Elevator control system and control method thereof

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of improving the operation efficiency of an elevator by reducing the time spent for unnecessary yielding at the time of getting off the elevator.SOLUTION: The touch panel PN displays a door opening button image 23 indicating a door opening button for opening the door 11 of the car 10 when the operation panels 20L and 20R receive a display command from the control device 90. When detecting that the door opening button image 23 on the touch panel PN is touched, the control device 90 performs control to open the door 11. The control device 90 transmits a display command for displaying the door opening button image 23 to one of the two operation panels 20L and 20R.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an elevator control system and a control method thereof. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, elevators installed in high-rise buildings often have control panels on the left and right sides of the doors that passengers can use to operate the car. In this case, both control panels are equipped with door open / close buttons, so at the floor where all passengers are getting off, two passengers will often be standing in front of the control panels on the left and right of the doors, each with their door open button pressed, waiting. They will then wait until they have confirmed that all other passengers have gotten off, before they are the last to get off. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 57-38278 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, because two passengers in front of the control panel are both waiting with the door open button pressed, they end up having to give way to each other over who gets to get off first. This unnecessary giving and taking is annoying for both parties, and the wasted time also reduces the efficiency of elevator operations.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a technology that can reduce the time spent on unnecessary handovers when exiting an elevator and improve elevator operation efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The elevator control system according to the present disclosure includes a control device and two control panels. The control device controls the elevator. The two control panels are provided inside the elevator car and accept car operations by passengers. Each of the two control panels includes a touch panel. When the control panel receives a display command from the control device, the touch panel displays a door open button image indicating a door open button for opening the car door. The two control panels are comprised of a control panel provided on the right side of the door and a control panel provided on the left side of the door. When the control device detects that the door open button image on the touch panel has been touched, it controls the door to open. The control device transmits a display command to one of the two control panels to display the door open button image.

[0007] A control method according to the present disclosure is a control method for an elevator control system including a control device that controls an elevator and two control panels that are provided in the elevator car and that accept car operations by passengers. Each of the two control panels includes a touch panel. The control method includes a step of causing each of the two control panels to display, on the touch panel, a door open button image that indicates a door open button for opening the car door when the control panel receives a display command from the control device. The two control panels are comprised of a control panel provided on the right side of the door and a control panel provided on the left side of the door. The control method further includes a step of controlling the control device to open the door when it detects that the door open button image on the touch panel has been touched, and a step of the control device transmitting a display command to one of the two control panels to display the door open button image. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce the time spent on unnecessary handovers when exiting an elevator, thereby improving the efficiency of elevator operation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the interior of an elevator car according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an elevator control system. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the behavior of passengers in a car. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining learning of the number of touches of the door-opening button. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a learning DB. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining display control of a door opening / closing button image. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart of a process executed by the elevator control system. [Figure 8] 10 is a diagram for explaining display control of a door opening / closing button image according to the second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart of a process executed by the elevator control system. [Figure 10] 10 is a diagram for explaining display control of a door opening / closing button image according to the third embodiment. FIG. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart of a process executed by the elevator control system. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of an employee DB according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 13] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining display control of a door opening / closing button image. [Figure 14] 10 is a flowchart of a process executed by the elevator control system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. The names and functions of these components are also the same. Therefore, detailed descriptions thereof will not be repeated.

[0011] [First embodiment] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the inside of an elevator car 10 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 1 shows a view looking toward the exit inside the car 10. A door 11 is provided at the entrance and exit of the car 10.

[0012] Two control panels 20L and 20R are provided inside the car 10. The two control panels 20L and 20R accept operations of the car 10 by passengers. The two control panels 20L and 20R are composed of the control panel 20R provided on the right side of the door 11 and the control panel 20L provided on the left side of the door 11.

[0013] The operation panels 20L, 20R according to this embodiment are configured by a device including a touch panel PN. The operation panel 20R displays an indicator image 21. Also, a car call button image 25 and a door open / close button image 22 are displayed on the touch panel PN. The door open / close button image 22 is configured by a door open button image 23 and a door close button image 24.

[0014] The indicator image 21 is an image that indicates the traveling direction and car position of the car 10. The car 10 in this embodiment can stop at each of the first to fourth floors. The car call button image 25 is an image that indicates a car call button that is displayed on the touch panel PN and is used to register a destination floor (car call) from the first to fourth floors.

[0015] When the image portion of the car call button image 25 that indicates the first floor is touched, a car call for the first floor is registered. When a car call for the first floor is registered, the image portion that indicates the first floor changes, for example, from gray to white, and the car 10 runs toward the first floor. When the image portion that indicates the second floor is touched, a car call for the second floor is registered. When a car call for the second floor is registered, the image portion that indicates the second floor changes, for example, from gray to white, and the car 10 runs toward the second floor. The same applies to the other floors.

[0016] The door open button image 23 is an image showing a door open button for opening the door 11 of the car 10. The door close button image 24 is an image showing a door close button for closing the door 11 of the car 10. When the control device 90 (Fig. 2) detects that the door open button image 23 displayed on the touch panel PN has been touched, it controls the car 10 so that the door 11 opens. When the control device 90 detects that the door close button image 24 displayed on the touch panel PN has been touched, it controls the car 10 so that the door 11 closes.

[0017] Similarly to the above, the operation panel 20L also displays an indicator image 21, and displays a car call button image 25 and a door open / close button image 22 on the touch panel PN. The door open / close button image 22 is made up of a door open button image 23 and a door close button image 24. The functions of the operation panel 20L are the same as those of the operation panel 20R.

[0018] 2 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the elevator control system 100. In this embodiment, the description will be given assuming that one elevator is installed in a building, but multiple elevators may be installed.

