JP6643221B2 - Elevator guidance device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to elevator guide apparatus that performs image guidance or voice guidance with respect to the elevator user.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a liquid crystal display has been standardly mounted in an elevator car, and is used not only as a floor display of the elevator car but also as a guide means for elevator users. In addition, the liquid crystal display has attracted attention as a guide means when a child uses an elevator.

  2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional technology related to an elevator guide device that performs guidance corresponding to a child in an elevator car using a liquid crystal display or the like, a technology described in Patent Literature 1 is known. In this technology, a height detection device for detecting the height is provided at a landing or a car, and when a main call registration device in the landing or the car is operated and input and the height detection device does not detect a human body, Is determined to be a child, and the kanji display on the liquid crystal display is changed to a hiragana display or a katakana display.

JP 2012-56690 A

  According to the above prior art, in Patent Literature 1, when the elevator user is a child, the liquid crystal display is changed to a hiragana display or a katakana display, so that the display can be easily understood by the child. However, in the above-mentioned prior art, there is a problem that no consideration is given to using the elevator of a child from the time the child gets on the elevator to the time the child gets off.

Therefore, the present invention provides an elevator guide device that enables a child to use an elevator smoothly and safely from getting on to getting off.

In order to solve the above problems, an elevator guidance device according to the present invention includes an image display or a sound output device in a car, and displays image guidance for an elevator user on an image display, or voice guidance for an elevator user. A camera for acquiring an image of the inside of the car, based on the image acquired by the camera, and determining whether the elevator user in the car is only a child. and, if it is determined that children only, at least one of the image guide or voice guidance, from the general guide for switching to the image guide or audio guiding children's children, if it is determined that an adult is present, the guide OTC to continue, until the drop-off from the children's ride, to display the children's image guided by the image display device, or audio guide for children Output from the audio output unit, when getting off the child to detect the orientation of the child's gaze or face from the image, a child on the basis of the detected orientation is determined whether gazing at the image display device, gazing If it is determined that the information guidance has been provided, the time until switching to the general guidance is extended, and the display of the child image guidance is continued .

  According to the elevator guide device of the present invention, when a child gets on the elevator, during the period from the child's getting on to getting off, the child's image guidance is displayed on the image display, and the child's voice guidance is output from the audio output device. By outputting the information, the child can use the elevator smoothly and safely from getting on to getting off.

  Further, according to the image guide device of the present invention, the child can easily understand the guide information.

  Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be apparent from the following description of the embodiments.

1 shows a schematic configuration of an elevator apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. It is the front view which looked at the car door side in the car. 2 shows means for detecting a user in the car. 4 shows an example of image guidance displayed on a liquid crystal display. It is a functional block diagram showing a schematic structure of an elevator guidance device. It is a flowchart which shows the determination processing operation | movement of a user. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation | movement in a child exclusive guidance mode.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each of the drawings, components having the same reference numerals indicate the same components or components having similar functions.

  FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention, and shows a schematic configuration of an elevator apparatus including an elevator guide device.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the car 1 and the counterweight 5 are connected by a main rope 8. The main rope 8 is wound around the pulley 6 and the sheave 7, and the car 1 and the counterweight 5 are suspended in a hoistway (not shown). When the rotation of the motor 10 to which the sheave 7 is attached is controlled by the elevator control device 9, the sheave 7 is driven to rotate. When the sheave 7 rotates, the main rope 8 is driven by friction. Thereby, the car 1 and the counterweight 5 move up and down in the hoistway.

  The car 1 is provided with a car door 4 that opens and closes left and right in FIG. Further, the car 1 has a camera 2 for acquiring an image of an elevator user (hereinafter, referred to as "user") riding in the car, a destination floor registered, and a car door opened and closed. The operation panel 3 includes operation buttons for operating the elevator, such as operating the elevator.

  As described later, in the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not the user who gets in the car is a child (infant, child) based on the image acquired by the camera 2. When it is determined that the child is a child, image guidance and voice guidance in the car are switched from general use to child use.

  The car 1 and the elevator control device 9 are connected by a tail cord 11. Each device included in the car 1 is controlled by the elevator control device 9 via the tail cord 11 or supplied with electric power from the elevator control device 9.

