Elevator system

Abstract

To accurately detect that a user who needs crime prevention operation gets into an elevator alone.SOLUTION: An elevator system according to an embodiment detects whether a passenger is present in the elevator car. If the elevator system does not detect the presence of a passenger in the elevator car, it determines the number and heights of passengers at the landing based on images captured by an upper camera. The elevator system determines the gender of passengers based on images captured by a control panel camera. Based on the number, height, and gender of passengers, the elevator system detects whether a passenger who is a target for security operation is riding alone in the elevator car. If the elevator system detects that a passenger who is a target for security operation is riding alone in the elevator car, it performs security operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention relates to an elevator system. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Generally, a technique is known in which a camera installed inside an elevator is used to detect a user in the vicinity of the elevator and control the opening and closing of the elevator doors.

[0003] However, because elevators are closed spaces, crimes that take advantage of these spaces can occur. Such crimes are particularly likely to occur when children or women are riding alone in the elevator. To prevent such crimes, some elevators are equipped with a security operation function that prevents other users from riding in the elevator when a user is riding alone (security operation).

[0004] In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for elevators equipped with such security operation functions, and there is a need for improved technology to accurately detect when users who require security operation, such as children or women, are riding in an elevator alone. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7230698 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6756109 [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 6723444 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an elevator system that can accurately detect when a user who requires security operation gets into the elevator alone. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An elevator system according to one embodiment includes an upper camera, an operation panel camera, an in-car user detection means, a first user detection means, a second user detection means, a target person detection means, and a door opening / closing control means. The upper camera is installed above the entrance / exit of the car. The operation panel camera is installed on an operation panel inside the car. The in-car user detection means detects the presence or absence of a user inside the car. When the in-car user detection means does not detect the presence of a user from inside the car, the first user detection means detects the presence or absence of a user at a landing based on an image captured by the upper camera, and when the presence of a user is detected from the landing, the first user detection means determines the number and heights of the detected users based on the image. When the first user detection means detects the presence of a user from the landing, the second user detection means determines the gender of the detected user based on an image captured by the operation panel camera. The target person detection means detects whether a user who is a target of the security operation is riding alone in the car based on the number and height of the detected users and the gender of the detected users. When the target person detection means detects that a user who is a target of the security operation is riding alone in the car, the door opening / closing control means carries out the security operation and closes the door of the car. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration example of an elevator system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a portion around an entrance / exit in the elevator car according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an image captured by the upper camera according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the elevator system according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which an image captured by the upper camera according to the embodiment is divided into blocks. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the disclosure is merely an example, and the invention is not limited to the contents described in the following embodiments. Modifications that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art are naturally included in the scope of the disclosure. For clearer explanation, the size, shape, etc. of each part may be changed from the actual embodiment and shown schematically in the drawings. In multiple drawings, corresponding elements may be given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations may be omitted.

[0010] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration example of an elevator system according to one embodiment. Note that, although a single car will be described as an example here, the same configuration applies to multiple cars.

[0011] The elevator system according to this embodiment has a security operation function that operates the elevator (car) in a way that prevents other users from riding in the car when a child or woman is riding alone (security operation).

[0012] An upper camera 12 is installed above the entrance / exit of the car 11. Specifically, the upper camera 12 is installed in a panel 11a that covers the upper part of the entrance / exit of the car 11, with the lens portion tilted at a predetermined angle directly downward or toward the platform or car.

[0013] The upper camera 12 is a small surveillance camera such as an in-vehicle camera, has a wide-angle lens or a fisheye lens, and is capable of continuously capturing images at several frames per second (e.g., 30 frames / second). The upper camera 12 is activated, for example, when the car 11 arrives at the landing 15 on each floor, and captures images including the area around the car door 13 and the landing 15. The upper camera 12 may also be constantly operating when the car 11 is in operation.

[0014] The shooting range of the upper camera 12 is adjusted to L1 + L2 (L1 > L2). L1 is the shooting range on the hall side, and has a predetermined distance from the car door 13 toward the hall 15. L2 is the shooting range on the car side, and has a predetermined distance from the car door 13 toward the rear of the car. Note that L1 and L2 are ranges in the depth direction, and the range in the width direction (direction perpendicular to the depth direction) is at least larger than the lateral width of the car 11.

