Sensor

Abstract

A sensor for monitoring a landing or inside a car of an elevator (10), characterized in that, in a state prior to being installed in the landing or the car of the elevator (10) in order to monitor a monitoring area in the landing or the car, initial setting for monitoring the monitoring area is performed according to the situation in the landing or the car and the specifications of the sensor.

Description

Sensor

[0001] The present disclosure relates to sensors for elevator landing or in-cab monitoring.

[0002] Conventionally, sensors such as cameras are installed at elevator halls or inside elevator cars to monitor the status of the halls. Information obtained by the sensors installed at elevator halls or inside elevator cars is used in elevator systems, for example, to estimate the number of passengers waiting for the elevator at each hall (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] JP 2013-173595 A

[0004] In order to monitor the conditions at an elevator hall or inside the car using a sensor, it is important that the sensor be installed in a manner appropriate for the hall. Conventionally, there has been a problem in that it takes a lot of time for someone who wants to install a sensor at an elevator hall or inside the car to initially configure the sensor so that it is installed in a manner appropriate for the actual conditions at the hall or inside the car.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a sensor that can eliminate the effort required for initial setup.

[0006] The sensor according to the present disclosure is a sensor for monitoring an elevator landing or the inside of an elevator car, characterized in that, before being installed at the landing to monitor the monitoring area in the elevator landing or car, initial settings for monitoring the monitoring area are performed in accordance with the situation in the landing or car and the specifications of the sensor.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, a sensor can be provided that can eliminate the effort required for initial setup.

[0008]

[0023] Figures 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing an example of an image of a landing situation when an elevator to be installed is installed at a landing in embodiment 1, where Fig. 1A is a schematic diagram showing an example of an elevation view of the elevator when installed at a landing, and Fig. 1B is a schematic diagram showing an example of a plan view of the elevator shown in Fig. 1A.

[0024] Figures 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing an example of an image of another example of a landing situation when an elevator to be installed is installed at a landing in embodiment 1, where Fig. 2A is a schematic diagram showing an example of an elevation perspective view of the elevator when installed at a landing, and Fig. 2B is a schematic diagram showing an example of a plan view of the elevator shown in Fig. 2A.

[0025] Figures 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing an example of an image of a landing situation when an elevator to be installed is installed at a landing in embodiment 1, where Fig. 2A is a schematic diagram showing an example of an elevation perspective view of the elevator when installed at a landing, and Fig. 2B is a schematic diagram showing an example of a plan view of the elevator shown in Fig. 2A.

[0026] Figures 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing an example of an image of a landing situation when an elevator to be installed is installed at a landing in embodiment 1, where Fig. 2A is a diagram showing an example of an image of a landing situation when an elevator to be installed is installed at a landing, where Fig. 2B is a diagram showing an example of an image of a landing situation when an elevator to be installed is installed at a landing after initial installation has been performed so that two cameras are installed on the walls to the side of the door surface. 5A and 5B are diagrams showing an example of the state of a landing when an elevator to be installed is installed at the landing in the first embodiment, and also showing an example of the state of the landing when cameras are installed at the landing after initial installation has been performed so that two cameras are installed on the walls to the side of the door surface. FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams showing an example of the state of a landing when an elevator to be installed and signage are installed at the landing in the first embodiment. FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams showing an example of the configuration of an inspection system used by an elevator installer to obtain initial setting information for initial setting of a camera when installing an elevator at an actual landing in the first embodiment. FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams showing an example of the hardware configuration of an inspection system according to the first embodiment. FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams showing an example of the configuration of a camera having a function of performing calibration in the first embodiment.Fig. 11A is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of a camera having a function of performing calibration when installed at an actual landing in embodiment 1. Fig. 11B is a diagram showing an image of an example of a situation inside a car when a car to be installed is installed inside a building in embodiment 1, Fig. 11A is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a car when installed inside a building, and Fig. 11B is a schematic top view showing an example of a state inside the car shown in Fig. 11A as seen from above. Fig. 11B is a diagram for explaining an image of an example of a flow until a display based on monitoring information is performed in an elevator system.

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Embodiment 1. A sensor according to embodiment 1 is a hall monitoring sensor that monitors the conditions at an elevator hall or inside the car. The sensor monitors the presence or absence of a user at the elevator hall or inside the car, and, if a user is present, the attributes of the user. The sensor can acquire attribute information not only of people, but also of wheelchairs, strollers, cardboard boxes, luggage racks, electric bicycles, and electric wheelchairs. The sensor includes a camera, a lidar, or a radar. In the following embodiment 1, the sensor is assumed to be a camera, as an example.

[0010] When a camera is installed at an elevator hall or inside the car to monitor the conditions at the hall or inside the car, the camera needs to be installed in an appropriate manner so that the camera can monitor the entire area to be monitored (hereinafter referred to as the "monitored area"). In the first embodiment, the monitored area is assumed to be, for example, the hall area in front of the elevator car (hereinafter referred to as the "pre-car area") or the area inside the elevator car (hereinafter referred to as the "inside-car area"). In the first embodiment, adjusting the camera's behavior so that it is in an appropriate mode when installed at an elevator hall or inside the car is referred to as "initial setting." In other words, when a camera is installed at an elevator hall or inside the car to monitor the conditions at the hall or inside the car, the camera needs to be installed in an initialized state so that the camera can monitor the entire monitored area. In the first embodiment, the behavior adjusted by performing the initial setting includes, for example, the number of cameras installed at the hall or inside the car, their installation locations, heights, angles, masking ranges, and angle of view.

[0011] Here, in the past, when attempting to install surveillance cameras in elevator halls or inside elevator cars after a building has been completed or in a building that already has elevators installed, there was a problem of time-consuming initial setup. Typically, the work schedule for elevator installation during building construction differs from the work schedule until the building is completed, and it is assumed that the building's interior is still under construction when elevator installation work begins. Furthermore, after a building is completed, engineers with elevator knowledge are not involved in the management and operation of the building except for visits for elevator maintenance, etc. Therefore, after the building is completed, a building management company or owner, etc., who is not involved in the elevator installation, may need to install cameras in elevator halls or inside elevator cars (hereinafter referred to as the "camera installer"), but in this case, it is expected that initial setup of the cameras will be particularly time-consuming. In recent years, cameras with a small angle of view (80 degrees left and right, 60 degrees up and down, etc.), such as AI cameras, are often used to monitor elevator landings or inside elevator cars. However, when a camera has a small angle of view, initial setup is generally time-consuming. After construction of a building is completed, if the building management company or owner is responsible for installing the cameras, the initial setup becomes even more time-consuming.

[0012] In contrast, the camera according to the first embodiment is provided with initial settings performed before the camera is installed in the elevator hall or car to monitor the monitoring area therein. This solves the above-described problems and shortens the time required for a camera installer to perform the initial settings. For example, an elevator development company performs the initial settings before the camera is installed in the elevator hall or car to monitor the monitoring area therein. For example, a person knowledgeable about elevators, such as an elevator development company, can estimate the appropriate configuration of the camera when installed in the elevator hall or car. In the first embodiment, the status of the hall includes, for example, the specifications of the elevators to be installed in the hall, the size of the hall, the total number of elevators to be installed in the hall, the relative positions of the elevators to be installed in the hall, whether signage is installed in the hall, and the location of the signage if signage is installed in the hall. The size of the landing includes the planar dimensions of the landing or the depth of the landing as seen from the elevator. The specifications of the elevator include the elevator capacity or the size of the elevator. In the first embodiment, the situation inside the car includes, for example, the specifications of the car. The specifications of the car include the size of the car interior, the presence or absence of ancillary equipment such as handrails or buttons, or their arrangement. The size of the car interior includes the width, depth, height, etc. The specifications of the camera include the angle of view of the camera.

[0013] The following detailed description of the initial setup assumes that the initial setup is performed by an elevator development company. In the following first embodiment, as an example, the elevator development company performs the initial setup of the camera 1 for monitoring an elevator hall at a hall in a building where an elevator is to be installed, in other words, at a hall in a building where an elevator has not yet been installed. In the first embodiment, as an example, the camera 1 is provided with the widest possible angle of view and facing forward, so as to cover as wide an area as possible. In the first embodiment, as an example, the aspects adjusted in the initial setup are the installation location and number of cameras 1 at the hall. Note that this is merely an example, and as described above, the initial setup may also adjust, for example, the height, angle, masking range, or angle of view.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the situation of a landing when an elevator 10 to be installed in the landing according to the first embodiment is installed there. FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram showing an example of an elevation view of the elevator 10 when installed at the landing, and FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing an example of a plan view of the elevator 10 shown in FIG. 1A. Only essential parts are shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. In FIG. 1, as an example, three elevators 10, namely, elevator 10a, elevator 10b, and elevator 10c, are planned to be installed side by side at the landing. FIG. 1 also shows an image of the situation when a camera 1 is installed at the landing after initial settings have been performed by an elevator development company.

