Face recognition device for elevator system and control method of face recognition device

Abstract

The invention discloses a face recognition device for an elevator system, the face recognition device is in communication connection with the elevator system, the face recognition device comprises a camera shooting part used for shooting images of passengers in an elevator car, and when the face recognition device receives a dormancy entering signal from the elevator system, the camera shooting part stops working. According to the face recognition device, the service life of the camera shooting component in the face recognition device can be prolonged under the condition that the cost is not increased.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of face recognition, and in particular to a face recognition device applied to an elevator system and a control method thereof. Background Art

[0002] As facial recognition technology continues to mature, it has been widely used in the elevator field. Currently, facial recognition technology in the elevator field is mainly used to establish the relationship between elevator call registration and elevator call permissions, as shown in Chinese patent documents CN202211331972.X and CN202110121770.1.

[0003] Facial recognition devices used in elevators typically use a human presence sensor to detect the presence of a passenger requiring facial recognition. Upon detecting a passenger approaching the facial recognition device, the camera is activated and facial recognition is performed. However, the inclusion of a human presence sensor increases both cost and size. Some manufacturers, however, omit the human presence sensor to reduce costs. In these cases, since the facial recognition device cannot determine the presence of a passenger and perform facial recognition without relying on a camera, the camera and other imaging components are typically operated continuously 24 / 7. This ensures that the facial recognition device can perform facial recognition promptly. However, in elevator applications, facial recognition may not always require facial recognition (e.g., during off-peak hours, at night, or on holidays). This means that the camera component will be inactive (i.e., it is determined that no passenger requires facial recognition) for a significant portion of the time. Furthermore, the camera component typically has a service life based on operating time, typically 30,000 to 50,000 hours. Obviously, in continuous working mode, the service life of the camera component is only about 4 years.

[0004] Therefore, how to extend the service life of the camera component in the face recognition device without increasing the cost becomes a technical problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is how to extend the service life of a camera component in a face recognition device without increasing the cost.

[0006] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention discloses a face recognition device for an elevator system, which is communicatively connected to the elevator system. The face recognition device includes a camera component for capturing images of passengers in the car. When the face recognition device receives a sleep entry signal from the elevator system, the camera component stops working.

[0007] Preferably, the face recognition device is installed in the elevator car, and when the face recognition device receives a preset signal from the elevator system, the camera component resumes operation; the preset signal includes: a first signal indicating exit from sleep mode.

[0008] Preferably, the preset signal also includes at least one of the following signals: a second signal indicating that the elevator stops at the departure floor of the elevator call signal; a third signal indicating that the elevator opens the door at the departure floor of the elevator call signal; and a fourth signal indicating that a passenger enters the elevator car.

[0009] Preferably, when the face recognition device receives a sleep entry signal from the elevator system, the camera component stops working after a delay time threshold; within the time threshold, the elevator system is in a sleep state.

[0010] Preferably, the face recognition device is installed in the elevator lobby. When receiving the sleep entry signal and the camera component is working, the face recognition device notifies passengers in the elevator lobby to operate the elevator call device before performing face recognition.

[0011] Preferably, the face recognition device notifies passengers in the elevator lobby by displaying relevant text prompts at low brightness on its display screen.

[0012] Preferably, the face recognition device resumes operation of the camera component after receiving an elevator call operation signal from the elevator indicating that a passenger in the elevator lobby has operated the elevator call device.

[0013] The present invention provides a control method for a face recognition device used in an elevator system. The control method determines a time interval for stopping the operation of a camera component based on historical data of face recognition performed on passengers.

[0014] Preferably, the control method determines the time interval for stopping the camera component according to the historical data of passenger face recognition as follows: Step S1: collecting passenger face recognition data in a continuous recognition working mode, wherein the data includes recognition time; Step S2: determining a minimum duration and a minimum number of recognition times; the ratio of the minimum number of recognition times to the total number of recognition times is equal to a threshold; Step S3, analyzing a histogram of the distribution of the time when the passenger performs face recognition; Step S4: The time corresponding to the group whose height exceeds the minimum recognition times is used as the breakpoint; Step S5: The time interval corresponding to two adjacent breakpoints is used as the time interval for stopping the camera component.

