Elevator system and elevator control method

Abstract

The present invention is applied to elevators provided with an operation panel that enables registration of a destination floor on a display panel. The operation panel is provided with: an input information transmission unit that transmits information input to the display panel to a control device; a destination floor display processing unit that displays a security release floor in a destination floor registration area on the basis of the received security release information; and a registration floor display processing unit that displays the received registration floor on the display panel. The destination floor display processing unit changes the display form of the destination floor registration area according to the number of security release floors.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an elevator system and an elevator control method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in an elevator car, as an operation panel, stop floor registration buttons corresponding to the floors where the elevator can stop are arranged, and a user who gets into the elevator car performs an operation of pressing the stop floor registration button for the destination floor. For example, when the 10th floor is the destination floor, the user performs an operation of pressing the stop floor registration button for the 10th floor among a number of stop floor registration buttons arranged corresponding to the floors where the elevator can stop. When the stop floor registration button for the 10th floor is pressed, the display color of the pressed stop floor registration button for the 10th floor changes to a prominent color so that it can be understood that the 10th floor has been registered as a stop floor.

[0003] As an advanced version of such a conventional stop floor registration button, it has been proposed to arrange a touch panel with a display function as an operation panel inside the elevator car. In addition, as a measure against infectious diseases in recent years, it has been proposed to make the touch panel a non-contact type panel. The non-contact type panel is operated by the user bringing a finger close to the buttons displayed on the display panel. Patent Document 1 describes a technique in which a destination floor display device inside an elevator car is configured by a liquid crystal display or the like, and the destination floor display device displays candidates for the destination floor based on the past usage history of passengers.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The technology described in Patent Document 1 is a technology in which a destination floor candidate based on the past usage history of a passenger is displayed on a destination floor display device when the passenger of an elevator performs authentication processing and then enters the car. Here, if the corresponding passenger only moves between the same floors in the building, the candidate for the destination floor to be displayed will be one floor. For example, when a passenger who uses between the 1st floor and the 9th floor enters the car from the 1st floor, the destination floor display device will display the 9th floor as the destination.

[0006] However, when the floors used by the corresponding passenger in the building are multiple, all the buttons of the floors that the corresponding passenger has used in the past will be displayed, and depending on the usage situation of the passenger, a large number of buttons will be displayed. Therefore, just displaying the candidate for the destination floor based on the past usage history of the passenger does not necessarily mean that a display with good operability and visibility can be provided for the passenger.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an elevator system and an elevator control method capable of improving the operability and visibility when displaying the destination floor on the operation panel in the car.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, for example, the configuration described in the claims is adopted. This application includes a plurality of means for solving the above problems. If an example is given, Inside the car In an elevator system provided with an operation panel capable of registering the destination floor on a display panel, the operation panel includes an input information transmission unit that transmits the information input to the display panel to the elevator control device, and a destination floor display processing unit that displays the security release floor in the destination floor registration area of the display panel based on the security release information received by the elevator control device from the security management device, Destination floor button and a registered floor display processing unit that displays the registered floor received from the elevator control device on the display panel, and is provided with Registered floor display area a registered floor display processing unit that displays the registered floor received from the elevator control device on the display panel. When the number of security release floors indicated by the security release information received from the security management device is 1, if the destination floor display processing unit displays the destination floor button of that 1 security release floor in the destination floor registration area, the registered floor display processing unit determines the corresponding security release floor as the registered floor and displays it in the registered floor display area. When the number of security release floors indicated by the security release information received from the security management device is less than a predetermined number and is plural, the destination floor display processing unit displays the destination floor buttons of those plural security release floors in the destination floor registration area, and the registered floor display processing unit determines the security release floor with an operation among the displayed destination floor buttons as the registered floor and displays it in the registered floor display area. According to the present invention, when the display panel displays the security release floors, the display form is changed according to the number of security release floors. As a result, it becomes possible to improve the operability and visibility of the display according to the number of security release floors.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, when the display panel displays the security release floors, the display form is changed according to the number of security release floors. As a result, it becomes possible to improve the operability and visibility of the display according to the number of security release floors. Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be clarified by the description of the following embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, an elevator system according to an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "this example") will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0012] [Configuration of Elevator System] FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the elevator system of this example. As shown in FIG. 1, the elevator system of this example includes an elevator control device 10 and a destination floor registration device 20. The destination floor registration device 20 is installed in the car. In addition, the configuration of the elevator control device 10 shown in FIG. 1 shows only the configuration related to the setting of the destination floor and the registered floor, and other configurations such as the travel control of the car are omitted.

[0013] The elevator control device 10 controls the running (ascending and descending) of the elevator car by the hoist based on the operation of the car call buttons at each landing and the registration operation of the stop floors inside the elevator car. Here, at least some of the stop floors of the elevator in this example are floors where security management is performed. For this reason, when the information of the security release floor is transmitted from the security management device 30 installed in a building or the like, the elevator control device 10 can register the corresponding floor as the destination floor where the elevator car stops. Conversely, when the information of the security release floor is not transmitted, it is prohibited to register the corresponding floor as the destination floor. Note that the security management device 30 may be configured by a server or the like installed outside the building.

[0014] The destination floor registration device 20 is arranged inside the elevator car and controls the display on the display panel 41 (Fig. 3) with a non-contact input function arranged on the operation panel installed in the elevator car. Further, the destination floor registration device 20 detects non-contact input with a finger or the like approaching the display panel 41 and sends an instruction to the elevator control device 10. The detection of non-contact input is performed by the non-contact sensor 42. The non-contact sensor 42 may be a contact sensor such as a touch panel. The display panel 41 has a destination floor registration area 41a and a registered floor display area 41b. In the following description, when referring to an input operation, it basically indicates a non-contact input operation, but may also include an operation of directly touching the surface of the display panel 41 with a finger.

[0015] Note that the destination floor indicates the floor where the user who gets on the elevator car gets off, and the registered floor indicates the floor registered in the elevator control device 10 as the destination floor. That is, the user inputs the destination floor on the operation panel inside the elevator car and performs an operation to set the destination floor, whereby the destination floor is registered and the elevator car stops at the registered floor. However, the elevator car may stop at floors other than the registered floor due to a car call at the landing or the like. Also, when the destination floor is a security floor, it cannot be registered as the registered floor unless the information of the security release floor is transmitted from the security management device 30.

