Gate device

Abstract

To provide a gate device that prevents light leakage to the surrounding area while suppressing deterioration of the landscape. [Solution] The gate device 1 comprises a partition 10 that forms a gate G through which a passing object passes; support columns 22, 23, 26, 27 installed in an upward-extending direction; a camera 31 directly or indirectly attached to the partition 10 or support columns 22, 23, 26, 27 to photograph the characteristics of the passing object; lighting equipment 35 provided on the support columns 22, 23, 26, 27 to illuminate the passing object passing through the gate G; and a polarizing member 38 that restricts the path of light emitted from the lighting equipment 35 so as to guide it toward the passing object passing through the gate G while suppressing leakage to the outside of the gate G.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a gate device.

Background Art

[0002] Gate devices are installed and used in commercial buildings, transportation-related facilities, libraries, schools, etc. where entry and exit are managed. In recent years, gate devices are required to minimize the concealment range from the viewpoints of not damaging the surrounding landscape and safety, and the adoption of face recognition technology as an authentication means for entry and exit is increasing. As such a gate device, there is one in which an arch portion including a support column is provided on a housing constituting the gate, and an authentication camera, illumination, and a guide display are provided on this arch portion (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the gate device as described above, in order to improve the accuracy of face recognition, when photographing the face of a person passing through the gate with an authentication camera, light is irradiated from the illumination to illuminate the face of the person. At this time, although a corresponding illuminance is required, since the concealment range by the arch portion where the illumination is attached is small, the light irradiated from the illumination diffuses around the gate device, giving glare to the people around the gate device.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present disclosure relates to providing a gate device that suppresses deterioration of the landscape and avoids light leakage to the surroundings.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A gate device according to a first aspect of the present disclosure comprises: a partition forming a gate through which a passing object passes; a support column installed in an upward direction; a camera directly or indirectly attached to the partition or the support column for capturing the characteristics of the passing object; a lighting device provided on the support column for illuminating the passing object as it passes through the gate; and a polarizing member that restricts the path of light emitted from the lighting device so as to guide it toward the passing object as it passes through the gate while preventing it from leaking to the outside of the gate.

[0007] This configuration allows for the suppression of deterioration of the landscape by using support columns, while also suppressing the reduction in image quality captured by the camera due to light emitted from the lighting equipment, and preventing light leakage to the surroundings by using polarizing members.

[0008] Furthermore, as a gate device according to a second aspect of the present disclosure, in the gate device according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the lighting device may have a planar cover over the area from which light is emitted, and the polarizing member may be a polarizing film attached to the surface of the cover.

[0009] With this configuration, a gate device can be easily constructed that can appropriately capture the characteristics of the object passing through while avoiding light leakage to the surroundings by attaching a polarizing film to the cover.

[0010] Furthermore, as a gate device according to a third aspect of this disclosure, in the gate device according to the first or second aspect of this disclosure, a plurality of lighting devices may be provided spaced apart in the vertical direction.

[0011] This configuration allows for the handling of multiple objects of different heights.

[0012] Furthermore, as a gate device according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, in a gate device according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present disclosure, the support columns are composed of a pair provided on each side of the gate and extend above the upper end of the passage body, and may include a horizontal bar member stretched across the pair of support columns at the top, and an auxiliary light attached to the horizontal bar member that irradiates light toward the passage body passing through the gate.

[0013] This configuration increases the illuminance of the light hitting the object passing through the gate, thereby improving the accuracy of the images captured by the camera. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to this disclosure, by using support columns, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the landscape, suppress the reduction in the accuracy of images captured by the camera due to light emitted from the lighting equipment, and avoid light leakage to the surroundings by using polarizing members. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view from the entrance side showing the schematic configuration of the gate device according to the embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view from the exit side showing the schematic configuration of the gate device according to the embodiment of this disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, identical or equivalent components are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted. Also, the dimensions and proportions in the drawings are exaggerated for illustrative purposes and may differ from actual proportions.