[0015] An operation panel camera 17 is installed on an operation panel 16 installed inside the car 11. The operation panel camera 17 photographs a user operating the operation panel 16. The photographing range of the operation panel camera 17 is adjusted so that it can capture the range of heights H1 to H2 from the floor of the car 11 (more specifically, so that it can capture the face of the user operating the operation panel 16).

[0016] At the landing 15 on each floor, a landing door 14 is installed at the arrival entrance of the car 11 so as to be able to open and close freely. The landing door 14 engages with the car door 13 when the car 11 arrives and opens and closes. The power source (door motor) is on the car 11 side, and the landing door 14 simply opens and closes following the car door 13. In the following explanation, it is assumed that when the car door 13 is open, the landing door 14 is also open, and when the car door 13 is closed, the landing door 14 is also closed.

[0017] The images (video) captured by the upper camera 12 and the operation panel camera 17 are analyzed in real time by the image processing device 20. Although the image processing device 20 is shown removed from the car 11 for convenience in Fig. 1, in reality, the image processing device 20 is housed in the headboard 11a together with the upper camera 12.

[0018] The image processing device 20 includes a storage unit 21 and a detection unit 22. The storage unit 21 is made up of a memory device such as a RAM. The storage unit 21 sequentially stores images captured by the upper camera 12 and the operation panel camera 17. The storage unit 21 has a buffer area for temporarily storing data necessary for processing by the detection unit 22. The storage unit 21 may store images that have been subjected to preprocessing such as distortion correction, enlargement / reduction, and partial cropping as preprocessing of the images captured by the upper camera 12 and the operation panel camera 17.

[0019] The detection unit 22 uses images captured by the upper camera 12 and the control panel camera 17 to detect whether a user who is the target of security driving, such as a child or a woman (hereinafter referred to as the target of security driving or simply the target person), is riding alone in the elevator 11.

[0020] 1, the detection unit 22 includes an in-car user detection unit 23, a first user detection unit 24, a second user detection unit 25, and a target person detection unit 26. Note that each of the units 23 to 26 included in the detection unit 22 may be realized by a CPU (not shown) provided in the image processing device 20 executing a program (i.e., software), or may be realized by hardware such as an IC (Integrated Circuit), or may be realized by a combination of software and hardware.

[0021] The car in-passenger detection unit 23 detects the presence or absence of a passenger in the car 11 based on the load in the car (the load of the car 11) measured by a load sensor (not shown) installed at the bottom of the car 11. Information indicating the result of the detection by the car in-passenger detection unit 23 (i.e., information that a passenger is in the car 11 or information that a passenger is not in the car 11) is sent to the first user detection unit 24.

[0022] In addition, the car user detection unit 23 may detect the presence or absence of a user in the car 11 based on the load inside the car measured by a load sensor, but may also detect the presence or absence of a user in the car 11 based on images taken by, for example, the upper camera 12 or the operation panel camera 17.

[0023] First user detection unit 24 detects the presence or absence of a user at hall 15 based on the image captured by upper camera 12. More specifically, first user detection unit 24 is a detection area set on the image captured by upper camera 12, and detects the presence or absence of a user in the detection area based on a change in brightness of the image within the detection area for detecting a user at hall 15. Details of the detection area will be described later, so a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted here.

[0024] When the first user detection unit 24 receives information from the in-car user detection unit 23 that no users are riding in the car 11 and detects the presence of users from the platform 15, it confirms (determines) the number of detected users based on an image taken by the upper camera 12 in which the users are detected.

[0025] Furthermore, when the first user detection unit 24 detects the presence of a user from the platform 15 while receiving information from the in-car user detection unit 23 that no user is in the car 11, the first user detection unit 24 measures (determines) the height of the detected user based on an image taken by the upper camera 12 in which the user is detected. Note that the height measurement may be performed only when the number of users is found to be one as a result of checking the number of users.

[0026] The height of the user may be measured using known image recognition technology, for example, based on the number of pixels included in the image showing the user, from the pixel corresponding to the user's toes to the pixel corresponding to the top of the user's head (see FIG. 3). Information indicating the detection result by first user detection unit 24 (i.e., information indicating the number of users appearing in the image captured by upper camera 12 and the heights of the users) is sent to target person detection unit 26.

