Elevator control device

Abstract

This system ensures appropriate boarding space based on the attribute information of passengers waiting at the boarding area and the congestion level inside the elevator car, thereby suppressing discrepancies between the congestion level displayed by the system and the congestion level perceived by users. [Solution] The video analysis unit analyzes the space inside the elevator car based on the video footage from the car camera that films the inside of the elevator car, and also analyzes the attribute information of people waiting at the landing based on the video footage from the landing camera that films the area around the landing. The boarding eligibility determination unit determines whether the people waiting at the landing whose attribute information has been analyzed can board the analyzed space inside the elevator car. If the determination results in the car being full and boarding not being possible, the driving control unit directs the elevator directly to the destination floor without stopping at the calling floor of the landing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to an elevator control device and an elevator control method.

Background Art

[0002] An elevator is an essential means of transportation when users move up and down in a building. The attributes of users vary, such as people using canes, wheelchair users, stroller users, shopping cart users, etc. There are also bicycle users who pull their bicycles for use.

[0003] The space inside the car has area limitations and a defined load capacity. Conventionally, there is a system that determines whether a user who intends to board (hereinafter also referred to as a boarding waiting person) can board based on the current boarding situation inside the car. There are also systems that determine the degree of congestion inside the car considering the size of wheelchairs, etc., and systems that calculate the number of operating elevators according to the number of waiting people.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, when determining the congestion situation inside the car, usually, on the system side (controller side), the load detected by the car load detector is used, while users often judge whether they can board based on whether there is empty space in the car interior. Also, since the required space varies depending on the attributes of users such as wheelchairs and canes, there are cases where it is impossible to determine whether one can board the car.

[0006] Thus, a common problem with conventional systems is the discrepancy between the level of congestion recorded on the system and the level of congestion perceived by users.

[0007] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide an elevator control device and an elevator control method that can secure an appropriate boarding space according to the attribute information of people waiting at the boarding area and the congestion status inside the elevator car, thereby suppressing the discrepancy between the congestion level on the system and the congestion level perceived by the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] An elevator control device according to an embodiment for achieving the above objective comprises a video analysis unit, a boarding / unable to board unit, and a travel control unit.

[0009] The video analysis unit analyzes the space inside the elevator car based on video footage from an in-car camera that films the inside of the elevator car, and also analyzes the attribute information of people waiting at the landing based on video footage from a landing camera that films the area around the landing. The boarding eligibility determination unit determines whether the people waiting at the landing, whose attribute information has been analyzed, can board the elevator car based on the analyzed space inside the car. If the determination results in the elevator car being full and boarding not being possible, the driving control unit directs the elevator directly to the destination floor without stopping at the calling floor. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] A schematic plan view showing the elevator of the embodiment. [Figure 2] A block diagram showing the configuration of the elevator control device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] An explanatory diagram showing an example of announcement information for each user attribute stored in the information storage unit. [Figure 4A] A flowchart illustrating the processing procedure of the embodiment. [Figure 4B] A flowchart illustrating the processing procedure of the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] <Embodiment> As shown in Figure 1, the elevator car 2 of elevator car 1 has an interior space 6 formed by a panel on the car door 3 side, left and right side walls 4, and a back wall 5. An interior control panel 7 with a car call button is installed on the car door 3 side panel. An interior camera 8 that takes pictures inside the car is installed near the ceiling. Furthermore, an interior speaker 9 and an interior display 10 are installed on the car door 3 side panel, which output guidance information to users 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 in the form of audio and video. Other equipment inside car 2 includes lighting equipment and air conditioning equipment, but these are not shown in the figure.

[0012] Boarding area 20 is equipped with a boarding area camera 21 that films the area around the boarding area. Additionally, boarding area speakers 22 and boarding area displays 23 are installed to provide audio and video guidance to boarding area passengers 31, 32, and 33. In the diagram, boarding area passenger 31 represents a general passenger, boarding area passenger 32 represents a passenger with luggage, and boarding area passenger 33 represents a wheelchair user. Other passengers, such as those with strollers, shopping carts, or bicycles, are also present but are not shown in the diagram.

