WO2012101468A1

WO2012101468A1 - Directional device for counting people by diffuse reflection

Info

Publication number: WO2012101468A1
Application number: PCT/IB2011/000232
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henry OCHOA
Original assignee: Sistemas Virtuales De Colombia S.A.S
Priority date: 2011-01-27
Filing date: 2011-01-27
Publication date: 2012-08-02

Abstract

The directional device for counting people by diffuse reflection is an elongated structure made of metal with an electrostatic paint finish and a removable front acrylic cover or a cover made of a similar material; with an approximate height of 1.60 metres and a width of approximately 14 centimetres and a depth of approximately 14 centimetres. This structure has the shape of a rectangular prism containing, in the interior thereof, a cavity which accommodates an electronic card which counts people and transmits the data obtained by means of four diffuse photoelectric sensors. It contains, at the height of the electronic card, a screen which makes it possible to display the data produced by the card. The directional device for counting people by diffuse reflection receives and transmits the data. It is installed in a very simple manner by means of a mechanical assembly. It is fed from 12 to 36 volt batteries and has a minimum energy consumption, avoiding the discharge of the battery feeding it.

Description

DESCRIPTION

DIRECTIONAL COUNTER PERSON BY DIFFUSIVE REFLECTION

1 - TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention is related to the field of electronics and particularly in the contribution of a solution to the counting of people, especially applicable to mass public transport and other applications that require this type of counting, using electronic means and supported by systems through A data processor software.

2 - STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

The developments present in the state of the art relating to systems for counting the entry or exit of people are divided between those developments that are mechanical (1) and others that are electronic (2), which really are the vast majority.

1) Mechanical developments

- Turnstile, it is a mechanical counting system, consisting of a crown, in which four wings are placed which make contact, when turning the crown, with a central mechanical file, which generates the count with each contact. The problem with this system is that the tourniquet is manipulable or surpassed by the passenger, so the count can be altered, which implies that the data is not reliable. It is therefore a system that presents high vulnerability. It is usually used only at the front door and obstructs access to the environment, especially for people with physical disabilities or women who are pregnant. Additionally, in case of an accident, the turnstile will be the first obstacle to the exit. The turnstile does not identify the direction of movement, it does not identify whether it is an entrance or an exit.

2) Electronic developments

- Camera sensors; These are cameras with devices that record video to control the entry and exit of passengers by counting them. They have the advantage of not obstructing the accesses, of identifying the direction of the people and of being able to be installed in both middle doors. However, it is a technology that has disadvantages, and the visual space covered by the sensors it takes them precision, since it is a space that is too wide. Additionally, the costs of acquiring, installing and maintaining such a system tend to be very high, so it really is not a very accessible system.

Registrars based on barrier photoelectric sensors; It is a sensor, transmitter and receiver, located in the front and rear doors, precisely in the clamping tubes of both doors. It is an electronic system, with an emitting and receiving sensor, which captures the movement and subsequently transmits the data to an electronic card for counting. The fact of having a transmitter and receiver sensor causes the system to have calibration problems, because the transmitter and receiver must be in a specular position and that positioning is easily lost. Additionally, the installation is very complex because the sensor is located in the grip tubes, which must be disassembled and subsequently assembled, so that an installation can take a full day for a single door and maintenance is complex since the dust easily clogs.

Weight mats; It is a sensor that measures access through pressure and is located in the middle scales. The disadvantage is that the passenger can skip the scales thus avoiding the registration of their movement and an easy obstruction system since if the mat already records the pressure of one person, it will not detect the passage of others. In addition, these sensors do not identify the direction of movement of people. The installation and maintenance of said system are quite invasive, since they imply intervening in the structure of the environment, and additionally the mechanical sensor has wear, so that in the long or medium term it must be replaced, precisely by mechanical wear. - Caloric energy or blood irradiation; these are sensors that identify caloric energy and based on this they start counting. It is located at the top of the doors, it is a precise system to the extent that access to the environment is done in an orderly manner, losing accuracy in counting when said access is done in a crowded or disorganized manner, which is very frequent especially in public transport. Additionally it is very expensive per door. Maintenance can also become very expensive due to the high cost of the devices in case one of them is affected.