[0015] The present invention also provides a control method for a face recognition device for an elevator system, comprising: Step 1: Obtain the installation location of the face recognition device; Step 2: Receive a sleep entry signal from the elevator system; Step 3: Determine whether a sleep entry signal is received. If yes, proceed to the next step; otherwise, return to step 2. Step 4: Stop the camera component; Step 5: Determine whether the face recognition device is inside the car. If so, proceed to step 6; otherwise, proceed to step 7. Step 6: Continue to determine whether a preset signal from the elevator system is received. If received, proceed to step 9. The preset signal includes at least one of the following signals: a first signal indicating exit from sleep mode; a second signal indicating the elevator is parked at the departure landing of the elevator call signal; a third signal indicating the elevator door is open at the departure landing of the elevator call signal; and a fourth signal indicating a passenger has entered the elevator car. Step 7: Inform the passenger that they need to operate the elevator call device before performing facial recognition; Step 8: Continue to determine whether a call operation signal indicating that a passenger in the elevator lobby has operated the elevator call device is received from the elevator, and if so, proceed to step 9; Step 9: Resume the camera component, execute the face recognition function, and end.

[0016] Beneficial technical effects The face recognition device and control method thereof of the present invention can extend the service life of the camera component in the face recognition device without increasing the cost. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Example 1: This example provides a face recognition device for an elevator system, which is communicatively connected to the elevator system. The face recognition device includes a camera component for capturing images of passengers in the car. When the face recognition device receives a sleep entry signal from the elevator system, the camera component stops working.

[0018] For facial recognition devices, particularly those installed in elevator halls, to prevent passengers from requiring facial recognition shortly after the elevator enters sleep mode, the camera component can be deactivated after a delay of a threshold time from the moment the elevator system enters sleep mode (and the elevator system remains in sleep mode for the duration of this threshold time). This process is designed to address the fact that elevators typically enter sleep mode after a relatively short period of time with no outstanding elevator calls. Obviously, the shorter this period, the greater the probability that a passenger will require facial recognition again due to an elevator call within a short period of time. Therefore, by deactivating the camera component after a delay of the threshold time from the first moment, the probability of another passenger requiring facial recognition due to an elevator call within a short period of time can be effectively reduced. This process is intended to reduce the number of camera stops and starts, as frequent camera stops and starts can negatively impact the camera's service life.

[0019] Example 2: Based on Example 1, this example further defines and explains the face recognition device.

[0020] In this embodiment, the face recognition device is installed in the elevator car. When the face recognition device receives a preset signal from the elevator system, the camera component resumes operation; the preset signal includes: a first signal indicating exit from sleep mode.

[0021] The preset signal may further include at least one of the following signals: a second signal indicating that the elevator stops at the departure floor of the elevator call signal; a third signal indicating that the elevator opens the door at the departure floor of the elevator call signal; and a fourth signal indicating that a passenger enters the elevator car.

[0022] The elevator system generates a fourth signal when at least one of the following conditions is met: Condition A1: The car load change exceeds the threshold; Condition A2: The elevator door light curtain is blocked; Condition A3: The camera inside the car or at the landing detects that a passenger enters the car; Condition A4: The car position change exceeds the threshold (the elasticity of the wire rope causes the elongation to change); Condition A5: The car load eccentricity change exceeds the threshold.

[0023] Example 3: Based on Example 1, this example further defines and explains the face recognition device.

[0024] In this embodiment, the facial recognition device is installed in the elevator lobby. Upon receiving a sleep entry signal and while the camera component is operating, the facial recognition device informs passengers in the elevator lobby to first operate the elevator call device before performing facial recognition. The facial recognition device notifies passengers in the elevator lobby by displaying a low-brightness text prompt on its display screen.

