Elevator system

Abstract

To provide an elevator system equipped with a contactless destination floor registration device that allows a user to register destinations through contactless operation, and that can reliably prevent destination registration due to erroneous detection.SOLUTION: An elevator system according to the present disclosure comprises a plurality of non-contact destination floor registration devices provided at a plurality of locations within an elevator car and allowing a user to specify a destination through contactless operation, a congestion level detection device that detects the level of congestion within the car, and a control unit that disables contactless operation to the non-contact destination floor registration device depending on the level of congestion detected by the congestion level detection device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to elevator systems. [Background technology]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a destination registration device that receives operations by elevator passengers and registers destination floors, and includes a determination unit that determines the degree of congestion in the elevator car, an operation detection unit that detects operations that specify a destination floor in a non-contact manner, a threshold change unit that changes a distance-related threshold for the non-contact detection in accordance with the degree of congestion, and a registration unit that registers the destination floor when a detection result that satisfies the distance-related threshold is obtained. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2022 / 064658 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a situation where the elevator car is crowded, the method of changing the distance threshold cannot completely prevent false positives, and false positives still occur.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. An object of the present disclosure is to provide an elevator system including a contactless destination floor registration device that allows a user to register a destination through a contactless operation, and that can reliably suppress destination registration due to erroneous detection. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The elevator system according to the present disclosure comprises a plurality of non-contact destination floor registration devices provided at multiple locations within the elevator car and allowing the destination to be specified by a non-contact operation, a congestion level detection device that detects the level of congestion within the car, and a control unit that disables non-contact operation to the non-contact destination floor registration devices depending on the level of congestion detected by the congestion level detection device. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an elevator system that is equipped with a contactless destination floor registration device that allows a user to register destinations through a contactless operation, and that can reliably suppress destination registration due to erroneous detection. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an elevator system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by a destination floor control device. [Diagram 3] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by an elevator control device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration for realizing the functions of an in-car control device, a display control device, a voice control device, a destination floor control device, an on-car control device, and an elevator control device in the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same reference numerals are used to denote common or corresponding elements, and the description is simplified or omitted. The configurations shown in the embodiments below are examples of the technical ideas related to the present disclosure, and may be combined with other known technologies, or multiple technical ideas described in the present disclosure may be combined. In addition, it is also possible to omit or modify a part of the configuration without departing from the gist of the present disclosure.

[0010] Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an elevator system according to a first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, an elevator car 1 is equipped with a display 2, a speaker 3, and a button 4 inside. The display 2 is a display that can be seen 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 an in-car control device 6. The speaker 3 is connected to a voice control device 7. The voice control device 7 is connected to the in-car control device 6. The speaker 3 is capable of outputting voice announcements. The display 2 and the speaker 3 are examples of notification means for notifying passengers in the car 1 of information.

[0011] The button 4 is a destination floor button operated by a passenger to specify a destination floor. The button 4 is provided on the car operation panel. The button 4 has a non-contact sensor. The non-contact sensor may be, for example, a capacitance sensor, an infrared sensor, or a TOF sensor. The button 4 is capable of both registering a destination floor by physical pressing and registering a destination floor by non-contact operation. The button 4 corresponds to a non-contact destination floor registration device that allows a destination to be specified by non-contact operation. The button 4 is connected to a destination floor control device 8. The destination floor control device 8 is connected to an in-car control device 6. In this embodiment, non-contact destination floor registration devices are provided at multiple locations in the car 1. For example, non-contact destination floor registration devices are provided at two or more locations among the two sleeve walls and two side walls of the car 1. In the following description, the function of registering a destination floor by non-contact operation on the button 4 is referred to as a "non-contact registration function".

[0012] The car 1 is further provided with a congestion level detection device 9, a lighting control device 10, and an on-car control device 11. The congestion level detection device 9 detects the congestion level in the car 1. The congestion level detection device 9 may include an image capture device such as a camera installed at the top of the car 1, and detect the congestion level in the car 1 by image recognition of an image captured by the image capture device. The congestion level detection device 9 may detect, for example, the number and position of passengers in the car 1. The congestion level detection device 9 may detect the distance between an object other than a finger in front of the non-contact destination floor registration device and the non-contact destination floor registration device. The congestion level detection device 9 is connected to the on-car control device 11.

[0013] The congestion level detection device 9 is not limited to a configuration using an image capture device. For example, it may be a configuration using a distance sensor installed in the car 1, a configuration using a weight sensor that measures the weight of the car 1, a configuration using a pressure sensor that detects the floor pressure in the car 1, or a configuration using a temperature sensor that detects the temperature in the car 1.