[0015] <Landing Status: Elevator Specifications> For example, an example of initial settings performed by an elevator development company to monitor a monitoring area according to the landing status and the specifications of the camera 1 when three elevators 10 are installed at a landing as shown in Fig. 1 will be described. For example, the elevator development company performs initial settings for the camera 1 according to the specifications of the elevator 10 and the camera 1 to be installed in the building.

[0016] First, the elevator development company estimates the size of the area in front of the car of the elevator 10, i.e., the size of the monitoring area in this case, based on the specifications of the elevator 10, more specifically, for example, the capacity or size of the elevator 10. Typically, the capacity or size of the elevator 10 is related to the size of the area in front of the car. Note that the specifications of the elevator 10 to be installed in a building to be constructed are determined even before the building is completed. The elevator development company can estimate the size of the monitoring area based on the determined specifications of the elevator 10 before the elevator 10 is actually provided to the landing. After estimating the size of the monitoring area, the elevator development company determines the manner in which the camera 1 can monitor the entire monitoring area without missing any part, taking into account the specifications of the camera 1, such as the angle of view.

[0017] For example, suppose the capacity of the elevator 10 installed at the landing is 13 people, i.e., the elevator 10 can accommodate 13 people. In this case, the elevator development company estimates, based on the capacity, that the size of the area in front of the car is 2.5 m x 2.5 m. Based on the estimated size of the area in front of the car, the elevator development company estimates that, regarding the installation locations and number of cameras 1 at the landing, if three cameras 1 are installed on the upper frames 12 of the jambs 11 of each elevator 10, the cameras 1 will be able to monitor the entire monitoring area. The elevator development company then decides to initially install three cameras 1 on the upper frames 12 of the jambs 11 of each elevator 10. The elevator development company performs initial setup of the cameras 1 so that the determined number of cameras 1 are installed at the determined installation locations.

[0018] For example, an elevator developer may generate in advance a rule (hereinafter referred to as a "mode determination rule") that determines the mode to which the camera 1 should be adjusted in order to monitor the entire monitoring area (here, the area in front of the car) in accordance with the specifications of the camera 1. In the above example, for example, the elevator developer may generate in advance a mode determination rule that associates the angle of view of the camera 1, the capacity of the elevator 10, the size of the elevator, the size of the area in front of the car, and the optimal mode of the camera 1 (the installation location and number of cameras in the landing). The mode determination rule generated by the elevator developer may be managed, for example, by a common server or the like. The elevator developer may, for example, refer to the mode determination rule to determine the mode of the camera 1 that can monitor the entire monitoring area without omitting any of the monitoring areas.

[0019] The above-described mode determination rule is merely an example, and elevator developers can set appropriate mode determination rules. For example, the size of the elevator 10 and the area in front of the elevator car 10 do not need to be set in the above-described mode determination rule. Generally, if the capacity of the elevator 10 is known, the size of the elevator 10 can be estimated, and if the size of the elevator 10 can be estimated, the size of the area in front of the elevator car 1 can also be estimated. The mode determination rule may be a rule that defines, depending on the specifications of the camera 1, the type of mode that the camera 1 should be adjusted to in order to monitor the entire monitoring area when the elevator 1 is installed and under what conditions at the landing. Furthermore, elevator developers can update the mode determination rule as appropriate.

[0020] The cameras 1, for which initial settings have been performed by an elevator development company, are provided (carried) to an actual landing by, for example, an elevator installation company when an elevator 10 is installed in a building, and are then installed in the actual landing. In other words, the elevator installation company is the camera installer. The cameras 1 provided to the actual landing are installed on the upper frames 12 of the jambs 11 of the elevator 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 1 , three cameras 1 (camera 1a, camera 1b, camera 1c) are installed on the upper frames 12 (jams 12a, 12b, 12c) of the jambs 11 (jams 11a, 11b, 11c) of each elevator 10 (elevator 10a, elevator 10b, elevator 10c) at an actual landing. 1B, "Ba" indicates the area in front of the car of elevator 10a, which is the monitoring area of ​​camera 1a, "Bb" indicates the area in front of the car of elevator 10b, which is the monitoring area of ​​camera 1b, and "Bc" indicates the area in front of the car of elevator 10c, which is the monitoring area of ​​camera 1c. Here, each camera 1 monitors the area in front of the car of elevator 10 to which it is attached.

[0021] Camera 1 may be shipped attached to the top frame 12 of the jamb 11 of elevator 10 by the elevator developer and provided to the actual landing by an elevator installer in the attached state to elevator 10, or may be attached to the top frame 12 of the jamb 11 by the elevator installer when the elevator installer installs elevator 10 at the actual landing. In either case, because the elevator developer performs initial settings so that the camera is installed in a manner suited to the conditions of the actual landing, camera 1 is a camera 1 that can save the camera installer the trouble of initial settings.

[0022] For example, when installing camera 1 at an actual landing, an elevator installer performs final fine adjustments, so-called calibration, to match the actual landing. More specifically, the elevator installer adjusts the range of the area detectable by camera 1 (hereinafter referred to as the "detectable area"), sets the elevator 10 number corresponding to camera 1, sets the depth of the landing as seen from elevator 10, and sets the area to be trimmed in the detectable area of ​​camera 1. For example, if the material of the door surface of elevator 10 is a mirror surface that reflects people, the above-mentioned trimming is necessary on the captured image of the detectable area of ​​camera 1.

[0023] As described above, for example, if a building management company or owner, for example, acts as a camera installer and attempts to separately install camera 1 after the completion of construction of a building, the initial setup takes time, making the installation of camera 1 difficult. In contrast, camera 1 according to embodiment 1 is initially configured so that it is installed in a manner suited to the actual landing conditions before being installed at the landing to monitor the surveillance area of ​​elevator 10. Then, when elevator 10 is installed at the actual landing, camera 1 is provided and installed at the actual landing together with elevator 10 to be attached to a component of the landing of elevator 10, such as jamb 11. The camera installer (in this case, for example, an elevator installation company) installs the initially configured camera 1 in conjunction with the installation of elevator 10 and performs final fine-tuning of camera 1, making it easier for the camera installer to fine-tune camera 1.

[0024] Furthermore, when making final fine adjustments to the camera 1, the camera installer may finely divide the detection area within the detection range detectable by the camera 1. When dividing the detection area, for example, the camera installer may divide the detection area into an area in front of a control panel installed at the platform, a waiting area for a specific bank of the platform, an area between waiting areas for a specific bank of the platform, and the like. When dividing the detection area, the camera installer may divide the detection area not only in a horizontal plane but also in a vertical plane. When dividing the detection area in a vertical plane, for example, the camera installer may divide the detection area into an area at a height corresponding to a person's head, an area at a height corresponding to a person's feet, and the like. For example, by fine-tuning the camera 1 to detect areas in a vertical plane, the camera 1 can detect people by different attributes, such as tall people or short people (e.g., wheelchair users or children), and the detected person attributes can be linked to control or the like that is implemented according to the person attributes.

[0025] If camera 1 is provided together with elevator 10, for example, attached to a component of the elevator 10 landing (for example, jamb 11 in the above example), it is possible to prevent a situation in which a person unrelated to elevator 10 becomes the camera installer and takes time and effort to perform initial setup. Even if camera 1 is provided in a state in which it is not attached to a component of the elevator 10 landing, camera 1 is provided to the actual landing together with elevator 10 at the time of installation of elevator 10. Therefore, a person related to the elevator (e.g., an elevator installer) will install camera 1, and the initial setup of camera 1 has already been performed, so it is possible to prevent a situation in which a camera installer takes time and effort to install camera 1.

[0026] In the above example, the initial setting is made so that three cameras 1 are installed on the top frame 12 of the jamb 11 of the elevator 10, but this is merely one example. If the elevator development company estimates that, for example, in order to install the cameras 1 so that they can monitor the area in front of the car without omission, the cameras 1 should be installed in a location other than the top frame 12 of the jamb 11, for example, on the vertical frames 13 (vertical frames 13a, 13b, 13c) of the jamb 11, the initial setting is made so that the cameras 1 are installed on each of the vertical frames 13 of the jamb 11 of the elevator 10.

