Automatic door devices and automatic door control systems

Abstract

To provide an automatic door device capable of more quickly evacuating a disaster victim when an earthquake occurs while suppressing an increase in cost.SOLUTION: An automatic door device 10 for automatically controlling the opening / closing of a door 31, includes a reception unit 12 for receiving a specific signal transmitted from a portable terminal 20 and a door control unit 13 for controlling the opening / closing of the door 31. When the reception unit 12 receives the specific signal transmitted from the portable terminal 20, the door control unit 13 switches a control mode of the door 31 from a normal mode that causes the door 31 to open / close in response to a person or object approach to the door to a door opening mode that allows the door 31 to be in an open state or a manual open state allowing for opening the door manually.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic door device and an automatic door control system. [Background technology]

[0002] When an earthquake occurs, automatic doors installed in buildings or elevators may stop working. In such cases, technologies have been proposed to forcibly open automatic doors when an earthquake occurs, allowing disaster victims to evacuate from inside the building or elevator. One known example is an automatic door control system that opens automatic doors when a pendulum-type earthquake sensor detects an earthquake. Another proposed gate control system opens automatic doors when a triaxial acceleration sensor (earthquake sensor) detects an earthquake (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-227829 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The conventional automatic door control systems described above are equipped with dedicated earthquake sensors to detect earthquakes, which inevitably increases installation costs. Furthermore, regular maintenance of the earthquake sensors is required to ensure proper system operation, which inevitably increases maintenance costs. Furthermore, conventional automatic door control systems determine whether to open the automatic doors based on the magnitude of the earthquake, so it is possible that the automatic doors may no longer be operational once the decision to open them is made. In such cases, it is conceivable that victims may be unable to evacuate from the building or elevator.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic door device and an automatic door control system that can enable victims to evacuate more quickly in the event of an earthquake while suppressing increases in costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is an automatic door system that automatically controls the opening and closing of a door, and includes a receiving unit that receives a specific signal transmitted from a mobile terminal, and a door control unit that controls the opening and closing of the door. When the receiving unit receives the specific signal transmitted from the mobile terminal, the door control unit switches the control mode of the door from a normal mode in which the door opens and closes in response to the approach of a person or object to a door open mode in which the door is opened or manually opened.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention is an automatic door control system including the automatic door device described above and the mobile terminal that transmits the specific signal to the receiving unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an automatic door device and an automatic door control system that can enable victims to evacuate more quickly in the event of an earthquake while suppressing increases in costs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an automatic door control system 1 according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a mobile terminal 20. [Figure 3] 10 is a sequence chart showing the processing steps of the automatic door control system 1 when an emergency earthquake warning is distributed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an automatic door device and an automatic door control system according to the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which the door control system according to the present invention is applied to automatic doors in buildings such as office buildings and commercial facilities (hereinafter also referred to as "facilities"). Note that all drawings attached to this specification are schematic diagrams, and the shape, scale, aspect ratios, etc. of each part have been modified or exaggerated from the actual product for ease of understanding, etc.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an automatic door control system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a mobile terminal 20. As shown in Fig. 1, the automatic door control system 1 is made up of an automatic door device 10 and a mobile terminal 20. The automatic door control system 1 is also electrically connected to an automatic door (door) 30 installed in a facility.

[0012] The automatic door device 10 is a device that automatically controls the opening and closing of an automatic door 30 (described later), and is installed near the automatic door 30. The automatic door device 10 includes an antenna 11, a communication unit (receiving unit) 12, a control unit (door control unit) 12, an image display unit 14 (alarm unit), and a voice output unit 15 (alarm unit).

[0013] 1 shows only the components of the automatic door system 10 that are necessary for explaining this embodiment. Other devices (such as a motion sensor) provided in the automatic door system 10 are not shown or described. In the automatic door system 10, the antenna 11, communication unit 12, control unit 13, image display unit 14, and audio output unit 15 may be housed in a single housing, or may be installed in separate locations and electrically connected by cables or the like.

