Elevator system

Abstract

The aim is to provide an elevator system that can spontaneously pique the interest of elevator users and efficiently guide them to the floor where the object of their interest is located. [Solution] The elevator system comprises a video display unit installed inside the elevator car or on the landing, which displays images to elevator users, and a destination floor registration unit installed adjacent to the images displayed by the video display unit, which allows users to register their destination floors by operating multiple destination floor buttons corresponding to each of multiple floor levels. When the video display unit displays video data related to a target floor among the multiple floor levels, the elevator system performs a visual notification operation for the display of the destination floor button corresponding to that target floor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an elevator system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology related to a landing destination floor registration device of an elevator in which the registration of the destination floor is simplified. In the device of this technology, when an icon indicating a store or product existing in a building is moved by a user from an icon display area to a first movement area, the floor where the store or product indicated by the icon is located is registered as the destination floor. Then, an advertisement display related to the store or product is displayed in the first movement area.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the device of Patent Document 1, an advertisement display related to a store or product is provided to a user who has spontaneously selected a store or product. Therefore, the device of Patent Document 1 is insufficient as a device for suddenly arousing the interest of a user who does not necessarily have an interest in a store or product, etc., and guiding the user to the floor where the store or product is located.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an elevator system capable of suddenly arousing the interest of elevator users and efficiently guiding them to the floor where the object of interest is located.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The elevator system disclosed herein includes: a video display unit installed inside or on the landing of the elevator car that displays images to elevator users; a destination floor registration unit installed adjacent to the images displayed by the video display unit, where users register their destination floors by operating multiple destination floor buttons corresponding to multiple floor levels; a storage unit that stores video data related to the target floors among the multiple floor levels; a display control unit that performs a display operation to display the video data on the video display unit; and a display control unit that displays the video data on the video display unit as a result of the display operation. Following this, the floors to be guided corresponding to the video data were identified. It includes a notification control unit that performs a visual notification action in response to the display of the destination floor button corresponding to the floor being guided. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The technology disclosed herein makes it possible to spontaneously pique the interest of elevator users and efficiently guide them to the floor where the object of interest is located. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an elevator system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of a guidance device. [Figure 3] This is a functional block diagram showing the functions implemented by the control device. [Figure 4] This is a flowchart of the processes performed in the elevator system according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] This figure shows a modified example of the hardware resources of a control device. [Figure 6] This diagram shows a modified example of the configuration of an elevator control panel. [Figure 7] This figure shows a modified version of the notification process. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, elements common to all parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0010] Embodiment. 1. Configuration of the elevator system according to the embodiment Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an elevator system according to an embodiment. The elevator system 100 of this embodiment is a system that guides users who have suddenly become interested in a tenant or the like that is shown via video to the floor where the target is located. The elevator is installed in a building, for example, which has multiple floors. The building is, for example, a commercial facility with multiple tenants such as shops that are frequented by an unspecified number of people. The elevator comprises, as a main component not shown, a hoisting machine, a main rope, a car, and a counterweight. The main rope is wound around the sheave of the hoisting machine. The main rope supports the load of the car on one side of the sheave of the hoisting machine. The main rope supports the load of the counterweight on the other side of the sheave of the hoisting machine. The car is a device that transports elevator users between multiple floors by traveling vertically in the hoistway. The car travels vertically in the hoistway in conjunction with the movement of the main rope due to the rotation of the sheave of the hoisting machine.

[0011] The elevator system 100 mainly includes an operation panel 2, a guidance device 8, and a control device 10.

[0012] The control panel 2 is used to register the desired destination floor from among multiple floors where elevator service is provided. The control panel 2 is installed, for example, inside the elevator car. The control panel 2 includes a video display unit 4 for displaying images and a destination floor registration unit 6 for users to register their destination floors.

