JP2004010303A - User detection device for elevator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a user detection device for an elevator securing usefulness for a handicapped person and improving operation efficiency of the elevator. <P>SOLUTION: This device comprises a camera 11 picking up images of a user 2 at a landing 1, a user recognizing device 12 processing an image picked up by the camera 11 and determining whether the user is a healthy person or a handicapped person, notification devices 18, 20 notifying the user of completion of determination of the user, and an operation controller 31 switching between a normal operation mode and a handicapped person operation mode according to the determination results of the user recognizing device 12. The user recognizing device 12 recognizes presence of a moving body in a specific passing route and calculates a moving direction and a moving speed of the moving body on the basis of a move locus of the moving body every time after passing a predetermined time, and it determines whether the moving body is a handicapped person. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an elevator user detection device that detects a user using a camera installed at a landing, and more particularly to reliably detect a user traveling on a specific traffic route (a visually impaired person guiding block). Thus, the present invention relates to an elevator user detection device that accurately distinguishes between a healthy person and a disabled person, secures the convenience and safety of a visually impaired person, and improves the operation efficiency of the elevator.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, in a conventional elevator passenger detection device, for example, when a visually impaired person uses the function, the door opening time is extended so that the door opening time can be extended so that the disabled person can use the device without hassle. Is provided.
[0003]
However, such a function of extending the door opening time of an elevator is effective to ensure the convenience and safety of persons with disabilities, but on the other hand, the door opening time is also available when general passengers get on and off. Since the time is extended, the waiting time becomes longer and the operation efficiency is reduced.
[0004]
Therefore, in order to completely solve the above-mentioned problem, conventionally, as referred to in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-212833, a captured image of a camera installed in a hall is processed to allow a passenger in the hall to be a general customer. There has been proposed a user recognition device that discriminates between a (normal person) and a disabled person (such as a wheelchair user and a Matsuba user) to determine whether the door opening time needs to be extended.
[0005]
However, according to the customer recognition device described in the above-mentioned publication, since it relies only on image information, it is possible to determine when the appearance is clearly different from a general user, such as a wheelchair user. However, in the case where the external shape is not distinctive, for example, a visually impaired person only carries the rod, it is not possible to accurately determine the difference from a general user.
[0006]
Conversely, for example, when a general user carries a stick-shaped object such as an umbrella, the general user may be erroneously determined as a disabled person, and it is not possible to sufficiently achieve the reliability of the determination result. Can not.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, the conventional elevator user detection device has a problem that if priority is given to convenience for the disabled and the door opening time is extended, the waiting time becomes longer for general users and the operating efficiency is reduced. There was a point.
[0008]
Further, for example, in the case of the conventional apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-212833, since only the image information is used, if the appearance is not characteristic, the difference between a general user and a disabled person Cannot be accurately determined, and cannot be determined with high reliability.
[0009]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and accurately distinguishes a healthy person from a disabled person to ensure the convenience and safety of a visually impaired person and to improve the operation efficiency of the elevator. It is an object of the present invention to obtain an elevator user detection device capable of improving the following.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An elevator user detection device according to the present invention includes a camera installed at an elevator hall and imaging a user present at the hall, a specific traffic route installed at the hall that can be recognized by a disabled person, and an image captured by the camera. A user recognition device that processes the processed image to determine whether the user is a healthy person or a disabled person, a notification device that notifies the user that the determination of the user is completed, and a user recognition device A driving control device that switches the operation mode of the elevator to the normal driving mode or the disabled driving mode in accordance with the determination result by the passenger recognition device. The moving direction and the moving speed of the moving object are calculated based on the movement trajectory every time a predetermined time elapses, and it is determined that the moving object is a disabled person.
[0011]
In addition, a passenger recognition device based on a passenger detection device for an elevator according to the present invention prohibits the determination of a disabled person when a plurality of customers having a predetermined value or more are detected on a specific traffic route.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiment 1 FIG.
Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state in which a walking passenger trying to get on an elevator is viewed from a side.
[0013]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an elevator hall, 2 denotes a user walking on the hall 1, 3 denotes a hall door that is opened and closed at the hall 1, and 4 denotes an elevator car located at the hall 1.