[0014] The antenna 11 and communication unit 12 are communication devices for receiving a door open signal (specific signal) transmitted from the mobile terminal 20. The door open signal is a signal transmitted based on an earthquake early warning (described below) received by the mobile terminal 20. Signals are transmitted and received between the automatic door device 10 and the mobile terminal 20 via radio waves conforming to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard. Note that, as described below, signals may also be transmitted and received between the automatic door device 10 and the mobile terminal 20 via radio waves conforming to other wireless communication standards.

[0015] The control unit 13 is a device that controls the operation of the automatic door device 10 and the automatic door 30. The control unit 13 is composed of a processor (CPU), ROM, RAM, an I / O unit, etc. (none of which are shown). In normal mode (described below), the control unit 13 reads and executes application programs such as a door opening / closing program stored in the ROM, thereby working with each piece of hardware to control the opening and closing of the door 31 of the automatic door 30. The control unit 13 also controls the image display on the image display unit 14 and the audio output on the audio output unit 15.

[0016] The control unit 13 executes a normal mode and a door open mode as modes for controlling the opening and closing of the door 31. The normal mode is a mode in which the door 31 is opened or closed in response to the approach of a person or object. In the normal mode, the control unit 13 opens the door 31 when a human presence sensor (not shown) detects that a person or object has approached the door 31, and closes the door 31 when the person or object has passed through the door 31 and is no longer detected by the human presence sensor.

[0017] The door open mode is a mode in which the door 31 is forcibly opened in the event of an earthquake. In the door open mode, the control unit 13 sets the door 31 in an open state or a manual open state in which the door 31 can be opened manually by a user. When the communication unit 12 receives a door open signal transmitted from the mobile terminal 20, the control unit 13 switches the control mode of the door 31 from the normal mode to the door open mode. Furthermore, when a predetermined time has elapsed after switching the control mode of the door 31 to the door open mode, the control unit 13 switches the control mode of the door 31 from the door open mode to the normal mode.

[0018] After switching the control mode of the door 31 to the door open mode, the control unit 13 controls the door drive unit 32 so that the door 31 of the automatic door 30 is in an open state or a manually open state. If the door 31 is in the process of closing when the control mode of the door 31 is switched from the normal mode to the door open mode, the control unit 13 stops the closing operation of the door 31 and controls the door drive unit 32 so that the door 31 is in the open state or a manually open state.

[0019] After switching the control mode of the door 31 to the door open mode, the control unit 13 notifies the user that the control mode of the door 31 is the door open mode via the image display unit 14 and the audio output unit 15. A specific example of how the image display unit 14 and the audio output unit 15 notify the user that the control mode of the door 31 is the door open mode will be described later.

[0020] The image display unit 14 is a device that displays images such as messages and patterns that notify that the control mode of the door 31 is the door opening mode. The image display unit 14 is configured, for example, with a flat display device such as a liquid crystal display device or an LED display device. The image display unit 14 is installed near the door 31 in a location where a user can view the image. After switching the control mode of the door 31 to the door opening mode, the control unit 13 causes the image display unit 14 to display, for example, messages such as "Door opening" or "Door can be opened manually" and an image of a pattern of people evacuating (hereinafter also referred to as a "guidance image").

[0021] The audio output unit 15 is a device that outputs audio (hereinafter also referred to as "guidance audio") informing that the control mode of the door 31 is the door open mode. The audio output unit 15 is configured, for example, with an audio device such as a speaker. The audio output unit 15 is installed near the door 31 in a location where the user can hear the audio. After switching the control mode of the door 31 to the door open mode, the control unit 13 causes the audio output unit 15 to output audio guidance such as, "The door is opening due to an earthquake," or "The door can be opened manually due to an earthquake." Furthermore, after switching the control mode of the door 31 from the door open mode to the normal mode, the control unit 13 causes the audio output unit 15 to output audio guidance such as, "The earthquake has subsided, so the door will be closed."

[0022] The mobile terminal 20 is a portable communication terminal device carried by a facility user. In this embodiment, the mobile terminal 20 is a smartphone. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an example is shown in which multiple mobile terminals 20 exist within the facility (multiple users each carrying a mobile terminal 20), but the number of mobile terminals 20 may be one. In other words, it is sufficient for the automatic door control system 1 to have at least one mobile terminal 20.