[0014] The lighting control device 10 controls the lighting in the car 1. The lighting control device 10 is connected to an on-car control device 11. The on-car control device 11 and the in-car control device 6 are connected to an elevator control device 12.

[0015] The configuration is such that the implementation of registration by non-contact operation on the button 4 can be changed by control. Specifically, a parameter that determines whether or not registration by non-contact operation is possible is provided in the destination floor control device 8, and the parameter can be turned on and off based on a command from the elevator control device 12 or the car control device 6. When registration by non-contact operation is disabled, the non-contact operation detection function itself is maintained, and the destination floor control device 8 is prevented from registering the destination floor even if a non-contact operation is detected.

[0016] Since the non-contact destination floor registration device allows destination specification by non-contact operation, if the car 1 is crowded, a destination floor may be unintentionally specified due to a passenger's body or baggage suddenly approaching the non-contact destination floor registration device. To prevent this from happening, the elevator control device 12 disables non-contact operation to the non-contact destination floor registration device according to the congestion level detected by the congestion level detection device 9. This makes it possible to reliably prevent a destination floor from being specified due to a false detection. Note that even in a non-contact destination floor registration device in which non-contact operation is disabled, it is possible to specify a destination floor by physically pressing button 4.

[0017] The elevator control device 12 has a storage unit that stores how many non-contact destination floor registration devices are in the car 1 and whether or not each non-contact destination floor registration device is implementing its non-contact registration function. This information on the number is generally known, 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 that captures images inside the car, or the number may be ascertained by obtaining connection information between the non-contact destination floor registration device and the elevator control device via an electrical signal.

[0018] In the car 1, the congestion level detection device 9 obtains the congestion level 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 level detection device 9 determines that the situation is crowded when the user's body or the user's belongings are present at the operation position of each non-contact destination floor registration device. The congestion level detection device 9 transmits congestion level information at the operation position of each non-contact destination floor registration device to the elevator control device 12. The elevator control device 12 provides the non-contact destination floor registration device in the car 1 with information on whether or not the non-contact registration function is implemented according to the congestion level. When the car is crowded, the non-contact registration function is not implemented. This detection and control is performed at a fixed time period, and the information is updated each time. When the implementation or non-implementation of the non-contact registration function is changed, the information may be displayed on the display 2 in the car 1 or the user may be notified by a voice announcement from the speaker 3 in the car 1.

[0019] Specifically, the congestion level detection device 9 obtains the congestion level within about 300 mm in front of the contactless destination floor registration device, and in crowded conditions, contactless registration using the button 4 on the contactless destination floor registration device is not possible. However, registration by pressing a physical button is possible. At this time, an announcement is made from the elevator speaker 3 to the effect that "the contactless registration function has been restricted." When the congestion level within about 300 mm in front of the contactless destination floor registration device is resolved, contactless registration becomes possible again, and at this time an announcement is made from the speaker 3 to the effect that "the restriction on the contactless registration function has been lifted."

[0020] The congestion level detection device 9 detects whether there is an object other than a hand or finger in the operation space within a predetermined distance (e.g., 300 mm) in front of the non-contact destination floor registration device. The elevator control device 12 disables the non-contact operation for a non-contact destination floor registration device that has an object other than a hand or finger in the operation space, and enables the non-contact operation for a non-contact destination floor registration device that does not have an object other than a hand or finger in the operation space. This makes it possible to disable the non-contact operation only for non-contact destination floor registration devices that may be subject to erroneous detection, making it possible to make the non-contact operation available as much as possible.

[0021] This function makes it possible to prevent a user from unintentionally registering a destination floor when car 1 is crowded, and thereby preventing the car from stopping at an unintended floor.

[0022] When the area in front of all the non-contact destination floor registration devices becomes congested, the non-contact registration function is disabled in all the non-contact destination floor registration devices. Since this state is disadvantageous to users, the following control is used to encourage users to resolve the congestion.

[0023] The non-contact state storage unit of the elevator control device 12 checks whether the non-contact registration function of the non-contact destination floor registration device in the car 1 is active. If all the non-contact registration devices are not active, control is performed to encourage the user to secure the operation position of the representative non-contact destination floor registration device. The representative registration device may be a side wall operation panel (on the left side as seen from the landing) in the car 1, but it can be changed by a parameter held by the elevator control device 12. As a specific notification method, a voice notification device in the car 1 may notify the user to make space, or an indicator may be displayed, or if there is a camera monitor in the car 1, information on the space to be made available may be superimposed and displayed on the monitor, or in the case of downlight lighting, only that area may be controlled to blink to encourage the user to secure the space. With this function, the non-contact registration function in the car 1 can be maintained by securing the operation position of one non-contact destination floor registration device even during congestion.

