Elevator control device, elevator control method, and program

Abstract

To improve operation efficiency of an elevator.SOLUTION: This elevator control device comprises: a plurality of display units that respectively display destination floors of a car moving on a hoistway; a plurality of sensors that are respectively provided corresponding to the display units and that detect an operation of a user to a prescribed display unit in a noncontact manner; wheel chair operation panels provided in the car and at a plurality of stages where the display units and the sensors are arranged at least in a horizontal direction; and a control unit that invalidates operations detected by the sensors when the operations are detected roughly simultaneously by the sensors at a row of stages among the stages, and outputs information regarding call registration based on an operation when the operation is detected by a signal sensor at the row of stages or when the operation is detected by a signal sensor at a row of stages other than the row of stages.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an elevator control device, an elevator control method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] There are known technologies for contactless calling of destination floors in elevator cars. For example, a control panel inside the car is equipped with multiple sensors that detect the user's fingers without contact, and these sensors are used to call the destination floor. In particular, this contactless detection method of calling is becoming more widespread to prevent coronavirus infection.

[0003] In addition to the main control panel that is primarily used by passengers, a wheelchair control panel is often provided inside the car at a lower position than the main control panel, for use by passengers in wheelchairs. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7226907 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 7400060 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, such conventional techniques have the following problems. The wheelchair control panel is installed at a lower position than the main control panel, and multiple sensor units are arranged in multiple rows at least horizontally, so that the user may unintentionally lean on the wheelchair control panel or baggage may come close to the wheelchair control panel. In such a situation, the sensor unit may detect the user's body or baggage leaning against it, which may result in a false detection or overdetection, resulting in the wrong destination floor being called and registered.

[0006] As described above, the conventional technology has a problem in that a floor not intended by the user may be registered due to erroneous detection or false detection by the sensor unit, which reduces the efficiency of elevator operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An elevator control device according to an embodiment includes a plurality of display units each displaying a destination floor of a car moving in a hoistway; a plurality of sensor units each corresponding to the plurality of display units and each contactlessly detecting an operation performed by a user on a predetermined display unit; a wheelchair operation panel provided in the car and having a plurality of stages in which the plurality of display units and the plurality of sensor units are arranged at least horizontally; and a control unit that, when an operation is detected at approximately the same time by a plurality of sensor units on one row of the plurality of stages, invalidates the operation detected by the plurality of sensor units; and, when an operation is detected by a single sensor unit on one row of the plurality of stages or when an operation is detected by a single sensor unit on a row other than the one row of the plurality of stages, outputs information regarding call registration based on the operation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the inside of a car according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the elevator control system according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the wheelchair operation panel according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the sensor unit and the push button according to the embodiment as viewed from the side, and the detection range of the sensor unit. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for an elevator control process according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of detection and valid / invalid state by the sensor units arranged in three stages in the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of detection and valid / invalid state by the sensor units arranged in three stages in the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of detection and valid / invalid state by the sensor units arranged in two stages in the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the wheelchair operation panel during calibration in the modified example. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of the wheelchair operation panel during calibration in the modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments include those that can be easily imagined by a person skilled in the art or those that are substantially the same.

[0010] (Embodiment) (Interior structure of the car) Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the interior of a car according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the car 1 according to this embodiment is provided with a door 1401 on the front side for opening and closing the entrance. A main operation panel 1318 is provided on the wall next to the door 1401. This main operation panel 1318 is mainly used by users to specify destination floors, etc. An interphone (not shown) is also provided on the operation panel 1318.

[0011] A mirror 340 is provided on the wall surface facing the door 1401 inside the car 1. Passengers inside the car 1 can see their own reflection in the mirror 340.

[0012] Furthermore, a wheelchair operation panel 318 and a handrail 341 are provided in approximately the center of the side wall inside the car 1. The wheelchair operation panel 318 is provided at a lower height than the main operation panel 1318 so that users in wheelchairs can mainly operate the destination floor and the like. The handrail 341 is provided below the wheelchair operation panel 318. In addition, a power outage light 6 is provided on the ceiling of the car 1 to illuminate the inside of the car 1 in the event of a power outage.

[0013] Here, the height position of wheelchair operation panel 318, which is lower than main operation panel 1318, may be a height at which it partially overlaps with main operation panel 1318. For example, the positions of push buttons 312, 315 and sensor units 311, 319, which will be described later, of wheelchair operation panel 318B may be lower than the height positions of at least a portion of the push buttons and sensor units of main operation panel 1318.

[0014] (Example of elevator control system configuration) Next, an elevator control system 100 including the destination floor call device 30 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0015] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of an elevator control system 100 according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2, the elevator control system 100 includes a control panel 10 and a destination floor call device 30. The elevator controlled by the elevator control system 100 includes a car 1, a drive device 2, a counterweight 3, a rope 4, etc.

[0016] The car 1 moves up and down in a hoistway (not shown) to transport passengers who board the car 1 at landings located on each floor to other floors. The car 1 and counterweight 3 are connected by a rope 4. The rope 4 is stretched across a drive device 2. The drive device 2 is, for example, a hoist, and when driven by the drive device 2, the car 1 can travel up and down in the hoistway.

