JP6806195B2 - Information acquisition department and destination floor registration device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information acquisition unit for acquiring user information and a destination floor registration device provided with the information acquisition unit.

Patent Document 1 discloses a call registration device for registering a destination floor call of an elevator when a visually impaired person uses the elevator. The call registration device of Patent Document 1 sequentially starts notification by voice guidance on the floor where the elevator car can be stopped when the destination floor registration button for the visually impaired is pressed. According to the call registration device of Patent Document 1, when the visually impaired person presses the above registration button again when the destination floor is notified, the floor notified by voice is registered as the destination floor call of the elevator car. To.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-188343

An object of the present invention is to provide an information acquisition unit and a destination floor registration device that are easy for users such as visually impaired people to use.

In one aspect of the present invention, an information acquisition unit for acquiring user information indicating a user is provided. The information acquisition unit has a contact surface that contacts a recording medium on which user information is recorded, and is composed of a reader that reads user information from the recording medium through the contact surface, and has a plurality of convex portions on the contact surface. Is provided.

Further, in one aspect of the present invention, the above information acquisition unit and a group management control device that manages elevators operating over a plurality of floors are provided with a communication unit that transmits destination floor information indicating the destination floor. A destination floor registration device is provided. The destination floor registration device registers the destination floor of the elevator user in the group management control device based on the user information acquired by the information acquisition unit.

According to the information acquisition unit and the destination floor registration device according to the present invention, it can be easily used by users such as visually impaired people.

Schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the elevator system according to the first embodiment. Diagram for explaining the destination floor registration device in the elevator group management system Block diagram showing the configuration of an elevator group management system Block diagram showing the configuration of the destination floor registration device in this system Block diagram showing the configuration of the unit control device in this system Flow chart showing the destination floor registration process by the destination floor registration device A flowchart showing the remaining destination floor registration process following the destination floor registration process of FIG. The figure which shows the display example of the display part in the destination floor registration process of FIG. The figure which shows the display example of the display part in the destination floor registration process of FIG. Flow chart showing elevator allocation processing by the group management controller

The destination floor registration device, the elevator group management system, and the elevator system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each of the following embodiments, the same reference numerals are given to the same components.

(Embodiment 1)
1-1. Outline of the elevator system An outline of the elevator system according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an arrangement of an elevator system according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the elevator system according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of elevators 1A to 1F, destination floor registration devices 2A and 2B, and hall speakers 3A and 3B. The group management system of elevators comprehensively controls the running and operation of elevators (Units A to F; hereinafter appropriately referred to as "Units") 1A to 1F. In this embodiment, as an example, six elevators 1A to 1F of Units A to F are provided. The entrances and exits of each elevator 1A to 1F are provided in the elevator hall, and users get on and off the elevators 1A to 1F from the elevator hall.

The elevator group management system according to this embodiment adopts a destination floor registration method. The destination floor registration method is a method in which the destination floor, which is the target floor of the user, is registered in advance before the user gets on the elevators 1A to 1F. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the destination floor registration devices 2A and 2B are installed near the entrance of the elevator hall. Hereinafter, the destination floor registration devices 2A and 2B may be collectively referred to as "destination floor registration device 2".

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a destination floor registration device in this system. FIG. 2A shows the appearance of the destination floor registration device 2. The destination floor registration device 2 includes a card reader 21, a display unit 22, a touch panel 23, a push button 24, and an audio output unit 25. In the destination floor registration device 2, the user performs an operation of designating the destination floor by performing personal authentication using the card reader 21 or touching the touch panel 23 based on the display of the display unit 22. Then, in this system, the destination floor designated by the destination floor registration device 2 is assigned to any one of the plurality of elevators 1A to 1F. Hereinafter, the elevator to which the destination floor of the user is assigned is referred to as an "allocated machine".

FIG. 2B shows a display example by the display unit 22 of the destination floor registration device 2. In the destination floor registration device 2, when the registered destination floor is assigned to the assigned machine, an image for guiding the assigned machine (machine D in this example) to the user is displayed as shown in FIG. 2 (b). It is displayed in unit 22. By visually recognizing the display on the display unit 22, the user can confirm the number to be boarded. Further, in the present embodiment, for the visually impaired person who has difficulty in visually recognizing the display of the display unit 22, the assigned unit is guided from the voice output unit 25 of the destination floor registration device 2 and the hall speakers 3A and 3B. Audio output is also performed. This system facilitates the operation of the destination floor registration device 2 by using the information (user information) indicating the user acquired from the card reader 21 of the destination floor registration device 2. The configuration of this system will be described below.

1-2. Configuration of Elevator Group Management System The configuration of the elevator group management system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an elevator group management system according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the elevator group management system according to the present embodiment includes unit control devices 5A to 5F provided for each elevator 1A to 1F, a plurality of destination floor registration devices 2A and 2B, and a plurality of halls. It includes speakers 3A and 3B and a group management control device 4.

Each elevator (each unit) 1A to 1F has a car, a hoisting machine (motor), a balance weight, a control unit, and the like.

