[0001] The present invention relates to a platform door control apparatus, and more particularly
to technology for controlling platform doors installed on a platform for an underground
train or the like.
[0002] In recent years, the trend towards the use of one-man operated trains has been increasing.
Accompanying this, platform doors are being installed on platforms to secure passenger
safety. After a train arrives at a platform, an "OPEN" command is transmitted from
the train and the gates of the platform doors open. After passengers have gotten off
and on, a "CLOSE" command is transmitted from the train and the gates of the platform
doors close and the train departs.
[0003] However, on train lines on which a large number of trains of different forms operate,
or on lines on which one train company shares the tracks with another, the number,
locations and width dimensions of the train doors differ according to the specifications
of each train. Thus, since the locations of train doors and platform doors do not
correspond, it constitutes an obstacle to the introduction of platform doors.
[0004] The present invention aims to provide a platform door control apparatus that enables
the installment of platform doors even if trains differ in the number, locations and
width dimensions of their train doors.
[0005] Accordingly, the platform door control apparatus of the present invention comprises
a receiving means for receiving formation information of a train from the train, a
storing means for storing information about a moving distance for opening and closing
of a gate of each of the platform doors corresponding to the formation information
of each train, and a control apparatus for controlling the moving distance for opening
and closing of a gate of each of the platform doors based on the formation information
of the train received by the receiving means and on the information about the moving
distance for opening and closing of a gate of each of the platform doors stored in
the storing means, whereby the moving distance for opening and closing of a gate of
each platform door is changed.
[0006] Preferably, in accordance with the formation information of the train, when train
doors of a train are not positioned at the gates of a relevant platform door, the
gates do not open and close.
[0007] Preferably, a means is provided to inform passengers that it is not possible to get
off or on at a platform door.
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the positional relationship between opening
parts of platform doors and train doors of a train of formation information 1 in the
present invention.
Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the
opening parts of platform doors and the train doors of a train of formation information
2 in the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the
opening parts of platform doors and the train doors of a train of formation information
3 in the present invention.
Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the
opening parts of platform doors and the train doors of a train of formation information
4 in the present invention.
Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a processing flow of individual control apparatus
a 4001 of platform door a 3001 with respect to formation information of a train in
the present invention.
Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a processing flow of individual control apparatus
b 4002 of platform door b 3002 with respect to formation information of a train in
the present invention.
Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a processing flow of individual control apparatus
c 4003 of platform door c 3003 with respect to formation information of a train in
the present invention.
Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a processing flow of individual control apparatus
d 4004 of platform door d 3004 with respect to formation information of a train in
the present invention.
Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a processing flow of individual control apparatus
e 4005 of platform door e 3005 with respect to formation information of a train in
the present invention.
Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the system configuration of the platform doors
of the present invention.
[0008] Hereafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to
the figures.
[0009] A platform door control apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention
will be described using Figs. 1 to 4 and Figs. 5 to 9.
[0010] Fig. 1 illustrates the positional relationship between the opening part of platform
doors and the train doors of a train 101 of formation information 1. Fig. 2 illustrates
the positional relationship between the opening part of platform doors and the train
doors of a train 201 of formation information 2. Fig. 3 illustrates the positional
relationship between the opening part of platform doors and the train doors of a train
301 of formation information 3. Fig. 4 illustrates the positional relationship between
the opening part of platform doors and the train doors of a train 401 of formation
information 4.
[0011] Herein, the term "formation information of a train" refers to information concerning
the number, locations and width dimensions of train doors of a train. Formation information
1 indicates a case where the number of train doors of train 101 is five, the five
train doors are located at regular intervals, and the width dimensions of the train
doors are wide. Formation information 2 indicates a case where the number of train
doors of train 201 is three, the three train doors are located at regular intervals,
and the width dimensions of the train doors are wide. Formation information 3 indicates
a case where the number of train doors of train 301 is five, the five train doors
are located at regular intervals, and the width dimensions of the train doors are
narrow. Formation information 4 indicates a case where the number of train doors of
train 401 is two, the two train doors are positioned at the front and rear of the
train, respectively, and the width dimensions of the train doors are narrow.
[0012] The moving distance for opening and closing of gates Ra and La, gates Rb and Lb,
gates Rc and Lc, gates Rd and Ld, and gates Re and Le of the corresponding platform
doors a to e, that corresponds to formation information 1-4 of the respective trains,
is previously determined.