[0013] The video display unit 4 is a device for providing video display to the user. The video display unit 4 is, for example, a liquid crystal display installed at a position adjacent to the destination floor registration unit 6. The video display unit 4 displays the video of the video data transmitted from the control device 10, which will be described later.

[0014] The destination floor registration unit 6 includes a plurality of destination floor buttons corresponding to each destination floor. The plurality of destination floor buttons are operated by the elevator users. On the surface of each destination floor button, a destination floor number representing the destination floor is attached. Each display of the destination floor buttons is configured to be able to independently control the lighting form. Here, the lighting form includes the brightness of lighting, color, and their change patterns. When a destination floor button is selected and operated, a call to the destination floor of the floor corresponding to the operated destination floor button is registered. The elevator controls the operation of the car based on the registered call.

[0015] The guidance device 8 is a device for providing guidance information to the user who gets off the elevator car to the landing. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the guidance device. The guidance device 8 is, for example, a projector device installed at each landing. The guidance device 8 projects and displays guidance information on the floor surface of the landing that can be visually recognized by the user who gets off from the car. In the example shown in FIG. 2, as the guidance information, a guidance display showing the route to the guidance target is projected and displayed.

[0016] The control device 10 is a device for controlling the operations related to the destination floor registration of the elevator. The control device 10 is configured to be able to transmit and receive data to and from the operation panel 2 and the guidance device 8 via a communication network. The control device 10 is a microcomputer including at least one processor 20 and at least one memory 30. The control device 10 is also called an information processing device.

[0017] The memory 30 stores a program 32 and various data 34 for operating the program 32. The processor 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit). By the processor 20 reading out and executing the program 32, various functions of the control device 10 are realized. Details of the realized various functions will be described later. Note that the program 32 may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium or stored in a server communicable with the control device 10, such as a cloud server.

[0018] The storage device 40 is a device that functions as a storage unit in which video data to be described later is stored. Examples of the storage device 40 include a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, etc. Note that the storage device 40 may be configured as a part of the control device 10. For example, the storage device 40 may be a part of the memory 30.

[0019] The video data stored in the storage device 40 includes video related to the guided floor among a plurality of floors of a building and attached information respectively associated with the video. The video here is, for example, a tenant introduction video on the guided floor. Also, the attached information includes floor information for specifying the guided floor related to the video, information on the video display time of the video, priority information for setting the priority regarding the display frequency or display order of the video, and guidance information indicating the route from the boarding area to the tenant related to the video.

[0020] 2. Functions Realized by the Control Device 10 FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the functions realized by the control device. As shown in this figure, the control device 10 includes a selection control unit 12, a display control unit 14, a notification control unit 16, and a guidance control unit 18 as functional blocks realized by the processor 20 reading out and executing the program 32. Hereinafter, specific processing in these functional blocks will be described.

[0021] 2-1. Selection Control Unit 12 The selection control unit 12 is a functional block that performs a selection operation to select video data to be displayed on the video display unit 4 from among one or more video data stored in the storage device 40. This process is hereinafter referred to as the "selection process". In the selection process, the selection control unit 12 selects the video data to be displayed based, for example, on priority information included in the accompanying information. There are no limitations on the method of selecting video data in the selection process. For example, in the selection process, the selection control unit 12 may select video data in a predetermined order without considering priority information.

[0022] 2-2. Display Control Unit 14 The display control unit 14 is a functional block that receives video data transmitted from the control device 10 and performs a display operation to display that video on the video display unit 4. This process is hereinafter referred to as the "display process". Typically, in the display process, the display control unit 14 displays the video data selected in the selection process on the video display unit 4.