[0017] The control panel 10 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, and a memory unit 13, and controls the entire elevator. The control panel 10 is connected to the drive unit 2 by wire or wirelessly so as to be able to exchange various signals. The control panel 10 is also connected to a destination floor call device 30 installed, for example, in the car 1, so as to be able to exchange various signals. The control panel 10 and the destination floor call device 30 may be connected by a wired or wireless network. The control panel 10 is also connected by wire or wirelessly to a hall call device (not shown) installed at the hall, etc., so as to be able to exchange various signals.

[0018] The control unit 11 registers a call when a user in the car 1 calls for a destination floor, when a user at a platform calls for a platform, etc. The control unit 11 may store the contents of the call registration in the memory unit 13.

[0019] Here, a destination floor call is an operation performed by a user in the car 1 to make the car 1 head to the desired destination floor. Also, a platform call is an operation performed by a user at a platform to make the car 1, heading in either the up or down direction, arrive at the platform.

[0020] Furthermore, the destination floor call is a call registration request received from the destination floor call device 30 via the communication unit 12. The hall call is a call registration request received from a hall call device (not shown) via the communication unit 12.

[0021] The control unit 11 drives the drive unit 2 in accordance with the contents of the call registration, and causes the car 1 to respond to a destination floor call or a hall call. In addition, when the car 1 arrives at a predetermined floor, the control unit 11 issues instructions to open and close the doors of the car 1 and the hall.

[0022] Furthermore, when the control unit 11 receives a destination floor call from the destination floor call device 30, it sends a command to brightly turn on the indicator light 313B to the destination floor call device 30 that sent the destination floor call, via the communication unit 12, and causes the indicator light 313B to brightly turn on. Furthermore, when the control unit 11 receives a hall call from a hall call device, it sends a command to brightly turn on the indicator light to the hall call device, via the communication unit 12, and causes the indicator light to brightly turn on.

[0023] When a user in the car 1 calls for a destination floor, or when a user at a platform calls for a platform, the communication unit 12 acquires the information from a destination floor call device and a platform call device (not shown), etc. The communication unit 12 also transmits various commands, etc. from the control unit 11 to the car 1, etc.

[0024] The storage unit 13 stores various programs for causing the control panel 10 to control the elevator. As described above, the storage unit 13 may store destination floor call registrations, hall call registrations, and the like.

[0025] Next, the destination floor call device 30 will be described. The destination floor call device 30 is a device that controls each part of the wheelchair operation panel 318 (see Figs. 1 and 2), accepts destination floor calls from users, and performs processing in response to the user's operations. The destination floor call device 30 also controls the opening and closing of the door 401 of the car 1 according to instructions from the control unit 11 of the control panel 10 and the wheelchair operation panel 318B. Here, opening the door 401 of the car 1 is referred to as door opening, and closing the door 401 of the car 1 is referred to as door closing. The destination floor call device 30 constitutes an elevator control device.

[0026] The elevator control system 100 also includes another destination floor call device that controls each part of the main operation panel 1318, accepts destination floor calls from users, and processes the user's operations, but we will not explain this here.

[0027] The destination floor call device 30 includes an object detection unit 31, sensor units 311 (311a, 311b, 311c...), 319 (319a, 319b), a press detection unit 32, push buttons 312 (312a, 312b, 312c...), 315 (315a, 315b), indicator lights 313 (313a, 313b, 313c...), 321 (321a, 321b), a liquid crystal display unit 317, a speaker 320, and a communication unit 34, and receives destination floor calls and instructions to open or close the door 1401 from users of the car 1. Of the destination floor call device 30, at least the sensor units 311, 319, push buttons 312, 315, and indicator lights 313, 321 are provided inside the car 1. The entire destination floor call device 30 may be provided inside the car 1.

[0028] The sensor units 311 (311a, 311b, 311c...) are non-contact sensors for indicating destination floors. The sensor units 311 (311a, 311b, 311c...) are provided in the car 1 so as to correspond to each of the car's multiple destination floors. When a user who wishes to make a call for a specific destination floor holds a finger or the like over the corresponding sensor unit 311, the sensor unit 311 detects the object such as the user's finger. The sensor unit 311 may be referred to as the sensor unit 311B for the destination floor.

[0029] The sensor units 319 (319a, 319b) are provided in the car 1 corresponding to the opening and closing of the door 1401 of the car 1, respectively. The sensor unit 319a is a non-contact sensor for instructing the door 1401 to open. The sensor unit 319b is a non-contact sensor for instructing the door 1401 to close. When a user holds a finger or the like over the sensor unit 319a corresponding to the opening and the sensor unit 319b corresponding to the closing, the sensor units 319a, 319b detect an object such as the user's finger. The sensor unit 319a may be referred to as the sensor unit 319a for opening the door, and the sensor unit 319b may be referred to as the sensor unit 319b for closing the door.