[0027] The second user detection unit 25 detects (determines) the gender of the user operating the operation panel 16 based on the image captured by the operation panel camera 17. The gender of the user is determined using known image recognition technology, and may be determined based on a prediction model that has been trained in advance using images of men's faces and images of women's faces as training data, or may be determined based on feature quantities obtained by analyzing the image. Information indicating the detection result by the second user detection unit 25 (i.e., information indicating the gender of the user appearing in the image captured by the operation panel camera 17) is sent to the target person detection unit 26.

[0028] The target person detection unit 26 determines (detects) whether or not the target person for security operation is riding alone in the car 11, based on information indicating the number and heights of users from the first user detection unit 24 and information indicating the gender of the users from the second user detection unit 25. When it is determined that the target person for security operation is riding alone in the car 11 (in other words, when it is detected that the target person for security operation is riding alone in the car 11), the image processing device 20 (target person detection unit 26) outputs a security operation request signal to the elevator control device 30 requesting that security operation be performed.

[0029] The elevator control device 30 is composed of a computer equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. The elevator control device 30 controls the raising and lowering operation of the car 11 and the operation of various devices installed in the car 11. The elevator control device 30 includes a door opening / closing control unit 31.

[0030] The door opening / closing control unit 31 controls the opening and closing of the car door 13 when the car 11 arrives at the landing 15. In detail, the door opening / closing control unit 31 opens the car door 13 when the car 11 arrives at the landing 15, and closes the door after a predetermined time has elapsed. However, if the detection unit 22 (first user detection unit 24) detects the presence of a user from the detection area while the car door 13 is fully open or during the door closing operation of the car door 13, the door opening / closing control unit 31 extends the door open time of the car door 13 to maintain the door open state, or reopens the car door 13 in the fully open direction to maintain the door open state.

[0031] Furthermore, the door opening / closing control unit 31 performs a security operation when it receives a security operation request signal from the image processing device 20. Specifically, the door opening / closing control unit 31 immediately closes the car doors 13 to prevent other users from riding in the car 11. Note that if the door close button is pressed during the door closing operation of the car doors 13 due to the execution of a security operation, the door opening / closing control unit 31 closes the car doors 13 at a door closing speed higher than normal.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the area around the entrance and exit in the car 11. A car door 13 is provided at the entrance of the car 11 so as to be able to open and close freely. In the example of Fig. 2, a double-door type car door 13 is shown, and two door panels 13a and 13b constituting the car door 13 open and close in opposite directions along the width direction (horizontal direction). Note that the "width" refers to the entrance of the car 11.

[0033] Entrance pillars 41a and 41b are provided on both sides of the entrance of the car 11, and together with the fascia board 11a, they surround the entrance of the car 11. The "entrance pillars" are also called front pillars, and generally have a door pocket on the back side for storing the car door 13. In the example of Fig. 2, when the car door 13 is opened, one door panel 13a is stored in a door pocket 42a provided on the back side of the entrance pillar 41a, and the other door panel 13b is stored in a door pocket 42b provided on the back side of the entrance pillar 41b.

[0034] One or both of the entrance pillars 41a, 41b are provided with an operation panel 16 and a speaker 43. In the example of Fig. 2, the entrance pillar 41a is provided with the speaker 43, and the entrance pillar 41b is provided with the operation panel 16. In addition to the operation panel camera 17 shown in Fig. 1, the operation panel 16 is provided with a display 18 and various buttons 19 including a destination floor button, a door open button, and a door close button.

[0035] An upper camera 12 is provided in the center of a panel 11a above the entrance of the car 11. In addition, a lighting device 44 using, for example, an LED is installed on the ceiling surface of the car 11.

[0036] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an image captured by upper camera 12. The upper side of the figure shows hall 15, and the lower side of the figure shows the inside of car 11. 15f in the figure shows the floor surface of hall 15, and 11f in the figure shows the floor surface of car 11. E1 and E2 in the figure show detection areas.

[0037] The car door 13 has two door panels 13a and 13b that move in opposite directions to each other on the car sill 51. Similarly, the landing door 14 has two door panels 14a and 14b that move in opposite directions to each other on the landing sill 52. The door panels 14a and 14b of the landing door 14 move in the door opening / closing direction together with the door panels 13a and 13b of the car door 13.

[0038] The upper camera 12 is installed above the entrance / exit of the car 11. When the door of the car 11 opens at the landing 15, as shown in Fig. 1, a predetermined range (L1) on the landing side and a predetermined range (L2) on the car side are photographed by the upper camera 12. Of these, detection areas E1 and E2 for detecting passengers are set in the predetermined range (L1) on the landing side.

