JP2594842B2 - Passenger detection method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pedestrian detection method for detecting a pedestrian such as a department store or an aisle in an expo, and covers a wide range from a tall adult to a short stature child. It is intended to enable passers-by to be detected with high accuracy, and to enable these passers-by to be processed according to their height, thereby enabling data processing for adults and children.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to judge the degree of utilization of a facility by counting the number of visitors to a department store, an exposition, a public facility, or the like, a passer (M) of the section is placed at an entrance or a passage of the facility. In many cases, a detection device (hereinafter, referred to as a passerby detection device) is provided.

For example, in the invention of Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-7675, a light transmitter (15) and a light receiver (16) are arranged on the ceiling of a passage as shown in FIG. The installation posture of the transmitter / receiver (15) (16) is determined so that the emitted light beam (A) and the light entrance path (B) of the light to the light receiver (16) intersect at a predetermined height. ing. Then, when the passerby (M) passes and a part of the body enters a detection area (C) where the light flux (A) and the light entrance path (B) intersect, the reflected light from the passerby (M) Is detected by the light receiver (16), whereby the passerby (M) can be detected. The detection signal is counted by, for example, a counting device (17) or the like so that the degree of use of the passage can be determined. However, in this case, there is a problem that a short stature child cannot be detected because it passes below the detection area (C), and the presence or absence of the passer-by (M) cannot be accurately detected.

[0004] In order to solve the above problem, optical adjustment is performed such that the light flux (A) and the light entrance path (B) are made closer to each other in parallel, and the light transmitter (15) and the light receiver (16) are arranged close to each other. Thus, it is conceivable that the crossing area of the light flux (A) and the light approaching path (B), which is the detection area (C), is expanded, whereby the detection target is expanded from tall adults to short children. However,
In this case, not only is the body of the passerby (M) crossing the detection area (C), but also noise sources such as the swinging arms and legs of the passerby (M) enter and exit the detection area (C). In such a case, a detection signal is output from the light receiver (16), which causes a decrease in detection accuracy. As described above, the above-described conventional apparatus has a problem that it is extremely difficult to accurately detect a wide range of detection targets from tall adults to short children.

<Regarding the Invention of Claim 1> The invention of claim 1 has been made in view of the above points, and is intended to accurately confirm the presence or absence of a wide range of subjects from high to short heights. Is the task.

[0006]

The technical means of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is as follows: "A range finder for measuring the distance to a target point by receiving light irradiated to a target point by a position detecting element. A distance meter group provided at least at intervals smaller than the shoulder width of the passer-by (M) in the width direction of the passage;
By extracting an unevenness data unit corresponding to the height difference near the head including the shoulder of each passer-by (M) from the data group measured by the rangefinder group and comparing it with a predetermined reference pattern, M) is determined. "

[0007]

The above technical means operates as follows. When the passerby (M) passes below the rangefinder, the distance between the head and shoulders of the passerby (M) and the rangefinder corresponding thereto is measured by the rangefinders, and the output from the rangefinders is output. The unevenness data unit corresponding to the height difference near the head including the shoulder of the passer-by (M) is extracted from the data group to be compared with a predetermined reference pattern. The existence of (M) is confirmed. Therefore, even if a noise source such as a swinging arm or leg of the passerby (M) may be detected by the rangefinder group, the data indicating the unevenness near the head of the passerby (M) is obtained from these. No data units equal to the group are obtained, and these noises can be eliminated by comparison with a predetermined reference pattern.

[0008]

【effect】. The presence or absence of the passer-by (M) is confirmed by detecting the unevenness near the head including the shoulder of the passer-by (M). Even if noise sources such as legs and arms of the passer-by (M) and further baggage enter the measurement area of the rangefinder, depending on the intrusion of these noise sources, the detection at the time of the passer-by detection is possible. A data group showing similar irregularities is not output from the rangefinder group, and by comparing the data group with a predetermined reference pattern, noise and a detection target can be clearly separated and detected. That is, according to the above technical means, a wide range of objects from tall adults to short children can be detected with high accuracy. . Even if a plurality of passers-by (M) pass through the passage at the same time in a group, these passers-by (M) may be deformed due to the unevenness of the head of the passer-by (M) and the shoulders adjacent thereto when viewed from above. ), It is possible to separate and recognize the group passer-by (M) for each individual by counting the number of signals representing the convex portion serving as the head. Therefore, even when the passing manner of the passer-by (M) is complicated, the passer-by (M) can be counted, whereby a highly accurate detection device can be obtained.