[0030] The push buttons 312 (312a, 312b, 312c, etc.) are push buttons for indicating a destination floor when pressed. The push buttons 312 (312a, 312b, 312c, etc.) are provided in the car 1 so as to correspond to each of the multiple destination floors of the car 1. The push buttons 312 are configured so that a user who wishes to call a specific destination floor can press the push button 312 corresponding to the destination floor.

[0031] Push buttons 315 (315a, 315b) are provided in the car 1 corresponding to the opening and closing of the door 1401 of the car 1, respectively. That is, push button 315a is a push button for instructing the door 1401 to open. Push button 315b is a non-contact sensor for instructing the door 1401 to close. The push buttons 315 are configured so that a user can press the corresponding push button 315 for opening or closing.

[0032] Indicator lights 313 (313a, 313b, 313c, etc.) are provided in the car 1 corresponding to each of the multiple destination floors of the car 1. When a user who wishes to make a call for a specific destination floor holds a finger or the like over the corresponding sensor unit 311 or presses the corresponding push button 312, the indicator light 313 corresponding to that destination floor lights up in a predetermined manner.

[0033] Indicator lights 321 (321a, 321b, 313c) are provided in the car 1 corresponding to the opening and closing of the door 1401 of the car 1, respectively. When a user holds a finger or the like over a sensor unit 319 corresponding to the opening or closing, or presses a push button 315 corresponding to the opening or closing, the indicator light 321 corresponding to the opening or closing illuminates in a predetermined manner.

[0034] The speaker 320 outputs various sounds under the control of the control unit 31b of the object detection unit 31. The liquid crystal display unit 317 displays various information under the control of the control unit 31b of the object detection unit 31.

[0035] The object detection unit 31 includes a timer unit 31a and a control unit 31b. The timekeeping unit 31Ba includes a timer that measures time. When two sensor units 311 are detected at approximately the same time, the timer starts measuring time from the point of detection.

[0036] When an operation is detected substantially simultaneously by a plurality of sensor units 311 in a single row of sensor units 311 provided on wheelchair operation panel 318, control unit 31b invalidates the operation detected by the plurality of sensor units 311. Furthermore, when an operation is detected by a single sensor unit 311 in a single row of sensor units 311 provided on wheelchair operation panel 318, or when an operation is detected by a single sensor unit 311 in a row other than the single row of sensor units 311, control unit 31b validates the operation. Then, control unit 31b lights up indicator light 313B in a predetermined manner and transmits a destination floor call as information related to call registration based on the operation to control panel 10 via communication unit 34. Here, the information related to call registration includes the specified destination floor.

[0037] Here, an example of an output is to transmit the signal to the control panel 10 via the communication unit 34. Furthermore, when the control panel 10 receives a destination floor call, it performs a formal registration of the destination floor call corresponding to the detected sensor unit 311B.

[0038] When two sensors 311 detect operations at approximately the same time on one row of the multiple rows of sensors 311 provided on the wheelchair operation panel 318, and the two operations are no longer detected by the two sensors 311 before a predetermined threshold time has elapsed since the time of detection, the control unit 31b validates the operations. Then, the control unit 31b lights up the indicator light 313B in a predetermined manner, and transmits a destination floor call as information related to the call registration based on the operations to the control panel 10 via the communication unit 34.

[0039] On the other hand, when two operations are detected at approximately the same time by two sensor units 311, if the detection of the two operations by the two sensor units 311 continues even after a threshold time has elapsed from the time of detection, the control unit 31b invalidates the two operations detected by the two sensor units 311.

[0040] When operations are detected approximately simultaneously by three or more sensor units 311 in one row of the multiple rows of sensor units 311 provided on the wheelchair operation panel 318, the control unit 31b invalidates the three or more operations detected by the three or more sensor units.

[0041] Here, the predetermined threshold time can be set arbitrarily. For example, the threshold time can be set to 10 seconds. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

[0042] The threshold time may also be configured as configurable parameter data and adjusted for each device. For example, the threshold time can be adjusted using a dial in a box (not shown) provided at the bottom of the wheelchair operation panel 318 or the main operation panel 1318. The threshold time can also be adjusted for each destination floor call device 30 using a volume knob provided on the control panel 10.

[0043] The press detection unit 32 includes a control unit 32b. When a user presses any of the push buttons 312, the control unit 32b determines that a call has been made to the destination floor corresponding to the pressed push button 312. If the control unit 32b determines that a call has been made to the destination floor, it notifies the control panel 10 via the communication unit 34 of a destination floor call to the destination floor corresponding to the pressed push button 312. As a result, the control panel 10 officially registers the call to the destination floor corresponding to the pressed push button 312, and the indicator light 313 corresponding to the pressed push button 312 lights up.

[0044] The communication unit 34 is a communication interface (communication I / F), and when the object detection unit 31 or the press detection unit 32 determines that a call has been made to a specified destination floor, it transmits information about the registered call for that destination floor to the control panel 10.

[0045] In addition to the above, the destination floor call device 30 can be provided with various configurations for operation by the user of the car 1.

