Escalator control device

Abstract

To create a situation where users on footsteps do not need to walk in an escalator.SOLUTION: An escalator control device comprises a walking speed detection part and a speed control processing part. The walking speed detection part detects the relative speed of the user on a footstep with respect to the footstep as the walking speed. The speed control processing part adjusts the footstep speed to achieve a first target speed according to the walking speed when the walking speed is detected by the walking speed detection part. This first target speed is set so that the footstep speed after the adjustment becomes slow as the walking speed increases.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to escalator control technology. [Background technology]

[0002] As an escalator control technology, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that slows down the speed of the steps to a certain level when it is detected that a user on an escalator is walking without stopping on the steps. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-97457 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, simply slowing down the speed of the steps, as in Patent Document 1, can lead to situations where walking users try to walk even faster in order to reach the exit more quickly, or where users who get on the escalator later also try to walk faster.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to create a situation in which users do not walk on the steps of an escalator. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A first control device according to the present invention is an escalator control device having the following configuration (Aspect 1). The control device includes a walking speed detection unit and a speed adjustment processing unit. The walking speed detection unit detects the speed of a user on a step relative to the step as the walking speed. When the walking speed detection unit detects the walking speed, the speed adjustment processing unit adjusts the speed of the steps to a first target speed in accordance with the walking speed. This first target speed is set so that the adjusted speed of the steps slows as the walking speed increases.

[0007] If the walking speed of a user is detected and the step speed is slowed down, the user may try to walk even faster to reach the exit faster, or a user who gets on the escalator later may also try to walk faster. According to the above-mentioned aspect 1, when such a situation occurs, the walking speed at that time can be newly detected and the step speed can be further slowed down according to the detected walking speed. This makes it possible for the user walking on the steps to be aware that the step speed is slowing down as a result of their own walking.

[0008] The control device according to the above-described aspect 1 may have the following configuration (aspect 2). The control device further includes a pedestrian count detection unit that detects the number of users walking on the steps as the number of pedestrians. When the walking speed detection unit detects the walking speed and the number of pedestrians detected by the pedestrian count detection unit is greater than a first threshold, or when the ratio of the number of users standing on the steps to the number of pedestrians is less than a second threshold, the speed adjustment processor adjusts the speed of the steps to a first target speed. On the other hand, when the walking speed detection unit detects the walking speed and the number of pedestrians detected by the pedestrian count detection unit is less than the first threshold, or when the ratio of the number of users standing on the steps to the number of pedestrians is greater than the second threshold, the speed adjustment processor adjusts the speed of the steps to a second target speed that is faster than the first target speed.

[0009] According to the above-mentioned aspect 2, when the number of people walking is large or the ratio of people stopping on the steps is small, the speed of the steps can be slowed down to the first target speed, and when people who were walking notice that the speed of the steps has slowed and stop, resulting in a decrease in the number of people walking or a large increase in the ratio of people stopping on the steps, the speed of the steps can be increased to the second target speed. As a result, when the number of walking users is small or decreases, it is possible to minimize the impact on users caused by slowing the step speed (the impact of users stopping on the steps to use the escalator taking longer to reach the exit).

[0010] The escalator may be provided with a load sensor that detects the load generated at each step. In such an escalator, the control device according to the first or second aspect may have the following configuration (Aspect 3). The control device further includes a load detection processor. The load detection processor uses a two-dimensional array containing elements designated by a first index indicating the order of the steps when the circular steps are lined up in a row and a second index indicating the order of a predetermined time span when the time spans are arranged in chronological order. Each time a predetermined time span elapses, if a change in the load detected by the load sensor during the time span from the start of the time span becomes greater than a third threshold value at any point within the time span, the load detection processor stores the detection information in the element corresponding to the step where the change in load occurred. The walking speed detection unit then detects the walking speed based on the distribution of the elements in the two-dimensional array for which the detection information is stored.

[0011] According to the third aspect, the change over time caused by the user walking on the steps at the load change detection position (the number of the first index corresponding to the step where the load change was detected) can be captured as a distribution of elements storing the detected information in a two-dimensional array. By using such a two-dimensional array, the walking state of the user (walking speed, etc.) can be captured from the characteristics of the distribution that appear therein.

[0012] In the control device according to the above-mentioned aspect 3, the walking speed detection unit may have the following configuration (aspect 4): For each group of elements formed by adjacently connecting elements in the direction of the first index or the direction of the second index among the elements for which detection information is stored in the two-dimensional array, the walking speed detection unit treats the group as one element group, and then calculates the walking speed based on the number of elements in the element group and the number of indexes occupied by the element group in the direction of the first index if (1) the number of elements in the element group is greater than a fourth threshold, and (2) when the arrangement of the elements in the element group is examined, there is an adjacent portion where two or more elements are adjacent in the direction of the second index, and further, (3) the adjacent portion is moving in the direction of the first index over time.

[0013] According to the fourth aspect, it is possible to extract a group of elements (distribution) having characteristics that indicate that the user is walking. Furthermore, by utilizing the relationship between the shape of the group of elements (here, the shape is indicated by the number of elements and the number of indexes) and walking speed, it is possible to accurately calculate the walking speed of the user from the number of elements and the number of indexes indicated by the group of elements.

