operation. Button 4 is equivalent to a contactless destination floor registration device that can specify a destination by contactless operation. Button 4 is connected to the destination floor control device 8. The destination floor control device 8 is connected to the car control device 6. In the present embodiment, contactless destination floor registration devices are provided at multiple locations in the car 1. For example, contactless destination floor registration devices are provided at two or more locations in the two sleeve walls and two side walls of the car 1. In the following description, the function of registering a destination floor by contactless operation on button 4 is referred to as a "contactless registration function."

[0020] The car 1 is also provided with a congestion detection device 9, a lighting control device 10, and a car control device 11. The congestion detection device 9 detects the congestion in the car 1. The congestion detection device 9 may also include an image acquisition device such as a camera device provided at the upper portion of the car 1, and detects the congestion in the car 1 by performing image recognition on an image captured by the image acquisition device. The congestion detection device 9 may also detect, for example, the number and position of passengers in the car 1. The congestion detection device 9 may also detect the distance between an object other than a finger located in front of the non-contact destination floor registration device and the non-contact destination floor registration device. The congestion detection device 9 is connected to the car control device 11.

[0021] The congestion detection device 9 is not limited to a structure using an image acquisition device. For example, it may be a structure using a distance sensor installed in the car 1, a structure using a weight sensor for measuring the weight of the car 1, a structure using a pressure sensor for detecting the ground pressure in the car 1, or a structure using a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the car 1.

[0022] The lighting control device 10 controls the lighting in the car 1. The lighting control device 10 is connected to a car control device 11. The car control device 11 and the car control device 6 are connected to an elevator control device 12.

[0023] The registration by the contactless operation on the button 4 is configured to be able to be changed by control whether it is performed. Specifically, a parameter for determining whether registration by contactless operation can be performed is preliminarily set in the destination floor control device 8, and the validity or invalidity of the parameter can be changed according to a command from the elevator control device 12 or the car control device 6. When registration by contactless operation cannot be performed, the contactless operation detection function itself is maintained, but even if the contactless operation is detected, the destination floor control device 8 does not register the destination floor.

[0024] The non-contact destination floor registration device can designate a destination by non-contact operation. Therefore, if the car 1 is crowded, the destination floor may be designated unexpectedly due to the body or luggage of the passenger accidentally approaching the non-contact destination floor registration device. In order to prevent such a situation, the elevator control device 12 invalidates the non-contact operation for the non-contact destination floor registration device according to the congestion detected by the congestion detection device 9. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent the designation of the destination floor due to erroneous detection. In addition, in the non-contact destination floor registration device where the non-contact operation is invalidated, the destination floor can also be designated by physically pressing the button 4.

[0025] The elevator control device 12 has a storage unit that stores how many non-contact destination floor registration devices exist in the car 1 and whether each non-contact destination floor registration device implements the non-contact registration function. The information on the number of devices is known in principle, so the information can be registered in advance. Alternatively, the number of non-contact destination floor registration devices may be obtained from an image acquisition device such as a camera device that captures the inside of the car, or the number of devices may be grasped by obtaining connection information between the non-contact destination floor registration device and the elevator control device using an electrical signal.

[0026] In the car 1, the congestion detection device 9 described above obtains the congestion condition in front of the non-contact destination floor registration device. The space in front of the non-contact destination floor registration device is called the "operation position". The congestion detection device 9 determines that it is a congested condition when there is a user's body or the user's belongings at the operation position of each non-contact destination floor registration device. The congestion detection device 9 sends the congestion information at the operation position of each non-contact destination floor registration device to the elevator control device 12 side. The elevator control device 12 provides the non-contact destination floor registration device in the car 1 with information on whether the non-contact registration function is implemented based on the congestion. The non-contact registration function is set not to be implemented when it is congested. This detection / control is implemented at a specified time period, and the information is updated each time. In the case of a change in whether the non-contact registration function is implemented, the information can also be displayed on the display 2 in the car 1, or the user can be notified from the speaker 3 in the car 1 through a voice broadcast.

