Passenger conveyor and method for controlling the same

Abstract

To provide a passenger conveyor and a method for controlling the passenger conveyor, which can perform appropriate control in accordance with the situation of a person around.SOLUTION: This passenger conveyor is configured such that a plurality of endlessly connected footsteps circulate between an entrance and an exit. The passenger conveyor comprises: a first radar device that applies a radio wave to a first person approaching the entrance, receives a reflected wave from the first person, and outputs first detection information regarding the first person; and a control device that controls an operation of the passenger conveyor on the basis of the first detection information output from the first radar device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a passenger conveyor and a method for controlling the passenger conveyor. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, in order to achieve power saving, there has been known an escalator (passenger conveyor) having an automatic operation function configured to automatically start operation when a passenger is detected by, for example, a sensor.

[0003] In such an automatic driving function, for example, when a primary sensor detects a person approaching an escalator, the operation of the escalator (movement of the multiple steps) is initiated, and when a secondary sensor detects a person passing through the entrance to the escalator attempting to board the escalator, the speed at which the multiple steps move is accelerated to the rated speed (normal speed).

[0004] However, the automatic driving function using the above-mentioned primary and secondary sensors may not be able to implement appropriate control according to the situation of people around the escalator. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-181361 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a passenger conveyor and a control method for the passenger conveyor that are capable of performing appropriate control according to the situation of people in the vicinity. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to an embodiment, a passenger conveyor is provided in which a plurality of steps connected endlessly move cyclically between an entrance and an exit. The passenger conveyor includes a first radar device that outputs first detection information about a first person approaching the entrance by irradiating the first person with radio waves and receiving a reflected wave from the first person, and a control device that controls operation of the passenger conveyor based on the first detection information output from the first radar device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration example of an escalator according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] An enlarged view of the area around the entrance to the escalator. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of a control device. [Figure 4] 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure of a control device. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a radar detection range. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a configuration in which two radar devices are installed. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a radar detection range when two radar devices are installed. [Figure 8] An enlarged view of the area around the escalator exit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 shows a schematic configuration example of a passenger conveyor according to the present embodiment. In this embodiment, a case where the passenger conveyor is an escalator will be described, but the passenger conveyor may be a moving walkway or the like.

[0010] As shown in Fig. 1, the escalator 10 is installed at an incline between a lower floor and an upper floor of a building, for example. Note that in the example shown in Fig. 1, it is assumed that the lower floor side is the entrance of the escalator 10 and the upper floor side is the exit of the escalator 10.

[0011] The escalator 10 shown in FIG. 1 is configured to transport passengers (users) on the steps 11 by circulating the steps 11, which are connected without any gaps, between a lower machine room 12 (entrance) and an upper machine room 13 (exit).

[0012] The steps 11 are connected by an endless connecting chain 14 and are arranged inside a truss 15 installed under the floor of the building. A lower sprocket 16 and an upper sprocket 17 are arranged inside the truss 15, and the connecting chain 14 is wound between them.

[0013] In the example shown in Fig. 1, a driving device 18 having a motor, a reducer, etc. is connected to the upper sprocket 17. The driving device 18 rotates the lower sprocket 16 and the upper sprocket 17 around which the connecting chain 14 is wound, and the steps 11 move cyclically between the lower machine room 12 and the upper machine room 13 via the connecting chain 14 while being guided by a guide rail (not shown). Although the driving device 18 is connected to the upper sprocket 17 in Fig. 1, the driving device 18 may be connected to the lower sprocket 16.

[0014] In addition, a pair of skirt guards (not shown) are installed on the upper part of the truss 15 along the moving direction of the steps 11 so as to face both side surfaces of each step 11. A balustrade 19 is erected on the upper part of each pair of skirt guards. In other words, the balustrades 19 are erected on both sides of each step 11. A belt-like handrail 20 is attached around the balustrade 19. The handrail 20 is a handrail that is held by passengers on the steps 11, and rotates in synchronization with the movement of the steps 11 by transmitting the driving force of the drive unit 18, for example.