[0014] A second control device according to the present invention is an escalator control device having the following configuration (Aspect 5). The control device has a pedestrian number detection unit and a speed adjustment processing unit. The pedestrian number detection unit detects the number of users walking on the steps as the number of pedestrians. The speed adjustment processing unit adjusts the speed of the steps in accordance with the number of pedestrians detected by the pedestrian number detection unit.

[0015] According to the above-mentioned aspect 5, it is possible to control the speed of the steps by detecting the number of people walking, which makes it possible to expect that users walking on the steps will notice that the speed of the steps is slowing down due to their own walking and stop on the steps.

[0016] On the other hand, slowing down the speed of the steps may lead to a situation where users who had been standing on the steps start walking. According to the fifth aspect, if such a situation occurs and the number of people walking increases, the number of people walking at that time can be newly detected and the speed of the steps can be further slowed down depending on the number of people walking. This makes it possible for users walking on the steps to be aware that the speed of the steps is slowing down as a result of their own walking.

[0017] The escalator may be provided with a load sensor that detects the load generated on each step. In such an escalator, the control device according to the fifth aspect may have the following configuration (a sixth aspect). The control device uses a two-dimensional array containing elements designated by a first index indicating the order of the steps when the circular steps are lined up in a row and a second index indicating the order of a predetermined time span when the time spans are arranged in chronological order. Each time a predetermined time span elapses, if the amount of change in the load detected by the load sensor from the start of the time span to any step during the time span exceeds a predetermined threshold at any point during the time span, the control device stores the detection information in the element corresponding to the step where the change in load occurred. The pedestrian count detection unit then detects the number of pedestrians based on the distribution of the elements in the two-dimensional array for which the detection information is stored.

[0018] According to the sixth aspect, the change over time caused by a user walking on the steps at the load change detection position (the number of the first index corresponding to the step where the load change was detected) can be captured as a distribution of elements storing the detected information in a two-dimensional array. By using such a two-dimensional array, the number of people walking can be identified from the characteristics of the distribution that appears therein.

[0019] In the control device according to the sixth aspect, the walking speed detection unit may have the following configuration (seventh aspect): For each group of elements formed by adjacently connecting elements in the direction of the first index or the direction of the second index among the elements for which detection information is stored in the two-dimensional array, the walking speed detection unit treats the group as one element group, and then, (1) when looking at the arrangement of elements in the element group, there is an adjacent portion where two or more elements are adjacent in the direction of the second index, and (2) when the adjacent portion is moving in the direction of the first index over time, calculates the number of walkers based on the number of elements in the adjacent portion.

[0020] According to aspect 7, it is possible to extract a group of elements (distribution) having characteristics that indicate that a user is walking, and furthermore, by utilizing the relationship between the length of the adjacent part (here, the length indexed by the number of elements in the adjacent part) and the number of pedestrians, it becomes possible to accurately calculate the number of pedestrians from the number of elements in the adjacent part. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] According to the present invention, it is possible to create a situation in which users do not walk on the steps of an escalator. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the overall configuration of an escalator according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2]2A to 2C are conceptual diagrams respectively showing (A) a two-dimensional array, (B) speed detection data, and (C) speed control data used in the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a conceptual diagram showing the change in the two-dimensional array obtained when one user walks on the steps. [Figure 4] This is a conceptual diagram showing the change in the two-dimensional array that occurs when the user starts walking faster from the state shown in the lower right of Figure 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the overall configuration of an escalator according to a second modified example. [Figure 6] This is a conceptual diagram showing the change in the two-dimensional array obtained when two users walk side by side on the steps. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing speed control data used in a second modified example. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing speed control data used in a third modified example. [Figure 9] This is a conceptual diagram showing the change in the two-dimensional array that occurs when a user who has been standing still starts walking from the state shown in the lower right of Figure 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] [1] First embodiment [1-1] Overall structure of the escalator 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the overall configuration of an escalator according to a first embodiment. The escalator comprises M steps S connected in a ring, a drive mechanism 1 that rotates the steps S, and a control device 2 that controls the drive mechanism 1. The escalator also comprises balustrades (not shown) installed on the left and right of the steps S, and a moving handrail (not shown) that rotates at the same speed as the steps S, as components for safely transporting users from the boarding entrance Bc to the exit Bd.

[0024] The M steps S are configured so that the exposed portion between the boarding entrance Bc and the exit entrance Bd is always in the form of a staircase. In this embodiment, each step S is provided with a load sensor W that detects the load acting on that step S.

[0025] The drive mechanism 1 is configured to adjust the speed Vs of the steps S moving from the boarding entrance Bc to the exit Bd. Specifically, the drive mechanism 1 is equipped with a motor (not shown) for rotating the M number of steps S, and is configured to adjust the rotation speed of the motor by inverter control. The drive mechanism 1 is also configured to selectively switch the operation state of the escalator between an ascending operation and a descending operation by switching the rotation direction of the motor (forward / reverse switching). The example in FIG. 1 shows a case where the escalator is operated as an ascending operation. Note that the contents described below (including the control processing executed by the control device 2) can also be applied to a case where the escalator is operated as a descending operation.

[0026] The control device 2 includes a storage unit 21 and a control unit 22. In this embodiment, the control device 2 executes a load detection process, a walking speed detection process, and a speed adjustment process as control processes to create a situation in which users do not walk on the steps S of the escalator. Details of these processes will be described later.