Among the elevators 1A to 1F, the elevators 1A and 1B are dedicated machines having specifications such as a speaker 11 (voice guidance unit) that can be operated suitable for the visually impaired. The speaker 11 outputs voice information such as a predetermined announcement or melody sound when the elevators 1A and 1B arrive at the destination floor of the visually impaired person, for example. As shown in FIG. 1, the elevators 1A and 1B are installed at positions closest to the installation positions of the destination floor registration devices 2A and 2B in the elevators 1A to 1F, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hall speakers 3A and 3B are installed near the entrances and exits of the elevators 1A and 1B, respectively. The hall speakers 3A and 3B provide predetermined announcements and melody sounds to guide the visually impaired to the positions of the elevators 1A and 1B when the destination floors of the visually impaired are assigned to the elevators 1A and 1B, respectively. Output voice information.

1-3. Configuration of Group Management Control Device The group management control device 4 controls to allocate the destination floor registered by the destination floor registration device 2 to any one of a plurality of elevators 1A to 1F. As shown in FIG. 3, the group management control device 4 includes a storage unit 40, a group management control unit 41, and an input / output interface 42. The group management control device 4 is an example of a group management control device that manages elevators 1A to 1F that operate over a plurality of floors.

The storage unit 40 is a storage medium that stores programs and data necessary for realizing the functions of the group management control device 4. The program includes a program for realizing various functions of the present embodiment. For example, the storage unit 40 may be used for the distance from the installation location of the destination floor registration devices 2A and 2B to the elevators 1A to 1F, the travel time (for example, the travel time during off-peak hours and busy hours), and the elevators 1A to 1F. Stores data such as specifications. The storage unit 40 is composed of, for example, a hard disk (HDD) or a semiconductor storage device (SSD).

The group management control unit 41 controls the entire operation of the group management control device 4. The group management control unit 41 realizes various functions described later in the group management control device 4 by performing arithmetic processing using various data and the like based on the above program read from the storage unit 40. The group management control unit 41 is composed of, for example, a CPU and an MPU. The group management control unit 41 may be composed of hardware circuits (ASIC, FPGA, etc.) such as an electronic circuit specially designed and a reconfigurable electronic circuit. The function of the group management control unit 41 may be realized by the cooperation of the hardware and the software, or may be realized only by the hardware (electronic circuit).

The input / output interface 42 is an interface circuit for transmitting and receiving various signals between the destination floor registration devices 2A and 2B and the unit control devices 5A to 5F. The input / output interface 42 converts the signal output from the group management control unit 41 into a signal of a predetermined format and outputs the signal. Further, the input / output interface 42 converts the signals input from the destination floor registration devices 2A and 2B and the unit control devices 5A to 5F into signals of a predetermined format and outputs them to the group management control unit 41. The input / output interface 42 may communicate with various devices via a wired connection, or may communicate with various devices via a wireless connection.

1-4. Configuration of Unit Control Devices Units 5A to 5F are control devices that drive the corresponding elevators 1A to 1F according to control signals from the group management control device 4. In addition, each of the unit control devices 5A to 5F detects a car state including the car position, traveling direction, door open / closed state, load, etc. of the corresponding elevators 1A to 1F, and includes information indicating the detected car state. The car status signal is output to the group management control device 4. In the following, the unit control devices 5A to 5F may be collectively referred to as "unit control device 5".

Among the unit control devices 5A to 5F, the unit control devices 5A and 5B of the elevators (dedicated machines) 1A and 1B set various operating states of the elevators 1A and 1B according to the control signals from the group management control device 4, respectively. The operation mode to be operated is switched and controlled. The operation modes of the elevators 1A and 1B include a normal mode and a consideration operation mode. The normal mode is an operation mode in which the elevators 1A and 1B operate in the same manner as the elevators 1C to 1F other than the dedicated machine. The consideration driving mode is an elevator operation mode for driving the elevators 1A and 1B in consideration of the riding of a visually impaired person. In the considered driving mode, for example, the door opening period on a specific floor (departure floor and destination floor for the visually impaired) may be longer than usual, or the above audio output may be output from the speaker 11 from the departure floor to the destination floor. Various controls are made so as to do so. The details of the configuration of the unit control device 5 will be described later.

1-5. Configuration of Destination Floor Registration Device The configuration of the destination floor registration device 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the destination floor registration device 2 in this system.

The destination floor registration device 2 is a device for registering the destination floor of the user in the group management control device 4 in the destination floor registration method. As shown in FIG. 4, the destination floor registration device 2 includes a control unit 20, a card reader 21, a display unit 22, a touch panel 23, a push button 24, an audio output unit 25, and a storage unit 26. It includes an output interface 27.

The control unit 20 controls the entire operation of the destination floor registration device 2. The control unit 20 realizes various functions described later in the destination floor registration device 2 by performing arithmetic processing using various data and the like based on the above program read from the storage unit 26. The control unit 20 is composed of, for example, a CPU and an MPU. The control unit 20 may be composed of hardware circuits (ASIC, FPGA, etc.) such as an electronic circuit specially designed and a reconfigurable electronic circuit. The function of the control unit 20 may be realized by the cooperation of the hardware and the software, or may be realized only by the hardware (electronic circuit).

The card reader 21 is composed of, for example, a contact type IC card reader. The card reader 21 detects the contact of the IC card and reads the user information recorded on the detected IC card. The card reader 21 is an example of an information acquisition unit that acquires user information from an IC card, which is an example of a recording medium for user information. The card reader 21 may be composed of a non-contact type IC card reader such as a close contact type or a proximity type.