[0016] Returning to the description of the configuration of FIG. 1, the destination floor registration device 20 includes an input processing unit 21, an input determination unit 22, an input information transmission unit 23, a destination floor display processing unit 24, a destination floor registration area update unit 25, a registered floor display processing unit 26, and a registered floor display area update unit 27.

[0017] The input processing unit 21 performs input processing on information on the detection state of a finger or the like in non-contact with the display panel 41 by the non-contact sensor 42. The input determination unit 22 acquires the information on the detection state input-processed by the input processing unit 21, and determines at which display location on the display panel 41 a finger or the like has approached and a non-contact operation has been performed.

[0018] The input information transmission unit 23 performs input information transmission processing for transmitting information on the non-contact operation determined by the input determination unit 22 to the elevator control device 10. The destination floor display processing unit 24 receives information on the destination floor set by the elevator control device 10, and performs destination floor operation display processing such as buttons for registering the destination floor. The destination floor registration area update unit 25 updates the display of the destination floor registration area 41a on the display panel 41 based on the processing in the destination floor display processing unit 24.

[0019] The registered floor display processing unit 26 receives information on the registered floor set by the elevator control device 10, and performs registered floor display processing for displaying the registered floors in floor order. The registered floor display area update unit 27 updates the display of the registered floor display area 41b on the display panel 41 based on the processing in the registered floor display processing unit 26.

[0020] The elevator control device 10 includes a release floor determination unit 11, a release floor processing unit 12, an initial setting display information holding unit 13, a display information processing unit 14, a display information transmission unit 15, and a destination floor registration / cancellation processing unit 16. The unlocking floor determination unit 11 receives the information on the security unlocking floor transmitted by the unlocking floor transmission unit 31 of the security management device 30, and determines the security unlocking floor from the received information. The unlocking floor determined by the unlocking floor determination unit 11 is supplied to the unlocking floor processing unit 12 and the destination floor registration / cancellation processing unit 16.

[0021] The unlocking floor processing unit 12 performs a process of adding the unlocking floor determined by the unlocking floor determination unit 11 to the unlocking floor of the corresponding car, and supplies the information on the current unlocking floor to the display information processing unit 14. The display information processing unit 14 performs display information processing of adding the information on the unlocking floor from the unlocking floor processing unit 12 to the initial information on the destination floor held by the initial setting display information holding unit 13 and displaying it as the destination floor or the registered floor. Here, the initial information on the destination floor includes the floor name of the destination floor, the always-security-unlocking floor, and the threshold number for switching the display according to the number of unlocking floors. The display information obtained by the display information processing unit 14 is transmitted from the display information transmission unit 15 to the destination floor display processing unit 24 and the registered floor display processing unit 26 of the destination floor registration device 20. Here, the display information transmission unit 15 is supplied with the information on the registration and cancellation of the destination floor from the destination floor registration / cancellation processing unit 16, and when there is a registration or cancellation of the destination floor, the corresponding registration or cancellation is reflected in the display information transmitted by the display information transmission unit 15.

[0022] The destination floor registration / cancellation processing unit 16 receives the information from the input information transmission unit 23 of the destination floor registration device 20 and determines the operation of registering or canceling the destination floor in the car. The destination floor registration / cancellation processing unit 16 also acquires the information on the unlocking floor from the unlocking floor determination unit 11.

[0023] [Hardware Configuration Example of Destination Floor Registration Device] FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration example when the destination floor registration device 20 is configured by a computer. The destination floor registration device 20 configured by a computer device includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 20a, a main memory unit 20b, a non-volatile storage 20c, a network interface 20d, an input unit 20e, and an output unit 20f, which are respectively connected to a bus.

[0024] The CPU 20a is an arithmetic processing unit that reads and executes the program code of software that realizes the functions performed by the destination floor registration device 20 from the main memory unit 20b or the non-volatile storage 20c. By having the CPU 20a read the program code from the main memory unit 20b or the non-volatile storage 20c and execute arithmetic processing in the work area of the main memory unit 20b, various processing function units are configured in the main memory unit 20b. That is, in the main memory unit 20b, each processing unit such as the destination floor display processing unit 24 and the registered floor display processing unit 26 shown in FIG. 1 is configured.

[0025] For the non-volatile storage 20c, for example, a large-capacity information storage medium such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a memory card is used. The non-volatile storage 20c stores the software that realizes the functions of the destination floor registration device 20, the data obtained by the execution of the program, and the data necessary for display screen settings.

[0026] For the network interface 20d, for example, a NIC (Network Interface Card) or the like is used, and data is transmitted and received with other devices such as the elevator control device 10. The input unit 20e performs input processing of information regarding the detection state of the non-contact sensor 42. The output unit 20f supplies display data to the destination floor registration area 41a and the registered floor display area 41b of the display panel 41.

[0027] Note that configuring the destination floor registration device 20 with the computer shown in FIG. 2 is an example, and it may be configured with other arithmetic processing devices other than a computer. For example, part or all of the functions performed by the destination floor registration device 20 may be realized by hardware such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

[0028] [Example of the Arrangement of the Display Panel Inside the Carriage] Figure 3 shows an example in which a display panel 41 is installed inside a carriage 50 provided in the elevator system of this example. Figure 3 is a view of the vicinity of the door 51 of the carriage 50 as seen from the inside of the carriage 50. Door side plates 52 and 53 are arranged on the left and right sides of the door 51. Here, an operation panel 40 is arranged on the door side plate 53 on the right side of the door 51.

[0029] A display panel 41 and a non-contact sensor 42 are arranged on the operation panel 40. The non-contact sensor 42 detects a finger approaching or touching the vicinity of the surface of the display panel 41. Also, a card reader 32 is arranged below the display panel 41 of the operation panel 40. This card reader 32 is used as one of the security terminals described later.