[0027] The storage unit 21 is a part configured with storage devices such as ROM and RAM, and stores information necessary for the control processing performed by the control device 2. In this embodiment, the storage unit 21 stores such information as a two-dimensional array Dp, speed detection data Dq, and speed control data Dr1. Here, the two-dimensional array Dp is data for recording at which step S a change in load was detected and when in the load detection processing. The speed detection data Dq is data used in the walking speed detection processing to detect the speed of a user on the step S (detection of a walking speed Vw, which will be described later). The speed control data Dr1 is data used in the speed control processing to determine a target speed when adjusting the speed Vs of the step S (determination of a first target speed V1, which will be described later). The two-dimensional array Dp will be described in detail below. The speed detection data Dq and the speed control data Dr1 will be described in detail later.

[0028] 2(A) is a conceptual diagram showing the two-dimensional array Dp used in this embodiment. As shown in this figure, the two-dimensional array Dp is an array containing elements E (J1, J2) specified by a first index J1 (J1=1, 2, . . . , M) indicating the order of the steps S when M steps S are lined up in a row, and a second index J2 (J2=1, 2, . . . ) indicating the passage of time. Specifically, it is as follows.

[0029] The first index J1 is a numbering system that numbers the M steps S in a circular direction, starting with one step S as the first (J1=1). In the enlarged view of FIG. 1, the first step S (J1=1) is indicated as S(1), and the second and subsequent steps S (J1=2, 3, . . . , M) are indicated as S(2), S(3), . . . , S(M). The second index J2 indicates the order of the time intervals Td, when the most recent time interval Td (J2=1) is designated as the most recent time interval Td and the time intervals Td that have elapsed since then are arranged in chronological order. Therefore, in the two-dimensional array Dp, the data stored in the elements E(J1, J2) slides one column to the left each time a predetermined time interval Td elapses.

[0030] Then, every time a predetermined time interval Td elapses, if the change in load detected by the load sensor W from the start of the time interval Td (for example, the absolute value of the change) becomes greater than a predetermined threshold value Wz (the "third threshold value" described in the claims, e.g., 20 kg) at any point during the time interval Td for any step S, detection information Ux indicating that a change in load greater than the predetermined threshold value Wz has been detected is stored in element E (J1=J1(d), J2=1) specified by the number of the first index J1 (J1=J1(d)) and J2=1 corresponding to the step S where such a change in load occurred (hereinafter, the step S will be referred to as "step S(d)") (see FIG. 2(A)). In the example of FIG. 2(A), the detection information Ux stored in element E is indicated by a circle.

[0031] Furthermore, the original data (detection information Ux) stored in the two-dimensional array Dp slides one column to the left every time a predetermined time period Td elapses (see, for example, the change from the upper left diagram to the upper right diagram in FIG. 3). In this embodiment, only data from a predetermined period going back in time is held in the two-dimensional array Dp, and data older than that period is sequentially deleted from the two-dimensional array Dp. The example in FIG. 2(A) shows a case where the first five pieces of data indicated by the second index J2 are held in the two-dimensional array Dp. Therefore, data older than the fifth piece of data is sequentially deleted (see, for example, the change from the lower left diagram to the lower right diagram in FIG. 3).

[0032] The control unit 22 is a part that executes load detection processing, walking speed detection processing, and speed adjustment processing, and the control unit 22 is configured with a load detection processing unit 221, a walking speed detection unit 222, and a speed adjustment processing unit 223 as processing units that perform these processes, respectively (see Figure 1).

[0033] Specifically, the control unit 22 is configured with a processing device such as a CPU or an MPU, and the above processing units are realized in software by the control unit 22 executing a program. This program may be stored in a readable state on a portable storage medium (for example, a flash memory) before being installed in the control device 2, or may be stored in a downloadable state on another server, etc. Note that the above processing units are not limited to being realized in software by the execution of a program, but may also be realized in hardware by a processing circuit (control unit 22) built in the control device 2.

[0034] [1-2] Control process executed on the escalator <Load detection processing> In the load detection process, every time a predetermined time width Td elapses from a certain point in time (for example, the point in time when the control process starts), if the amount of change from the start point of the time width Td of the load detected by the load sensor W during the elapsed time width Td becomes greater than a predetermined threshold value Wz at any step S at any point in time within the time width Td, the detection information Ux is stored in the element E(J1 = J1(d), J2 = 1) corresponding to the step S(d) where such a load change has occurred, with the number (J1 = J1(d)) of the first index J1.

[0035] Here, the length of the time width Td, which is the determination period for whether a load change has been detected, is set as follows. When one user is walking on the step S, the load when one foot of the user is on one step S is detected by the load sensor W in either of two consecutive time widths Td, but not in all three consecutive time widths Td. Thus, the length of the time width Td is set. As an example, using the average time Tv required for one user to climb one step, the time width Td can be set within the range of Tv < Td < 2×Tv. If the time width Td is made too long, the load when one foot is on one step S will be detected in only one time width Td. Conversely, if the time width Td is made too short, the load when one foot is on one step S will be detected in three or more consecutive time widths Td.

[0036] By setting the time width Td in this way, in the load detection process, when one user walks on the step S, the following two-dimensional array Dp can be obtained.