[0013] Fig. 1 shows a train 101 has arrived at a platform, and at a platform door a 3001
an opening part a 2001 is in a fully open state, at a platform door b 3002 an opening
part b 2002 is in a fully open state, at a platform door c 3003 an opening part c
2003 is in a fully open state, at a platform door d 3004 an opening part d 2004 is
in a fully open state, and at a platform door e 3005 an opening part e 2005 is in
a fully open state. These data are previously registered as command values in an individual
control apparatus a 4001, an individual control apparatus b 4002, an individual control
apparatus c 4003, an individual control apparatus d 4004, and an individual control
apparatus e 4005, respectively.
[0014] Fig. 2 shows a train 201 has arrived at a platform, and at platform door a 3001 the
opening part a 2001 is in a fully open state; at platform door b 3002, a gate Rb and
a gate Lb of opening part b 2002 are in a fully closed state; at platform door c 3003
the opening part c 2003 is in a fully open state; at platform door d 3004, a gate
Rd and a gate Ld of opening part d 2004 are in a fully closed state; and at platform
door e 3005 the opening part e 2005 is in a fully open state. These data are previously
registered as command values in individual control apparatus a 4001, individual control
apparatus b 4002, individual control apparatus c 4003, individual control apparatus
d 4004, and individual control apparatus e 4005, respectively.
[0015] Fig. 3 shows a train 301 has arrived at a platform, and at platform door a 3001,
a gate Ra and a gate La of opening part a 2001 are in a closed state and an open state,
respectively; at platform door b 3002, a gate Rb and a gate Lb of opening part b 2002
are in an open state and a closed state, respectively; at platform door c 3003, a
gate Rc and a gate Lc of opening part c 2003 are in a closed state and an open state,
respectively; at platform door d 3004, a gate Rd and a gate Ld of opening part d 2004
are in an open state and a closed state, respectively; and at platform door e 3005,
a gate Re and a gate Le of opening part e 2005 are in a closed state and an open state,
respectively. These data are previously registered as command values in individual
control apparatus a 4001, individual control apparatus b 4002, individual control
apparatus c 4003, individual control apparatus d 4004, and individual control apparatus
e 4005, respectively.
[0016] Fig. 4 shows a train 401 has arrived at a platform, and at platform door a 3001,
a gate Ra and a gate La of opening part a 2001 are each in a semi-open state; at platform
door b 3002, opening part b 2002 is in a fully closed state; at platform door c 3003,
opening part c 2003 is in a fully closed state; at platform door d 3004, opening part
d 2004 is in a fully closed state; and at platform door e 3005, a gate Re and a gate
Le of opening part e 2005 are each in a semi-open state. These data are previously
registered as command values in individual control apparatus a 4001, individual control
apparatus b 4002, individual control apparatus c 4003, individual control apparatus
d 4004, and individual control apparatus e 4005, respectively.
[0017] Fig. 5 illustrates a processing flow of individual control apparatus a 4001 of platform
door a 3001 with respect to formation information of a train.
[0018] When a train arrives at the platform, formation information is received from the
control platform of the train (501). When the formation information is determined
to be formation information 1 (502), a "FULL OPEN" command is sent to gate La and
a "FULL OPEN" command is sent to gate Ra (503). When the formation information is
determined to be formation information 2 (504), a "FULL OPEN" command is sent to gate
La and a "FULL OPEN" command is sent to gate Ra (505). When the formation information
is determined to be formation information 3 (506), a "FULL OPEN" command is sent to
gate La and no command is sent to gate Ra and it remains in a "CLOSE" state (507).
When the formation information is formation information 4, a "HALF OPEN" command is
sent to gate La and a "HALF OPEN" command is sent to gate Ra (508).
[0019] Therefore, since platform door a 3001 opens and closes to a distance corresponding
to train door a 102, 202, 302, and 402 of train 101, 201, 301, and 401, passengers
are able to get off and on the trains without any hindrance, irrespective of differences
in the forms of the trains.
[0020] Fig. 6 shows a processing flow of individual control apparatus b 4002 of platform
door b 3002 with respect to formation information of a train.
[0021] When a train arrives at the platform, formation information is received from the
control platform of the train (601). When the formation information is determined
to be formation information 1 (602), a "FULL OPEN" command is sent to gate Lb and
a "FULL OPEN" command is sent to gate Rb (603). When the formation information is
determined to be formation information 2 (604), no command is sent to gate Lb and
it remains in a "CLOSE" state and no command is sent to gate Rb and it remains in
a "CLOSE" state, and passengers are informed that it is not possible to get on or
off the train at this platform door (605). When the formation information is determined
to be formation information 3 (606), no command is sent to gate Lb and it remains
in a "CLOSE" state, and a "FULL OPEN" command is sent to gate Rb (607). When the formation
information is formation information 4, no command is sent to gate Lb and it remains
in a "CLOSE" state and no command is sent to gate Rb and it remains in a "CLOSE" state,
and passengers are informed that it is not possible to get on or off the train at
this platform door (608).
