JP2000030030A - Sensor, counting unit and data counting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simple sensor of which light receiving direction crosses the advancing direction of moving objects capable of measuring the number of moving objects. SOLUTION: A first element 57a and a second element 57b constituting a sensor element receives far infrared rays emitted from a passerby being the traveling object in a moving direction and CPU 71 compares data converted to a digital signal and data which is stored in a data memory (SRAM) 75 and should be compared with each other and measures the moving direction of passerbys and its number. The measured moving direction of the passerbys and its number are stored in data memory (SRAM) 75 every five minutes. A sensor of constitution like this 31 is not only being above mentioned cross beam sensor but a battery type sensor with batteries 65a to 65c.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sensor, a tallying device, and a data tallying device, and more particularly, to a sensor for detecting the presence of a moving object such as a passerby at a department store or an exposition, and to tally data from the sensor. The present invention relates to a tallying device and a data tallying device including a sensor and a tallying device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a horizontal sensor for detecting the presence of a moving body in a direction transverse to the traveling direction of the moving body is shown in FIG.
This is shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a conventional data totaling apparatus provided with a horizontal sensor. Referring to FIG. 12, a pair of infrared sensors (23a) and (23b) as lateral sensors are provided on both sides of the passage (21) near the entrance of the facility. The infrared sensor (23b) is a counter (25)
And the counter (25) is connected to the display (27).

[0003] In the data compiling device having such a configuration, the passer-by (29) passes the infrared ray stretched between the infrared sensor (23a) and the infrared sensor (23b), and the counter (25) is turned on. The number of passers-by (29) is counted, and the display (27) displays the number.

[0004]

However, the conventional horizontal sensor requires a pair of infrared sensors (23a) and (23b) because it uses infrared rays.
Since the counter (25) is connected to the counters (3a) and (23b) and the number of passers-by (29) is counted by the counter (25), the apparatus becomes large as a whole.

[0005] Therefore, it is an object of the first invention to provide a simple sensor which is a horizontal sensor capable of measuring the number of moving objects. <1>

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above-mentioned problem, a first solution of the present invention is a "sensor for detecting the presence of a moving object by receiving light, and a directional sensor for receiving light. The sensor element is oriented in a direction transverse to the traveling direction of the moving object, measuring means for measuring the number of moving objects traversed from the light received by the sensor element, and the moving object measured by the measuring means. Storage means for storing the data of the numbers, and power supply means for supplying power to the sensor element, the measurement means and the storage means by a battery type. "

The above solution works as follows. Since a sensor that receives light and detects the presence of a moving body is used as a lateral sensor, a set of sensors such as an infrared sensor is not required. Further, the number of moving objects can be measured by the sensor itself. In addition, since the sensor itself stores the data of the number of moving objects and supplies power required for storage and the like by a battery type, there is no need for a device for storing data other than the sensor.

The sensor element includes both a type that receives far-infrared rays emitted by a moving object and a type (for example, a distance meter) that transmits transmission light and receives reflected light from the moving object.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since it has the above-described structure, it has the following specific effects. Since a sensor that detects light and detects the presence of a moving body is used as a horizontal sensor, one set of sensors is not required unlike an infrared sensor, and only one sensor is required, and the sensor can be simplified. Can be.

[0010] Further, since the number of moving objects is measured by the sensor itself, it is not necessary to increase the size as in the case of using an infrared sensor and a counter, and a simple sensor that is reduced in size can be obtained. Furthermore, since the sensor itself stores data on the number of moving objects and supplies power necessary for storage and the like using a battery type, no device for storing data other than the sensor is required, and the sensor itself can store past data. A simple sensor that has been memorized and reduced in size is obtained.

In the case where the sensor element is of a type that transmits transmission light and receives reflected light from a moving body (for example, a distance meter), there is an effect that the distance between the sensor and the moving body can be measured. In the case where the sensor element is of a type that receives far-infrared rays emitted by a moving body, there is no power loss for transmitting the transmission light, and the sensor element is suitable for a battery-type sensor. [Others] <2> In the above invention, the “sensor element is composed of a first element and a second element, and the first element and the second element receive light according to the traveling direction of the moving body. ,
The measuring means measures the traveling direction and the number of the moving body crossed from the light received by the first element and the second element according to the traveling direction of the moving body, and the storage means measures the crossing direction measured by the measuring means. In this case, the data of the moving direction and the number of the moving object are stored "has an effect that the moving direction and the number of the moving object can be measured. In addition to the above-described effects, there is an effect that the flow of the moving object can be grasped.