[0027] Specifically, the congestion degree of about 300 mm in front of the non-contact destination floor registration device is obtained by the congestion detection device 9. In the congested condition, non-contact registration can no longer be performed by the button 4 of the non-contact destination floor registration device. However, registration can be performed by pressing the button in a physical sense. At this time, the speaker 3 of the elevator broadcasts that "the non-contact registration function is being restricted." When the congestion condition of about 300 mm in front of the non-contact destination floor registration device is lifted, non-contact registration can be performed again, and the speaker 3 broadcasts that "the restriction on the non-contact registration function has been lifted."

[0028] The congestion detection device 9 detects whether there is an object other than a finger in the operation space within a predetermined distance (for example, 300 mm) in front of the non-contact destination floor registration device. The elevator control device 12 sets the non-contact operation to be invalid for the non-contact destination floor registration device in which there is an object other than a finger in the above operation space, and sets the non-contact operation to be valid for the non-contact destination floor registration device in which there is no object other than a finger in the above operation space. In this way, the non-contact operation can be invalidated only for the non-contact destination floor registration device that may be misdetected, so that the non-contact operation can be used as much as possible.

[0029] This function can prevent the car 1 from stopping at an unintended floor by the user registering a destination floor unexpectedly when the car 1 is crowded.

[0030] When the front of all the non-contact destination floor registration devices is congested, the non-contact registration function is disabled in all the non-contact destination floor registration devices. This state is disadvantageous for users, so the following control is used to urge users to eliminate the congestion.

[0031] In the non-contact state storage unit of the elevator control device 12, it is confirmed whether the non-contact destination floor registration device in the car 1 has implemented the non-contact registration function. In the case where the non-contact registration function of all the non-contact registration devices is not implemented, control is performed to promote the securing of the operating position of the representative non-contact destination floor registration device. The representative registration device can be a sleeve wall operating panel in the car 1 (on the left side when viewed from the floor station), but it can be changed by the parameters held by the elevator control device 12. As a specific notification method, the vacated space can be notified by a voice notification device in the car 1, or by the display of an indicator. In the case of a camera device monitor in the car 1, the space information to be vacated can be superimposed on the monitor, or only the area can be controlled to flash when the downlight is illuminated to promote the securing of space. Through this function, the non-contact registration function in the car 1 can be maintained by securing the operating position of a non-contact destination floor registration device even in congestion.

[0032] As described above, when contactless operation is disabled in all of the plurality of contactless destination floor registration devices, the notification unit may notify the passenger that the space in front of the specific contactless destination floor registration device is vacated. Thus, contactless operation can be performed on the specific contactless destination floor registration device, thereby improving convenience.

[0033] Alternatively, when a specific contactless operation is performed on a contactless destination floor registration device in which the contactless operation is set to be invalid, the invalidation of the contactless operation is temporarily released and the contactless operation is made valid. This is a function for temporarily making the invalidated contactless registration function valid for people who frequently use the elevator. Since the contactless detection function is maintained even when the contactless registration function is invalid, the contactless operation can be detected. The user makes a specific input to the contactless destination floor registration device through the contactless operation, thereby making the contactless function temporarily valid. The specific input can be an input of a password. In addition, it can also be an intentional input that is unlikely to occur accidentally, such as a simultaneous contactless input of only the door open / close button and the current floor destination floor button. When the validity / invalidity of the contactless registration function is changed, the user can be notified of this information through the display 2 in the car 1 or the voice notification device in the car 1.

[0034] In addition, there may also be a function of adjusting the non-contact detection distance when a specific operation is input to temporarily enable the non-contact action. The distance between the finger and the button during the specific input can be used as the non-contact detection distance when temporarily enabled. Specifically, the non-contact detection information (electrostatic capacitance, infrared method, TOF method, etc.) during the registration for temporarily enabling the non-contact operation is converted into distance information, and the detection threshold used in the detection function of the non-contact destination floor registration device is updated. Through this function, the non-contact function can be temporarily enabled when the operating position cannot be ensured when the car 1 is crowded, and the distance threshold that can be used by oneself can be set for use. As a result, the non-contact registration function can be used even in a narrow space.