The directional counter of people by diffuse reflection overcomes all these past attempts. In effect: - With respect to the mechanical turnstile, the directional counter of people by diffuse reflection occupies a smaller space leaving almost entirely free exits and entrances, which significantly increases security and facilitates access. Additionally, the directional counter of people by diffuse reflection can be installed in both doors of the medium and identifies the direction of movement, not being able to be manipulated by passengers, and therefore being a much less vulnerable and therefore reliable system. - Regarding the camera sensors, the directional counter of people by diffuse reflection has the advantage of being much more precise, thanks to the sensors used. Additionally, the acquisition, installation and maintenance costs are lower, making it a much more accessible system.

- With regard to registrars based on barrier photoelectric sensors, the directional counter of people by diffuse reflection has several advantages. Indeed, the directional counter of people by diffuse reflection has no calibration problems because it is made up of a single piece and is also able to identify the direction of the passengers. Additionally, the installation of the directional counter of people by diffuse reflection is much simpler because it is a single panel that is installed by mechanical assembly to the floor and the installation lasts approximately three hours. It also works in critical conditions, it is a sensor that is not affected by atmospheric factors such as dust, thanks to its technical characteristics. Finally, it should be remembered that the acquisition, installation and maintenance costs are very low.

Regarding weight mats, the directional counter of people by diffuse reflection has the advantage of having a very simple installation that does not affect the structure of the environment in which it is installed and does not wear out over time, thanks to the type of sensors used . Additionally, it is able to identify the direction of the passengers and if it is obstructed, it will identify said obstruction and take corrective measures, avoiding the handling of the count by the passengers.

Regarding the caloric or blood energy system, the directional counter of people by diffuse reflection has the advantage of being able to identify the number of passengers who access the environment regardless of access congestion, being suitable for countries, such as Latin Americans, in those that said access is usually made in a disorganized and sometimes crowded way. Additionally, it has the advantage of being much cheaper, thus being a more accessible system. 3 - DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGURE 1: Isometric of the directional counter of people by diffuse reflection for front door with detail of the electronic card and the base.

FIGURE 2: Isometric of the directional counter of people by diffuse reflection for front door and of the directional counter of people by diffuse reflection for rear door connected to a modem and to a battery by means of cables.

FIGURE 3: Isometric of the directional counter of people by diffuse reflection for back door with acrylic side detail.

4 - DESCRIPTION OF THE PATENT

The directional counter of people by diffuse reflection consists of an elongated structure in the form of a rectangular prism with a height ranging from one meter to 1.60 meters high; a width that goes from 14 centimeters to 18 centimeters and the depth varies depending on whether it is a counter for front door (FIGURE 2 - A) or for back door (FIGURE 2 - B), being respectively 8 to 14 centimeters and from 7 to 11 centimeters.

It is therefore a rectangular prism that contains a cavity inside (FIGURE 1 - C, FIGURE 2 - C, FIGURE 2 - D, FIGURE 3 - D), a cavity that houses an electronic card (FIGURE 1 - E) in the in the case of a directional counter of people by diffuse reflection for front door (FIGURE 1 - A, FIGURE 2 - A), which counts and transmits the data obtained, and four diffuse photoelectric sensors (FIGURE 1 - F, FIGURE 1 - G, FIGURE 1 - H, FIGURE 1 - I; FIGURE 2 - F, FIGURE 2 - G, FIGURE 2 - H, FIGURE 2 - I). At the height of the electronic card there is a screen (FIGURE 1 - J, FIGURE 2 - J), which allows to visualize the data elaborated by the card. These four sensors fit into three iron plates located along the directional counter of people by diffuse reflection, two at the top (FIGURE 1 - K, FIGURE 2 - K, FIGURE 3 - K) and the two overhangs, in the central part (FIGURE 1 - L, FIGURE 2 - L, FIGURE 3 - L) and lower (FIGURE 1 - M, FIGURE 2 - M, FIGURE 3 - M).