<Item 3> In the above-mentioned items 1 and 2 in which “the sensor installation location can be changed”, the sensor can be moved to another sensor installation location while power can be supplied because of the battery type. It can measure the number of moving objects in various places and the traveling direction and the number of moving objects. In particular, if the traveling direction and the number of the moving bodies can be measured, the flows of the moving bodies at various places in the facility can be grasped.

[0013]

Further, the second invention is to
It is an object of the present invention to provide a compiling device which can be used together with the sensor of the first invention to constitute a data compiling device which has not existed conventionally. <Item 4>

[0014]

Means for Solving the Problems The means for solving the second invention which has been taken to solve the above-mentioned problems is "claims 1 to 3".
The data stored in the storage means of one of the sensors is counted. " The above solution works as follows. For example, the data storage of the sensor can be kept for one week, used for 6 days in the facility, and the data can be totaled from the sensor on the seventh day of the holiday.

[0015]

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since it has the above-described structure, it has the following specific effects. While the data storage of the sensor has,
There is no need to perform data tabulation every day, and tabulation can be performed collectively, reducing the work of tabulation. [Others] <Item 5> In the above-mentioned invention, "the data stored in the storage means of the sensor is totalized by optical communication", for example, data is collected by a simple optical communication method as compared with the case of data totalization by cable connection. Aggregate.

[0016]

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a data compiling device including the sensor of the first invention and the compiling device of the second invention. <Section 6>

[0017]

Means for Solving the Problems The means for solving the third aspect of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems is described in "Claims 1 to 3".
A sensor for counting the data stored in the storage means of the sensor. " The above solution works as follows.

A system combining the operation of the sensor of the first invention and the operation of the counting device of the second invention (Section 4) can be constructed.

[0019]

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since it has the above-described structure, it has the following specific effects. Effect of sensor of the first invention and second
It is possible to construct a system that combines the effects of the tallying device of the invention (4). Further, the data compiled by the compiling device can be stored in a database of a device such as a personal computer, and the system can be expanded.

[Others] <Section 7> In the above-mentioned invention, in which "the counting device counts the data stored in the storage means of the sensor by optical communication", in addition to the above effects, the second invention (Section 5) A system that has the effect of the tallying device can be constructed.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
This will be described together with the illustrated example. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which a sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided on one side of a passage near an entrance of a facility. Referring to FIG. 1, a lateral sensor (3) is mounted on one side of a passage (21) near the entrance of the facility.
0) is provided on the stand (33). In addition, the sensor (30) sends the transmission light (37a) in the direction crossing as the passer (35), which is a moving body, advances, and receives the reflected light (37b) from the crosser (35). This is a type that detects the presence of a passerby (35). Further, the sensor (30) is a sensor having a feature of a battery type.

In particular, as the sensor element, a sensor element of a distance meter whose directivity for receiving the reflected light (37b) is oriented in a direction crossing the traveling direction of the passerby (35) is used. That is, the sensor element includes a light emitting diode, a conversion lens,
It is composed of a condenser lens and a position detecting element. The light emitting diode and the conversion lens are mechanisms for transmitting light output from the light emitting diode as transmission light (37a), and the condenser lens and the position detecting element are mechanisms for receiving reflected light (37b).

Then, the reflected light (37b) received by the sensor element
The number of passers-by (35) is measured by a measuring means such as an internal CPU, and the measured data of the number of passers-by (35) is stored in a storage means such as a memory. In addition, since power is supplied to a memory or the like inside the sensor (30) by a battery system, data of the measured number of passers-by (35) is continuously stored as long as power can be supplied.

Such a laterally extending sensor (30) does not require a set of sensors as in the case of a conventional infrared sensor, but requires only one sensor and is simplified. In addition, since the number of passers-by (35) is measured by the sensor (30) itself, it is not necessary to increase the size as in the case of using an infrared sensor and a counter, and the size is simplified and simplified. .

Furthermore, since the sensor (30) itself stores data of the number of passers-by (35) and supplies electric power necessary for storage and the like by a battery type, there are devices that store data other than the sensor (30). This is not necessary, and the past data is stored in the sensor (30) itself, so that the size of the sensor is reduced and simplified. Furthermore, the sensor (30) and the pedestrian
This has the effect of measuring the distance to (35).