[0022] Therefore, since platform door b 3002 opens and closes to a distance corresponding
to train door b 103, 203, 303, and 403 of train 101, 201, 301, and 401, passengers
are able to get off and on the trains without any hindrance, irrespective of differences
in the forms of the trains.
[0023] Fig. 7 shows a processing flow of individual control apparatus c 4003 of platform
door c 3003 with respect to formation information of a train.
[0024] When a train arrives at the platform, formation information is received from the
control platform of the train (701). When the formation information is determined
to be formation information 1 (702), a "FULL OPEN" command is sent to gate Lc and
a "FULL OPEN" command is sent to gate Rc (703). When the formation information is
determined to be formation information 2 (704), a "FULL OPEN" command is sent to gate
Lc and a "FULL OPEN" command is sent to gate Rc (705). When the formation information
is determined to be formation information 3 (706), a "FULL OPEN" command is sent to
gate Lc and no command is sent to gate Rc and it remains in a "CLOSE" state (707).
When the formation information is formation information 4, no command is sent to gate
Lc and it remains in a "CLOSE" state and no command is sent to gate Rc and it remains
in a "CLOSE" state, and passengers are informed that it is not possible to get on
or off the train at this platform door (708).
[0025] Therefore, since platform door c 3003 opens and closes to a distance corresponding
to train door c 104, 204, 304, and 404 of train 101, 201, 301, and 401, passengers
are able to get off and on the trains without any hindrance, irrespective of differences
in the forms of the trains.
[0026] Fig. 8 shows a processing flow of individual control apparatus d 4004 of platform
door d 3004 with respect to formation information of a train.
[0027] When a train arrives at the platform, formation information is received from the
control platform of the train (801). When the formation information is determined
to be formation information 1 (802), a "FULL OPEN" command is sent to gate Ld and
a "FULL OPEN" command is sent to gate Rd (803). When the formation information is
determined to be formation information 2 (804), no command is sent to gate Ld and
it remains in a "CLOSE" state and no command is sent to gate Rd and it remains in
a "CLOSE" state, and passengers are informed that it is not possible to get on or
off the train at this platform door (805). When the formation information is determined
to be formation information 3 (806), no command is sent to gate Ld and it remains
in a "CLOSE" state and a "FULL OPEN" command is sent to gate Rd (807). When the formation
information is formation information 4, no command is sent to gate Ld and it remains
in a "CLOSE" state and no command is sent to gate Rd and it remains in a "CLOSE" state,
and passengers are informed that it is not possible to get on or off the train at
this platform door (808).
[0028] Therefore, since platform door d 3004 opens and closes to a distance corresponding
to train door d 105, 205, 305, and 405 of train 101, 201, 301, and 401, passengers
are able to get off and on the trains without any hindrance, irrespective of differences
in the forms of the trains.
[0029] Fig. 9 shows a processing flow of individual control apparatus e 4005 of platform
door e 3005 with respect to formation information of a train.
[0030] When a train arrives at the platform, formation information is received from the
control platform of the train (901). When the formation information is determined
to be formation information 1 (902), a "FULL OPEN" command is sent to gate Le and
a "FULL OPEN" command is sent to gate Re (903). When the formation information is
determined to be formation information 2 (904), a "FULL OPEN" command is sent to gate
Le and a "FULL OPEN" command is sent to gate Re (905). When the formation information
is determined to be formation information 3 (906), a "FULL OPEN" command is sent to
gate Le and no command is sent to gate Re and it remains in a "CLOSE" state (907).
When the formation information is formation information 4, a "HALF OPEN" command is
sent to gate Le and a "HALF OPEN" command is sent to gate Re (908).
[0031] Therefore, since platform door e 3005 opens and closes to a distance corresponding
to train door e 106, 206, 306, and 406 of train 101, 201, 301, and 401, passengers
are able to get off and on the trains without any hindrance, irrespective of differences
in the forms of the trains.
[0032] In the above, formation information of the trains illustrated in Fig. 1 to Fig. 4
was described as one embodiment of the present invention. However, the present invention
is not limited to this formation information, and it is clear that it can be suitably
applied to the formation information of other trains.
