Door Controller Using Motion Analysis for Safe Closing Timing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing door controllers for elevators may cause unnecessary delays or risk user contact due to improper timing of door opening and closing based on user intent estimation.

Innovation Solution

A door controller that analyzes image data to evaluate the movement of objects towards an opening, restricting door closure when excessive movement is detected and ensuring timely opening or closing based on movement parameters and thresholds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the door controller stops the closing operation when user intent to board is detected, then user safety is improved, but operational delays occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser safetyVSAvoidoperational delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of door control behavior based on detected movement speed. When movement speed exceeds the threshold, the door execution unit restricts closing operations; when movement speed is below the threshold, normal closing operations proceed. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting safety measures to actual risk levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The door controller dynamically adjusts its control strategy based on real-time movement detection. The system transitions from static door control to dynamic control that responds to user movement characteristics, enabling the door to remain open only when necessary (high movement speed detected) and close normally otherwise, thus balancing safety and operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the door controller forcibly closes the door after allowable time elapses, then operational efficiency is improved, but risk of user contact increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidrisk of user contact
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses movement speed as a dynamic parameter to determine door control behavior. When movement speed is high (indicating user intent to board), the door execution unit restricts closing operations even after the allowable time period, preventing harmful contact. When movement speed is low, normal closing proceeds, maintaining operational efficiency. This parameter-based adaptation resolves the contradiction between efficiency and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If the door controller analyzes image data in time series to estimate user intent, then accuracy of intent detection is improved, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintent detection accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the critical feature (movement speed) from the image data time series, rather than analyzing all possible user behaviors. The door execution unit focuses specifically on detecting movement speed changes that indicate boarding intent, simplifying the processing while maintaining detection accuracy for the specific purpose of door control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4671477A1Door controller and computer program
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4671477A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4671477A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4671477A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A door controller (10) including a processor (11) for executing opening/closing control of a door (6) provided in an opening (7) based on image data capturing an imaging range of an external area relative to the opening (7), wherein the processor (11) is configured to: analyze the image data according to time series, restrict a closing operation of the door (6) when it is determined that a moving object (R) which is moving by a predetermined amount or more is present based on evaluation results of movement amounts of one or more moving objects (R), and execute a closing operation of the door (6) at a preset predetermined timing when it is determined that a moving object (R) which is moving by a predetermined amount or more is not present and a moving object (R) which will reach the opening (7) before the predetermined timing is not present based on the evaluation results of the movement amounts.