[0046] Next, a physical configuration of the elevator control system 100 according to the first embodiment will be described. The control panel 10 is configured as a computer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a storage device, etc.

[0047] The ROM stores various programs related to elevator control, such as a control program and a call registration program. These programs stored in the ROM are read out and loaded into the RAM, and the CPU 101 executes these programs, thereby realizing the function of the control panel 10 as an elevator control device.

[0048] The call registration program is executed by the CPU, whereby the above-mentioned control unit 11, communication unit 12, storage unit 13, etc. are realized.

[0049] The destination floor call device 30 is configured as a computer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a storage device, and the like.

[0050] The ROM stores various programs, such as a control program for making a call based on detection by the sensor unit 311B, a control program for making a call based on pressing the push button 312A, etc. The control programs stored in the ROM are read out, expanded into the RAM, and executed by the CPU, thereby realizing the timer unit 31a and control unit 31b of the object detection unit 31, the control unit 32b of the press detection unit 32, etc.

[0051] Here, the call registration program, each control program, etc. are a computer program product having a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium that contains a plurality of instructions related to elevator control that can be executed by a computer. The call registration program, each control program, etc. are, for example, modular in structure, and these modules are loaded onto a main memory device.

[0052] The call registration program, each control program, etc. are provided by being stored on a recording medium or the like so that they can be read by a computer. The recording medium may be, for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a flash memory. The call registration program, each control program, etc. may also be provided by various other methods, such as being distributed by a server or the like placed on a network, or being configured to be downloadable. The call registration program, each control program, etc. may also be configured to be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

[0053] The elevator control program executed by the elevator control system 100 is mainly composed of a call registration program executed by the control panel 10 and each control program executed by the destination floor call device 30.

[0054] (Example of wheelchair control panel configuration) Next, the configuration of the wheelchair operation panel 318B of this embodiment will be described. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a wheelchair operation panel 318 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the wheelchair operation panel 318 includes, for example, a destination floor display unit 310, sensor units 311 and 319, push buttons 312 and 315, indicator lights 313 and 321, an open / close display unit 314, an emergency button 316, a speaker 320, and a liquid crystal display unit 317.

[0055] The destination floor display units 310 are, for example, dials or the like that show the numbers of the destination floors of the car 1, and a plurality of them are arranged on the wheelchair operation panel 318 corresponding to the destination floors of the car 1. In the example of Fig. 3, they correspond to the 1st to 24th floors that are the destination floors of the car 1. The 24 destination floor display units 310 are arranged in a total of three rows, with eight units arranged horizontally on each row.

[0056] The sensor units 311 (311a, 311c, 311d, 311e, ...) are non-contact sensors as described above, and are arranged in plurality in the vicinity of the corresponding destination floor display units 310, respectively corresponding to the plurality of destination floor display units 310. Therefore, in the example of Fig. 3, 24 sensor units 311 correspond to the 1st to 24th floors, which are the destination floors of the car 1, and are arranged in a total of three rows, with eight sensor units arranged horizontally on each row.

[0057] As described above, the push buttons 312 (312a, 312c, 312d, 312e, ...) are configured so that the user can press them with their fingers or the like, and are arranged in multiple numbers on the wheelchair operation panel 318, integrally with the corresponding destination floor display units 310, corresponding to the multiple destination floor display units 310. Therefore, in the example of Figure 3, 24 push buttons 312 correspond to the 1st to 24th floors, which are the destination floors of the elevator car 1, and are arranged in three rows, with eight buttons arranged horizontally on each row.

[0058] The indicator lights 313 (313a, 313c, 313d, 313e, ...) are configured to be able to emit light in multiple ways, and correspond to the multiple destination floor display units 310, respectively, and are built into the wheelchair operation panel 318 integrally with the corresponding destination floor display units 310.

[0059] The open / close display unit 314 is, for example, a display panel that displays whether the door of the car 1 is open or closed, and is composed of an open / close display unit 314a that displays whether the door of the car 1 is open and an open / close display unit 314b that displays whether the door of the car 1 is closed. In the example of Fig. 3, two open / close display units 314 are arranged side by side on the left and right of the wheelchair operation panel 318.

[0060] As described above, the sensor unit 319 (319a, 319b) is a non-contact sensor. The sensor unit 319a corresponds to the open / closed display unit 314a, which indicates the door open state, and is arranged near the open / closed display unit 314a. The sensor unit 319b corresponds to the open / closed display unit 314b, which indicates the door closed state, and is arranged near the open / closed display unit 314b.

[0061] Push buttons 315 (315a, 315b) are configured so that a user can press them with their fingers, etc. Push button 315a corresponds to open / closed display unit 314a for opening the door, and is arranged integrally with open / closed display unit 314a on wheelchair operation panel 318. Push button 315a corresponds to open / closed display unit 314b for closing the door, and is arranged integrally with open / closed display unit 314b on wheelchair operation panel 318. Two indicator lights 321a, 321b are built into wheelchair operation panel 318 integrally with the corresponding open / closed display units 314a, 314b, corresponding to the two open / closed display units 314a, 314b, respectively.