[0035] Figure 2 1 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the destination floor control device 8. The destination floor control device 8 first receives information on whether the contactless registration function of each contactless destination floor registration device is valid or invalid from the elevator control device 12 (step S1). Next, it is determined whether a specific input has been made to the contactless destination floor registration device whose contactless registration function is set to invalid (step S2). If a specific input has been made, the contactless registration is temporarily enabled, and the detection distance information at the time of the specific input is registered as a threshold value (step S3).

[0036] If no specific input is made, it is determined whether the contactless registration function is invalid (step S4). If the contactless registration function is invalid, it is considered that the contactless registration function is invalid and the operation acceptance process of button 4 is performed (step S5). On the other hand, if the contactless registration function is not invalid, it is considered that the contactless registration function is valid and the operation acceptance process of button 4 is performed (step S6).

[0037] Next, it is determined whether a predetermined time has passed since the specific input (step S7). If the predetermined time has passed since the specific input, the temporary activation of the contactless registration function is cancelled and the detection threshold information is changed to a standard value (step S8).

[0038] Next, information on whether the non-contact registration function of each non-contact destination floor registration device is valid or invalid is received from the elevator control device 12 (step S9). Thus, the processing of this flowchart ends.

[0039] Figure 31 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the elevator control device 12. The elevator control device 12 first receives the congestion information from the congestion detection device 9 (step S11). Next, it is determined whether the operating positions of all the non-contact destination floor registration devices are in a congested state (step S12). If the operating positions of all the non-contact destination floor registration devices are in a congested state, a voice announcement is made, the display 2 is displayed, or the downlight is flashed to urge passengers to vacate the operating position of the representative non-contact destination floor registration device (step S13).

[0040] Next, it is determined whether there is a non-contact destination floor registration device in a crowded state (step S14). If there is a non-contact destination floor registration device in a crowded state, an instruction is issued to invalidate the non-contact registration function of the non-contact destination floor registration device, and an instruction is issued to notify the non-contact registration function to be invalidated through voice broadcast (step S15).

[0041] Next, information is transmitted to each non-contact destination floor registration device from the elevator control device 12. Thus, the processing of this flowchart ends.

[0042] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing an example of a structure that realizes the functions of the in-car control device 6, the display control device 5, the voice control device 7, the destination floor control device 8, the car control device 11, and the elevator control device 12 of Embodiment 1. The functions of the in-car control device 6, the display control device 5, the voice control device 7, the destination floor control device 8, the car control device 11, and the elevator control device 12 are realized by, for example, a processing circuit. The processing circuit may also be dedicated hardware 600. The processing circuit may also include a processor 601 and a memory 602. A part of the processing circuit may be formed as dedicated hardware 600, and the processing circuit may also include a processor 601 and a memory 602. In Figure 4 In the example shown, a portion of the processing circuitry is formed as dedicated hardware 600. Figure 4 In the example shown, the processing circuit includes a processor 601 and a memory 602 in addition to the dedicated hardware 600 .

[0043] In a processing circuit that is a part of at least one dedicated hardware 600, for example, it is a single circuit, a complex circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a circuit formed by combining them.

[0044] When the processing circuit has at least one processor 601 and at least one memory 602, the functions of the in-car control device 6, the display control device 5, the voice control device 7, the destination floor control device 8, the car control device 11 and the elevator control device 12 are implemented through software, firmware or a combination of software and firmware.

[0045] Software and firmware are described as programs and stored in the memory 602. The program can also be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium. The processor 601 realizes the functions of each part by reading and executing the program stored in the memory 602. The processor 601 is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a central processing device, a processing device, an arithmetic device, a microprocessor, a microcomputer or a DSP. The memory 602 is, for example, a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, an EPROM and an EEPROM, or a magnetic disk, a floppy disk, an optical disk, a compact disc, a mini disk and a DVD.