[0017] A gate device 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a perspective view from the inlet GA side showing the schematic configuration of the gate device 1. Figure 2 is a perspective view from the outlet GB side showing the schematic configuration of the gate device 1. In the following description, the direction horizontally connecting the inlet GA and the outlet GB will be referred to as the "front-to-back direction DL", the direction horizontally perpendicular to the front-to-back direction DL will be referred to as the "width direction DW", and the direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction DL and the width direction DW (i.e., the vertical direction) will be referred to as the "height direction DH".

[0018] The gate device 1 is installed on the floor F at the boundary between the inside and outside of the restricted access area of ​​the facility to be installed, and constitutes a gate G (or entrance / exit). In this embodiment, the gate device 1 has the function of determining whether or not a person attempting to enter or exit the restricted access area is permitted to enter or exit. When the gate device 1 is installed on the floor F, the entrance GA is located outside the restricted access area, and the exit GB is located inside the restricted access area. In this embodiment, the basic configuration of the gate device 1 as seen from the entrance GA side and the basic configuration as seen from the exit GB side are generally the same. In this embodiment, the gate device 1 comprises a housing 10, an arch section 20, a camera 31, a lighting device 35, and a polarizing film 38.

[0019] The housing 10 is typically installed on the floor F and is a physical partitioning member that forms a passage W for pedestrians passing through the gate G, and corresponds to a partition body. The housing 10 is also a box that houses or mounts various components necessary to perform the function of the gate device 1. Typically, the housing 10 is formed in a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape, with a relatively long front-to-back length DL, a width DW that is as short as possible to accommodate the various components mentioned above, and a height DH such that its upper end is located around the waist of a pedestrian. A pedestrian corresponds to a passing body that passes through the gate G and is assumed to be a standard adult. A standard adult is an adult in the country where the gate device 1 is installed, for example, in Japan, a person with a height of approximately 160cm to 170cm is assumed. In this case, the upper end of the housing 10 may be located 100cm from the floor F.

[0020] The reason for minimizing the length of the housing 10 in the width direction DW is to make it as applicable as possible to places where it is difficult to secure an installation space, and to consider the aspect of suppressing the obstruction of the surrounding landscape and the impairment of the design quality. Also, the length of the housing 10 in the front-rear direction DL is such that when a passerby is passing through, measures can be taken to authenticate the passerby and, if necessary, stop the passerby from passing through. For example, it may be 1.5 m to 2.5 m, or 1.8 to 2 m.

[0021] A pair (that is, a set of two) of the housings 10 forms one passage W. When distinguishing between the pair of housings 10, one is referred to as the main housing 10A and the other as the sub-housing 10B. The main housing 10A may be referred to as the "first housing" and the sub-housing 10B as the "second housing". Since the main housing and the sub-housing 10B have the same basic configuration even if there are differences in the present embodiment, when referring to common configurations or properties, they are collectively referred to as the "housing 10".

[0022] One housing 10 is provided with an entrance door 15 and an exit door 16 on the side surface of the passage W, one each. Both the entrance door 15 and the exit door 16 are members that block the space of the passage W. In the present embodiment, the entrance door 15 and the exit door 16 are formed of plate-like members in a rectangular shape. The entrance door 15 and the exit door 16 are provided at a distance in the front-rear direction DL. The positional relationship between the entrance door 15 and the exit door 16 is such that the entrance door 15 is provided on the side of the exit GB rather than the exit door 16. This is because it takes a certain amount of time to determine whether to stop the passerby who has entered the passage W. Therefore, when stopping the passerby from passing through the gate G, it is more practical to stop them at the back of the passage W. For example, when the entrance door 15 used to stop a passerby who is trying to enter the restricted access area and is entering the passage W from the entrance GA, it is more effective to be provided at the back of the passage W (that is, on the side of the exit GB). Similarly, when stopping a passerby who has entered the passage W from the exit GB and is trying to leave the restricted access area, the exit door 16 is more effective when provided at the back of the passage W (that is, on the side of the entrance GA).

