CONTROLLER FOR ELEVATOR

Abstract

 Provided is a control device for elevator capable of detecting unauthorized entering-together by use of an inexpensive configuration and capable of performing an appropriate action upon detection of unauthorized entering-together. For this purpose, an elevator is equipped with an ID checking device, a noncontact-type door sensor which detects users who enter a car, and load detection means which detects users on the basis of a laden weight of the car. When the use of the elevator by the identified person is detected by the ID checking device and it is detected by both the noncontact-type door sensor and the load detection means that a suspicious person has entered the car together with the identified person, it is judged that unauthorized entering-together has occurred. When unauthorized entering-together has occurred, the unauthorized entering-together is caused to be eliminated and the elevator is caused to perform a prescribed action for informing the outside of the occurrence of the unauthorized entering-together.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a control device for elevator which detects the unauthorized entering-together of suspicious persons.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the number of crimes in elevators of apartment buildings, condominiums and the like has been increasing. For this reason, in anticipation of the crime deterrent effect, many elevators are equipped with a security camera in a car and furthermore with a recorder which records images of the security camera. On the other hand, recently, there have also been many condominiums which are equipped with crime-prevention equipment of high security level which requires personal authentication for entry by code number input and ID checking, thereby to limit the entrance and exit of people other than inhabitants.

[0003] However, even in a condominium equipped with crime-prevention equipment of high security level as described above, it is difficult to completely prevent the entry of suspicious persons. For example, even when the above-described crime prevention equipment is introduced in a condominium, suspicious persons can relatively easily enter the condominium by unauthorized entering-together. For this reason, even in an elevator of the above-described condominium, it is sufficiently probable that there is a possibility that an inhabitant and a suspicious person enter the elevator together. Incidentally, the above-described unauthorized entering-together means that when a door opens by the personal authentication of an inhabitant, a suspicious person whose personal authentication has not been carried out enters the condominium together with the inhabitant. However, phenomena similar to this unauthorized entering-together during entry into a condominium can naturally occur also in an elevator for which getting in the car is restricted.

[0004] For this reason, there have hitherto been proposed various proposals also concerning unauthorized entering-together in an elevator. For example, as a conventional art, there is a proposal in which when a hall call has been registered by using a prescribed ID card, audio guidance to prohibit unauthorized entering-together is repeatedly performed after door opening and the door is immediately closed after the ascertainment of entry by use of a door sensor, thereby to prevent a suspicious person from getting in the car (refer to Patent Document 1).

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-27886

Disclosure of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] In the control device for elevator described in Patent Document 1, various actions to prevent unauthorized entering-together are performed, but in actuality, unauthorized entering-together is not detected. Therefore, if unauthorized entering-together occurs, it is impossible to detect the unauthorized entering-together and there was a possibility that the operation of an elevator is continued, with a person carrying an ID and a suspicious person kept in a car.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve problems as described above and the object of the invention is to provide a control device for elevator capable of detecting unauthorized entering-together by use of an inexpensive configuration and capable of performing an appropriate action upon detection of unauthorized entering-together.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] A control device for an elevator of the present invention is a control device which comprises a car which ascends and descends in an elevator shaft, an ID checking device which checks whether or not an elevator user is an identified person who has been registered beforehand, a noncontact-type door sensor which optically or pictorially detects the presence or absence of users who enter the car, and the number of the users, load detection means which detects the load of users in the car on the basis of a laden weight of the car, unauthorized entering-together detection means which detects the occurrence of unauthorized entering-together when the use of an elevator by an identified person has been detected by the ID checking device and it has been detected by both the noncontact-type door sensor and the load detection means that a suspicious person who has not been personally authenticated by the ID checking device has entered the car together with the identified person, and unauthorized entering-together control means which causes unauthorized entering-together to be eliminated when the occurrence of the unauthorized entering-together has been detected by the unauthorized entering-together detection means, and causes a prescribed action for informing the outside of the occurrence of the unauthorized entering-together to be performed.

Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to detect unauthorized entering-together by use of an inexpensive configuration and it becomes possible to perform an appropriate action upon detection of unauthorized entering-together.