[0024] As described above, when contactless operation is disabled in all of the plurality of contactless destination floor registration devices, the notification means may notify passengers to leave a space in front of a specific contactless destination floor registration device. This allows contactless operation for the specific contactless destination floor registration device, improving convenience.

[0025] When a specific contactless operation is performed on the non-contact destination floor registration device in which the contactless operation has been disabled, the contactless operation may be temporarily released and the contactless operation may be enabled. This is a function for temporarily enabling the disabled contactless registration function for people who frequently use the elevator. Even if the contactless registration function is disabled, the contactless detection function is maintained, so that the contactless operation can be detected. The user can temporarily enable the contactless function by performing a specific input to the non-contact destination floor registration device through a contactless operation. The specific input may be a PIN number. Alternatively, it may be an intentional input that is unlikely to occur accidentally, such as a simultaneous non-contact input of only the door open / close button and the local floor destination floor button. When the enable / disable of the contactless registration function is changed, the information may be notified to the user by the display 2 in the car 1 or the voice notification device in the car 1.

[0026] Also, the device may have a function for adjusting the non-contact detection distance when a specific operation is input to temporarily activate the non-contact operation. The distance between the finger and the button when the specific input is made can be used as the non-contact detection distance when temporarily activated. Specifically, the non-contact detection information (capacitance, infrared method, TOF method, etc.) when registration is made to temporarily activate 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. With this function, when the car 1 is crowded and an operation position cannot be secured, the non-contact function can be temporarily activated, and a usable distance threshold can be set and used by the device itself. This allows the non-contact registration function to be used even in a narrow space.

[0027] 2 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 non-contact registration function of each non-contact destination floor registration device is enabled or disabled from the elevator control device 12 (step S1). Next, it determines whether a specific input has been made to the non-contact destination floor registration device whose non-contact registration function has been disabled (step S2). If a specific input has been made, it temporarily enables non-contact registration and registers the detection distance information at the time of the specific input as a threshold value (step S3).

[0028] If no specific input has been made, it is determined whether the contactless registration function is disabled (step S4). If the contactless registration function is disabled, the contactless registration function is disabled and button 4 operation acceptance processing is performed (step S5). On the other hand, if the contactless registration function is not disabled, the contactless registration function is enabled and button 4 operation acceptance processing is performed (step S6).

[0029] Next, it is determined whether a certain time has passed since the specific input (step S7). If the certain time has passed since the specific input, the temporary activation of the non-contact registration function is cancelled, and the detection threshold information is changed to a standard value (step S8).

[0030] Next, information on whether the contactless registration function of each contactless destination floor registration device is enabled or disabled is received from the elevator control device 12 (Step S9). With the above, the process of this flowchart is completed.

[0031] 3 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the elevator control device 12. The elevator control device 12 first receives congestion level information from the congestion level detection device 9 (step S11). Next, it determines whether or not the operation positions of all non-contact destination floor registration devices are in a crowded state (step S12). If the operation positions of all non-contact destination floor registration devices are in a crowded state, a voice announcement is made, a display is made on the display 2, or a downlight is blinked to urge passengers to vacate the operation position of the representative non-contact destination floor registration device (step S13).

[0032] 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, a command is issued to disable the non-contact registration function of the non-contact destination floor registration device, and a command is issued to notify by voice announcement that the non-contact registration function is disabled (step S15).

[0033] Next, the information is transmitted from the elevator control device 12 to each non-contact destination floor registration device. This ends the process of this flowchart.

[0034] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration for realizing the functions of the car inside control device 6, the display control device 5, the voice control device 7, the destination floor control device 8, the car on-board control device 11, and the elevator control device 12 in the first embodiment. Each function of the car inside control device 6, the display control device 5, the voice control device 7, the destination floor control device 8, the car on-board control device 11, and the elevator control device 12 is realized, for example, by a processing circuit. The processing circuit may be dedicated hardware 600. The processing circuit may include a processor 601 and a memory 602. A part of the processing circuit may be formed as the dedicated hardware 600, and the processing circuit may further include the processor 601 and the memory 602. In the example shown in FIG. 4, a part of the processing circuit is formed as the dedicated hardware 600. Also, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the processing circuit further includes a processor 601 and a memory 602 in addition to the dedicated hardware 600.