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the user of the elevator has an IC card, and the user information indicating the user is recorded on the IC card. In the present embodiment, the user information includes ID information, attribute information, and priority information. The ID information is information for personally authenticating a user, and includes, for example, an identification number. The attribute information is information indicating the attributes of the user indicated by the user information. In the present embodiment, the attribute information indicates the user attribute of either the visually impaired person or the other person. The priority information is information indicating a specific order regarding the floors on which the elevators 1A to 1F operate. The order of the floors in the priority information corresponds to the priority as a candidate for the destination floor of the user, and is set in the order of the floors frequently used by the user, for example.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the card reader 21 of the present embodiment is provided with a plurality of convex portions 21a on the contact surface of the IC card. The convex portion 21a is formed by, for example, attaching a seal member having a convex portion to the contact surface of the card reader 21. As a result, the user can tactilely recognize the position of the contact surface of the card reader 21 by touching the convex portion 21a. In addition, visually impaired people can easily use the card reader 21.

The display unit 22 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. The display unit 22 displays various images based on the image signal generated by the control unit 20. For example, the display unit 22 displays an image showing the assigned machine as shown in FIG. 2 (b). In the example of FIG. 2B, "Please wait in front of Unit D" is displayed.

The touch panel 23 is a touch sensor provided so as to be superimposed on the display surface of the display unit 22. The touch panel 23 receives a touch operation on the image displayed by the display unit 22 and outputs a predetermined signal to the control unit 20. The display unit 22 and the touch panel 23 form a touch panel type display device. In the touch panel type display device, the display unit 22 and the touch panel 23 may be integrally formed or may be formed separately.

The push button 24 is a pressing type operating member. The push button 24 detects the pressing operation and outputs a predetermined signal to the control unit 20. As shown in FIG. 2A, the push button 24 is attached to the card reader 21. Further, a Braille-shaped convex portion 24a is formed on the main surface of the push button 24. Since the user can tactilely recognize the position of the push button 24 by touching the Braille-shaped convex portion 24a of the push button 24, the visually impaired person can easily use the push button 24. In the present embodiment, the operation unit that accepts the user's operation on the destination floor registration device 2 includes the touch panel 23 and the push button 24.

The voice output unit 25 outputs voice having predetermined information based on the control signal from the control unit 20. The voice output unit 25 is composed of, for example, a voice synthesizer. The voice output unit 25 is not limited to the voice announcement, and may output a melody sound, a buzzer sound, or the like. In the present embodiment, the notification unit that notifies the user of information about the candidate of the destination floor includes a display unit 22 and a voice output unit 25.

Returning to FIG. 4, the storage unit 26 is a storage medium that stores programs and data necessary for realizing the functions of the destination floor registration device 2. The program includes a program for realizing various functions of the present embodiment. For example, the storage unit 26 records a destination floor registration device ID indicating identification information of the destination floor registration device 2 including the storage unit 26. The storage unit 26 is composed of, for example, a flash memory.

The input / output interface 27 is an interface circuit for transmitting and receiving various signals to and from the group management control device 4 and the hall speakers 3A and 3B. The input / output interface 27 converts the signal output from the control unit 20 into a signal of a predetermined format and outputs the signal. Further, the input / output interface 27 converts the signal input from the group management control device 4 into a signal of a predetermined format and outputs the signal to the control unit 20. The input / output interface 27 may communicate with the group management control device 4 via a wired connection, or may communicate with the group management control device 4 via a wireless connection. The input / output interface 27 is an example of a communication unit that transmits / receives various information to the group management control device 4.

1-6. Details of the configuration of the unit control device The unit control devices 5A to 5F for each elevator 1A to 1F control the operation of the hoisting machine (motor) based on the control signal from the group management control device 4, and thus the car. Controls ascending, descending, stopping, etc. The details of the configuration of the unit control device 5 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the Unit 5 control device 5 in this system.

As shown in FIG. 5, the unit control device 5 includes a control unit 50, a storage unit 51, and an input / output interface 52.

The control unit 50 controls the entire operation of the unit control device 5. The control unit 50 realizes various functions described later in the unit control device 5 by performing arithmetic processing using various data and the like based on the above program read from the storage unit 51. The control unit 50 is composed of, for example, a CPU and an MPU. The control unit 50 may be composed of hardware circuits (ASIC, FPGA, etc.) such as an electronic circuit specially designed and a reconfigurable electronic circuit. The function of the control unit 50 may be realized by the cooperation of the hardware and the software, or may be realized only by the hardware (electronic circuit).

The storage unit 51 is a storage medium that stores programs and data necessary for realizing the functions of the destination floor registration device 2. The program includes a program for realizing various functions of the present embodiment. The storage unit 51 is composed of, for example, a flash memory.

The input / output interface 52 is an interface circuit for transmitting and receiving various signals to and from the group management control device 4 and the elevator. The input / output interface 52 converts the signal output from the control unit 50 into a signal of a predetermined format and outputs the signal. Further, the input / output interface 52 converts the signals input from the elevators 1A to 1F corresponding to each of the unit control devices 5A to 5F and the group management control device 4 into signals of a predetermined format and outputs them to the control unit 50. .. The input / output interface 52 may communicate with the group management control device 4 via a wired connection, or may communicate with the group management control device 4 via a wireless connection.

2. 2. Operation 2-1. Outline of operation The outline of the operation of the destination floor registration device 2 and the elevator group management system according to the present embodiment will be described. In this system, the elevator user holds the IC card over the card reader 21 of the destination floor registration device 2 to perform personal authentication, and then performs an operation for registering his / her own destination floor. At this time, it is inconvenient for the user if it takes time to operate the destination floor registration device 2. Further, in the present embodiment, the destination floor registration device 2 makes a voice announcement for guiding candidates for the destination floor so that the visually impaired person can perform the registration operation of the destination floor. At that time, if only the floors other than the destination floor are announced, it takes time every time, which is inconvenient for the user (visually impaired). Furthermore, if the announcement made by one user during the registration operation of the destination floor is prolonged, it causes annoyance and stress to other users and people in the vicinity.