  FIG. 2 is a front view of the car 1 as viewed from the car door 4 side. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 3 includes a liquid crystal display 3a for displaying image guidance for a user in the car 1, a speaker 3b for outputting voice guidance and the like, and a plurality of registers for registering a car call. A destination floor button 3c is provided. The liquid crystal display 3a also displays the position information of the car, and also functions as a so-called CPI (Car Position Indicator). The configuration of the operation panel 3 and its position in the car are the same as those of a general operation panel. Therefore, the liquid crystal display 3a is located at such a height that a child (infant, child) or a wheelchair user looks up. That is, the elevation angle between the line of sight of the child (infant, child) and the wheelchair user when viewing the display screen of the liquid crystal display 3a and the floor of the car is larger than the angle of elevation of the line of sight of ordinary adolescents and adults.

  In the present embodiment, as described later, the image guidance is displayed in consideration of the child's gaze as described above.

  The operation panel 3 may include, as operation buttons, a door opening / closing button and an emergency call button in addition to the destination floor button. In addition, the operation panel 3 in FIG. 2 is provided as a main operation panel, and a sub operation panel having operation buttons such as destination floor buttons is provided at a position lower than the main operation panel for children and wheelchair users. May be.

  FIG. 3 shows a means for detecting a user in the car in the present embodiment.

  The guidance device according to the present embodiment determines whether or not the user is a child based on the number of heads and bodies of the user as follows.

  When the user gets into the car 1, the camera 2 acquires the image data of the user. By performing image processing on the acquired image data, the position of the shoulder is obtained from the unevenness of the user's head and shoulder. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a distance A from the position of the shoulder to the top of the head and a distance B from the position of the shoulder to the toe are extracted, and the head is calculated using a predetermined mathematical expression “(B + A) / A”. The number is calculated. Then, the guide device determines that the user is a child if the calculated number of heads is within the range of the number of children's heads stored in advance, and if not, the user is not a child. Judge as young or adult. As will be described later, the form of image guidance or voice guidance (for general use or for children) is set according to such a determination result.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of image guidance displayed on the liquid crystal display 3a. In the figure, the left side is for general use and the right side is for children.

  In the image guidance for children, the rectangular display area including the display of the guide information (character information in FIG. 3) and the background display is wider as it goes upward in the height direction. That is, the display area has a trapezoidal shape in which the upper side (upper bottom) is longer than the lower side (lower bottom). In accordance with the change in the width of the display area, the guidance information display contents (characters in FIG. 3) are also deformed (deformed) from general use to child use. With such image guidance for children, the visibility of image guidance can be improved when a child who is shorter than ordinary adolescents and adults looks at the display screen at a larger elevation angle than ordinary adolescents and adults. improves.

  The guidance information is not limited to character information, and various forms of information such as pictures, symbols, and figures can be applied.

  In FIG. 4, for comparison, the character information in the image guidance for general use includes only kana characters (hiragana and katakana) as in the case of children, but kanji and kana characters may be mixed. However, for children, character information of only kana characters is preferable. In this case, if the user is determined to be a child based on the camera image, and the image guidance displayed on the liquid crystal display is switched from general use to child use, the character information of mixed Kanji and Kana characters will have the same meaning.・ It switches to character information of only kana characters in the content.

  FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the elevator guide device according to the present embodiment. The elevator guidance device shown in FIG. 5 functions as an image guidance device and a voice guidance device.

  The processing device 20 inputs and captures the image data of the user in the car acquired by the camera 2 and performs image processing on the captured image data to determine whether the user is a child. Unless a child user is detected, the processing device 20 always retrieves general guidance information (image guidance information, voice guidance information) stored in advance in the storage device 21, and outputs the general image guidance information. Is displayed as an image on the liquid crystal display 3a (LCD), and voice guidance information is output as voice through the speaker 3b.