[0023] The entrance door 15 and the exit door 16 are each provided with a rotation axis (not shown) along one side of a rectangle in a plate-like member, and this rotation axis is typically supported by the housing 10 in a vertically extending direction. The entrance door 15 and the exit door 16 can each move between a state where the surface of the plate-like member spreads in the width direction DW and a state where it spreads in the front-rear direction DL and follows the side surface of the passage W of the housing 10 by rotating in the forward and reverse directions around its axis. The entrance door 15 and the exit door 16 are in a closed state when the surface of the plate-like member spreads in the width direction DW, and in an open state when it spreads in the front-rear direction DL. The entrance door 15 and the exit door 16 are each typically composed of a pair provided on both sides of the passage W of the housing 10, and the length in the width direction DW in the closed state is about half the width of the passage W. The rotation axes provided on the entrance door 15 and the exit door 16 perform a rotational movement by a driving device (not shown) such as a motor. The driving device is housed inside the housing 10 and is one of the various members necessary to perform the functions of the gate device 1 described above.

[0024] The exterior of the housing 10 may be appropriately combined with glass, stainless steel, and painted steel plates. A transparent member may be used for part or all of the housing 10. The housing 10 is typically roughly divided into a lower part 11, a middle part 12, and an upper part 13. In this embodiment, the lower part 11 has the strength to support the upper weight while forming a space for housing the control device 50 that controls the operation of the gate device 1. Note that the control device 50 housed in the lower part 11 may have different sizes and / or functions in the main housing 10A and the sub-housing 10B. The middle part 12 in this embodiment has a part for housing a rotation axis (not shown) for rotating the entrance door 15 and the exit door 16, a part for housing the entrance door 15 and the exit door 16, and a plate-like member for partitioning the space other than these parts. The upper part 13 in this embodiment has the strength to support the arch part 20 while cooperating with the lower part 第十一 and supporting the middle part 12.

[0025] The arch section 20 is a structure that spans the space above the gate G (or passage W), and in this embodiment, it has a right support column 21, a left support column 25, and a horizontal bar member 29. When viewed from the entrance GA towards the passage W, the right support column 21 is provided on the right side and the left support column 25 is provided on the left side. In this embodiment, the right support column 21 is attached to the top surface of the main housing 10A, and the left support column 25 is attached to the top surface of the auxiliary housing 10B.

[0026] In this embodiment, the right support column 21 includes a right front support column 22, a right rear support column 23, and a right auxiliary member 24. The right front support column 22 is a support column installed in a direction extending upward from the top surface of the main housing 10A, and is provided on the side of the entrance GA in the front-rear direction DL of the top surface of the main housing 10A. In this disclosure, a support column is an elongated member with a relatively small area obstructing the view, and typically has a ratio of "height" to "maximum width" (height / maximum width) of 6 or more. The maximum width of the support column is preferably 100 mm or less, more preferably 50 mm or less, from the viewpoint of suppressing deterioration of the landscape, and may be 20 mm or more, or 30 mm or more, from the viewpoint of securing space for accommodating components such as wiring.

[0027] In this embodiment, the right front support column 22 is formed in the shape of an elongated plate with a width approximately four times its thickness, but the width may be approximately one to five times its thickness. In this embodiment, the right front support column 22 is installed with the surface corresponding to the width of the elongated plate shape slightly flared towards the entrance GA from a state parallel to the front-rear direction DL. In a plan view, the angle between the surface corresponding to the width of the elongated plate shape and the front-rear direction DL may be approximately 5° to 30°, 10° to 20°, or 15°. In this embodiment, the right front support column 22 extends vertically from the top surface of the main housing 10A, and its upper end is above the upper end of a pedestrian passing through gate G. As mentioned above, the pedestrian is assumed to be a standard adult, and if the height of the upper end of the right front support column 22 from the floor F is, for example, 2000mm to 2300mm, it will be above the upper end of a pedestrian.

[0028] The right rear support column 23 is a support column provided on the side of the exit GB in the front-to-back direction DL on the top surface of the main enclosure 10A. In this embodiment, the right rear support column 23 has substantially the same configuration as the right front support column 22. The right rear support column 23 is positioned symmetrically with respect to a virtual line passing through the midpoint of the right front support column 22 and the right rear support column 23 in the front-to-back direction DL and parallel to the width direction DW. Therefore, the right rear support column 23 is installed with a surface corresponding to the width of the elongated plate shape slightly open towards the exit GB side from a state parallel to the front-to-back direction DL. The upper end of the right rear support column 23 is located at the same position as the upper end of the right front support column 22 in the height direction DH.