Therefore, the destination floor registration device 2 according to the present embodiment changes the order of notifying the candidates of the destination floor for each user based on the user information acquired via the card reader 21. In addition, based on the user information acquired by the destination floor registration device 2, this system makes voice announcements and makes it easy for the visually impaired to use only when the user is visually impaired. Operates an elevator. Hereinafter, the operations of the destination floor registration device 2 and the group management control device 4 in this system will be described.

2-2. Operation of Destination Floor Registration Device The operation of the destination floor registration device 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a destination floor registration process by the destination floor registration device 2. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the remaining destination floor registration process following the destination floor registration process of FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example of the display unit 22 in the destination floor registration process of FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display example of the display unit 22 in the destination floor registration process of FIG. 7.

The destination floor registration process is a process in which the destination floor registration device 2 accepts the registration operation of the destination floor by the user and notifies the user of the elevator to which the destination floor is assigned. The destination floor registration process is executed by the control unit 20 of the destination floor registration device 2. This process is started when the card reader 21 (see FIG. 2) of the destination floor registration device 2 detects the contact of the IC card. In the following, as an example, elevators 1A to 1F (see FIG. 1) are assumed to operate between the floors of the 1st to 13th floors.

First, the control unit 20 detects whether or not the card reader 21 has acquired user information from the IC card (S1). FIG. 8A shows a display example of the display unit 22 in the initial state (step S1) of the destination floor registration process.

In step S1, as shown in FIG. 8A, the display unit 22 displays an image such as a message "Please hold the IC card over the card reader" and an arrow mark facing the installation position of the card reader 21. To do. When the user holds the IC card over the card reader 21, the card reader 21 acquires the user information from the user's IC card. The control unit 20 repeats the process of step S1 until it detects the acquisition of user information by the card reader 21 (NO in S1).

When the control unit 20 detects that the user information has been acquired by the card reader 21 (YES in S1), the user indicated by the user information is determined based on the attribute information included in the acquired user information. It is determined whether or not the person is visually impaired (S2). Hereinafter, the processes executed when the user is not visually impaired and when the user is visually impaired will be described.

(1) When the user is not visually impaired First, the processing executed when the user is not visually impaired will be described. In the following processing, a healthy person is assumed as a user who is not visually impaired.

When the control unit 20 determines that the user is not a visually impaired person based on the attribute information in the user information (NO in S2), the control unit 20 indicates a candidate for the destination floor of the user based on the priority information in the user information. An image is generated, and the generated image is displayed on the display unit 22 (S3). FIG. 8B shows a display example of the display unit 22 in step S3.

In the display example of FIG. 8B, the display unit 22 shows an image showing a plurality of button-shaped floor buttons together with a message "Please touch the destination floor" prompting the user to specify the destination floor. (Hereinafter referred to as "floor button") is displayed. By touching the floor button, the user can specify the floor corresponding to the floor button as the destination floor.

As shown in FIG. 8B, the arrangement of the plurality of floor buttons is arranged in order in the predetermined direction d1. The order in which the floor buttons are arranged in the direction d1 is the order of the priority indicated by the priority information in the user information. In the example of FIG. 8B, the higher the priority, the higher the priority, and the first, second, and third floors indicated by the priority information are the 13th floor, the 1st floor, and the 9th floor, respectively. The floor buttons having the priority numbers 1 to 3 are arranged in the order of priority, and are displayed so as to be emphasized in a size larger than the floor buttons having the priority order 4 or later. Therefore, the user can easily visually recognize the floor button having a high priority, and can easily perform the operation of designating the destination floor according to his / her own priority.

Further, in the present embodiment, the priority of the fourth and subsequent floors in the priority information is defined in descending order of the number of floors. Correspondingly, the floor buttons having the priority of 4 or higher are displayed in the arrangement as shown in FIG. 8 (b). The display of the floor button corresponding to the installation floor of the destination floor registration device 2 may be omitted. Further, the priority information may be information that defines the priority within a predetermined range such as Nos. 1 to 3. In this case, the control unit 20 may set a predetermined order (such as the order of the largest number of floors or the order of the smallest number of floors) for the floors not defined by the priority information.

Returning to FIG. 6, the control unit 20 detects whether or not the touch panel 23 has accepted the registration operation of the destination floor by the touch operation on the floor button of the user (S4).

When the control unit 20 detects that the touch panel 23 has received the designated operation of the destination floor (YES in S4), the control unit 20 includes the destination floor information indicating the designated destination floor, the destination floor registration device ID, and the user information. The attribute information of the user to be used is transmitted to the group management control device 4 (S5). The control unit 20 repeats the process of step S4 until the touch panel 23 accepts the designated operation of the destination floor (NO in S4). If the touch panel 23 does not specify the destination floor during the predetermined period (for example, 10 seconds), the control unit 20 may perform the processing after step S1 again.