[0015] The entrances (entrance and exit) of escalator 10 are located at the top of lower machine room 12 and upper machine room 13, and boarding and alighting plates 22 and 23 are removably installed at the entrances. Boarding and alighting plates 22 and 23 correspond to the ceilings of lower machine room 12 and upper machine room 13. Passengers pass over boarding and alighting plate 22 when getting on escalator 10 (steps 11), and pass over boarding and alighting plate 23 when getting off escalator 10 (steps 11).

[0016] In addition to the driving device 18, a control device 21 is installed in the upper machine room 13. The control device 21 controls the operation of various devices installed on the escalator 10 in order to control the operation of the escalator 10.

[0017] Here, the escalator 10 according to this embodiment has a function of automatically starting operation when a passenger is detected (hereinafter, referred to as an automatic operation function).

[0018] Hereinafter, the automatic operation function of the escalator 10 according to the comparative example of this embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

[0019] The automatic driving function in the comparative example of this embodiment is realized, for example, by starting the operation of the escalator 10 when a primary sensor installed at the boarding entrance detects a person approaching the boarding entrance, and accelerating the speed at which the multiple steps 11 move (the moving speed of the multiple steps 11) when a secondary sensor installed on the handrail 20 detects that the person has passed through the boarding entrance (above the boarding and alighting board 22) and is attempting to board the steps 11.

[0020] In a comparative example of this embodiment, for example, a reflective optical sensor composed of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element can be used as a primary sensor, and a transmissive optical sensor composed of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element can be used as a secondary sensor.

[0021] According to the automatic operation function in the comparative example of this embodiment described above, the operation of the escalator 10 can be stopped when there are no passengers, and the operation of the escalator 10 can be started when a passenger is detected by the primary sensor and the secondary sensor, thereby reducing the power consumption of the escalator 10 (i.e., achieving power saving).

[0022] However, in the comparative example of this embodiment, for example, when a person moves across the entrance of escalator 10 (above board 22), even if the person does not step on escalator 10 (step 11), the person is detected by the primary sensor and operation of escalator 10 is started. Therefore, in the comparative example of this embodiment, the effect of reducing power consumption of escalator 10 described above may be reduced.

[0023] Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1, a radar device 24 is installed near the entrance of the escalator 10. The radar device 24 in this embodiment is a millimeter wave radar configured to irradiate radio waves (radar signals), such as millimeter waves, to a person approaching the entrance and receive reflected waves from the person. Such radar device 24 can detect (measure) the moving direction, speed, and position (distance from the radar device 24 to the person) of the person based on the received reflected waves from the person.

[0024] In this embodiment, the control device 21 uses the detection results from the above-mentioned radar device 24 to control the operation of the escalator 10. Note that in this embodiment, the primary sensor and the secondary sensor described in the comparative example of this embodiment are not necessary.

[0025] Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the entrance of the escalator 10 according to this embodiment. The above-mentioned radar device 24 is installed, for example, on a skirt guard 25 near the entrance of the escalator 10, as shown in Fig. 2. Note that the radar device 24 may be installed in any position other than the skirt guard 25 shown in Fig. 2, as long as it is possible to irradiate a radar signal to a person approaching the entrance of the escalator 10 (i.e., the space located above the boarding / alighting board 22, etc.).

[0026] Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the control device 21 shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the control device 21 includes an acquisition unit 21a, a determination unit 21b, a calculation unit 21c, and a control unit 21d.

[0027] Here, in this embodiment, the control device 21 is connected to the radar device 24, which is configured to irradiate a radar signal to a person approaching the entrance of the escalator 10 as described above, and receive a reflected wave from the person, thereby outputting detection information related to the person. The detection information output from the radar device 24 includes, for example, the traveling direction of the person irradiated with the radar signal, the speed of the person (the speed at which the person moves), and the position of the person (the distance from the radar device 24 to the person). The acquisition unit 21a acquires the detection information output from the radar device 24 as described above.

[0028] The determination unit 21b determines whether or not the person is a passenger (a person who intends to get on the escalator 10) based on the moving direction of the person included in the detection information acquired by the acquisition unit 21a.