[0023] 2, the mobile terminal 20 includes an antenna 21, a communication unit 22, a touch panel 23, a control unit 24, and a storage unit 25. Note that Fig. 2 shows only the components of the mobile terminal 20 that are necessary for explaining this embodiment. The illustration and description of the components of the mobile terminal 20 that realize functions such as internet connection, email transmission / reception, and phone calls, as well as the microphone, speaker, operation switches, power supply unit, etc., are omitted.

[0024] The antenna 21 and communication unit 22 are communication devices for transmitting a door open signal to the automatic door system 10. As mentioned above, signals are transmitted and received between the automatic door system 10 and the mobile terminal 20 via radio waves that comply with the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard.

[0025] The touch panel 23 is composed of a display device such as a liquid crystal panel and an operation detection device such as a touch screen (neither of which are shown in the figure). By touching the touch panel 23 with a finger or the like to perform a gesture operation, the user of the mobile terminal 20 can instruct the control unit 24 to select / execute a function, input data, start / end an application program, etc.

[0026] The control unit 24 is an MPU (microprocessor unit) that performs overall control of the operation of the mobile terminal 20. The control unit 24 reads and executes an operation system, an application system, etc. stored in the memory unit 25 (described later), thereby working with each piece of hardware to realize various functions. When the control unit 24 receives an earthquake early warning by executing an earthquake early warning compatible app (described later), it transmits a door open signal to the automatic door device 10 via the antenna 21 and the communication unit 22. The earthquake early warning compatible app is launched together with other application programs when the mobile terminal 20 is powered on.

[0027] The memory unit 25 is a storage device, such as a semiconductor memory, that stores various programs, data, etc. executed by the control unit 24. The memory unit 25 stores an application program (hereinafter also referred to as the "Earthquake Early Warning App") that sends a door open signal to the automatic door device 10 via the antenna 21 and the communication unit 22 when an Earthquake Early Warning is received.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 1, the Earthquake Early Warning is information distributed from a distribution server 40 of the Japan Meteorological Agency and transmitted to each mobile terminal 20 via a distribution company (provider) 50 and a base station 60. When a mobile terminal 20 receives the Earthquake Early Warning, it vibrates along with an audible alarm, and a message such as "An earthquake has occurred in XX. Please prepare for strong shaking" is displayed on the touch panel 23. Signals (data) are transmitted and received between the base station 60 and the mobile terminal 20 using a wireless communication method for mobile phones, such as 3G, LTE, 4G, or 5G.

[0029] Returning to FIG. 1 for further explanation. The automatic door 30 is a device that opens and closes between the inside and outside of a facility, and is installed, for example, at the main entrance of the facility. The automatic door 30 includes a door 31 and a door drive unit 32. An existing automatic door can be used as the automatic door 30. The automatic door control system 1 of this embodiment is easy to install because it can be applied to existing automatic doors.

[0030] The door 31 is a transparent partition plate provided at the entrance of the facility. The door 31 is configured as a door that moves left and right along a rail (not shown) provided at the entrance of the facility, for example. The door drive unit 32 is a device that generates a drive force to open and close the door 31. The drive force generated by the door drive unit 32 is transmitted to the door 31 via a gear mechanism or the like (not shown). The door 31 moves in the opening or closing direction by the drive force generated by the door drive unit 32. The operation of the door drive unit 32, such as generating a drive force to open the door 31 or stopping the generation of the drive force to close the door 31, is controlled by the control unit 13 of the automatic door system 10.

[0031] Next, the procedure for operation of the automatic door control system 1 when an earthquake early warning is issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency will be explained with reference to the sequence chart shown in Figure 3. In the following explanation, it is assumed that there are multiple users each holding a mobile terminal 20 around the automatic door 30 or within a range where short-range wireless communication with the automatic door device 10 is possible.

[0032] In the mobile terminal 20, the control unit 24 receives the Earthquake Early Warning distributed from the distribution server 40 of the Japan Meteorological Agency (step S11). It is sufficient that the Earthquake Early Warning can be received by at least one mobile terminal 20.