[0062] In this embodiment, the sensor unit 311 and the push button 312 are integrated together, and the sensor unit 319 and the push button 315 are integrated together.

[0063] 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the sensor units 311, 319 and the push buttons 312, 315 according to the embodiment as viewed from the side, and the detection ranges of the sensor units 311, 319. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the sensor units 311, 319 are attached to the back surfaces 3122 of the push buttons 312, 315.

[0064] As shown in Fig. 4, the sensor units 311, 319 have a detection range 410 that is a predetermined distance away from the front surfaces 3121 of the push buttons 312, 315. As shown in Fig. 4, the sensor units 311, 319 do not detect user operations in a first spatial region 405 that extends from a position that is a first distance away from the sensor units 311, 319 and the front surfaces 3121 of the push buttons 312, 315 (i.e., the front surfaces 3121 of the destination floor display unit 310 and the open / close display unit 314). The detection range 410 is a spatial region that extends from a position that is the first distance away from the front surfaces 3121 of the push buttons 312, 315 to a position that is a second distance away, and the sensor units 311, 319 detect user operations in this spatial region. The first distance may be, for example, approximately 5 mm from the front surface 3121 of the push button 312, 315, and the second distance may be, for example, approximately 25 mm from the front surface 3121 of the push button 312, 315. However, the first distance and the second distance are not limited to these. As shown in FIG. 4, the detection range 410 has a mountain shape that narrows as it moves away from the front surface 3121 of the push button 312, 315. The entire detection range 410 is set in a position facing the front surface 3121 of the push button 312, 315. As shown in FIG. 4, the detection range 410 is set so that it fits within the front surface 3121 of the push button 312 when viewed from a first direction D1 perpendicular to the front surface 3121, and so that its center overlaps approximately the center of the front surface 3121. As an example, the center of detection range 410 and the center of front surface 3121 coincide when viewed from first direction D1. In this manner, the entire detection range 410 is set at a position facing front surfaces 3121 of push buttons 312 and 315.

[0065] When registering a destination floor, the user advances their finger 501 or the like toward the push button 312, 315, and at this time, the fingertip enters the detection range 410 of the sensor unit 311, 319, causing the sensor unit 311, 319 to enter a detection state, and when the fingertip leaves the detection range 410 and enters a first spatial region up to the front surface 3121, the sensor unit 311, 319 enters a non-detection state. The user further advances their finger 501 and presses the push button 312, 315.

[0066] Returning to FIG. 3, the emergency button 316 is a button for notifying an external party such as a management center of an emergency when pressed.

[0067] The liquid crystal display unit 317 is configured as a liquid crystal panel, and displays the floor and direction in which the car 1 is traveling. In the example of FIG. 3, an upward arrow and the number "3" are displayed. From this, it can be seen that the car 1 is traveling upward near the third floor. The liquid crystal display unit 317 is also capable of displaying warnings.

[0068] As described above, the speaker 320 is capable of outputting various sounds and warnings, and as shown in FIG. 3, is disposed below the liquid crystal display unit 317B of the wheelchair operation panel 318B. The configuration of the wheelchair operation panel 318B and the arrangement of the various components are not limited to the example shown in FIG.

[0069] (Elevator control processing) Next, an elevator control process performed by the destination floor call device 30 of the elevator control system 100 according to this embodiment configured as above will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for an elevator control process according to the embodiment.

[0070] First, the control unit 31b of the object detection unit 31 determines whether any of the sensor units 311 has been detected (S101). If none of the sensor units 311 has been detected (S101: No), the control unit 31b enters a state of waiting for detection by the sensor units 311.

[0071] If any of the sensor units 311 is detected (S101: Yes), the control unit 31b determines whether the number of detections by the sensor units 311 in one row is one (S102). If the number of detections by the sensor units 311 in one row is one (S102: Yes), the control unit 31b validates the operation based on the detection and registers a call for the destination floor by transmitting a destination floor call based on the operation to the control panel 10 via the communication unit 34 (S108). Here, even if the number of detections by the sensor units 311 in rows other than the one row is one, the control unit 31b validates the operation based on the detection and registers a call for the destination floor by transmitting a destination floor call based on the operation to the control panel 10 via the communication unit 34. Then, the processing ends.

[0072] On the other hand, in S102, if the number of detections by the sensor units 311 on one row of steps is not one (S102: No), the control unit 31b determines whether the number of detections by the sensor units 311 on one row of steps is two (S103). If the number of detections is not two, that is, if the number of detections by the sensor units 311 on one row of steps is three or more (S103: No), the control unit 31b determines that the detections by the three or more sensor units 311 are erroneous detections or overdetections due to a user leaning on them or approaching baggage, and invalidates and cancels all detected operations (S104). Then, the processing ends.

[0073] On the other hand, in S103, if the number of detections by the sensor units 311 in one row is two (S103: Yes), the timing unit 31a of the object detection unit 31 starts measuring the detection time by the two sensor units 311 from the time of detection (S105).