[0029] The calculation unit 21c calculates the time it takes for the person to step onto the escalator 10 (steps 11) based on the position and speed of the person included in the detection information acquired by the acquisition unit 21a.

[0030] The control unit 21d controls the operation of the escalator 10 based on the determination result by the determination unit 21b and the calculation result by the calculation unit 21c (that is, the detection information output from the radar device 24).

[0031] Next, a processing procedure of the control device 21 in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0032] First, the radar device 24 operates to periodically emit a radar signal, and when a reflected wave of the radar signal from a person (hereinafter referred to as the target person) approaches the entrance of the escalator 10, for example, the radar device 24 detects the presence of the target person and outputs detection information regarding the target person to the control device 21.

[0033] The radar device 24 can measure the distance from the radar device 24 to the target person (i.e., the position of the target person relative to the radar device 24) based on, for example, the time from when a radar signal is emitted until a reflected wave from the target person is received. The radar device 24 can further measure the traveling direction and speed of the target person based on the change in the position of the target person measured in this way. This allows the radar device 24 to output detection information including the traveling direction, speed, and position of the target person.

[0034] The acquiring unit 21a included in the control device 21 acquires the detection information output from the radar device 21 as described above (step S1).

[0035] Next, the determination unit 21b determines whether or not the target person is a passenger based on the moving direction of the target person included in the detection information acquired in step S1 (step S2).

[0036] Here, the process of step S2 (processing for determining whether or not the target person is a passenger) will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 shows an example of the irradiation range of the radar signal by the radar device 24 (i.e., the radar detection range). Note that Fig. 5 has been prepared with the intention of explaining the process of step S2, and the radar device 24 installed below the skirt guard and the handrail 20, etc. are omitted in Fig. 5.

[0037] As described above, in this embodiment, when a target person enters the radar detection range 24a, detection information regarding the target person is output from the radar device 24, and the detection information is acquired in step S1.

[0038] The detection information acquired in step S1 thus includes the traveling direction of the target person, and each of the arrows 241 to 245 in Fig. 5 indicates the traveling direction of the target person. Note that the traveling direction of the target person included in the detection information is represented based on, for example, two coordinate points in a three-dimensional space defined in the radar device 24.

[0039] In this embodiment, for example, if the target person is traveling in the direction of the arrows 241 to 243 shown in FIG. 5, the target person is determined to be a passenger in step S2.

[0040] That is, in step S2, for example, if the target person's traveling direction is toward the steps 11 (i.e., the extension of the target person's traveling direction passes between a pair of handrails 20), the target person is determined to be a passenger.

[0041] On the other hand, for example, if the target person is moving in the direction of the arrows 244 and 245 shown in FIG. 5, it is determined in step S2 that the target person is not a passenger.

[0042] That is, in step S2, for example, if the target person's direction of travel is not toward the steps 11 (i.e., the extension of the target person's direction of travel does not pass between a pair of handrails 20), the target person is determined to be not a passenger.

[0043] As described above, the detection information acquired in step S1 includes the speed and position of the target person in addition to the moving direction of the target person, but the process of determining whether the target person is a passenger in step S2 may be executed by further considering the speed and position of the target person. Specifically, even if the moving direction of the target person is toward the step 11, for example, if the speed of the target person is extremely slow (i.e., slow enough that it is presumed that the target person has no intention of getting on the escalator 10), the target person may be determined not to be a passenger, or if the position of the target person is not within a predetermined area (i.e., the target person is relatively far from the entrance and therefore it is unclear whether the target person has an intention of getting on the escalator 10), the target person may be determined not to be a passenger.

[0044] If it is determined that the target person is a passenger (YES in step S2), the control unit 21d starts the operation of the escalator 10 (step S3).