[0030] The display panel 41 is composed of a liquid crystal display panel or an organic EL (organic electro-luminescence) panel, and is arranged vertically in a size that fits within the width of the door side plate 53. The display panel 41 can display characters, numbers, and various figures as described in the display examples below. And the non-contact sensor 42 is composed of, for example, an infrared sensor, and is arranged at the left end of the display panel 41 to detect that a finger or the like has approached the surface of the display panel 41.

[0031] In the example of Figure 3, the non-contact sensor 42 is arranged in a state where it slightly protrudes from the surface of the display panel 41, and can scan the surface of the display panel 41 with infrared rays or the like. The non-contact sensor 42 detects, for example, that a finger has approached to about several centimeters from the surface of the display panel 41. At this time, the non-contact sensor 42 also detects the coordinate position where a finger or the like has approached any part of the display panel 41.

[0032] Note that using an infrared sensor as the non-contact sensor 42 is just an example, and other sensors may be used to detect an object such as a finger approaching the surface of the display panel 41. For example, the non-contact sensor 42 may be configured to detect the approach of a finger from the capacitance value. The non-contact sensor that detects the capacitance value is incorporated into the display panel 41 integrally.

[0033] Also, in the example of FIG. 3, the state where the display panel 41 and the non-contact sensor 42 are installed as the operation panel 40 is shown. However, for example, buttons for instructing door opening or closing, an emergency call button, etc. may be arranged near the display panel 41. Alternatively, buttons for instructing door opening or closing, an emergency call button, etc. may be displayed on the display panel 41.

[0034] Note that arranging the operation panel 40 and the display panel 41 on the door side plate 53 on the right side of the door 51 is just an example, and the operation panel 40 and the display panel 41 may be arranged on the door side plate 52 on the left side of the door 51. In this case, the operation panel 40 and the display panel 41 may be arranged on either the left or right door side plate 52 or 53, or the operation panel 40 and the display panel 41 may be arranged on both the left and right door side plates 52 and 53. Also, when the operation panel 40 and the display panel 41 are arranged on both the left and right door side plates 52 and 53, one of the operation panels 40 may be provided with a touch panel or a push button for detecting a touch operation by a passenger.

[0035] [Example of security terminal] The security management device 30 shown in FIG. 1 is a device for managing entry and exit to the floor where security management of the building in which the elevator is installed is performed. The security management device 30 is a security terminal installed in a building. It detects a pre-registered user (such as an employee), and when the corresponding user uses the elevator, the floors permitted for that user are set as the security release floors. The information on these security release floors is transmitted from the release floor transmission unit 31 of the security management device 30 shown in FIG. 1 to the elevator control device 10. Then, the elevator control device 10 performs a process of including the security release floors among the candidate destination floors of the car in which the corresponding user has boarded.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows three examples of security terminals installed in the security management device 30. For example, as shown on the left side of FIG. 4, the security terminal performs a process of identifying the user U from face authentication of an image captured by a camera 33 installed in an elevator hall 30a or the like. Alternatively, as shown in the center of FIG. 4, the security terminal performs a process of identifying the user U from a card U-1 authenticated by a card reader 34 installed in an elevator hall 30b or the like. Furthermore, as shown on the right side of FIG. 4, the security terminal performs a process of identifying the user U by a card or the like authenticated by a card reader 32 installed on the operation panel 40 of the side plate 53 beside the door inside the car 50.

[0037] Any of the security terminals shown in FIG. 4 may be used, or a combination of multiple examples may be used to identify the user U. For example, when calling the elevator car, as shown in the center of FIG. 4, the elevator car is called by authenticating with a card reader 34 installed in an elevator hall 30b or the like. Further, after boarding the elevator car, registration of the destination floor may be performed by authenticating with the card reader 32 inside the car 50 shown on the right side of FIG. 4. Alternatively, authentication may be performed by a login operation using a smartphone or the like owned by the user himself / herself. The security management performed by the security management device 30 connected to the system of this example may be in any of the above-described methods.

[0038] [Display form of the display panel] Next, the display form of the display panel 41 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9. As already described, the display panel 41 has a destination floor registration area 41a and a registered floor display area 41b. As shown in FIG. 5, the destination floor registration area 41a is arranged in the right area of the display panel 41, and the registered floor display area 41b is arranged in the left area of the display panel 41. The registered floor display area 41b is a relatively narrow area where the numerical values of the registered floors can be displayed in one (or two) vertical columns, and the remaining area becomes the destination floor registration area 41a. Note that the sizes of the respective display areas 41a and 41b may be variable. Hereinafter, various display forms will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9.

[0039] In this example, for the input mode of the destination floor, a floor selection mode and a numeric keypad input mode are provided. The displays shown in the upper left and upper right of FIG. 5 are examples of the display in the floor selection mode. In this floor selection mode, buttons for candidates of the destination floor indicating the floor are directly displayed in the destination floor registration area 41a, and the registered floor is set directly by operating those buttons.

[0040] That is, in the destination floor registration area 41a, a destination floor button 107 indicating the main floors of the building, a screen switching button 106, and an input guide 105 are displayed. In the example of FIG. 5, as the destination floor buttons 107, only the buttons for the 1st floor (entrance floor), 2nd floor (lobby floor), basement 1st floor (4th parking lot), basement 2nd floor (3rd parking lot), basement 3rd floor (2nd parking lot), and basement 4th floor (1st parking lot), which are the main floors with a high frequency of stops, are displayed. When an input operation is performed with a finger or the like in proximity to these destination floor buttons 107, the floor displayed on the operated button is directly determined as the registered floor without performing a confirmation operation or the like. Here, it is preferable that the main floors are displayed as the default screen and are floors where security is always released, such as floors facing the outside of the building, so that floor selection can be performed without card operation during lunchtime or when leaving work, improving convenience.

[0041] The screen switching button 106 is displayed with "Use of General Floor / To all floors" in Japanese and English. By operating this screen switching button 106, it switches to the display of the floor input mode (the lower part of Fig. 5) where buttons such as the numeric keypad are shown. In the input guide 105, a message prompting the operation is displayed in Japanese saying "Please enter the destination floor", and a similar message is also displayed in English saying "please select a destination floor."