[0074] Next, the control unit 31b determines whether the detection time by the two sensor units 311 is equal to or longer than the threshold time (S106). If the detection time by the two sensor units 311 is equal to or longer than the threshold time (S105: Yes), the control unit 31b determines that the detection by the two sensor units 311 is a false detection or overdetection due to the user leaning on it or baggage approaching, and invalidates and cancels all detected operations (S109). Then, the processing ends.

[0075] On the other hand, in S105, if the detection times by the two sensor units 311 are less than the threshold time (S105: No), the control unit 31b validates the operation based on the detection, and registers the call for the destination floor by transmitting the destination floor call based on the operation to the control panel 10 via the communication unit 34 (S108).Then, the processing ends.

[0076] 6A to 6C are diagrams showing examples of detection and valid / invalid ranges by the sensor units 311 arranged in three rows in this embodiment. In FIGS. 6A to 6C, the rows surrounded by dashed lines indicate invalid ranges. The same applies to FIGS. 7 and 8 described below. 6(a), the child's head 502 is detected by all three sensor units 311 on the middle level for floors 9 to 11 and three sensor units 311 on the bottom level for floors 1 to 3, but the number of detections on each level is 3. Therefore, in S104, the control unit 31b determines that the detections by the three sensor units 311 on the middle level for floors 9 to 11 and the three sensor units 311 on the bottom level for floors 1 to 3 are due to leaning or the like, and invalidates all of the detections.

[0077] In the example of FIG. 6(a), the sensor unit 311 for the 21st floor on the top row detects the tip of the index finger of the user's finger 501, and the sensor unit 311 for the 12th to 14th floors on the middle row and the sensor unit 311 for the 4th to 6th floors on the bottom row detect parts of the finger 501 other than the index finger. Since only the sensor unit 311 for the 21st floor is detected on the top row, the control unit 31b enables the detection of the sensor unit 311 for the 21st floor in S108 and transmits a destination floor call for the 21st floor to the control panel 10. Meanwhile, the number of detections by the sensor unit 311 for the 12th to 14th floors on the middle row and the sensor unit 311 for the 4th to 6th floors on the bottom row is three for each row. Therefore, in S104, the control unit 31b invalidates the detections by the three sensor units 311 on the middle level, 12th to 14th floors, and the detections by the three sensor units 311 on the bottom level, 4th to 6th floors.

[0078] In the example of Figure 6(b), the child's head 502 is detected by the three sensor units 311 on the lower level, 1st to 3rd floors, but as in Figure 6(a), the control unit 31b disables the detection by the three sensor units 311 on the lower level, 1st to 3rd floors, in S104.

[0079] 6(b), the sensor unit 311 on the 13th floor in the middle row detects the tip of the index finger of the user's finger 501, and the sensor units 311 on the 4th to 6th floors in the lower row detect parts other than the index finger of the finger 501. The sensor unit 311 on the 14th floor in the middle row detects the tip of the index finger of another user's finger 501, and the sensor units 311 on the 21st to 23rd floors in the upper row detect parts other than the index finger of the finger 501. As in the example of FIG. 6(a), in S104, the control unit 31b disables the detection by the three sensor units 311 on the 4th to 6th floors in the lower row and the detection by the three sensor units 311 on the 21st to 23rd floors in the upper row.

[0080] On the other hand, if the detection time by the two sensor units 311 on the middle row for the 13th and 14th floors is less than the threshold time because each user moves their fingers 501 away from the sensor units 311, the control unit 31b will validate the detection by these two sensor units 311 in S109 and send destination floor calls for the 13th and 14th floors to the control panel 10 via the communication unit 34.

[0081] 6(c), the user's arm 503 is detected by two sensor units 311 on the bottom level at the 4th and 5th floors, two sensor units 311 on the middle level at the 12th and 13th floors, and two sensor units 311 on the top level at the 20th and 21st floors. If the detection time by the two sensor units 311 on each level is equal to or longer than the threshold time, the control unit 31b determines that the user is leaning, and in S107, disables the detection by the two sensor units 311 on each level.

[0082] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of detection and valid / invalid state by the sensor units 311 arranged in three stages in the embodiment. In the example of Fig. 7, only the sensor unit 311 in the upper row for the 20th floor is detected by the tip of the index finger of the user's finger 501, while the three sensor units 311 in the middle row for the 12th to 14th floors and the sensor units 311 in the lower row for the 4th to 6th floors are detected by parts of the finger 501 other than the index finger. Since only the sensor unit 311 for the 20th floor is detected in the upper row, the control unit 31b enables the detection of the sensor unit 311 for the 21st floor in S108 and transmits a destination floor call for the 21st floor to the control panel 10. Meanwhile, the control unit 31b disables the detection by the three sensor units 311 in the middle row for the 12th to 14th floors and the three sensor units 311 in the lower row for the 4th to 6th floors in S104, as in the example of Fig. 6(a).