[0045] When the process of step S3 is executed, the calculation unit 21c calculates the time it takes for the target person to get on the escalator (the arrival time to the step 11) based on the speed and position of the target person included in the detection information acquired in step S1 (step S4). If it is assumed that the position of the target person included in the detection information is expressed by a coordinate point in a three-dimensional space defined by the radar device 24, for example, the calculation unit 21c can calculate the distance from the target person to the step 11 based on the position of the target person and, for example, the position (coordinate point) of the boundary between the boarding / alighting board 22 and the step 11 that is stored in advance. The calculation unit 21c can calculate the arrival time to the step 11 using the speed of the target person and the distance from the target person to the step 11 calculated in this way.

[0046] When the process of step S4 is executed, the control unit 21d controls the operation of the escalator 10 so as to accelerate the moving speed of the steps 11 to the rated speed based on the arrival time calculated in step S4 (step S5). Specifically, the control unit 21d performs control so that the moving speed of the steps 11 becomes the rated speed at the timing when the target person steps onto the step (i.e., when the above-mentioned arrival time has elapsed).

[0047] In FIG. 4, the case where the operation of the escalator 10 is automatically started has been described, but in the automatic operation function, the operation of the escalator 10 needs to be automatically stopped. For this reason, the control device 21 (control unit 21d) stops the operation of the escalator 10 when, for example, an optical sensor or the like installed at the exit of the escalator 10 detects that a passenger has descended the escalator 10 (step 11). At this time, it is also possible to detect the passenger's alighting, and decelerate the escalator after a certain period of time has elapsed before stopping it. That is, the process shown in FIG. 4 is executed every time a person is detected by the radar device 24. When multiple people are detected and operation control is performed, the operation of the escalator 10 may be stopped if it is confirmed that the number of passengers who have boarded and the number of passengers who have alighted are the same.

[0048] As described above, this embodiment includes a radar device 24 that irradiates radio waves (radar signals) such as millimeter waves to a person (first person) approaching the entrance of the escalator 10 (passenger conveyor) and outputs detection information (first detection information) related to the person by receiving reflected waves from the person, and the control device 21 controls the operation of the escalator 10 based on the detection information output from the radar device 24. With this configuration, this embodiment can implement appropriate control according to the conditions of people in the vicinity.

[0049] Specifically, in this embodiment, it is determined whether or not the person is a passenger (a person intending to board the escalator 10) based on the moving direction of the person included in the detection information output from the radar device 24, and operation of the escalator is started if the person is determined to be a passenger. In this embodiment, such a configuration makes it possible to prevent the operation of the escalator 10 from being started by, for example, a person who is crossing the entrance (above the boarding and alighting board 22) of the escalator 10 (i.e., a person who has no intention of boarding the escalator 10), and therefore it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the escalator 10 during automatic operation.

[0050] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the time it takes for a person to board the escalator 10 (time to reach the steps 11) is calculated based on the person's speed (speed at which the person is moving) and position included in the detection information output from the radar device 24, and the speed at which the steps 11 move is accelerated to the rated speed based on the calculated time. With this configuration, this embodiment allows passengers to smoothly board the escalator 10 (steps 11) even in the case of automatic operation.

[0051] In this embodiment, when a person is determined to be a passenger based on the direction of travel of the person contained in the detection information output from the radar device 24, the operation of the escalator 10 is started (i.e., the start of the escalator 10 is controlled based on the detection information), which makes it possible to reduce the power consumption of the escalator 10 (measure energy saving), and therefore the process of calculating the time to reach the step 11 described above may be omitted.

[0052] Here, in the present embodiment, one radar device 24 is installed as shown in Fig. 2, but the present embodiment may be configured to install two radar devices 24 as shown in Fig. 6. In this manner, if two radar devices 24 are installed, it is possible to expand the radar detection range 24a shown in Fig. 5 to radar detection ranges 24a and 24b shown in Fig. 7.

[0053] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a case has been described in which the operation (start) of the escalator 10 is controlled based on the detection information output from the radar device 24, mainly from the viewpoint of reducing the power consumption of the escalator 10. However, this embodiment may also be configured to control the operation of the escalator 10, for example, from the viewpoint of improving the safety of passengers.