Brief of Description of the Drawings

[0010] 

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a control device for elevator in first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a flowchart showing actions of the control device for elevator in first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a diagram to explain the function of a noncontact-type door sensor in first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a flowchart showing other actions of the control device for elevator in first embodiment of the present invention.

Description of symbols

[0011] 1 car, 2 car door, 3 entrance, 4 door control means, 5 noncontact-type door sensor, 6 ID checking device, 7 ID controller, 8 load weighing device, 9 monitor center, 10 control means, 11 operation control means, 12 load detection means, 13 communication means, 14 unauthorized entering-together detection means, 15 unauthorized entering-together control means

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Incidentally, in each of the drawings, like numerals refer to like or similar parts and overlaps of description of these parts are appropriately simplified or omitted.

First Embodiment

[0013] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a control device for elevator in first embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a car which ascends and descends in an elevator shaft; reference numeral 2 denotes a center opening type car door which opens and closes an entrance 3 of the car 1; and reference numeral 4 denotes door control means which is provided in the car 1 and controls the opening and closing of the car door 2.

[0014] In end portions of the entrance 3 side of the above-described car door 2, there are provided noncontact-type door sensors 5 which detect users who pass through the entrance 3. The noncontact-type door sensor 5 detects the above-described users in a noncontact manner, for example, by optical and pictorial techniques. Incidentally, the noncontact-type door sensor 5 shown in Figure 1 is such that a plurality of light-emitting elements and a plurality of light-receiving elements are arranged in an end portion of one car door 2 and in an end portion of the other car door 2, respectively, vertically and continuously (also called the multi-beam door sensor). In the noncontact-type door sensor 5 having the above-described construction, the light from the light-emitting elements is received by each of the light-receiving elements, whereby the presence and absence of users who enter and exit the car 1, and the number of the users are detected on the basis of the amount of light received by each of the light-receiving elements (detection information).

[0015] Reference numeral 6 denotes an ID checking device which checks by use of a noncontact-type card reader and a noncontact-type key reader, or biometrics, such as fingerprints, faces, irises and veins, and other means whether the person in question is an identified person who has been registered beforehand; and reference numeral 7 denotes an ID controller which controls this ID checking device 6. Incidentally, the above-described ID checking device 6 is used when the above-described identified person uses an elevator, and is installed in an elevator hall and in the car 1. Reference numeral 8 denotes a load weighing device for detecting a laden weight in the car 1. This load weighing device 8 is provided, for example, in an end portion of a main rope (not shown) from which the car 1 is suspended. Reference numeral 9 denotes a monitor center which monitors an elevator installed in a building in which the elevator is provided, or in a remote place.

[0016] Reference numeral 10 denotes control means which supervises the whole operation control of the elevator. This control means 10 is provided with, for example, operation control means 11, load detection means 12, communication means 13, unauthorized entering-together detection means 14, and unauthorized entering-together control means 15, and the means indicated by 11 to 15 are all composed of software.

[0017] The operation control means 11 has a function of performing the operation management of the elevator in general. For example, action instructions to an elevator traction machine (not shown) and operation instructions to the door control means 4 are outputted from this operation control means 11. The load detection means 12 detects a car load on the basis of input information from the load weighing device 8. That is, the load detection means 12 detects the presence and absence of users in the car 1 and the number of the users on the basis of a laden weight of the car 1 detected by the load weighing device 8. The communication means 13 has a function for causing the control means 10 to perform communication with external equipment and the like. The communication means 13 is connected to, for example, equipment installed in the car 1 and the hall, the ID controller 7, and the monitor center 9.

[0018]  The unauthorized entering-together detection means 14 has a function of detecting unauthorized entering-together which has occurred in the elevator. This unauthorized entering-together detection means 14 detects the occurrence of unauthorized entering-together on the basis of a check result of the ID checking device 6, a detection result of the noncontact-type door sensor 5, and a detection result of the load weighing device 8. And when the occurrence of unauthorized entering-together has been detected by this unauthorized entering-together detection means 14, the unauthorized entering-together control means 15 causes the elevator to perform prescribed actions for eliminating the unauthorized entering-together, for informing the outside the occurrence of the unauthorized entering-together and for preventing criminal acts.

