EP1750231B1 - Method for automatically determining the number of persons and/or objects staying within a gate - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves detecting weight data of persons and/or objects moving in a gate (10) using a set of weight sensors (18, 20, 22, 24) integrated in a base of the gate. The data is evaluated to determine the number of peoples/objects based on maximum and/or absolute values and/or dynamics and/or the number of the detected weight center of gravity and/or the position of the sensors and/or the order in which the data is detected. An independent claim is also included for a gate with weight sensors that are integrated in a base region of the gate.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for automatically determining the number and / or position of persons and / or objects residing in a gate as well as a corresponding gate.

Passenger access control systems are also referred to in the description by the term "gates". Both terms refer to systems that control the access of persons to a predetermined area. Such a gate may comprise, for example, a hip or man-sized revolving door or a device with rotating barrier arms which limit the number of persons who can simultaneously pass the gate. Furthermore, such a gate may be a passage area, in the doors swung horizontally or vertically or inserted laterally, but also a security gate with a limited by an input and an output lock chamber, with a person in the lock room person the output only at closed entrance can occur, whereby a person separation takes place.

In some applications of such gates, it is desirable to limit the number of people that can pass the gate at a time to a predetermined allowable number of people. This is the case, for example, when the passing of a gate is reserved for persons who have a corresponding pass authorization. To ensure, that only persons with a valid pass-through pass the gate, the number of persons present in a gate must be detected accordingly and compared with the number of valid pass-through permissions, whereby both the detection and the comparison preferably take place automatically. In this way, a slipping in of unauthorized persons should be prevented.

Various methods are known for automatically determining the number of persons and / or objects in a gate.

The DE-PS-169273 discloses, for example, a two-door personal lock, in the bottom of which a weight sensor is integrated. By detecting the actual weight of a person in the airlock with the help of the weight sensor and by comparing it with a known individual target weight of the person passing, it can be determined whether one or more than one person is in the airlock. A disadvantage of this method is that the individual target weight of the person passing must be known in advance in order to perform a corresponding comparison can. Furthermore, the detected weight can deviate very much from the individual target weight of the person passing, if it carries, for example, correspondingly heavy luggage with it. The passage through the lock would then be denied, although the person has a valid authorization.

From the DE-PS-36 23 792 a device for determining the number of persons and their direction of movement within a space to be monitored or a lock for the purpose of singling is known in which arranged in a special way infrared sensors detect the change in ambient temperature due to the body heat of the continuous people. A disadvantage of this method is the dependence of the sensor output signal on the speed of passing persons, whereby the application of the method for the individual separation by means of lock, in which the person must wait at least until closing the first door or until the completion of the identification by, for example, biometric data , not suitable.

The object of the present invention is to improve a passage lock with regard to the security of persons and objects.

The EP 0 622 761 A shows a method for separating people in a passageway. The persons are assigned identification data. In a first phase, the identification data are recorded and checked and the weight and / or size are recorded. These measurement data are fed to an evaluation unit and at the end of the channel a blocking device is present, which is actuated in the evaluation unit on the basis of the evaluation of the information of the measuring and detection stations.

This object is achieved according to the present invention by a method according to claim 1 and a gate according to claim 5 . The dependent claims relate to individual embodiments of the method and the gate according to the invention.

In the method according to the invention for automatically determining the number of persons and / or objects in a gate, weight data of the persons and / or objects moving in the gate are detected by a plurality, at least two, of weight sensors integrated in the bottom of the gate. This weight data is evaluated in real time by means of a computer-assisted weight data evaluation unit in order to determine the number of persons and / or objects present in the gate. The evaluation takes place on the one hand on the basis of the detected maximum values, i. on the basis of the detected actual weight of the persons and / or objects present in the gate. On the other hand, according to the present invention, another parameter flows into the evaluation, which is also taken from the detected weight data. This further parameter is the dynamics of the weight data and / or the number of detected weight centers and / or the position of the weight sensors which have detected the weight data and / or the order in which the weight sensors detect the weight data to have.

When a person is walking over weight sensors integrated in the bottom area of a gate and weight data are continuously recorded via the weight sensors, the weight data entered into a time-weight diagram results in an essentially wave-shaped function, since the person moves his weight evenly from one foot when walking shifted to the other one. A maximum arises at the moment in which the total weight of the person rests on a foot. This maximum corresponds to the actual weight of the person and is referred to herein as the "maximum value" of the detected weight data. Of the Maximum value is detected by the sensors even if the person stops. In this case, the weight data entered in a time-weight diagram yields a straight line parallel to the time axis. This maximum value forms a parameter that is used in the evaluation of the recorded weight data for determining the number of persons / objects.

