Door control sensor device
The sensor device improves elevator door control by separately detecting objects in the door movement and forward space areas, enabling early and conditional door closures to enhance convenience and reduce wear, addressing inefficiencies in existing systems.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- CEDES AG
- Filing Date
- 2023-04-07
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-08
AI Technical Summary
Existing elevator door control systems lack convenience and efficiency, often startling passengers with unexpected door closures and causing unnecessary wear due to frequent opening and closing.
A sensor device with separate detection of objects in the door movement space and forward space area, utilizing a memory to store detection information and generate early door closing signals when no object is detected for a sufficient period, along with conditional door closing based on elapsed time.
Enhances passenger convenience by allowing early door closure without startling, reduces wear and tear by minimizing unnecessary openings, and optimizes operation efficiency.
Smart Images
Figure 0007886838000001
Abstract
Description
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a sensor device for controlling an elevator door of an elevator according to detection of a passage to an elevator car and a front space area of the elevator car.
[0002] The above type of sensor device is known from the prior art.
[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a sensor device having more convenient usage characteristics.
[0004] Proceeding from the sensor device of the type described in the introduction, this object is achieved by the sensor device according to claim 1 and the control system according to claim 7. Advantageous embodiments are detailed in further dependent claims.
[0005] The sensor device of the present invention is a sensor device for an elevator having a car with an elevator door having a door movement space in the passage and a front space area arranged on the floor in front of the door movement space. The sensor device has a detection device, and the detection device is configured to separately detect an object in the door movement space and an object in the front space area and to execute a continuous detection path. The sensor device has an evaluation device having a memory. The sensor device is configured to store at least temporarily in the memory information regarding whether an object has been detected during the detection path. Whether the object is detected in the door movement space or in the front space area is not important here. If no object is detected during the detection path and information that an object has been detected is stored in the memory for a previous detection path, particularly for a specific previous detection path, particularly for the immediately previous detection path, the sensor device is configured to output an early door closing signal for closing the elevator door.
[0006] With this sensor device, there can be an advantage that the elevator door can be closed earlier by the early door closing signal. As a result, it becomes possible to shorten the waiting time and operate the elevator more efficiently.
[0007] However, thanks to the fact that the early door closing signal is generated only under specific circumstances, namely when it is certain that no one has directly entered the elevator door area, that is, the space in front of the door along with the door movement space, for a sufficient period of time prior to the event, it is possible to prevent startling people with an unexpected door closing process. Therefore, it is possible to improve ease of operation.
[0008] Generally, elevator doors are sliding doors. Elevator doors can be single-leaf or double-leaf sliding doors. Sliding doors can be solid or retractable.
[0009] Door movement space is the space through which the leading edge of an elevator door or multiple elevator doors crosses during the closing process.
[0010] Separate detection means that object detection can be assigned to either the door movement space or the forward space area.
[0011] The memory as defined in this invention means any possibility of accessing information from the past, and here, generally, even if it is merely temporary memory, it is sufficient to monitor a specific period of time previously. This can be implemented electronically in any form, for example, by main memory, RAM, registers, as well as by, for example, a flip-flop circuit or some other circuit capable of temporarily storing information.
[0012] Preferably, if an object is detected in the door movement space, the evaluation device is configured to output an open signal to open the elevator door.
[0013] This has the advantage of preventing the elevator door from being unnecessarily opened again during the closing process. This can reduce wear and tear.
[0014] Preferably, the evaluation device is configured to output a conditional door-close signal for conditional door-closing of the elevator door if no object is detected in the door movement space. Conditional door-closing means that the elevator door is intended to be closed if a certain amount of time has elapsed since the door-open signal for opening the door.
[0015] This has the advantage of preventing elevator doors from closing excessively quickly. This can reduce wear and tear. The delay also prevents passengers from being startled and uncomfortable by the doors closing immediately after they board.