[0023] 2-3. Notification control unit 16 The notification control unit 16 is a functional block that performs a visual notification operation for the destination floor button of the destination floor registration unit 6 that corresponds to the displayed video. This process is hereinafter referred to as "notification processing". The notification control unit 16 executes notification processing when the video produced by the display processing is displayed. In notification processing, the notification control unit 16 identifies the destination floor corresponding to the video from the floor information included in the accompanying information corresponding to the video data of the displayed video. Then, the notification control unit 16 performs a visual notification operation for the destination floor button of the identified destination floor. For example, in notification processing, the notification control unit 16 dynamically changes the brightness of the illumination of the destination floor button corresponding to the destination floor. Alternatively, the notification control unit 16 dynamically changes the color of the illumination of the destination floor button corresponding to the destination floor. There are no limitations on the dynamic change patterns here. Figure 1 illustrates the state in which notification processing is being performed for the destination floor button on the 7th floor when the guidance video for the tenants on the 7th floor, which is the floor being guided, is being displayed.

[0024] 2-4. Guidance control unit 18 The guidance control unit 18 is a functional block that performs further guidance actions for the user at the landing of the target floor when the destination floor button corresponding to the target floor is operated by the user and registered as the destination floor. This process is hereinafter referred to as "guidance processing". In guidance processing, the guidance control unit 18 outputs guidance information from the guidance device 8 installed on the target floor to a position visible to the user at the moment the elevator car opens its doors upon arrival at the target floor, based on guidance information included in the accompanying information. The guidance information displayed in guidance processing is not limited in content as long as it is guidance information related to the user's actions on the target floor. For example, the guidance information may be a guide display showing the route from the landing of the target floor to the target of the video, as shown in Figure 2.

[0025] 3. Specific processes executed by the elevator control device according to the embodiment The specific processes executed in the control device 10 will be described below with reference to the flowchart. Figure 4 is a flowchart of the processes executed in the elevator system according to the embodiment. The routine shown in Figure 4 is executed when the processor 20 of the control device 10 executes the program 32 stored in the memory 30.

[0026] In step S100 of the routine shown in Figure 4, the selection control unit 12 performs a selection process to select the video data to be displayed from the video data stored in the storage device 40. Here, the display control unit 14 selects the video data for the floor to be displayed based on the priority information contained in the supplementary information associated with each video data. Once the process in step S100 is executed, the process proceeds to step S102.

[0027] In step S102, the display control unit 14 performs display processing and displays the selected video data on the video display unit 4. Once the processing in step S102 is completed, the process proceeds to step S104.

[0028] In step S104, the notification control unit 16, upon receiving the display processing, performs notification processing on the destination floor button corresponding to the floor to be guided. Once the processing in step S104 is completed, the process proceeds to step S106.

[0029] In step S106, the guidance control unit 18 determines whether the floor to be guided, corresponding to the displayed video data, has been registered as the destination floor. If the determination is unsuccessful, this routine terminates; if the determination is successful, the process proceeds to step S108.

[0030] In step S108, the guidance control unit 18 performs guidance processing and projects guidance information from the guidance device 8 on the floor to be guided.

[0031] Through the series of processes of the elevator system 100 described above, the video display unit 4 can display images related to tenants on the target floor, thereby suddenly piquing the user's interest. Furthermore, since notification processing is performed on the destination floor button corresponding to the target floor when an image is displayed on the video display unit 4, it becomes possible to efficiently guide the user to the floor where the object of interest is located.

[0032] Furthermore, the selection process involves selecting the video data to display based on priority information included in the accompanying information. This configuration allows for flexible management by building administrators, such as increasing the frequency of displaying promotional videos for specific tenants.

[0033] Furthermore, the guidance system can provide additional guidance information to users who disembark at the designated floor, thus enabling efficient user guidance.

[0034] 4. Variations The elevator system 100 of this embodiment may employ the following modified forms.

[0035] 4-1. Hardware resources of the control device 10

[0036] Figure 5 shows a modified example of the hardware resources of a control device. In the example shown in Figure 5, the control device 10 includes, for example, a processor 20, memory 30, and a processing circuit 52 including dedicated hardware 50. Figure 5 shows an example in which some of the functions of the control device 10 are realized by the dedicated hardware 50. All of the functions of the control device 10 may also be realized by the dedicated hardware 50. As the dedicated hardware 50, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof can be used.