[0027] In the above example, the elevator developer performs initial settings to monitor the monitoring area according to the status of the landing and the specifications of the camera 1 when three elevators 10 are installed side by side at the landing, as shown in FIG. 1 . However, this is merely an example. For example, the elevator developer may perform initial settings to monitor the monitoring area according to the status of the landing and the specifications of the camera 1 in a similar manner when the elevators 10 are installed facing each other at the landing. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing another example of the status of the landing when the elevator 10 to be installed is installed at the landing in the first embodiment. FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram showing an example of an elevational perspective view of the elevator 10 when installed at the landing, and FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram showing an example of a plan view of the elevator 10 shown in FIG. 2A. Only essential parts are shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. 2, as an example, six elevators 10, namely, elevator 10a, elevator 10b, elevator 10c, elevator 10d, elevator 10e, and elevator 10f, are to be installed in groups of three facing each other at the landing. Also shown in FIG. 2 is an image that assumes the case where cameras 1 (camera 1a, camera 1b, camera 1c, camera 1a', camera 1b', and camera 1c') are installed at the landing after initial settings have been performed by the elevator development company. For example, if an elevator development company performs initial settings in a manner similar to that described in the above example, three cameras 1 (camera 1a, camera 1b, camera 1c, camera 1a', camera 1b', camera 1c') will be installed on the top frame 12 of the jamb 11 of each elevator 10 (elevator 10a, elevator 10b, elevator 10c, elevator 10d, elevator 10e, elevator 10f) at an actual landing, as shown in Fig. 2. For convenience, the jambs 11 of each elevator 10 and the top frame 12 of the jambs 11 are omitted from Fig. 2.2B, "Ba" indicates the area in front of the car of elevator 10a, which is the monitoring area of ​​camera 1a, "Bb" indicates the area in front of the car of elevator 10b, which is the monitoring area of ​​camera 1b, "Bc" indicates the area in front of the car of elevator 10c, which is the monitoring area of ​​camera 1c, "Ba'" indicates the area in front of the car of elevator 10d, which is the monitoring area of ​​camera 1a', "Bb'" indicates the area in front of the car of elevator 10e, which is the monitoring area of ​​camera 1b', and "Bc'" indicates the area in front of the car of elevator 10f, which is the monitoring area of ​​camera 1c'. Here, each camera 1 monitors the area in front of the car of elevator 10 to which it is attached.

[0028] <Landing Status: Elevator Specifications, Total Number of Elevators at the Landing> In the above first embodiment, the landing status is, for example, the elevator specifications, and the elevator developer has determined, based on the specifications of the elevators 10, more specifically, the passenger capacity of the elevators 10, that a total of three cameras 1 be installed, one on each jamb 11 of each elevator 10. However, this is merely an example. Also, although the cameras 1 are attached to the jambs 11, this is merely an example. For example, the landing status is, based on the specifications of the elevators 10 and the total number of elevators 10 at the elevator landing, the elevator developer may determine, based on the specifications of the elevators 10, more specifically, the passenger capacity of the elevators 10 and the total number of elevators 10 at the landing, how the cameras 1 can monitor the estimated areas in front of the elevators 10, i.e., the monitoring area in this case, without omission.

[0029] For example, as shown in the image of FIG. 1 , assume that the elevator 10 to be installed at a landing has a capacity of 13 passengers, and three elevators 10 are planned to be installed at the landing. For example, based on the estimated size of the area in front of each car, the elevator development company can estimate that installing one camera 1 on the top frame 12 of each jamb 11 will allow the cameras 1 to monitor the entire monitoring area without omission. However, when viewed on a landing-by-landing basis, the elevator development company estimates that installing two cameras 1 on the side walls of the elevator 10 doors or two cameras on the wall directly in front of the doors will allow the cameras 1 to monitor the entire monitoring area without omission. Therefore, since a smaller number of cameras can be installed, the elevator development company may initially set up two cameras 1 on the side walls of the elevator 10 doors. The elevator development company then initially sets up the cameras 1 so that the determined number of cameras 1 are installed at the determined installation locations at the landing.

[0030] In this case, the mode determination rule, for example, associates the angle of view of camera 1, the capacity of each elevator 10, the size of each elevator, the size of the area in front of the car of each elevator, the total number of elevators 10 installed at the landing, and the optimal mode of camera 1.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the situation of a landing assuming that the elevator 10 to be installed in the first embodiment is installed at the landing, and also shows an example of the situation of the landing assuming that the cameras 1 (camera 1d, camera 1e) are installed at the landing after initial installation so that two cameras are installed on the walls WR and WL on the sides of the door surface. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a plan view of three elevators 10 (elevator 10a, elevator 10b, elevator 10c) assuming that they are installed at the landing. Note that FIG. 3 shows only essential parts. In FIG. 3, "Bd" indicates the area in front of the car that is the monitoring area of ​​camera 1c, and "Be" indicates the area in front of the car that is the monitoring area of ​​camera 1e.

[0032] The walls WR and WL on the sides of the door face of the elevator 10 are completed at the time of installation of the elevator 10. In the first embodiment, the components of the elevator 10 are not limited to those provided by the elevator installer when installing the elevator 10, such as the jamb 11, but also include landing structures such as walls that are completed at the time of installation of the elevator 10.

[0033] In this case, for example, when an elevator installation company, as a camera installer, installs elevator 10 at an actual landing, it also installs cameras 1 (camera 1d, camera 1e) on the walls WR, WL on the sides of the door surface. In this case, too, since the elevator development company has performed initial settings for camera 1 so that it is installed in a manner suited to the actual landing conditions, camera 1 is a camera 1 that can save the camera installer the trouble of initial setup. The camera installer can save the trouble of initial setup of camera 1.

[0034] Furthermore, before the cameras 1 are installed at the landings to monitor the surveillance areas of the elevators 10, the number of cameras 1 installed at the landings is initially set to two on the side walls WR and WL of the door faces, rather than three at three locations on the top frame 12 of the jamb 11 of each elevator 10. As a result, even if multiple cameras 1 need to be installed at the landing, the number of cameras 1 can be covered with fewer cameras than the number of elevators 10, without having to be equal to the number of elevators 10. Explaining with reference to Figure 3, by installing camera 1d at the landings on the side wall WR of the door faces, it can cover a surveillance area equivalent to 1.5 elevators 10, which is approximately half the area in front of the car of elevator 10a and the area in front of the car of elevator 10b. In addition, by installing camera 1e on the wall WL on the side of the door surface at the landing, it can cover a monitoring area equivalent to 1.5 elevators (10), which is the area in front of the car of elevator 10c and approximately half the area in front of the car of elevator 10b.

[0035] In this case, too, when installing the camera 1 at an actual landing, for example, the elevator installer performs final fine adjustments, so-called calibration, to suit the actual landing.

[0036] <Landing Situation: Elevator Specifications, Total Number of Elevators at the Landing, and Positional Relationship> Furthermore, for example, the landing situation is defined as the specifications of the elevator 10, the total number of elevators 10 at the elevator landing, and the installation positions of the elevators 10 installed at the landing, and the elevator development company may determine a mode in which the camera 1 can monitor the estimated area in front of the elevator 10, i.e., the monitoring area here, without omission, based on the specifications of the elevator 10, the total number of elevators 10 at the landing, and the installation positions of the elevators 10 installed at the landing. In the example given in the first embodiment above, the elevators 10 are installed side by side at the landing, but here, for example, it is assumed that six 13-passenger elevators 10 are planned to be installed at the landing, positioned so that three elevators face each other.

[0037] For example, based on the estimated size of the area in front of each car, the elevator development company estimates that if one camera 1 is installed on the top frame 12 of each jamb 11, the camera 1 can monitor the entire monitoring area without any omissions. However, when viewed on a landing-by-landing basis, the elevator development company estimates that even if two cameras 1 are installed on the side walls of the door faces or two on the wall directly in front of the door faces, the camera 1 can monitor the entire monitoring area without any omissions. Furthermore, the elevator development company estimates that if two cameras 1 are installed on the side walls of the door faces or two on the wall directly in front of the door faces, the camera 1 can monitor the entire monitoring area without any omissions even if two cameras 1 are installed on the side walls of the door faces or two on the wall directly in front of the door faces of either side of the door faces of elevators 10 installed in groups of three facing each other. Since a smaller number of cameras is possible, the elevator development company decides to initially install two cameras on the side walls of either door faces of a group of elevators 10 installed in groups of three facing each other. Then, the elevator development company initializes the cameras 1 so that the determined number of cameras 1 are installed at the determined installation locations in the elevator hall.

[0038] In this case, the aspect determination rule, for example, associates the angle of view of camera 1, the capacity of each elevator 10, the size of each elevator, the size of the area in front of the car of each elevator, the total number of elevators 10 installed at the landing, the relative installation positions of each elevator at the landing, and the optimal aspect of camera 1.

[0039] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the state of a landing assuming that the elevator 10 to be installed in the first embodiment is installed at the landing, and also shows an example of the state of the landing assuming that the cameras 1 (camera 1f, camera 1g) are installed at the landing after initial installation so that two cameras are installed on the walls WR and WL on the sides of the door surface. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a plan view of six elevators 10 (elevator 10a, elevator 10b, elevator 10c, elevator 10d, elevator 10e, elevator 10f) assuming that they are installed at the landing. It is assumed that the elevators 10 are installed in groups of three (elevator 10a, elevator 10b, elevator 10c, and elevator 10d, elevator 10e, elevator 10f) facing each other at the landing. Note that FIG. 4 shows only essential parts. In FIG. 4, "Bf" indicates the area in front of the camera 1f monitoring area, and "Bg" indicates the area in front of the camera 1g monitoring area.

[0040] The side walls WR and WL of the door surface of the elevator 10 are completed at the time of installation of the elevator 10.