[0037] FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the change in the two-dimensional array Dp obtained when one user walks on the steps S. As shown in this diagram, when one user walks on the steps S, the two-dimensional array Dp shows a distribution of elements E (hereinafter, the elements Ew) in which detection information Ux is stored. The elements Ew are adjacently connected to each other in the direction of the first index J1 or the direction of the second index J2, forming a group of elements Ew (hereinafter, this group is referred to as one "element group Gw") (see the upper right diagram to the lower right diagram in FIG. 3). Furthermore, in the group (element group Gw), an adjacent portion Hr where two or more elements Ew are adjacent in the direction of the second index J2 appears as a feature indicating that the user is walking, and furthermore, the adjacent portion Hr appears to move in the direction of the first index J1 over time.

[0038] In this way, the load detection process makes it possible to capture the temporal changes that occur as a user walks on the steps S at the detected position of the load change (the number of the first index J1 corresponding to the step S(d) where the load change was detected) as the element group Gw (distribution of elements Ew) in the two-dimensional array Dp. By using such a two-dimensional array Dp, it becomes possible to capture the walking state of the user (such as the walking speed Vw described below) from the characteristics of the element group Gw (distribution of elements Ew) that appear therein. Furthermore, as will be described in detail in the second modified example, it becomes possible to capture the number of people Qw walking from the characteristics of the element group Gw (distribution of elements Ew) that appear in the two-dimensional array Dp.

[0039] <Walking speed detection process> In the walking speed detection process, the control unit 22 detects the relative speed of the user on the step S with respect to the step S (hereinafter, this relative speed will be referred to as "walking speed Vw") based on the two-dimensional array Dp obtained by executing the load detection process. Specifically, when an element group Gw of a certain size appears in the two-dimensional array Dp, and the control unit 22 is able to identify the two aforementioned features (the feature that an adjacent part Hr appears and the feature that it appears to be moving in the direction of the first index J1) from the element group Gw (distribution of elements Ew), the control unit 22 detects the walking speed Vw using these features. More specifically, it is as follows.

[0040] When an element group Gw appears in the two-dimensional array Dp, the control unit 22 determines whether or not the element group Gw satisfies all of the following conditions (1) to (3).

[0041] (1) The condition that the number of elements Nw in the element group Gw is greater than a predetermined threshold Nz (the “fourth threshold” described in the claims. For example, Nz=8). (2) When looking at the arrangement of elements Ew in the element group Gw, there is a contiguous portion Hr in which two or more elements Ew are adjacent in the direction of the second index J2. (3) When the above condition (2) is satisfied, the adjacent portion Hr is further moved in the direction of the first index J1 with the passage of time.

[0042] If the control unit 22 determines that all of the above conditions (1) to (3) are satisfied for the element group Gw of interest, it calculates the walking speed Vw based on the number of elements Nw in the element group Gw and the number of indexes Ni (the number of steps S where a change in load was detected) occupied by the element group Gw in the direction of the first index J1. Here, the index number Ni indicates the extent of the element group Gw in the direction of the first index J1 and indicates how many steps S the user has moved over within a predetermined period (here, a period of 1≦J2≦5; i.e., a period equivalent to five predetermined time widths Td). Therefore, by using this index number Ni in combination with the number of elements Nw, it is possible to accurately associate the walking speed Vw of a single user walking with the combination (Nw, Ni).

[0043] Specifically, the control unit 22 obtains the walking speed Vw using the speed detection data Dq (see FIG. 2(B)) stored in the storage unit 21. FIG. 2(B) is a conceptual diagram showing the speed detection data Dq used in this embodiment. In the example of this figure, for each combination (Nw, Ni) of the number of elements Nw and the number of indexes Ni, a value estimated in advance from past history or the like is associated as the walking speed Vw when that combination appears in the element group Gw. Then, the control unit 22 uses the combination (Nw, Ni) indicated by the element group Gw that satisfies the above conditions (1) to (3) to extract the walking speed Vw corresponding to that combination from the speed detection data Dq.

[0044] By using such speed detection data Dq (see FIG. 2(B)), for example, (Nw, Ni)=(8, 5) is extracted from the element group Gw in the middle right diagram of FIG. 3. In this case, Vw=1.0 m / s is extracted from the speed detection data Dq as the corresponding walking speed Vw. Also, (Nw, Ni)=(10, 6) is extracted from the element group Gw in the bottom left diagram or the bottom right diagram of FIG. 3. In this case, Vw=1.0 m / s is extracted from the speed detection data Dq as the corresponding walking speed Vw.

[0045] On the other hand, even if the focused element group Gw satisfies the above conditions (1) to (3), it is possible that the combination (Nw, Ni) indicated by the focused element group Gw does not match any of the combinations (Nw, Ni) in the speed detection data Dq. For example, a case may be assumed in which (Nw, Ni) = (8, 7) is extracted from the focused element group Gw. In such a case, the control unit 22 uses the number of elements Nw and the number of indexes Ni extracted from the element group Gw to individually extract, from the speed detection data Dq, the walking speed Vw corresponding to the number of elements Nw and the walking speed Vw corresponding to the index numbers Ni, and extracts the faster of the two walking speeds Vw as the walking speed Vw of the user (walking user) corresponding to the focused element group Gw. For example, if the control unit 22 extracts (Nw, Ni)=(8, 7) from the element group Gw, it can use this to extract Vw=1.0 m / s corresponding to Ni=8 and Vw=1.2 m / s corresponding to Ni=7 from the speed detection data Dq, and then extract the faster of these, Vw=1.2 m / s, as the walking speed Vw corresponding to the element group Gw of interest. By assuming that the user is walking at the faster walking speed Vw in this way, the speed Vs of the steps S can be controlled to slow down in the adjustment process described below.