[0009]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a number of distance meters (13) are provided on the ceiling (11) of the passage (1) near the entrance of the facility.
(13) is provided and the distance meter (13)
(13) are arranged at small intervals (R) (in this embodiment, at intervals of 15 cm) in the width direction of the passage (1). Further, the rangefinders (13), (13) are arranged in two rows at an interval of 10 Cm in the direction of the passage (1) in order to be able to determine the passing direction of the passer-by (M). Each of the above distance meters (13)
(13) is connected to the processing device (3), and the processing device (3) is connected to an indicator (4) for displaying the number of persons who have passed in a certain period of time. The above distance meter (13)
Has a structure as shown in FIG. 2, a conversion lens (42) for converting a light beam emitted from the light emitting diode (41) into a parallel light beam, and a reflected light collected at a specific point on a light receiving surface of the position detecting element (44). And a condenser lens (45). The output of the position detecting element (44) is applied to an arithmetic circuit (46), which calculates the distance between the point to be measured and the distance meter (13).

As shown in FIG. 2, the height of the pedestrian (M) passing through the passage (1) is h, the distance between the distance meter (13) and the floor of the passage (1) is H0, the pedestrian (M). L is the distance between the measurement target point existing on the body and the conversion lens (42), B is the lens distance between the conversion lens (42) and the condenser lens (45), and the optical axis (C) of the condenser lens (45). Assuming that the distance between the image forming point D of the passer-by (M) and the position detecting element (44) on the position detecting element (44) is X, and the width of the position detecting element (44) is 2A,
L is required. The position detecting element (44) is located at the focal point of the condenser lens (45). Since L: B = f: X (1), L = (fB) / X (2). On the other hand, the currents drawn from the two output terminals (48) and (49) of the position detecting element (44) are respectively represented by I
Assuming that 1, I2, the relationship of (I2−I1) / (I1 + I2) = X / A (3) is satisfied from the characteristics of the position detection element (44). From the equation, L = (I1 + I2) · f · B / ((I2-I1) · A) (4)

Therefore, the measured I1 and I2 are calculated according to the above [4]
Substituting into the equation, the irradiation point (measurement target point) of the light applied from the light emitting diode (41) to the pedestrian (M) and the distance meter (1)
The distance L between 3) is obtained, and when this L is calculated and calculated for each of a large number of distance meters (13) and (13), for example,
The result is as shown in FIG. 3A is a row (hereinafter referred to as a front row) that the passer (M) shown in FIG. 1 crosses first.
Shows the outputs of the rangefinders (13) and (13) at the point in time when the vehicle crosses. That is, from the distance meter (13) corresponding to the head of the passer-by (M), the distance (L) between these heads and the distance meter (13) is short (100 Cm in FIG. 3).
That the distance meter next to it (13)
From the distance meter (13) corresponding to the shoulder of the passer-by (M), a distance (L) slightly longer than the above (120C in the figure)
m). In FIG. 3A, "280 Cm" is the output of the distance meter (13) that does not cross the pedestrian (M) and indicates the distance between the distance meter (13) and the floor surface. I have. The data (120Cm, 100C) related to the pedestrian (M) from the output of FIG.
(m, 120 Cm) is graphed and further adjusted so that the head is high and the shoulder is low, as shown by the solid line in FIG.

The above solid line graph is preliminarily processed by the processing unit (3).
Is compared with the reference pattern (the area surrounded by two imaginary lines in FIG. 2B), and it is confirmed that the reference pattern is matched. I do. It should be noted that the numerical data shown in FIG. 3A may be processed as it is to determine the unevenness on the upper surface of the passer-by (M), thereby confirming the presence of the passer-by (M). As described above, in the case of the above embodiment, the passage of the passer-by (M) can be identified if there are certain irregularities on the upper surface of the detection target, and a tall adult is a short stature child. Irrespective of this, the detection of the passerby (M) becomes possible. Then, a signal conforming to the reference pattern is output from the distance meter (13) (1).
3) When it is obtained from the group, the number is counted, and the number of people passing through the passage (1) is displayed on the display (4). In the case of FIG. 1, the rangefinders (13) and (13) are provided in two rows in the front-rear direction of the passage (1), and the passerby (M) can recognize up to the passing direction in the order of crossing under each row. Like that.