[0046] In this way, the processing circuit can realize the functions of the car control device 6, the display control device 5, the voice control device 7, the destination floor control device 8, the car control device 11, and the elevator control device 12 by hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. In addition, each function of the car control device 6, the display control device 5, the voice control device 7, the destination floor control device 8, the car control device 11, and the elevator control device 12 can be realized by the cooperation of multiple devices or by a single device. In addition, at least a part of each function of the car control device 6, the display control device 5, the voice control device 7, the destination floor control device 8, the car control device 11, and the elevator control device 12 can also be installed on a server on an external network.

[0047] Hereinafter, various aspects of the present invention will be collectively described as supplementary notes.

[0048] (Note 1)

[0049] An elevator system comprising:

[0050] A plurality of non-contact destination floor registration devices, which are arranged at a plurality of locations in the elevator car and can designate a destination by non-contact operation;

[0051] a congestion detection device for detecting the congestion level in the car; and

[0052] A control unit invalidates a non-contact operation with respect to the non-contact destination floor registration device based on the congestion level detected by the congestion level detection device.

[0053] (Note 2)

[0054] The elevator system according to Supplement 1, wherein:

[0055] The congestion detection device detects whether there is an object other than a finger in a space within a predetermined distance in front of the non-contact destination floor registration device.

[0056] The control unit sets the non-contact operation to be invalid for the non-contact destination floor registration device in which there is an object other than a finger in the space within the specified distance, and sets the non-contact operation to be valid for the non-contact destination floor registration device in which there is no object other than a finger in the space within the specified distance.

[0057] (Note 3)

[0058] The elevator system according to Supplement 1 or 2, wherein:

[0059] The elevator system includes a notification unit for notifying a passenger that a space in front of a specific contactless destination floor registration device is vacated when contactless operation is disabled in all of the plurality of contactless destination floor registration devices.

[0060] (Note 4)

[0061] An elevator system according to any one of Notes 1 to 3, wherein:

[0062] When a specific non-contact operation is performed on the non-contact destination floor registration device in which the non-contact operation is disabled, the disabling of the non-contact operation is temporarily cancelled and the non-contact operation is enabled.

[0063] (Note 5)

[0064] An elevator system according to any one of Notes 1 to 4, wherein:

[0065] The elevator system includes a notification unit for notifying, when a non-contact operation with respect to the non-contact destination floor registration device is invalidated, of the fact.

Claims

1. An elevator system, wherein: The elevator system comprises: A plurality of non-contact destination floor registration devices, which are arranged at a plurality of locations in the elevator car and can designate a destination by non-contact operation; a congestion detection device for detecting the congestion level in the car; as well as A control unit invalidates a non-contact operation with respect to the non-contact destination floor registration device based on the congestion level detected by the congestion level detection device.

2. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein: The congestion detection device detects whether there is an object other than a finger in a space within a predetermined distance in front of the non-contact destination floor registration device. The control unit sets the non-contact operation to be invalid for the non-contact destination floor registration device in which there is an object other than a finger in the space within the specified distance, and sets the non-contact operation to be valid for the non-contact destination floor registration device in which there is no object other than a finger in the space within the specified distance.

3. The elevator system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The elevator system includes a notification unit for notifying a passenger that a space in front of a specific contactless destination floor registration device is vacated when contactless operation is disabled in all of the plurality of contactless destination floor registration devices.

4. The elevator system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: When a specific non-contact operation is performed on the non-contact destination floor registration device in which the non-contact operation is disabled, the disabling of the non-contact operation is temporarily cancelled and the non-contact operation is enabled.

5. The elevator system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The elevator system includes a notification unit for notifying, when a non-contact operation with respect to the non-contact destination floor registration device is invalidated, of the fact.

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