[0033] In the mobile terminal 20 that has received the Earthquake Early Warning, the control unit 24 executes the Earthquake Early Warning compatible app and transmits a door open signal to the automatic door device 10 (step S12). If the Earthquake Early Warning is received by multiple mobile terminals 20, the door open signal is transmitted from each mobile terminal 20 to the automatic door device 10.

[0034] In the automatic door system 10, the control unit 13 receives a door open signal from the mobile terminal 20 (step S21). If the control unit 13 receives door open signals from multiple mobile terminals 20, it validates the door open signal that it received earliest and invalidates the other door open signals.

[0035] In the automatic door system 10 that has received the door open signal, the control unit 13 switches the control mode of the door 31 from normal mode to door open mode (step S22). In door open mode, the control unit 13 controls the door drive unit 32 so that the door 31 of the automatic door 30 is in an open state or a manual open state. This control places the door 31 in an open state or a manual open state, allowing users (victims) inside the facility to evacuate outside. The control unit 13 also notifies users via the image display unit 14 and audio output unit 15 that the control mode of the door 31 is in door open mode.

[0036] In the automatic door system 10, the control unit 13 switches the control mode of the door 31 to the door open mode, starts timing with a timer, and maintains the door open mode until a predetermined time has elapsed (step S23).

[0037] In the automatic door system 10, when the timer counts down to a predetermined time, the control unit 13 switches the control mode of the door 31 from the door open mode to the normal mode (step S24). Here, the predetermined time is, for example, about 5 to 10 minutes. In the normal mode, the control unit 13 controls the opening and closing of the door 31 in response to the approach of a person or object.

[0038] When the control mode of the door 31 is switched to the normal mode, if the human sensor does not detect that a person or object is approaching the door 31, the control unit 13 controls the door drive unit 32 so that the door 31 is in the closed state. Also, when the control mode of the door 31 is switched to the normal mode, if the human sensor detects that a person or object is approaching the door 31, the control unit 13 keeps the door 31 in the open state. Then, when a person or object passes through the door 31 and is no longer detected by the human sensor, the control unit 13 controls the door drive unit 32 so that the door 31 is in the closed state.

[0039] The automatic door control system 1 of this embodiment described above provides the following advantages, for example. In the automatic door control system 1 of this embodiment, when the automatic door device 10 receives a door open signal from the mobile terminal 20, it controls the automatic door 31 so that it opens or manually opens the door 31. This eliminates the need to equip the automatic door device 10 with an earthquake sensor to detect earthquakes, and also eliminates the need for regular maintenance, thereby reducing costs. Furthermore, by opening or manually opening the door 31 before earthquake tremors occur, users can be evacuated more quickly even if the automatic door device 10 is unable to operate due to earthquake tremors. Therefore, the automatic door control system 1 of this embodiment allows users (victims) to evacuate more quickly when an earthquake occurs, while reducing costs.

[0040] In the automatic door control system 1 of this embodiment, the door open signal sent from the mobile terminal 20 is a signal based on emergency earthquake information distributed by the Japan Meteorological Agency, so the safety of users can be ensured more reliably. In the automatic door control system 1 of this embodiment, the automatic door device 10 switches the control mode of the door 31 to the door open mode, and then switches the control mode of the door 31 to the normal mode after a predetermined time has passed. This prevents the door 31 from being left in the open or manually open state after an earthquake occurs, allowing the convenience of the automatic door 30 to be restored more quickly.

[0041] In the automatic door control system 1 of this embodiment, after the automatic door device 10 switches the control mode of the door 31 to the door open mode, it notifies the user that the control mode of the door 31 is the door open mode via the image display unit 14 and the audio output unit 15. This allows users with visual or hearing impairments to more quickly understand that the door 31 is in the open state or the manual open state.

[0042] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations, such as those described below, are possible, and are also within the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the effects described in the embodiments are merely a list of the most preferable effects resulting from the present invention, and are not limited to those described in the embodiments. Note that the above-described embodiments and the modifications described below can also be used in appropriate combinations, but detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0043] (Variations) In the embodiment, the automatic door control system 1 according to the present invention is applied to an automatic door installed in a building, but is not limited to this. For example, the automatic door control system 1 according to the present invention can also be applied to automatic doors installed in elevators, amusement facilities, rides, etc. in amusement parks and theme parks.