[0037] The memory 30 may be operated independently of the control device 10, with the cloud or other entity taking on that role.

[0038] Furthermore, the elevator system 100 may have all or part of the functions of the control device 10 installed in the elevator or a remote server.

[0039] 4-2.Operation panel 2 The control panel 2 is not limited to an in-car control panel installed inside the elevator car, but may also be a landing control panel installed at the landing. Figure 6 shows a modified example of the configuration of an elevator control panel. The control panel 2 shown in this figure is a landing control panel that allows the destination floor to be registered from the landing. The control panel 2 shown in Figure 6, like the control panel 2 shown in Figure 1, includes a destination floor registration unit 6 that includes multiple destination floor buttons, and a video display unit 4.

[0040] In the example shown in this figure, the destination floor registration unit 6 is composed of an image displayed on the touch panel area. The touch panel area is configured to recognize screen operations by the user. The destination floor is registered when the user performs a screen operation to select a displayed destination floor button. The destination floor registration unit 6 of the control panel 2 inside the elevator car shown in Figure 1 may also be composed of an image displayed on the touch panel area, similar to the destination floor registration unit 6 shown in Figure 6.

[0041] 4-3. Notification Processing As shown in Figure 6, if the destination floor registration unit 6 is composed of images of multiple destination floor buttons displayed on the touch panel area, the notification control unit 16 may dynamically change the brightness of the display of the destination floor button corresponding to the floor to be guided, or dynamically change the color of the display of the destination floor button corresponding to the floor to be guided. Figure 6 illustrates the state in which notification processing is being performed for the destination floor button for the 7th floor when a guidance video for tenants on the 7th floor, which is the floor to be guided, is displayed.

[0042] Figure 7 shows a modified example of the notification process. When the notification process consists of images displayed on the touch panel area, the notification control unit 16 may be configured to superimpose an identification display onto the image of the destination floor button corresponding to the floor being guided. There are no limitations on the form of the identification display. Figure 7 shows a state in which the identification display "CM" is superimposed onto the image of the destination floor button for the 7th floor, which corresponds to the floor being guided.

[0043] 4-4. Video display unit 4 The video display unit 4 is not limited to being a liquid crystal display installed on the control panel 2. In other words, the video display unit 4 may be configured to project images from a projection device such as a projector installed inside the elevator car or on the landing toward a display unit adjacent to the destination floor registration unit 6.

[0044] 4-5. Guidance control unit 18 The configuration of the guidance control unit 18 is not essential as a function of the control device 10 of the elevator system 100. If the control device 10 does not have the functions of the guidance control unit 18, steps S106 and S108 in the flowchart shown in Figure 4 can be skipped.

[0045] 4-6. Guidance device 8 The information device 8 is not limited in its configuration, as long as it is a device capable of displaying information in a location visible to passengers who have disembarked at the boarding area.

[0046] 5. Others Although preferred embodiments have been described in detail above, this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and substitutions can be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0047] The various aspects of this disclosure are summarized below as an appendix.