[0039] Detection area E2 is an area included in detection area E1, and functions as an area for both detection areas E1 and E2. Detection area E1 is an area called "user detection area E1" and is an area for detecting users present at hall 15. Detection area E2 is an area called "boarding intention estimation area E2" and is an area for estimating whether or not a user present at hall 15 is heading toward car 11 with the intention of boarding.

[0040] In real space, the boarding intention estimation area E2 has a distance L3 from the center of the entrance / exit (frontage) toward the landing (L3≦L1). The width W2 of the boarding intention estimation area E2 when fully open is set to a distance equal to or greater than the width W1 of the entrance / exit (frontage). As indicated by double-hatched lines in FIG. 3 , the boarding intention estimation area E2 is set to include the sills 51 and 52 and exclude the blind spots of the jamb 53 on three sides. Note that the horizontal size (X-axis direction) of the boarding intention estimation area E2 may be configured to change in accordance with the opening and closing operation of the car door 13. Furthermore, the vertical size (Y-axis direction) of the boarding intention estimation area E2 may also be configured to change in accordance with the opening and closing operation of the car door 13.

[0041] Although the details will be described later, when a user is not in the car 11 and the presence of a user moving with the intention of boarding the car 11 is detected from the boarding intention estimation area E2, processing is executed to determine whether the user is a target of crime prevention driving. On the other hand, when a user is in the car 11 and the presence of a user moving with the intention of boarding the car 11 is detected from the boarding intention estimation area E2, processing is executed to keep the car door 13 open.

[0042] As described in FIG. 1, the height of the user is measured based on the number of pixels from pixel PX1 corresponding to the user's toes to pixel PX2 corresponding to the top of the user's head, for example.

[0043] Next, an example of the operation of the elevator system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 4. In this description, it is assumed that the image processing device 20 acquires images taken by the upper camera 12 and the operation panel camera 17 in time series and stores these acquired images in the storage unit 21 one by one.

[0044] When the elevator car 11 arrives at an arbitrary floor (Yes in step S1), the door opening / closing control unit 31 opens the car door 13 (step S2).

[0045] When the car door 13 opens, the car user detection unit 23 detects whether or not there is a user in the car 11 based on the load inside the car measured by a load sensor installed at the bottom of the car 11 (step S3).

[0046] In the processing of step S3, if the load inside the car measured by the load sensor indicates a value equal to or greater than a preset threshold value and the presence of a passenger is detected inside the car 11 (Yes in step S3), the elevator system executes the processing of step S11 described below.

[0047] On the other hand, in the processing of step S3, if the load inside the car measured by the load sensor indicates a value less than a predetermined threshold value and the presence of a user is not detected from inside the car 11 (No in step S3), the first user detection unit 24 executes a user detection process to detect the presence or absence of a user at the platform 15 (more specifically, the presence or absence of a user moving through the boarding intention estimation area E2 with the intention of boarding the car 11) based on the image taken by the upper camera 12 (step S4).

[0048] Here, the user detection process executed by the first user detection unit 24 will be described in detail. First, the first user detection unit 24 reads out one of the images captured by the upper camera 12 from the storage unit 21 as a target image, and then calculates the target image as a square with one side W block Then, a process of dividing the image into a large number of blocks is performed (see FIG. 5). Each block contains a plurality of pixels, for example, 16 (=4×4).

[0049] Next, the first user detection unit 24 calculates the average brightness value for each block (i.e., the average brightness value of the multiple pixels included in the block) for multiple blocks included in the riding intention estimation area E2 set in the target image, and stores the calculated average brightness value for each block in a buffer area not shown in the figure in the memory unit 21.

[0050] Next, the first user detection unit 24 reads out from the storage unit 21 an image captured immediately after the target image described above as a new target image, and similarly calculates the average luminance value for each block of the new target image.

[0051] The first user detection unit 24 then compares the average brightness value for each block of the new target image with the average brightness value for each block stored in the buffer area. If a block with a brightness difference equal to or greater than a preset threshold is found, the first user detection unit 24 detects the block as a block with motion. The first user detection unit 24 also stores the average brightness value for each block of the new target image in the buffer area for comparison with the next image.