[0041] In this case, for example, when an elevator installation company installs elevator 10 in a building, it also installs cameras 1 (camera 1f, camera 1g) on ​​the walls WR, WL on the sides of the door surface. In this case, too, the elevator development company has performed initial settings for camera 1 so that it is installed in a manner suited to the actual landing conditions, so that camera 1 can be configured so that the camera installer can save the trouble of initial setting. The camera installer can save the trouble of initial setting camera 1.

[0042] Furthermore, before the cameras 1 are installed at the landings to monitor the monitoring areas of the elevators 10, the number of cameras 1 installed at the landings is initially set to two on the side walls WR and WL of the door faces, rather than three at three locations on the top frames 12 of the jambs 11 of each elevator 10. As a result, even if multiple cameras 1 need to be installed at the landing, the number of cameras 1 can be covered with fewer cameras than the number of elevators 10, without having to be equal to the number of elevators 10. Explaining with reference to Figure 4, by installing camera 1g at the landing on the side wall WR of the door faces, it can cover the monitoring areas in front of the cars of elevators 10d, 10b, and 10c, corresponding to the area of ​​three elevators (10). In addition, by installing camera 1f on the wall WL on the side of the door surface at the landing, it can cover a monitoring area corresponding to three elevators (10), including elevator 10f, elevator 10e, and the area in front of the cars of elevator 10a.

[0043] In the image shown in Figure 4, camera 1 is installed on the walls WR and WL on the side of the door surface on the elevator 10d, elevator 10e, and elevator 10f side, but this is just one example, and camera 1 may also be installed on the walls WR and WL on the side of the door surface on the elevator 10a, elevator 10b, and elevator 10c side, for example.

[0044] Also in this case, for example, when installing the camera 1 at an actual landing, the elevator installer performs final fine adjustments, so-called calibration, to suit the actual landing.

[0045] <Landing status: elevator specifications, whether signage is installed at the landing, and installation location> Furthermore, for example, the landing status may be the specifications of elevator 10, whether signage is installed at the landing, and if so, where the signage is installed. The elevator development company may determine, based on the specifications of elevator 10, whether signage is installed at the landing, and if so, where the signage is installed, how camera 1 can monitor the estimated area in front of the elevator car of elevator 10, i.e., the monitoring area in this case, without any omissions.

[0046] For example, assume that three 13-passenger elevators 10 are planned to be installed at a landing, as shown in the image in FIG. 1 . Furthermore, assume that signage is also planned to be installed at the landing. Here, it is assumed that the signage will be installed together with the elevator 10 by, for example, an elevator installer during the installation work of the elevator 10. Note that the signage can be installed as part of the interior construction work of the building, and therefore can be installed during the elevator installation work. Like the elevator 10, the location of the signage at each landing is determined before the building is completed. The location of the signage at each landing can also be determined, for example, by an elevator development company. In this case, the elevator development company may determine the type of camera 1 taking into consideration the installation position of the signage, and may decide to mount the camera 1 on the signage or install it near the signage.

[0047] 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating an example of the situation of a landing, assuming that the elevator 10 and signage 2 to be installed in the landing are installed in the landing in the first embodiment. FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams illustrating an example of a plan view of three elevators 10 (elevator 10a, elevator 10b, and elevator 10c) and the signage 2, assuming that they are installed in the landing. Note that only essential parts are illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Also shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B are images assuming that the camera 1 is installed in the landing after initial settings have been performed.

[0048] For example, the elevator development company determines the hall where three elevators 10 (elevator 10a, elevator 10b, elevator 10c) will be installed, and further determines the location in the hall where the signage 2 will be installed.

[0049] For example, if the landing for elevator 10 is not at the end of a corridor, the possible flow lines for passengers of elevator 10 entering the landing include a flow line entering from the right side of the landing and a flow line entering from the left side of the landing. The elevator development company presumes that the wall in front of the passage to the landing is the most suitable location for installing signage 2 so that passengers of elevator 10 can see the content displayed on signage 2 regardless of the direction from which they enter the landing, and determines that wall as the installation location for signage 2 (see FIG. 5A ).

[0050] On the other hand, if the elevator 10 landing is located at the end of a corridor, the flow of passengers entering the landing is limited to one direction, from the front as viewed from the elevator 10. In this case, the elevator development company may, for example, estimate that the wall of the landing that faces the corridor to the landing is a suitable location for installing the signage 2, and determine that wall as the installation location for the signage 2. Furthermore, for example, if a passenger enters the landing from the corridor and then boards the nearest elevator 10 (elevator 10a), they may not look at the wall that faces the corridor to the landing. Therefore, the elevator development company may estimate that the wall next to the door of the elevator 10 (elevator 10a) that is installed closest to the entrance of the landing is a suitable location for installing the signage 2, and determine that wall as the installation location for the signage 2 (see FIG. 5B ).

[0051] After determining the installation locations of the signage 2 in the landing as described above, the elevator development company estimates the configuration of the camera 1 that is estimated to enable the camera 1 to monitor the entire monitoring area, taking into account the installation locations of the signage 2. For example, based on the estimated size of the area in front of each car, the elevator development company estimates that if the camera 1 is installed on the signage 2, the camera 1 installed on the signage 2 will be able to monitor the area in front of the cars of at least two elevators 10 (elevator 10a and elevator 10b). Since a smaller number of cameras can be used, the elevator development company determines that the initial settings will be such that one camera 1 is installed on the signage 2 and one on the top frame 12 of the jamb 11 of elevator 10c in order to cover the area in front of the car of elevator 10 (elevator 10c) that is estimated to be difficult to cover with the camera 1 installed on the signage 2. The elevator development company then initially configures the cameras 1 so that the determined number of cameras 1 are installed at the determined installation locations at the landing. Figures 5A and 5B show an image in which a camera 1h is mounted on the signage 2 and a camera 1c is installed on the top frame 12c of the three-sided jamb 11c of the elevator 10c.

[0052] In this case, the mode determination rule, for example, associates the angle of view of camera 1, the capacity of each elevator 10, the size of each elevator, the size of the area in front of the car of each elevator, whether or not signage 2 is installed at the landing, the installation location if signage 2 is installed at the landing, and the optimal mode of camera 1.

[0053] Note that camera 1c may be shipped by the elevator developer attached to the upper frame 12c of the jamb 11c of elevator 10c and provided to the actual landing by an elevator installer while attached to elevator 10c, or may be attached to the upper frame 12c of jamb 11c by the elevator installer when the elevator installer installs elevator 10c at the actual landing. Camera 1h is attached to signage 2, for example, when the elevator installer installs elevator 10 and signage 2 at the actual landing. For example, when signage 2 is shipped by the elevator developer, camera 1h may be shipped attached to signage 2 by the elevator developer and provided to the actual landing by the elevator installer while attached to signage 2. In either case, because the elevator developer performs initial settings to install camera 1 in a manner suitable for the actual landing conditions, camera 1 is a camera 1 that can save the camera installer the trouble of initial setup.

[0054] The signage 2 is installed in the hall when the elevator 10 is installed, and the installation location in the hall is also determined. In other words, the signage 2 is a hall structure that is completed at the time the elevator 10 is installed, and can be said to be included in the components of the elevator 10 hall.

[0055] In this case, for example, when an elevator installation company, as a camera installer, installs elevator 10 at an actual landing, it also installs camera 1 (camera 1c, camera 1h) on the upper frame 12c of the jamb 11c of elevator 10c or on signage 2. In this case, too, the initial settings of camera 1 have been performed by the elevator development company so that it will be installed in a manner suited to the actual landing conditions, and therefore camera 1 is a camera 1 that can eliminate the effort required for initial setup. The camera installer can eliminate the effort required for initial setup of camera 1.

[0056] Furthermore, before the cameras 1 are installed at the landings to monitor the monitoring areas of the elevators 10, the number of cameras 1 installed at the landings is initially set to one at the top frame 12c of the jamb 11c of one elevator 10c and one at the signage 2, rather than three at three locations on the top frame 12 of the jamb 11 of each elevator 10. As a result, even if multiple cameras 1 need to be installed at the landing, the number of cameras 1 can be covered with fewer cameras than the number of elevators 10, without having to be the same as the number of elevators 10. In the example shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the camera 1c is installed at the landing on the top frame 12c of the jamb 11c of the elevator 10c, thereby covering the monitoring area corresponding to one elevator (10). In addition, by mounting the camera 1h on the signage 2 at the landing, it can cover a monitoring area corresponding to two elevators (10), that is, the area in front of the car of the elevator 10a and the area in front of the car of the elevator 10b.

[0057] In this case, too, when installing the camera 1 at an actual landing, for example, the elevator installer performs final fine adjustments, so-called calibration, to suit the actual landing.