The term "dynamics" is understood according to the present invention, the change of the weight data over time, which is explained in more detail below.

With a stationary person or a stationary object, the weight data does not change since the same weight sensors always record the same weight data. In a time-weight diagram thus results in a straight line parallel to the time axis, which is composed of weight data collected by the same weight sensors. Such a straight line allows corresponding conclusions on a stationary person or on a resting object.

In a walking person or an animal, the weight data, as described above, changes due to the constant shift of weight in a substantially regular rhythm. The weight data are always recorded by different weight sensors, since the person or the animal moves from one weight sensor to the next. Such periodic changes, which are detected by always different weight sensors, therefore, allow conclusions about the fact that a living being in the gate moves.

For example, if a person moving in the gate pulls a rolling suitcase behind them, the weight sensors detect, on the one hand, the periodically changing weight data of the person and, on the other hand, the weight data of the rolling suitcase. Since the weight of the roller case is continuously transmitted to the weight sensors via the case rollers, the weight data entered into a time-weight diagram, similar to the example of the person standing still, results in a straight line parallel to the time axis. The movement of the case, the weight data, however, in contrast to the stationary person not only detected by one but by several weight sensors. A straight line in the Time-weight diagram, which is composed of weight data from multiple weight sensors, can be inferred that an object is moved over the gate floor.

In this way it can be specified based on the dynamics of the detected weight data, whether a person or an object is in the gate.

In addition to the dynamics, the number of detected weight centers can also be included in the evaluation. The number of detected focal points corresponds to the number of persons present in the gate and / or objects.

If the positions of the individual weight sensors are taken into account during the evaluation, persons and / or objects in the gate can be precisely located.

If the sequence in which the weight sensors have acquired the weight data is also taken into account as a parameter, the direction in which the persons or objects move can also be determined.

The method according to the invention can reliably determine the number of persons and / or objects residing in a gate. In this way, for example, an inadmissible entrainment of persons can be prevented in the gate.

In addition to the weight sensors, according to the present invention, further sensors can be used to determine the number of persons / objects, such as contact mats, light barriers, cameras or the like.

In addition, the automatic opening and closing of a door provided in the gate is also preferably controlled based on the weight data detected by means of the weight sensors.

Further, the present invention provides a gate having weight sensors integrated in a bottom portion of the gate and a weight data evaluation unit arranged such that the number of ones residing in the gate Persons and / or objects by evaluating weight data, which were detected by the weight sensors, based on their maximum values and their dynamics and / or the number of detected centers of gravity and / or the position of the weight sensors, which have detected the weight data, and / or Order in which the weight sensors have detected the weight data, can be determined automatically. Such a gate can be used to carry out the method according to the invention. In addition to the weight sensors, the gate preferably also comprises further sensors, such as contact mats, light barriers, cameras or the like.

Fig. 1

eine Draufsicht einer ersten beispielhaften Ausgestaltung des erfindungsgemäßen Gates;

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht einer zweiten beispielhaften Ausgestaltung des erfindungsgemäßen Gates;

Fig. 3

eine Vorderansicht einer dritten beispielhaften Ausgestaltung des erfindungsgemäßen Gates und

Fig. 4

eine Seitenansicht eines herkömmlichen Gates.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the drawings by way of exemplary embodiments. That's it

Fig. 1

a plan view of a first exemplary embodiment of the gate according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a plan view of a second exemplary embodiment of the gate according to the invention;

Fig. 3

a front view of a third exemplary embodiment of the gate according to the invention and

Fig. 4

a side view of a conventional gate.

Hereinafter, like reference numerals refer to similar components.

Fig. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a gate 10 according to the invention. The gate 10 comprises a passage 12 extending through a wall 12 which is bounded laterally by two side walls 16. The passage 14 has a width B which is dimensioned such that only one person after the other can easily pass the gate 10. Four weight sensors 18, 20, 22 and 24, which are integrated in the bottom of the gate 10 and have rectangular, tile-like weight-receiving surfaces, are provided in series one behind the other along the passage 14. The weight sensors 18, 20, 22 and 24 are arranged to continuously record weight data for the purpose of Weight data evaluation be forwarded to a weight data evaluation unit, not shown. In the middle of the passage 14, that is, between the weight sensors 20 and 22, a man-high swing door 26 is provided, which has two pivotable wings 28 and 30, which are each pivotable about an arranged on one of the side walls pivot axis, which Fig. 1 indicated by the dashed arrows. Before the passage 14, a pass-through control device 32 is provided, with the passage permissions, which are issued to persons entitled to passage, are checked for their validity.