[0054] Specifically, for example, if the speed of a person (the speed of a person determined to be a passenger) included in the detection information output from the radar device 24 is slower than a predetermined speed, the person may be presumed to be elderly or disabled, and the moving speed of the multiple steps 11 (the operating speed of the escalator 10) may be slowed down. In this manner, in this embodiment, the moving speed of the multiple steps 11 may be controlled based on the speed of the person included in the detection information output from the radar device 24, thereby improving the safety of passengers.

[0055] Furthermore, in a situation where the operation of the escalator 10 is started by executing the process shown in Fig. 4 described above and a plurality of passengers are sequentially boarding the escalator 10 (steps 11), if it can be determined that a plurality of passengers (persons determined to be passengers) are lined up at the entrance of the escalator 10 from the moving direction and speed of the persons included in the detection information output from the radar device 24, it is possible to detect passengers staying at the entrance. In this case, the control device 21 (control unit 21d) may output a sound notifying passengers of the staying at the entrance of the escalator 10 from a speaker (not shown) provided in the escalator 10, and may guide passengers to board the escalator 10 (steps 11) in two lines (i.e., board in two lines).

[0056] In addition, in this embodiment, the radar device 24 (first radar device) is installed near the entrance of the escalator 10 as shown in Figures 1 and 2, but a radar device 26 (second radar device) may be installed near the exit of the escalator 10 as shown in Figure 8. Note that, although Figure 8 assumes that one radar device 26 is installed near the exit of the escalator 10, two or more radar devices 26 may be installed near the exit to expand the radar detection range at the exit of the escalator 10.

[0057] In this case, the radar device 26 can output detection information (second detection information) related to a person (second person) approaching the exit of the escalator 10 by irradiating radio waves (radar signals) such as millimeter waves to the person and receiving reflected waves from the person. This allows the control device 21 (control unit 21d) to detect a person (i.e., a passenger coming from a direction different from the operating direction of the escalator 10) who is about to get on the escalator 10 from the exit of the escalator 10 based on the moving direction of the person included in the detection information output from the radar device 26. In this case, the control device 21 may be configured to output, for example, a voice from a speaker notifying that it is not possible to get on the escalator 10 from the exit (i.e., an automatic announcement is issued to inform the person that getting on the escalator is prohibited).

[0058] In addition, at the exit of the escalator 10, it is dangerous if, for example, a child's hand gets caught in the inlet 27 (entrance of the handrail 20) provided in the skirt guard 25. For this reason, as shown in Fig. 8, a radar device 26 that outputs detection information on a person approaching the exit of the escalator 10 may be installed near the inlet 27, and when the difference between the position included in the detection information and the position of the inlet 27 is less than a threshold (i.e., when a person such as a child approaches the inlet 27 significantly), the control device 21 (control unit 21d) may output an alarm (for example, sound an alarm buzzer). Here, the inlet 27 provided at the exit has been described, but an alarm may also be output in the same manner when a person approaches an inlet provided at the entrance.

[0059] Furthermore, the radar device 26 can output detection information on a person moving away from the exit of the escalator 10 after descending from the multiple steps 11. According to this, the control device 21 (control unit 21d) may detect that multiple passengers are staying at the exit of the escalator 10 from the speed of the person included in the detection information output from the radar device 26, and operate to slow down the moving speed of the multiple steps 11, or gradually reduce the moving speed of the multiple steps 11 to safely stop the operation of the escalator 10 (i.e., control the moving speed of the multiple steps 11 based on the speed of the person included in the detection information output from the radar device 26).

[0060] In addition, the radar device 26 (detection information output from the radar device 26) installed at the exit of the escalator 10 described above may be used to automatically stop the operation of the escalator 10 during automatic operation (i.e., to detect that a passenger has exited the escalator 10).

[0061] In addition, in this embodiment, the lower floor side is the entrance to the escalator 10 and the upper floor side is the exit to the escalator 10. However, since the escalator 10 is capable of changing the direction of movement of the multiple steps 11, for example, by installing radar devices on both sides near the entrances to the escalator, it is possible to appropriately respond to cases where the direction of movement of the multiple steps 11 is changed as described above.

