Automatic Door Control Using Image Sensors and Backup Infrared Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic door control systems fail to accurately determine the minimum required opening degree of doors based on the position, direction, and speed of moving objects, and lack countermeasures for image processing failures or distinguishing individuals in crowds, leading to inefficient air conditioning and passage issues.
Innovation Solution
An automatic door apparatus equipped with two-dimensional image sensors and spare sensors, where the control system calculates the position and direction of moving objects, predicts the passing position, and determines the target opening degree for each door, with backup mechanisms to ensure full opening or closing if image processing fails, using spare sensors to maintain smooth passage and optimal air conditioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If two-dimensional image sensors are used to calculate position and direction of moving objects, then door opening control precision is improved, but system reliability deteriorates due to image processing failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent sets up backup sensor systems and alternative control methods in advance to compensate for potential image processing failures. When image processing fails, the system automatically switches to using backup sensors and alternative algorithms to maintain door opening control functionality, ensuring system reliability is not compromised by the sophisticated image processing approach.
2Measurement precision
If image processing is used to detect moving objects, then door opening degree precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates when individuals cannot be distinguished in crowds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates multiple detection copies by deploying both image sensors and backup sensors to detect moving objects. When image processing cannot distinguish individuals in crowds, the system uses backup sensors to create alternative detection data, allowing the door control system to operate smoothly without requiring precise individual identification, thus maintaining ease of operation while preserving opening degree precision.
3Ease of operation
If both doors are opened simultaneously to full opening, then passage smoothness is improved, but air conditioning efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different opening degrees to different doors based on the detected position and direction of moving objects. Instead of opening both doors fully simultaneously, the system calculates optimal opening degrees for each door individually, opening only the necessary portions to allow smooth passage while minimizing the total open area to maintain air conditioning efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial action by opening doors only to the minimum required degree for smooth passage rather than full opening. The system calculates the exact opening degree needed based on moving object characteristics, opening doors partially rather than fully, thus maintaining passage smoothness while avoiding excessive energy loss from over-opening.
4Reliability
If doors are kept open when a person stands still in detecting range, then detection reliability is improved, but air conditioning efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts door opening decisions based on real-time analysis of moving object characteristics including position, direction, and movement state. When a person stands still, the system analyzes additional factors to determine whether the person is waiting to pass or has finished passing, dynamically adjusting the door opening state accordingly. This dynamic approach maintains detection reliability while preventing unnecessary energy loss from keeping doors open too long.
Data Source
AI summary
At both sides of a pair of doors 10L, 10R, a pair of television cameras (two-dimensional image sensors) 18A, 18B for detecting a moving object, and a pair of spare infrared ray sensors 20A, 20B are provided. A central control unit 16 calculates the position and moving direction of moving object by image processing of outputs of television cameras 18A, 18B, and predicts the passing position of moving object on the vertical plane P when the moving object approaches, thereby calculating the target opening degree of a pair of doors 10L, 10R individually, and determines the target opening degree of doors in full closing when the moving object leaves away, and thus outputs move command signals to motor controllers 14L, 14R so that the pair of doors 10L, 10R may be set at the target opening degree.