[0042] In the registered floor display area 41b, as shown in the lower left of Fig. 5, the registered floor column 111 is displayed vertically in a single column. In the examples in the upper left and upper right of Fig. 5, nothing is displayed in the registered floor display area 41b, indicating that no registered floors have been set. In the registered floor column 111, based on the floor arrangement in the actual building, the registered floors with smaller numerical values are displayed in ascending order from the bottom. Since the display of the registered floor column 111 is based on the floor arrangement in the actual building, for basement floors, the floor numerical value increases as you go down.

[0043] The example in the lower left of Fig. 5 shows a situation where 9 registered floors are set, indicating a state where the display of the registered floor column 111 is arranged almost entirely in the registered floor display area 41b. When the number of registered floors is small, for example, the registered floors are displayed packed from the lower side of the registered floor display area 41b. That is, when the registered floors are "Floor 6" and "Floor 10", the registered floor display area 41b shows "6" and "10" packed from the bottom.

[0044] Also, when the elevator stops at each floor and the number of registered floors decreases, the remaining registered floors are displayed packed from the bottom in the registered floor display area 41b. However, packing the display from the lower side is just an example. For example, the registered floors may be displayed grouped approximately in the center, or packed from the top. The display of this registered floor display area 41b is the same in both the floor selection mode and the numeric keypad input mode.

[0045] The display examples in the lower right and lower left of FIG. 5 are display examples in the numeric keypad input mode. The numeric keypad input mode is a mode in which the destination floor registration area 41a is displayed as a numeric keypad, and the user inputs the floor number numerically. That is, in the destination floor registration area 41a, there are ten numeric buttons of 0, 1, 2, 3, ···, 9, a floor input button 101 consisting of a button “B” indicating the basement, a registration button 102, an inputted floor 103, a cancel button 104, an input guide 105, and a screen switching button 106. In the example in the lower left of FIG. 5, it shows a state where the finger approaches “1” and “9” in sequence with the floor input button 101, and “19” is displayed in the column of the inputted floor 103.

[0046] In the input guide 105, a display prompting the operation in Japanese “Please input the destination floor.” is made, and a similar display in English “please select a destination floor.” is also made. In the inputted floor 103, the numerical value inputted with the floor input button 101 or “B” is displayed. When a numerical button is pressed following the “B” button, a display indicating the basement floor such as “B1” is made. Note that even when a two-digit numerical input operation or an input operation of a numerical value following “B” is performed, if a floor where the elevator does not stop (a floor that does not exist in the building) is inputted, the corresponding operation becomes invalid, and the inputted floor is not displayed in the inputted floor 103.

[0047] The registration button 102 is a button for determining the floor displayed in the inputted floor 103 as the registered floor. The cancel button 104 is a button for performing an operation to cancel the floor displayed in the inputted floor 103. This cancel button 104 may be always displayed, or may be displayed only when there is an input of a floor in the inputted floor 103 by the operation of the floor input button 101. The screen switching button 106 is displayed in Japanese and English as "Usage of Main Floors / To main floors", and the input operation of this button switches the display to the floor selection mode in which the buttons for the main floors are displayed. The display of the registered floor display area 41b is the same as in the floor selection mode.

[0048] Next, the display change of the destination floor registration area 41a shown in FIG. 5 will be described. The display change shown in FIG. 5 shows an example of switching the screen mode manually by the operator's operation. For example, when the default screen is the display M11 of the floor selection mode shown in the upper left of FIG. 5, the destination floor button 107 for the main floor is displayed on the default screen. This initial screen is, for example, the screen when the elevator door 51 is opened with no registered floors set at all.

[0049] Here, assuming that on the default screen shown in the display M11 where the destination floor button 107 for the main floor shown in the upper left of FIG. 5 is displayed, a finger or the like approaches the screen switching button 106 and the screen switching button 106 is selected. At this time, the default screen changes to the display M12 shown in the upper right of FIG. 5. In the display M12, the screen switching button 106 that a finger or the like has approached changes its display color so that the user can know that the corresponding button has been operated. This change in the display color is preferably changed to a color with high brightness, for example, so that it looks as if the corresponding button is lit. Here, the state where the screen switching button 106 has been operated is shown, but when a finger or the like approaches other buttons other than the screen switching button 106, the display form also changes in the same way.

[0050] When the screen switching button 106 is operated in the display M12 shown in the upper right of FIG. 5, the destination floor registration area 41a changes to the numeric keypad input mode in which the floor input button 101 and the registration button 102 are displayed, as shown in the display M13 in the lower right of FIG. 5. By registering the destination floor in this numeric keypad input mode, a registered floor column 111 is displayed in the registered floor display area 41b, as shown in the display M14 in the lower left of FIG. 5. When the screen switching button 106 is operated in the numeric keypad input mode, the destination floor registration area 41a changes to the floor selection mode of the display M11 shown in the upper left of FIG. 5.

[0051] FIG. 6 shows an example of a change in display when security is released. The release of security here means that, as described in FIG. 4, the authentication process of a specific user is performed and the user determined by the authentication process is permitted to enter a specific floor (security floor). In the following description, the floor where the user is permitted to enter is referred to as the security release floor.

[0052] First, the destination floor registration area 41a is set to the state of the display M21 in which the display in the floor selection mode is performed as the default screen as shown in the upper left. In this state, for example, when the authentication of a user whose security release floor is one floor, for example, the 10th floor, is performed by the security management device 30, the display change indicated by the arrow S1 occurs. In the display M22 at this time, the destination floor button for the 10th floor, which is the security release floor, is displayed in the destination floor registration area 41a, and the destination floor buttons for other floors are not displayed. However, the screen switching button is continuously displayed from the display M21.

[0053] When the display M21 changes to the display M22, at the same time, the elevator control device 10 performs automatic registration with the 10th floor as the registered floor, and displays "10", which is the registered floor, in the registered floor display area 41b. Note that the elevator control device 10 changes the display color to a state where the destination floor button for the 10th floor in the destination floor registration area 41a appears to be lit in order to notify that automatic registration is being performed.