Here, the attribute information transmitted to the group management control device 4 in step S5 indicates the attributes of a user who is not a visually impaired person. In the present embodiment, as described above, a healthy person is assumed as such a user. When the group management control device 4 receives the destination floor information and the destination floor registration device ID together with the above attribute information, in response to this, the group management control device 4 receives the assigned machine information indicating the assigned machine to which the destination floor indicated by the destination floor information is assigned. It is transmitted to the destination floor registration device 2. The details of the operation of the group management control device 4 will be described later.

Next, the control unit 20 of the destination floor registration device 2 determines whether or not the assigned unit information has been received from the group management control device 4 via the input / output interface 27 (see FIG. 4) (S6).

The control unit 20 repeats the determination in step S6 until the assigned unit information is received from the group management control device 4 (NO in S6), and detects that the assigned unit information has been received from the group management control device 4 (in S6). YES), a guidance image for guiding the assigned machine indicated by the received assigned machine information to the user is generated and displayed on the display unit 22 (S7). FIG. 8C shows a display example of the display unit 22 in step S7.

In the display example of FIG. 8C, the display unit 22 displays "Please wait in front of Unit D". This indicates that Unit D (elevator 1D (see FIG. 1)) has been assigned to the destination floor of the user. By visually recognizing the guide image, the user can recognize the assigned machine to which his / her destination floor is assigned.

For example, the control unit 20 causes the display unit 22 to display the guide image shown in FIG. 8C for a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds), then erases the guide image, and ends this process.

(2) When the user is visually impaired Next, the process executed when the user is visually impaired will be described. In the following, as an example, when the priority information regarding the user (visually impaired person) who is the target of this processing is the same as the example of FIG. (In the case of floor ...) will be explained.

In step S2 of FIG. 6, when the control unit 20 determines that the user is a visually impaired person based on the attribute information in the user information (YES in S2), the control unit 20 proceeds to step S10 of FIG. 7 and proceeds to the user information. The floor with the highest priority is selected based on the priority information in (S10). When the priority information of the user is the same as the example of FIG. 8B, the control unit 20 selects the “13th floor” having the highest priority as the highest priority floor.

Next, the control unit 20 generates floor information indicating the selected floor as a candidate for the destination floor, and causes the voice output unit 25 to announce (voice output) the floor information (S11). For example, when the 13th floor is selected in the process of step S10, the voice output unit 25 outputs a voice announcement "Is the destination floor the 13th floor?".

Next, the control unit 20 determines whether or not a designated operation has been performed on the floor information announced by the user (S12). In the present embodiment, the presence or absence of the designated operation for the floor information is determined by pressing the push button 24 or touching the touch panel 23 during a predetermined period (for example, 3 seconds) from the start of the announcement by the voice output unit 25. This is done by determining if it was present (see Figure 2). Further, in the present embodiment, in step S12, the control unit 20 causes the display unit 22 to display an image as shown in FIG. 9A (details will be described later). For example, the display unit 22 displays "Please touch the screen after guiding the destination floor."

When the control unit 20 determines that the designated operation for the announced floor information has not been performed (NO in S12), the control unit 20 refers to the priority information in the user information and sets the next priority of the announced floor. Select the floor (S13). Each time the control unit 20 selects a floor in the order of priority, the voice output unit 25 announces the floor information of the selected floor (S11), and a designated operation is performed for the announced floor information. Until then, the processes of steps S11 to S13 are repeated.

For example, if the designated operation for this floor information is not performed after the announcement of the floor information of the "13th floor" having the highest priority (NO in S12), the voice output unit 25 has the second priority. Announcing the floor information of a certain "1st floor" (S13, S11). In this way, the voice output unit 25 announces the floor information one by one in the order of priority (13th floor, 1st floor, 9th floor ...). Further, each time the floor information is announced one by one, it is determined whether or not the designated operation for the announced floor information has been performed on the operation unit (push button 24 and the touch panel 23).

When the control unit 20 determines that the designated operation for the announced floor information has been performed (YES in S12), the control unit 20 stops the announcement of the floor information by the voice output unit 25 (S14). For example, when a designated operation is performed for the floor information of the "1st floor" having the 2nd priority, the announcement of the floor information is stopped at that point, and the floors having the 3rd or higher priority (9th floor ...) are stopped. Information announcements are omitted.

Next, the control unit 20 provides the destination floor information indicating that the floor indicated by the floor information for which the designated operation has been performed is the destination floor, the destination floor registration device ID, and the attribute information indicating that the user is a visually impaired person. , Sent to the group management control device 4 (S15).

When the group management control device 4 receives the destination floor information and the destination floor registration device ID together with the attribute information indicating the visually impaired person, for example, the group management control device 4 refers to the distance recorded in the storage unit 40 and refers to the destination indicated by the destination floor registration device ID. The floor registration device 2 allocates the destination floor indicated by the destination floor information to the nearest dedicated machine (assigned machine), and transmits the assigned machine information to the destination floor registration device 2.

Next, the control unit 20 of the destination floor registration device 2 determines whether or not the assigned unit information has been received from the group management control device 4 via the input / output interface 27 (see FIG. 4) (S16a).

The control unit 20 repeats the determination in step S16a until it receives the assigned machine information from the group management control device 4 (NO in S16a), and receives the assigned machine information from the group management control device 4 (YES in S16a). Based on the unit information, the destination floor registration device 2 including the control unit 20 generates guidance information including a message for guiding the nearest assigned unit (dedicated machine) to the user, and the generated guidance information is output to the voice output unit. 25 is made to announce (S16). The nearest assigned machine (dedicated machine) is the elevators 1A and 1B installed at the positions closest to the installation positions of the destination floor registration devices 2A and 2B (see FIG. 1). For example, when the destination floor registration is performed by the destination floor registration device 2A, the voice output unit 25 outputs a voice announcement "Please wait in front of Unit A" as guidance information. Further, as shown in FIG. 9B, the control unit 20 causes the display unit 22 to display a guidance image corresponding to the voice announcement. For example, the display unit 22 displays "Consideration operation mode, please wait in front of Unit A".