[0046] The control unit 22 may calculate the walking speed Vw from the number of elements Nw and the number of indexes Ni using the formula Vw=F(Nw, Ni) (F is a function that represents the correlation between (Nw, Ni) and Vw).

[0047] This walking speed detection process makes it possible to extract an element group Gw (distribution of elements Ew) that has characteristics that indicate that the user is walking. Furthermore, by utilizing the relationship between the shape of the element group Gw (here, a shape indexed by the number of elements Nw and the number of indexes Ni) and the walking speed Vw, it becomes possible to accurately calculate the user's walking speed Vw from the number of elements Nw and the number of indexes Ni indicated by the element group Gw.

[0048] If the walking speed Vw can be detected in this walking speed detection process, the control unit 22 executes the speed regulation process described below.

[0049] <Speed control processing> In the speed adjustment process, the control unit 22 adjusts the speed Vs of the steps S to a first target speed V1 in accordance with the walking speed Vw detected in the walking speed detection process.

[0050] Specifically, the control unit 22 uses the speed control data Dr1 (see FIG. 2(C)) stored in the memory unit 21 to determine a first target speed V1 from the walking speed Vw detected in the walking speed detection process, and adjusts the speed Vs of the steps S to achieve the first target speed V1. FIG. 2(C) is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between the walking speed Vw and the first target speed V1 as the speed control data Dr1 used in this embodiment. In the example shown in this figure, the first target speed V1 is set using a step function graph so that the adjusted speed Vs of the steps S gradually slows as the walking speed Vw increases. Note that the first target speed V1 may also be set using a straight or curved graph so that the adjusted speed Vs of the steps S gradually slows.

[0051] By using such speed control data Dr1 (see Figure 2(C)), if the walking speed Vw detected in the walking speed detection process is Vw = 1.0 m / s, the first target speed V1 is determined to be V1 = 20 m / min, and the speed Vs of the step S is adjusted to reach that target speed.

[0052] The control unit 22 then repeatedly executes the load detection process, walking speed detection process, and speed adjustment process described above (specifically, executes these processes every time a predetermined time interval Td has elapsed since a certain point in time (e.g., the point in time when the control process is started)). As a result, the speed Vs of the steps S is adjusted according to the walking speed Vw of the user at that time.

[0053] If the walking speed Vw of the user is detected and the speed Vs of the steps S is slowed down, the user may try to walk even faster in order to reach the exit Bd more quickly, or a user who gets on the escalator later may also try to walk faster. According to the control process of this embodiment described above, when such a situation occurs, the walking speed Vw at that time can be newly detected.

[0054] FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a change in the two-dimensional array Dp obtained when the user starts walking faster from the state shown in the lower right diagram of FIG. 3. As shown in this diagram, when the user starts walking faster, the two-dimensional array Dp will contain an element group Gw (distribution of elements Ew) that is larger in spread in the direction of the first index J1 than in the lower right diagram of FIG. 3. In other words, the element group Gw will contain an element group with a larger index number Ni than in the lower right diagram of FIG. 3. Therefore, from such an element group Gw, the faster walking speed Vw can be more easily calculated in the walking speed detection process (see FIG. 2(B)).

[0055] For example, (Nw, Ni) = (12, 8) is extracted from the element group Gw in the upper right diagram of FIG. 4. In this case, Vw = 1.2 m / s is extracted from the velocity detection data Dq (see FIG. 2(B)) as the corresponding walking velocity Vw. Also, (Nw, Ni) = (13, 9) is extracted from the element group Gw in the lower left diagram of FIG. 4. In this case, Vw = 1.4 m / s is extracted from the velocity detection data Dq as the corresponding walking velocity Vw.

[0056] Then, when the control unit 22 detects a new, faster walking speed Vw, it can further slow down the speed Vs of the steps S in accordance with the new walking speed Vw in the speed regulation process (see FIG. 2(C)).

[0057] For example, if the walking speed Vw detected in the walking speed detection process is Vw=1.2 m / s, the first target speed V1 is determined to be V1=10 m / min from the speed control data Dr1 (see FIG. 2(C)), and the speed Vs of the steps S is adjusted to reach that target speed. Also, if the walking speed Vw detected in the walking speed detection process is Vw=1.4 m / s, the first target speed V1 is determined to be V1=5 m / min from the speed control data Dr1, and the speed Vs of the steps S is adjusted to reach that target speed. In this way, according to the control process of this embodiment, the speed Vs of the steps S can be slowed down in stages according to the walking speed Vw.

[0058] This makes it possible for a user walking on the steps S to be aware that the speed Vs of the steps S is slowing down as a result of the user's walking. Then, when the element group Gw that satisfies the above conditions (1) to (3) no longer appears in the two-dimensional array Dp (i.e., when there are no more users walking on the steps S), the control unit 22 returns the speed Vs of the steps S to the default speed Vd (see FIG. 2(C)). In this way, it becomes possible to create a situation in which users do not walk on the steps S of the escalator.