Now, if a person wants to pass the gate 10 in the direction of the arrow 34, she first checks that her pass authorization in the pass-through control device 32 is valid. The pass-through authorization is preferably stored on an automatically readable data carrier, such as a transponder, a magnetic card or the like, which is read out by the pass-through control device 32. If the check reveals that the pass-through authorization is valid, the pivoting door 26 is automatically opened by moving its wings 28 and 30 in the direction of the dashed arrows about their pivoting axes. With the opening of the swing door 26 of the person is shown that they should now pass the passage 14.

In order to prevent multiple persons from passing through the passageway 14 with only one valid pass-through authority, the weight sensors 18, 20, 22 and 24 integrated in the bottom of the gate 10 continuously receive weight data from the person or persons moving through the passageway 14 determine their number and compare the number of persons determined with the number of valid pass-through permissions. In this way, it should be determined whether persons are being carried in an inadmissible manner.

Upon entering the passageway 14, the weight sensor 18 is first loaded, as shown in FIG Fig. 1 shown footprints 36 is indicated. As the person moves, as described in the beginning, weight data is continuously acquired first by the first weight sensor 18 and then by the second weight sensor 20 detected, which, registered in a time-weight diagram, due to the changing load from one foot to the other result in a substantially wavy function, from which it can be seen that in the present case a living thing passes through the gate 10. On the basis of the characteristic of the waveform, a distinction can be made between human and animal. Furthermore, the detected maximum values as well as absolute values of the weight data allow conclusions about the size of the living being. If, for example, a person with an actual weight of 30 kg is detected, it is most likely a child. A person with an actual weight of 80 kg will be fully grown.

After the second weight sensor 20, the person passes through the opened hinged door 26 and enters the third weight sensor 22. On the fourth weight sensor 24, the person remains in the present example, which is shown in FIG Fig. 1 is indicated by two parallel footsteps 38. Accordingly, the weight data evaluation unit (not shown) receives weight data exclusively from the fourth weight sensor 24, which, plotted in a time-weight diagram, yields a straight line parallel to the time axis. For example, such weight data received after passing the hinged door 26 may be a sign that the person has changed his mind and wants to reverse. The hinged door 26 accordingly remains open to give the person this option. If the third weight sensor 22 again detects weight data, then the person has actually changed his mind. The pivoting door 26 is accordingly closed again only when the person has passed the second weight sensor 20. If, on the other hand, the fourth weight sensor 24 detects that the person is moving further in the direction of the exit, then the swing gate 26 closes automatically as soon as the person has left the passage 14, ie as soon as none of the weight sensors 18, 20, 22 and 24 has weight data greater than the value Zero detected.

If more than one person enters the passage 14 at the same time or in succession, this is detected by the weight sensors 18, 20, 22 and 24, since a plurality of wave-shaped functions in the time-weight diagram are generated by two persons moving one after the other overlay each other. If such a case occurs, the hinged door 26 immediately closed, since it can be assumed that an additional person should be taken in an inadmissible manner.

Two persons are distinguished by a person with a piece of luggage, such as a trolley, also on the basis of the evaluation of the weight data recorded by the weight sensors 18, 20, 22 and 24. A moving trolley generates in contrast to a walking person a straight-line function in the time-weight diagram, since no weight transfer takes place but the weight rests evenly on the case rollers.

Another way of determining the number of people or objects in the passageway 14 is to determine the number of centers of gravity based on the weight data collected by the weight sensors 18, 20, 22, and 24. The number of weight centers corresponds to the number of persons / objects.

If the weight data acquired by the weight sensors 18, 20, 22 and 24 produce a data pattern that can not be evaluated by the weight data evaluation unit, for example, image data are used to determine the number of persons, which are detected by a camera 40 directed onto the passage 14.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of a gate 50 according to the present invention. The structure of the gate 50 substantially corresponds to that of the in Fig, 1 However, the swing door 26 is replaced by a two-part sliding door 52, the two door halves 54 and 56 for automatic opening and closing in the direction of the arrows 58 and 60 are moved accordingly.

Fig. 3 shows a side view of a third embodiment of a gate 70 according to the present invention, whose structure is also substantially the same as that of in Fig. 1 shown gates 10 corresponds. The gate 70 includes a pivot door 72, the two wings 74 and 76 for automatic opening and closing are laterally upward in the direction of the respective side walls 16 about the respective pivot axes 78 and 80 are pivotable.