[0033] Fig. 10 illustrates the system configuration of the platform doors.
[0034] When a train arrives at the platform and stops within a permitted range of stopping
positions, a signal indicating doors can be opened is transmitted by a communication
means 1019 from a way-side apparatus 1008 installed on the rail track to an on-board
apparatus 1007 and a transceiver 1006, and is displayed in the control platform of
the train (not shown in the figure). The operator of the train then operates a door
control panel 1005 to press the "Open" switch.
[0035] At this time, an "OPEN" command and "Formation Information" are transmitted to communication
means 1019 and way-side apparatus 1008 via transceiver 1006 and on-board apparatus
1007, to be transmitted to a repeater 1009 and an information transmission device
1010. The information transmission device 1010 transmits the "OPEN" command and "Formation
Information" to a station control device 1011 of the platform in question. Upon receiving
these signals, station control device 1011 transmits the "OPEN" command and "Formation
Information" simultaneously via a line 1000 to individual control apparatus a 4001,
individual control apparatus b 4002, individual control apparatus c 4003, individual
control apparatus d 4004, and individual control apparatus e 4005 that control the
platform doors.
[0036] Upon receiving the "OPEN" command and "Formation Information," individual control
apparatus a 4001 controls the moving distance for gate La 1023 and gate Ra 1024 according
to the processing flow shown in Fig. 5. When the moving distance for gate La 1023
and gate Ra 1024 is "0," platform door a 3001 does not perform any opening operation.
At that time, passengers are informed by a display means a 1022 that it is not possible
to get on or off the train at this platform door.
[0037] Upon receiving the "OPEN" command and "Formation Information," individual control
apparatus b 4002 controls the moving distance for gate Lb 1033 and gate Rb 1034 according
to the processing flow shown in Fig. 6. When the moving distance for gate Lb 1033
and gate Rb 1034 is "0," platform door b 3002 does not perform any opening operation.
At that time, passengers are informed by a display means b 1032 that it is not possible
to get on or off the train at this platform door.
[0038] Upon receiving the "OPEN" command and "Formation Information," individual control
apparatus c 4003 controls the moving distance for gate Lc 1043 and gate Rc 1044 according
to the processing flow shown in Fig. 7. When the moving distance for gate Lc 1043
and gate Rc 1044 is "0," platform door c 3003 does not perform any opening operation.
At that time, passengers are informed by a display means c 1042 that it is not possible
to get on or off the train at this platform door.
[0039] Upon receiving the "OPEN" command and "Formation Information," individual control
apparatus d 4004 controls the moving distance for gate Ld 1053 and gate Rd 1054 according
to the processing flow shown in Fig. 8. When the moving distance for gate Ld 1053
and gate Rd 1054 is "0," platform door d 3004 does not perform any opening operation.
At that time, passengers are informed by a display means d 1052 that it is not possible
to get on or off the train at this platform door.
[0040] Upon receiving the "OPEN" command and "Formation Information," individual control
apparatus e 4005 controls the moving distance for gate Le 1063 and gate Re 1064 according
to the processing flow shown in Fig. 9. When the moving distance for gate Le 1063
and gate Re 1064 is "0," platform door e 3005 does not perform any opening operation.
At that time, passengers are informed by a display means e 1062 that it is not possible
to get on or off the train at this platform door.
[0041] Meanwhile, station control device 1011 returns an "OPEN ACK" signal to information
transmission device 1010 to indicate that it has received the "OPEN" command and "Formation
Information."
[0042] Information transmission device 1010 transmits this "OPEN ACK" signal to the train
side via repeater 1009, way-side apparatus 1008, on-board apparatus 1007, and transceiver
1006. A train door device 1003 receives the "OPEN ACK" signal via a door operation
relay panel 1004 and commences operation to open the train doors.
[0043] When the platform doors start opening operations, individual control apparatus a
4001, individual control apparatus b 4002, individual control apparatus c 4003, individual
control apparatus d 4004; and individual control apparatus e 4005 each output an "OPEN
START" signal to station control device 1011. When station control device 1011 receives
any "OPEN START" signal, it starts output of an "ALL CLOSE OFF" (not all platform
doors are closed) signal to information transmission device 1010. Thereby, an "ALL
CLOSE OFF" signal is transmitted to the train side via repeater 1009, way-side apparatus
1008, on-board apparatus 1007, and transceiver 1006 to show the status display in
the control platform of the train. The operator of the train thus knows by means of
the status display that a platform door is "OPEN."