The directional counter of people by diffuse reflection is therefore a single structure, which is both transmitting and receiving. The advantage is undoubtedly, since the installation of a single structure in each door is necessary since it saves on costs, installation time and also contributes to the safety of the environment, since the access will be less obstructed. The directional counter of people by diffuse reflection has three of its sides made of metal, material that resists the agents to which the directional counter of people is exposed by diffuse reflection, avoiding the deterioration that may result from shocks or manipulation by passengers upon entering or leaving them. Additionally, the structure is coated by an electrostatic paint to improve its resistance to deterioration.

The front side of the structure is composed of an acrylic surface or similar material, which slides from the top to the bottom (FIGURE 3 - N), being possible to remove it at any time simply by lifting the top of the counter directional of people by diffuse reflection (FIGURE 1 - 0, FIGURE 2 - 0, FIGURE 3 - O), to facilitate the maintenance operations of the sensors or the card. The sensors are protected from external agents by means of said acrylic cover.

The upper part of the directional counter of people by diffuse reflection is made of iron with an electrostatic paint finish and is in the shape of a semicircle (FIGURE 1 - 0, FIGURE 2- O, FIGURE 3 - O), thus being non-hazardous surfaces for passengers, since there will be no exposed points.

The directional counter of people by diffuse reflection is located on one side of the access steps of the means of transport, either the front door or the back door. When the passenger accesses the means of transport, a sequential obstruction of the sensors is generated, depending on the type of obstruction generated, it is possible to identify the direction in which the passenger is moving. Indeed, the sensors are located on the plates along the structure at calculated distances that allow identifying the type of obstruction and therefore the direction of the passenger. The upper stage (FIGURE 1 - K, FIGURE 2 - K, FIGURE 3 - K) is located one meter with approximately thirteen centimeters, counted from the base, being able to oscillate this average by 5 centimeters up or down. This stage has a thickness ranging from 2 to 4.5 centimeters and houses two sensors (FIGURE 1 - F, FIGURE 1 - G; FIGURE 2 - F, FIGURE 2 - G). These sensors fit into the stage at a distance of 6 to 10 centimeters from each other and are separated from the edges of the stage, respectively 1.5 to 4 centimeters on each side. The intermediate stage (FIGURE 1 - L, FIGURE 2 - L, FIGURE 3 - L) is located at a height of 65 centimeters counted from the base of the directional counter of people by diffuse reflection, and this measurement can oscillate by 5 centimeters towards up or down. This stage has a thickness ranging from 2 to 4.5 centimeters and houses a single sensor (FIGURE 1 - H, FIGURE 2 - H), located on the left side of it, at a distance of 1.5 to 3 centimeters, counted from the end of the stage. Finally, the lower stage (FIGURE 1 - M, FIGURE 2 - M, FIGURE 3 - M), is located at a height of 31 centimeters, counted from the base of the directional counter of people by diffuse reflection, this measurement can oscillate in 5 centimeters up or down. This stage has a thickness that goes from 2 to 4.5 centimeters and houses a single sensor (FIGURE 1 - I, FIGURE 2 - I), located on the right side of it, at a distance of 1.5 to 3 centimeters, counted from the end of the stage.

These heights are calculated to avoid incorrect counts, in other words, to prevent other items such as packages and the like from being counted as passengers. The horizontal separation between the sensors allows to determine the direction of the passenger, allowing to have a reliable base of the passengers who have entered or left the means of transport.

Additionally, this separation allows discriminating the number of passengers at the moment they access the environment in a crowded way, little organized or very often, as commonly occurs in the approach of these means of transport, avoiding errors in counting that occur with other technologies, which are not able to correctly count passengers when they are too numerous and access the environment of transport simultaneously.

These sensors are also capable of generating an alarm system, at the moment they are obstructed for a predetermined time, thus avoiding manipulation in the counting by the same passengers.

The electronic board (FIGURE 1 - E) is located only in the structure installed in the front door between the upper stage (FIGURE 1 - K, FIGURE 2 - K, FIGURE 3 - K) and the intermediate stage (FIGURE 1 - L, FIGURE 2 - L, FIGURE 3 - L). The electronic card receives all the data collected by the sensors, both those from the back door and those from the front door, allowing access and output data to be displayed on the screen (FIGURE 1 - J). Additionally, the electronic card transmits through a serial port the information collected, both counting and alarms and other information of interest, to a device that is outside the means of transport for its subsequent classification and analysis.