[0019] The elevator control system 100 includes a control device 90 that controls the elevator, an elevator car 10, a hoisting machine 51, and a hall device 52. The hall device 52 is a variety of devices installed at the halls of each floor from the first to fourth floors, and includes a hall call button (not shown) for registering hall calls. The hoisting machine 51 is a motor that drives the elevator car 10 to move up and down. The car 10 is installed in a hoistway (not shown) provided within a building. The car 10 moves up and down within the hoistway to move between multiple floors.

[0020] The control device 90 controls the hoisting machine 51, the hall device 52, and various devices provided in the car 10. The control device 90 includes a processor 91, a memory 92, and a communication IF (Interface) 93. These devices exchange various data via communication paths.

[0021] The processor 91 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The memory 92 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The memory 92 may include a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The processor 91 loads a program stored in the ROM into the RAM and executes it. This program describes the processing to be executed by the control device 90. The communication IF 93 is an input / output device for exchanging data with various devices connected to the control device 90.

[0022] The car 10 is provided with the above-mentioned operation panels 20L, 20R and a "detection device." The detection device is provided inside the car 10 and detects information about passengers inside the car 10. The detection device refers to a plurality of cameras 61 and / or a plurality of wireless communication devices 62. The plurality of cameras 61 are installed on the ceiling of the car 10 or the like, and photograph passengers who board the car 10 using the cameras 61. Note that the number of cameras 61 installed inside the car 10 may be one.

[0023] The plurality of wireless communication devices 62 are installed on the ceiling or the like of the car 10. The plurality of wireless communication devices 62 are configured to communicate with the wireless communication devices 201 provided on the terminals 200 carried by the passengers in the car 10, and to be able to acquire the position and information of the terminals 200 (passengers).

[0024] The wireless communication device 62 outputs a signal for detecting the position of the passenger (terminal 200) using a communication method conforming to the BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy, "Bluetooth" is a registered trademark) communication standard. Instead of the BLE communication standard, a communication method conforming to the UWB (Ultra Wide Band) communication standard may be used.

[0025] The multiple wireless communication devices 62 are installed at an appropriate distance from each other on the ceiling of the car 10, and receive signals transmitted from the wireless communication device 201 of the terminal 200 using a communication method that complies with the same communication standard as the wireless communication device 201, and detect the reception strength of the signals. The position of the passenger (terminal 200) in the car 10 can be detected from the reception strength of each wireless communication device 62. The wireless communication device 62 outputs the reception strength of the signal received from the terminal 200 to the control device 90. The wireless communication device 62 may be installed on a wall.

[0026] The terminal 200 includes a wireless communication device 201, a control unit (not shown), and a display unit (not shown). Like the control device 90, the control unit also includes a CPU, RAM, ROM, and a communication IF. The wireless communication device 201 also has the same functions as the wireless communication devices 62 provided in the car 10. The wireless communication device 201 is capable of communicating with each wireless communication device 62. The position of the terminal 200 (passenger) is identified by communication between the wireless communication device 201 and each wireless communication device 62. The position of the passenger may also be identified using the camera 61.

[0027] In this embodiment, the control device 90 receives information from the camera 61 and the wireless communication device 62 and processes the received information, but this is not limiting, and a dedicated control device may be provided separately to receive and process information from the camera 61 and the wireless communication device 62. In this case, the processing results of the processing device are configured to be transmitted to the control device 90.

[0028] Multiple wireless communication devices 62 are installed when the building is an office building, passengers in elevator car 10 are employees working in the office, and employee information (employee ID, etc.) can be identified. If there is no need to identify passenger information, there is no need to install multiple wireless communication devices 62.

[0029] When multiple wireless communication devices 62 are installed, each employee in the office (passenger in the car 10) always carries a terminal 200 provided by the company. The terminal 200 is, for example, a smartphone. Employee information such as the employee's location information and employee ID can be obtained via the wireless communication device 62 using information transmitted by the wireless communication device 201 of the terminal 200. Note that instead of the terminal 200, the employee may carry an employee ID card that has the same functions as the wireless communication device 201.

[0030] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the behavior of passengers inside the car 10. As shown in FIG. 3, passengers P1 to P4 are riding inside the car 10. The car 10 is currently traveling from the third floor to the first floor. Passenger P1 is standing in front of the operation panel 20R, and passenger P2 is standing in front of the operation panel 20L. Passengers P3 and P4 are standing behind passengers P1 and P2.

[0031] When car 10 arrives at the first floor, the door opens (door 11 opens), and all passengers P1 to P4 get off. At that time, passengers standing in front of the control panel often touch the door open button, and wait until all other passengers have gotten off before getting off themselves.

[0032] When two control panels 20L and 20R are installed on either side of the door 11, as in this embodiment, it is common to see situations where passenger P1 in front of control panel 20R keeps pressing the door-opening button image 23 on control panel 20R (maintains the touched state), and passenger P2 in front of control panel 20L keeps pressing the door-opening button image 23 on control panel 20L (maintains the touched state), and both passengers P1 and P2 try to get off the train last.

[0033] Ultimately, passengers P1 and P2 end up arguing over who gets off first, and time passes without them saying a word. This unnecessary back-and-forth is annoying for both parties, and the wasted time also reduces the efficiency of elevator operations.

[0034] Therefore, in this embodiment, the following configuration is used to prevent the above situation from occurring. When each of the two operation panels 20L, 20R receives a display command from the control device 90, it displays a door opening / closing button image 22, which is made up of a door opening button image 23 and a door closing button image 24, on the touch panel PN. The control device 90 is configured to transmit a display command to only one of the two operation panels 20L, 20R to display the door opening / closing button image 22.