[0019] Next, actions of the control device for elevator having the above-described configuration will be described. Figure 2 is a flowchart showing actions of the control device for elevator in first embodiment of the present invention. The control device for elevator causes the operation control means 11 to perform ordinary operation until information for ID checking is inputted to the ID checking device 6. And when prescribed information has been inputted to the ID checking device 6, ID checking is performed by the ID controller 7 and personal authentication is performed as to whether or not the checked person is an identified person who has been registered beforehand.

[0020] When the use of an elevator by the above-described identified person has been detected by the ID checking device 6 (S 101), then the control means 10 makes a judgment by use of the load detection means 12 and the noncontact-type door sensor 5 as to whether or not a suspicious person who has not been personally authenticated by the ID checking device 6 has entered the car 1 together with the above-described identified person. That is, the control means 10 performs various actions for making a judgment as to whether or not unauthorized entering-together has occurred. For example, a judgment is made by use of the load detection means 12 as to whether a plurality of persons have entered the car (S102) and by use of the noncontact-type door sensor 5 as to whether a plurality of persons have entered the car (S103), and a comparison is made between the above-described identified person and the number of persons who have entered the car. And the unauthorized entering-together detection means 14 judges that the occurrence of unauthorized entering-together has occurred (S104) when the riding by a plurality of persons is detected in S102 and S103, that is, when it is detected by both the load detection means 12 and the noncontact-type sensor 5 that a suspicious person has entered the car 1 together with the above-described identified person, and sends information to that effect to the unauthorized entering-together control means 15.

[0021] When the occurrence of unauthorized entering-together is detected in S104, the unauthorized entering-together control means 15 gives an alarm to the monitor center 9 and causes the car 1 to stop at the nearest floor (S105, S106) and thereafter performs various kinds of actions, such as full opening of the door. Incidentally, various kinds of actions in S105 and later are not limited to the above-described actions, and various actions, such as sounding a buzzer, continuing the open condition of the door and switching to a stop-at-every-floor operation, are conceivable.

[0022] Figure 3 is a diagram to explain the function of the noncontact-type door sensor in first embodiment of the present invention. On the basis of Figure 3 a description will be given of a concrete detection method in S 103 of Figure 2. Incidentally, Figure 3 shows a case where a multi-beam door sensor is adopted as the noncontact-type door sensor 5. The ordinate of Figures 3(a) to 3(c) indicates detection information of each of the light-receiving elements provided in an end portion of the car door 2, and the abscissa indicates the time which elapses from the start of opening to the closing of the doors (the car door 2 and the hall door) after the stop of the car 1.

[0023] Figure 3 (a) shows detection information of each light-receiving element obtained when an adult passed through the entrance 3, and Figure 3(b) shows detection information of each light-receiving element obtained when two adults continuously passed through the entrance 3. By continuously taking in the detection information of each light-receiving element of a multi-beam door sensor for each light-receiving element in this manner, it is possible to make a judgment on the presence or absence of persons who passed through the entrance 3 and the number of the persons with some degree of accuracy on the basis of the detection information.

[0024] Figure 3 (c) shows detection information of each light-receiving element obtained when a child passed through the entrance 3. When short persons, animals and the like, such as children and pets, passed through the entrance 3 like this, the light from a light-emitting element arranged at a height near the head of an adult will not be cut off. For this reason, as shown in Figure 1, if an optical axis at a prescribed height from the floor surface is beforehand set as a first optical axis, a prescribed optical axis arranged above the first optical axis is beforehand set as a second optical axis, and a prescribed optical axis arranged above the second optical axis is beforehand set as a third optical axis, then it becomes possible to detect the passing of children and the like on the basis of the detection information of each light-receiving element arranged on the first to third optical axes.

[0025] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing other actions of the control device for elevator in first embodiment of the present invention, and shows an action to be performed in a case where upon detection of unauthorized entering-together also the detection of the above-described passing of children and the like is ensured. Incidentally, in such a case, the above-described first to third optical axes are beforehand set.