  Further, when determining that the user is a child, the processing device 20 switches the guide information from general use to child use. At this time, the processing device 20 extracts the child guidance information (image guidance information, voice guidance information) stored in the storage device 21 before the child gets on the vehicle and gets off the vehicle, and retrieves the child guidance information. The image guidance information is displayed as an image on the liquid crystal display 3a (LCD), and the voice guidance information is output as voice through the speaker 3b. After the child gets off, the processing device 20 switches the guidance information from the child information to the general information.

  In the present embodiment, the storage device 21 previously stores image guidance information for children as shown in FIG. 4 (right side) as guidance information for children. In addition, the storage device 21 stores in advance voice guidance information for children, which has the same meaning as that for general use, uses simpler expressions than general use, and is easy for children to listen to and understand.

  Here, the elevation angle of the line of sight of the child toward the liquid crystal display 3a differs depending on the position of the child in the car. Therefore, by changing the size and shape of the display area when displaying the guidance information for the child on the liquid crystal display 3a in accordance with the position of the child, the visibility of the child in the car is independent of the position of the child. Is improved. In this case, the camera 2 acquires images of the child and the entire car floor. The processing device 20 performs image processing on this image to specify the position of the child on the floor of the car. The processing device 20 deforms the display shape of the reference image guidance information for children or the image guidance information for general use, which is stored in the storage device 21 in advance, in accordance with the specified position of the child. The image guidance information is displayed as an image on the liquid crystal display 3a. For example, in the case of the image guidance information shown in FIG. 4, the ratio between the upper side and the lower side of the rectangular shape for general use or the trapezoidal shape for children is changed according to the position of the child.

  The processing device 20 may determine the distance between the liquid crystal display 3a and the child based on the image of the camera 2, and may change the display shape of the image guidance information according to such distance information. In this case, the processing device 20 determines whether or not the elevator user who browses the liquid crystal display 3a is a child at predetermined time intervals from when the elevator user gets on the vehicle to when the user gets off the vehicle, and The above distance information is acquired, and the display shape is deformed based on the information while the elevator user is a child and the distance between the liquid crystal display 3a and the child is equal to or less than a predetermined value. .

  Further, the elevation angle of the line of sight of the child toward the liquid crystal display 3a also differs depending on the height of the child in the car. Therefore, the height of the child is specified by performing image processing on the image of the child obtained by the camera 2. The processing device 20 similarly changes the display shape of the image guidance information for children or the image guidance information for general use as a reference stored in the storage device 21 in advance according to the specified height. This improves the visibility of the child in the car, regardless of the height of the child.

  In the present embodiment, the processing device 20 is configured by an arithmetic processing device such as a microcomputer, and functions as the above-described elevator guide device by executing a predetermined program and performing a processing operation. Further, the storage device 21 is configured by a semiconductor memory or the like. Such an elevator guide device is incorporated in the elevator control device or mounted on the car 1. In the processing operation, the processing device 20 may appropriately receive and use elevator operation information (call registration, traveling and stopping, door opening / closing, and the like) from the elevator control device 9 and the like.

  Next, the processing operation of the processing device 20 in the elevator guidance device will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the notation “guidance” is synonymous with “guidance”.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a user determination processing operation by the processing device 20.

  In step S101, it is determined whether there is no user in the car 1 or not, based on an image acquired by the camera 2. For example, it is possible to determine whether or not the vehicle is unmanned by comparing the acquired image with an image in the car 1 in an unmanned state stored in the storage device 21 in advance. When it is determined that the vehicle is not unmanned (N in S101), the process proceeds to step S102, and the elevator performs a normal operation until the vehicle is unmanned. When the vehicle is unmanned, the process returns to step S101.

  If it is determined in step S101 that the user is unmanned (Y in S101), the process proceeds to step S103, and it is determined whether the user has pressed the call button (not shown) of the hall. If it is determined that the button has not been pressed (N in S103), the process proceeds to step S104, and the elevator stands by without any driver. If it is determined that the user has pressed the hall call button (Y in S103), the process proceeds to step S105, and the elevator arrives at the hall call registration floor according to the user's call registration, and the car door 4 (door). Opens. After the car door 4 is opened, the process proceeds to step S <b> 106, and when the user gets into the car 1, the camera 2 detects the user's entry.