[0029] The right auxiliary member 24 is a member that connects the right front support column 22 and the right rear support column 23. The right auxiliary member 24 extends horizontally from the upper ends of the right front support column 22 and the right rear support column 23, parallel to the plane corresponding to the width of the elongated plate-like structure on the right front support column 22 and the right rear support column 23, with a width corresponding to the thickness of the elongated plate-like structure, and connects at the confluence point. The confluence point of the right auxiliary member 24 is bent at an angle obtained by subtracting twice the angle between the plane corresponding to the width of the elongated plate-like structure in a plan view and the front-rear direction DL from 180°. It is preferable that the horizontally extending portion of the right auxiliary member 24 is made of a thin rod-shaped member, as this reduces the area that obstructs the view and suppresses deterioration of the landscape.

[0030] In this embodiment, the left support column 25 includes a left front support column 26, a left rear support column 27, and a left auxiliary member 28. The left front support column 26 is a support column with the same configuration as the right rear support column 23. The left rear support column 27 is a support column with the same configuration as the right front support column 22. The left front support column 26 and the left rear support column 27 are installed in a direction that extends upward from the top surface of the auxiliary housing 10B, and their upper ends are at the same height as the right front support column 22 and the right rear support column 23. The left auxiliary member 28 is a member that connects the left front support column 26 and the left rear support column 27, and has the same configuration as the right auxiliary member 24. In this embodiment, the left support column 25 is constructed point-symmetric with respect to the right support column 21, with the intersection of a virtual line connecting the right front support column 22 and the left rear support column 27 and a virtual line connecting the right rear support column 23 and the left front support column 26 as the center of symmetry (typically the centroid of the passage W within gate G) in a plan view.

[0031] The horizontal bar member 29 is a member that connects the right support column 21 and the left support column 25. In this embodiment, the horizontal bar member 29 is a rod-shaped member that spans the upper part of the right support column 21 and the upper part of the left support column 25. Typically, one end (or first end) of the horizontal bar member 29 is connected to the bent corner of the right auxiliary member 24, and the other end (or second end) is connected to the bent corner of the left auxiliary member 28, and it extends horizontally.

[0032] As described above, the arch section 20 is composed of a pair of pillars: a right pillar 21 located on the right side of the gate G when viewed from the entrance GA, and a left pillar 25 located on the left side. A horizontal bar member 29 is stretched across this pair of pillars at the top. Since the arch section 20 is made up of pillars and horizontal bar member 29 that have relatively small areas obstructing the view, it is open and designed to take advantage of the scenery.

[0033] Camera 31 is used to capture the characteristics of pedestrians passing through gate G, and in this embodiment, it is directly attached to the support column. The characteristics of pedestrians captured by camera 31 are those that can identify a pedestrian in a way that distinguishes them from others, and are typically the pedestrian's face. In other words, camera 31 captures the face of a pedestrian for facial recognition. In this embodiment, there are a total of four cameras 31, one each on the right front support column 22, the right rear support column 23, the left front support column 26, and the left rear support column 27. Each camera 31 is installed on the inner side (i.e., the side facing the passage W) of the portion of the elongated plate-like structure of each support column that corresponds to its thickness. Of these, the cameras 31 installed on the right rear support column 23 and the left rear support column 27 are the cameras that capture the faces of pedestrians entering the passage W from entrance GA. On the other hand, the cameras 31 installed on the right front support column 22 and the left front support column 26 are cameras that photograph the faces of pedestrians entering and exiting the passageway W from exit GB. In this embodiment, two cameras 31 installed on both sides of the passageway W perform facial recognition photography of pedestrians passing through the passageway W. Preferably, the cameras 31 have a field of view that can accommodate pedestrians of various heights passing through the passageway W, and are preferably positioned at a height that can accommodate pedestrians of various heights.