[0035] This causes the door open / close button image 22 to be displayed on only one of the two operation panels 20L, 20R. As a result, the door open button image 23 can be operated only on one of the two operation panels 20L, 20R, so the unnecessary mutual handover as described above does not occur.

[0036] Furthermore, the control device 90 acquires characteristic information and position information of passengers in the car 10 based on detection information from the detection device (camera 61 or wireless communication device 62). Here, "characteristic information" is information indicating the degree of expectation of operating the door opening button, and includes a first characteristic and a second characteristic that has a higher expectation of operating the door opening button than the first characteristic. A passenger with a "high expectation of operating the door opening button" is, in other words, a passenger with a strong characteristic of operating the door opening button, a strong desire to actively operate the door opening button, or a passenger for whom such operation is generally desired.

[0037] In the first embodiment, the "detection device" is a camera 61 that captures images inside the car 10. When the control device 90 detects two passengers standing in front of the two operation panels 20L, 20R, respectively, based on the detection information of the detection device (camera 61), the control device 90 acquires characteristic information of the two passengers. When the characteristic information of one of the two passengers is the second characteristic and the characteristic information of the other passenger is the first characteristic, the control device 90 transmits a display command to the operation panel in front of the passenger whose characteristic information is the second characteristic to display a door opening / closing button image 22 consisting of a door opening button image 23 and a door closing button image 24.

[0038] In the first embodiment, the "characteristic information" is the number of times the door-opening button image 23 has been touched in the past. A passenger with a second characteristic (for example, 12 times in the past) has touched the door more frequently than a passenger with a first characteristic (for example, 3 times in the past). This will be explained in detail below.

[0039] 4 is a diagram for explaining learning of the number of times the door open button is touched. The elevator control system 100 learns the number of times the door open button is touched in advance for a certain period (for example, one week). Then, based on the learning result of the number of times the door open button is touched, it is determined which of the two operation panels 20L, 20R should display the door open / close button image 22.

[0040] FIG. 4 shows the interior of the car 10 shown in FIG. 3 as seen from above. In this example, a passenger P1 is operating the door-opening button image 23. This situation is constantly being photographed by one or more cameras 61 provided in the car 10. One or more cameras 61 are installed so that the faces of passengers in the car 10 and the operation status of their hands can be photographed.

[0041] When the door open button image 23 on either of the two operation panels 20L, 20R is operated (touched), the control device 90 acquires operation information of the door open button image 23 from the operation panels 20L, 20R, and also acquires an image captured by the camera 61. The control device 90 identifies the passenger who operated the operation panel 20L, 20R from the acquired image.

[0042] 4, passenger P1 is operating the door open button image 23 on the control panel 20R. The control device 90 uses known technology to extract a facial image of passenger P1 standing in front of the control panel 20R from the acquired image, and records the touch information of the door open button together with information on the facial image in the learning DB 111.

[0043] 5 is a diagram showing an example of the learning DB 111. The control device 90 stores the learning DB 111 as a database in which the number of touches by passengers is recorded in association with the facial images of the passengers. The learning DB 111 records passenger identification IDs, facial images, and the number of touches of the door-opening button.

[0044] For example, the learning DB 111 records that passenger P1's passenger identification ID is PID001, that his facial image is saved as a file named X1.jpg, and that he touched the door open button 12 times. Also, it records that passenger P2's passenger identification ID is PID002, that his facial image is saved as a file named X2.jpg, and that he touched the door open button 3 times.

[0045] 4, a facial image of passenger P1 standing in front of the control panel 20R is extracted from an image captured by the camera 61. Then, the control device 90 searches the facial images registered in the learning DB 111 to see if there is a facial image determined to be the same person as the extracted facial image. Any known image processing technology may be used as a method for comparing the facial images to determine whether they are the same person.

[0046] For example, if it is determined that the extracted facial image and the facial image in X1.jpg are the same person, the passenger who operated the door opening button image 23 is determined to be the passenger with passenger identification ID "PID001" (passenger P1), and the number of touches of the door opening button is increased by one (for example, from 12 to 13).

[0047] If a facial image determined to be the same person as the acquired facial image is not recorded in the learning DB 111, the information on a new person is registered in the learning DB 111. For example, to register a new fifth person, a new passenger identification ID "PID005" is assigned, the acquired facial image is saved as "X5.jpg," and the number of times the door open button is touched is set to "1 time" and recorded in the learning DB 111.

[0048] By the method described above, during a certain learning period, the number of times each passenger touches the door open button is counted in the learning DB 111. When the learning period ends, the learning DB 111 is used to execute display control of the door open / close button image 22.

[0049] Fig. 6 is a diagram for explaining the display control of the door opening / closing button image 22. Fig. 6 shows the state inside the car 10 after the end of the learning period. Passengers P1 to P4 are inside the car 10. The car 10 is currently traveling from the third floor to the first floor. Passenger P1 is standing in front of the operation panel 20R, and passenger P2 is standing in front of the operation panel 20L.

[0050] The control device 90 executes display control. First, the control device 90 acquires an image from the camera 61. The control device 90 extracts facial images of passengers standing in front of the operation panels 20L, 20R from the image, and compares the extracted facial images with information from the learning DB 111.

[0051] As a result, information is obtained that the facial image of passenger P1 matches the facial image of passenger identification ID "PID001" and that passenger P1 has touched the door open button 12 times. Also, information is obtained that the facial image of passenger P2 matches the facial image of passenger identification ID "PID002" and that passenger P2 has touched the door open button 3 times.

[0052] The control device 90 determines to display the door open button image 22 on the control panel 20R in front of passenger P1 because passenger P1 touched the door open button 12 times more than passenger P2 touched the door open button 12 times (3 times). The control device 90 sends a command to the control panel 20R to display the door open / close button image 22. As a result, the control panel 20R displays the door open / close button image 22. On the other hand, the control panel 20L does not display the door open / close button image 22.

