Passenger Detection System Using Body Profile Monitoring

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing safety systems for passenger moving systems, such as elevators and escalators, cannot effectively determine whether a passenger is in a sitting or standing position before they enter the system, which hinders the ability to provide necessary assistance and adjust operations accordingly.

Innovation Solution

A safety system equipped with a monitoring means, such as 3D or ToF cameras, that captures and processes images to identify a passenger's body profile, using algorithms to determine their position and trigger appropriate events, such as adjusting door speeds or activating alarms, to ensure passenger safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If existing safety systems use object detection methods (detecting wheelchairs, prams, or circular figures corresponding to wheels), then they can identify passengers requiring assistance, but they cannot determine whether a passenger is in a sitting or standing position before entering the passenger moving system

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger position detection accuracyVSAvoidpassenger status information

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical/object-based detection systems with an image processing-based monitoring means. Instead of detecting physical objects like wheelchairs or prams through mechanical sensors, the system uses cameras and image processing algorithms to capture and analyze visual information about passengers, enabling determination of sitting or standing positions before passengers enter the moving system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The monitoring means is positioned to monitor passengers in advance before they enter the passenger moving system. The system performs preliminary detection and analysis of passenger posture (sitting or standing) in the monitoring area, allowing the control device to receive this information beforehand and make appropriate operational adjustments before the passenger actually boards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If the system monitors passengers only when they are entering or already present in the passenger moving system, then detection can be performed, but it cannot provide passenger status information before entry for timely operational adjustments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse time for passenger assistanceVSAvoidtimely operational adjustment capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control device receives information from the monitoring means about passenger posture and uses this feedback to automatically adjust system operations. When a sitting passenger is detected, the system provides extended door times and activates voice control options, creating a closed-loop feedback system that responds to real-time passenger status.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If the system uses complex image processing algorithms to determine body profiles and joint angles, then accurate passenger position detection is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger posture detection accuracyVSAvoidimage processing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary image processing system that acts as a mediator between the simple camera capture and the complex posture analysis. The monitoring means includes algorithms that process images to extract body profile information and calculate joint angles, serving as an intermediary layer that transforms raw visual data into meaningful posture information without requiring the entire system to be complex.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables real-time detection and response to passengers' positions, improving safety by allowing for timely adjustments in system operations and providing necessary assistance, such as extended door times or voice control options for passengers in sitting positions.

Implementation Method 1

a monitoring means 11 which is adapted to identify a body profile of a passenger

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical detection: Light

Data Source

PatentEP3976519B1Passenger detection system for passenger moving systems

Publication Date: 2023.05.03 TK ESCALATOR NORTE SA

Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c

AI summary

The present invention refers a safety system for a passenger moving system comprising a monitoring means which is adapted to identify a body profile of a passenger.