Next, the control unit 20 causes the hall speaker corresponding to the nearest assigned machine (dedicated machine) among the hall speakers 3A and 3B to output voice information such as a predetermined announcement or melody sound (S17). As a result, voice information is output from the hall speaker near the elevator to which the destination floor of the visually impaired person is assigned, and the position of the elevator to be boarded by the visually impaired person can be guided.

After outputting the voice information, the control unit 20 causes the display unit 22 to erase the guide image, and ends this process.

According to the above processing, the order in which the floor information (floor button) is notified from the voice output unit 25 or the display unit 22 in the destination floor registration device 2 is for each user based on the priority information in the user information. Changes to. Therefore, in the destination floor registration device 2, it becomes easy for the user to specify the destination floor.

Further, in the above processing, the floor information is notified by voice to a specific user such as a visually impaired person based on the attribute information in the user information (step S11 in FIG. 7), and the operation of another user is performed. Sometimes the notification by voice output is omitted. This makes it easier for any user, regardless of the visually impaired person or another user, to use the destination floor registration device 2.

Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, in step S12, the image as shown in FIG. 9A is displayed on the display unit 22. In the display example shown in FIG. 9A, the display unit 22 displays a message prompting the user to touch the touch panel 23 after announcing the guidance (floor information) of the destination floor. Such a message may be output by voice in a timely manner by the voice output unit 25.

Further, during the display of the screen of the display unit 22 as shown in FIG. 9A, the touch panel 23 accepts the touch operation as the registration operation of the destination floor regardless of where the entire screen of the display unit 22 is touched. .. Therefore, the visually impaired person can easily perform the registration operation after the announcement of the floor information in step S12. Although the process of step S12 is intended for the visually impaired, some visually impaired persons are not totally blind but have low vision. For such people, displaying the image of the message as shown in FIG. 9A makes it easier to use the destination floor registration device 2.

2-3. Operation of Group Management Control Device The operation of the group management control device 4 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an elevator allocation process by the group management control device 4. The elevator allocation process is a process of allocating the destination floor registered in the destination floor registration device 2 to any of a plurality of elevators 1A to 1F in the group management control device 4. The elevator allocation process shown in FIG. 10 is executed by the group management control unit 41 of the group management control device 4 based on the destination floor registration process performed by the destination floor registration device 2 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

First, the group management control unit 41 sets the destination floor information and the destination floor registration device transmitted by the destination floor registration device 2 in step S5 of FIG. 6 or step S15 of FIG. 7 via the input / output interface 42 (see FIG. 3). Receives attribute information about the ID and the user (S20). When the group management control unit 41 determines that the destination floor information, the destination floor registration device ID, and the attribute information have not been received (NO in S20), the group management control unit 41 repeatedly executes this process.

When the group management control unit 41 determines that the destination floor information, the destination floor registration device ID, and the attribute information have been received (YES in S20), whether or not the user is visually impaired based on the received attribute information. Is determined (S21). For example, at the time of executing the process of step S5 of FIG. 6, attribute information indicating the user attribute of a healthy person is transmitted from the destination floor registration device 2 to the group management control device 4. In this case, the group management control unit 41 determines that the user is not a visually impaired person (NO in S21), and proceeds to step S22.

In step S22, the group management control unit 41 assigns the destination floor indicated by the received destination floor information to any of the plurality of elevators 1A to 1F, and determines the assigned unit. The process of step S22 is performed as follows, for example.

First, the group management control unit 41 calculates an evaluation value for selecting an elevator (allocation unit) to which the destination floor should be assigned, for each elevator, based on the operation information of each elevator in the elevators 1A to 1F. Here, the operation information of each elevator is, for example, the car state (including the car position, the traveling direction, the open / closed state of the door, the load, etc.) of each elevator, and the predicted waiting time (the assigned unit arrives at the departure floor). (Time to), expected service completion time (time until the assigned unit arrives at the destination floor), scheduled number of car outages (scheduled number of elevator outages before service completion), etc. Contains information. After calculating the evaluation value, the group management control unit 41 selects the elevator having the highest evaluation value from the elevators 1A to 1F, and assigns the destination floor to the selected elevator. The group management control unit 41 may also allocate the destination floor to any elevator by using a generally known conventional method.

Next, the group management control unit 41 transmits the destination floor call information (departure floor information and destination floor information) to the unit control device that controls the assigned unit in the unit control devices 5A to 5F (S23). The departure floor information is information indicating the installation floor of the destination floor registration device 2 as the departure floor. The unit control device that has received the destination floor call information in step S23 controls the assigned unit so as to travel from the installation floor (departure floor) of the destination floor registration device 2 to the destination floor indicated by the destination floor information.

Next, the group management control unit 41 transmits the assigned machine information indicating the assigned machine to the destination floor registration device 2 which is the source of the destination floor information based on the destination floor registration device ID (S24), and performs the elevator allocation process. finish. As a result, the destination floor registration device 2 displays information indicating the assigned machine.