The sensor element is composed of a first element and a second element. The first element and the second element alternately transmit the transmission light (37a), and the first element and the second element. The first element and the second element alternately receive reflected light (37b), and measure the traveling direction and the number of passers-by (35) crossed from the reflected light (37b) alternately received by the first element and the second element, The data of the traveling direction of the pedestrian (35) and the number thereof may be stored. In this case, the passerby
There is an effect that the flow of (35) can be grasped.

As described above, the stand type sensor (3
Since (0) is provided, the sensor installation location can be changed. In particular,
The sensor (30) can be moved to another sensor installation location while the power can be supplied because it is battery-operated, and the number of passers (35) and the direction of travel of passers (35) at various places in the facility And the number can be measured. In particular, if it is possible to measure the direction of travel and the number of passers (35), passers-by (3
You can grasp the flow of 5).

FIG. 2 is a front view of another sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a rear view of the sensor of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a right side view of the sensor of FIG. It is. By the way, the sensor (30) of the type described above has an advantage that the distance between the sensor (30) and the pedestrian (35) can be measured,
The power consumption is large to emit the transmission light (37a). This is a drawback from a battery-powered point of view.

Therefore, another type in which the above-mentioned disadvantage is improved will be described. 2 is a front view of another sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a rear view of the sensor of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a right side view of the sensor of FIG. First, the appearance of the sensor (31) will be described with reference to FIGS. The sensor (31) has a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole and is covered with a cover (38). On the front, a sensor window (39), an LCD display (41), and an optical communication element (43) are provided. An ID number setting switch (45) is provided on the back surface. On the right side, a select switch (47), a power connector (49), and a real interface (51) are provided, and the other parts are covered with a battery cover (53).

When the select switch (47) is pressed, the traffic on the LCD display unit (41) in the directions A and B is displayed.
Total number of (35), current date / time, battery voltage value, ID
The number etc. are displayed. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV of FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 5, the sensor element (57) for receiving the far-infrared ray emitted by the passer-by (35) will be described. That is, a characteristic portion of the sensor (31) in which the defect of the sensor (30) is improved will be described. The sensor element (57) has a directivity for receiving far-infrared rays in a direction crossing the traveling direction of the pedestrian (35), and includes a first element (57a) and a second element (5).
7b). The first element (57a) includes a light receiving element (59a) and a mirror (61a). On the other hand, the second element (57b) includes a light receiving element (59b) and a mirror (6
1b).

A round hole (55a) is formed in a portion of the cover (38) corresponding to the first element (57a) to receive far infrared rays emitted by the passer-by (35). A round hole (55b) is formed in a portion corresponding to the first element (57b) of
A sensor window (39) is attached as a cover covering the holes (55a) and (55b). Such a sensor element (57) is
The element (57a) and the second element (57b) are used to measure the traveling direction and the number of the passers-by (35).

For example, when a passerby (35) advances from right to left in FIG. 5 and passes in front of the sensor (31), first, far-infrared rays emitted by the passerby (35) are transmitted to the second element (57b). The light is reflected by the mirror (61b), received by the light receiving element (59b), and then passed by the passerby (35).
Is emitted by the mirror (61a) of the first element (57a) and received by the light receiving element (59a). According to this light receiving order, first, the light receiving element (59b) measures the temperature of the pedestrian (35) from the temperature of the wall facing the sensor (31), and then the light receiving element (59a) faces the sensor (31). Passersby from wall temperature
The temperature of (35) will be measured. Then, it can be seen from the series of temperature changes that the traveling direction of the pedestrian (35) is from right to left, and the display of the number of pedestrians in the direction of A in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 6, although the sensor (30) in FIG. 1 has not been specifically described, a configuration in which the sensor (31) is of a battery type will be described. Three nickel-metal hydride batteries (65a) (65b) (65c) each capable of supplying electric power at 1.2 V are shown as battery type batteries. The nickel-metal hydride batteries (65a) to (65c) are charged by connecting a power supply source to the power connector (49) in FIG.
Serves as a battery-powered battery.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the sensor (31) of FIG. Referring to FIG. 7, the first element (5
7a) is connected to the amplifier (67a), and the amplifier (67a) is connected to the A / D
It is connected to a converter (69). The second element (57b) is connected to the amplifier (67b), and the amplifier (67b) is also connected to the A / D converter (69).
It is connected to the. The A / D converter (69) is connected to a CPU (71), and the CPU (71) has a data memory (SRAM) (7).
5) and to the I / O (73). The I / O (73) has an LCD display unit (41) and an optical communication element (4).
3), connected to an ID number setting switch (45), an EEPROM (77), and a driver (79). Driver (79) is 9
It is connected to a real interface (51) with a book pin. The nickel-metal hydride batteries (65a) to (65c) are connected to a power connector (49), and a data memory (SRAM) (7
Power is supplied by giving a power supply potential (VCC) to 5) and the like, and +5 V can be applied to the power supply potential (VCC) by a converter (81).