[0035] The processing circuitry of which at least one portion is dedicated hardware 600 may be, for example, a single circuit, multiple circuits, a programmed processor, parallel programmed processors, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0036] When the processing circuit has at least one processor 601 and at least one memory 602, the functions of each part of the in-car control device 6, the display control device 5, the voice control device 7, the destination floor control device 8, the on-car control device 11, and the elevator control device 12 are realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware.

[0037] The software and firmware are written as a program and stored in the memory 602. The program may be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium. The processor 601 realizes the functions of each unit by reading and executing the program stored in the memory 602. The processor 601 is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), central processing unit, processing unit, arithmetic unit, microprocessor, microcomputer, or DSP. The memory 602 may be, 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 flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a mini disk, and a DVD.

[0038] In this way, the processing circuit can realize 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 on-car control device 11, and the elevator control device 12 by using hardware, software, firmware, or a combination of these. Note that each function of the in-car control device 6, the display control device 5, the voice control device 7, the destination floor control device 8, the on-car control device 11, and the elevator control device 12 may be realized by cooperation between multiple devices, or may be realized by a single device. Also, at least a part of each function of the in-car control device 6, the display control device 5, the voice control device 7, the destination floor control device 8, the on-car control device 11, and the elevator control device 12 may be implemented on a server or the like on an external network.

[0039] Various aspects of the present disclosure are summarized below as appendices.

[0040] (Appendix 1) a plurality of non-contact destination floor registration devices provided at a plurality of locations within the elevator car, the non-contact destination floor registration devices enabling a destination to be specified by a non-contact operation; A congestion degree detection device for detecting a congestion degree in the car; a control unit that invalidates a non-contact operation on the non-contact destination floor registration device according to a congestion degree detected by the congestion degree detection device; Equipped with an elevator system. (Appendix 2) The congestion degree detection device detects whether there is an object other than a hand or finger in a space within a predetermined distance in front of the non-contact destination floor registration device, The control unit disables non-contact operation for the non-contact destination floor registration device when there is an object other than a hand or fingers in a space within the specified distance, and enables non-contact operation for the non-contact destination floor registration device when there is no object other than a hand or fingers in a space within the specified distance. (Appendix 3) 3. The elevator system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an alerting means for alerting passengers to make space in front of a specific one of the non-contact destination floor registration devices when non-contact operation is disabled in all of the plurality of non-contact destination floor registration devices. (Appendix 4) An elevator system according to any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 3, wherein when a specific contactless operation is performed on the contactless destination floor registration device in which contactless operation has been disabled, the disablement of the contactless operation is temporarily lifted and the contactless operation is enabled. (Appendix 5) 5. The elevator system according to claim 1, further comprising an alarm means for notifying the user when a contactless operation to the contactless destination floor registration device is invalidated. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 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 occupancy detection device, 10 lighting control device, 11 car-mounted control device, 12 elevator control device, 600 dedicated hardware, 601 processor, 602 memory

Claims

1. a plurality of non-contact destination floor registration devices provided at a plurality of locations within the elevator car, the non-contact destination floor registration devices enabling a destination to be specified by a non-contact operation; A congestion degree detection device for detecting a congestion degree in the car; a control unit that invalidates a non-contact operation on the non-contact destination floor registration device according to a congestion degree detected by the congestion degree detection device; Equipped with an elevator system.

2. The congestion degree detection device detects whether there is an object other than a hand or finger in a space within a predetermined distance in front of the non-contact destination floor registration device, 2. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit disables a non-contact operation for the non-contact destination floor registration device when an object other than a hand or finger is present in a space within the predetermined distance, and enables a non-contact operation for the non-contact destination floor registration device when an object other than a hand or finger is not present in a space within the predetermined distance.

3. 3. The elevator system according to claim 1, further comprising an alerting means for alerting passengers to make space in front of a specific one of the plurality of non-contact destination floor registration devices when non-contact operation is disabled in all of the plurality of non-contact destination floor registration devices.

4. 3. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein when a specific contactless operation is performed on the contactless destination floor registration device in which contactless operation is disabled, the disabling of the contactless operation is temporarily lifted and the contactless operation is enabled.

5. 3. The elevator system according to claim 1, further comprising a notification means for notifying a user that a non-contact operation to the non-contact destination floor registration device has been invalidated when the non-contact operation has been invalidated.

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