[0062] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the radar device has been described as being installed near the entrance / exit of the escalator 10, but the radar device may be installed in a location other than the entrance / exit of the escalator 10. Specifically, for example, when the radar device is installed in a position where it can irradiate a radar signal to a passenger (or a space including a passenger) standing on the step 11, it may be possible to detect a dangerous situation in which the passenger (e.g., a child) leans over the handrail 20.

[0063] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims, as well as in the scope and spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 10... escalator (passenger conveyor), 11... steps, 12... lower machine room, 13... upper machine room, 14... connecting chain, 15... truss, 16... lower sprocket, 17... upper sprocket, 18... drive mechanism, 19... balustrade, 20... handrail, 21... control device, 22, 23... boarding and alighting boards, 24, 26... radar device (first and second radar devices), 25... skirt guard, 27... inlet.

Claims

1. A passenger conveyor in which a plurality of endlessly connected steps are configured to move cyclically between an entrance and an exit, a first radar device that irradiates a radio wave to a first person approaching the boarding entrance and receives a reflected wave from the first person, thereby outputting first detection information regarding the first person; a control device that controls an operation of the passenger conveyor based on the first detection information output from the first radar device; A passenger conveyor comprising:

2. the first detection information includes a traveling direction of the first person; The control device includes: a determination means for determining whether the first person has an intention to board the passenger conveyor based on a traveling direction included in the first detection information; a control means for starting operation of the passenger conveyor when the first person is determined to be a passenger; Includes 2. A passenger conveyor according to claim 1.

3. the first detection information includes a speed at which the first person is moving and a position of the first person; The control device further includes a calculation means for calculating a time until the first person gets on the passenger conveyor based on a speed and a position included in the first detection information, The control means accelerates the speed at which the steps move to a rated speed based on the calculated time.

3. A passenger conveyor according to claim 2.

4. the first detection information includes a traveling direction of the first person and a speed at which the first person moves, The control device includes a control means for controlling a speed at which the steps move based on a moving direction and a speed included in the first detection information.

2. A passenger conveyor according to claim 1.

5. the first detection information includes a traveling direction of the first person and a speed at which the first person moves, The control device includes a control means for outputting a voice notifying passengers of a delay at the boarding entrance based on a traveling direction and a speed included in the first detection information.

2. A passenger conveyor according to claim 1.

6. a second radar device configured to irradiate a radio wave to a second person approaching the exit and receive a reflected wave from the second person, thereby outputting second detection information regarding the second person; the second detection information includes a traveling direction of the second person, The control device includes a control means for outputting a voice notifying that the passenger cannot board the passenger conveyor based on a traveling direction included in the second detection information. A passenger conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. a second radar device that irradiates a radio wave to a second person approaching the exit and receives a reflected wave from the second person, thereby outputting second detection information regarding the second person; A pair of skirt guards facing both side surfaces of the steps; A parapet erected on the upper part of the skirt guard; A handrail is attached around the balustrade and rotates in synchronization with the movement of the steps; An inlet which is an entrance of the handrail provided in the skirt guard; Further comprising: the second detection information includes a position of the second person; The control device includes a control unit that outputs an alarm when a difference between the position included in the second detection information and the position of the inlet is less than a threshold value. A passenger conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

8. a second radar device configured to irradiate radio waves to a second person who has descended from the steps and is moving away from the exit, and to receive reflected waves from the second person, thereby outputting second detection information regarding the second person; the second detection information includes a speed at which the second person is moving; The control device includes a control means for controlling a speed at which the steps move based on the speed included in the second detection information. A passenger conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

9. A method for controlling a passenger conveyor configured such that a plurality of endlessly connected steps move cyclically between an entrance and an exit, comprising the steps comprising: irradiating a radio wave to a first person approaching the boarding entrance and receiving a reflected wave from the first person, thereby outputting first detection information regarding the first person; Controlling operation of the passenger conveyor based on the output first detection information. A method for controlling a passenger conveyor comprising:

Images