[0013] In Figure 1, empty space AA represents an empty space in the elevator car 6 where users 11-15 are not present. Furthermore, in the boarding area 20, area A1 represents the waiting area occupied by boarding passenger 31, area A2 represents the waiting area occupied by boarding passenger 32 carrying luggage, and area A3 represents the waiting area occupied by boarding passenger 33 who is using a wheelchair.

[0014] As shown in Figure 2, the elevator control device 40 includes a video analysis unit 41, a boarding eligibility determination unit 42, a guidance information storage unit 43, a guidance information output unit 44, a travel control unit 45, a lighting control unit 46, and an air conditioning control unit 47.

[0015] The video analysis unit 41 analyzes the space inside the elevator car based on the video footage from the elevator car camera 8 that captures the inside of the elevator car 2, and also analyzes the attribute information of the passengers waiting at the elevator car 31, 32, and 33 based on the video footage from the elevator car camera 21 that captures the area around the elevator car.

[0016] The boarding permission determination unit 42 determines whether the boarding passengers 31 to 33, whose attribute information has been analyzed by the video analysis unit 41, can board the car interior space 6 of the basket 2 analyzed by the video analysis unit 41. Specifically, the available space AA in the car interior space 6 is compared with each waiting area A1 to A3 occupied by the boarding passengers 31 to 33 to analyze whether any of the boarding passengers 31 to 33 can board the basket 2.

[0017] The guidance information storage unit 43 stores each guidance information for voice guidance and video guidance for the users 11 to 15 and the boarding passengers 31 to 33 in the basket 2. In this case, each guidance information based on the attribute information of the boarding passengers 31 to 33 is set.

[0018] For example, as shown in FIG. 3, announcements for each user attribute are as follows: (1) Wheelchair user: The wheelchair user will board. Please leave the center empty for easier boarding. (2) User with a cane: The user with a cane will board. Please give up the area near the handrail. (3) Stroller user: The stroller user will board. (4) Cart user: The user pulling the cart will board. (5) Bicycle user: The user pulling the bicycle will board. Please leave the space from the entrance to the back empty. Such announcements are assumed. In addition, in department stores, supermarkets, etc., announcements such as "The user of the shopping cart will board" are also possible.

[0019] The guidance information output unit 44 outputs guidance information to the in-car speaker 9, the in-car display 10, the boarding speaker 22, and the boarding display 23 based on the guidance information stored in the guidance information storage unit 43.

[0020] If the boarding availability determination unit 42 determines that the elevator car 2 is full and none of the waiting passengers 31-33 can board, the travel control unit 45 will implement travel control (full-occupancy control) to direct the elevator directly to the destination floor without stopping at the calling floor. Furthermore, if the boarding availability determination unit 42 determines that some of the waiting passengers 31-33 can board but not all of them can, the travel control unit 45 will implement control (remaining passengers control) to keep the calling to the landing open even after the car has arrived.

[0021] If the boarding eligibility determination unit determines that adequate space is not available, the lighting control unit 46 will encourage the securing of adequate space inside the car by changing the brightness of the car interior lighting or changing the illumination location. For example, as lighting control, a point light source may be used to illuminate the floor surface and guide passengers inside the car.

[0022] If the boarding / non-boarding determination unit 42 determines that adequate space is not secured, the air conditioning control unit 47 changes the airflow of the in-car air conditioning system. For example, it increases the air conditioning in the space that needs to be vacated to encourage users 11-15 to move out of that space. It also activates the forced ventilation function to encourage the securing of adequate space within the car. Furthermore, if the elevator has a refresh function, it activates the refresh function to encourage the securing of adequate space within the car.

[0023] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the operations performed by the elevator control device 40.

[0024] While the elevator is in operation, the in-car camera 8 captures images of the inside of the car 2. This video information is output to the video analysis unit 41 of the elevator control device 40. In addition, the landing camera 21 captures images of the area around the landing 20, and this video information is also output to the video analysis unit 41.