[0054] Next, in the state where the display M21 in the floor selection mode is being performed as the default screen, when the security release floors are multiple floors, for example, when the security release floors are the 11th, 12th, and 13th floors and the authentication of the user is performed on the security terminal, the display change indicated by the arrow S2 occurs. In the display M23 at this time, three destination floor buttons for the 11th, 12th, and 13th floors, which are the security release floors, are displayed in the destination floor registration area 41a, and the destination floor buttons for other floors are not displayed. Also in this case, the screen switching button is continuously displayed from M21.

[0055] In the example of the display M23, since the security release floors of the authenticated user are multiple floors, automatic registration is not performed, and the user who gets into the elevator selects a desired floor from the three destination floor buttons for the 11th, 12th, and 13th floors in this display M23. That is, the user who gets into the elevator approaches a finger to the desired floor in the display M23 and performs an operation to set it as the registered floor. Note that in the display M23, it shows a state where the registered floor "10" is already displayed in the registered floor display area 41b due to the authentication of another user.

[0056] Also, in the state where the display M21 in the floor selection mode is being performed as the default screen, when the security release floors are multiple floors and the number of destination floor buttons that cannot be displayed simultaneously, the display change indicated by the arrow S3 occurs. That is, when the security release floors are 7 floors or more, the display change indicated by the arrow S3 occurs, and it becomes the display M24 in the floor selection mode where the screen switching button blinks. Here, the blinking of the screen switching button in the display M24 is performed by repeating the bright state and the dark state of the light emission luminance of the screen switching button at regular intervals.

[0057] In this display M24, when the user performs an operation of approaching a finger to the screen switching button, the display change indicated by the arrow S5 occurs, and it becomes the display M25 in which the numeric keypad input mode is displayed in the destination floor registration area 41a. In this numeric keypad input mode, the user can set the security release floor as the registered floor by inputting the desired floor.

[0058] In addition, as an example, when the security release floors are multiple floors and the destination floor buttons cannot be displayed simultaneously in the state where the display M21 in the floor selection mode is being performed as the default screen, the display is once switched to the display M24 in the floor selection mode and then switched to the next numeric keypad input mode. As shown by the arrow S4, it may be directly switched from the display M21 in the floor selection mode to the display M25 in the numeric keypad input mode. Which screen transition to use can be registered on the setting screen operated by the administrator.

[0059] FIG. 7 shows the details of the display change when the security release floor is only one floor and automatic registration is performed. First, when the authentication of a user whose security release floor is only one floor is performed on the security terminal in the state where the display M31 of the default screen is being shown, the display change shown by the arrow S6 occurs. The display change shown by the arrow S6 in FIG. 7 is the same as the display change shown by the arrow S1 in FIG. 6, and it becomes the display M32 with the security release floor automatically registered.

[0060] Then, when a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) has elapsed after the display M31 changes to the display M32 and the security release floor is automatically registered, or when the security release signal becomes OFF, a display change shown by the arrow S7 occurs in the destination floor registration area 41a, and it returns to the default screen shown by the display M31, and the destination floor buttons for the main floors are displayed. However, at this time, in the registered floor display area 41b, the automatically registered floor (here, the 10th floor) is displayed until arriving at the corresponding floor.

[0061] FIG. 8 shows the details of the display change when the security release floors are multiple floors and the destination floor buttons for the security release floors are to be displayed. First, when the security release floors by the authentication of a user of multiple floors are performed on the security terminal in the state where the display M41 of the default screen is being shown, the display change shown by the arrow S8 occurs. The display change shown by the arrow S8 in FIG. 8 is the same as the display change shown by the arrow S2 in FIG. 6.

[0062] Here, the 11th, 12th, and 13th floors become security release floors, and in display M42, the destination floor buttons for the 11th, 12th, and 13th floors are displayed in the destination floor registration area 41a. When a finger approaches any of the destination floor buttons in the state where this display M42 is being shown, as shown by arrow S9, the display M42 changes to a lit display M43 with increased display brightness of the button that the finger has approached. Here, a state where a finger has approached the destination floor button for the 13th floor is shown.

[0063] In this way, when a finger approaches the destination floor button for the 13th floor, the corresponding 13th floor is manually registered and it becomes display M44 as shown by arrow S10. Then, in the registered floor display area 41b, "13" indicating that the 13th floor has been registered is displayed.

[0064] Then, when a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) has elapsed after the display M43 changes to the display M44 and the security release floor has been manually registered, or when the security release signal turns off (OFF), a display change as shown by arrow S11 occurs in the destination floor registration area 41a, and it returns to the default screen shown in display M41, and the destination floor buttons for the main floors are displayed. Also at this time, in the registered floor display area 41b, the automatically registered floor (here, the 13th floor) is displayed until the corresponding floor is reached.

[0065] Note that when the display change shown by arrow S11 occurs and it returns to the default screen shown in display M41, the security is engaged, and in order to register the 11th or 12th floor as the destination floor, the user needs to perform an authentication operation again with the non-contact card reader 32 inside the car. By performing this authentication operation, the default screen shown in display M41 changes back to display M42 again.

[0066] Figure 9 shows the details of the display change when the security release floors are multiple floors where buttons cannot be displayed simultaneously. First, when the security release floor is at a plurality of predetermined floors or more (7 floors or more) and user authentication is performed by the security terminal while the default screen M51 is being displayed, a display change indicated by arrow S12 occurs, and the display M51 changes to the display M52. The display change indicated by arrow S12 in FIG. 9 is the same as the display change indicated by arrow S3 in FIG. 6.

[0067] In display M52, the destination floor registration area 41a is in a state where the screen switching button blinks in the floor selection mode. In this display M52, when the user performs an operation of bringing a finger close to the screen switching button, a display change indicated by arrow S14 occurs, and the destination floor registration area 41a changes to the display M53 in the numeric keypad input mode. In this numeric keypad input mode, the user can register the security release floor as the registered floor by performing an input operation for the desired floor. Note that it may be configured to directly change from the display M51 of the default screen to the display M53 in the numeric keypad input mode as indicated by arrow S13.