[0053] As a result, when the car 10 arrives at the first floor and opens the doors, passenger P1, who touches the door open button frequently, will press the door open button image 23 to let other passengers off first. On the other hand, passenger P2, who touches the door open button less frequently, will get off before passenger P1 without making unnecessary sacrifices. Note that the door close button image 24 may be constantly displayed, and it may be possible to control whether or not only the door open button image 23 is displayed.

[0054] The following description will be made using a flowchart. Figure 7 is a flowchart of the processing executed by the elevator control system 100. Hereinafter, "step" may also be simply referred to as "S".

[0055] During the learning period, the control device 90 transmits to both of the two operation panels 20L, 20R a display command to display the door open / close button image 22. When the door open button image 23 on the touch panel PN of either of the two operation panels 20L, 20R is touched during the learning period, the control device 90 acquires a facial image of the passenger who touched the door open button image 23 from the image captured by the camera 61, and updates the number of touches by that passenger associated with the facial image of that passenger in the learning DB 111.

[0056] S101 to S105 are processes that are performed during the learning period. The learning period may be any period, such as one week. First, in S101, the control device 90 determines whether or not the learning period is in progress. If the learning period is in progress (YES in S101), the control device 90 sends a command to display the door open / close button image 22 to the two operation panels 20L, 20R in S102. This allows the door open button image 23 to be operated from either the left or right side of the door 11.

[0057] In S103, the control device 90 determines whether the door open button image 23 has been touched. If the door open button image 23 has not been touched (NO in S103), the process returns to S101. If the door open button image 23 has been touched (YES in S103), the control device 90 acquires a facial image of the passenger who touched the door open button image 23 from the camera image (captured image) of the camera 61 in S104.

[0058] In S105, the control device 90 updates the number of touches by the passenger in the learning DB 111 for the passenger identification ID corresponding to the facial image, and returns the process to S101. For example, if it is determined that the acquired facial image is the same person as the facial image (X1.jpg) of passenger P1, the number of door open / close touches corresponding to passenger identification ID (PID001) of passenger P1 is updated (for example, 12 times increases to 13 times). In this way, steps S101 to S105 are repeated, and the number of times the door open button image 23 is touched for each passenger during the learning period is accumulated in the learning DB 111.

[0059] When the learning period ends (NO in S101), the process moves to the normal period, and the processes of S106 to S110 are repeated. During the normal period after the learning period ends, the control device 90 is configured to transmit a display command to one of the two operation panels 20L, 20R to display the door opening / closing button image 22.

[0060] In S106, the control device 90 calculates the position of each passenger in the car 10 from the image captured by the camera 61. In S107, the control device 90 determines whether or not a passenger has been detected in front of each of the operation panels 20L, 20R. If no passenger has been detected in front of either of the operation panels 20L, 20R (NO in S107), the process returns to S106.

[0061] If a passenger is detected in front of both the operation panels 20L and 20R (YES in S107), the control device 90 acquires a facial image of the detected passenger from the camera image in S108.

[0062] The control device 90 acquires the number of touches of the passenger based on the facial image of the passenger captured by the camera 61 and the learning DB 111. Specifically, in S109, the control device 90 acquires from the learning DB 111 the number of touches of the passenger with the passenger identification ID corresponding to the facial image.

[0063] For example, suppose that facial images of passengers P1 and P2 are acquired and determined to be the same person as facial images X1.jpg and X2.jpg, respectively. In this case, the number of door open / close touches corresponding to passenger P1's passenger identification ID (PID001) is acquired as 12, and the number of door open / close touches corresponding to passenger P2's passenger identification ID (PID002) is acquired as 3.

[0064] In S110, the control device 90 transmits a display command to the control panel in front of the passenger who has touched the door more times to display the door open / close button image 22. In the above example, the door open / close button image 22 of the control panel 20R in front of the passenger P1 who has touched the door more times is displayed (see FIG. 6). On the other hand, the door open / close button image 22 of the control panel 20L to which the display command has not been transmitted is not displayed. Alternatively, the control device 90 may be configured to transmit a display command to the control panel 20L to not display the door open / close button image 22.

[0065] When it is determined that multiple passengers are standing in front of one control panel (that is, when it is determined that three or more passengers are standing in front of both control panels), the door open / close button image 22 is displayed only on the control panel in front of the passenger who has touched it the most. When a passenger is detected in front of only one of the control panels 20L, 20R, the door open / close button image 22 may be displayed on the control panel in front of the detected passenger.

[0066] As described above, in this embodiment, the elevator control system 100 includes a control device 90 and two control panels 20L, 20R. The control device 90 controls the elevator. The two control panels 20L, 20R are provided inside the elevator car 10 and accept operations of the car 10 by passengers (P1 to P4). Each of the two control panels 20L, 20R includes a touch panel PN. When the control panels 20L, 20R receive a display command from the control device 90, the touch panel PN displays a door open button image 23 indicating a door open button for opening the door 11 of the car 10. The two control panels 20L, 20R are composed of the control panel 20R provided on the right side of the door 11 and the control panel 20L provided on the left side of the door 11. When the control device 90 detects that the door open button image 23 on the touch panel PN has been touched, it performs control to open the door 11. The control device 90 transmits a display command to one of the two operation panels 20L, 20R to display the door open button image 23.

[0067] This prevents the occurrence of situations where passengers in front of each of the two operation panels 20L, 20R press the door open button and try to let the other get off first, resulting in unnecessary handovers. This reduces the time spent on unnecessary handovers when getting off the elevator, and improves the efficiency of elevator operation.