[0034] The lighting equipment 35 illuminates pedestrians passing through gate G and is installed on the support pillars. The lighting equipment 35 is installed to make the faces of pedestrians captured by the camera 31 clear enough for facial recognition, and from the viewpoint of suppressing shadow formation, it is preferable to install multiple units so that the faces of pedestrians can be illuminated from multiple directions. Typically, multiple lighting units 35 are installed on the right front pillar 22, the right rear pillar 23, the left front pillar 26, and the left rear pillar 27. In this embodiment, two lighting units 35 are installed on the inner surface (i.e., the side facing the passage W) of the surface corresponding to the width of the elongated plate shape of each pillar, and one or two lighting units are installed on the inner surface (i.e., the side facing the passage W) of the part corresponding to the thickness of the elongated plate shape. Of these, the lighting fixtures 35 installed on the surfaces corresponding to the width of the elongated plate-like sections of the right front support 22 and the left front support 26, and the lighting fixtures 35 installed on the parts corresponding to the thickness of the elongated plate-like sections of the right rear support 23 and the left rear support 27, illuminate the faces of pedestrians entering. On the other hand, the lighting fixtures 35 installed on the surfaces corresponding to the width of the elongated plate-like sections of the right rear support 23 and the left rear support 27, and the lighting fixtures 35 installed on the parts corresponding to the thickness of the elongated plate-like sections of the right front support 22 and the left front support 26, illuminate the faces of pedestrians leaving.

[0035] When two lighting fixtures 35 are provided at a vertical distance from each other on a surface corresponding to the width or thickness of the elongated plate-like structure of the support column, typically the first is positioned higher than the height of the camera 31 and the second is positioned lower than the height of the camera 31. In this embodiment, each lighting fixture 35 has a flat cover 36 over the area from which it emits light. This cover 36 can be made of, for example, a flat, transparent acrylic board, and in this embodiment, it is a vertically elongated rectangle with four rounded corners. Typically, the flat surface of the cover 36 of the lighting fixture 35 is flush with the surface corresponding to the width of the elongated plate-like structure of the support column. This configuration allows the arch portion 20 into which the lighting fixtures 35 are incorporated to maintain a sophisticated design. In addition, the illumination of the lighting fixtures 35 can typically be adjusted by control of a control device 50 that controls the camera 31 for facial recognition.

[0036] In this embodiment, auxiliary lighting 37, which supplements the lighting equipment 35, is attached to the horizontal bar member 29. The auxiliary lighting 37 is lighting that shines light toward pedestrians passing through gate G. The auxiliary lighting 37 is attached to the horizontal bar member 29 in a direction that illuminates the passage W. There may be one auxiliary lighting 37 that illuminates vertically downwards, or there may be two or more auxiliary lightings, such as one that mainly illuminates the vicinity of the entrance GA of the passage W and another that mainly illuminates the vicinity of the exit GB of the passage W.

[0037] The polarizing film 38 is attached to the lighting device 35 and restricts the path of light emitted from the lighting device 35 so as to guide it toward pedestrians passing through gate G while preventing it from leaking outside gate G; it is equivalent to a polarizing member. In this embodiment, the polarizing film 38 is attached to the flat surface of the cover 36 of the lighting device 35 and covers the entire area from which light is emitted from the lighting device 35. The arch section 20, which includes pillars formed from elongated plate-shaped members that have a relatively small area obstructing the view, is open and takes advantage of the scenery, but because it is open, the light emitted from the lighting device 35 could cause glare to people other than pedestrians passing through gate G (i.e., those targeted for facial recognition). In the gate device 1 according to this embodiment, the polarizing film 38 is attached to the lighting device 35, so that illumination is maintained from the front for pedestrians entering the passage W, while illumination to people other than pedestrians is suppressed. The polarizing film 38 may have a viewing angle of 15° to 60°, may be 20° or more or 25° or more from the viewpoint of appropriately illuminating passersby, may be 55° or less or 50° or less from the viewpoint of suppressing light diffusion, or may be 30° to 45° from both viewpoints.

[0038] The polarizing film 38 may also be attached to the auxiliary light 37 if the auxiliary light 37 has a shape that allows the polarizing film 38 to be attached to it. Furthermore, if the illumination from the auxiliary light 37 does not cause glare to the surroundings, the polarizing film 38 does not need to be attached to the auxiliary light 37, regardless of the shape of the auxiliary light 37.