[0058] In the above example, the elevator developer determines the location of the signage 2 in a landing where three elevators 10 (elevator 10a, elevator 10b, and elevator 10c) will be installed, as shown in FIG. 5A or 5B. However, this is merely an example. The elevator developer may determine the mode of the camera 1 taking into consideration the installation location of the signage 2. For example, if a signage 2 is also planned to be installed in a landing where two elevators 10 will be installed, the elevator developer may estimate that the wall next to the doors of each elevator 10 between the two elevators 10 is a suitable location for installing the signage 2, and may determine the wall between the two elevators 10 as the installation location for the signage 2. The elevator development company may then estimate the type of camera 1 that will enable camera 1 to monitor the entire monitoring area, taking into consideration the installation location of signage 2, and decide to initially set one camera 1 to be installed on signage 2, such as above signage 2. For example, the elevator development company may estimate the type of camera 1 that will enable camera 1 to monitor the entire monitoring area, taking into consideration the installation location of signage 2, and decide to initially set camera 1 to be installed on the three-sided jamb of elevator 10, which is around signage 2.

[0059] In the above examples using FIGS. 5A and 5B , the camera 1h is initially set to be mounted on the signage 2, but this is merely an example. For example, the camera 1h may be initially set to be installed near the signage 2. Furthermore, for example, when installing the signage 2 at a landing, rules for determining the installation locations and number of signages 2 to be installed (hereinafter referred to as "signage installation determination rules") may be generated in advance by an elevator development company based on how many elevators 10 will be installed at the landing and whether the landing for the elevator 10 is located at the end of a corridor, and the rules may be managed on a common server or the like. The elevator development company may, for example, refer to the signage installation determination rules to determine the optimal locations and number of signages 2 to be installed.

[0060] As described above, before camera 1 is installed at a landing for monitoring the monitoring area of ​​elevator 10, initial settings for monitoring the monitoring area are performed according to the situation of the landing and the specifications of camera 1. Camera 1 is a camera 1 that can eliminate the effort required for initial setup, thereby reducing the effort required for the camera installer.

[0061] In the first embodiment described above, the elevator development company initially installs the camera 1 before the elevator 10 is provided to an actual landing. However, this is merely an example. For example, when an elevator installer installs the elevator 10 at an actual landing, the elevator installer may use an inspection system to obtain information for initializing the camera 1 (hereinafter referred to as "initialization information") and perform the initial configuration of the camera 1 based on the obtained initial configuration information. After initializing the camera 1, the elevator installer installs the camera 1 in the initial configuration state at the actual landing. The inspection system detects the status of the landing from a captured image of the actual landing, generates initial configuration information based on the detected status of the landing and the specifications of the camera 1, and presents the generated initial configuration information to the elevator installer.

[0062] Here, the details of the inspection system will be described with reference to an example. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the inspection system 5 used by the elevator installer to obtain information for initial setup of the camera 1 when installing the elevator 10 at an actual hall in the first embodiment.

[0063] The inspection system 5 is composed of an inspection camera 3 and a terminal 4. The inspection camera 3 captures an image of the hall of the elevator 10 where the camera 1 will be installed. The inspection camera 3 may, for example, be installed in the actual hall in advance, or may be temporarily installed in the hall so that an elevator installer can perform initial setup. The inspection camera 3 includes a hall image acquisition unit 31 and a hall situation detection unit 32. The hall image acquisition unit 31 captures an image of the hall of the elevator 10 where the camera 1 will be installed. The hall image acquisition unit 31 outputs the captured image to the hall situation detection unit 32.

[0064] The hall status detection unit 32 detects the status of the hall based on the captured image captured by the hall image acquisition unit 31. For example, the hall status detection unit 32 detects the status of the hall based on the captured image. The hall status detection unit 32 outputs information related to the detected status of the hall (hereinafter referred to as "hall status information") to the terminal 4.

[0065] The terminal 4 is assumed to be, for example, a personal computer (PC) or a mobile terminal such as a smartphone carried by an elevator installer. The terminal 4 includes an initial setting information generating unit 41.

[0066] The initial setting information generation unit 41 acquires the hall status information output from the inspection camera 3 and generates initial setting information based on the acquired hall status information. For example, information indicating a mode determination rule generated in advance by an elevator development company (hereinafter referred to as "mode determination rule information") is stored in a location accessible to the initial setting information generation unit 41, such as a storage device (not shown). The initial setting information generation unit 41 references the mode determination rule information and, for example, compares the hall status indicated in the hall status information with the specifications of the camera 1 and the mode determination rule to determine a mode in which the camera 1 can monitor the entire monitoring area. Note that the specifications of the camera 1 may be input in advance by, for example, an elevator installer operating an operation unit (not shown) provided on the terminal 4. The elevator installer is aware of the specifications of the installed camera 1. For example, the initial setting information generation unit 41 determines the number and locations of the cameras 1 to be installed at the hall as the mode.

[0067] The initial setting information generation unit 41 generates information (hereinafter referred to as "initial setting information") for indicating the determined mode in which the camera 1 can monitor without missing any part of the monitoring area. The initial setting information may be, for example, information that displays a list of the determined modes, or may be an image in which information indicating the determined mode is superimposed on an image captured by the inspection camera 3 (for example, an image in which an icon indicating the camera 1 is superimposed on the captured image at the determined installation location). Note that when the initial setting information is an image in which information indicating the determined mode is superimposed on an image captured by the inspection camera 3, the initial setting information generation unit 41 acquires the captured image together with the hall status information from the inspection camera 3.

[0068] Also, for example, an elevator development company may have previously generated a trained model that inputs hall status information and outputs information about the state of camera 1 (for example, information for displaying a floor plan reflecting the state of camera 1), and the model may be stored in a storage device (not shown). The initial setting information generation unit 41 inputs the hall status information into the model, obtains information about the state of camera 1, and uses this information as initial setting information. The initial setting information generation unit 41, for example, causes a display unit (not shown) provided in the terminal 4 to display information based on the initial setting information. In this way, the initial setting information generation unit 41 instructs the elevator installer on how to adjust the state of camera 1 and what initial setting should be performed.

[0069] The elevator installer performs the initial settings as instructed. After that, the elevator installer installs the camera 1 in the initial setting state at the actual landing. Note that in this case as well, for example, when installing the camera 1 at the actual landing, the elevator installer performs final fine adjustments, so-called calibration, to match the actual landing.

[0070] 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the inspection system 5 used by an elevator installer to perform initial settings of the camera 1 when installing the elevator 10 at an actual landing in the first embodiment. For example, when installing the elevator 10, the elevator installer operates an operation unit (not shown) provided on the inspection camera 3 to start the operation of the inspection system 5. Note that, before starting the operation of the inspection system 5, the elevator installer operates an operation unit (not shown) provided on the terminal 4 to input the specifications of the camera 1.

[0071] The hall image acquisition unit 31 captures an image of the hall of the elevator 10 where the camera 1 will be installed (step ST1). The hall image acquisition unit 31 outputs the captured image to the hall situation detection unit 32.

[0072] The hall status detection unit 32 detects the status of the hall based on the captured image captured by the hall image acquisition unit 31 in step ST31 (step ST2). The hall status detection unit 32 outputs hall status information to the terminal 4.

[0073] In the terminal 4, the initial setting information generating unit 41 acquires the hall status information output from the inspection camera 3 and generates initial setting information based on the acquired hall status information (step ST3). The initial setting information generating unit 41 causes, for example, a display unit (not shown) provided in the terminal 4 to display based on the initial setting information.

[0074] In this way, the inspection system 5 may detect the status of the elevator hall based on a captured image of the elevator hall, and generate initial setting information for performing initial setting based on the detected status of the hall and the specifications of the camera 1. The inspection system 5 may then present the generated initial setting information to an elevator installer. When installing the elevator 10, the elevator installer performs initial setting of the camera 1 in accordance with the presented initial setting information. As a result, the camera 1 becomes a camera 1 for which initial settings have been performed in a state before the camera 1 is installed at the hall to monitor the monitoring area at the hall of the elevator 10. This saves the elevator installer, who is the camera installer, the effort required for initial setting of the camera 1.

[0075] The functions of the hall image acquisition unit 31, the hall situation detection unit 32, and the initial setting information generation unit 41 in the inspection system 5 described above may be incorporated in the camera 1. That is, the camera 1 may be equipped with the hall image acquisition unit 31, the hall situation detection unit 32, and the initial setting information generation unit 41. In this case, for example, when installing the elevator 10, an elevator installer who is the camera installer places the camera 1 that was brought in together with the elevator 10 in an appropriate location in the hall, and causes the camera 1 to execute the functions of the inspection system 5 as described in the flowchart of FIG.

[0076] 8A and 8B are diagrams showing an example of the hardware configuration of the inspection system 5 according to the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the functions of the hall image acquisition unit 31, the hall situation detection unit 32, and the initial setting information generation unit 41 are realized by a processing circuit 1001. That is, the inspection system 5 includes the processing circuit 1001 for performing control to obtain initial setting information for performing initial setting of the camera 1 based on a captured image of the hall of the elevator 10. The processing circuit 1001 may be dedicated hardware as shown in FIG. 8A, or may be a processor 1004 that executes a program stored in a memory as shown in FIG. 8B.