Next, the data of FIG. 4 will be described.
If the numerical data of (a) is graphed as shown in (b) and the data representing the head is adjusted so as to be higher than the shoulders and expressed, the distance meters (13) and (13) in the front row (outdoor row) ) Is crossed by one passer (M), and two people cross the back row. Thereby, even when a plurality of passers-by (M) pass simultaneously in a group, these can be recognized separately for each individual.

<< About the Invention of Claim 2 >>

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the main part of the configuration is the same as that of the first aspect of the invention. The technical means is “the head of the pedestrian (M) detected in the first aspect of the invention. Then, the difference between the measured distance output by the distance meter corresponding to the above and the arrangement height of the distance meter is calculated, and each passer-by (M) can be processed for each height based on the calculation result. "

[0016]

The above technical means operates as follows. When a passerby (M) crosses below the rangefinder group, the unevenness of the head and shoulders of the passerby (M) is determined in the same manner as in the first aspect of the present invention. Is measured by the distance meter corresponding to the head, and the height of the pedestrian (M) is calculated from the distance and the height at which the distance meter is provided. Thereafter, the passer-by (M) is subjected to data processing according to height or the like.

[0017]

The invention of claim 2 has the following unique effects. Since the passers-by are processed according to their heights, it is possible to classify them into adults of high stature and children of short stature, or to detect only one of them. Therefore, by using the output, it is possible to apply an application such as individually counting the number of adult or child passers.

[0018]

Next, an embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the ceiling (11) of the passage (1) has two front and rear portions as shown in FIG.
A number of distance meters (13) (13) are provided in a row and arranged at regular intervals in the passage width direction.
The distance between (13) and the corresponding measurement target point is measured according to the principle of FIG. 2 described above. When the distance between each of the rangefinders (13) and (13) and the corresponding measurement target point is obtained as shown in FIG. 3A, the smallest distance signal (100 Cm in FIG. 3) and the floor surface From the distance H0 from the distance to the distance meter (13), the processing device (3) calculates the height h of the pedestrian (M) corresponding to the distance H0.

That is, h = H0−L = H0− (I1 + I2) · f · B / ((I2−I1) ·
A) is calculated. Note that the functional unit for calculating the height h in the processing device (3) corresponds to the height calculating means described in the section of the technical means described above. As a result, the height of the passer-by (M) is determined, and a person with a height higher than a separately determined reference can be counted as, for example, an adult, and a person with a short height can be counted as a child. Thereby, in a department store or the like, it is also possible to count only the adults closely related to the sales amount and display the number of visitors on the display (4).

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, both the floor (W) and the reflected light from the pedestrian (M) receive the position detecting element (4).
4) The positional relationship between the lens and the condenser lens (45) is set so as to reach the upper side. Next, the measurement principle will be described.

The same parts as those in FIG. 2 described above use the same reference numerals. The width of the position detecting element (44) in the direction of the first and second output terminals (48) and (49) is A, and the reflected light from the pedestrian (M) at the position detecting element (44) and the floor surface. X is the horizontal distance to the reflected light of the first position, X0 is the horizontal distance between the end of the position detecting element (44) on the first output terminal (48) side and the reflected light from the floor , and the distance meter (13) is installed. Assuming that the height is H0, the characteristic of the position detecting element (44) is as follows.

I1 = I0 · ((A− (X + X0)) / A (5) I2 = I0 · (X + X0) / A (6) (where I0 = I1 + I2). From the formula [6], X = ((I2 / I1 + I2)-(I02 / I01 + I02)). A [7] (where I02 and I01 are I2 and I1 when the passerby (M) does not exist). That is, X = ((I2 / I0)-(I02 / I00)) · A (8) (where I00 is I0 when there is no passerby). H0: B = f: (a + X0) (9) (where B is the distance between the optical axes of the conversion lens (42) and the condenser lens (45), and a is the optical axis of the condenser lens (45) ( C) and the distance between the end of the position detection element (44) on the first output terminal (48) side.) Therefore, H0 = (B · f) / (a + X0) (10)