[0016] Preferably, the evaluation device has a time switch, which is configured to start simultaneously with the detection of an object in the door movement space, and is configured to output a door-close signal to close the elevator door if no object is detected in the door movement space and a specific time on the time switch has elapsed.
[0017] This could result in the advantage of ensuring that the elevator doors close securely.
[0018] Preferably, the conditional closed signal and the open signal are inverses of each other, in particular, one of the two signals is given by the absence of the other signal, in particular, the conditional closed signal is defined by the absence of the open signal, or vice versa, in particular, the open signal is a high state and the conditional closed signal is a low state on the same signal line.
[0019] This offers the advantage of requiring only one signal line, which can reduce complexity and cost.
[0020] Preferably, the conditional door-close signal and the early door-close signal are different from each other, and in particular, they are not given identically to each other and / or inversely to each other, and are transmitted via different signal lines.
[0021] This could result in the added benefit of increased safety.
[0022] The present invention relates to a control system for an elevator having a car with an elevator door, wherein the car has a door movement space in the passageway, and a forward space area is located on the floor in front of the door movement space. The control system has a detection device, which is configured to detect objects in the door movement space and objects in the forward space area, in particular to detect them separately, and to execute a continuous detection path. The control system has a system controller, which is configured to open the elevator door when an object is detected in the door movement space, to start a time switch simultaneously with the opening of the elevator door, and to close the elevator door if no object is detected in the door movement space and at the same time a specific time of the time switch has elapsed. The system controller has a memory, which is configured to store at least temporarily information on whether or not an object was detected during a detection path, and to close the elevator door if no object was detected during a detection path and at the same time information that an object was detected is stored in the memory for a previous detection path, in particular for the most recent detection path.
[0023] The control system of the present invention may include the sensor device of the present invention.
[0024] This allows the aforementioned advantages to be realized.
[0025] Preferably, the door movement space substantially corresponds to the surface between the cage door and the shaft door, in particular to the detection surface of a conventional light grid.
[0026] This could offer the advantage of eliminating the need for a light grid, which in turn could reduce costs.
[0027] Preferably, the duration of the time switch is 5 seconds.
[0028] This results in an advantage that both the waiting time and the convenience as a result of avoiding surprises are felt to be optimal for the passengers.
[0029] Preferably, the object is a human.
[0030] Preferably, the detection device is installed on the crossbar of the passage and / or, especially together with the evaluation device, is surrounded by a housing. Preferably, the detection device comprises a 3D sensor, especially a TOF 3D sensor, and especially has a sensor matrix. One area of the sensor matrix is assigned to the detection in the door movement space, and another area of the sensor matrix is assigned to the detection in the front space area.
[0031] This results in an advantage that the described operating method can be achieved cost-effectively and reliably.
[0032] Further features of the invention are specified in the drawings.
[0033] The advantages mentioned in each case can also be achieved by combinations of features in contexts where they are not mentioned.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0034] [Overview of the Drawings] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are represented in the drawings and are explained in more detail below. In this case, the same reference signs in the individual drawings indicate corresponding elements to each other. In the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a control system with a sensor device according to the invention. [[ID=3G]] [Detailed Description of the Drawings] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a control system 10 according to the invention, the control system 10 comprising a sensor device 10 and a door controller 40 for an elevator.
Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention
[0035] The elevator has a car containing one or two elevator doors. The elevator doors move within the passage of the door movement space. The door movement space is essentially the open passage space from the floor to the interior of the elevator car, where the edge of the door crosses while the door is closed. In front of the door movement space is a forward space area on the floor. The forward space area is essentially the space outside the car, in front of the door movement space, defined by a detection device and extending, for example, up to 2 meters in front of the door movement space. The sensor device 20 is installed in the area of the crossbar of the elevator car. The crossbar is the horizontal area above the door passage. The door controller 40 is installed in the shaft or machine room and is connected to the sensor device via a suspension cable from the elevator car.
