Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
  • G03B21/00—Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor

Definitions

• This disclosure relates to a projection device.
• a system is being considered to improve elevator usage efficiency by allowing users waiting in elevator halls, etc., to know how crowded the elevator car is before it arrives.
• Patent Document 1 discloses an invention for an elevator display control device in which a display shows different states depending on the congestion level inside the elevator, allowing passengers waiting at the elevator platform to check the display and recognize the congestion level inside the elevator before the elevator arrives.
• the elevator display control device described in Patent Document 1 is equipped with a display that predicts the arrival of an elevator before it arrives, and notifies the situation using different colors and illuminated areas depending on the congestion level of the elevator car.However, the presence of this display could mar the appearance of the elevator hall.In addition, there was an issue in that people waiting for the elevator had to be aware in advance of the meaning of the abstract displays such as the displayed colors or illuminated areas.
• the purpose of this disclosure is to provide a projection device that does not spoil the view of the elevator hall and can display specific information in a manner that is easy for everyone to understand.
• the projection device disclosed herein is installed in a position that is outside the field of view of a person when the person is standing and looking horizontally, and is characterized by comprising: a projector that projects light that has passed through a plate-shaped mask pattern bearing specific information onto one of the walls or floors inside a building, thereby displaying the information on the wall or floor; a receiver that receives instructions from outside; and a control unit that controls the projector to display the information based on the instructions received by the receiver.
• This disclosure makes it possible to provide a projection device that does not spoil the view of the elevator hall and can display information related to multiple elevators in a manner that is easy for everyone to understand.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a projection device according to a first embodiment.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a control unit according to the first embodiment.
• 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a projector according to a first embodiment.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a mask pattern according to the first embodiment.
• FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a projection device according to a second embodiment.
• First Embodiment Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a projection device 100 according to embodiment 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the projection device 100 projects information 52 about elevators and the like onto a wall surface 50 or the like of an elevator hall 40 inside a building, to a person 46 waiting in front of elevator doors 42 for a car 44.
• the projection device 100 includes a projector 14 that projects information 52 onto elevator doors 42, a wall surface 50 around the elevator doors 42, or the floor surface 54 of the elevator hall 40, a control unit 10 that controls the projector 14, and a receiving unit 12 to which an external terminal such as a management terminal 32 is connected via a network 30 or the like.
• Projector 14 is installed in a position that may be outside the field of view of person 46 when the person 46 is standing and looking horizontally, for example, at a position higher than the average height of men in the country in which the device is used, or at a position higher than elevator doors 42. More specifically, projector 14 is installed at a high location, including the ceiling of elevator hall 40, where it is difficult for person 46 to notice its presence, and projects information 52 toward wall surface 50 or floor surface 54.
• the projector 14 does not have an image forming unit that electrically forms images, such as a liquid crystal display. Instead, it forms display information using a mechanically formed mask pattern that contains one of the following: letters, symbols, figures, and patterns, or a combination of two or more of the following: letters, symbols, figures, and patterns, which correspond to the display content.
• the mask pattern to be displayed is switched as needed and projected.
• the information 52 projected by the projector 14 is before an available elevator car 44 arrives at the floor in the elevator hall 40, it is information related to getting on and off the elevator, such as the elevator number of the approaching car 44, or information guiding the person to board the elevator (the arriving elevator number, the available elevator number, or whether or not boarding is possible). It may also be information warning the person that a pet such as a dog, a cleaning robot, or a delivery robot is on board the car 44. If it takes a long time for the available car 44 to arrive, or if the arrival information of the car 44 is not displayed, general information such as weather information, advertisements, or two-dimensional code information such as a QR code (registered trademark) is projected.
• a QR code registered trademark
• the two-dimensional code is used to provide the person 46 with more detailed information than the projected information 52 via a mobile information terminal such as a smartphone. Furthermore, if there are multiple elevators in the elevator hall 40, by projecting information that should be prioritized, such as which car 44 is closest, the necessary information can be displayed with a single projector 14 even when there are multiple elevators.
• the receiving unit receives control signals, such as instructions on the information to be projected and instructions on whether to turn on the light source of the projector 14, from a management terminal 32 owned by a building management company, elevator management company, etc., via wired or wireless communication.
• control signals such as instructions on the information to be projected and instructions on whether to turn on the light source of the projector 14, from a management terminal 32 owned by a building management company, elevator management company, etc., via wired or wireless communication.