First, before the sensor (31) functions as a sensor, it is necessary to store data such as parameters in the EEPROM (77).
The RAM (75) needs to store data necessary for calculation for measuring the traveling direction of the passerby (35) and the number thereof. Therefore, the optical communication element (43) performs optical communication with a counting device described later, a cable is connected to a pin of the real interface (51), and the cable is connected to the counting device, and the setting by the counting device is performed. Has been done.

In the sensor (31) having been set as described above, the first element (57a) and the second element (57b) can obtain a signal indicating the temperature change according to the traveling direction of the pedestrian.
The obtained analog signal is supplied to the amplifier (67a) and the amplifier (67b).
And is converted to a digital signal by the A / D converter (69). The CPU (71) stores the data converted into the digital signal by the A / D converter (69) and the data memory (SRA).
M) Read the data to be compared in (75) and pass
After confirming the existence of (35), the traveling direction and the number of passers-by (35) are measured.

The data of the measured traveling direction of the passer-by (35) and the number thereof are displayed on the LCD display section (41) via the I / O (73). The display method is such that how many people are in the direction A and how many people are in the direction B in FIG. If the parameters of the EEPROM (77) are set to store, for example, the traveling direction measured every 5 minutes and the data of the number, the traveling direction measured every 5 minutes and the data of the number are stored. Is stored in the data memory (SRAM) (75).

Here, the measured value of the passerby (3
Since the total number of 5) can be calculated, the total number of passers-by (35) can be displayed on the LCD display section (41) by the select switch (47) as described above. Note that the data memory (SRAM) (7
The data of the traveling direction of the passer-by (35) and the number thereof stored in 5) are not erased for one week until the charging of the nickel-metal hydride batteries (65a) to (65c) is cut off.

Although the sensor element composed of the first element (57a) and the second element (57b) is used, any one of the first element (57a) and the second element (57b) is used. Or only one of them. Even in this case, the number of passers-by (35) can be measured.
Further, as described above, since the CPU (71) can calculate the total number of the measured passers-by (35), the sensor element (57) is
Even when the device is divided into the element (57a) and the second element (57b), counting the total number of passers-by (35) is included.

The sensor (30) and the sensor (31) are installed in a stand type as shown in FIG. 1, but may be installed in other ways such as a bracket type or a sticking type. You may. However, it goes without saying that the installation method that allows the sensor installation location to be changed has the above-described effects. Next, the data memory of the sensor (31) (SRA
M) A counting operation of counting the data of the traveling direction and the number of the passers-by (35) stored in (75) and the data of the total number of the passers-by (35) will be described.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a counting device for setting the above-described sensors and counting the stored data.
FIG. 10 is a view of the counting device of FIG.
9 is a view of the counting device of FIG. 8 as viewed from the X direction. The appearance will be described with reference to FIGS. First, FIG.
As shown in (1), the counting device (83) is provided with an LCD display section (85) and operation buttons (87). As shown in FIG. 9, an optical communication element (89) for transmitting data for performing setting by receiving an operation of the operation button (87) and receiving data to be totalized is provided in the totalizer (83). Is provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the tallying device (83) includes a data input / output connector (91) connected to the sensor (31) by a cable for setting and data collection, a power switch (93), Is provided.

In the first example of aggregation, the cable is connected to the real interface (51) and also to the data input / output connector (91), the power is turned on by the power switch (93), and the operation button (87) is operated. The data memory (SRA)
M) This is a method in which the data from (75) is compiled into a compiling device (83) via a cable. Since a plurality of sensors (31) may be used at the time of summing up this data, the sensor set by the ID number setting switch (45) is used together with the data stored in the data memory (SRAM) (75). The ID number of (31) is also sent to the counting device (83).