[0039] The gate device 1 may include one or more of the following configurations to supplement its function as gate G. For example, a passage guidance indicator 41 may be provided on the glass end face of the middle section 12 of the housing 10 on the entrance GA side (i.e., the entry side) and on the cover of the middle section 12 of the housing 10 on the exit GB side (i.e., the exit side). The passage guidance indicator 41 indicates whether gate G is usable by color, and is composed of vertically elongated light-emitting elements that emit a set color, such as blue or green when usable and red when unusable. In addition, an entry guidance indicator 43 may be placed on the support pillars on the near side from the perspective of a passerby passing through gate G (i.e., the right front support pillar 22 and / or the left front support pillar 26 in the case of a passerby entering). The entry guidance indicator 43 indicates whether gate G is usable by letters and / or symbols, and has a display that shows letters and / or symbols. Furthermore, the LCD information display 45 may be placed on the support column on the far side from the perspective of a passerby passing through gate G (i.e., the right rear support column 23 or the left rear support column 27 in the case of a passerby entering). The LCD information display 45 displays the facial recognition judgment result to the passerby and provides guidance in case of abnormalities. In addition, an indicator display 47 may be provided, for example, on the right auxiliary member 24. The indicator display 47 mainly informs the person managing the gate device 1 of the status of the gate device 1, such as a facial recognition NG judgment or equipment malfunction, and is composed of, for example, two hemispherical lamps. Although not shown in the figures, a speaker that conveys the facial recognition judgment result and guidance content by voice may be provided on the housing 10 or the arch section 20. Furthermore, as a configuration for receiving the power necessary for the operation of the gate device 1, for example, a transformer that steps down the received 100V AC voltage to a predetermined DC voltage may be provided, or a battery may be provided.

[0040] The control device 50, housed in the lower part 11 of the enclosure 10, controls the operation of the gate device 1. More specifically, the control device 50 controls the opening and closing of the entrance door 15 and the exit door 16. The control device 50 also controls the operation of the camera 31, and typically in conjunction with this, controls the illuminance of the lighting equipment 35 and the auxiliary lighting 37. The control device 50 also controls the display content of the aisle guidance display 41, the entry guidance display 43, the LCD guidance display 45, and the indicator display 47. The control device 50 also typically has a memory that stores facial data used for facial recognition control. The memory may be an HDD or SSD. The memory also typically stores a program (including sequences) for properly operating the gate device 1. The memory storing the facial data may be located in a computer (e.g., a server) that is located away from the gate device 1 (i.e., remotely) and can communicate with the control device 50. The control device 50 also has a processor that executes the program for operating the gate device 1. The control device 50 may be a computer.

[0041] Next, the operation of gate device 1 will be explained. The following explanation of the operation of gate device 1 is an example illustrating the use and function of gate device 1, and is not limited thereto. Also, unless otherwise specified in the following explanation, the operation of each component of gate device 1 is controlled by control device 50. In gate device 1, data regarding the faces of persons permitted to enter the restricted entry area is pre-registered in control device 50. Until gate device 1 is powered on and ready to be used as gate G using facial recognition (i.e., in standby state), the entrance door 15 and exit door 16 are kept closed, and the passage guidance display 41 is illuminated red.

[0042] When the gate device 1 becomes usable as a gate G using facial recognition, it opens the entrance door 15 and the exit door 16 to prepare for pedestrians to enter the passageway W. At this time, the passageway guidance display 41 may emit blue or green light, and the entrance guidance display 43 may display a blue arrow with its tip pointing towards the exit GB. In this state, when a pedestrian approaches the passageway W (i.e., the gate device 1) from the entrance GA and reaches the entrance GA, the lighting equipment 35 and auxiliary lighting 37 emit light, and the camera 31 photographs the area around the pedestrian's face. At least the lighting equipment 35 is fitted with a polarizing film 38, so that it can irradiate pedestrians with light of the necessary illuminance to obtain an image with sufficient accuracy for facial recognition, and suppress the diffusion of light for people around the gate device 1. Therefore, people around the gate device 1 do not feel glare even though light is irradiated from the lighting equipment 35, which is installed in the arch section 20, which is designed so as not to excessively obstruct their view.