  Next, in step S107, the height and the number of heads of the user are analyzed by image processing based on the image of the user acquired by the camera 2. As a means for analyzing the height of the user, a known image processing technique can be applied. If a stereo camera is used as the camera 2, three-dimensional information of the user can be obtained, so that the height can be analyzed with high accuracy.

  Next, in step S108, it is determined whether the height is equal to or less than a predetermined fixed value. Here, the predetermined value is a height value serving as a reference for determining that the user is a child. When it is determined that the value is not the constant value (that is, greater than the constant value) (N in S108), the process proceeds to step S113, where it is determined that the user has an adult. Continue with normal guidance using guidance information. When it is determined that the height is equal to or less than the predetermined value (Y in S108), the process proceeds to step S109.

  In step S109, it is determined whether the number of heads is less than or equal to a certain value. Here, the number of children's heads and bodies varies depending on the age, but is generally five or less. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the fixed value of the number of heads as the determination reference in step S109 is set to five heads. If the number of heads analyzed from the camera image exceeds five (N in S109), the process proceeds to step S113, where it is determined that the user has an adult, and further proceeds to step S114 to provide general guidance information. Continue with normal guidance using. When it is determined that the number of heads is five or less (Y in S109), the process proceeds to step S110.

  In step S110, it is determined whether another user other than the user determined to be a child has boarded the car 1 based on the acquired camera image. If it is determined that there is another user (Y in S110), the process returns to step S107, and the subsequent processing is executed again to determine whether the other user is also a child. When it is determined that there is no other user (N in S110), the process proceeds to step S111, in which it is determined that the user in the car 1 is only a child. Execute the child-specific guidance mode using the guidance information.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the processing operation of the processing device 20 in the guidance system for the child in the elevator guidance device.

  First, in step S201, the guidance mode exclusively for children is started.

Next, in step S202, character information (display text) to be image-displayed on the liquid crystal display 3a is converted into hiragana and katakana,
Next, in step S203, the character font is converted from a general font to a deformed font as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, these character conversions are executed by switching the character information from general use to child use as described above. Thereby, the visibility of the liquid crystal display 3a by a short child improves. That is, the character information displayed as an image becomes easy for the child to see and understand.

  Next, in step S204, guidance during boarding is performed from the time the child gets on the board to the time the door closes. For example, a guide for a simple expression for children such as "I'll do hiragana for everyone," is displayed on the liquid crystal display 3a as character information of only hiragana, and the speaker 3b uses the speaker 3b as audio information. Make a voice announcement. This will attract the child's attention. At this time, an image such as a matching picture may be simultaneously displayed on the liquid crystal display 3a.

  Next, in step S205, it is determined whether the destination floor button 3c has been pressed and a destination floor call has been registered. When it is determined that it has not been registered (N in S205), the process proceeds to step S206. In step S206, guidance is provided to prompt the user to press the destination floor button 3c of the destination floor that is the destination. For example, using the liquid crystal display 3a and the speaker 3b in the same manner as in step S204, a simple guidance such as "Let's push Yutaka Ikai, please put it on the floor" is displayed as an image and voice announcement is made. After step S206 is performed, the process returns to step S205. If it is determined that the destination floor call has been registered (S205), the process proceeds to step S207.

  In step S207, the elevator moves to the destination floor where the destination floor call is registered. At this time, as in the next step S208, while moving to the destination floor, guidance for giving a warning when getting off the elevator is performed. For example, using the liquid crystal display 3a and the speaker 3b in the same manner as in step S204, a simple guidance such as "Please go to Ashimoto" is displayed as an image and an audio announcement is made.

  After alerting in step S208, the elevator arrives at the destination floor and the car door 4 is opened as in the next step S209. After the car door 4 is opened, the process proceeds to step S210.

  In step S210, it is determined whether the child is gazing at the screen of the liquid crystal display 3a. In this determination, the direction of the child's line of sight or the face is detected by performing image processing on the image acquired by the camera 2, and it is assumed that the child is gazing if the detected direction is directed to the liquid crystal display 3a. If you are not facing, you are not watching. Note that the direction of the line of sight is detected based on, for example, the positional relationship of each part of the eye (the inner part of the eye (reference point), the iris). When it is determined that the user is gazing (Y in S210), the process proceeds to step S212, in which the time until the guide information is switched to the general information is extended, and the image display of the child getting-off guidance in step S208 is continued. Then, the process returns to step S210. When it is determined that the child is not watching the screen of the liquid crystal display 3a (N in S210), the process proceeds to step S211.