Fig. 4 shows a side view of a conventional gate 90, whose structure is substantially similar to that of in Fig. 1 shown gates 10 corresponds. Instead of the weight sensors, however, a plurality of light barriers 92 are provided, which are arranged in succession on the side walls 16 in the passage direction. These light barriers 92 serve to detect persons and / or objects in the gate 90. A disadvantage of such light barriers 92 is that they can be bypassed in principle by avoiding to cross the emitted light beams from the light beams 92. If this is to be prevented, then a very high number of light barriers must be provided, which proves to be very costly.

Furthermore, such light barriers 92 can not distinguish between humans and animals nor between living beings and objects. Are the photoelectric switches 92, as in Fig. 4 is shown too high, so there is still the danger that especially small children or animals, such as dogs, are not detected. For example, if a person carries a child by the hand or a dog behind him on a leash, it can not be ruled out that the door 94 between the person and the child or dog will close or the child or dog will be trapped in the door 94 become.

These disadvantages are solved by a gate according to the present invention with weight sensors, optionally in combination with further sensors, as well as by the method according to the invention, since the persons and / or objects residing in the gate can be specified and their number can be determined.

It should be understood that the embodiments described with reference to the figures are not limiting and that changes and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

gate

12

wall

14

passage

16

side walls

18

weight sensor

20

weight sensor

22

weight sensor

24

weight sensor

26

hinged door

28

wing

30

wing

32

Passage authorization control device

34

arrow

36

footprints

38

footprints

40

camera

50

gate

52

sliding door

54

door half

56

door half

58

arrow

60

arrow

70

gate

72

hinged door

74

wing

76

wing

78

swivel axis

80

swivel axis

90

gate

92

light barriers

94

door

B

width

Claims (6)

1. A method of automatically determining the number and/or the position of people and/or objects remaining in a personnel access control system (10; 50; 70), which includes the steps of:

   Determining weight data of the people and/or objects moving in the gate (10; 50; 70) by means of a plurality of weight sensors (18, 20, 22, 24) integrated in the base of the gate (10; 50; 70) and

   Analysing the detected weight data to determine the number of people and/or objects with reference to their maximum values and/or absolute values and/or dynamics and/or the number of the detected weight thrust points and/or the position of the weight sensors (18, 20, 22, 24), which detected the weight data, and/or the sequence in which the weight sensors (18, 20, 22, 24) detected the weight data,

   Characterised in that the detection of the weight data occurs on both sides of a door, rotary door or device with rotating barrier arms (26; 52; 72) present in the gate, whereby an automatic closing of the door, the rotary door or the device with rotating barrier arms (26, 52, 72, 94), which is provided in the gate (10, 50, 70, 90), is controlled by means of a weight data analysis unit based on the weight data, which is detected with the aid of the weight sensors (18, 20, 22, 24) and is received after a person and/or an object has passed through the door, the rotary door or the device with rotating barrier arms (26, 52, 72, 94).
2. A method is claimed in Claim 1 in which, in addition to the weight sensors (18, 20, 22, 24), further sensors (40) are used for detecting the number of people and/or obj ects.
3. A method is claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the automatic opening and closing of a door (26; 52; 72) present in the gate (10; 50; 70) is controlled based on the detected weight data and/or the data from further sensors.
4. A method is claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the counting of the people or objects, which pass through the gate (10, 50, 70) is effected based on the detected weight data and/or the data from further sensors.
5. A gate (10; 50; 70) with weight sensors (18, 20, 22, 24) integrated into a base region of the gate (10; 50; 70) and a weight data analysis unit, which is so arranged that the number and/or position of people and/or objects remaining in the gate is determinable automatically by evaluating weight data which has been detected by the weight sensors (18, 20, 22, 24) with reference to their maximum values, absolute values and/or dynamics of these measured values and/or the number of the detected weight thrusts points and/or the position of the weight sensors (18, 20, 22, 24), which measured the weight data, and/or the sequence in which the weight sensors (18, 20, 22, 24) measured the weight data, characterised in that arranged on both sides of a door, rotary door or device with rotating barrier arms (26, 52, 72) present in the gate (20, 50, 70) are weight sensors (18, 20, 22, 24), wherein automatic closing of the door, the rotary door or the device with rotating barrier arms (26, 52, 72, 94), which is provided in the gate (10, 50, 70, 90) is controllable by means of a weight data analysis unit based on the weight data, which is detected with the aid of the weight sensors (18, 20, 22, 24) and is received after the person and/or an object has passed through the door, the rotary door or the device with rotating barrier arms (26, 52, 72, 94).
6. A gate (10; 50; 70) as claimed in Claim 5 which includes additional sensors (40) for detecting the number and/or position of the people/objects.

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