[0068] The elevator control system 100 further includes a detection device (camera 61, wireless communication device 62). The detection device is installed in the car 10 and detects information about passengers in the car 10. The control device 90 acquires characteristic information and position information about the passengers in the car 10 based on the detection information from the detection device. The characteristic information is information indicating the expectation of operating the door open button, and includes a first characteristic and a second characteristic that has a higher expectation of operating the door open button than the first characteristic. When the control device 90 detects two passengers standing in front of the two operation panels 20L, 20R based on the detection information from the detection device, it acquires the characteristic information of the two passengers. When the characteristic information of one of the two passengers is the second characteristic and the characteristic information of the other passenger is the first characteristic, the control device 90 transmits a display command to display a door open button image 23 to the operation panel in front of the passenger whose characteristic information is the second characteristic.

[0069] By doing this, passengers who are more likely to operate the door open button (who are more likely to actively operate the door open button, or who generally desire such an operation) will be in charge of letting other passengers get off first while pressing the door open button, and getting off last. This allows passengers who do not wish to operate the door open button to get off first, while reducing the time spent on unnecessary sharing when getting off the elevator.

[0070] The characteristic information is the number of times the door open button image 23 has been touched in the past. Passengers with the second characteristic have touched it more times than passengers with the first characteristic. This allows passengers who do not wish to operate the door open button based on the past door open button operation records to exit the elevator first, while reducing the time spent on unnecessary sharing when exiting the elevator.

[0071] The detection device is a camera 61 that takes pictures inside the car 10. The control device 90 stores a learning DB 111 as a database in which the number of touches by passengers is recorded in association with facial images of the passengers. The control device 90 calculates the position of the passenger in the car 10 from the image taken by the camera 61. The control device 90 acquires the number of touches by the passenger based on the facial image of the passenger taken by the camera 61 and the learning DB 111. This makes it possible to identify passengers based on the facial image taken by the camera 61, and to identify passengers who do not want to operate the door open button based on the past record of the number of times the identified passengers have operated the door open button.

[0072] During the learning period, the control device 90 transmits a display command to display the door open button image 23 to both of the two operation panels 20L, 20R. When the door open button image 23 on the touch panel PN of either of the two operation panels 20L, 20R is touched during the learning period, the control device 90 acquires a facial image of the passenger who touched the door open button image 23 from the image captured by the camera 61, and updates the number of touches by that passenger associated with the facial image of that passenger in the learning DB 111. After the learning period ends, the control device 90 transmits a display command to display the door open button image 23 to either of the two operation panels 20L, 20R. This makes it possible to accurately identify passengers who do not want to operate the door open button based on the actual behavior of passengers during the learning period.

[0073] When the method described above is used, it is not necessary to install multiple wireless communication devices 62 (see FIG. 2) inside the car 10. Furthermore, passengers in the car 10 do not need to carry terminals 200. A configuration method using multiple wireless communication devices 62 will be described as a modified example after the description of the fourth embodiment.

[0074] [Second embodiment] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the display control of the door opening / closing button image 22 according to the second embodiment. In the first embodiment, the door opening / closing button image 22 is displayed on an operation panel in front of passengers who frequently touch the door opening button. In this case, the "characteristic information" is the number of times the door opening button image 23 has been touched in the past. Passengers with a second characteristic touch the door opening button image 22 more frequently than passengers with a first characteristic. The "detection device" is a camera 61 that takes pictures of the inside of the car 10.

[0075] On the other hand, in the second embodiment, a door opening / closing button image 22 of a control panel close to a passenger standing in the vicinity is displayed. In this case, the "characteristic information" is the distance between the control panel and the passenger standing in front of the control panel. A passenger with a second characteristic is closer to the control panel than a passenger with a first characteristic. The "detection device" is a camera 61 that takes pictures of the inside of the car 10. Below, differences from the first embodiment will be explained, and explanations of the same parts as in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0076] 8 shows the inside of the car 10 as seen from above. This situation is constantly photographed by one or more cameras 61 provided in the car 10.

[0077] Passengers P1 to P4 are in car 10. Car 10 is currently traveling from the third floor to the first floor. Passenger P1 is standing in front of operation panel 20R, and passenger P2 is standing in front of operation panel 20L.

[0078] The control device 90 executes display control. First, the control device 90 acquires an image from the camera 61. The control device 90 extracts passengers P1 and P2 from the image, and then calculates the distance D2 between the operation panel 20R and passenger P1 and the distance D1 between the operation panel 20L and passenger P2.

[0079] As a result, it is assumed that the distance D2 between the control panel 20R and passenger P1 is greater than the distance D1 between the control panel 20L and passenger P2. In this case, a decision is made to display the door open / close button image 22 on the control panel 20L in front of passenger P2. The control device 90 sends a command to the control panel 20L to display the door open / close button image 22. As a result, the control panel 20L displays the door open / close button image 22. On the other hand, the control panel 20R does not display the door open / close button image 22.

[0080] As a result, when the car 10 arrives at the first floor and opens the door, passenger P2 standing near the operation panel 20L presses the door open button image 23 to let other passengers off first. On the other hand, passenger P1 standing farther from the operation panel 20R gets off before passenger P2 without having to give way unnecessarily.

[0081] In this embodiment, passengers are photographed by one or more cameras 61 provided in the car 10, and the distance between the passengers and the control panel is calculated. However, this is not limiting, and instead of the camera 61, a sensor such as an infrared sensor may be installed in the car 10, and the sensor may calculate the distance between the passengers and the control panel.