In the passage of the landing 1, a specific traffic route (such as a passage in which a visually impaired person guiding block is laid) that can be recognized by a disabled person is installed.
[0014]
Reference numeral 5 denotes a hall call registration device provided on the side wall of the hall 1. As is well known, a hall button for general users, a hall button for wheelchair users, an indicator, a direction light indicating an operation direction of the car 4 and the like. Is incorporated. Each hall button is provided with a Braille nameplate.
[0015]
Reference numeral 11 denotes a camera installed on the ceiling of the hall 1, which is composed of an imaging device including an image sensor such as an artificial retinal chip, and images a user existing in the hall 1.
Reference numeral 12 denotes a customer recognition device that captures an image captured by the camera 11, and includes an image processing unit 13, a customer determination unit 14, a specific area moving body determination unit 15, a movement direction / speed determination unit 16, a transmission control unit 17 And
[0016]
The image processing unit 13 processes the captured image captured from the camera 11 and compares the captured image with image information (previously stored as a background image) when a waiting person is not present, thereby extracting a characteristic portion from the captured image. I do.
[0017]
The specific area moving body determination unit 15 determines whether or not a moving body is present in the vicinity of a specific passage for a disabled person within the imaging range of the camera 11.
The moving direction / speed determining unit 16 calculates the moving direction and the moving speed of the moving object based on the motion trajectory of the moving object at regular time intervals, and calculates the moving speed and the moving speed of the visually handicapped person (a predetermined speed stored in advance). It is determined whether or not the user is moving to the entrance of the elevator.
[0018]
The customer determining unit 14 determines a user based on the characteristic part extracted by the image processing unit 13, the determination result of the specific area moving body determining unit 15, and the determination result of the moving direction / speed determining unit 16. .
[0019]
Note that, when a plurality of moving objects (customers) having a predetermined value or more are detected in the vicinity of the specific traffic route, the specific area moving object determination unit 15 in the customer recognition device 12 invalidates the determination result and disables the disabled person. Is prohibited.
[0020]
The transmission control unit 17 sends the determination result of the customer determination unit 14 to the communication bus 30.
Various control devices 19, 21 and 31 are connected to the communication bus 30.
19 is a display control device, 21 is a broadcast control device, and 31 is an operation control device for controlling the entire elevator system.
[0021]
Reference numeral 18 denotes a display device such as a lamp or a display installed in the hall 1, which is driven by the display control device 19 and displays display data transmitted under the control of the operation control device 31.
Reference numeral 20 denotes an announcement device installed on the landing 1, which is driven by the broadcast control device 21 and emits broadcast data transmitted under the control of the operation control device 31.
[0022]
The operation control device 31 includes a transmission control unit 32, an operation mode selection unit 33, and an operation control unit 34.
[0023]
The transmission control unit 32, the display control device 19, the broadcast control device 21, and the hall call registration device 5 are connected to the transmission control unit 32 via the communication bus 30.
[0024]
As a result, the operation control device 31 takes in the user information from the transmission control unit 17 and the hall call from the hall call registration device 5, and controls data transmission to the display control device 19 and the broadcast control device 21.
[0025]
The operation mode selection unit 33 switches the operation mode of the elevator to the normal operation mode or the disabled operation mode according to the customer information.
The operation control unit 34 controls the operation of the elevator according to the selected operation mode.
[0026]
FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing the landing 1 on which the elevator is installed. The same components as those described above (see FIG. 1) are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described in detail.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 6 denotes an entrance of a building, and reference numeral 7 denotes a specific traffic route (guidance block) for a disabled person. The specific passage route 7 is laid from the entrance 6 to the front of the entrance of the elevator in order to guide the visually impaired.
[0027]
Next, the operation of the customer recognition device 12 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 together with FIG. 1 and FIG.
First, the image processing unit 13 processes a captured image of the hall 1 captured from the camera 11 (Step S1).
[0028]
That is, the captured image is compared with the image information when the waiting customer is absent, and the characteristic portion of the captured image is extracted.
Subsequently, the specific area moving body determination unit 15 determines whether there is a moving body in the specific area based on the feature extracted by the image processing unit 13 and determines whether a waiting customer exists before the entrance. (Step S2).