[0048] (Note 1) A video display unit installed inside the elevator car or landing, which displays images to the users of the elevator, A destination floor registration unit is installed adjacent to the video displayed by the aforementioned video display unit, and the user registers the destination floor by operating multiple destination floor buttons corresponding to each of the multiple floor levels. A storage unit that stores video data related to the target floor among the aforementioned multiple floors, A display control unit that performs a display operation to display the aforementioned video data on the video display unit, When the video data is displayed on the video display unit by the aforementioned display operation, a notification control unit performs a visual notification operation for the display of the destination floor button corresponding to the floor to be guided, An elevator system equipped with [the following features]. (Note 2) The notification control unit, The brightness of the destination floor button corresponding to the floor being guided is dynamically changed. The elevator system described in Appendix 1 is configured as follows. (Note 3) The notification control unit, The color of the illumination of the destination floor button corresponding to the floor being guided is dynamically changed. The elevator system described in Appendix 1 or Appendix 2, configured as follows. (Note 4) The destination floor registration unit includes a touch panel area that displays images of the multiple destination floor buttons and recognizes screen operations by the user. The notification control unit, The identification display is superimposed on the image of the destination floor button corresponding to the floor to be guided. An elevator system as described in any one of the appendices 1 to 3, configured in such manner. (Note 5) The storage unit is configured to store the video data related to each of the multiple floors to be guided, each associated with its associated information. Each of the aforementioned supplementary information includes priority information that defines the priority related to the display of the video data, The elevator system according to any one of the appendices 1 to 4, further comprising a selection control unit that selects the video data to be displayed from among the video data related to each of the plurality of floors to be guided, based on the priority information. (Note 6) An information device is installed at the landing of the floor to be guided, in a position visible to the user who has disembarked from the elevator car, and displays information related to the floor to be guided. When the destination floor button, which is performing the notification operation, is operated and the floor to be guided is registered as the destination floor, the guidance control unit displays the guidance information from the guidance device when the elevator car doors open at the floor to be guided. An elevator system as described in any one of the appendices 1 to 5, comprising the features specified. (Note 7) The elevator system described in Appendix 6 includes a projector device that projects the guidance information onto the floor surface of the landing. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0049] 2 Control panel, 4 Video display unit, 6 Destination floor registration unit, 8 Guidance device, 10 Control device, 12 Selection control unit, 14 Display control unit, 16 Notification control unit, 18 Guidance control unit, 20 Processor, 30 Memory, 32 Program, 34 Various data, 40 Storage device, 50 Dedicated hardware, 52 Processing circuit, 100 Elevator system

Claims

1. A video display unit installed inside the elevator car or landing, which displays images to the users of the elevator, A destination floor registration unit is installed adjacent to the video displayed by the aforementioned video display unit, and the user registers the destination floor by operating multiple destination floor buttons corresponding to each of the multiple floor levels. A storage unit that stores video data related to the target floor among the aforementioned multiple floors, A display control unit that performs a display operation to display the aforementioned video data on the video display unit, In response to the display operation causing the video data to be displayed on the video display unit, the notification control unit identifies the target floor corresponding to the video data and performs a visual notification operation on the destination floor button corresponding to the identified target floor. An elevator system equipped with [the following features].

2. The notification control unit, The brightness of the destination floor button corresponding to the floor being guided is dynamically changed. The elevator system according to claim 1, configured as follows.

3. The notification control unit, The color of the illumination of the destination floor button corresponding to the floor being guided is dynamically changed. The elevator system according to claim 1 or claim 2, configured as follows.

4. The destination floor registration unit includes a touch panel area that displays images of the multiple destination floor buttons and recognizes screen operations by the user. The notification control unit, An identification indicator indicating that it corresponds to the target floor is superimposed on the image of the destination floor button corresponding to the target floor. The elevator system according to claim 1 or claim 2, configured as follows.

5. The storage unit is configured to store the video data related to each of the multiple floors to be guided, each associated with its associated information. Each of the aforementioned supplementary information includes priority information that defines the priority related to the display of the video data, The elevator system according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a selection control unit that selects the video data to be displayed from among the video data related to each of the plurality of floors to be guided, based on the priority information.

6. An information device is installed at the landing of the floor to be guided, in a position visible to the user who has disembarked from the elevator car, and displays information related to the floor to be guided. When the destination floor button, which is performing the notification operation, is operated and the floor to be guided is registered as the destination floor, the guidance control unit displays the guidance information from the guidance device when the elevator car doors open at the floor to be guided. An elevator system according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising:

7. The elevator system according to claim 6, wherein the guidance device includes a projector device that projects the guidance information onto the floor surface of the landing.

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