[0082] 9 is a flowchart of the process executed by the elevator control system 100. In S201, the control device 90 calculates the position of each passenger from the camera image of the camera 61. In S202, the control device 90 determines whether or not a passenger has been detected in front of each of the operation panels 20L, 20R. If no passenger has been detected in front of each of the operation panels 20L, 20R (NO in S202), the process returns to S201.

[0083] If passengers are detected in front of both operation panels 20L, 20R (YES in S202), the control device 90 sends a display command to the operation panel that is closer to the passengers in S203 to display the door opening / closing button image 22.

[0084] As explained above, in this embodiment, the characteristic information is the distance between the control panel and a passenger standing in front of the control panel. Passengers with the second characteristic are closer to the control panel than passengers with the first characteristic. Passengers standing closer to the control panel are more likely to be passengers who are more likely to operate the door open button (passengers who are more likely to actively try to operate the door open button, or passengers for whom such an operation is generally desired). This allows passengers who do not wish to operate the door open button to exit the elevator first, while reducing the time spent on unnecessary sharing when exiting the elevator, thereby improving elevator operation efficiency.

[0085] [Third embodiment] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the display control of the door opening / closing button image 22 according to the third embodiment. In the first embodiment, the door opening / closing button image 22 is displayed on an operation panel in front of passengers who frequently touch the door opening button. In this case, the "characteristic information" is the number of times the door opening button image 23 has been touched in the past. Passengers with a second characteristic touch the door opening button image 22 more frequently than passengers with a first characteristic. The "detection device" is a camera 61 that takes pictures of the inside of the car 10.

[0086] On the other hand, in the third embodiment, a door opening / closing button image 22 is displayed on the control panel in front of a passenger with a lower estimated age. In this case, the "characteristic information" is age. A passenger with a second characteristic is younger than a passenger with a first characteristic. The "detection device" is a camera 61 that takes pictures inside the car 10. Below, differences from the first embodiment will be explained, and explanations of the same parts as in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0087] The interior of car 10 is constantly photographed by one or more cameras 61 installed in car 10. Passengers P1 to P4 are riding in car 10. Car 10 is currently traveling from the third floor to the first floor. Passenger P1 is standing in front of operation panel 20R, and passenger P2 is standing in front of operation panel 20L.

[0088] The control device 90 executes display control. First, the control device 90 acquires an image from the camera 61. The control device 90 extracts passengers P1 and P2 standing in front of the operation panel from the image. Next, facial images of passengers P1 and P2 are extracted.

[0089] The control device 90 estimates the ages of passengers P1 and P2 based on their facial images using known image processing. As a result, it is assumed that passenger P1's age is estimated to be 22 years old, and passenger P2's age is estimated to be 40 years old. Because passenger P1 is younger than passenger P2, a decision is made to display the door open / close button image 22 on the control panel 20R in front of the younger passenger P1. The control device 90 sends a command to the control panel 20R to display the door open / close button image 22. As a result, the control panel 20R displays the door open / close button image 22. On the other hand, the control panel 20L does not display the door open / close button image 22.

[0090] As a result, when the car 10 arrives at the first floor and opens the door, the younger passenger P1 in front of the operation panel 20R presses the door open button image 23 to let other passengers off first. On the other hand, the older passenger P2 in front of the operation panel 20L gets off before passenger P1 without needlessly giving way to each other.

[0091] 11 is a flowchart of the processing executed by the elevator control system 100. In S301, the control device 90 calculates the position of the passenger in the car 10 from the image captured by the camera 61. In S302, the control device 90 determines whether or not passengers have been detected in front of both operation panels 20L, 20R. If passengers have not been detected in front of both operation panels 20L, 20R (NO in S302), the processing returns to S301.

[0092] If passengers are detected in front of both operation panels 20L, 20R (YES in S302), in S303 the control device 90 acquires facial images of the detected passengers from the images captured by the camera 61. In S304, the control device 90 determines the age of the passenger from the facial image of the passenger captured by the camera 61. In S305, the control device 90 transmits a display command to the operation panel in front of the younger passenger to display the door opening / closing button image 22.

[0093] As described above, in this embodiment, the characteristic information is age. Passengers with the second characteristic are younger than passengers with the first characteristic. Younger passengers are more likely to be passengers who are more likely to operate the door open button (passengers who are more likely to actively operate the door open button, or for whom such operation is generally desired). For example, in an office building, younger people are more likely to be lower-ranking employees, and in this case, it is in line with the generally assumed psychological judgment that lower-ranking (younger) employees will operate the door open button. This allows passengers who do not wish to operate the door open button to exit the elevator first, while reducing the time spent on unnecessary sharing when exiting the elevator, thereby improving elevator operation efficiency.

[0094] The detection device is a camera 61 that takes pictures inside the car 10. The control device 90 calculates the position of the passenger inside the car 10 from the image taken by the camera 61. The control device 90 determines the age of the passenger from the facial image of the passenger taken by the camera 61. This makes it possible to estimate the age of the passenger based on the facial image taken by the camera, and to identify passengers who do not want to operate the door opening button based on the age.

[0095] [Fourth embodiment] In the first embodiment, a door opening / closing button image 22 is displayed on a control panel in front of passengers who frequently touch the door opening button. In this case, the "characteristic information" is the number of times the door opening button image 23 has been touched in the past. Passengers with a second characteristic touch the button more frequently than passengers with a first characteristic. The "detection device" is a camera 61 that takes pictures of the inside of the car 10.