[0083] 6 and 7 show an example in which the sensor units 311 are arranged in three rows, but the same applies to an arrangement in two rows. 8 is a diagram showing another example of detection and valid / invalid status by sensor units 311 arranged in two tiers in the embodiment. In the example of wheelchair operation panel 318 in FIG. 8, sensor units 311 for floors 1 to 7 are arranged on the lower tier, and sensor units 311 for floors 8 to 14 are arranged on the upper tier.

[0084] In the example of Figure 8(a), the child's head 502 is detected by the three sensor units 311 on the lower level, 1st to 3rd floors, but as in the example of Figure 6(a), the control unit 31b disables the detection by the three sensor units 311 on the lower level, 1st to 3rd floors, in S104.

[0085] 8(a), only the sensor unit 311 on the upper row for the 12th floor is detected by the tip of the index finger of the user's finger 501, while the three sensor units 311 on the lower row for the 1st to 3rd floors are detected by parts of the finger 501 other than the index finger. As in the example of FIG. 6(a), the control unit 31b enables the detection of the sensor unit 311 on the 12th floor in S108 and transmits a destination floor call for the 12th floor to the control panel 10. Meanwhile, as in the example of FIG. 6(a), the control unit 31b disables the detection by the three sensor units 311 on the lower row for the 1st to 3rd floors in S104.

[0086] 8(b), the child's head 502 is detected by the three sensor units 311 on the top level for floors 10 to 12 and the three sensor units 311 on the bottom level for floors 3 to 5. As in the example of FIG. 6(a), in S104, the control unit 31b determines that the detections by the three sensor units 311 on the top level for floors 10 to 12 and the three sensor units 311 on the bottom level for floors 3 to 5 are due to leaning or the like, and invalidates all of the detections.

[0087] As described above, the destination floor call device 30 of this embodiment comprises a plurality of destination floor display units 310 each displaying the destination floor of the car 1 moving in the elevator shaft, a plurality of sensor units 311 provided corresponding to each of the plurality of destination floor display units 310 and for contactlessly detecting operations by the user on a specific destination floor display unit 310, a wheelchair operation panel 318 provided inside the car 1 and arranged in a plurality of stages in which the plurality of destination floor display units 310 and the plurality of sensor units 311 are arranged at least horizontally, and a control unit 31b which, when operations are detected at approximately the same time by the plurality of sensor units 311 on one row of the plurality of stages, invalidates the operations detected by the plurality of sensor units 311, and, when an operation is detected by a single sensor unit 311 on one row of stages or when an operation is detected by a single sensor unit on a row other than the one row of stages, outputs information regarding call registration based on the operation.

[0088] For this reason, in this embodiment, when an operation is detected at approximately the same time by multiple sensor units 311 on one row of steps, the operations detected by the multiple sensor units 311 are invalidated, and a call is not registered for detection by the sensor units 311 due to the user leaning on them, etc., but a call is registered for detection by an operation by a single sensor unit 311 on one row of steps, thereby reliably preventing erroneous detection or overdetection by the sensor unit 311 of the wheelchair operation panel 318 and improving elevator operation efficiency.

[0089] Furthermore, in the destination floor call device 30 according to this embodiment, when two sensor units 311 detect operations at approximately the same time on a single row of steps, if the two operations by the two sensor units 311 are no longer detected before a predetermined threshold time has elapsed from the time of detection, the control unit 31b outputs information regarding call registration based on the operations, and if the two operations by the two sensor units 311 continue to be detected even after the threshold time has elapsed, the control unit 31b invalidates the two operations detected by the two sensor units 311.

[0090] On the main operation panel 1318, the sensor units 311 are typically arranged vertically, and therefore, the operation of specifying a floor on the main operation panel 1318 is often performed by one user at a time. In contrast, on the wheelchair operation panel 318, the sensor units 311 are arranged horizontally, i.e., the multiple sensor units 311 are arranged in multiple rows arranged horizontally. For this reason, it is conceivable that the operation of specifying a floor on the wheelchair operation panel 318 may be performed by two users approximately simultaneously. For this reason, in this embodiment, if two sensor units 311 on a row of rows detect approximately simultaneously and the detection time does not exceed the threshold time, the control unit 31b determines that two users have specified different floors as destination floors approximately simultaneously and registers the call. On the other hand, if the detection time of the two sensor units 311 exceeds the threshold time, the control unit 31b determines that the detection is due to leaning or the like, and does not register the call as invalid. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to more reliably prevent erroneous detection or overdetection by sensor unit 311 of wheelchair operation panel 318, thereby further improving the operation efficiency of the elevator.

[0091] Furthermore, in the destination floor call device 30 according to this embodiment, when operations are detected by three or more sensor units 311 at approximately the same time on one row of steps, the control unit 31b invalidates the three or more operations detected by the three or more sensor units 311.

[0092] For this reason, in this embodiment, when an operation is detected at approximately the same time by three or more sensor units 311 on one row of steps, the detection is determined to be due to leaning or the like, and the operations detected by the three or more sensor units 311 are invalidated and no call is registered. Therefore, according to this embodiment, erroneous detection and overdetection by the sensor unit 311 of the wheelchair operation panel 318 can be more reliably prevented, and the operation efficiency of the elevator can be further improved.