[0052] Thereafter, in the same manner, the first user detection unit 24 repeatedly compares the brightness values ​​of each image captured by the upper camera 12 on a block-by-block basis. As a result, if a block with movement is detected, the first user detection unit 24 determines that there is a user moving through the boarding intention estimation area E2 with the intention of boarding the elevator 11 (that is, it detects the presence of a user moving through the boarding intention estimation area E2 with the intention of boarding the elevator 11).

[0053] Returning to the explanation of FIG. In the processing of step S4, if no moving blocks are detected in the boarding intention estimation area E2 and the presence of a user is not detected in the boarding intention estimation area E2 (No in step S4), the elevator system repeatedly executes the processing of the above-mentioned step S4 until the car door 13 is fully closed (Yes in step S5) according to the elapsed time since full opening.

[0054] On the other hand, in the processing of step S4, if a moving block is detected in the boarding intention estimation area E2 and the presence of a user is detected in the boarding intention estimation area E2 (Yes in step S4), the first user detection unit 24 confirms the number of users detected in the processing of step S4 based on the image captured by the upper camera 12 (step S6). Furthermore, the first user detection unit 24 measures the heights of the users detected in the processing of step S4 based on the image captured by the upper camera 12 (step S7). Note that information indicating the results of the processing of steps S6 and S7 (i.e., information indicating the number of users detected in the processing of step S4 and the heights of the users) is sent from the first user detection unit 24 to the target person detection unit 26.

[0055] Next, the second user detection unit 25 determines the gender of the user detected in the processing of step S4 based on the image captured by the operation panel camera 17 (step S8). Information indicating the result of the processing of step S8 (i.e., information indicating the gender of the user detected in the processing of step S4) is sent from the second user detection unit 25 to the target person detection unit 26.

[0056] Next, the target person detection unit 26 determines (detects) whether the target person for crime prevention driving is riding alone in the elevator 11 based on information indicating the number and height of users obtained from the first user detection unit 24 and information indicating the gender of users obtained from the second user detection unit 25 (step S9).

[0057] If the number of users detected in the processing of step S4 is one and the height of the user is less than a predetermined threshold, the target person detection unit 26 detects that a "child", who is a target of crime prevention driving, is riding alone in the elevator 11.

[0058] In addition, if the number of users detected in the processing of step S4 is one and the gender of the user is female, the target person detection unit 26 detects that a "female" who is a target of crime prevention driving is riding alone in the elevator 11.

[0059] In the processing of step S9, if it is detected that the person subject to the security operation is riding alone in the car 11 (Yes in step S9), the target person detection unit 26 outputs a security operation request signal to the elevator control device 30 requesting the implementation of security operation. Upon receiving the security operation request signal, the elevator control device 30 implements security operation in accordance with the security operation request signal. Specifically, the door opening / closing control unit 31 of the elevator control device 30 immediately closes the car door 13 to prevent other users from riding in the car 11 (step S10), and ends this series of operations.

[0060] On the other hand, if the processing of step S9 does not detect that the person of interest in the security operation is riding alone in the car 11 (specifically, if the number of passengers riding in the car 11 is not alone, or if the passenger riding alone in the car 11 is not a "child" or a "woman") (No in step S9), the elevator system operates the car 11 normally. Specifically, when the car doors 13 are fully closed in response to the elapsed time since they were fully opened or in response to pressing the door close button provided on the operation panel 17, the elevator system causes the car 11 to depart for the destination floor (step S11), and ends the series of operations here.

[0061] In addition, until the car door 13 is fully closed, a user detection process similar to that of step S4 described above is executed, and if a moving block is detected in the boarding intention estimation area E2 before the car door 13 is fully closed, the elevator system executes a process to maintain the door open state, and allows the user moving in the boarding intention estimation area E2 to board the car 11, and then executes the process of step S11 again.

[0062] Note that, here, the case where the anti-theft operation is performed when it is detected by the processing of step S9 described above that the person who is the target of the anti-theft operation is riding alone in the car 11 has been described, but the timing at which the anti-theft operation is performed is not limited to this. For example, the elevator system may perform the anti-theft operation at a timing after it is detected that the person who is the target of the anti-theft operation is riding alone in the car 11, and when the first user detection unit 24 detects the presence of another user in the user detection area E1.