[0096] On the other hand, in the fourth embodiment, the system is configured to display a door opening / closing button image 22 of a control panel located in front of a passenger with a lower position in the company. For example, consider an elevator system installed in a building (company building) occupied by a single company. In this case, the "characteristic information" is the position in the company. A passenger with a second characteristic has a lower position than a passenger with a first characteristic. The "detection device" is a plurality of wireless communication devices 62. The plurality of wireless communication devices 62 detect signals transmitted by the wireless communication devices 201 of the terminals 200 carried by passengers in the car 10. Below, differences from the first embodiment will be described, and explanations of the same parts as in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0097] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of employee DB112 according to the fourth embodiment. Employee DB112, which serves as a second database, records the affiliation and job title of a passenger associated with the passenger's identification ID (employee ID). For example, passenger P1, who has employee ID "CID101," belongs to "Department A, Section B," and his job title is "Section Manager." Passenger P2, who has employee ID "CID102," belongs to "Department A, Section B," and his job title is "None (In Charge)."

[0098] Passenger P3, whose employee ID is "CID103," belongs to "C Department, D Section," and his job title is "Section Chief." Passenger P4, whose employee ID is "CID104," belongs to "C Department, D Section," and his job title is "None (In Charge)."

[0099] Here, the job rank is assumed to be higher in the order of section chief, assistant manager, and none (in charge). In other words, the job rank is higher in the order of passenger P1 > passenger P3 > passenger P2 = passenger P4.

[0100] 13 is a diagram for explaining the display control of the door opening / closing button image 22. A plurality of wireless communication devices 62 are installed inside the car 10. In this embodiment, all passengers are company employees, and always carry terminals 200 provided by the company.

[0101] The control device 90 can acquire employee information such as employee location information and employee ID via the wireless communication device 62 based on information transmitted by the wireless communication device 201 of the terminal 200. In this case, it is not necessary to install a camera 61 inside the car 10, but it is also possible to install a camera 61 and identify the position of the passenger based on an image captured by the camera 61.

[0102] Passengers P1 to P4 are in car 10. Car 10 is currently traveling from the third floor to the first floor. Passenger P1 is standing in front of operation panel 20R, and passenger P2 is standing in front of operation panel 20L.

[0103] The control device 90 executes display control. First, the control device 90 acquires employee information such as employee location information and employee ID via the wireless communication device 62 from information transmitted by the wireless communication device 201 of the terminal 200.

[0104] As a result, it is determined that passenger P1 is standing in front of operation panel 20R and passenger P2 is standing in front of operation panel 20L. The control device 90 also acquires information that the employee ID of passenger P1 is "CID101" and the employee ID of passenger P2 is "CID102."

[0105] The control device 90 searches the employee DB 112 and acquires the job title information of passengers P1 and P2. As a result, the control device 90 acquires information that passenger P1's job title is "section manager" and passenger P2's job title is "none (in charge)." Passenger P1's job title of "section manager" is higher than passenger P2's job title of "none (in charge)."

[0106] In this case, a decision is made to display the door open / close button image 22 on the control panel 20L in front of the lower-ranking passenger P2. The control device 90 sends a command to the control panel 20L to display the door open / close button image 22. As a result, the control panel 20L displays the door open / close button image 22. On the other hand, the control panel 20R does not display the door open / close button image 22.

[0107] As a result, when the car 10 arrives at the first floor and opens the door, the passenger P2 with a lower position on the operation panel 20L presses the door open button image 23 to let other passengers off first. On the other hand, the passenger P1 with a higher position in front of the operation panel 20R gets off before the passenger P2 without giving way unnecessarily.

[0108] 14 is a flowchart of the process executed by the elevator control system 100. In S401, the control device 90 acquires signals from the multiple wireless communication devices 62, and acquires the identification ID (employee ID) that identifies the passenger in the car 10 and the position based on the acquired signals.

[0109] In S402, the control device 90 determines whether or not passengers have been detected in front of both operation panels 20L, 20R. If passengers have not been detected in front of both operation panels 20L, 20R (NO in S402), the process returns to S401.

[0110] When a passenger is detected in front of each of the operation panels 20L, 20R (YES in S402), in S403 the control device 90 acquires the position corresponding to the employee ID of the passenger from the employee DB 112. In S404, the control device 90 transmits a display command to the operation panel in front of the passenger with the lower position to display the door opening / closing button image 22.

[0111] As explained above, in this embodiment, the characteristic information is job position. Passengers with the second characteristic have a lower job position than passengers with the first characteristic. Passengers with lower job positions at work are more likely to be passengers who are more likely to operate the door open button (passengers who are more likely to actively try to operate the door open button, or for whom such an operation is generally desired). This allows passengers who do not wish to operate the door open button to exit the elevator first, while reducing the time spent on unnecessary sharing when exiting the elevator, thereby improving elevator operation efficiency.

[0112] The detection device detects a signal transmitted by a wireless communication device 201 carried by a passenger in the car 10. The control device 90 acquires an identification ID that identifies the passenger in the car 10 and the passenger's position based on the signal detected by the detection device. The control device 90 extracts the passenger's job position from a second database (employee DB112) in which the job position of the passenger associated with the passenger's identification ID is recorded. This makes it possible to identify the passenger's job position based on the signal transmitted by the wireless communication device 201 and to distinguish passengers who do not want to operate the door opening button based on the job position.

[0113] [Modification of the first embodiment] A modification of the first embodiment in which a plurality of wireless communication devices 62 are installed inside the car 10 and passengers in the car 10 carry terminals 200 will be described below.

[0114] In this case, the learning DB 111 does not record the passenger identification ID, face image, and number of times the door opening button is touched, as in FIG. 5, but records the employee ID and number of times the door opening button is touched.

[0115] As in the fourth embodiment, the control device 90 has a plurality of wireless communication devices 62 installed inside the car 10. Furthermore, all passengers are office workers, and they always carry terminals 200 provided by their companies. Employee information such as employee location information and employee IDs can be obtained via the wireless communication devices 62 using information transmitted by the wireless communication devices 201 of the terminals 200.