• the control unit 10 switches the mask pattern of the projector 14, controls the lighting of the light source of the projector 14, controls the projection position, and controls the optical components (lenses, etc.) equipped in the projector 14.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the control unit 10 according to embodiment 1.
• the control unit 10 is composed of a computer in which a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, which is a computing element (processor), a main memory 22, an input/output interface (I/O interface) 23, and a memory unit 24 are each connected to a system bus 25.
• the control unit 10 may be composed of multiple computers connected via a network, or may be composed of a processing circuit.
• the CPU 21 is an integrated circuit (IC) that performs arithmetic processing.
• IC integrated circuit
• other arithmetic elements such as a digital signal processor (DSP), graphics processing unit (GPU), network processor, or field programmable gate array (FPGA) may also be used.
• DSP digital signal processor
• GPU graphics processing unit
• FPGA field programmable gate array
• the CPU 21 functions to switch the mask pattern of the projector 14 based on the control signal received by the receiver 12, to control the illumination of the light source of the projector 14, to control the projection position, and to control the focal length and focus of the lens, which is an optical element included in the projector 14.
• the CPU functions as a mask pattern switching unit that switches the mask pattern of the projector 14, a light source control unit that controls the lighting of the light source of the projector 14, a projection position control unit that controls the projection position, and an optical element control unit that controls the optical elements provided in the projector 14.
• the projection program is also provided, for example, on a recording medium on which it is recorded.
• the main memory 22 is composed of a volatile storage device such as RAM (Random Access Memory) or a non-volatile storage device such as ROM (Read Only Memory).
• the storage unit 24 is composed of a non-volatile storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or flash memory.
• the I/O interface 23 is a port to which the receiver 12, projector 14, etc. are connected.
• FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of the projector 14 according to the first embodiment.
• the projector 14 is configured so that light emitted by a light source 62, such as an incandescent lamp or an LED (light-emitting diode), and light reflected by a reflector 64 provided behind the light source 62, are introduced into an optical element 68 via an optical path 65.
• a mask pattern 66 bearing the information to be projected is provided along the optical path 65, and when light from the light source 62 is irradiated, the information written on the mask pattern 66 is imaged by the optical element 68 onto a wall surface 50 or the like of the elevator hall 40.
• the light source 62 can adjust the intensity of its light emission based on a control signal from the control unit 10, so that by changing the intensity of the light projected onto the wall surface 50 or the like, it is possible to make it easier for the person 46 to recognize that the information 52 is being projected.
• the optical element 68 is a zoom lens with a variable focal length, and the focal length and focus are adjusted by the power of the optical element actuator 70 transmitted via the gear train 72.
• the projector 14 changes the size of the information 52 projected onto the wall surface 50, etc., by changing the focal length of the optical element 68.
• the focus of the projected information 52 is determined based on image information of the projected information 52 acquired by an optical sensor 74 using an imaging element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor or a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) image sensor, and the optical element actuator control unit 76 controls the optical element actuator 70 to sharpen the image information.
• CCD Charge Coupled Device
• CMOS Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor
• the image information of the projected information 52 acquired by the optical sensor 74 is output to the control unit 10, and the control unit 10 controls the optical element actuator 70 to sharpen the image information.
• the image information acquired by the optical sensor 74 may be sent to the management terminal 32 via the control unit 10, receiving unit 12, and network 30, and the operator of the management terminal 32 may manually adjust the focal length and focus of the optical member 68.
• the mask pattern 66 has the information to be projected written on a disk-shaped member.
• the mask pattern 66 is configured to rotate when the power of a mask pattern actuator 78, such as an electric motor that rotates based on a control signal from the control unit 10, is transmitted to a central shaft 82 via a gear train 80, thereby switching the information to be projected.
• a mask pattern actuator 78 such as an electric motor that rotates based on a control signal from the control unit 10
• the projector 14 is equipped with a pan-tilt actuator 84, which is a power source for panning the projector 14 horizontally and tilting it vertically based on control signals from the control unit 10.
• Image information acquired by the optical sensor 74 may be transmitted to the management terminal 32 via the control unit 10, receiving unit 12, network 30, etc., and the operator of the management terminal 32 may manually adjust the pan and tilt of the projector 14.
• FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a mask pattern 66 according to embodiment 1.
• the mask pattern 66 shown in FIG. 4 is disk-shaped and is formed so that the information to be projected, which may be one of letters, symbols, figures, and patterns, or a combination of two or more of letters, symbols, figures, and patterns, is displayed like a shadow puppet by blocking the light from the light source 62.
• the mask pattern 66 may be formed so that the information to be projected, which may be one of letters, symbols, figures, and patterns, or a combination of two or more of letters, symbols, figures, and patterns, passes through or is transparent to the light from the light source 62.