X = Y- (a + X0) [11] (where Y = a + X), and Y = a + X
By rearranging by substituting (fB) / L, a + X0 = (fB) / H0, L = H0fB / (XH0 + fB) ... [12] Since h = (H0−L), rearranging by substituting equation [12] into “L” gives h = (X · H0 / (X + f · B / H0) ... [13]

By substituting equation [8] for "X" in equation [13] above, h = (α-β) · A · H0 / ((α-β) · A + f · B / H0) · ··· [14] (However, α: I2 / I1 + I2), β: I02 / (I
01 + I02)). Therefore, if the installation height H0 of the distance meter (13) is measured in advance, the height of the pedestrian (M) can be measured and calculated by Expression [14]. According to FIG. 2 described above, a fine adjustment operation for accurately aligning the optical axis of the condenser lens (45) with the center of the position detecting element (44) is required. According to the above, it is not necessary to make the fine adjustment. The reason is [1
Equation 4] includes a condenser lens (45) and position detection blocking (44).
This is because “a” related to the relative position of “a” is not included. Further, according to the above embodiment, it is necessary to adjust the horizontal distance X0 between the end of the position detecting element (44) on the first output terminal (48) side and the reflected light from the pedestrian (M). Disappears.

<< Regarding the Invention of Claim 3 >> The invention of claim 3 is an improvement of the invention of claim 1, and the unevenness near the head of each person when the passerby (M) passes through the passage in a group. Even if it is impossible to detect the number of passers accurately, the number of these passers can be detected with high accuracy. That is, when the distances between the distance meters (13) and (13) are sufficiently small, the irregularities near the head of each passerby can be accurately detected. However,
In some cases, sufficient and accurate height measurement may not be required if adults and children can be distinguished in order to fulfill the basic functions of the device. In addition, due to demand for inexpensive products, the distance meter (13) ( The arrangement interval of 13) may be increased. When the distances between the distance meters (13) and (13) are increased, irregularities near the head of each person in the group of passers may not be detected. Therefore, the third aspect of the present invention is to enable the number of persons to be detected with high accuracy even when the unevenness near the head of the passerby (M) cannot be accurately detected as described above.

[0026]

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a technique for obtaining a concavo-convex data unit from a data group measured in the first aspect of the present invention. When the rangefinder detects a substantially flat portion, the difference between the distance measured by the rangefinder corresponding to the data group and the installation height of the rangefinder indicates that a passerby corresponding to the data group is present. After calculating the height, if the height is high, the shoulder width of the passerby is evaluated broadly, and conversely, if the height is low, the shoulder width is evaluated to be narrow, and the width of the passerby group corresponding to the data group is calculated. By dividing by the evaluated shoulder width, the number of passers-by in the data group is estimated. "

[0027]

[Functions and effects] The above technical means have the following functions and effects. When the passerby (M) passes below the rangefinder group as a group, all the rangefinders may correspond to the shoulders of the passerby (M). In such a case, the head of the passerby may be used. Nearby irregularities cannot be measured by the rangefinder group. In other words, the rangefinder group detects a substantially flat portion.

Then, the height of the group of passers-by is calculated from the difference between the distance measured by the rangefinder (the distance from the rangefinder to the point to be measured) and the installation height of the rangefinder. If it can be determined that the group of persons has passed, the shoulder width of passers-by is evaluated widely. Conversely, if the height is low and it can be determined that a group of children is passing, the shoulder width of the passer-by is evaluated as narrow.

Next, an operation is performed in which the width of the group of passers, which is determined from the number of distance meters measuring the distance to the group of passers and the distance between them, is divided by the shoulder width. The number of passers passing below the rangefinders is determined. Thus, even if the unevenness near the head of the pedestrian (M) cannot be detected in the invention of claim 1, the number of pedestrians passing below the rangefinder group can be determined, and the shoulder width can be reduced. Even if the person is a wide adult or a child with a narrow shoulder, the number of persons included in the group of passers can be accurately determined according to these.

[0030]

Next, an embodiment corresponding to the third aspect of the present invention will be described. On the ceiling (11) of the passage (1), as in the embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, as shown in FIG.
(13) is provided, and each distance meter (13) (13)
And the corresponding distance between the measurement target points are measured according to the principles of FIGS. 2 and 5 described above. In this embodiment, the distance between the distance meters (13) and (13) in the passage width direction is set to 30 cm.