The installation of the directional counter of people by diffuse reflection has the advantage of being extremely simple, it being sufficient to mechanically assemble the base of the structure to the step by means of four mechanical assemblies (FIGURE 1 - P) which are inserted into four cavities in the base of the directional counter of people by diffuse reflection (FIGURE 1 - Q, FIGURE 2 - Q, FIGURE 3 - Q). A cable (FIGURE 1 - R, FIGURE 2 - R) exits from the electronic board (FIGURE 1 - E) in the directional counter of people by diffuse reflection for front door and is conducted to the base of the same, leaving by a central cavity of the base (FIGURE 1 - T, FIGURE 2 - T, FIGURE 3 - T). This cable is then connected to a power source such as the battery of the vehicle (FIGURE 2 - V) and if a remote connection system is needed, it can also be connected to a modem or an AVL system (FIGURE 2 - U). In the event that the vehicle has two doors, the rear door system will be connected to that of the front door through a cable that exits the upper deck (FIGURE 1 - K, FIGURE 2 - K, FIGURE 3 - K) and also leads to the battery or modem through the central cavity of the base of the directional counter of people by diffuse reflection (FIGURE 1 - T, FIGURE 2 - T, FIGURE 3 - T). This implies that there is no need to aggressively intervene in the structure of the environment where it is installed, the directional counter of people will be simply added by diffuse reflection without implying structural changes.

The electrical connection can be powered by batteries ranging from 12 to 36 volts and the consumption is about 100 mega amps in standby and in operation of 200 mega amps. This ensures that vehicle batteries are not discharged due to the presence of this device.

Claims

5 - REVINDICATIONS

1. Directional counter of people by diffuse reflection characterized by: A main body in the form of a rectangular prism with a top end in a semicircular shape; with three sides made of metallic foil and a fourth free side to receive a cover made of acrylic or similar, which contains inside:

- Three metal plates

- Four diffuse photoelectric sensors

- A screen

- An electronic card.

- Wiring

2. Directional counter of people by diffuse reflection characterized according to claim one, by a main body in the form of a rectangular prism made of metal sheet, finished in electrostatic paint, with one of the four sides free to receive an acrylic or similar material lid removable

3. Directional counter of persons by diffuse reflection characterized according to the second claim, by an acrylic cover or similar removable material constituting one of its sides.

4. Directional counter of people by diffuse reflection characterized according to claim one, for containing three metal plates arranged along the main body.

5. Directional counter of people by diffuse reflection characterized according to claim four, for having a metal stage in the upper part of the structure characterized by having two symmetrical semi-circular receiving cavities.

6. Directional counter of people by diffuse reflection characterized by claim four, for having a metal stage in the middle part of the structure characterized by having a receiving cavity semicircularly on the right side.

7. Directional counter of persons by diffuse reflection characterized according to claim four, for having a metal stage in the lower part of the structure characterized by having a semicircular receiving cavity on the left side.

8. Directional counter of people by diffuse reflection characterized according to claim one, for containing within it four sensors arranged along the main body.

9. Directional counter of persons by diffuse reflection characterized according to claim 8, having two sensors fitted on the upper metal plate according to claim 5.

10. Directional counter of persons by diffuse reflection characterized according to claim 8, for having a sensor fitted on the metal plate according to claim 6.

11. Directional counter of persons by diffuse reflection characterized according to claim 8, for having a sensor fitted on the metal plate according to claim 7.

12. Directional counter of people by diffuse reflection characterized according to claim one by having a screen located between the middle stage and the top stage.

13. Directional counter of people by diffuse reflection characterized according to claim one for having an electronic card located between the middle stage and the high stage.

14. Directional counter of people by diffuse reflection characterized by joining a power motor through a wiring system.

15. Directional counter of people by diffuse reflection characterized by joining a modem through a wiring system.