[0077] If the processing circuit 1001 is dedicated hardware, the processing circuit 1001 may be, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or a combination thereof.

[0078] When the processing circuit is the processor 1004, the functions of the hall image acquisition unit 31, the hall situation detection unit 32, and the initial setting information generation unit 41 are realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. The software or firmware is written as a program and stored in the memory 1005. The processor 1004 executes the functions of the hall image acquisition unit 31, the hall situation detection unit 32, and the initial setting information generation unit 41 by reading and executing the program stored in the memory 1005. That is, the inspection system 5 includes the memory 1005 for storing a program that, when executed by the processor 1004, results in the execution of steps ST1 to ST3 in FIG. 7 described above. It can also be said that the program stored in the memory 1005 causes a computer to execute the processing procedures or methods of the hall image acquisition unit 31, the hall situation detection unit 32, and the initial setting information generation unit 41. Here, the memory 1005 may be, for example, a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a RAM, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), or an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), or a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a mini disk, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc).

[0079] It should be noted that the functions of the hall image acquisition unit 31, the hall situation detection unit 32, and the initial setting information generation unit 41 may be partially realized by dedicated hardware and partially realized by software or firmware. For example, the functions of the hall image acquisition unit 31 may be realized by a processing circuit 1001 as dedicated hardware, and the functions of the hall situation detection unit 32 and the initial setting information generation unit 41 may be realized by the processor 1004 reading and executing programs stored in the memory 1005. The operation unit (not shown) is configured, for example, by a display device such as a touch panel display. The inspection system 5 also includes an input interface device 1002 and an output interface device 1003 that perform wired or wireless communication with devices such as a storage device (not shown).

[0080] In the first embodiment described above, it is assumed that the camera installer manually performs final fine adjustments, or so-called calibration, when installing the camera 1 at an actual landing. However, this is merely an example, and the camera 1 may have a function for performing calibration when installed at an actual landing. In this case, too, the camera 1 is initially configured before being installed at the landing to monitor the monitoring area of ​​the landing of the elevator 10. In this case, when the initial configuration is performed, information for performing calibration (hereinafter referred to as "calibration information") is also set in the camera 1. The elevator development company also sets the calibration information when performing the initial configuration. The calibration information is, for example, information about the landing size, such as the floor dimensions, the door width of the elevator 10, the depth of the landing as seen from the elevator 10, or the model of the elevator 10.

[0081] 9 is a diagram showing an example configuration of camera 1 having a function of performing calibration in embodiment 1. Camera 1 includes a reception unit 101 and a calibration execution unit 102. Reception unit 101 receives instruction information instructing the execution of calibration. For example, after a camera installer (e.g., an elevator installation company) installs camera 1 at an initially set installation location, the camera installer inputs the instruction information from an operation unit (not shown) provided in camera 1. Reception unit 101 outputs the received instruction information to calibration execution unit 102.

[0082] When the reception unit 101 receives the instruction information, the calibration execution unit 102 executes calibration based on the calibration information set in the camera 1. For example, the calibration execution unit 102 adjusts the range of the detectable area of ​​the camera 1, sets the elevator 10 number corresponding to the camera 1, sets the depth of the hall as seen from the elevator 10, sets the range to be trimmed in the detectable area of ​​the camera 1, and so on. For example, a rule (hereinafter referred to as a "calibration rule") as to what kind of calibration should be executed depending on the hall size is set in advance, and information indicating the calibration rule (hereinafter referred to as "calibration rule information") is stored in a location that can be referenced by the camera 1, such as a storage device (not shown). The calibration execution unit 102 calculates the hall size from the calibration information, and can determine what kind of calibration should be executed by comparing the calculated hall size with the calibration rule information. For example, a rule that associates elevator models with hall sizes (hereinafter referred to as a "model-hall association rule") is set in advance, and information indicating the model-hall association rule (hereinafter referred to as "model-hall association rule information") is stored in a storage device (not shown). For example, when information indicating the elevator model is set as calibration information, the calibration execution unit 102 may calculate the hall size by referring to the model-hall association rule information. For example, when information indicating the hall size is set as calibration information, the calibration execution unit 102 may identify the hall size from the calibration information.

[0083] 10 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of camera 1 having a function of performing calibration when installed at an actual hall in embodiment 1. For example, when an elevator installer who is a camera installer installs elevator 10, camera 1 is installed at an initially set installation location, and when camera 1 is powered on, camera 1 starts the operation shown in the flowchart of FIG.

[0084] The receiving unit 101 receives instruction information (step ST10), and outputs the received instruction information to the calibration execution unit 102.

[0085] When the receiving unit 101 receives the instruction information in step ST10, the calibration execution unit 102 executes calibration based on the calibration information set in the camera 1 (step ST11).

[0086] In this way, camera 1 is a camera 1 in which initial settings for monitoring the monitoring area according to the status of the hall and the specifications of camera 1 are performed and calibration information is set before it is installed at the hall to monitor the monitoring area at the hall of elevator 10. When camera 1 is installed at the actual hall, upon receiving instruction information, camera 1 has the function of performing calibration based on the set calibration information. By having such a function, when camera 1 is installed at the actual hall, it is possible to perform calibration of camera 1 even if the camera installer does not have knowledge about camera 1. Furthermore, camera 1 can reduce the labor required for the camera installer to calibrate camera 1.

[0087] The hardware configuration of camera 1 having the configuration shown in Fig. 9 is the same as the hardware configuration shown in Fig. 8A and Fig. 8B. The functions of reception unit 101 and calibration execution unit 102 are realized by processing circuit 1001. That is, camera 1 includes processing circuit 1001 for receiving instruction information and, upon receiving the instruction information, executing calibration based on calibration information set in camera 1. Processing circuit 1001 may be dedicated hardware as shown in Fig. 8A, or may be processor 1004 that executes a program stored in memory as shown in Fig. 8B.

[0088] The processing circuit 1001 executes the functions of the reception unit 101 and the calibration execution unit 102 by reading and executing a program stored in the memory 1005. That is, the camera 1 includes the memory 1005 for storing a program that, when executed by the processing circuit 1001, results in the execution of steps ST10 to ST11 in FIG. 10 described above. The program stored in the memory 1005 can also be said to cause a computer to execute the processing procedures or methods of the reception unit 101 and the calibration execution unit 102. The camera 1 includes an input interface device 1002 and an output interface device 1003 that perform wired or wireless communication with devices such as a storage device.

[0089] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, for example, when the camera 1 is mounted on the signage 2, the camera 1 is provided to the hall and mounted on the signage 2 when the elevator 10 is installed before the building is completed. However, there may be a need to add the signage 2, for example, after the building is completed. Therefore, for example, when the signage 2 is installed at the hall of the elevator 10 after the building is completed, the camera 1 may be mounted on the signage 2 installed at the hall. In this case, too, the camera 1 is configured to be initially configured to monitor the monitoring area according to the hall conditions and the specifications of the camera 1 before being mounted on the signage 2, i.e., before being installed at the hall to monitor the monitoring area at the hall of the elevator 10. In this case, for example, at the timing of elevator maintenance inspection, an elevator technician initially configures the camera 1 at the actual hall, and then mounts the configured camera 1 on the signage 2. For example, the elevator technician may perform the initial configuration using the inspection system 5 described above. Furthermore, for example, an elevator development company may perform initial settings on the camera 1 and then ship the camera 1 in the initial settings state to an elevator management company to which an elevator engineer belongs. The camera 1 may be installed in the vicinity of the signage 2.

[0090] In this case, too, when installing the camera 1 at an actual landing, for example, an elevator installer performs final fine adjustments, so-called calibration, to suit the actual landing.

[0091] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, it is assumed, as an example, that the elevator 10 is to be installed at a landing, and that when the elevator 10 is actually installed at the landing, the camera 1 is initially configured and provided together with the elevator 10. However, this is merely an example. For example, the elevator 10 may be an elevator 10 that has already been installed in a building. The initial configuration of the camera 1 described in the first embodiment above can also be applied to the initial configuration of a camera 1 that is newly added to an existing elevator 10 to monitor the landing of the elevator 10. When a building is completed and the elevator 10 is installed, the specifications of the elevator 10 are already determined. The elevator development company performs the initial configuration of the camera 1 according to the landing situation of the existing elevator 10 and the specifications of the camera 1 before the camera 1 is actually installed at the landing.

[0092] Even in this case, the camera 1 is initially set by the elevator development company so that it is installed in a manner suited to the actual landing conditions, thereby saving the camera installer the trouble of initial setting, resulting in a camera 1. In other words, even when the camera 1 is newly added to an existing elevator 10, the trouble of initial setting can be saved, making it an easy-to-install camera 1.