[0025] After the face recognition device receives the elevator call operation signal from the elevator indicating that the passenger in the elevator lobby operates the elevator call device, the face recognition device resumes the operation of the camera component.

[0026] For a facial recognition device installed in an elevator lobby, determining whether to restore the camera component is difficult because the passenger enters the elevator lobby for facial recognition before the elevator exits its sleep state due to receiving the passenger's call signal. Therefore, the elevator's sleep exit signal cannot be used as a basis for restoring the camera component of the facial recognition device. To solve this problem, considering that the facial recognition device in the elevator lobby is usually located near the elevator call registration device, a signal indicating the passenger's arrival and the need for facial recognition can be generated by prompting the passenger to operate the elevator call registration device (the facial recognition device does not have an operation acceptance function that directly accepts passenger operations. Therefore, the proximity of the facial recognition device to the elevator call registration device is fully utilized here, and the signal is generated by the elevator call registration device, and the elevator system forwards this signal to the facial recognition device). Therefore, the operation signal of the passenger operating the elevator call registration device can be used as a basis for restoring the camera component of the facial recognition device.

[0027] Example 4: This example provides a control method for a facial recognition device in an elevator system. The control method determines a time interval for stopping the camera component based on historical data of passenger facial recognition. This method can control the camera component without relying on signals from the elevator system.

[0028] The control method of this embodiment is to determine the time interval for stopping the camera component based on the historical data of passenger face recognition: Step S1: Collecting passenger face recognition data in a continuous recognition working mode, wherein the data includes recognition time, primarily recognition time, or date (including at least multiple full days of data, preferably covering working days, non-working days, and holidays, etc.); Step S2: determining a minimum duration and a minimum number of recognition times; the ratio of the minimum number of recognition times to the total number of recognition times is equal to a threshold; Step S3, analyzing a histogram of the distribution of the time when the passenger performs face recognition; Step S4: The moment (starting point, ending point or middle point) corresponding to the group whose height exceeds the minimum recognition times is used as the breakpoint; Step S5: The time interval corresponding to two adjacent breakpoints is used as the time interval for stopping the camera component.

[0029] The histogram in step S3 can be, for example, a frequency distribution histogram, with the vertical axis representing the frequency and the horizontal axis marking the endpoints of each group. When statistical data is collected, the data is divided into multiple groups according to different ranges.

[0030] In engineering practice, when the camera component of a facial recognition device is inactive, a need for facial recognition may occasionally arise. For example, during the period when the camera component is inactive, a passenger appears in the elevator lobby and requires facial recognition and registration of an elevator call signal (i.e., the passenger's appearance does not conform to the passenger boarding pattern reflected by the histogram based on historical data). In this case, a method such as the method in Example 2 can be used to cause the camera component of the facial recognition device to exit the inactive state, i.e., restore its working state. This embodiment does not limit how the facial recognition device restores the camera component to its working state.

[0031] Embodiment 5: This embodiment provides a control method for a face recognition device for an elevator system. The control method of this embodiment corresponds to Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 3, and specifically includes: Step 1: Obtain the installation location of the face recognition device; Step 2: Receive a sleep entry signal from the elevator system; Step 3: Determine whether a sleep entry signal is received. If yes, proceed to the next step; otherwise, return to step 2. Step 4: Stop the camera component; Step 5: Determine whether the face recognition device is inside the car. If so, proceed to step 6; otherwise, proceed to step 7. Step 6: Continue to determine whether a preset signal from the elevator system is received. If received, proceed to step 9. The preset signal includes at least one of the following signals: a first signal indicating exit from sleep mode; a second signal indicating the elevator is parked at the departure landing of the elevator call signal; a third signal indicating the elevator door is open at the departure landing of the elevator call signal; and a fourth signal indicating a passenger has entered the elevator car. Step 7: Inform the passenger that they need to operate the elevator call device before performing facial recognition; Step 8: Continue to determine whether a call operation signal indicating that a passenger in the elevator lobby has operated the elevator call device is received from the elevator, and if so, proceed to step 9; Step 9: Resume the camera component, execute the face recognition function, and end.