Next, a processing procedure for estimating the number of passers-by (M) passing through the passage (1) as a group will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, when a group of three passers-by (M) passes through the passage (1), the distance meter (13) (1)
Of the 3), a distance meter (13) corresponding to a group of passers-by (M)
From (13), a detection signal (F) is output.
Then, the processing device (3) (see FIG. 1) for processing the signals of the rangefinders (13) and (13) collates the reference pattern (G) surrounded by the imaginary line in FIG. 6 with the detection signal (F). If there is no portion matching the reference pattern (G) in the detection signal (F), it is determined that the detection signal (F) is substantially flat (see (81) in FIG. 7). Step). Next, the number of rangefinders (13) that detect the group of passers is determined, and the width (Q) of the group of passers is calculated from the number of rangefinders and their respective intervals. That is, as shown in FIG.
When there are passers-by (M) under the five rangefinders (13), the product of the number between the rangefinders (13) and (13) and their arrangement interval (30 Cm) is obtained. As a result, the width (Q) of the group of passers-by (M) = 4 × 30 Cm is calculated (see step (82) in the drawing).

Next, in the same manner as in the second aspect of the invention, the height h of the passer-by (M) group (from the measured distance of any distance meter (13) or the average value of the measured distance of each distance meter (13)) The calculated height h) is measured, and when the height h is 100 Cm or more, 15
If it is less than 0 Cm, the passerby (M) is regarded as a child, and its shoulder width (K) is determined to be 30 Cm, and the height is 160 Cm.
If it is not less than m, the passer-by (M) is regarded as an adult and its shoulder width (K) is determined to be 40 Cm (see step (83) in the drawing). Then, a process of dividing the width (Q) of the group of passers (M) described above by the above-mentioned shoulder width (K), determining the number of passers at this time, and counting the number of passers is performed. (Refer to step (84) in the drawing). on the other hand,
In the step (84) in the drawing, if a concavo-convex signal indicating the vicinity of the head can be taken out from the group of passers-by (M), the passer- M) Count the number of people in the group.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the present invention is implemented in the vicinity of an entrance of a passage (1).

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the principle of measuring the distance between the pedestrian and the passerby (M) by a distance meter (13)

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of signals output from the rangefinders (13) and (13) when a single passerby (M) exists.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of signals output from the rangefinders (13) and (13) at a platform where a plurality of passers (M) pass simultaneously.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the principle when the distance meter (13) measures both the distance to the floor and the distance to the pedestrian (M).

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an embodiment of the invention of claim 3;

FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart showing a processing program for carrying out the invention of claim 3;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols] (1) ... passageway (13) ... distance meter

Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Murashi 17th floor of Nakadoji Minamimachi, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City Kyoto Institute of Advanced Technology Building 3F Giken Traffic Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-4-172589 (JP) , A) JP-A-3-232085 (JP, A)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A distance meter for receiving light irradiated to a target point by a position detecting element and measuring a distance to the target point is provided, and at least an interval smaller than a shoulder width of a pedestrian (M) in a width direction of the passage. The distance meter group provided is disposed above the passage, and from the data group measured by the distance meter group, a concavo-convex data unit corresponding to a height difference near the head including the shoulder of each passer (M) is obtained. A pedestrian detection method for determining whether or not a pedestrian (M) exists by taking out and comparing the pedestrian with a predetermined reference pattern. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a difference between a measured distance output from the rangefinder corresponding to the head of the pedestrian (M) detected and the height of the rangefinder is calculated. A pedestrian detection method that enables each pedestrian (M) to be processed according to height. 3. When the unevenness data unit cannot be obtained from the data group measured in the invention of claim 1 and the rangefinder group corresponding to the data group detects a substantially flat portion, After calculating the height of the passerby corresponding to the data group from the difference between the distance measured by the rangefinder corresponding to the data group and the arrangement height of the rangefinder, if the height is high, the shoulder width of the passerby is calculated. Widely evaluated, conversely, if the height is low, the shoulder width is evaluated narrow, the width of the passer group corresponding to the data group is divided by the evaluated shoulder width, and the passerby existing in the data group is divided. Passenger detection method that estimates the number of people.