When it is determined in step S21 that the user is visually impaired (YES in S21), the group management control unit 41 considers the unit control device 5A or 5B of the dedicated unit among the unit control devices 5A to 5F. Generate an instruction (S25). The consideration driving order is an instruction requesting that the dedicated machine be operated in a predetermined operation mode (considered operation mode) different from the normal operation mode.

Next, the group management control unit 41 calls the destination floor to the unit control device that controls the nearest dedicated machine of the destination floor registration device of the destination floor information transmission source among the unit control devices 5A and 5B of the dedicated machine. Information and consideration A driving command is transmitted (S26). The unit control device that received the destination floor call information and the consideration operation command in step S26 controls the dedicated machine so as to operate in the consideration operation mode from the installation floor of the destination floor registration device 2 to the destination floor indicated by the destination floor information. To do. In the consideration operation mode, for example, the unit control device makes the door opening period longer than usual on the departure floor and the destination floor of the visually impaired, or gives a predetermined voice information to the speaker 11 on all the stop floors up to the destination floor. Output from (see Fig. 3). This allows the visually impaired to always see the stop floor when boarding the elevator. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the visually impaired from causing anxiety about not knowing the stop floor.

Next, the group management control unit 41 transmits the assigned machine information indicating the assigned machine to the destination floor registration device 2 which is the source of the destination floor information based on the destination floor registration device ID (S27), and performs the elevator allocation process. finish. The destination floor registration device 2 that has received the assigned machine information outputs the information indicating the assigned machine by voice.

According to the above processing, the operation control of the elevators 1A to 1F is performed based on the destination floor information and the attribute information from the destination floor registration device 2. This makes it easier for visually impaired people and others to use the elevator.

3. 3. Summary As described above, the destination floor registration device 2 according to the present embodiment is a device for registering the destination floors of elevator users in the group management control device 4 that manages elevators operating over a plurality of floors. .. The destination floor registration device 2 includes a touch panel 23, a push button 24, an input / output interface 27, a card reader 21, a display unit 22, an audio output unit 25, and a control unit 20. The touch panel 23 and the push button 24 accept a touch operation and a pressing operation in which the user specifies a destination floor. The input / output interface 27 transmits the destination floor information indicating the designated destination floor to the group management control device 4. The card reader 21 acquires user information indicating the user. The display unit 22 and the voice output unit 25 notify the user of the floor information indicating the floor. The control unit 20 controls the notification operation by the display unit 22 and the voice output unit 25. The control unit 20 displays the floor information indicating at least one floor according to the user information among the plurality of floors in the display unit 22 or in the order according to the user information acquired by the card reader 21. The voice output unit 25 notifies the user.

As a result, the floor information is notified from the display unit 22 or the audio output unit 25 in the order according to the user information, and the order of notification changes appropriately for each user, so that the floor to which the user is notified is notified. It is possible to easily specify the destination floor from the floor information. Therefore, the destination floor registration device 2 can be easily used by the user.

Further, in the present embodiment, the voice output unit 25 notifies the floor information by voice output. Based on the user information, the control unit 20 notifies the floor information by the voice output unit 25 only to a specific user.

As a result, the floor information is notified to a specific user such as a visually impaired person by voice output, and the notification by voice output is omitted when operating another user. Therefore, the destination floor registration device 2 can be easily used by users including the visually impaired. Note that the notification by the voice output unit 25 other than the above-mentioned notification of floor information (notification performed only to a specific user) may be appropriately performed to a user other than the specific user. ..

Further, in the present embodiment, the touch panel 23 and the push button 24 perform an operation of designating the floor indicated by the notified floor information as the destination floor each time the voice output unit 25 notifies the first floor information. Accept. When the touch panel 23 or the push button 24 receives the operation, the control unit 20 stops the notification operation by the voice output unit 25.

As a result, the user who is designating the destination floor can perform the operation of designating the floor indicated by the floor information being notified by the voice output unit 25 as the destination floor via the touch panel 23 or the push button 24. .. On the other hand, when the operation designated as the destination floor is performed, the notification operation by the voice output unit 25 is stopped, so that it is possible to reduce the annoyance that another user hears the notification operation by the voice output unit 25.

Further, in the present embodiment, the user information includes priority information indicating a specific order regarding a plurality of floors. The control unit 20 causes the display unit 22 or the voice output unit 25 to notify the floor information based on the order indicated by the priority information.

As a result, based on the priority information, the floor information of the floor having the highest priority can be notified from the display unit 22 or the voice output unit 25 for each user in an early order, and the convenience of the user can be improved. it can.

Further, in the present embodiment, the display unit 22 displays an image showing a candidate for the destination floor of the user indicated by the user information.

As a result, the user can confirm the image showing the candidate of the destination floor on the display unit 22.

Further, in the present embodiment, the control unit 20 changes the image showing the candidate of the destination floor so that the specific floor in the plurality of floors is emphasized according to the user indicated by the user information. , Control the display.

As a result, the user can easily confirm the specific floor emphasized according to the user on the display unit 22.

Further, in the present embodiment, the touch panel 23 accepts a touch operation on the image displayed by the display unit 22. The user can perform a touch operation according to the display on the display unit 22.

Further, in the present embodiment, the push button 24 has a three-dimensional shape representing Braille.

Therefore, it is easy to use for a user who can identify Braille by touch. The push button 24 is not limited to a three-dimensional shape representing Braille, and may have a shape such as a protrusion having a height of 0.1 to 1 mm that allows the operation position to be identified by tactile sensation.