  In step S211, it is determined whether the child has exited the elevator. When it is determined that the vehicle has not been dismounted (N in S211), the process proceeds to step S212, and waits for dismounting. If it is determined that the child has exited (Y in S211), the process proceeds to step S213, and the child-specific guidance mode ends.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the child gets on the elevator, the child's image guidance is displayed on the liquid crystal display, that is, the image display, from the child's getting on to the getting off, and the child's image is displayed. By outputting the voice guidance from a speaker, that is, a voice output device, the child can easily understand the guidance information. Therefore, the child can use the elevator smoothly and safely from getting on to getting off.

  Further, in this embodiment, when the user who gets on the car is only a child, guidance information for the child is set, so that the degree of security for the child is improved, and when an adult or a young person rides together, Adult and adolescent passengers will not be concerned about over-service to their children. Note that when importance is placed on the kindness of a child, guidance information for a child may be set even when an adult or a young person is on board.

  In addition, the elevator guide device of the present embodiment functions as an image guide device. However, the display area of the image guide displayed on the liquid crystal display, that is, the image display is wider as it is higher in the height direction, and the display area is larger. Guidance information such as character information is transformed according to the change in width. Thereby, the visibility when the child looks up at the image display is improved. Such image guidance is not limited to children, and can also improve the visibility when a low-sighted person who has a lower line of sight than a standing adult, such as a wheelchair user or an adolescent, looks up at the image display. .

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the described configurations. Further, for a part of the configuration of each embodiment, it is possible to add, delete, or replace another configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Car 2 ... Camera 3 ... Operation panel 3a ... Liquid crystal display 3b ... Speaker 3c ... Destination floor button 4 ... Car door 5 ... Balance weight 6 ... Pulley 7 ... Sheave 8 ... Main rope 9 ... Elevator control device 10 ... Motor 11 tail code 20 processing device 21 storage device

Claims (5)

An elevator guidance device comprising a car having an image display or a voice output device, displaying image guidance for an elevator user on the image display, or outputting voice guidance for the elevator user from the voice output device. ,
A camera for acquiring an image of the inside of the car,
Based on the image obtained by the camera, determine whether the elevator user riding the car is only a child or an adult ,
If it is determined that there is only a child, at least one of the image guidance or the voice guidance is switched from general guidance to child image guidance or child voice guidance, and if it is determined that there is an adult, the general Continue guidance,
During the time from the ride of the child to getting off, the image guidance for the child is displayed on the image display, or the audio guidance for the child is output from the audio output device ,
When the child gets off, the gaze or face direction of the child is detected from the image, and it is determined whether or not the child is gazing at the image display based on the detected direction. The elevator guidance device , wherein if determined, the display of the child image guidance is continued by extending the time until switching to the general guidance. The elevator guide device according to claim 1,
When the image display is provided,
An elevator guidance apparatus, wherein the child image guidance is modified such that the guidance information becomes wider as the display area becomes higher in the height direction. The elevator guide device according to claim 2,
Specifying a position of the child on the floor of the car based on the image, and changing a ratio of a width of an upper part to a lower part of the display area in a height direction according to the position of the child. An elevator guide device characterized by the above-mentioned. The elevator guide device according to claim 1,
When comprising the image display and the audio output device,
The guide information displayed by the child image guide is character information consisting of only kana characters,
The voice guidance for children is expressed more plainly than the voice guidance for general use, and is provided between the time the child gets on and the door closes, and the time the child arrives at the destination floor and the door opens. An elevator guidance device for providing predetermined voice guidance. The elevator guide device according to claim 1,
Based on the image acquired by the camera, measure the height and head of the elevator user riding the car, based on at least one of the measured height or the head, the elevator user An elevator guide device for determining whether a child is only a child.

Images