[0059] [1-3] Variations [1-3-1] First modified example The first modified example is a modified example of the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, a combination (Nw, Ni) of the number of elements Nw and the number of indexes Ni is extracted from the group of elements Gw that satisfies the above-mentioned conditions (1) to (3), and the walking speed Vw is then calculated from the combination (Nw, Ni), and the first target speed V1 is determined from the walking speed Vw. Alternatively, in this modified example, the act of extracting the combination (Nw, Ni) of the number of elements Nw and the number of indexes Ni from the group of elements Gw that satisfies the above-mentioned conditions (1) to (3) may itself be considered as detecting the walking speed Vw, and the first target speed V1 may be determined directly from the combination (Nw, Ni).

[0060] Specifically, instead of a graph such as that shown in Fig. 2(C), the speed control data Dr1 may be data in which a first target speed V1 is associated with each combination (Nw, Ni) of the number of elements Nw and the number of indexes Ni. In the walking speed detection process, the control unit 22 may extract a combination (Nw, Ni) of the number of elements Nw and the number of indexes Ni from the group of elements Gw that satisfies the above-mentioned conditions (1) to (3), and then, in the speed control process, extract the first target speed V1 associated with that combination (Nw, Ni) from the speed control data Dr1 and adjust the speed Vs of the steps S using that first target speed V1.

[0061] [1-3-2] Second variant The second modification is a modification of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the overall configuration of an escalator according to the second modification. In this modification, the control unit 22 further executes a pedestrian number detection process to detect the number of users walking on the steps S as the number of pedestrians Qw, and then, in the speed adjustment process, adjusts the speed Vs of the steps S using the number of pedestrians Qw detected in the pedestrian number detection process in addition to the walking speed Vw detected in the walking speed detection process. FIG. 5 shows a case in which a pedestrian number detection unit 224 that performs the pedestrian number detection process is implemented in the control unit 22. Note that the pedestrian number detection unit 224, like other processing units (such as the load detection processing unit 221), may be implemented in software or hardware. Details of the pedestrian number detection process and the speed adjustment process are described below.

[0062] <Detection of the number of pedestrians> In the process of detecting the number of people walking, the control unit 22 calculates the number of people walking Qw from the group of elements Gw that have been determined to satisfy all of the conditions (1) to (3) in the process of detecting the walking speed. Specifically, the control unit 22 calculates the number of people walking Qw based on the number of elements Nh in the adjacent part Hr (the adjacent part Hr that is moving in the direction of the first index J1 over time) in the group of elements Gw.

[0063] As explained in the first embodiment, the length of the time interval Td, which is the period for determining whether a change in load has been detected, is set as follows: When a user is walking on the steps S, the length of the time interval Td is set so that, while the load of the user with one foot on one step S is detected by the load sensor W for two consecutive time intervals Td, it is not detected for all three consecutive time intervals Td.

[0064] Therefore, when multiple users walk on the steps S, an element group Gw appears in the two-dimensional array Dp, where the number of elements Nh in the adjacent part Hr is three or more.

[0065] FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing the change in the two-dimensional array Dp obtained when two users are walking in a line on the steps S. As shown in this figure, when two users are walking in a line on the steps S, the second user walks on the steps S after the first user, and therefore the element group Gw in the two-dimensional array Dp will have a larger spread in the direction of the second index J2 than that in FIG. 3, corresponding to the number of users walking. Specifically, when there are two users walking, the element group Gw is likely to have an element group with the number of elements Nh in the adjacent part Hr of three. When there are three or more users walking, the element group Gw is likely to have an element group with the number of elements Nh in the adjacent part Hr of four or more.

[0066] By taking advantage of the fact that the number of elements Nh in the adjacent part Hr changes depending on the number of users walking in this way, the control unit 22 can determine that the number of pedestrians Qw is 1 when the number of elements Nh in the adjacent part Hr is 2, can determine that the number of pedestrians Qw is 2 when the number of elements Nh in the adjacent part Hr is 3 (see Figure 6), and can determine that the number of pedestrians Qw is 3 or more when the number of elements Nh in the adjacent part Hr is 4 or more.

[0067] According to this type of pedestrian count detection process, by using a group of elements Gw (distribution of elements Ew) that has characteristics that indicate that a user is walking, it is possible to accurately calculate the number of pedestrians Qw from the number of elements Nh of the adjacent part Hr by taking advantage of the relationship between the length of the adjacent part Hr that appears in the group of elements Gw (here, the length is indexed by the number of elements Nh of the adjacent part Hr).

[0068] <Speed control processing> In the speed adjustment process, the control unit 22 adjusts the speed Vs of the steps S using the number of pedestrians Qw detected in the pedestrian number detection process in addition to the walking speed Vw detected in the walking speed detection process. Specifically, the control unit 22 determines whether the number of pedestrians Qw detected in the pedestrian number detection process is greater than a predetermined threshold Qz (the "first threshold" in the claims). Here, the predetermined threshold Qz is determined so that, when the number of pedestrians Qw is large, priority is given to making users walking on the steps S aware that their walking is slowing down the speed Vs of the steps S. Conversely, when the number of pedestrians Qw is small, priority is given to minimizing the impact on users caused by slowing down the speed Vs of the steps S (the impact of users stopping on the steps S to use the escalator taking longer to arrive at the exit Bd).

[0069] When the control unit 22 determines that the number of pedestrians Qw is greater than the predetermined threshold Qz, it adjusts the speed Vs of the steps S to the first target speed V1 according to the walking speed Vw detected in the walking speed detection process, so as to make the user walking on the steps S aware that the speed Vs of the steps S is slowing down due to their own walking.