[0063] As explained above, the elevator system according to this embodiment utilizes two cameras, the upper camera 12 and the control panel camera 17, to determine the number of users, their heights, and their genders, thereby detecting whether a user is riding alone in the car 11 and determining whether the user riding alone in the car 11 is a "child," "female," or other person who is a target of security driving. This makes it possible to accurately determine whether a user riding alone in the car 11 is a user who really requires security driving (a security driving user).

[0064] For example, a function has already been devised that closes the doors when it detects that a user is riding alone in a car, and a function that increases the door closing speed when it detects that another user is approaching the car at a fast walking speed after detecting that a user is riding alone in the car. However, these functions cannot determine whether a user riding alone in a car is a user who truly requires security driving, so security driving may be carried out even for users who do not actually need security driving, which could reduce the efficiency of car operation.

[0065] In contrast, as described above, the elevator system of this embodiment can accurately determine whether a user riding alone in the elevator car 11 is a user who truly requires security operation, making it possible to realize a security operation function that does not reduce the operating efficiency of the elevator car.

[0066] In addition, a function has been devised in which users are required to carry an IC card or the like that stores user identification information, and security operations are carried out when a user with specified user identification information is riding alone in the elevator.However, this function has the problem that users must carry an IC card that stores user identification information, which is inconvenient.

[0067] In contrast, in the elevator system of this embodiment, the image processing device 20 can automatically detect that the person to be monitored for security operations is riding alone in the elevator car 11 based on images captured by the upper camera 12 and the control panel camera 17, thereby eliminating the need for an IC card as described above and enabling the implementation of a security operation function that does not reduce user convenience.

[0068] In the present embodiment described above, it has been stated that crime prevention driving is carried out when it is detected that a person who is a target of crime prevention driving is riding alone in the elevator 11. However, depending on the time of day (for example, late at night), all passengers may be considered to be targets of crime prevention driving, and crime prevention driving may be carried out when it is detected that a user is riding alone in the elevator 11.

[0069] In this case, when the current time is within a predetermined time period, if a moving block is detected from the boarding intention estimation area E2 in the processing of the above-mentioned step S4 and the presence of a user is detected from the boarding intention estimation area E2, the image processing device 20 determines whether or not to carry out crime prevention driving based solely on the number of users confirmed in the processing of the above-mentioned step S6.

[0070] This allows security operations to be carried out based on the situation where a user is riding alone in the elevator car 11, regardless of whether the user is a "child" or "female," depending on the time of day, thereby further improving the security of the elevator system.

[0071] Furthermore, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the boarding intention estimation area E2 is always valid, but this is not limiting, and for example, the boarding intention estimation area E2 may be switchable between valid and invalid, and the boarding intention estimation area E2 may be invalidated depending on the time period (for example, late night, etc.). More specifically, when the current time is included in the predetermined time period, if a moving block is detected in the boarding intention estimation area E2 in the processing of step S4 described above and the presence of a user is detected in the boarding intention estimation area E2, the image processing device 20 may temporarily invalidate the boarding intention estimation area E2 until the car door 13 of the car 11 is fully closed.

[0072] According to this, the movement of another user (follower) following the user detected by the processing of step S4 described above is further detected from the boarding intention estimation area E2, and as a result, processing to maintain the door open state is executed, which makes it possible to prevent the above-mentioned follower from boarding the elevator car 11, thereby further improving the security of the elevator system.

[0073] Furthermore, in this embodiment, security driving is carried out when it is detected that a person who is the target of security driving is riding alone in the car 11, but security driving may also be carried out when it is detected that only multiple people who are the target of security driving are riding in the car 11 (for example, when it is detected that only multiple ``children'' are riding in the car 11).

[0074] For example, if only multiple children are riding in the car 11 and the number of users is more than one, and therefore security operation is not implemented, there is a possibility that a suspicious person may ride in the car 11 with only multiple children riding in it. Even if there are multiple people, in the case of children, there is a possibility that they may panic and be unable to take appropriate action if a suspicious person rides in the car 11, but according to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent such an incident from occurring, and it is possible to further improve the security of the elevator system.

[0075] Furthermore, the elevator system (image processing device 20) according to this embodiment may analyze an image captured by the operation panel camera 17, and if the facial expression of the user in the image shows a sense of crisis or fear, may implement security operation (i.e., may output a security operation request signal). On the other hand, if the facial expression of the user in the image is gentle, the elevator system (image processing device 20) may execute a process to keep the doors open without implementing security operation, even if it is detected that a person who is a target of security operation is riding alone in the car 11.