• the information on the mask pattern 66 is formed mechanically by methods such as engraving, cutting, or etching a plate-shaped member, but may also be formed by electrophotography, inkjet printing, or silver halide photography.
• the mask pattern 66 rotates using the power of the mask pattern actuator 78, switching the information projected onto the wall surface 50, etc. Furthermore, if the housing 60 of the projector 14 is configured to be openable and closable, the information to be projected can be changed by opening and closing the housing 60 and replacing the mask pattern 66. Furthermore, the mask pattern 66 is not limited to being disk-shaped. For example, the information to be projected can be changed by replacing multiple rectangular mask patterns in the same way as switching slides.
• the control unit 10 selects the information to project and controls the lighting of the light source 62 of the projector 14, and can select the information to project onto the wall surface 50, etc., and control whether the light source 62 of the projector 14 is lit or not, based on a control signal obtained via the receiving unit 12 by wired or wireless communication.
• the mask pattern 66 of embodiment 1 projects information onto a wall surface 50 or the like by irradiating light from a light source 62 onto a plate-like member formed to block out the black display portions of one of letters, symbols, figures, and patterns, or a combination of two or more of letters, symbols, figures, and patterns, like a shadow puppet. Therefore, the structure is simpler than devices that electrically generate the information to be displayed, such as LCDs, and power consumption can be reduced.
• the projection device 100 was described using an elevator as an example, but this is not limiting.
• the projection device 100 may project information onto the wall of a store or the wall of the entrance to an office building.
• FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of the projection device 200 according to embodiment 2.
• the projection device 200 according to embodiment 2 differs from the projection device 100 according to embodiment 1 in that it includes an abnormality detection device 16 that detects a disaster such as a fire, a gust of wind, a rainstorm, heavy rain, heavy snow, a lightning strike, or an earthquake, an abnormality in a building caused by the disaster, or an abnormality in an elevator (such as a power outage or elevator stoppage) and transmits the abnormality information to the receiving unit 12, and an auxiliary power supply 18 that supplies power to the receiving unit 12, the control unit 10, the abnormality detection device 16, and the projector 14 when an abnormality such as a power outage occurs.
• the same reference numerals as those of embodiment 1 are used for the components common to embodiment 1, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
• control unit 10 controls the projector 14 based on the control signal received by the receiving unit 12 to project information onto a wall surface 50 or the like.
• the projection device 200 uses the anomaly detection device 16 to detect disasters such as fire, wind gusts, rainstorms, heavy rain, heavy snowfall, lightning strikes, or earthquakes, information about abnormalities occurring in the building due to the disaster, power outages in the elevator, or elevator stoppages, and transmits the abnormality information to the receiving unit 12.
• Information about abnormalities occurring in the building includes, for example, damage to the building due to an earthquake, wind gusts, or rainstorms, or abnormalities in the electrical or communication systems due to lightning strikes.
• the abnormality detection device 16 uses various sensors installed at key points in the building to detect window damage, rain leaks, flooding, electrical system abnormalities, communication system abnormalities, or elevator abnormalities.
• the projection device 200 according to embodiment 2 in the event of an abnormality such as a power outage, power is supplied from the auxiliary power supply 18 to the receiving unit 12, control unit 10, abnormality detection device 16, and projector 14. Because the projection device 200 according to embodiment 2 is more energy efficient than projection devices that use electronic devices such as liquid crystal displays, it is able to project information 52 onto a wall surface 50 or the like even with the limited power of the auxiliary power supply 18.
• control unit 10 When the control unit 10 receives information related to a disaster or other event detected by the anomaly detection device 16 via the receiving unit 12, it displays information related to evacuation actions, such as information indicating the elevator operation status, damage status such as whether or not a fire has occurred, or information guiding evacuation directions such as the direction of stairs.
• evacuation actions such as information indicating the elevator operation status, damage status such as whether or not a fire has occurred, or information guiding evacuation directions such as the direction of stairs.
• the projection device 200 can continue to display information even during a power outage using the power from the auxiliary power supply 18.
• the projection device 200 is more energy efficient than projection devices that use electronic devices such as liquid crystal displays, and can therefore operate using the limited power from the auxiliary power supply 18.
• the projection device 200 can present information indicating the state and extent of the disaster, as well as information related to evacuation actions such as evacuation routes, to a person 46 present in the elevator hall 40.
• Control unit 10 Control unit, 12 Receiving unit, 14 Projector, 16 Anomaly detection device, 18 Auxiliary power supply, 21 CPU, 22 Main memory, 23 I/O interface, 24 Memory unit, 25 System bus, 30 Network, 32 Management terminal, 40 Elevator hall, 42 Elevator door, 44 Car, 46 Person, 48 Passenger, 50 Wall surface, 52 Information, 54 Floor surface, 62 Light source, 66 Mask pattern, 100, 200 Projection device.

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• Indicating And Signalling Devices For Elevators (AREA)

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Citations (5)

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• 2024
  • 2024-05-23 WO PCT/JP2024/019091 patent/WO2025243480A1/ja active Pending
  • 2024-05-23 JP JP2024567619A patent/JPWO2025243480A1/ja active Pending

Patent Citations (5)

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