[0068] Then, in the state where the display M53 in the numeric keypad input mode is being displayed, when a finger approaches the floor input button of the numeric keypad and then approaches the registration button, the registered floor is set. For example, when the floor input button "1" and the floor input button "5" are operated successively and then the registration button is operated, as indicated by arrow S15, it changes to the display M54. The display M54 shows a state where a finger is close to the registration button and the registration button is lit.

[0069] In this way, when the registration button is operated in the state of the display M54, as indicated by arrow S16, it changes to the display M55. In the display M55, the registered floor "15" is displayed in the registered floor display area 41b. Then, when the display M54 changes to the display M55 and a predetermined time (e.g., 10 seconds) elapses after the security release floor is manually registered, or when the security release signal turns off (OFF), a display change as shown by the arrow S17 occurs in the destination floor registration area 41a, and it returns to the default screen shown by the display M51, and the destination floor button for the main floor is displayed. Also at this time, in the registered floor display area 41b, the automatically registered floor (here, the 15th floor) is displayed until arriving at the corresponding floor.

[0070] Note that even when the display change shown by the arrow S17 occurs and it returns to the default screen shown by the display M51, the security is still on. Therefore, in order to register another security floor as the destination floor, the user needs to perform an authentication operation again with the contactless card reader 32 (Fig. 3) inside the car.

[0071] [Processing Performed by the Destination Floor Registration Device] Next, the processing performed by the destination floor registration device 20 for the display panel 41 to perform the display described so far will be described. Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of the input determination process performed by the input determination unit 22 of the destination floor registration device 20.

[0072] The input determination unit 22 determines, in the input processing unit 21, whether the non-contact sensor 42 has detected the approach of an object (finger) to the destination floor registration area 41a of the display panel 41 (step S101). When the approach of an object to the destination floor registration area 41a is not detected in step S101 (No in step S101), the input determination unit 22 ends the determination process.

[0073] Then, when the approach of an object to the destination floor registration area 41a is detected in step S101 (Yes in step S101), the input determination unit 22 determines whether the detected area is an operation button within the destination floor registration area (step S102). If the detected area is not an operation button in step S102 (No in step S102), the input determination unit 22 waits until the approach to the operation button is detected.

[0074] Then, in step S102, when the detected area is an operation button (Yes in step S102), the operation panel emits an operation sound (step S103), and the input determination unit 22 determines whether an object has approached for a predetermined time or more (step S104). In step S104, when the object has not approached for a predetermined time or more (No in step S104), the input determination unit 22 repeats the determination in step S104. The predetermined time here is set to exclude the case where an object such as a finger accidentally approaches the display panel 41, as a time that is assumed to continue at least during an operation with a finger, for example, 0.3 seconds.

[0075] In step S104, when it is detected that the object has approached for a predetermined time or more (Yes in step S104), the destination floor registration device 20 changes the light emission luminance or light emission color of the corresponding button so that the button is in a lit state (step S105).

[0076] Thereafter, the input determination unit 22 determines whether the detachment of the object (finger) has been detected (step S106). In step S106, when the detachment of the object is not detected (No in step S106), the detection of the detachment of the object is repeated. Then, in step S106, when the detachment of the object is detected (Yes in step S106), the destination floor registration device 20 returns the light emission luminance or light emission color of the corresponding button to its original state so that the button is in an extinguished state (step S107). However, since the button is lit when registered with the floor selection button, by making it extinguish after a predetermined time has elapsed, the floor selection button can be continuously lit if registered within the predetermined time.

[0077] Thereafter, the input determination unit 22 determines whether the selected button lit in step S105 is other than the screen switching button (step S108). In step S108, when the selected button lit is other than the screen switching button (Yes in step S108), the input information transmission unit 23 transmits the information of the selected button to the elevator control device 10 (step S109). Also, in step S108, when the selected button that is lit is the screen switching button (No in step S108), the destination floor registration device 20 switches the display mode of the destination floor registration area 41a (step S110).

[0078] FIGS. 11 and 12 are flowcharts showing the flow of the destination floor registration process performed by the destination floor display processing unit 24. "A" in FIG. 11 is connected to "A" in FIG. 12. First, the destination floor display processing unit 24 determines whether the input destination floor is being displayed (step S111). That is, the destination floor display processing unit 24 determines whether there is a display of the input floor 103 as in the display M14 of FIG. 5. In step S111, when the input destination floor is being displayed (Yes in step S111), the destination floor display processing unit 24 displays the cancel button 104 (FIG. 5) (step S112). Then, in the case where the input destination floor is not being displayed in step S111 (No in step S111), and after the cancel button 104 is displayed in step S112, the destination floor display processing unit 24 determines whether it has detected the approach of an object (such as a finger) to the detection area within the destination floor registration area 41a (step S113).

[0079] In step S113, when the approach to the detection area of the object is not detected (No in step S113), the destination floor display processing unit 24 ends the destination floor registration process. Then, in the case where the approach of the object to the detection area is detected in step S113 (Yes in step S113), the destination floor display processing unit 24 determines whether the area where the approach of the object is detected is an operation button in the destination floor registration area (step S114). In step S114, when it is not an operation button in the destination floor registration area (No in step S114), the destination floor display processing unit 24 waits until an operation button in the destination floor registration area is detected.

[0080] Then, in step S114, when the detection area of the object is the operation button in the destination floor registration area (Yes in step S114), the operation panel emits an operation sound (step S115), and the input determination unit 22 determines whether the object has approached for a predetermined time or more (step S116). In step S116, when the object has not approached for a predetermined time or more (No in step S116), the input determination unit 22 repeats the determination in step S116.

[0081] In step S116, when it is determined that the object has approached for a predetermined time or more (Yes in step S116), the destination floor registration device 20 changes the light emission luminance or light emission color of the button so that the corresponding button is in a lit state (step S117).