[0044] The operator of the train checks the passenger getting on or off situation by means
of a device to monitor getting on or off of passengers or the like (not shown in the
figure), and operates door control panel 1005 of the control platform to press the
"CLOSE" switch. Thereby, train door device 1003 commences "CLOSE" operation, and at
the same time, a "CLOSE" command is transmitted to communication means 1019 and way-side
apparatus 1008 via transceiver 1006 and on-board apparatus 1007, to be transmitted
to repeater 1009 and information transmission device 1010. Information transmission
device 1010 then transmits a "CLOSE" signal to station control device 1011 of the
platform doors in question. Upon receiving this signal, station control device 1011
transmits a "CLOSE" command simultaneously via line 1000 to individual control apparatus
a 4001, individual control apparatus b 4002, individual control apparatus c 4003,
individual control apparatus d 4004, and individual control apparatus e 4005 that
control the platform doors. Upon receiving the "CLOSE" command signal, individual
control apparatus a 4001, individual control apparatus b 4002, individual control
apparatus c 4003, individual control apparatus d 4004, and individual control apparatus
e 4005 commence closing operations of platform door a 3001, platform door b 3002,
platform door c 3003, platform door d 3004, and platform door e 3005, respectively.
[0045] When the respective gates have moved to a fully closed position, individual control
apparatus a 4001, individual control apparatus b 4002, individual control apparatus
c 4003, individual control apparatus d 4004, and individual control apparatus e 4005
each output a "CLOSE COMPLETED" signal to station control device 1011.
[0046] Upon receiving the "CLOSE COMPLETED" signal of all of the platform doors of the track
where the passengers got off and on, station control device 1011 starts output of
a "CLOSE CONFIRMED" signal to information transmission device 1010. Thereby, a "CLOSE
CONFIRMED" signal is transmitted to the train side via repeater 1009, way-side apparatus
1008, on-board apparatus 1007 and transceiver 1006, and the status is displayed in
the control platform of the train.
[0047] Having obtained a "CLOSE CONFIRMED" signal from train door device 1003 and the platform
doors, train 1001 departs.
[0048] Further, in Fig. 10, each of the platform doors comprises door pockets La 1021 and
Ra 1025, door pockets Lb 1031 and Rb 1035, door pockets Lc 1041 and Rc 1045, door
pockets Ld 1051 and Rd 1055, and door pockets Le 1061 and Re 1065, respectively.
[0049] As described above, according to the present invention, formation information of
trains is registered beforehand so that opening and closing of a gate of platform
doors as well as the moving distance for opening and closing of the gate can be changed
corresponding to each train. Therefore a plurality of trains of different forms can
be introduced onto a train line, providing an advantage when the number, location
and width dimensions of train doors vary among trains. Further, the invention also
makes it unnecessary to modify the train doors of existing trains to conform to platform
doors.
[0050] Further, when newly introducing trains to a line after adopting platform doors, it
is not necessary to make the doors of the trains absolutely uniform, thus it is possible
to simply support the new forms of trains.
[0051] In addition, on lines on which one train company shares the tracks with another,
because the present invention makes it possible to cover some differences in the specifications
of the trains it is possible to go ahead with introduction of platform doors.
[0052] Furthermore, on lines on which trains with different numbers of carriages are operating,
a moving distance for opening and closing of gates of platform doors can be made "0"
in accordance with formation information to make the setting "0" at platform doors
at parts where doors of the train are not situated so that the platform doors remain
closed, providing an easy solution to the problem.
Additional features of the invention are discussed in the following clauses:
- 1. A platform door control apparatus comprising a platform door apparatus having a
plurality of platform doors provided on a platform and an individual control apparatus
provided in each of the platform doors, wherein a formation information of various
types of trains for which the number, location, and width dimensions of train doors
are different is registered beforehand in the individual control apparatus and a moving
distance for opening and closing of gates of each of the platform doors is determined
according to the formation information of each train, and wherein when transmitting
an "OPEN" command to the platform doors from a train, formation information of the
train is also transmitted to the individual control apparatus to change a moving distance
for opening and closing of gates for each of the platform doors.
- 2. The platform door control apparatus of clause 1, wherein, in accordance with the
formation information of the train, when doors of the train are not situated at the
gates of a relevant platform door, the gates do not open and close.
- 3. The platform door control apparatus of clause or 2, which comprises a means informing
passengers that it is not possible to get on or off at a platform door.