[0043] The data of the face captured by camera 31 is extracted by the control device 50. The face data extracted by the control device 50 is compared with face data stored in the memory of the control device 50 or the server to determine whether or not the person is permitted to enter the restricted area. This determination of whether or not entry is permitted may be made by the control device 50 or the server. The control device 50 displays the result of the entry permit determination on the aisle guidance display 41, the entry guidance display 43, the LCD guidance display 45, and the indicator display 47. Typically, if the passerby whose face data has been matched is permitted to enter, the control device 50 lights up blue or green on the aisle guidance display 41 and the indicator display 47, and displays a blue arrow with its tip pointing towards the exit GB on the entry guidance display 43. In addition, the LCD guidance display 45 displays the word "OK" or an image of the captured face circled. It may also play a melody that suggests permission.

[0044] On the other hand, if the passerby whose face data has been matched is not a person authorized to enter, the control device 50 will light up red on the passage guidance display 41 and the indicator display 47, and display a red "X" on the entry guidance display 43. In addition, the LCD guidance display 45 will display the word "NG" or the like. An abnormal sound may also be emitted. Along with these measures, the entrance door 15 will be closed. By closing the entrance door 15, it is possible to prevent passersby who are not authorized to enter from entering the restricted area. This response for persons who are not authorized to enter is also taken when a passerby intentionally hides their face so that it cannot be photographed, making it impossible to match them with the registered face data. Furthermore, this response for persons who are not authorized to enter is released when the passerby who was denied passage by the entrance door 15 exits the passage W from the side of entrance GA and returns to outside the restricted area, and the gate device 1 returns to the standby state with the entrance door 15 open.

[0045] The above describes the operation of gate device 1 when a passerby enters gate G from the entrance GA side (i.e., when attempting to enter the restricted entry area). However, when a passerby enters gate G from the exit GB side (i.e., when attempting to exit the restricted entry area), gate device 1 operates in the same manner as when a passerby enters gate G from the entrance GA side.

[0046] As described above, according to the gate device 1 of this embodiment, the lighting equipment 35 is attached to a support column with a relatively small area that obstructs the view, thus preventing damage to the scenery. Furthermore, since a polarizing film 38 is attached to the lighting equipment 35, even if the lighting equipment 35 is attached to a support column with a relatively small area that can block light, it is possible to suppress the leakage (or diffusion) of light emitted from the lighting equipment 35 to the outside of the gate device 1. As a result, people around the gate device 1 will not feel glare. In addition, since the polarizing film 38 can be attached to the lighting equipment 35 by attaching it to a cover 36 with a flat surface, a gate device 1 that can appropriately photograph the faces of passersby while avoiding light leakage to the surroundings can be easily constructed. Furthermore, since two lighting equipment 35 are provided on a single support column with a vertical spacing between them, it can accommodate passersby of different heights. Furthermore, since auxiliary lighting 37 is provided on the horizontal bar member 29, the illuminance of the light shining on pedestrians passing through gate G can be increased, and the accuracy of the images captured by camera 31 can be improved.

[0047] In the above explanation, the enclosure 10 is provided with an entrance door 15 and an exit door 16. However, if it is not necessary to stop passersby when they enter, the entrance door 15 does not need to be provided, and if it is not necessary to stop them when they exit, the exit door 16 does not need to be provided. This includes the fact that if it is not necessary to stop passersby when they enter or exit, it is not necessary to provide both the entrance door 15 and the exit door 16.

[0048] In the above description, the right support column 21 is attached to the top surface of the main housing 10A, and the left support column 25 is attached to the top surface of the auxiliary housing 10B. However, the right support column 21 and / or the left support column 25 do not necessarily have to be attached to the housing 10, and may be attached to the floor F, for example, in which case they should be close to the housing 10 (preferably in contact with the housing 10). If the right support column 21 and / or the left support column 25 are attached to the floor F, the strength of the housing 10 can be less than when supporting the right support column 21 and / or the left support column 25, making the housing 10 lighter and simpler. On the other hand, if the right support column 21 and the left support column 25 are attached to the top surface of the housing 10, the overall length of the right support column 21 and the left support column 25 can be shortened, and the floor area required for installation can be reduced, making the appearance of the gate device 1 more refined.

[0049] In the above description, the right front support 22, the right rear support 23, the left front support 26, and the left rear support 27 each have a uniform width-to-thickness ratio in the height direction DH, but this ratio may vary depending on the position in the height direction DH.