[0082] Thereafter, proceeding to FIG. 12, the input determination unit 22 determines whether the detachment of the object (finger) has been detected (step S118). In step S118, when the detachment of the object is not detected (No in step S118), the input determination unit 22 repeats the detection of the detachment of the object. Then, in step S118, when the detachment of the object is detected (Yes in step S118), the destination floor registration device 20 returns the light emission luminance or light emission color of the corresponding button to its original state so that the button is in a turned-off state (step S119).

[0083] Thereafter, the input determination unit 22 determines whether the selected button lit in step S117 is other than the screen switching button (step S120). In step S120, when the selected button is other than the screen switching button (Yes in step S120), the destination floor registration device 20 displays the floor of the selected button on the input floor 103 (FIG. 5) (step S121). Also, in step S120, when the selected button is the screen switching button (No in step S120), the destination floor registration device 20 switches the display mode of the destination floor registration area 41a (step S126).

[0084] Furthermore, after displaying the floor of the button selected in step S121, the input determination unit 22 determines whether an operation of the registration button 102 (Fig. 5) has been detected (step S122). If an operation of the registration button 102 is detected in step S122 (Yes in step S122), the input information transmission unit 23 transmits the information of the selected button to the elevator control device 10 (step S123). Thereafter, the destination floor registration device 20 erases the display of the input floor 103 (step S124).

[0085] If an operation of the registration button 102 is not detected in step S122 (No in step S122), the input determination unit 22 determines whether an operation of the cancel button 104 (Fig. 5) has been detected (step S125). If an operation of the cancel button 104 is detected in step S125 (Yes in step S125), the process proceeds to step S124, and the destination floor registration device 20 erases the display of the input floor 103. Furthermore, if an operation of the cancel button 104 is not detected in step S125 (No in step S125), the destination floor registration device 20 ends the process.

[0086] Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of the update process of the display of the registered floor. First, the registered floor display processing unit 26 receives the information of the registered floor from the elevator control device 10 (step S131). At this time, the registered floor display area update unit 27 determines whether there is a change in the registered floor received in step S131 from the currently displayed registered floor (step S132). When it is determined in step S132 that there is no change in the received registered floor information (No in step S132), the registered floor display area update unit 27 returns to the reception process of the registered floor data in the registered floor display processing unit 26.

[0087] Then, in step S132, when it is determined that there is a change in the received registered floor information (Yes in step S132), the registered floor display area update unit 27 updates the display of the registered floor display area 41b after rearranging the registered floors received by the registered floor display processing unit 26 in the display order (step S133).

[0088] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the processing flow when the destination floor registration device 20 receives a signal for unlocking security. First, the destination floor registration device 20 receives a signal for unlocking security (step S141). Then, the destination floor registration device 20 determines whether the received floor is other than the main floors (step S142). In step S142, when the received floor is not a security floor but a main floor (No in step S142), the process ends.

[0089] Then, in step S142, when the floors other than the main floors, that is, the security floors are included (Yes in step S142), the destination floor registration device 20 determines whether the number of security unlocking floors other than the main floors is equal to or less than a first predetermined number (step S143). Here, the first predetermined number is, for example, one. In step S143, when the number of security unlocking floors other than the main floors is equal to or less than the first predetermined number (one) (Yes in step S143), the destination floor registration device 20 automatically sets the received security unlocking floor as the registered floor (step S144).

[0090] Also, in step S143, when the number of security unlocking floors other than the main floors is not equal to or less than the first predetermined number (one) (No in step S143), the destination floor registration device 20 further determines whether the number of security unlocking floors other than the main floors is equal to or less than a second predetermined number (step S145). Here, the second predetermined number is, for example, six.

[0091] In step S145, when the number of security release floors other than the main floor is equal to or less than a second predetermined number (six) (Yes in step S145), the destination floor registration device 20 causes the button for the received security release floor to be displayed in the destination floor registration area 41a (step S146). Then, when automatic registration is performed in step S144 and when the button for the security release floor is displayed in the destination floor registration area 41a in step S146, the destination floor registration device 20 automatically returns to the default display in which the destination floor button for the main floor is displayed after a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) has elapsed or after the security release signal has been turned off (OFF) (step S150).

[0092] Also, in step S145, when the number of security release floors other than the main floor is not equal to or less than the second predetermined number (six) (No in step S145), the destination floor registration device 20 determines whether the current setting is for automatic switching to the numeric keypad input screen (step S147). When it is determined in step S147 that automatic switching to the numeric keypad input screen is enabled (Yes in step S147), the destination floor display processing unit 24 causes the destination floor registration area 41a to be shifted to the numeric keypad input screen (step S148) and then proceeds to step S150.

[0093] Furthermore, when it is determined in step S147 that automatic switching to the numeric keypad input screen is not enabled (No in step S147), the destination floor display processing unit 24 causes the screen switching button 106 (FIG. 5) in the destination floor registration area 41a to blink (step S149) and then proceeds to step S150. When the screen switching button 106 is operated here, the numeric keypad input screen is shifted to.

[0094] [Effect of the Elevator System of this Example] According to the elevator system of this example described above, the display panel 41 of the operation panel 40 can perform appropriate display that can be operated non - contact. In particular, in the case of the elevator system of this example, when security management is performed in which a specific floor is a security floor and only pre - authenticated users can enter, appropriate display and registration can be performed.

[0095] For example, when a user who has only one security release floor gets on the elevator car, automatic registration is performed so that the one security release floor automatically becomes the registered floor. At this time, it is well informed from the display in the destination floor registration area 41a and the display in the registered floor display area 41b that the automatic registration is performed, improving the operability and visibility. In the above-described example, when a user with only one security release floor is authenticated, the one security release floor is automatically registered as the registered floor. However, when there are a plurality of security release floors equal to or less than a predetermined number, such as two security release floors, all of the security release floors may be automatically registered. Thereby, for example, when used for security purposes by rotating through the security release floors in order, the convenience is improved.

[0096] Also, when a user with a plurality of security release floors gets on the elevator car, the destination floor buttons of the registered security release floors are displayed, and the user can register a desired destination floor by selecting the destination floor button. Therefore, the user can know the candidates for the destination floor from the display, improving the operability and visibility.