[0044] In the embodiment, an example has been described in which signals are transmitted and received between the automatic door system 10 and the mobile terminal 20 via radio waves conforming to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard, but this is not limiting. Signals may be transmitted and received between the automatic door system 10 and the mobile terminal 20 via short-range wireless communication such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or infrared communication, or via other wireless communication methods. For example, signals may be transmitted and received between the automatic door system 10 and the mobile terminal 20 via radio waves conforming to a long-distance communication standard such as LPWA (Low Power Wide Area).

[0045] In the embodiment, an example has been described in which the mobile terminal 20 is a smartphone, but the present invention is not limited to this. The mobile terminal 20 may be a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, a wearable terminal, a notebook PC, or the like. In other words, the mobile terminal 20 may be in any form as long as it can be carried by a user and can receive an emergency earthquake alert.

[0046] In the embodiment, an example has been described in which the control mode of the door 31 is switched from the door open mode to the normal mode when a predetermined time has elapsed since the control mode of the door 31 was switched to the door open mode, but this is not limiting. After the control mode of the door 31 is switched to the door open mode, the manager of the automatic door 30 or the like may check the operation of the door 31 and then connect a PC or the like to the automatic door device 10 to switch the control mode of the door 31 from the door open mode to the normal mode.

[0047] The automatic door device 10 of the embodiment may be linked with devices other than the mobile terminal 20. For example, a white cane or wheelchair may be provided with a communication unit compatible with the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard, and paired with the communication unit 12 of the automatic door device 10. According to this embodiment, when a user carrying a white cane approaches within communication range of the automatic door device 10, data is transmitted and received between the control unit 13 (automatic door device 10) and the white cane, allowing the control unit 13 to obtain user information. As a result, when switching the control mode of the door 31 from normal mode to door-opening mode or from door-opening mode to normal mode, the control unit 13 (automatic door device 10) can output audio guidance for visually impaired people or audio guidance tailored to the user from the audio output unit 15. The same applies to users in wheelchairs.

[0048] In the embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1, an example has been described in which the earthquake early warning is distributed from the distribution server 40 of the Japan Meteorological Agency and transmitted to each mobile terminal 20 via the distribution provider 50 and base station 60, but the distribution of the earthquake early warning information from the distribution server 40 of the Japan Meteorological Agency to the mobile terminal 20 may be carried out via any route. For example, another distribution provider may be interposed between the distribution server 40 of the Japan Meteorological Agency and the distribution provider 50. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1 Automatic door control system 10 Automatic door device 11 Antenna 12 Communications Department 13 Control Unit 14 Image display section 15 Audio output section 20 Mobile devices 21 Antenna 22 Communications Department 23 Touch Panel 24 Control Unit 25 Memory section 30 Automatic Doors 31 Doors 32 Door drive unit

Claims

1. An automatic door system that automatically controls the opening and closing of doors, a receiving unit that receives a signal transmitted from a mobile terminal based on the earthquake early warning received by the mobile terminal; a door control unit that controls opening and closing of the door, When the receiving unit receives a signal based on the earthquake early warning transmitted from the mobile terminal, the door control unit switches the control mode of the door from a normal mode in which the door is opened or closed in response to the approach of a person or an object to a door open mode in which the door is opened or manually opened, When the control mode of the door is switched from the normal mode to the door open mode, if the door is about to close, the door control unit stops the closing operation of the door and controls the door to be in an open state or a manual open state. Automatic door device.

2. 2. The automatic door system according to claim 1, wherein the door control unit switches the control mode of the door from the door open mode to the normal mode when a predetermined time has elapsed since the control mode of the door was switched to the door open mode.

3. 3. The automatic door system according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that notifies a user that the door control mode is the door open mode.

4. 4. An automatic door control system comprising: the automatic door device according to claim 1; and the mobile terminal that transmits a signal based on the earthquake early warning to the receiving unit.

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