[0070] On the other hand, when the control unit 22 determines that "the number of pedestrians Qw is smaller than the predetermined threshold Qz," it adjusts the speed Vs of the steps S to a second target speed V2 that is faster than the first target speed V1 corresponding to the walking speed Vw detected in the walking speed detection process, in order to minimize the impact on users caused by slowing the speed Vs of the steps S (the impact of users who are stopped on the steps S and using the escalator taking longer to reach the exit Bd).

[0071] Specifically, for the second target speed V2, as with the first target speed V1, speed control data Dr2 (see FIG. 7) showing a graph of the relationship between the second target speed V2 and the walking speed Vw can be stored in the storage unit 21. In FIG. 7, the first target speed V1 is shown by a dashed dotted line for comparison with the second target speed V2. Then, the control unit 22 can use the speed control data Dr2 stored in the storage unit 21 to determine the second target speed V2 from the walking speed Vw detected in the walking speed detection process, and adjust the speed Vs of the steps S to become the second target speed V2.

[0072] The control unit 22 may use the first target speed V1 corresponding to the walking speed Vw detected in the walking speed detection process and multiply it by a predetermined magnification factor greater than 1 (for example, 1.2) to obtain the second target speed V2.

[0073] Furthermore, instead of determining whether the number of pedestrians Qw detected in the pedestrian number detection process is greater than a predetermined threshold Qz, the control unit 22 may determine whether a ratio Rc of the number of users stopping on the steps S to the number of pedestrians Qw is smaller than a predetermined threshold Rz (the "second threshold" in the claims). If the control unit 22 determines that "the ratio Rc is smaller than the predetermined threshold Rz," it may adjust the speed Vs of the steps S to a first target speed V1, and if it determines that "the ratio Rc is greater than the predetermined threshold Rz," it may adjust the speed Vs of the steps S to a second target speed V2.

[0074] According to the second modification, when the number of people walking Qw is large or the ratio Rc of the number of users stopping on the steps S is small, the speed Vs of the steps S can be slowed to a first target speed V1, and when walking users notice that the speed Vs of the steps S has slowed and stop, resulting in a decrease in the number of people walking Qw or an increase in the ratio Rc of the number of users stopping on the steps S, the speed Vs of the steps S can be increased to a second target speed V2. This makes it possible to minimize the impact on users caused by slowing the speed Vs of the steps S (the impact of users stopping on the steps S and using the escalator taking longer to arrive at the exit Bd) when the number of walking users is small or has decreased.

[0075] This configuration for adjusting the speed Vs of the steps S in consideration of the number of people walking Qw or the ratio Rc of the number of people stopping on the steps S can also be applied to the first modified example described above. In this case, instead of the graph shown in Fig. 7, the speed control data Dr2 can be one in which the second target speed V2 is associated with each combination (Nw, Ni) of the number of elements Nw and the number of indexes Ni.

[0076] [2] Second embodiment In the first embodiment, the control unit 22 detects the walking speed Vw through a walking speed detection process and adjusts the speed Vs of the steps S to the first target speed V1 in accordance with the walking speed Vw, whereas in the second embodiment, the control unit 22 detects the number of pedestrians Qw by executing the pedestrian number detection process described in the second modified example instead of the walking speed detection process, and adjusts the speed Vs of the steps S in accordance with the number of pedestrians Qw.

[0077] Specifically, speed control data Dr3 (see FIG. 8), in which a first target speed V1 is associated with each number of pedestrians Qw, is stored in the storage unit 21. In this speed control data Dr3, the first target speed V1 is set so that the adjusted speed Vs of the steps S decreases as the number of pedestrians Qw increases. Then, the control unit 22 uses this speed control data Dr3 to determine the first target speed V1 from the number of pedestrians Qw detected in the pedestrian number detection process, and adjusts the speed Vs of the steps S to become the first target speed V1.

[0078] According to the second embodiment, it is possible to control the speed Vs of the steps S by detecting the number of pedestrians Qw, which will hopefully cause users walking on the steps S to notice that the speed Vs of the steps S is slowing down due to their own walking and stop on the steps S.

[0079] On the other hand, slowing down the speed Vs of the steps S may cause a situation in which users who have been standing on the steps S start walking. According to this embodiment, if such a situation occurs and the number of pedestrians Qw increases, the number of pedestrians Qw at that time can be newly detected.

[0080] FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing the change in the two-dimensional array Dp obtained when a user who had been standing still in the state shown in the lower right of FIG. 3 starts walking. As shown in this figure, when a user who had been standing still on the step S starts walking, that user walks on the step S following the user who had been walking first. Therefore, the element group Gw (distribution of elements Ew) in the two-dimensional array Dp appears to be larger in spread in the direction of the second index J2 than in the lower right of FIG. 3, due to the amount of the newly started user. In other words, the element group Gw appears to be larger in number of elements Nh in the adjacent part Hr than in the lower right of FIG. 3. Therefore, from such an element group Gw, the increased number of pedestrians Qw can be more easily calculated in the pedestrian number detection process.