[0036] The sensor device 20 transmits either an open door signal 31 or a conditional closed door signal 32 to the door controller 40. The conditional closed door signal 32 is given when the open door signal 31 is absent. Furthermore, the sensor device 20 can transmit an early closed door signal 33 to the door controller 40.
[0037] The sensor device 20 has a detection device 21. The latter is a 3D TOF sensor and consists of a sensor matrix, an optical unit, and an infrared illumination device. The detection device is designed to monitor two areas. The first area is the door movement space. The second area is the forward space area.
[0038] The sensor device 20 includes an evaluation device having a first discriminator 22, a memory 23, a second discriminator 24, and a third discriminator 25.
[0039] When the elevator car arrives at its stopping position and the doors are at least partially open, the sensor device 20 periodically performs detection passes, like a film camera, detecting two regions and evaluating the detection in each case. In each detection pass, the detection device 21 captures images of the door movement space and the forward space region. The first discriminator 22 receives and evaluates the data from the detection device 21 via the data connection 21a. If an object is detected in the space between the doors, the first discriminator outputs an open door signal 31 and writes the object detection to the memory 23. If no object is detected in the space between the doors, the second discriminator 24 evaluates the data from the detection device 21. If an object is detected in the forward space region, the second discriminator outputs a conditional closed door signal 32 and writes the object detection to the memory 23. The conditional closed door signal 32 is the absence of an open door signal. The memory stores the fact of whether or not an object was detected in the current detection pass until the next detection pass. If no object is detected in the forward space area, the third discriminator 25 evaluates the memory 23 and, if the memory does not contain information that an item was detected in a previous detection pass, similarly transmits a conditional door-close signal 32, or, if the memory does contain information that an item was detected in a previous detection pass, transmits an early door-close signal.
[0040] The door controller 40 receives an open door signal 31, a conditional closed door signal 32, or an early closed door signal 33 from the sensor device 20.
[0041] When the door controller 40 receives the open door signal 31 via connection 31a, the door controller initiates the opening of the elevator door and starts the time switch 42.
[0042] When the door controller 40 receives a conditional door-close signal 32 via connection 32a, the discriminator 43 evaluates whether a specific time has elapsed since the start of the time switch 42. If the specific time has elapsed since the start of the time switch 42, it outputs a door-close signal 44 and closes the elevator door. The specific time is 5 seconds, but it can be longer or shorter. Connection 31a for the door-open signal 31 and connection 32a for the conditional door-close signal 32 are on the same signal line. A conditional door-close signal is the absence of a door-open signal on the same signal line.
[0043] When the door controller 40 receives an early door closing signal 33 via connection 33a, the door controller 40 promptly closes the elevator door. The early door closing signal 33 is communicated via a different signal line than the door opening signal 31 and the conditional door closing signal 32. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0044] [List of Reference Codes] 10...Control system, 20...Sensor device, 21...Detection device, 22...Door space evaluation, 23...Memory, 24...Forward space area evaluation, 25...Memory evaluation, 31...Door open signal, 32...Conditional door close signal, 33...Early door close signal, 40...Door controller, 41...Door open process, 42...Timer start, 43...Timer evaluation, 44...Door close signal, 45...Door close process
Claims
1. A sensor device for an elevator having a car with an elevator door, wherein the passageway has a door movement space, and a forward spatial area is located on the floor in front of the door movement space, The aforementioned sensor device is A detection device, It is configured to detect objects in the door movement space and objects in the forward space separately. Configured to execute a continuous detection path. Detection device and Evaluation device and Equipped with, The evaluation device is It has memory, The system is configured to store information regarding whether or not an object was detected during the detection path in the memory, at least temporarily. If no object is detected during the detection pass, and information indicating that an object was detected is stored in the memory for a previous detection pass, the system is configured to output an early door closing signal to close the elevator door. A sensor device characterized by the following features.