[0050] In the above description, the right front support 22 and the right rear support 23 are provided separately in the front-to-back direction DL on the right support 21, and a space is formed between them. However, a plate-like member such as a transparent acrylic panel, which does not detract from the scenery, may be provided in this space between them.

[0051] In the above explanation, it is assumed that one camera 31 is installed on each of the right front support 22, right rear support 23, left front support 26, and left rear support 27. However, if facial recognition is not performed when pedestrians exit, it is not necessary to install cameras 31 on the right front support 22 and left front support 26, and if facial recognition is not performed when pedestrians enter, it is not necessary to install cameras 31 on the right rear support 23 and left rear support 27. Also, in the above explanation, it is assumed that the faces of pedestrians are captured by two cameras 31 installed on both sides of the passageway W, but if it is possible to capture the faces of pedestrians to a degree sufficient for facial recognition with only one camera 31 on one side of the passageway W, it is sufficient to install a camera 31 on one side of the passageway W. If the installation of cameras 31 is omitted, the lighting equipment 35 (including the polarizing film 38) that was installed for the purpose of shooting by those cameras 31 can also be omitted.

[0052] In the above description, it was assumed that the camera 31 is directly attached to the support pillars (i.e., the right front support pillar 22, the right rear support pillar 23, the left front support pillar 26, and the left rear support pillar 27), but it may also be attached indirectly via other members (for example, rod-shaped members). Alternatively, the camera 31 may be attached to the housing 10.

[0053] In the above explanation, it was assumed that two lighting fixtures 35 are provided on each support column with a vertical spacing between them. However, there may be three or more fixtures, or just one fixture may be provided if the illumination is sufficient with one fixture.

[0054] In the above explanation, it was assumed that auxiliary lighting 37 is provided in addition to the lighting fixture 35, but if the lighting fixture 35 is sufficient, the auxiliary lighting 37 does not need to be provided.

[0055] In the above explanation, the polarizing member was described as a polarizing film 38, but it is not limited to a film. Any material that guides the path of light emitted from the lighting equipment 35 toward passersby while suppressing leakage to the outside of the gate G is acceptable, and a polarizing filter or polarizing element may also be used.

[0056] In the above explanation, it was assumed that the features of passersby captured by camera 31 are the passersby's faces. However, if there are other features that can identify a passerby in a way that distinguishes them from others, then other parts of the body may be captured. For example, the entire body of a passerby passing through gate G may be captured, and the passerby may be identified based on their build and / or movements (typically their gait).

[0057] In the above explanation, the partition forming gate G was assumed to be the housing 10, but it could also be a wall, fence, or the like. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0058] 1 Gate device 10 enclosures (compartments) 22 Right front pillar (post) 23 Right back pillar (post) 26 Left front strut (pillar) 27 Left back pillar (post) 29 Horizontal bar member 31 Camera 35 Lighting equipment 36 Cover 37. Auxiliary lighting 38 Polarizing film (polarizing component) G Gate

Claims

1. A partition that forms a gate through which a passing object passes, A support column installed in a direction extending upward, adjacent to or near the partition body, A camera, which is directly or indirectly attached to the partition or the support column, captures the characteristics of the passing object, A lighting device provided on the support column, which emits visible light to illuminate the passing object as it passes through the gate, The device includes a polarizing member that restricts the path of light emitted from the lighting device so as to guide it toward the passing body that passes through the gate, while suppressing leakage to the outside of the gate. Gate device.

2. The polarizing member is configured to make the viewing angle of the light irradiated from the lighting device 15° to 60°. The gate device according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned lighting device has a flat cover over the area from which light is emitted. The polarizing member is a polarizing film attached to the surface of the cover. The gate device according to claim 1.

4. Multiple lighting fixtures are provided, spaced apart in the vertical direction. The gate device according to claim 1.

5. The aforementioned support columns consist of a pair provided on each side of the gate and extend above the upper end of the passageway. A horizontal bar member is stretched across the top of the pair of aforementioned support columns, The system includes an auxiliary light attached to the horizontal bar member, which illuminates the passing body as it passes through the gate. The gate device according to claim 1.

Images