[0093] Furthermore, as described above, after the building is completed, engineers with knowledge of elevator 10 will not be involved in the management and operation of the building except for visits for elevator maintenance, etc. In contrast, since the initial settings of camera 1 have already been performed according to the status of the landing of existing elevator 10 and the specifications of camera 1, even if a new camera 1 is added to an existing elevator 10 after the building is completed and a camera installer with no knowledge of elevator 10 installs camera 1, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the camera installer has to go through the trouble of installing camera 1.

[0094] In this case, too, when the camera installer installs the camera 1 at an actual hall, the camera installer performs final fine adjustments, or so-called calibration, to suit the actual hall.

[0095] In this case, for example, a camera installer may use the inspection system described above at an actual hall where elevator 10 is already installed to obtain information for initial setup for camera 1, and then perform the initial setup of camera 1 based on the obtained information for initial setup. After performing the initial setup of camera 1, the camera installer installs camera 1 in the initial setup state at the actual hall where elevator 10 is already installed. By using the inspection system described above, the camera installer can prevent the occurrence of a situation where it takes time and effort to install camera 1 when installing a new camera 1 at a hall where elevator 10 is already installed.

[0096] Furthermore, in the above first embodiment, as an example, camera 1 is a camera that monitors the status of the elevator hall at the elevator 10, and the initial setting of camera 1 has been described. However, as described above, camera 1 may also be a camera that monitors the area inside the car within the car. The elevator development company can perform the initial setting of camera 1 to be installed inside the car using a method similar to the initial setting method of camera 1 to be installed at the elevator hall, as described in the above first embodiment. In other words, the elevator development company performs the initial setting before camera 1 is installed inside the car to monitor the monitoring area inside the elevator car. The camera 1 to be installed inside the car is a camera 1 that has been initially set up in a state before it is installed inside the car, and is a camera 1 that can reduce the time required for the camera installer to perform the initial setting.

[0097] Here, Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the situation inside the car when the car to be installed in the first embodiment is installed inside a building. Fig. 11A is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the car when installed inside a building, and Fig. 11B is a schematic top view showing an example of the state of the car shown in Fig. 11A as viewed from above. Figs. 11A and 11B show only essential parts. Fig. 11 also shows an image of the case when the camera 1 is installed inside the car after initial settings have been performed by the elevator development company. In Fig. 11, the car is indicated by "60".

[0098] 11 is installed, an example of initial settings that an elevator development company performs to monitor the monitoring area according to the conditions inside the car and the specifications of camera 1. For example, the elevator development company performs the initial settings of camera 1 according to the specifications of the car and the specifications of camera 1 to be installed in the building.

[0099] For example, assume that the elevator car has a control panel on the right side of the door, as viewed from a person who may be present inside the car. The height inside the car is 2.3 meters, which is the average height of cars installed in commercial facilities. In this case, the elevator development company estimates, based on the car specifications, that the installation location and number of cameras 1 inside the car will be such that if one camera 1 is installed on the side of the car opposite the side on which the control panel is installed, at a height equivalent to the head of a typical user, facing slightly downward, the camera 1 will be able to monitor the entire monitoring area. The elevator development company then determines that the initial setup will be to install one camera 1 on the side of the car opposite the side on which the control panel is installed, at a height equivalent to the head of a typical user, facing slightly downward. The elevator development company then performs initial setup of the cameras 1 so that the determined number of cameras 1 are installed in the determined installation location with the determined orientation. In the first embodiment, components that constitute the car, such as the wall or control panel inside the car, or components provided as accessories to the car, are included in the components of the car.

[0100] For example, the elevator development company may have created in advance a rule for determining the configuration of the camera 1, which determines the configuration that the camera 1 should be adjusted to in order to monitor the entire monitoring area (here, the area inside the car) without missing anything, depending on the specifications of the camera 1.

[0101] The camera 1, which has been initially configured by the elevator development company, is provided (carried) to an actual building by, for example, an elevator installation company when the car is to be installed in the building, and is installed inside the car in the actual building. In other words, the elevator installation company is the camera installer. As shown in Figures 11A and 11B, the camera 1 provided to the actual building is installed in the car on the side opposite the side on which the control panel is installed, at a height equivalent to the head of an average user, facing slightly downward.

[0102] Camera 1 may be shipped by the elevator developer in a state where it is installed inside the car, and provided to the actual landing by the camera installer in that state, or it may be installed inside the car by the camera installer when the camera installer installs the car in an actual building. In either case, because the elevator developer has performed initial settings so that camera 1 is installed in a manner suited to the conditions inside the actual car, camera 1 is a camera 1 that can save the camera installer the trouble of initial setting.

[0103] In this case, too, when installing the camera 1 inside the car, the camera installer performs final fine adjustments, so-called calibration, to match the actual interior of the car. For example, when performing final fine adjustments of the camera 1, the camera installer may perform fine adjustments to set finely divided detection areas within the detection range detectable by the camera 1. For example, it is expected that the camera installer will divide the detection area into areas such as the area of ​​handrails inside the car.

[0104] Also in this case, for example, the camera installer may use the inspection system described above in an actual building to obtain information for initial setting for performing the initial setting of the camera 1, and then perform the initial setting of the camera 1 based on the obtained information for initial setting. After performing the initial setting of the camera 1, the camera installer installs the camera 1 in the state in which the initial setting has been performed in a car in the actual building.

[0105] In this case, in the inspection system 5 shown in FIG. 6 as an example, the inspection camera 3 includes a car interior image acquisition unit (not shown) instead of or in addition to the hall image acquisition unit 31. The inspection camera 3 also includes a car interior situation detection unit (not shown) instead of or in addition to the hall situation detection unit 32. The car interior image acquisition unit captures images of the interior of the car in which the camera 1 will be installed. The car interior image acquisition unit outputs the captured images to the car interior situation detection unit. The car interior situation detection unit detects the situation inside the car based on the captured images captured by the car interior image acquisition unit. The car interior situation detection unit outputs information related to the detected situation inside the car (hereinafter referred to as "car interior situation information") to the terminal 4. In the first embodiment, the hall image acquisition unit 31 or the car interior image acquisition unit is also simply referred to as the image acquisition unit. In the first embodiment, the hall situation detection unit 32 or the car interior situation detection unit is also simply referred to as the situation detection unit. In the first embodiment, the landing status information or the car status information is also simply referred to as status information.

[0106] As described in the first embodiment above, a camera 1 is installed in an actual landing or car, and is initially configured before being installed in the landing or car to monitor a monitoring area at the landing or car of the elevator 10. An example of a system using the camera 1 after the camera 1 is installed in the actual landing or car will be described below. A camera 1 is installed in the actual landing or car, and is initially configured before being installed in the landing or car to monitor a monitoring area at the landing or car of the elevator 10. For example, when the building starts operating, the camera 1 installed in the landing or car starts monitoring the monitoring area. The results of the camera 1 monitoring the monitoring area (more specifically, an image captured by the camera 1) are collected as information (hereinafter referred to as "monitoring information") indicating the results of monitoring the landing or car in the elevator system, and a display based on the monitoring information is performed.

[0107] During operation or running of the system, a malfunction may occur, such as a change in the angle of the camera 1 due to an unforeseen event such as an earthquake or human contact. When such a malfunction occurs, for example, if the change in the angle is slight, the camera installer may use the inspection system described above to obtain initial setting information for initializing the camera 1, perform the initial setting of the camera 1 based on the obtained initial setting information, and resume operation of the system. Furthermore, when a malfunction such as the one described above occurs, for example, if the angle changes significantly, and recalibration is required after returning the camera 1 to its original state, the camera installer may use the inspection system described above to obtain initial setting information for initializing the camera 1, perform the initial setting of the camera 1 based on the obtained initial setting information, and install the camera 1 in the initially set installation location. Then, instruction information may be input from the camera 1 to cause the camera 1 to perform recalibration. In this case, the camera 1 is assumed to have a function for performing calibration. Upon receiving the instruction information, the camera 1 performs recalibration based on the calibration information set when the camera 1 was initially set. When a problem such as that described above occurs, the camera installer can use the inspection system to prevent the trouble of reinstalling the camera 1, or more specifically, reinstalling the camera 1 after resetting it to its initial settings.

[0108] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow of operations performed by the elevator system 1000 until a display based on monitoring information is performed. For example, the elevator system 1000 detects the number of people waiting for the elevator 10 in the area in front of the car at each floor based on the monitoring information, and displays the detected number of people waiting on a display device. For example, when the elevator system 1000 detects that a person is waiting at a landing or that the number of people waiting at a landing has increased, the elevator system 1000 may display the detected number of people waiting at the landing on a display device. Furthermore, for example, when the elevator system 1000 detects, based on the monitoring information, that a user of the elevator 10 has pressed an up or down button or registered a destination on a control panel (not shown) installed at the landing of the elevator 10, the elevator system 1000 may display that fact on a display device.

[0109] The display device may be, for example, a signage 2 installed at a boarding area, or a signage 2 installed in a corridor, room, or conference room within the building, or a display unit provided on a PC used by a building user, or a display unit provided on a mobile terminal such as a smartphone carried by a building user.