[0116] In the first embodiment, during the learning period, facial images of passengers standing in front of the operation panels 20L, 20R were acquired based on images from the camera 61, and the number of times the door open button was touched together with the facial images was recorded in the learning DB 111. In contrast, in the modified example of the first embodiment, during the learning period, the employee IDs of passengers standing in front of the operation panels 20L, 20R are acquired based on information acquired from the wireless communication device 62, and the number of times the door open button was touched together with the employee ID is recorded in the learning DB 111.

[0117] After the learning period ends, the control device 90 acquires employee information such as employee (passenger) location information and employee IDs via the wireless communication device 62. From this information, the control device 90 extracts the employee IDs of passengers standing in front of the operation panels 20L, 20R. From the learning DB 111, the control device 90 acquires the number of times the door open button has been touched corresponding to the employee ID. Then, it displays an image of the door open button in front of the passenger who has touched the door open button the most.

[0118] In the third embodiment, multiple wireless communication devices 62 may also be installed inside the car 10, a database may be maintained that records the ages of employees corresponding to their employee IDs, and the ages may be obtained from the database.

[0119] The embodiments disclosed herein are merely examples and are not limited to the above. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, and it is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0120] 10 car, 11 door, 20L, 20R control panel, 21 indicator image, 22 door open / close button image, 23 door open button image, 24 door close button image, 25 car call button image, 51 hoist, 52 landing device, 61 camera, 62, 201 wireless communication device, 90 control device, 91 processor, 92 memory, 93 communication IF, 100 elevator control system, 111 learning DB, 112 employee DB, 200 terminal, P1 to P4 passenger, PN touch panel.

Claims

1. a control device for controlling the elevator; two operation panels provided in the elevator car and configured to receive operations of the car by passengers; Each of the two operation panels includes a touch panel that displays a door open button image indicating a door open button for opening a door of the car when the operation panel receives a display command from the control device, The two operation panels are configured as an operation panel provided on the right side of the door and an operation panel provided on the left side of the door, The control device When it is detected that the door open button image on the touch panel has been touched, control is performed to open the door; An elevator control system that transmits the display command to one of the two control panels to display the door open button image.

2. a detection device provided in the car for detecting information of a passenger in the car; the control device acquires characteristic information and position information of the passengers in the elevator based on the detection information of the detection device; The characteristic information is information indicating an expectation degree of operating the door opening button, and includes a first characteristic and a second characteristic having a higher expectation degree of operating the door opening button than the first characteristic, The control device When two passengers standing in front of the two operation panels are detected based on the detection information of the detection device, the characteristic information of the two passengers is acquired; 2. The elevator control system according to claim 1, wherein, when the characteristic information of one of the two passengers is the second characteristic and the characteristic information of the other passenger is the first characteristic, the display command to display the door open button image is transmitted to an operation panel in front of the passenger whose characteristic information is the second characteristic.

3. The characteristic information is the number of times the door-open button image has been touched in the past, 3. The elevator control system according to claim 2, wherein the number of touches is greater for passengers with the second characteristic than for passengers with the first characteristic.

4. the detection device is a camera that photographs the inside of the car, the control device stores a database in which the number of touches by the passengers is recorded in association with facial images of the passengers; The control device Calculating the position of the passenger in the elevator car from the image captured by the camera; The elevator control system according to claim 3 , wherein the number of touches of the passenger is acquired based on the facial image of the passenger captured by the camera and the database.

5. The control device During the learning period, the display command for displaying the door open button image is transmitted to both of the two operation panels, During the learning period, when the door open button image on the touch panel of either of the two operation panels is touched, a facial image of the passenger who touched the door open button image is acquired from the image captured by the camera, and the number of touches by the passenger associated with the facial image of the passenger in the database is updated; The elevator control system according to claim 4, wherein after the learning period ends, the display command for displaying the door open button image is transmitted to one of the two operation panels.

6. the characteristic information is a distance between the operation panel and a passenger standing in front of the operation panel; 3. The elevator control system according to claim 2, wherein a distance between the operation panel and the passengers having the second characteristic is smaller than that between the passengers having the first characteristic and the operation panel.

7. The characteristic information is age, 3. The elevator control system of claim 2, wherein the passengers having the second characteristic are younger than the passengers having the first characteristic.

8. the detection device is a camera that photographs the inside of the car, The control device Calculating the position of the passenger in the elevator car from the image captured by the camera; The elevator control system according to claim 7, wherein the age of the passenger is determined from a facial image of the passenger captured by the camera.

9. The characteristic information is a job position, 3. The elevator control system according to claim 2, wherein passengers having the second characteristic have a lower rank than passengers having the first characteristic.

10. the detection device detects a signal transmitted by a wireless communication device carried by a passenger in the elevator; The control device acquiring an identification ID for identifying a passenger in the elevator car and a position of the passenger based on the signal detected by the detection device; 10. The elevator control system according to claim 9, wherein the job position of the passenger is extracted from a second database in which the job positions of the passengers associated with the passenger identification IDs are recorded.

11. A control method for an elevator control system including a control device for controlling an elevator and two operation panels provided in a car of the elevator for receiving operations of the car by passengers, comprising: each of the two operation panels includes a touch panel; The control method includes a step of causing each of the two operation panels to display, on the touch panel, a door open button image indicating a door open button for opening the car door when the operation panel receives a display command from the control device, The two operation panels are configured as an operation panel provided on the right side of the door and an operation panel provided on the left side of the door, The control method includes: When the control device detects that the door open button image on the touch panel has been touched, the control device performs control to open the door; The control method further comprises a step in which the control device transmits the display command to one of the two operation panels to display the door open button image.

Images