[0026] When the use by the identified person has been detected by the ID checking device 6, first, the control means 10 makes a judgment as to whether or not the first optical axis has been cut off (S201). When the cutoff of the first optical axis is detected in S201, next, a judgment is made as to whether or not the second optical axis or the third optical axis has been cut off (S202). When the cutoff of the second optical axis and the third optical axis is not detected in S202, as described above, it is judged that a child (pet) has entered the car (S203) and the operation control means 11 outputs action instructions to the door control means 4 to set door open time a little longer than the door open time in usual operation (S204). Incidentally, an action to be performed when the riding of a child or the like has been detected, is not limited to the above-described action, and various actions, such as slowing down the door speed, informing the monitor center 9 and providing audio guidance to inside the car 1, are conceivable.

[0027]  On the other hand, when the cutoff of the second optical axis or the third optical axis is detected in S202, furthermore a judgment is made as to whether or not the second optical axis or the third optical axis has been cut off after a lapse of a prescribed time (S205). That is, a judgment is made on the presence or absence of a next user. And when the cutoff of the second optical axis and the third optical axis is not detected in S205, it is judged that one adult has entered the car (S206). On the other hand, when the cutoff of the second optical axis or the third optical axis is detected in S205, the riding of a plurality of persons is detected and the unauthorized entering-together control means 15 is caused to perform various kinds of actions to be performed upon occurrence of unauthorized entering-together.

[0028] Incidentally, the foregoing is a description made in the case where an optical axis for detecting a child and the like is set from the first to third optical axes. However, it is possible to detect a child and the like even when only the first and second optical axes are used. In such a case, it is necessary to set the first optical axis at a height at which the first optical axis is positively cut off by the passing of a child and it is necessary to set the second optical axis at a height at which the second optical axis is cut by the passing of an adult and not by the passing of a child. The actions shown in Figure 4 may also be performed by configuring the control device for elevator in such a manner that the riding of a child is detected by the ID checking device 6 and the load detection means 12.

[0029] Furthermore, the control device for elevator may be configured in such a manner that after the lengthening of door open time in S204, the flow is caused to return to S201 again and the occurrence of unauthorized entering-together is detected. In such a case, it is necessary only that the setting for lengthening the door open time be effective until the occurrence of unauthorized entering-together is detected by the unauthorized entering-together detection means 14.

[0030] According to the first embodiment of the present invention, it becomes possible to detect the unauthorized entering-together in an elevator by using a relatively inexpensive configuration on the basis of a checking result of the ID checking device 6 and detection results of the load weighing device 8 and the noncontact-type door sensor 5. Also, it becomes possible to cause an appropriate action to be performed upon detection of unauthorized entering-together. Therefore, it becomes possible to substantially reduce the number of crimes occurring due to the use of an elevator and it is possible to provide a safe elevator of high security level.

[0031] Incidentally, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the description was given only of the case where the detection of unauthorized entering-together is constantly performed. However, the detection of unauthorized entering-together may also be performed in a specific time zone, for example, only during the nighttime. Also, it is possible to change the action to be performed upon detection of unauthorized entering-together by time zone, and the control device for elevator may be configured in such a manner that, for example, actions such sounding of an alarm buzzer and alarm giving to the monitor center 9 are performed only during the nighttime.

Industrial Applicability

[0032]  As described above, the control device for elevator related to the present invention can be applied to any elevator so long as it is equipped with an ID checking device, a load weighing device and a noncontact-type door sensor.

Claims

1. A control device for elevator, comprising:

a car which ascends and descends in an elevator shaft;

an ID checking device which checks whether or not an elevator user is an identified person who has been registered beforehand;

a noncontact-type door sensor which optically or pictorially detects the presence or absence of users who enter the car, and the number of the users;

load detection means which detects the load of users in the car on the basis of a laden weight of the car;

unauthorized entering-together detection means which detects the occurrence of unauthorized entering-together when the use of an elevator by an identified person has been detected by the ID checking device and it has been detected by both the noncontact-type door sensor and the load detection means that a suspicious person who has not been personally authenticated by the ID checking device has entered the car together with the identified person; and

unauthorized entering-together control means which causes unauthorized entering-together to be eliminated when the occurrence of the unauthorized entering-together has been detected by the unauthorized entering-together detection means, and causes a prescribed action for informing the outside of the occurrence of the unauthorized entering-together to be performed.

2. The control device for elevator according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device for elevator comprises operation control means which sets door open time a little longer than usual when it has been detected by any of the ID checking device, the noncontact-type door sensor and the load detection means that a child has entered the car.

Drawing