[0029]
In step S2, if it is determined that there is a waiting passenger before the entrance / exit (that is, Yes), then the passenger determination unit 14 determines whether a wheelchair has been detected, and determines that the waiting passenger is in a wheelchair. It is determined whether the user is a user (step S3).
[0030]
If it is determined in step S3 that a wheelchair has been detected (that is, Yes), the customer determination unit 14 outputs a wheelchair detection signal (step S4), and it is determined that a wheelchair has not been detected (that is, No). If so, a healthy person detection signal is output (step S5), and the process proceeds to step S6.
[0031]
The wheelchair detection signal or the healthy person detection signal is transmitted to the driving control device 31 via the transmission control unit 17.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that there is no waiting passenger before the entrance / exit (that is, No), the process immediately proceeds to step S6 without executing steps S3 to S5.
[0032]
Subsequently, the specific area moving body determination unit 15 determines whether or not the moving body exists near the specific traffic route 7 (step S6). If it is determined that the moving body does not exist (that is, No), the following is performed. Since no processing is required, the process immediately returns to step S1.
[0033]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S6 that a moving object exists (that is, Yes), it is then determined whether the number of detected moving objects is equal to or less than a predetermined value (a preset threshold value) (step S7). If it is determined that the number of detected moving objects is larger than the predetermined value (that is, No), the process returns to step S1 without executing the following processing in order to avoid an erroneous determination due to an excessive number of customers.
[0034]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S7 that the number of detected moving objects is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value (that is, Yes), the moving direction / speed determining unit 16 then moves the detected moving object at regular intervals. Then, the moving direction and the moving speed of the moving object are calculated (step S8).
[0035]
Next, based on the moving direction and the moving speed of the moving object, the moving direction / speed determining unit 16 determines whether the moving object is moving toward the entrance at or below a predetermined speed (the walking speed of the visually impaired). (Step S9).
[0036]
In step S9, if it is determined that the moving direction of the moving object is not on the entrance side or that the moving speed is higher than the predetermined speed (that is, No), the moving object is regarded as a healthy person, and the process proceeds to step S1. Return.
[0037]
On the other hand, in Step S9, if it is determined that the moving direction of the moving object is the entrance / exit side and the moving speed is equal to or lower than the predetermined speed (that is, Yes), the moving object is regarded as a visually impaired person. Then, the distance from the position of the moving object to the entrance is calculated, and it is determined whether the distance to the entrance is equal to or less than a predetermined distance (step S10).
[0038]
If it is determined in step S10 that the distance to the entrance is greater than the predetermined distance (that is, No), the process immediately returns to step S1 because no special processing for the disabled is required.
[0039]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S10 that the distance to the entrance is equal to or less than the predetermined distance (that is, Yes), the visually impaired person is sufficiently close to the entrance, and therefore the customer determination unit 14 A visually impaired person detection signal is output to the driving control device 31 via the transmission control unit 17 (step S11), and the processing routine in FIG. 3 ends.
[0040]
Next, the operation of the operation control device 31 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 together with FIG. 1 and FIG.
First, the driving mode selection unit 33 in the driving control unit 31 receives the determination results (normal person detection signal, wheelchair detection signal, visually impaired person detection signal) from the customer determination unit 14 via the transmission control unit 32. It is determined whether or not a waiting customer is detected based on whether or not it has been performed (step S21).
[0041]
If it is determined in step S21 that a waiting customer has been detected (that is, Yes) based on the input of the determination result from the customer recognition device 12, subsequently, the hall call registration device on the floor where the waiting customer has been detected. It is determined from step 5 whether a hall call has been registered (detected) (step S22).
[0042]
If it is determined in step S22 that the hall call is not registered (that is, No), the operation control unit 34 drives the display device 18 and the announcement device 20 via the display control device 19 and the broadcast control device 21. Then, a notification prompting registration of a hall call on the waiting passenger detection floor is notified (step S23), and the process returns to step S1.
[0043]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S22 that the hall call is registered (that is, Yes), subsequently, it is determined whether the detected waiting customer is a visually impaired person or a wheelchair user (step S22). S24).