[0110] The elevator system 1000 can also display, for example, captured images as monitoring information collected from the camera 1 on a display device. For example, if the camera 1 is an AI camera or other camera capable of acquiring only person attribute information or number of people information, the camera 1 does not record images containing personal information, but only records the attribute information and number of people information. In this case, the elevator system 1000 can display, on a display device, captured images as monitoring information converted into information that does not identify individuals. Since AI cameras are well-known cameras, detailed explanations are omitted. Note that, although the sensor is the camera 1 here, if the sensor is a sensor that can acquire the location or number of people using a means that does not identify individuals, such as a lidar or radar, the elevator system 1000 can display the monitoring information collected from the sensor as is on a display device as information that does not identify individuals.

[0111] Furthermore, when the elevator system 1000 displays the number of people waiting for the elevator 10 in the area in front of the car on each floor on a display device based on monitoring information, the elevator system 1000 may convert the number of people into information about the waiting people according to a predetermined rule (hereinafter referred to as a "waiting number conversion rule") and display the converted information. The waiting number conversion rule may be generated in advance by, for example, a building manager. As a specific example, the elevator system 1000 may display on the display device, for example, a message such as "0 people" or "none" when the number of people waiting for the elevator 10 in the area in front of the car on each floor based on the monitoring information is 0 to 1; "1 person" when the number of people waiting is 2 to 3; "approximately 3 to 5 people" or "slightly crowded" when the number of people waiting is 3 to 5; or "many" or "crowded" when the number of people waiting is 6 or more.

[0112] Furthermore, for example, if the camera 1 is capable of setting a detection area or boundary line in advance and has the function of detecting the movement of people or objects inside and outside the set detection area or on the boundary line, the elevator system 1000 can detect the movement of people at the door of the elevator 10 or at the boundary of the area in front of the car based on the monitoring information collected from the camera 1, thereby improving the accuracy of determining the number of people waiting in the area in front of the car. Note that cameras 1 with the above-mentioned functions are well known, so a detailed description of these functions will be omitted.

[0113] Furthermore, for example, when multiple cameras 1 are installed at a landing, the elevator system 1000 may add up the number of people captured by the multiple cameras 1 based on the monitoring information collected from each camera 1, and display on a display device the total number of people waiting in the area in front of each car at the landing. In this case, the elevator system 1000 may add up the number of people captured by the multiple cameras 1 for each attribute, for example. Furthermore, the elevator system 1000 may display, depending on the attribute, the presence of a person with that attribute in a manner that emphasizes the presence of that person.

[0114] To give a specific example, assume that camera 1 is installed at an actual landing location as shown in FIG. 3 . For example, assume that four men and one woman are captured in an image taken by camera 1d of the area in front of the car indicated by "Bd," and two men are captured in an image taken by camera 1e of the area in front of the car indicated by "Be." In this case, elevator system 1000 may, for example, display on a display device information indicating that the number of waiting passengers is "7" or that the elevator is "crowded." Furthermore, elevator system 1000 may, for example, display on a display device information indicating that the number of waiting passengers is "4 men" and "1 woman," or may display information indicating "slightly crowded" along with the "4 men" indication.

[0115] Also, for example, suppose that one wheelchair user and five able-bodied people are captured in an image taken by camera 1d of the area in front of the car indicated by "Bd," and five able-bodied people are captured in an image taken by camera 1e of the area in front of the car indicated by "Be." In this case, elevator system 1000 may, for example, display information indicating "10 people" or "crowded" on the display device, and may also highlight information indicating the presence of wheelchair users.

[0116] To take another specific example, suppose that camera 1 is installed at an actual landing in a position as shown in Fig. 4. For example, suppose that in an image taken by camera 1g of the area in front of the car in the range indicated by "Bg," two men and two women are captured in the area in front of the car of elevator 10d, and four men and four women are captured in the area in front of the car of elevators 10b and 10c, and in an image taken by camera 1f of the area in front of the car in the range indicated by "Bf," no one is captured in the area in front of the car of elevators 10e and 10f, and one man and one woman are captured in the area in front of the car of elevator 10a. In this case, the elevator system 1000 may, for example, display on a display device information indicating that the number of people waiting on the elevator 10d to elevator 10f side is "4 people" and the number of people waiting on the elevator 10d to elevator 10c side is "10 people," or may display information indicating that the elevator 10d to elevator 10f side is "slightly crowded" and the elevator 10d to elevator 10c side is "congested."

[0117] As shown in FIG. 12 , the elevator system 1000 may display information based on monitoring information from a camera 1 installed at a landing. In addition, the elevator system 1000 may display, on a display unit, the operation status of a car (indicated by "60" in FIG. 12 ) or the status inside the car (hereinafter referred to as "car status") based on monitoring information from a camera 1 installed inside the car. The elevator system 1000 may collect operation status information indicating the operation status of the car, for example, from a car control device (not shown) that controls the operation of each car. The elevator system 1000 may also collect car status information indicating the status inside the car from the camera 1 installed inside the car or from the camera 1 installed inside the car via the car control device. The status indicated by the car operation status information may be, for example, a status in which the car is moving toward a destination floor. The status indicated by the car status information may be, for example, a status in which a passenger has boarded or disembarked in the car.

[0118] Although not shown in FIG. 12 , the elevator system 1000 may display, for example, the status of the building (hereinafter referred to as the "building status") on the display unit in addition to displaying information based on the monitoring information. The elevator system 1000 may collect building status information indicating the building status, for example, from a building management system (not shown) that manages the building. The status indicated by the building status information may be, for example, whether a security gate in the building has been activated or whether an access control system has been activated. The status indicated by the building status information may also be the operating status of an escalator in the building, whether people are getting on or off near the stairs, or the operating status of an air conditioning system or lighting system in the building.

[0119] As described above, according to the first embodiment, the sensor is a sensor for monitoring a hall of the elevator 10, and is initially configured to monitor a monitoring area according to the hall conditions and the sensor specifications before being installed at the hall to monitor a monitoring area at the hall of the elevator 10. Therefore, it is possible to provide a sensor that can save the effort required for initial configuration.

[0120] Any of the components of the embodiments may be modified or omitted.

[0121] The sensor according to the present disclosure can eliminate the need for initial setup.

[0122] 1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1a', 1b', 1c', 1d, 1e, 1f, 1g, 1h cameras, 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f elevators, 11, 11a, 11b, 11c jambs, 12, 12a, 12b, 12c upper frames, 13, 13a, 13b, 13c vertical frames, 5 inspection system, 3 inspection cameras, 31 landing image acquisition unit, 32 landing status detection unit, 4 terminals, 41 initial setting information generation unit, 101 reception unit, 102 calibration execution unit, 1001 processing circuit, 1002 input interface device, 1003 output interface device, 1004 processor, 1005 memory.

Claims

1. A sensor for monitoring an elevator hall or the inside of an elevator car, characterized in that, before being installed in the elevator hall or car to monitor a monitoring area at the hall or inside the car, initial settings for monitoring the monitoring area are performed in accordance with the conditions at the hall or inside the car and the specifications of the sensor.

2. The sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that the initial settings include adjustment of the number of sensors to be installed at the landing or in the car, the installation location, height, angle, range for mask processing, or angle of view.

3. The sensor according to claim 1 or 2, which is attached to a component part in the elevator hall or the elevator car.

4. The sensor according to claim 3, wherein the component is a frame of the elevator.

5. The sensor according to claim 3, wherein the component includes a structure on the side of the elevator door surface at the elevator landing or the structure opposite the door surface.

6. The sensor according to claim 3, wherein the component includes a signage installed at the landing.

7. The sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the hall status includes specifications of the elevator installed at the hall.

8. A sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a plurality of elevators are installed at the landing, and the status of the landing includes the specifications of the elevators installed at the landing and the total number of elevators installed at the landing.

9. A sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a plurality of elevators are installed at the landing, and the status of the landing includes the specifications of the elevators installed at the landing, the total number of elevators installed at the landing, and the relative installation positions of each elevator at the landing.

10. The sensor according to claim 6, characterized in that the status of the landing includes the specifications of the elevator installed at the landing, whether or not the signage is installed at the landing, and if the signage is installed at the landing, the location where the signage is installed.

11. The sensor according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the elevator specifications include the capacity of the elevator.

12. A sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the conditions inside the car include the size of the car, the presence or absence of auxiliary equipment, and its arrangement.

13. A sensor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the sensor is a camera and comprises: an image acquisition unit that acquires an image of the landing or the inside of the car of the elevator; a situation detection unit that detects the situation at the landing or inside the car based on the image acquired by the image acquisition unit; and an initial setup information generation unit that generates initial setup information for performing the initial setup based on the situation at the landing or inside the car detected by the situation detection unit and the specifications of the sensor, wherein the initial setup based on the initial setup information generated by the initial setup information generation unit is performed in a state before the sensor is installed at the landing or inside the car to monitor the monitoring area at the landing or inside the car of the elevator.

Images