[0097] Furthermore, when there are a large number of security release floors that cannot be simultaneously displayed within one screen, it is possible to switch to the numeric keypad display, and from this point as well, the operability and visibility are improved. Note that users with a large number of security release floors that cannot be simultaneously displayed within one screen are assumed to be specific users such as building administrators.

[0098] Furthermore, when the security release floors are displayed, by elapsing a predetermined time such as 10 seconds and returning to the default screen, it is possible to prevent the security release floors from being inadvertently registered as the destination floor, and the security can be appropriately managed.

[0099] [Modification Example] Note that the embodiments described so far have been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described. Also, the display examples shown in each figure are also preferred examples and are not limited to these examples. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the buttons on the main floor are displayed on the default screen, but the screen on which the numeric keypad is displayed may be set as the default screen. Whether to set either of these as the default screen may be changed depending on the stop floor of the car, the time zone, etc.

[0100] Also, in the above-described embodiment, it is applied to the operation panel 40 capable of non-contact operation provided with the non-contact sensor 42, but it may also be applied to a device provided with a so-called touch panel that performs an operation by touching the surface of the display panel 41 when performing the display described in each figure. Also, in the above-described embodiment, it is applied to the operation panel 40 inside the car, but a display panel may be installed on the operation panel at the landing or the like to perform the same display.

[0101] Also, in the configuration diagrams shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, only the control lines and information lines considered necessary for explanation are shown, and not all the control lines and information lines are necessarily shown on the product. In reality, it may be considered that almost all the components are interconnected. Also, the flow of the processes shown in the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 10 to 14 is also an example, and if the processing results are the same, some of the processing orders may be changed or a plurality of processes may be executed simultaneously.

[0102] Also, when the system described in this embodiment is configured by an information processing device such as a computer, for the program that realizes each processing function, in addition to preparing it in the non-volatile storage or memory inside the computer device, it may be placed on a recording medium such as an external memory, an IC card, an SD card, or an optical disk and transferred.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0103] 10… Elevator control device, 11… Release floor determination unit, 12… Release floor processing unit, 13… Initial setting display information holding unit, 14… Display information processing unit, 15… Display information transmission unit, 16… Destination floor registration / cancellation processing unit, 20… Destination floor registration device, 20a… CPU, 20b… Main memory unit, 20c… Non-volatile storage, 20d… Network interface, 20e… Input unit, 20f… Output unit, 21… Input processing unit, 22… Input determination unit, 23… Input information transmission unit, 24… Destination floor display processing unit, 25… Destination floor registration area update unit, 26… Registered floor display processing unit, 27… Registered floor display area update unit, 30… Security management device, 30a, 30b… Elevator hall, 31… Release floor transmission unit, 32… Card reader, 32… Card reader, 33… Camera, 34… Card reader, 40… Operation panel, 41… Display panel, 41a… Destination floor display area, 41b… Registered floor display area, 42… Non-contact sensor, 51… Door, 52, 53… Door side plates, 101… Floor input button, 102… Registration button, 103… Inputted floor, 104… Cancellation button, 105… Input guidance, 106… Screen switching button, 107… Destination floor button, 111… Registered floor column

Claims

In an elevator system comprising an operation panel capable of registering the destination floor on a display panel inside the car, the operation panel comprises an input information transmission unit that transmits information input to the display panel to an elevator control device, a destination floor display processing unit that displays a destination floor button for the security release floor in a destination floor registration area of the display panel based on security release information received by the elevator control device from a security management device, and a registered floor display processing unit that displays the registered floor received from the elevator control device in a registered floor display area of the display panel. When the number of security release floors indicated by the security release information received from the security management device is one, when the destination floor display processing unit displays the destination floor button for the one security release floor in the destination floor registration area, the registered floor display processing unit determines the corresponding security release floor as the registered floor and displays it in the registered floor display area. When the number of security release floors indicated by the security release information received from the security management device is a plurality less than a predetermined number, the destination floor display processing unit displays the destination floor buttons for the plurality of security release floors in the destination floor registration area, and the registered floor display processing unit determines the security release floor with an operation among the displayed destination floor buttons as the registered floor and displays it in the registered floor display area. An elevator system.

2. Further, when the number of security release floors indicated by the security release information received from the security management device is a plurality equal to or more than the predetermined number, the destination floor display processing unit changes the destination floor registration area of the display panel to a numeric keypad input mode in which buttons of ten numbers from 0 to 9 and an enter button are displayed. The elevator system according to Claim 1.

3. The destination floor display processing unit blinks and displays a numeric keypad input mode change button that receives a request to change to the numeric keypad input mode in the destination floor registration area of the display panel. By operating the numeric keypad input mode change button, the destination floor registration area of the display panel is changed to the numeric keypad input mode. The elevator system according to Claim 2. The destination floor has a floor where security is always released. The destination floor display processing unit displays a destination floor registration button for the floor where security is always released, where security is always released, as the default screen of the destination floor registration area of the display panel. The elevator system according to claim 3.

5. Furthermore, when a predetermined time has elapsed while the destination floor button for the security release floor is being displayed, the destination floor display processing unit changes the destination floor registration area to the default screen. The elevator system according to claim 4.

6. In an elevator control method for registering a destination floor on an operation panel having a display panel inside the car, an input information transmission process for transmitting information input to the display panel to an elevator control device; a destination floor display process for displaying a destination floor button for the security release floor in the destination floor registration area of the display panel based on security release information received by the elevator control device from a security management device; including a registered floor display process for displaying the registered floor received from the elevator control device in the registered floor display area of the display panel, when the number of security release floors indicated by the security release information received from the security management device is one, in the destination floor display process, when the destination floor button for that one security release floor is displayed in the destination floor registration area, in the registered floor display process, the corresponding security release floor is determined as the registered floor and displayed in the registered floor display area; when the number of security release floors indicated by the security release information received from the security management device is a plurality less than a predetermined number, in the destination floor display process, the destination floor buttons for the plurality of security release floors are displayed in the destination floor registration area, and in the registered floor display process, the security release floor where an operation has occurred among the displayed destination floor buttons is determined as the registered floor and displayed in the registered floor display area; Elevator control method.

Images