[0081] When the control unit 22 detects a new increased number of pedestrians Qw, it can further slow down the speed Vs of the steps S in accordance with the increased number of pedestrians Qw in the speed regulation process. This makes it possible for users walking on the steps S to notice that the speed Vs of the steps S has slowed down due to their own walking. When the element group Gw that satisfies the conditions (1) to (3) described in the first embodiment no longer appears in the two-dimensional array Dp (i.e., when there are no more users walking on the steps S), the control unit 22 returns the speed Vs of the steps S to the default speed Vd. In this way, it is possible to create a situation in which users do not walk on the steps S of the escalator.

[0082] The above-described embodiments and modifications should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined not by the above-described embodiments and modifications, but by the claims. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications that are equivalent to the scope of the claims and fall within the scope thereof.

[0083] Furthermore, from the above-described embodiments and modifications, the subject matter of the invention is not limited to the escalator control device 2, but may be extracted individually or partially from the control processes and programs executed by the control device 2. Furthermore, part or all of an escalator equipped with the control device 2 may be extracted as the subject matter of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 1. Drive mechanism 2. Control device S Steps W Load Sensor 21 Memory section 22 Control Unit Bc Noriguchi Bd Exit Dp 2D array Dq Speed detection data Dr1, Dr2, Dr3 speed control data E, Ew elements Gw element group Hr adjacent part J1 1st Index J2 Second Index Ni index number Nw, Nh number of elements Nz Predetermined threshold Qw Number of pedestrians Qz Predetermined threshold Rc ratio Rz Predetermined threshold Td Time span Tv average time Ux Detection Information V1 1st target speed V2 2nd target speed Vd Default Speed Vs Step speed Vw walking speed Wz Predetermined threshold 221 Load detection processing unit 222 Walking speed detection unit 223 Speed control processing section 224 Pedestrian detection unit

Claims

1. a walking speed detection unit that detects the speed of a user standing on a step relative to the step as a walking speed; a speed adjustment processing unit that adjusts the speed of the steps to a first target speed in accordance with the walking speed detected by the walking speed detection unit; Equipped with An escalator control device, wherein the first target speed is set so that the adjusted speed of the steps becomes slower as the walking speed becomes faster.

2. a pedestrian number detection unit that detects the number of users walking on the steps as the number of pedestrians; Further provided with when the walking speed detection unit detects the walking speed, and when the number of pedestrians detected by the pedestrian number detection unit is greater than a first threshold value, or when a ratio of the number of users stopping on the steps to the number of pedestrians is smaller than a second threshold value, the speed adjustment processing unit adjusts the speed of the steps to the first target speed, 2. The escalator control device according to claim 1, wherein when the walking speed detection unit detects the walking speed and the number of people walking detected by the number of people detection unit is smaller than the first threshold value, or when a ratio of the number of people stopping on the steps to the number of people walking is larger than the second threshold value, the speed adjustment processing unit adjusts the speed of the steps to a second target speed that is faster than the first target speed.

3. The escalator is provided with a load sensor that detects a load generated at each step, a load detection processing unit which uses a two-dimensional array including elements designated by a first index indicating the order of the steps when the rotating steps are lined up in a row and a second index indicating the order of a predetermined time width when the time widths are arranged in chronological order, and which stores detection information in the element corresponding to the step where the load change occurred at any time within the predetermined time width if the amount of change in load detected by the load sensor during the time width from the start of the time width becomes greater than a third threshold value at any time within the time width; Further provided with The escalator control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the walking speed detection unit detects the walking speed based on a distribution within the two-dimensional array of elements in which the detection information is stored.

4. 4. The escalator control device according to claim 3, wherein the walking speed detection unit considers each group of elements, for which the detection information is stored in the two-dimensional array, formed by adjacently connecting the elements in the direction of the first index or the direction of the second index, as a single element group, and calculates the walking speed based on the number of elements in the element group and the number of indexes occupied by the element group in the direction of the first index if the number of elements in the element group is greater than a fourth threshold, and if, when the arrangement of the elements in the element group is examined, there is an adjacent portion where two or more elements are adjacent in the direction of the second index, and further if the adjacent portion is moving in the direction of the first index over time.

5. a pedestrian number detection unit that detects the number of users walking on the steps as the number of pedestrians; a speed adjustment processing unit that adjusts the speed of the steps in accordance with the number of pedestrians detected by the pedestrian number detection unit; An escalator control device comprising:

6. The escalator is provided with a load sensor that detects a load generated at each step, a load detection processing unit which uses a two-dimensional array including elements designated by a first index indicating the order of the steps when the rotating steps are lined up in a row and a second index indicating the order of a predetermined time width when the time widths are arranged in chronological order, and which stores detection information in an element corresponding to the step where such a load change occurred, if the amount of change in load detected by the load sensor during the time width from the start of the time width becomes greater than a predetermined threshold at any point within the time width, each time the predetermined time width elapses; Further provided with The escalator control device according to claim 5 , wherein the pedestrian number detection unit detects the number of pedestrians based on a distribution within the two-dimensional array of elements in which the detection information is stored.

7. 7. The escalator control device according to claim 6, wherein the pedestrian number detection unit regards each group of elements, for which the detection information is stored in the two-dimensional array, formed by adjacently connecting the elements in the direction of the first index or the direction of the second index, as a single element group, and when the arrangement of the elements in the element group is examined, if there is an adjacent portion where two or more elements are adjacent in the direction of the second index and if the adjacent portion is moving in the direction of the first index over time, calculates the number of pedestrians based on the number of elements in the adjacent portion.

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