Since the data in the data memory (SRAM) (75) is stored for one week, the sensor (31) is used for six days in the facility, and the data is totaled on the seventh day when the sensor (31) is not used. be able to. This is because department stores have a break once a week, and data aggregation can be performed on the day of the holiday. Become.

The data input / output connector (91) can be used to connect the tabulated data to a device such as a personal computer and to further accumulate the tabulated data in a database. In addition, a system in which the counting device including the sensor and the counting device is further expanded can be provided. The second example of the tallying is the optical communication element (43) of the sensor (31) and the tallying device.
This is a method of performing optical communication with the optical communication element (89) of (83) and totalizing data from a data memory (SRAM) (75).

In this case, the same effect as that of the first example can be obtained, and further, there is an effect that no cable connection or the like is required and the data summarizing method is simple. In particular, when data is collected from a plurality of sensors, the simple aspect becomes remarkable. FIG. 11 shows the counting device (83) shown in FIGS. 8 to 10.
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing an internal configuration of the device.

Referring to FIG. 11, the internal configuration will be briefly described. The optical communication element (89) is connected to the I / O (95),
The I / O (95) is an LCD display unit (85), a CPU (97), an EEP
The ROM (99), the operation button (87), and the power switch (93) are connected. The CPU (97) is connected to an RTC (real time clock) (101), a data memory (SRAM) (103), and a driver (105). Driver (105)
Are connected to a data input / output connector (91).

Then, four NiCd batteries (107) each having a voltage of 1.2 V are provided with a power supply potential (VCC) through a converter (109) to supply power. As for the operation, first, it is assumed that the data memory (SRRAM) (103) and the EEPROM (99) have
Data necessary to perform the function of (83) is stored, and the power switch (93) is turned on and the operation button
By operating (87), totalization is performed by optical communication or via a cable. The collected data is CPU
Processed in (97), data memory (SRRAM) (103)
Is stored.

As described above, the sensor and the tallying device have been described. However, the data tallying device including the sensor and the tallying device is one system, and it is necessary to construct a system having both the effect of the sensor and the effect of the tallying device. It becomes possible. Further, as described above, the data collected by the tallying device can be stored in a database of a device such as a personal computer, and the system can be expanded.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which a sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided on one side of a passage near an entrance of a facility.

FIG. 2 is a front view of another sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a back view of the sensor of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the sensor of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram showing an internal configuration of the sensor of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a counting device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view of the counting device viewed from the IX direction in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view of the counting device viewed from the X direction in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram showing an internal configuration of the counting device of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a view showing a state in which infrared sensors, which are conventional horizontal sensors, are provided on both sides of a passage near an entrance of a facility, wherein a counter is connected to the infrared sensor, and It is a figure for explaining that a number is counted.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (30), (31) ... sensor (35) ... passerby (57) ... sensor element (57a) ... first element (57b) ... second element (65a) ... (65c) ... nickel-metal hydride battery (71) ... CPU (75) ... data memory (SRAM) (83) ... tabulator Note that the same reference numerals in each figure indicate the same or corresponding parts. .

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A sensor for receiving light and detecting the presence of a moving object, wherein the sensor element has a directivity for receiving light directed in a direction transverse to a traveling direction of the moving object. Measuring means for measuring the number of the moving bodies traversed from the light received by the element, storage means for storing data of the number of the traversing moving bodies measured by the measuring means, the sensor element, the measuring means and A power supply unit that supplies power to the storage unit by a battery. 2. The sensor element includes a first element and a second element, wherein the first element and the second element receive light according to a traveling direction of the moving body, The measuring means measures the traveling direction and the number of the moving body crossed from the light received by the first element and the second element in accordance with the traveling direction of the moving body, and the storage means comprises: 2. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein data of a traveling direction of the traversing moving object measured by a measuring means and the number of the moving directions are stored. 3. The sensor installation location can be changed.
Or the sensor according to 2. 4. A counting device that counts data stored in said storage means of any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The counting device according to claim 4, wherein the data stored in the storage unit of the sensor is counted by optical communication. 6. A data counting device, comprising: a sensor according to claim 1; and a counting device that counts data stored in the storage unit of the sensor. 7. The counting device according to claim 6, wherein the counting device counts data stored in the storage unit of the sensor by optical communication.
Data aggregation device as described.