[0025] The video analysis unit 41 determines whether the elevator car 2 is full or not based on the input video information (S1).

[0026] If the elevator car 2 is not full (S1NO), then it is determined whether or not the boarding button has been pressed (S2).

[0027] If the boarding button is pressed, the system detects the empty space AA inside the elevator car 2 (S3). The video analysis unit 41 also detects the attributes of the passengers waiting at the boarding area, such as whether they are wheelchair users, cane users, stroller users, or passengers carrying luggage (S4).

[0028] Next, the available space AA inside the car 2 is compared with the waiting areas A1 to A3 based on the waiting person's attributes (S5). Then, the boarding eligibility determination unit 42 determines whether or not a waiting person can board the available space AA inside the car 2 (S6).

[0029] If passengers 31-33 waiting at the platform cannot board the empty space AA inside car 2 (S6NO), car 2 will pass the calling floor without stopping. In this case, passengers 31-33 waiting at platform 20 will become passengers who were not called (S7). The running control unit 45 then requests the group control unit to allocate another car for the passengers who were not called (S8).

[0030] On the other hand, if any of the passengers waiting at the boarding area 31-33 can board the empty space AA inside the elevator car 2 (S6YES), then, as shown in Figure 3, an announcement tailored to the passenger's attributes is broadcast inside the elevator car 2 through the speaker 9 (S9).

[0031] The boarding eligibility determination unit 42 determines whether all passengers waiting at the boarding area are eligible to board (S10). If all passengers 31-33 are eligible to board (S10 YES), the car 2 arrives, boards passengers 31-33, and then the boarding call is canceled (S11).

[0032] If not all of the passengers waiting at the boarding area (31-33) are able to board (S10NO), an announcement is made to the passengers waiting at the boarding area stating, "Not everyone can board" (S12). Then, after the elevator car 2 arrives at boarding area 20, passengers with higher priority, such as those using canes or wheelchair users (33), are given priority to board (S13).

[0033] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to secure an appropriate boarding space according to the attribute information of passengers waiting at the boarding area and the congestion level inside the car, thereby suppressing the discrepancy between the congestion level on the system and the congestion level perceived by the user.

[0034] <Modified examples of embodiments> 《Example 1》 In this embodiment, if it is determined that adequate space has not been secured even after an audio message prompting passengers to secure adequate space in the car 2 is played, the in-car display 10 displays text and images prompting passengers to secure adequate space in the car 2. This makes it possible to prompt passengers who cannot hear the announcement to secure adequate space in the car.

[0035] 《Modified Example 2》 In this embodiment, if it is determined that adequate space has not been secured even after an audio message prompting passengers to secure adequate space inside the car 2 is played, the brightness and location of the lighting inside the car are changed. This makes it possible to prompt passengers who cannot hear the announcement to secure adequate space inside the car 2.

[0036] Variation 3 In this embodiment, if it is determined that adequate space has not been secured even after an audio message prompting passengers to secure adequate space inside the car 2 is played, the airflow of the car's air conditioning system is changed. This makes it possible to prompt passengers who cannot hear the announcement to secure adequate space inside the car 2.

[0037] 《Modification 4》 In this embodiment, the forced ventilation function is activated when it is determined that adequate space has not been secured even after an audio message prompting passengers to secure adequate space inside the car 2 is played. This allows passengers who cannot hear the announcement to be prompted to secure adequate space inside the car 2.

[0038] 《Modified Version 5》 In this embodiment, the in-car refresh function is activated when it is determined that adequate space has not been secured even after an audio message prompting passengers to secure adequate space inside the car 2 has been played. This makes it possible to prompt passengers who cannot hear the announcement to secure adequate space inside the car 2.

[0039] Modification 6 In this embodiment, when it is determined that it is impossible for everyone to board, a message or image to that effect is displayed on the boarding area display 23. This allows the congestion status to be shared with boarding area passengers who may not be able to hear the announcement.