[0032] The present invention has been described in detail above by way of specific embodiments and examples, but these do not constitute limitations of the present invention. Without departing from the principles of the present invention, those skilled in the art may make many variations and improvements, which should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A face recognition device for an elevator system, wherein the face recognition device is communicatively connected to the elevator system and comprises a camera component for capturing images of passengers in the elevator car, characterized in that: When the face recognition device receives a sleep entry signal from the elevator system, the camera component stops working.

2. The face recognition device for an elevator system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The face recognition device is installed in the elevator car, and when the face recognition device receives a preset signal from the elevator system, the camera component resumes operation; The preset signal includes: a first signal indicating exit from sleep mode.

3. The face recognition device for an elevator system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The preset signal also includes at least one of the following signals: The second signal indicates the departure landing of the elevator call signal; The third signal indicates that the elevator door opens at the departure landing of the elevator call signal; The fourth signal indicates that a passenger has entered the elevator car.

4. The face recognition device for an elevator system according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the face recognition device receives a sleep entry signal from the elevator system, the camera component stops working after a delay time threshold; within the time threshold, the elevator system is in a sleep state.

5. The face recognition device for an elevator system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The face recognition device is installed in the elevator lobby. When receiving the sleep entry signal and the camera component is working, the face recognition device notifies passengers in the elevator lobby to operate the elevator call device before performing face recognition.

6. The face recognition device for an elevator system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The face recognition device notifies passengers in the elevator lobby by displaying relevant text prompts at low brightness on its display screen.

7. The face recognition device for an elevator system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The face recognition device resumes the operation of the camera component after receiving the elevator call operation signal from the elevator indicating that the passenger in the elevator lobby operates the elevator call device.

8. A control method for a face recognition device for an elevator system, characterized in that: The control method determines the time interval for stopping the camera component according to historical data of facial recognition of passengers.

9. The control method of the face recognition device for an elevator system according to claim 8, characterized in that: The control method is to determine the time interval for stopping the camera component based on the historical data of passenger face recognition: Step S1: collecting passenger face recognition data in a continuous recognition working mode, wherein the data includes recognition time; Step S2: determining a minimum duration and a minimum number of recognition times; the ratio of the minimum number of recognition times to the total number of recognition times is equal to a threshold; Step S3, analyzing a histogram of the distribution of the time when the passenger performs face recognition; Step S4: The time corresponding to the group whose height exceeds the minimum recognition times is used as the breakpoint; Step S5: The time interval corresponding to two adjacent breakpoints is used as the time interval for stopping the camera component.

10. A control method for a face recognition device for an elevator system, characterized in that: include: Step 1: Obtain the installation location of the face recognition device; Step 2: Receive a sleep entry signal from the elevator system; Step 3: Determine whether a sleep entry signal is received. If yes, proceed to the next step; otherwise, return to step 2. Step 4: Stop the camera component; Step 5: Determine whether the face recognition device is inside the car. If so, proceed to step 6; otherwise, proceed to step 7. Step 6: Continue to determine whether a preset signal from the elevator system is received. If received, proceed to step 9. The preset signal includes at least one of the following signals: a first signal indicating exit from sleep mode; a second signal indicating the elevator is parked at the departure landing of the elevator call signal; a third signal indicating the elevator door is open at the departure landing of the elevator call signal; and a fourth signal indicating a passenger has entered the elevator car. Step 7: Inform the passenger that they need to operate the elevator call device before performing facial recognition; Step 8: Continue to determine whether a call operation signal indicating that a passenger in the elevator lobby has operated the elevator call device is received from the elevator, and if so, proceed to step 9; Step 9: Resume the camera component, execute the face recognition function, and end.