Elevator People Counting With Weight-Sensor Backup for Camera Failures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Elevator control systems fail to appropriately manage passenger and waiting people counts when camera images cannot be acquired due to failures, leading to inadequate operation management.

Innovation Solution

A system that includes a camera for capturing images, a reception unit, a number-of-people setting unit, an allocation command unit, and an abnormality determination unit to determine camera or transmission path abnormalities, allowing the system to use sensor data to calculate passenger counts even when images are unavailable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If camera-based detection is used to count passengers and waiting people, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability deteriorates when camera or transmission path failures occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of people detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem continuity under failure conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the detection parameter from optical (camera images) to physical (weight sensor data) when camera abnormality is detected. The number of people is calculated by dividing the total weight detected by the sensor by the average person weight, providing an alternative measurement approach that maintains system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The weight sensor acts as an intermediary detection device that provides backup measurement capability. When the primary camera-based detection fails, the weight sensor serves as a mediator to continue counting passengers and waiting people, ensuring system continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If multiple detection methods are implemented for backup, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem continuity under failure conditionsVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The weight sensor serves multiple functions: it can detect both the total weight of passengers/waiting people and potentially other physical quantities. This multi-functionality reduces the need for dedicated backup devices, maintaining reliability while controlling complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The existing weight sensor in the elevator system is utilized for the additional function of counting people when camera detection fails. The sensor essentially serves itself by providing dual-purpose capability, avoiding the need for separate backup detection devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12365564B2Number-of-people information acquisition system, number-of-people information acquisition method, and elevator

Publication Date: 2025.07.22 HITACHI LTD

AI summary

In the present invention, a process of receiving an image obtained by capturing a measurement target place with a camera, calculating a number of people in the measurement target place based on the image received, and allocating a car according to the calculated number of people is performed. Here, when an abnormality that an image from the camera cannot be received is determined, a process of referring to a detection value of a sensor or the like installed in a car or in the measurement target place to calculate the number of people in the car or the measurement target place is performed.