[0040] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented 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 variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1...Elevator, 2...Car, 3...Car door, 4...Side wall, 5...Back wall, 6...Car interior space, 7...Car control panel, 8...Car camera, 9...Car speaker, 10...Car display, 11,12,13,14,15...Users, 20...Landing, 21...Landing camera, 22...Landing speaker, 23...Landing display, 31...Person waiting at the landing (general user), 32...Person waiting at the landing (luggage user), 33...Landing user 40...Elevator control device, 41...Video analysis unit, 42...Boarding eligibility determination unit, 43...Guidance information storage unit, 44...Guidance information output unit, 45...Traction control unit, 46...Lighting control unit, 47...Air conditioning control unit, AA...Empty space, A1...Waiting area for passengers waiting at the landing (general users) 31, A2...Waiting area for passengers waiting at the landing (luggage users) 32, A3...Waiting area for passengers using the landing (wheelchair users) 33

Claims

1. The system includes a video analysis unit that analyzes the interior space of the elevator car based on video footage from an in-car camera that films the inside of the elevator car, and a video analysis unit that analyzes attribute information of people waiting at the landing based on video footage from a landing camera that films the area around the landing. The analyzed space inside the elevator car includes a boarding eligibility determination unit that determines whether or not a passenger waiting at the boarding area, whose attribute information has been analyzed, can board the elevator car, and An elevator control device comprising: a travel control unit that, if the determination is made that the elevator car is full and boarding is not possible, causes the elevator to proceed directly to the destination floor without stopping at the landing call floor; and

2. The boarding eligibility determination unit determines whether all passengers waiting at the boarding area can board the elevator car, based on the analysis performed by the video analysis unit. If it is determined that it is impossible for everyone to board, an audio or video message will be sent to those waiting at the boarding area informing them that not everyone can board. The elevator control device according to claim 1, wherein the travel control unit does not cancel the landing call even after the elevator car has arrived.

3. The elevator control device according to claim 1, further comprising a guidance information output unit that outputs audio or video prompting the securing of appropriate space inside the elevator car in accordance with the attribute information of people waiting at the landing analyzed by the aforementioned video analysis unit.

4. The boarding eligibility determination unit sets an appropriate interior space for the car corresponding to the audio or video, The system compares the set appropriate space inside the elevator car with the current space inside the elevator car analyzed by the video analysis unit to determine whether or not an appropriate space has been secured. If the determination determines that adequate space has not been secured, the guidance information output unit outputs audio or video as guidance information prompting the securing of adequate space inside the elevator car, as described in claim 3.

5. The elevator control device according to claim 4, further comprising a lighting control unit that, when the boarding eligibility determination unit determines that adequate space has not been secured, prompts the securing of adequate space inside the elevator car by changing the brightness of the car interior lighting or changing the illumination location.

6. The elevator control device according to claim 4, further comprising an air conditioning control unit that, if the boarding eligibility determination unit determines that adequate space has not been secured, changes the airflow of the in-car air conditioning equipment to encourage the securing of adequate space inside the car.

7. The elevator control device according to claim 6, wherein if the boarding eligibility determination unit determines that adequate space has not been secured, the air conditioning control unit activates the forced ventilation function to encourage the securing of adequate space inside the elevator car.

8. If the boarding eligibility determination unit determines that adequate space has not been secured, the air conditioning control unit activates the car refresh function to encourage the securing of adequate space inside the car, as described in claim 6.

9. Based on the in-car video footage from an in-car camera that films the inside of the elevator car, the interior space of the elevator car is analyzed, and based on the landing video footage from a landing camera that films the area around the landing, attribute information of people waiting at the landing is analyzed. The system analyzes the space inside the elevator car and determines whether a passenger waiting at the boarding area, whose attribute information has been analyzed, can board the car. If the assessment determines that the elevator car is full and passengers cannot board, the elevator control method will cause it to proceed directly to the destination floor without stopping at the calling floor.

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