[0044]
If it is determined in step S24 that the waiting customer is a visually impaired person or a wheelchair user (that is, Yes), the driving control unit 34 drives the display device 18 and the announcement device 20 to determine that the person is a disabled person. It notifies that the normal mode is completed and the driving mode for the disabled is selected (step S25).
[0045]
Subsequently, the operation control unit 34 executes the control when the operation mode for the physically handicapped is selected (step S26) by executing extension control of the door opening time, low speed control of the door closing speed, and the like (Step S26). End the routine.
[0046]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S24 that the waiting customer is a healthy person (that is, No), the driving control unit 34 drives the display device 18 and the announcement device 20 to indicate that the normal driving mode has been selected. A notification is issued (step S27), elevator control when the normal operation mode is selected is executed (step S28), and the processing routine of FIG. 4 ends.
[0047]
As described above, in the customer recognition device 12, by providing the specific area moving body determination unit 15 and the movement direction / speed determination unit 16 related to the customer determination unit 14, a healthy person and a disabled person (wheelchair user) can be distinguished. In addition to the determination, the visually impaired person can be reliably recognized. Therefore, the convenience and safety of the visually impaired can be ensured, and the operating efficiency of the elevator can be improved.
[0048]
In addition, when a plurality of passengers having a predetermined value or more are detected on a specific traffic route, the identification of a disabled person is prohibited, so that when the elevator hall 1 is congested, the visually impaired person can be mistaken. Since the recognition is avoided, the operation efficiency of the elevator is not deteriorated.
[0049]
In the first embodiment, only one camera 11 is installed in the hall 1. However, any number of cameras 11 may be installed.
In this case, even if the height of the ceiling of the hall 1 is lower than the field of view of the camera, an imaging range can be secured by a plurality of cameras.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a camera installed at an elevator hall to image a passenger present at the hall, a specific traffic route installed at the hall and recognizable by a disabled person, and an image captured by the camera A user recognition device that processes the image that has been processed to determine whether the user is a healthy person or a disabled person, an information device that notifies the user that the determination of the user has been completed, and a user recognition device. An operation control device that switches the operation mode of the elevator to the normal operation mode or the disabled person operation mode according to the determination result, and the user recognition device recognizes the presence or absence of the moving object on the specific traffic route, and The moving direction and the moving speed of the moving body are calculated based on the movement trajectory every predetermined time, and it is determined that the moving body is a disabled person. Obstacle While securing the convenience and safety of users, elevator passengers detecting device capable of improving the operation efficiency of the elevator is the effect obtained.
[0051]
Further, according to the present invention, when a plurality of customers having a predetermined value or more are detected on a specific traffic route, the user recognition device prohibits the determination of a disabled person. There is an effect that an elevator user detection device that can improve the operation efficiency of the elevator by avoiding the other is obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing a specific traffic route according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a user determination operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation mode selection control operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 hall, 2 passengers, 4 basket, 5 hall call registration device, 7 specific traffic route, 11 camera, 12 customer recognition device, 13 image processing unit, 14 user judgment unit, 15 specific area moving body judgment unit, 16 movement Direction / speed determination unit, 18 display device, 19 display control device, 20 announcement device, 21 broadcast control device, 30 communication bus, 31 operation control device, 33 operation mode selection unit, 34 operation control unit.

Claims (2)

A camera installed at the landing of the elevator and imaging a user present at the landing,
A specific traffic route that is installed at the landing and can be recognized by a disabled person,
A user recognition device that processes an image captured by the camera and determines that the user is a healthy person or the disabled person,
A notification device that notifies the user that the determination of the user has been completed,
An operation control device that switches an operation mode of the elevator to a normal operation mode or a disabled person operation mode according to a determination result by the customer recognition device,
The user recognition device recognizes the presence or absence of a moving object on the specific traffic route, and calculates a moving direction and a moving speed of the moving object based on a movement trajectory of the moving object every elapse of a predetermined time, and the moving object is An elevator passenger detection device for determining that a person is disabled. The use of the elevator according to claim 1, wherein the customer recognition device prohibits the determination of the disabled person when a plurality of customers having a predetermined value or more are detected on the specific traffic route. Customer detection device.

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