Elevator Access Control Using Foot-Based Destination Selection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator access control systems do not efficiently allow users to select their desired destination floors, particularly in high-traffic situations, and lack seamless integration with elevator car allocation.
Innovation Solution
An access control system for elevators that includes imaging and sensor devices to detect users, generate visual indications of multiple destination floors, and use sensor data to determine the selected floor, with optional elevator car identification, facilitated by a control unit that integrates with an elevator control system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional access control systems use keycards or manual input for destination selection, then security is maintained, but user convenience and selection speed deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical input methods (keycards, manual button pressing) with an optical sensing system. The imaging device captures images of the user's foot position on the floor, and the control unit automatically determines the destination floor based on the detected foot position, eliminating the need for manual interaction and significantly reducing selection time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service destination selection by detecting the user's foot position automatically. The user simply stands on their destination floor number, and the system autonomously identifies the destination and initiates the elevator call without requiring any active input from the user, thus improving ease of operation and reducing waiting time.
2Ease of operation
If visual indication of multiple destination floors is projected, then user selection ease improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an indication device as an intermediary component that projects visual markers (floor numbers) on the floor surface. This intermediary element facilitates user interaction by providing clear visual guidance on where to place their feet, while the complex image processing and decision-making logic remain centralized in the control unit, thus managing overall system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If sensor data processing is enhanced to detect foot position accurately, then destination selection precision improves, but measurement and detection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a visual copy or representation of the user's foot position through captured images. Instead of directly measuring complex physical parameters, the imaging device creates an optical copy of the foot position, which the control unit then analyzes to determine destination. This copying approach simplifies the detection process while maintaining high precision.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
The invention relates to an access control system (100) for an elevator system (120). The access control system (100) comprises: a gate device (102) allowing access for users (112) via the gate device (102), at least one imaging device (104) for obtaining image data, at least one sensor device (106) for obtaining sensor data, at least one indication device (108), and a control unit (110). The control unit (110) is configured to: receive the image data from the at least one imaging device (104), detect a user (112) approaching the gate device (102) based on the received image data, obtain destination floor information comprising at least two destination floors, control the at least one indication device (108) to generate a first visual indication comprising the at least two destination floors, and detect a destination floor selected by the user (112) from among the at least two destination floors based on sensor data received from the at least one sensor device (106). The invention relates also to an elevator system (102) comprising an access control system and to a method for controlling an access control system.