2. The evaluation device is If no object is detected during the detection pass, and information indicating that an object was detected is stored in the memory for the previous detection pass, the system is configured to output an early door closing signal to close the elevator door. The sensor device according to claim 1, characterized in that
3. The evaluation device is configured to output an open signal to open the elevator door when an object is detected in the door movement space. The sensor device according to claim 1, characterized in that
4. The evaluation device is configured to output a conditional closing signal for conditional closing of the elevator door if no object is detected in the door movement space. Conditional closing means that, simultaneously, the elevator door is intended to be closed if a certain amount of time has elapsed since the open signal for opening the door. The sensor device according to claim 3, characterized in that
5. The evaluation device is It has a time switch, The system is configured to start the time switch simultaneously with the detection of an object in the door movement space. The system is configured to output a door-close signal to close the elevator door if no object is detected in the door movement space and, at the same time, a specific time set by the time switch has elapsed. The sensor device according to claim 4, characterized in that
6. The conditional door closing signal and the door opening signal are, They are opposites. The sensor device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that...
7. One of the conditional door-closed signal and the door-opened signal is given by the absence of the other signal, The sensor device according to claim 6, characterized in that
8. The conditional door-closed signal is defined by the absence of the door-open signal, or the door-open signal is defined by the absence of the conditional door-closed signal. The sensor device according to claim 6, characterized in that
9. The open door signal is in a high state, and the conditional closed door signal is in a low state on the same signal line. The sensor device according to claim 6, characterized in that
10. The conditional door closing signal and the early door closing signal are, Different from each other, The sensor device according to claim 4, characterized in that
11. The conditional door closing signal and the early door closing signal are, In return, nothing is given to one another. The sensor device according to claim 10, characterized in that...
12. The conditional door closing signal and the early door closing signal are, Transmitted via different signal lines, The sensor device according to claim 10, characterized in that...
13. The door movement space substantially corresponds to the surface between the cage door and the shaft door, The sensor device according to claim 1, characterized in that
14. The duration of the time switch is 5 seconds. The sensor device according to claim 5, characterized in that...
15. The object is a human being. The sensor device according to claim 1, characterized in that
16. The detection device is It is provided on the crossbeam of the aforementioned passage, or Surrounded by enclosures, or, Equipped with a 3D sensor, or The sensor matrix is provided, wherein one region of the sensor matrix is assigned to detection in the door movement space, and another region of the sensor matrix is assigned to detection in the forward space region. The sensor device according to claim 1, characterized in that
17. A control system for an elevator having a car with an elevator door, wherein the passageway has a door movement space, and a forward space area is located on the floor in front of the door movement space, The control system is A detection device, It is configured to detect objects in the door movement space and objects in the forward space separately. Configured to execute a continuous detection path. Detection device and System controller, If an object is detected in the door movement space, the elevator door will be opened. Simultaneously with the opening of the elevator door, the timer switch is activated. The system is configured to close the elevator door if no object is detected in the door movement space and, at the same time, a specific time set by the time switch has elapsed. System controller and Equipped with, The aforementioned system controller It has memory, The system is configured to store information regarding whether or not an object was detected during the detection path in the memory, at least temporarily. The system is configured to close the elevator door if no object is detected during the detection pass, and at the same time, information that an object was detected is stored in the memory for a previous detection pass. A control system characterized by the following features.
18. The aforementioned door movement space substantially corresponds to the surface between the cage door and the shaft door. The control system according to claim 17, characterized in that...
19. The duration of the aforementioned time switch is 5 seconds. The control system according to claim 17, characterized in that...
20. The aforementioned object is a human being. The control system according to claim 17, characterized in that...
21. The detection device is It is provided on the crossbeam of the aforementioned passage, or Surrounded by enclosures, or, Equipped with a 3D sensor, or The sensor matrix is provided, wherein one region of the sensor matrix is assigned to detection in the door movement space, and another region of the sensor matrix is assigned to detection in the forward space region. The control system according to claim 17, characterized in that...