[0093] (Variation) Various modifications of the above embodiment are possible. For example, the wheelchair control panel 318 can be configured so that the height of the step from which the sensor units 311 and push buttons 312 are located on each floor varies depending on the number of sensor units 311 and push buttons 312, and therefore the height of the step from which the sensor units 311 and push buttons 312 are located on each floor can be set for each specification using setting data or by an administrator.

[0094] Specifically, in the above embodiment, the arrangement of the sensor unit 311 and the push button 312 on the wheelchair operation panel 318 can be set by the operator through calibration into upper, middle and lower ranges.

[0095] 9 and 10 are diagrams showing an example of the wheelchair operation panel 318 during calibration in the modified example. Fig. 9 is an example of a two-stage case, and Fig. 10 is an example of a three-stage case.

[0096] During calibration, as shown in Figures 9, 10(a) and 10(b), a message to press the first button of each step is output from speaker 320 and liquid crystal display unit 317. Therefore, when the operator presses push button 312 at the beginning of each step or brings his / her finger close to sensor unit 311, the first floor of each step is saved as setting data in a memory unit or the like, and the start and end floors of each step are registered.

[0097] In addition, in the above embodiment, the case where the sensor unit 311 and the push button 312 are integrated has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, this embodiment can also be applied to a wheelchair operation panel 318 in which the sensor unit 311 and the push button 312 are provided separately, and in this case, the same effects as those of the above embodiment can be achieved.

[0098] Although several 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 novel embodiments can be embodied 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 within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0099] 1...car, 2...drive device, 3...counterweight, 4...rope, 10...control panel, 11...control unit, 12...communication unit, 13...memory unit, 30...destination floor call device, 31...object detection unit, 31a...timing unit, 31b...control unit, 32...push detection unit, 34...communication unit, 100...elevator control system, 310...destination floor display unit (display unit), 311, 311a to 311e...sensor unit, 318...wheelchair control panel, 319a...sensor unit for opening doors, 319b...sensor unit for closing doors, 312...push button, 315a...push button for opening doors, 315b...push button for closing doors, 313, 313a to 313e, 321a, 321b...indicator light, 320...speaker, 317...liquid crystal display unit.

Claims

1. a plurality of display units each displaying a destination floor of a car moving in the elevator shaft; a plurality of sensor units provided corresponding to the plurality of display units, respectively, for detecting operations on the display units by a user in a non-contact manner; a wheelchair operation panel provided in the car, the operation panel having the plurality of display units and the plurality of sensor units arranged in a plurality of stages at least in a horizontal direction; a control unit that, when an operation is detected by a plurality of sensor units at substantially the same time in one row of the plurality of rows, invalidates the operation detected by the plurality of sensor units, and, when an operation is detected by a single sensor unit in the one row or when an operation is detected by a single sensor unit in a row other than the one row, outputs information regarding call registration based on the operation; An elevator control device comprising:

2. When two sensor units detect operations at approximately the same time in one row, if the two operations by the two sensor units are no longer detected before a predetermined threshold time has elapsed from the time of detection, the control unit outputs information regarding call registration based on the operations, and if the two operations by the two sensor units continue to be detected even after the threshold time has elapsed, the control unit invalidates the two operations detected by the two sensor units. The elevator control device according to claim 1 .

3. The control unit further invalidates the three or more operations detected by the three or more sensor units when operations are detected by three or more sensor units at approximately the same time in the row of columns. The elevator control device according to claim 2.

4. An elevator control method executed by an elevator control device, comprising: The elevator control device includes: a plurality of display units each displaying a destination floor of a car moving in the elevator shaft; a plurality of sensor units provided corresponding to the plurality of display units, respectively, for detecting operations on the display units by a user in a non-contact manner; a wheelchair operation panel in which the plurality of display units and the plurality of sensor units are arranged in a plurality of stages at least in the horizontal direction, a control step of invalidating the operation detected by the plurality of sensor units when an operation is detected by a plurality of sensor units at approximately the same time in one row of the plurality of rows, and outputting information relating to call registration based on the operation when an operation is detected by a single sensor unit in the one row of rows or when an operation is detected by a single sensor unit in a row other than the one row of rows; An elevator control method comprising:

5. A program to be executed by a computer of an elevator control device, The elevator control device includes: a plurality of display units each displaying a destination floor of a car moving in the elevator shaft; a plurality of sensor units provided corresponding to the plurality of display units, respectively, for detecting operations on the display units by a user in a non-contact manner; a wheelchair operation panel in which the plurality of display units and the plurality of sensor units are arranged in a plurality of stages at least in the horizontal direction, a control step of invalidating the operation detected by the plurality of sensor units when an operation is detected by a plurality of sensor units at approximately the same time in one row of the plurality of rows, and outputting information relating to call registration based on the operation when an operation is detected by a single sensor unit in the one row of rows or when an operation is detected by a single sensor unit in a row other than the one row of rows; A program for causing the computer to execute the above.

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