[0076] Furthermore, the elevator system (image processing device 20) of this embodiment may, for example, analyze an image captured by the control panel camera 17, and when it detects a gesture (gesture) that invites other users at the hall 15 into the car 11, it may execute a process to keep the door open without performing security operation, even if it is detected that the person who is the target of security operation is riding alone in the car 11.

[0077] In this embodiment, the targets of crime prevention driving are "children" and "women," but this is not limited to this, and the targets of crime prevention driving may also include, for example, "elderly people."

[0078] According to the embodiment described above, it is possible to provide an elevator system that can accurately detect when a user who requires security operation gets into the elevator alone.

[0079] 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 inventions and their equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 11...car, 12...upper camera, 13...car door, 14...landing door, 15...landing, 16...control panel, 17...control panel camera, 20...image processing device, 21...memory unit, 22...detection unit, 23...in-car user detection unit, 24...first user detection unit, 25...second user detection unit, 26...target person detection unit, 30...elevator control device, 31...door opening / closing control unit.

Claims

1. An upper camera installed above the entrance and exit of the car, An operation panel camera installed on an operation panel inside the elevator car; A car user detection means for detecting whether or not a user is present in the car; a first user detection means for detecting the presence or absence of users at a platform based on an image captured by the upper camera when the presence of users is not detected from inside the elevator car by the in-car user detection means, and for determining the number and heights of the detected users based on the image when the presence of users is detected from the platform; a second user detection means for determining the gender of the detected user based on an image captured by the operation panel camera when the first user detection means detects the presence of a user from the hall; a target person detection means for detecting whether a user who is a target of the crime prevention operation is riding alone in the elevator car based on the number and height of the detected users and the gender of the detected users; and a door opening / closing control means for performing a crime prevention operation and closing the door of the car when the target person detection means detects that a user who is a target of crime prevention operation is riding alone in the car. Elevator system.

2. The door opening / closing control means When the target person detection means detects that the user who is the target of the security operation is riding alone in the elevator car, and the first user detection means further detects the presence of a user from the platform, the security operation is carried out.

10. The elevator system of claim 1.

3. The target person detection means When the number of detected users is one and the height of the detected users is less than a preset threshold, it is detected that a child who is the target of the crime prevention operation is riding alone in the elevator car, When the number of detected users is one and the gender of the detected user is female, it is detected that the female who is the target of the crime prevention driving is riding alone in the elevator.

10. The elevator system of claim 1.

4. The door opening / closing control means When a door close button is pressed while the car doors are closing as a result of the security operation being performed, the car doors are closed at a door closing speed faster than normal.

10. The elevator system of claim 1.

5. The target person detection means If the current time is within a predetermined time period, all users are considered to be targets for the crime prevention operation, and based only on the number of detected users, it is detected whether or not a user who is a target for the crime prevention operation is riding alone in the elevator.

10. The elevator system of claim 1.

6. The first user detection means Detecting the presence or absence of a user in a detection area based on a change in brightness within a detection area set in a landing portion shown in each of a plurality of images taken by the upper camera; When a luminance change equal to or greater than a preset threshold value occurs within the detection area, the presence of a user is detected from the detection area.

10. The elevator system of claim 1.

7. The door opening / closing control means When the presence of a user is detected from inside the car by the car-inside user detection means and the presence of a user is detected from the landing by the first user detection means, a process is executed to maintain the door of the car in an open state.

7. The elevator system of claim 6.

8. The first user detection means When the current time is included in a predetermined time period, if the target person detection means detects that a user who is the target of the security operation is riding alone in the elevator car, the detection area is temporarily disabled until the elevator car door is fully closed.

8. The elevator system of claim 7.

9. The door opening / closing control means The crime prevention operation is performed even when the target person detection means detects that only users who are the targets of the crime prevention operation are riding in the elevator with multiple people.

10. The elevator system of claim 1.

10. The first user detection means determining the height of the user based on the number of pixels from the pixel corresponding to the user's toes to the pixel corresponding to the top of the user's head in the image captured by the upper camera; 10. The elevator system of claim 1.

11. The imaging range of the operation panel camera is adjusted so that the face of the user operating the operation panel is captured.

10. The elevator system of claim 1.

Images