Further, the elevator group management system according to the present embodiment includes a destination floor registration device 2 and a group management control device 4 that manages a plurality of elevators 1A to 1F operating over a plurality of floors.

In this embodiment, the plurality of elevators 1A to 1F include at least one dedicated machine having predetermined specifications. Based on the user information, the group management control device 4 sets the destination floor of the user when the user indicated by the user information meets a predetermined condition (the user attribute of the user information indicates a visually impaired person). The elevators to be assigned are limited to the dedicated machines 1A and 1B.

As a result, based on the user information, the elevators on which the visually impaired person will board can be made into dedicated machines 1A and 1B suitable for the visually impaired person, and the elevator can be easily used by the visually impaired person.

Further, in the present embodiment, the dedicated machines 1A and 1B are provided with speakers 11A and 11B that provide voice guidance regarding the destination floor of the user when the destination floor of the user corresponding to the predetermined condition is assigned.

The voice guidance of the speakers 11A and 11B allows the visually impaired person to confirm the information about his / her destination floor when he / she gets on the dedicated machines 1A and 1B.

Further, in the present embodiment, the dedicated machines 1A and 1B are installed at the positions closest to the destination floor registration devices 2A and 2B among the plurality of elevators 1A to 1F.

As a result, users such as visually impaired people can be guided to the dedicated machines 1A and 1B closest to the destination floor registration devices 2A and 2B.

(Other embodiments)
In the first embodiment, the card reader 21 as an example of the information acquisition unit has been described, but the information acquisition unit is not limited to the card reader 21, and may be, for example, an NFC (Near Field Communication) reader. Further, the recording medium of user information is not limited to an IC card, and may be, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone that supports NFC communication. Further, the information acquisition unit may acquire user information by biometric authentication such as face authentication or fingerprint authentication. For example, the information acquisition unit may be a camera for performing face authentication.

Further, in the first embodiment, the attribute information and the priority information for each user are recorded on a recording medium possessed by the user such as an IC card as a part of the user information, but are recorded on the IC card. It does not have to be. For example, it may be stored in the storage unit 26 of the destination floor registration device 2 as data associated with the ID information in the user information. Further, the control unit 20 of the destination floor registration device 2 may acquire attribute information and priority information from the storage unit 40 of the group management control device 4 or an external server based on the user information.

Further, in the first embodiment, the user attribute of either the visually impaired person or the other person is set in the attribute information in the user information, but the user is not limited to this, for example, a wheelchair user or the like. Various user attributes may be set to indicate other physically handicapped persons, elderly people, pregnant women, and the like. The group management control device 4 controls the unit control device so that the elevator is operated in the same operation mode as the consideration operation mode for the visually impaired even when the user has these user attributes. May be good. In this case, the destination floor registration device 2 appropriately transmits attribute information indicating various user attributes to the group management control device 4.

Further, in the first embodiment, the notification unit for notifying the user of the floor information is configured to include the display unit 22 and the voice output unit 25, but the notification unit includes the display unit 22 and the voice output unit 25. It may be composed of only one of them.

Further, in the first embodiment, the operation unit that accepts the user's operation is configured to include the touch panel 23 and the push button 24, but the operation unit is composed of only one of the touch panel 23 and the push button 24. It may be included, or it may include other operating members. For example, the operation unit may include a keypad or a keyboard.

Further, in the first embodiment, the display of FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b) was performed in steps S12 and S16 of FIG. 7, but these displays were not performed in steps S12 and S16. May be good.

Further, in the first embodiment, when the user is a visually impaired person (see FIG. 7), the destination floor registration device 2 receives the assigned machine information from the group management control device 4 (S16a), and then the assigned machine. Based on the information, the guidance information of the nearest elevator was generated (S16). However, not limited to this, the destination floor registration device 2 is closest to the destination floor registration device 2 without particularly receiving the assigned machine information after transmitting various information to the group management control device 4 in step S15 of FIG. The guidance information of the elevator (for example, in the case of the destination floor registration device 2B, the elevator 1B) may be generated.

Further, in the first embodiment, the group management control device 4 controls the operation of six elevators 1A to 1F, but is not limited to the six elevators 1A to 1F, and controls the operation of any plurality of elevators. You may control the operation of one elevator.

1A ~ 1F Elevator 2 Destination floor registration device 20 Control unit 21 Card reader 22 Display unit 23 Touch panel 24 Push button 25 Audio output unit 26 Storage unit 27 Input / output interface 4 group management control device

Claims (3)

It is an information acquisition department that acquires user information that indicates a user .
Has a contact surface prior SL user information to contact the recording medium is recorded, and a reader for reading the user information via the contact surface from the recording medium,
It has a main surface provided with Braille, and is provided with an operation unit that accepts a predetermined operation by the user on the main surface.
In the reader, a plurality of convex portions are provided on the contact surface .
An information acquisition unit in which the reader and the operation unit are installed so that the contact surface of the reader and the main surface of the operation unit are arranged side by side . It also has a voice output unit that notifies information by voice.
The operation unit can receive an operation related to the notified information each time the information is notified by the voice output unit.
The information acquisition unit according to claim 1. The information acquisition unit according to claim 1 or 2 ,
A group management control device that manages elevators that operate across multiple floors is equipped with a communication unit that transmits destination floor information indicating the destination floor.
A destination floor registration device that registers the destination floors of users of the elevator in the group management control device based on the user information acquired by the information acquisition unit.

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